Two Words, One Answer.
willows grow'
 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows (3 Willows (Hardback)) $18.99 Like trees, we all change as we grow. In 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares, three friends embark on a new journey, the last summer before they enter high school. Ama and Jo were going away for the summer. Ama's doing something she has never done before in order to receive her first grade for high school. But she is introduced to more than she was expecting and needs to overcome her fears in order to be successful in receiving a decent grade. Jo is going to the beach, where she tries to be accepted by the older, cool kids. But fitting in is not as easy as she had expected. Polly is the only one staying at home and the only one who does not want the friendship she has had since third grade to change. But she cannot control the inevitable. Who will change the most? And will the three still have a sisterhood at the summer's end. Ms. Brashares has created another sisterhood that has such a poignant message for teens. Friendship is something we should not take lightly. Even though, we all will change as we grow, true friends remain the same. For some, in order to grow we have to let the people we believe are our friends go and make new ones. I really enjoyed 3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows. I recommend that teens and parents read it.  Bridge: Suite for Strings; Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow; Bantock: The Pierrot of the Minute $13.98 I am surprised to be the first to rate this CD. It contains some f the most beautiful English string and pastorale music in the repertoire. There Is A Willow Grows Aslant, Suite For Strings and Summer are arguably the most refreshingly beautiful pieces Bridge ever wrote. This is GORGEOUS music. And WILLOW is his Masterpiece. 9:19 of sweet, creative, and to the point beauty, that could never outstay it's welcome. The BIG surprise here though, is Bantock's Pierrot Of The Minute. A genuinely clever, jaunty and witty 11 minutes that suggests nothing of what most listeners came to expect from his Symphonies. Another Masterpiece that puts all its ideas in a perfect time frame. The Butterworth piece is similar to Bridge's Willow in style, but also excellent on it's own terms. I have never cared much for Del Mar, but here he is as good as he can be and The Bournemouth Sinfonietta sounds fantastic under his direction. All the right color, dynamics and sonics. The sound is close to Demonstration as most Chandos releases usually are. Clear, Warm and rich with the required depth. This is GREAT stuff for all fans of English pastoral and strings. A real sleeper..  Where Willows Grow $14.99 When you open the pages of this book, you are transported back in time to 1936 Kansas. It's a hard time with the Great Depression compounded by the Dust Bowl. It's been years since there's been rain. In order to save his family, Harley Phipps must leave them to take a job with the WPA. A job building a castle ... in Kansas. While he's gone he asks his neighbor to watch over his wife Anna Mae and his two daughters. Anna Mae is unsure she wants to be watched over by her neighbor Jack even though they grew up together. Jack had wanted to marry her but she was already in love with Harley. Now Harley's been gone, and she's only heard from him once. How can she keep the farm without income from him? This book has Kim Sawyer's signature depth of characterization. As the reader, I quickly fell in love with Anna and her struggles. The characters were rich and diverse. Harley is a man who has pulled himself up and works hard to support his family. Jack has a successful dairy farm, but is focused on the love that's been denied him. Dirk is a man who will teach Harley what sacrifice is about. And Anna is a woman trying to make the best of an impossible situation. I also love the way Kim makes the setting come alive. She pulls together unknown pieces of Kansas history that add richness and depth to the plot. I also enjoyed the fact that this book was set during the Depression. This has been a time period that has been overlooked by many historical authors, yet Kim makes it come to life in a manner that kept me engaged from page one. The book is also filled with spiritual themes without becoming too preachy. Harley is unsaved in the beginning, despite Anna's efforts. Because of people like Dirk and his boss Mr. Peterson, his heart softens over time. And Anna struggles with trusting God to provide for her and the girls. Anyone who's ever struggled to relinquish control, can relate to her struggles. I know I can! There were a couple times I thought I could anticipate where Kim was taking the plot. What I expected to be predictable often had a twist I couldn't see. And not all the plotlines ended perfectly. In that way, the book mirrors life where everything doesn't wrap up in perfect packages. If you enjoy historical novels set in a unique time period, you will enjoy this book. |
|
