This week I read seven books!

I read three Laura Ingalls Wilder book on audio: Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. The library now has By the Shores of Silver Lake and Farmer Boy on audio. They didn't last week or the week before. So I may go back and read these to complete the series. (I read some of this series in December 2025.)

My least favorite book of the week is Traitors in Space. It's not that I think it's a bad book. I do think there will be young readers who do enjoy this choose your own adventure book. I think IF you approach it over a series of days or even weeks. If you read the story-path you've chosen ALL at once--beginning to end, and stay immersed in the story, it might work well. When you just read it super methodically and just pick things up at your last choice, well, the flimsy story becomes flimsier.

I read three Christian children's books this week! Two nonfiction books and an adaptation of Pilgrim's Progress. The other two were The Story of Corrie Ten Boom and 10 Questions about Pain and Suffering.

Century of Viewing #3

1980s

• 1980 Saturn 3 may have its share of fans. I'm not one of them exactly. Sci-fi-thriller with some gore involving a robot gone awry perhaps because his programmer was....less than fit psychologically. Shakespeare's tragedies may have a larger surviving cast. I also found some scenes to be....questionable. However to each their own.
• 1984. Nadia. It didn't take me very long to realize this must be a made for television movie and one that didn't concern itself with the actual actual facts of the people involved. It is a biopic that is 99.999999999% fiction. Well, that might be unfair. 99.2% fiction perhaps. They have a few names right AND the fact that Nadia got perfect tens and won Olympic medals. Still, if I'd known this movie existed as a kid, I might have watched it over and over again because I loved watching gymnastics.

1990s

• 1993. Groundhog Day is one of my favorite, favorite movies to again-again. Which seems right. I love the transformation of Phil. I do. It's funny and sweet and quirky
• 1993 Thing Called Love. I didn't enjoy this 1993 movie enough for it to be five stars, though it had its moments. Four people in Nashville trying to make it into the music business...Miranda "no relation" Presley is the center of attention--not that she's an instant success making it into the business, mind you. Just that it's insta for all the guys she meets. She falls for a bad boy type whom everyone warns her about...they even marry or "marry" as the case may be. Will they get a happy ending? Maybe. Maybe not. But it is an ending of sorts. I did like all the country music.
• 1997 Starship Troopers. Watching this one with my best, best friend. It is very much Beverly Hills 90210 in space, but, it's FUN or fun enough. I've just started reading the book. I'm going to guess the book is better. Perhaps. Maybe. Probably. The movie isn't so much about future space wars as it is hormones. Again some scenes slightly questionable, though there's plenty of unquestionable scenes as well. This one I rated 4 stars. It may be closer to 4.25 honestly.

2000s

• 2004 Bride and Prejudice. Bollywood retelling of Pride and Prejudice. I remember loving this musical when it first came out. It was FUN. I haven't watched it in ages. I found myself still loving all the music. AND being surprised at recognizing the cast from other stuff. Like the Darcy character being "Jack Sheridan" from Virgin River. OR Balraj being "Sayid" from LOST. I am glad I revisited this one!!!

2010s

• 2014 Chaos on the Bridge. I rate this one--right now upon first impressions--a 4 1/2 stars. I am tempted to give it five stars. BUT I'm just not sure that I'll still *feel* it 5 stars a few days, a few weeks, a few months from now. William Shatner is director and host of this Star Trek documentary. It is the story of STAR TREK THE NEXT GENERATION. Plenty of interviews with those who worked on the show behind the scenes. A few interviews with those who starred in the show. It's a colorful documentary.

2020s

• 2025 Gilded Age, Season 3. What a season?!?!?!?! There were a few things that I loved about season 2 and a few things that I definitely absolutely did not like at all. Season 3 has drama, drama, and more drama. YET there is lightness and hope and joy as well as drama. The last two episodes are SO INCREDIBLY INTENSE that you might lose all sense of time.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

7. The First Four Years. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1971. 134 pages. [Source: Library] [historical fiction, classic, series book, 3 stars]

First sentence: The stars hung luminous and low over the prairie.

