Where are the Ladies?

I was never one to re-read a novel because I thought the purpose was to read it once in order to discover the plot and mystery and then it was done. A friend pointed out to me several years ago that if there is no difference in re-watching movies, why would there be any difference in re-reading favorite books? It just takes longer than a few hours.Ever since, when I'm in a lag or between books (awaiting for an author's next book to hit the shelves), I pull a book off my Corner Shelf and dive in. 

Just this past week, I pulled off an old favorite, Deeanne Gist's The Measure of a Lady. Set in Gold Rush San Francisco, Rachel Van Buren is a lady above reproach. Living by standards set incredibly high, Rachel finds that the true measure of a lady is not in following the rules, but being the best version of yourself possible. 

I wonder where all the "ladies" have gone? Let's pretend that we were to keep to the same standards that Rachel Van Buren believed measured a true lady, our wardrobe alone would disqualify women in today's modern society. Yet, I've still be called "a lady" even in pants (because I don't wear dresses or skirts). So, what defines a lady in the 21st century? 

Google's definition of a lady is 1.) a woman and 2.) a woman of superior social position, especially one of noble birth. If that is the measure, then there's a whole lot of "ladies" out there that are instantly disqualified. I would like to suggest that being a lady goes beyond social position or noble birth. Rather, it is the morals and beliefs held by said ladies, like protecting one's family from reproach, upholding modesty through morals, and standing by those morals even when it is difficult, that truly measure a lady. 

In my own words, I would define a lady as a woman of great character, strong morals, compassionate, and kind. A woman who is beautiful from the inside out, passionate about what interests her (whether that be bugs like Rachel, or books like me), and devoted to her family. A lady stands up for those weaker than herself, and strives to better the lives of her family and community members. A lady sees the good in others. A lady also knows when she has been bested and seeks forgiveness. A lady is a powerful individual indeed. 

A New Fetish - Novellas!

I've recently gotten into the mini-novella stories that are compiled into a larger novel. The one I finished last night was called A Match Made in Texas: A Novella Collection with four different stories of love in 1880s Dry Gulch, Texas. Writers Connealy, Witemeyer, Cox, and Jennings worked together to create a small western town with one meddling matchmaker and four unique situations.

DISCLAIMER - There is a spoiler in my musings today, so if you don't want to know the unknown meddler's identity, quit reading now!

The book I read had all four in one - 

But they are also available in eBook form for Kindle, iPad, nooks, etc. Each of those individual titles are shown below.

While I loved them all, last night's novella was very interesting. Meeting Her Match revealed the secret matchmaker that brought the other three stories together. In my own opinion, Hannah Taylor, the local school teacher, meddled in the affairs of her unmarried friends because she turned a blind eye to her own un-happily-ever-after story; and for the same reasons I read, I believe Hannah meddled in other's lives so that she wouldn't have to think about her own. 

In the end, however, her friends from the previous stories "retaliate" in kind by expediting her own wedding day through some cunning shenanigans that worked in that culture but possibly not in ours. (However, that doesn't make that scene any less my favorite! ;)

So, read them together or alone, you choose. But now, I'm on a novella kick with my next one ready by my bed. It's a little out of season, but it was 1/2 off at my local bookstore yesterday and there's no way I'm going to wait 12 months! 

Happy reading My Corner Shelvers!

New Year, New Start

Today is the day people around the world are "starting fresh" for the new year. New habits. Diets. Workout routines. A "clean slate." I've even written up some of my resolutions, but I'm old enough to realize that New Year's Resolutions aren't as easy to instill as writing them on paper. It first takes a decision, and then determination and perseverance to continue to follow through with the resolutions.

One of my resolutions is to read more books. Not a daunting task, mind you, since I read 26 books this year (picture below) but I want to read books outside of my desired genre of historical fiction. I'm not exactly sure which books I want to read, that is something I will decide upon later. If you have any suggestions, I'm listening.

I read every book pictured here (23 total) plus three more during 2014. 

My goal is to read at least another 26 more during 2015.

Going back to the idea of clean slates, my first book of 2015 has a similar theme of 'new life' and trust. A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano depicts an English aristocrat whose fortune was stolen. Eliza traveled to America to find the thieves and her fortune, but instead found a life with a different 'fortune' awaiting her. In classic Turano style, mystery and adventure move the story along with twists and delicious characters - chivalrous and brooding gentlemen, delicate yet determined ladies, and matchmaking mothers, and those are only the "good guys."