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Chrissie's Reviews > The Home-Maker
The Home-Maker
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Chrissie's review
bookshelves: classics, audible-uk, feminism, hf, usa, 2023-read, education, philo-psychol, medical
May 28, 2023
bookshelves: classics, audible-uk, feminism, hf, usa, 2023-read, education, philo-psychol, medical
I like this book a lot for two reasons—for the messages conveyed and the small details that make the story convincing, that make the messages hit home with a punch. Some writers tell you things. This writer shows you things through how people behave and speak. There are people of widely different personality types. The world is richer for the existence of this variety. People are not meant to fit one mold—we’re all different and we are all valuable and each must live according to their way of being. This is best for society and the individual too. In this story, the husband is the homebody. Relating to kids comes naturally to him. The wife is better as the wage earner. The reverse of the traditional roles is accepted nowadays, but it wasn’t back in the 1920s when the book was written! Having read this book, I now understand why Eleanor Roosevelt claimed Dorothy Canfield Fisher, the author, to be one of the ten most influential American women of her time!
Let me repeat though, what makes the book special is how the story is told, not simply the message. A book can have a good message, but it must also be engaging. The story is well told.
I like that the book speaks out against materialism.
I like the focus upon Montessori teaching methods.
I like the ending—it’s much better than that of the silent film that ran in 1925.
The love that grows between the father and his children is movingly portrayed. I spoke of wonderful details. It is here they come in!
The audiobook is read by Anne Hancock. I liked the narration but didn’t love it. She puts herself between the listener and the author’s words. I prefer interpreting an author myself, without others getting involved. Hancock’s words are spoken clearly. Three stars for the narration.
This is better than I thought it would be! Wanting more from this talented author, I have immediately begun Understood Betsy. It’s considered a classic children’s book. I’m guessing and hoping it will be one of those books meant for all ages, the young and the old.
**********************
*The Home-Maker 4 stars
*Understood Betsy 4 stars
Let me repeat though, what makes the book special is how the story is told, not simply the message. A book can have a good message, but it must also be engaging. The story is well told.
I like that the book speaks out against materialism.
I like the focus upon Montessori teaching methods.
I like the ending—it’s much better than that of the silent film that ran in 1925.
The love that grows between the father and his children is movingly portrayed. I spoke of wonderful details. It is here they come in!
The audiobook is read by Anne Hancock. I liked the narration but didn’t love it. She puts herself between the listener and the author’s words. I prefer interpreting an author myself, without others getting involved. Hancock’s words are spoken clearly. Three stars for the narration.
This is better than I thought it would be! Wanting more from this talented author, I have immediately begun Understood Betsy. It’s considered a classic children’s book. I’m guessing and hoping it will be one of those books meant for all ages, the young and the old.
**********************
*The Home-Maker 4 stars
*Understood Betsy 4 stars
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Reading Progress
May 28, 2023
– Shelved
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
wishlist-f
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
classics
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
audible-uk
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
feminism
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
hf
May 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
usa
June 2, 2023
– Shelved as:
on-deck
June 4, 2023
–
Started Reading
June 4, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023-read
June 6, 2023
– Shelved as:
education
June 6, 2023
– Shelved as:
philo-psychol
June 6, 2023
– Shelved as:
medical
June 6, 2023
–
Finished Reading
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message 1:
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Manybooks
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rated it 4 stars
May 31, 2023 09:16PM
I have only read Understood Betsy but that was a wonderful book. So maybe I should try this as well.
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I haven't read anything by the author yet.
Chrissie wrote: "I haven't read anything by the author yet."Understood Betsy is considered a classic of American children's literature and very forward thinking and avant garde for its time.
It is a long long time since I read Understood Betsy but I remember enjoying it a lot. If you feel like it, do you want to try for a quick buddy read?
I would give it a try. I’ve heard great things about it. In fact, I might pull it out and read it too!!
I want to read the two books in my duology first. If you haven't read the author A.J. Cronin you absolutely must. I'm reading now A Song of Sixpence. The first book is when Laurie is a young boy. He is Scotch Irish, a Catholic living in Scotland. In the second book he becomes a doctor.. I cannot praise this author enough. Every book I have read by him I've given four or five stars. Are you interested?I am not getting kicked out! Hurray.
After these I can read Fisher, but I 'd like to read The Home-Maker first. Then depending on how much I like it maybe I'll wat to read Understood Betsy too.
Cleo, great. And have you read Cronin. See message 7.Something has happened. I am not getting kicked out of GR. I emptied my computer's garbage can........... Writing on GR has been almost impossible for me for the least two weeks!!!!! GR is my only social activity and thought of leaving the site because I was so often not working for me has been VERY upsetting. Have they fixed something? I'm happy with the improvement but do not understand why it has gotten so much better.
Gundula, read the paragraph above, pls.
I am interested and will see if I can find the book on OL.
Good. Then later we can do Fisher.Here are the Cronin books I've read or want to read:
*The Stars Look Down 5 stars
*The Citadel 4 stars
*The Judas Tree 4 stars
*The Green Years 5 stars
*Shannon's Way 3 stars
Laurence Carroll Duology
1.A Song of Sixpence TBR
2.A Pocketful of Rye TBR
*The Spanish Gardener TBR
*The Keys of the Kingdom TBR
I will check later today which of the Cronin books I can get on Open Library. Will let you know.
I'm having GR problems again.
I sent them a quick question this morning but have not heard back. You seem not to be the only one experiencing this.
So frustrating aboout Goodreads!Yes, I did read one AJ Cronin book years ago, as I loved the BBC series Doctor Finlay. But sadly I remember little about the book and didn't read any more. Perhaps seeing the series coloured my views. Unfortunately my library no long has any of his books but I'll keep a lookout for them in used book stores.
Cleo, so very lad you like Cronin too. Gundula, thank you for telling them.
Not being able to use GR is HORRIBLE.
OL has a lot of Cronin novels, including two you have marked as :to read"The Keys of the Kingdom
The Spanish Gardener
Very good book. I liked it so much, I have decided to immediately read Understood Betsy!Thanks Cleo and Gundula for the thumbs up infp!
Chrissie wrote: "Very good book. I liked it so much, I have decided to immediately read Understood Betsy!Thanks Cleo and Gundula for the thumbs up infp!"
I was surprised how much I loved this book and how modern it was regarding parental and gender roles.
Understood Betsy! is a terrific little book!
I still have my copy of Understood Betsy from childhood - one of the few books that travelled with me from home to home through all those years.
Sharon wrote: "I still have my copy of Understood Betsy from childhood - one of the few books that travelled with me from home to home through all those years."I might see if my local independent bookstore can find a nice first edition that is not too expensive.