The First Four Years was published several decades after the death of Laura Ingalls Wilder. It was published after the death of Laura and Almanzo's daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. It is based on three hand-written notebooks. The story is believed to have been written in the mid to late forties. It is also believed to have been shelved by Laura Ingalls Wilder after the death of Almanzo. She never went back to work on it again. She never polished it up. She never sent it to the publishers. It is what it is, a first draft.

It has a completely different feel than the other Little House books. It doesn't have chapters, for one thing. But more than that there is an emotional undertone of sadness and regret that makes it pointedly different than its predecessors. It is just very melancholy. Yes, it captures all the horrible things that happened next. Yes, it's probably accurate enough to assume that most if not all farmers experienced this many brutal hardships. The other Little House books often dealt with hard issues as well. But I suppose they felt more balanced. I think she injected enough hope and light to lift them up.

Personally, I'd rather have the "happily ever after" ending of These Happy Golden Years than the brutal hardships of The First Four Years. Not that I'm promoting the unrealistic fairy-tale ending where marriage is problem-free. But to read of all the hardships with the farm, the land, the money problems, the debt, the worries, the health problems, the weather/environment problems, etc. It's just so hard, so brutal, so depressing.





© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

This week I read SEVEN books. (I'm shocked too!!!)

At Operation Actually Read Bible, I reviewed a delightful Christian romance--historical set in Canada--titled The Lawyer and the Laundress. This is a marriage of convenience story and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Of course, technically it's a bit predictable. BUT I fail to see how that's anything but a positive.

At Becky's Book Reviews, I reviewed three books. I reviewed two audio books: FAHRENHEIT 451 a dystopian science fiction novel that I've read and reviewed dozens of times AND Anne of Ingleside, L.M. Montgomery's last published novel in the Anne series. Both of these books are old friends. Though they are completely and totally different from one another. The third book I reviewed was a review copy, Westfallen: Into the Fire. This is the sequel to Westfallen. Three friends in the past (1944) and three friends from the future (2023) make a grand mess of things when they learn the heard way about loose lips. To be fair, the kids from the future had no idea the dangers of talking freely about their present. And it started innocent enough. This second book is INTENSE. And it ends in a cliffhanger.

At Young Readers, I reviewed two picture books and one board book. The Animals of Farmer Jones is a classic Little Golden Book from the 1940s. Squirrel Sits Still takes place at a library, I believe, and Squirrel has a difficult time sitting still. If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone is a great picture book. A child makes a phone call on a banana....what will happen next?!?!


Century of Viewing #2

1920s

• 1927 Metropolis (Tubi, loopy-loop jazz soundtrack) The version I watched (the first time, yes I'm already contemplating a second time) was on Tubi. It had a looped jazzy-jazz soundtrack. Despite the fact that the soundtrack did not in any way complement the movie, I found the movie intriguing--fascinating--interesting--enjoyable. I have found a better version to watch....soon. Will it be this week? Maybe. Maybe not. Will it be tonight? Possible. Anything's possible. The plot?! Well, I believe it's set in 2026. A case of haves and have-nots. The underground worker city is looking for a Mediator as foretold by Maria. The son of the city's creator may just be that mediator. He's certainly smitten? mesmerized? under a spell when he first meets Maria. And then he goes underground himself and takes the place of a worker for a day--or night. Time is tricksy. There's also a SUPER mad scientist type who's created a robot. He wants to destroy EVERYBODY and everything.
• 1927 Metropolis (KINO, original score) This is the KINO restoration which is the closest to the original film in length. It also has the ORIGINAL score instead of the jazzy-jazz loop. Definitely seek out this version. The music is by Gottfried Huppertz. Science Fiction. Set in the future of 2026. Haves versus Have-Nots in society. "Head" versus "Hands" according to the movie. The movie is about the search for a MEDIATOR between the two. Also robots. Don't forget the provocatively dancing robot.

1940s

• 1948 Easter Parade I do not care for this Judy Garland and Fred Astaire musical. Is it better than Camelot?!?! YES. Is it the worst musical out there? Probably not. So Fred Astaire's dance partner is leaving him....and he has to find a new one...and so he trains up the Judy Garland character. She falls for him--why?!?!--and he doesn't really know she exists until she yells at him again and again for NOT noticing her like that. In the end, they end up together--at least temporarily. Will it last?! I don't know that I care enough to imagine all the scenarios. (Unlike Music Man. I have imagined all sorts of things about those characters).

