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Lynn Austin event

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,

I have been reading Lynn Austin books for a few years now.  I have loved each and every one of them.  I think what I like the most about her books is that she writes about a variety of topics.  She has covered everything from Biblical stories all the way to contemporary, series and stand-alones.  They all have been so interesting to read.

Lynn's newest release, Waves of Mercy, added a bit of a twist I wasn't expecting.  With the story set in West Michigan, Holland to be exact, I knew I would be very comfortable with the storyline.  What I didn't really expect was how familiar the characters were.  I knew I could have stepped right onto the pages and known what was expected of me.  I knew how each character was going to react and I understood why one of the characters rebelled.  

The setting for the book is the 50th anniversary of the settling of Holland, MI, and Geesje is asked to write what she remembers of that time.  So we get a blend of Geesje's story at the time of the anniversary, but also 50 years earlier.  It makes for a wonderful blend of past and her present.  

We learn about why the immigrants left the Netherlands and the kind of persecution they experienced. We learn how when the little group set out they were headed for Wisconsin and because of a delay they decided the prices of land here in West Michigan were too good to resist.  We learn that the first winter was brutal and yet they worked hard to survive. 

I could go on how much fun stuff I read about, but that will ruin the story for you and I want you to be able to find those things out for yourself.    

I have read books set in West Michigan before.  They are few and far between, but they are out there.  I have to admit that I was never very comfortable with how the locals were portrayed in these books.  Usually stiff necked, cheap and with little humor.  Well most of that is true, but they are also loving, caring, kind and will help you with no questions asked.  For some reason people leave that out.  Oh, and yes they do have a grand sense of humor, even if it is a little dry once and awhile.  

So reading this book where all that comes through was so much fun.  I could easily picture my relatives mixed into the story.  I knew how to fit in and I understood how their ways may seem strange to those that didn't grow up in their community & may see them as a bit strict.  (I did and I grew up with it.) 

A wonderful and delightful book that will make you long for the lakeshore.   I really had a hard time stopping with what I wanted to say about this book.  I really just had a fun time reading it.   Take the time to read it and get to know the Dutch community a little.  

Happy Reading, 

P.S. She will be here at the store on October 4th at 7:00pm and at Christ Memorial on October 6th also at 7:00 pm.  

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers

I am pretty sure I don’t have anything new to say about Lynn Austin.   She has been writing for many years now and I think I have read everything she has written.   Many of them are favorites and I am sure she will continue to add to that list for years to come.

All Things New is her latest release and once again shows off Lynn’s strength in her research and wonderfully written characters.  She writes about a difficult time in America’s history with honesty and such a different point of view.  Just as she has written several WWII books that are not even set in the theater of the war but teach us so much about that time, this one is set after the war.

Josephine and her family watch the war ending from a window in a family home in Richmond Virginia.  The Union soldiers march past the window and they all know that their lives have changed forever.   Do they stay in Richmond or return to their plantation?  Being a bitterly defeated country, it was not a safe place to be.  

Josephine’s mother decides to head back home to make the best of it.  One of the problems is, mother expects everything to continue on the same way, and nothing is the same.  No longer do they have slaves to run things or to even plant and take care of the garden to grow food.  Everything has changed and not everyone is willing to change with it.

I found this an interesting read because it pointed out some things that happened in the south after the war that I had never really thought about.  The owning of slaves went back generations and as evil and awful at it is, in the way of thinking of the plantation owners it was okay.  The North was asking them to change everything, even their economic structure and expected them to do it immediately. 

With all those factors happening along with the families reeling from the loss of fathers, husbands, and brothers, the North was asking a lot from them.  It is not a wonder that it gave birth to such things as the KKK and an influx of carpetbaggers.   I am not saying what they did was right, but it did give me a bit of understanding.

I will just add, if you are already a fan of Lynn’s you have probably already read this, if you have never read one of Lynn’s books this is a great place to start.

Happy Reading

P.S.  This book is available by request at bakerbookstore.com

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,

Lynn Austin is one of my go-to authors.  When I need just a good story I love picking her books up and reading them.  The only problem is I have read all her books now and have to wait for a new one to come out.  Wonderland Creek by Lynn just released and it was so nice to be able to read it. 

Set towards the end of the depression, it focuses on a need that was created by one of the programs Roosevelt started.  He started funding for libraries all over the country in communties that hadn't had them before.  The problem was, there wasn't enough funding for more books.  Alice hears about the need for books in Kentucky and decides to do a book drive and then bring the books herself.

 

It all sounds like a great idea except Alice is just a bit obsessed with books and reading.  It is the only thing that is important to her.  More important than her family, more important than her boyfriend and more important than her friends (I was a bit shocked when she got a book out at a funeral and started reading).  So when she loses her job and boyfriend all in one day she decides to head to Kentucky univited to deliver the books she had collected.

This starts an adventure that Alice was not expecting. She is asked to do things she has never done before.  She learns to cook over a woodburning stove, she survives without electricty, she learns to ride a horse and she learns that reading is not the only thing that is important in the world. 

