Beyond the Horizon - Review

You readers haven't had many book reviews on this blog. But today you get one.

 Eliana longs to see the world beyond the mountains that tower above Salzburg, Austria, but knows that dream will never see such adventure- and neither will she.
 

Surrounded by a world of cruelty, she lives for the weekly visits of Aron, a boy she met on one of her rambles through the countryside.

But as the years pass and she begins to grow older, a new and unwelcome world is opened up to her.
On a fateful night at a party she vowed she’d never attend, she comes face to face with a shocking truth.

As the world around her teeters on the brink of war, Eliana struggles to figure out just where her loyalty lies; a decision that will drastically change the course of her life. Will she ever be free to see what lies beyond the horizon?

 My Review:

The cover is what pulled me to read this story in the first place because I'm not really much of a fan of fairy-tale re-tellings (or fairy tales at all). But, I had read a few other stories by this author and decided to go ahead and try it. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The setting, the characters, the action were all interesting and kept me wanting to read.

This is a story I'll probably read again.

 And yes, it is a Christmas story as well, or at least most of it takes place in December and it ends on Christmas Day. :)
You can get your own copy by going here.

Does it sound like a story you'd enjoy?

Have you read it yet?

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December 4th

For me, reading Christmas books in December is as much a part of the month as my birthday is a part of April. When I was young, for as long as I could remember, my Mom would read a few certain Christmas books to us kids. When she stopped reading them years ago, I read them to myself and younger friends. I grew up hearing these stories and now, even though I have the stories practically memorized and know the plots by heart, I still read them. Soon I'll be reading them to my niece and nephews.
As the years have passed, we've discovered new treasures in Christmas stories and I've added many to my "read each Christmas time" list. But right now, we'll just start out with my four old friends. 

(Click on the title to read my book review from another year.)

A Pint of Judgment

by Elizabeth Morrow

(Oh the simplicity and charm of this story! A delightful little book.)

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

by Barbara Robinson

(I have to put a disclaimer on this book. There are two places where one of the characters uses God's name in vain. When my mom read the story, she'd always skip those words. Other than that, I love the story.)

The Bird's Christmas Carol

by Kate Douglas Wiggin

(This sweet story might make you laugh and cry.)

And my favorite of all favorite Christmas stories:

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas

by Madeleine L'Engle

(I don't know why I love this story so much, but I do. It just wouldn't be Christmas without reading or hearing this story.)

What are your favorite Christmas books?

Have you read any of these?

A Pint of Judgment

Another of my top four favorite Christmas stories.

A Pint of Judgment

by

Elizabeth Morrow

This little story, first published in 1939 is one that I love. Little Sally Tucker wants to get her mother something extra special this Christmas, but what? In reading over her mother's Christmas list with her sister, they discover 'a quart of judgment' handwritten at the bottom. That is what Mother wants most. The question is, what is judgment? How would you explain it to a seven-year-old? You'll be charmed and delighted with this simple yet touching story of love.

The Birds' Christmas Carol

I love this book. I grew up reading this sweet story and still read it each year. In fact, I just finished reading it again yesterday.

The Birds' Christmas Carol

by

Kate Douglas Wiggin

I love This story Having heard or read it every Christmas for as long as I can remember, it has become a part of my Christmases. Carol Bird, who was born on Christmas morning, plans and makes a special Christmas with the help of her family and Uncle Jack for the “Ruggleses in the rear” in honor of her 10th birthday. I find myself laughing as well as shedding a few tears as I reread this story year after year. I would recommend it to any age.

If you would like to listen to the story this year, you can download it for free here.

Arne and the Christmas Star

Arne and the Christmas Star

by

Alta Halverson Seymour

Arne is a young boy growing up in Norway. Many delightful times are had by him and his family as the story begins in early summer. The tension builds near Christmas time when Arne’s older brother, a first mate on a ship “The Christmas Star” is still out at sea when severe winter storms are reported. Due to his anxiety for his brother, Arne is late for school one too many times. This is a wonderful Christmas story for many ages. I have read it every Christmas season since I discovered it.

Alto Seymour has also written many other Christmas stories that are just as delightful about Christmas time in other countries. Some of these are:

The Top O' Christmas Morning (Ireland)
The Christmas Stove (Switzerland)
The Christmas Donkey (France)
Erik's Christmas Camera (Sweden)
Kaatje and the Christmas Compass (Holland)

Some of these books are available on Amazon and some might be available in other places. They aren't in print anymore so you'll just have to look for them.

Favorite of Favorite Christmas Books

As the title suggests, this is my very favorite or favorite Christmas books. I've either had it read to me or have read it to myself each December for as long as I can remember. I've read it to others, lent the book to others and am looking forward to re-reading it once more this year. I know the story by heart and can quote parts of it.

"Three snowflakes fell. Exactly three. I counted them." (My favorite quote. :) )
"But Mother has to be home for Christmas!"

The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas

by

Madeleine L'Engle

(I do NOT recommend all of her books. This is by far the best.)

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories. I have read it or heard it read each Christmas for as long as I can remember. There is just something special in the sweet simplicity of 7-year-old Vickie Austin telling the story of her special Christmas. Her worries about the Christmas pageant where she has been chosen to be the angel of the Lord, about the possibility of her mother being in the hospital over Christmas, and if there will be any snow, just builds you for the wonderful ending that is sure to leave you with a feeling of peace. Sometimes I read this story several times during one Christmas season.

If you have never read this delightful and wonderful book, you should! You can find it here.