1980s

• 1987 The Running Man. It is VERY, VERY, VERY 80s. The plot seems over the top. But it is--repeat with me--very, very, very 80s. It is strange...but I suppose that's to be expected. The plot? Criminals get a "second chance" on a reality television show. But 99% of this world is a lie...and nothing is as it seems.

1990s

• 1996 Escape from L.A.  Is it cheesy-cheeseful? YES. Was it meant to be? I think YES. Is the soundtrack horrible? I think it was almost meant to be. Maybe. My best friend said all the money went to hiring this cast and not to the special effects. Snake is back and this time he's doing a favor for ANOTHER president for another city.
• 1998 Lost in Space Do I want my time back? I probably would have wasted that time anyway all things considered. Was it time worst spent than playing WordScapes or Solitaire Farm Village? NO, not really. This "movie" is based on a television show. Not having seen the show, I'm not sure if it's a) more intelligent b) less intelligent or c) about the same.

2010s

• 2011 The Captains. My first documentary of the year though definitely not my last. This one is a documentary about Star Trek Captains. William Shatner interviews other Captains in the Star Trek series. This one being released in 2011 misses out on several shows, of course. BUT the interviews can be surprisingly deep and cover a wide range of topics. You expect fluff....and there is *some* fluff. But it isn't only fluff.

2020s

• 2024 VHS Christmas Carols. I love, love, LOVE, love this musical. The songs--most of them--are living rent free in my head. This is a mash-up of A Gift of the Magi, Little Match Girl, and A Christmas Carol. IT is EMOTIONAL and wonderful. I love it so much!!! I watched this one many times in December 2024 and many times in December 2025.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

4. Anne of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1939. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] [3 stars, audio book, classic]

First sentence: "How white the moonlight is tonight!" said Anne Blythe to herself, as she went up the walk of the Wright garden to Diana Wright's front door, where little cherry-blossom petals were coming down on the salty, breeze-stirred air.

Anne of Ingleside was L.M. Montgomery's last (published) novel. In the novel, she is revisiting her most beloved heroine, Anne. The novel opens with Anne visiting Avonlea in the spring of 1900; she is pregnant with Rilla. She is spending time with Marilla and Mrs. Lynde, of course, and making time to spend one whole day with Diana. If memory serves, Diana is not really mentioned again in the series (Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside). After a short visit, she returns to her own home, her waiting family. There is Gilbert, of course, and Susan Baker, and her five children: Jem, Walter, Nan and Di (the twins), and Shirley. The book, I believe, mentions around here that she's been married nine years and her oldest is seven. Imagine five children under the age of seven with one more on the way! So Anne is extremely fortunate to have Susan helping her with all those children! There is one person Anne isn't looking forward to seeing, Gilbert's Aunt Mary Maria. She comes for "two weeks" and stays over a year! The chapter on how they accidentally send her off is one of my favorites!!!

The narration of Anne of Ingleside is interesting. Readers spend time inside the minds of Anne, Jem, Walter, Di, Nan, Rilla, and perhaps Susan. I don't recall Gilbert or Shirley or Aunt Mary Maria! Montgomery devoted a certain amount of time to each child. These chapters capture different aspects of being a child, different fears and anxieties, different hopes and dreams. There is Jem's one desire for a dog who really truly loves him. There is Di's friendship troubles, I believe. Nan has a chapter about bargaining with God. My least favorite chapter, unfortunately, is near the end. Anne loses touch with reality and thinks Gilbert doesn't love her anymore and that he regrets marrying her. Seriously I'm not sure what Montgomery was thinking with this one!

I read this one trying to always keep in mind that this book serves as a goodbye. The original Anne audience would have been born circa 1895-1900. The first book was published in 1908. The last book was published in 1939. Those that grew up with Anne would have been able to introduce their children to Anne as well! Anne may have felt like a kindred spirit indeed, as her original audience was reaching their mid-to-late teens, Anne was falling in love and getting married. (Anne of the Island was published 1915. Anne's House of Dreams was published in 1917.) The following books, which focus on her raising a family. Rainbow Valley and Rilla of Ingleside were published in 1919 and 1921. This was "the" Anne series for almost fifteen years. Anne of Windy Poplars was published in 1936 and Anne of Ingleside in 1939.

