This was the first book I ever bought for myself. I always received books from my Aunt for Christmas and Birthdays and she instilled in me the love of reading, the love o the smell of a book..and now, I just love the smell of books shops too!I bought this book after much searching and I almost cried when I opened the package last week. I have been reading a few chapters a night to Sarah and Mia and they just love it. Of course, Mia being a six year old wanted to see illustrations. I had to tell her to close her eyes and imagine what it is I was describing as I read the book. It worked!
A summer spent in a rented house while Gail Simmons waited for school to start, started out normal, looking through the attic of the old coach house, Gail found a trunk with a side saddle and riding habit. She was a good horseback rider, her and Candy (short for Candlelight) had even won awards together but she had never ridden sidesaddle so the dusty saddle interested her. Spending her afternoons on Candy, riding in the orchard, she found a gate in the old stone wall, they went through and followed a path and were surprised to see a summerhouse (gazebo type building) on the other side (Babylon). The girl, Hilary was there, drinking lemonade and dressed differently than Gail was. Through out the summer, the two girls became friends and together they taught Gail how to ride sidesaddle and drive a pony cart. The whole time, Gail knew there was something so different about their friendship, she just was not sure and in the end, the time difference was so much more than the ride through the simple woods.
Fun and easy read, short chapters, the concept of time is subtle only pointed out by the differences between dress style, transportation forms, and several words. The girls become friends with several similar interests including the love of horses, riding, and being outside in the summer. I shant tell you the end!
"How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
Yes, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and light.
You can get there by candlelight."
- Mother Goose
9 comments:
It seems today is the day for talking about great books! Whoo hoo!!!
i used to belong to a book club in Primary School... we used to buy a book a month or so... I've still got one of those, called "The Iceberg hermit", probably for the ages of about 8-10-yo's, I guess? I re-read it again a few years ago, and dagnammit - it's still a good story!!!
What a great story Cazzie, and lucky girls of yours to have you sharing that book with them. I used to always read to my kids and we've shared some great stories over the years. Wonder if they're too old now?
I always loved Enid Blyton, my favourite book of hers was "The Adventures of Pip" and I actually found a hardback copy online ten years or so ago and have that in the bookcase. Do people actually still even HAVE bookcases anymore?
I have put Candle light on my growing list of books to read.
Mal, I have got to check that one out, my Nick loves his novels!
Foxy, never too old to read any book. I find itfascinating reading with the grade preps and grade ones at school this year.
I love Enids books also, and I share them with my children too.
Mom, you must, it is lovely. It could be read in one afternoon too, it is a light read :)
I love that you read to the children. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read...I think it is my greatest pleasure.
Ginnie, it sure is! My friend went blind at 42 years of age, she, like you and I, loved to read. So, I got her "talking books". It is amazing the services provided for those who cannot see. I even got her the Da Vinci Code talking book series, she was delighted of course :)
I still have several of my childhood book too.....they are tattered and falling apart, but still loved. How wonderful to be able to share this with your children.
It's amazing how a book can bring back such great memories. Last year I visited the library at the grade school where my cousin works. There was a book named "The Boxcar Children" I loved that book as a child. It was a book that my favorite teacher read to us in the 4th grade and I was glued to reading after that. Anyway, it was in the cart of books that she was getting rid of so I grabbed it. Now it's mine. I haven't read it yet, but I will.
That book is called "The Iceberg Hermit" by Arthur Roth, Scholastic, New York, 1974. That's the info on my copy, anyways! 1974 means I got it in 4th class... I would have been 9/10.
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