I really liked this book for several reasons.  It was a good read and I learned about a part of the country that I have visited several times and find just beautiful.  The book is also set in a time period that, in Kentucky, isn't written about much.  It was a difficult place to live anyways and the depression made it even harder.  To learn about the people of that area and what they did to survive, but also help each other, is amazing. 

Now when I read books like this I know God knew what he was doing setting me in this time in history.  I really like running water, indoor bathrooms and electricity.  Cars are great and being able to just get any book I want is awesome.  So there was nowhere in this book I said, "Boy do I wish I lived there/then."  But it was good to read about it.

Happy Reading

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,
There is always a bit of excitement when a new Lynn Austin book is due in. There are many people that look forward to her new book and start asking for it weeks in advance. While We're Far Apart is Lynn's newest and she once again doesn't disappoint her loyal fans.
I am not sure who I would call the main character of this book. You have Esther, who is trying to figure out how her life fell apart. Her mother has been gone a little over a year and her father just announced he is leaving for the army to help fight the Nazis. There is Penny, who has been in love with Eddie for as long as she can remember. When he announces he is leaving for the army and needs help with his children while he is gone, Penny is sure this is a way for her to get noticed by him. There is also Jacob who, besides trying to recover from the loss of his wife, is worried about his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter who are in Hungary. They all have such an important part to play in the story. There are also background characters that are just as important and yet don't have as big of parts.
Young Peter who has been unable to speak since the day his father left. Penny's parents and the secret they have kept and even Roy the young man on the bus. They are all part of the rich tapestry that is this story. I can't imagine the story without them. They all start out with their own tale, but as the story continues on they all become wrapped together and become part of each other's lives.
For me one of the most interesting storylines was Jacob's. How he waited to hear from his son in Hungary. How he worked behind the scenes to send money to different charities to get money over to Europe and save as many of the Jews as possible. Sometimes we forget that not only did Hitler affect families over in Europe, there were many families over here waiting for years to hear word of missing family members.
It is interesting to read a story like this in that it is a reminder that there are numerous families right now in America with family members overseas. They are all making new memories without that loved one there to share it with them. It is a great calling to defend our country, but it costs the families much.
Happy Reading

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,

I really like Lynn Austin's books. I think I have them all read now, including her newest, Though Waters Roar.

What do you do when your Great-grandmother hid runaway slaves, your grandmother fought for prohibition and woman's suffrage and you yourself have just been thrown in jail for running liquor? Harriet is going to have lots of time to think about it as she is in jail and refuses to call anyone to come bail her out.

What comes out for us is a good and interesting read. I personally could really relate to Harriet's character. She struggled to fit in with her own family. Her mother and sister were caught up in all the girly things of the time. Tea parties with the ladies, shopping and just generally being refined. Harriet on the other hand vowed to never marry and certainly never have children. She was described as plain, with a good head on her shoulders. That isn't really what a girl of that time would like to hear if she was looking for a suitable mate.

Instead Harriet wants to follow in her grandmother's footsteps and help change the world. I kept things of the line "good girls don't change the world." It wasn't that Harriet wanted to get arrested, but she didn't find that her grandmother had gotten arrested several times as a bad thing.

This is really a fun book to read. It is set in a time of America's history that not many books are written about. I also have to admit that I kept thinking of the mother in Mary Poppins movie who is fighting for the woman's suffrage movement. She is a bit shallow and thankfully the grandmother seems to be much more level headed, but it is kind of funny. (Watch the movie to get a good idea of what I mean. :-)

Just a reminder, Lynn will be in our store on Sept, 19th from 10 - 12. If your book clubs are interested in coming let me know, otherwise just come and have Breakfast with Lynn.

Happy Reading

Lynn Austin

Dear Readers,
Lynn Austin's newest book is here. Yeah! I so enjoy her books, they are just really good stories. Whether a contemporary tale or one set in Biblical times, they are all very good and interesting.

In Until We Reach Home, Lynn writes about 3 sisters that head for America to get away from an Uncle who is to friendly with the oldest one. Elin can think of no other way to keep her sisters safe from him. She can't share her secret with them as they will think less of her and may not even believe her.

Kristen is also keeping a secret. One that may keep her from getting into America and there is nothing for her to go back to. On the eve of their leaving, Tor, her true love tells her that he will never be able to marry her because of her family history.
Sophia doesn't want to leave their family home. Mom and Dad are buried there and their older brother has moved to Stockholm. Why would anyone want to leave the farm?

Secrets kept and later reveled. This novel is about family, about love and truth. It is one that is well woven together and paints a beautiful picture of what life was like for the new immigrants coming to America. It wasn't streets of gold and picture prefect, but yet it was still a new start for people who needed it.

I can easily say that if you like Lynn's books you will love this one also. I was hooked right away, even if some of it was easy to guess what was coming next. It is not a complicated book, but a great story. Take time out of your busy schedule and relax and enjoy a wonderful read.

Happy Reading