When I first wrote this review in 2013, I am not sure I was aware of how L.M. Montgomery ended her life. This greatly saddens me. AND I can't help wishing for one more visit with Anne and her family. To see Anne as a grandmother--to see her children grown, married, with children of her own. Perhaps gathering the grandchildren around to tell them stories, to hear their stories. Or perhaps to take nature walks with them. I could imagine scenes where young children want to hear more, more, more of her stories.

As for rating this book, it's hard. There are chapters I absolutely LOVE. There are chapters I merely like or tolerate. There are chapters that seem to flow EASILY together--those near the start of the novel. And then others feel like added on vignettes. I do wish more time had been spent on ALL the children. We get a lot of Nan and Di with a few of Jem. But not as many for Walter or Shirley or Rilla.

Favorite quotes:

The only time I feel I'm getting along a bit is when I look at pictures in the magazines. The heroes and heroines in them are beginning to look too young to me. 

We'll enjoy each other's friendship today even if we are to be parted tomorrow. 

Our friendship has always been a very lovely thing, Diana.
Yes...and we've always...I mean...I never could say things like you, Anne, but we have kept our old 'solemn' vow and promise' haven't we?
Always...and always will.
Anne's hand found its way into Diana's. They sat for a long time in a silence too sweet for words. 

It was never quite safe to sit down on a chair at Ingleside without first making sure there wasn't a cat in it. 

This is no common day, Mrs. Dr. dear, she said solemnly.
Oh, Susan, there is no such thing as a common day. Every day has something about it no other day has. Haven't you noticed?

Half an hour later, Susan, reading her nightly chapter in her Bible, came across the verse, "Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house lest he weary of thee and hate thee." She put a sprig of southernwood in it to mark the spot. Even in those days, she reflected.

If a minister preaches a sermon that hits home to some particular individual people always suppose he meant it for that very person, said Anne. A hand-me-down cap is bound to fit somebody's head but it doesn't follow that it was made for him.

I do not think, Mrs. Marshall Elliott, that people in these parts say half the things they are reported to have said.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

3. Westfallen #2: Into the Fire. Ann and Ben Brashares. 2025. 384 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, series book, mg speculative fiction]

First sentence: IF at first you don't succeed, cry cry again.

Premise/plot: Into the Fire is the second book in the Westfallen series by brother-and-sister authors, Ben and Ann Brashares. The premise is AWESOME. Three friends from the present (2023) "meet" three friends from the past (1944) and history is changed FOREVER-forever. (Or is it?!?!?!) Henry, Lukas, and Frances were at one time best, best, best friends though in recent years they've grown apart--far apart. Alice, Lawrence, and Artie are friends as well. These six friends become connected by a radio.

In the first book, loose lips from the future changes the past. They make an attempt to fix it for sure, but, that attempt is unsuccessful. America [and the Allies] lost the Second World War. Bad news all around.

The six kids working together--though NOT by magic radio--try time and time and time again to change the future by changing the past. That is the kids from 2023 are searching for clues in a future where they are strangers--strangers in a strange land if you will--to see WHAT events in 1944 led to this terrible, horrible future. IT is a mystery. The kids in the past are trying their best to look for clues too. To be careful and observant. To look for anything off--signs of treason within their neighborhood. WHO is it among them that would communicate with the BAD bad guys.

Will the future be changed? Almost four hundred pages of MORE attempts...is there any progress?!?!?!

My thoughts: I read the first book TWICE. It was awesome. It was thrilling and chilling. Did not disappoint. This second book is equally intense. Same premise BUT with an added layer of dystopia. The world-building IS intriguing--and terrifying. I do think some readers--perhaps older readers???--will piece together clues before the kids in the story. I did want to shout at the characters a few times. Did I expect a cliff hanger ending? I didn't. And that's probably all my own fault. I read this book in two or three sittings BECAUSE I thought at last, at last, at last RESOLUTION. There is no resolution. WAS it a great read? YES for the most part. At least as good as the first book. Perhaps I'm more invested for the second book. I want the third book NOW, NOW, NOW, NOW.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

 In the last days of 2025, I did review two books and a Bible. I also watched a handful of movies. However, I've decided to just include the ones reviewed and/or watched in 2026 proper.

I DID review one book this week. (My numbers can only go up from here!) That one book is THE LONG WINTER by Laura Ingalls Wilder. This is a fabulous, fabulous read. I listened on audio book. I do recommend listening to the series on audio because of the fiddle bits. Every time there is a song--where Pa plays his fiddle--there's FIDDLE. It does immerse you more in the story which is lovely. This one is best read UNDER a blanket or two.

Century of Viewing Week #1

1960s

• 1962 Music Man Is The Music Man my absolute and favorite musical?!?!?! Probably. Maybe. Definitely top three if not the top slot. A traveling sales man sells the town on boys' band, but, his less than honest past may catch up with him before the end. But the love of a GOOD librarian may just lead to the best resolution of all.
• 1967 Camelot. My second one-star movie of the year is CAMELOT (the musical). It had probably been three decades since I last saw it. I had a vague memory of some of the songs. And curiosity enough to rewatch it. Camelot is not made for an overthinker like me. IF I'd watched it in the daytime, I'd have probably had words with the screen. As everyone was sleeping, I had to keep my loud thoughts quiet. (Or quieter.)

1980s

• 1982 Ivanhoe THE one and only. THE best way to start New Year's Day. This Swedish tradition of watching Ivanhoe on New Year's Day is all kinds of awesome. I just had to borrow the tradition once my friend "Anonymous L" shared about it. THE story is full of action, adventure, and ROMANCE. Love, love, love this one so much.
• 1987 Overboard How many people go overboard in this romantic comedy? Quite a few--but many are repeats. This comedy is delightful--a bit over the top...dare I say a bit overboard. HOWEVER, I think this prank soon becomes oh-so-real as feelings get involved. I love how this found family saves her.

1990s

• 1995 While You Were Sleeping. I started this one a few days ago. It's a great movie to watch in between Christmas and New Year's Day. It's SO quotable and funny and enjoyable. Just a delight to watch this romantic comedy that is quirky and family-focused.

2020s

• 2020 We Three Kings. This is a bio pic, a period drama, a movie based on true events. It is about how the Christmas Carol "We Three Kings" was written. In theory, it shouldn't be *that* bad a movie. I don't know if it's the actors fault for not being great actors, or the fault of those who cast this movie in the first place, or perhaps the fault is the writers. THE costumes are lovely. But the acting and/or the writing is very stilted, unnatural, awkward. The writing does have a lot of info-dumping.

 

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

1. The Long Winter (Little House #6) Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1940. 334 pages. [Source: Library][audiobook, historical fiction, classic]

 First sentence: The mowing machine's whirring sounded cheerfully from the old buffalo wallow south of the claim shanty, where bluestem grass stood thick and tall and Pa was cutting it for hay.

Premise/plot: The Ingalls family--and the whole community/territory--face a brutal, harsh, and terribly long winter full of blizzards. 

This first chapter is called "Make Hay While the Sun Shines" and if it's found within a book called THE LONG WINTER, the reader knows what to expect even if the characters don't. The book opens with Ma and Pa and family getting ready for harvest and winter. Laura is helping out Pa. Mary and Carrie are helping out Ma. Laura is especially pleased that she's old enough (around 14 now) to help Pa and do outdoor chores.

The Ingalls family is living in their claim shanty. This would be the first fall/winter they've been there. And they know it will be tough, but when the first blizzard comes in October, they know that it wouldn't only be tough to survive but impossible to survive if they were to try to stay on their homestead. Fortunately, Pa owns property in town. A place where they can be nice and warm and cozy for the winter. Or so they think.

What no one could know is just how hard, how long, how tough this winter was going to be. Some folks are prepared--the Wilder boys for instance--but most are not. Most are relying on the train making regular stops in town. The trains are essential for stocking the stores of supplies. But when almost every day brings a blizzard--with clear days coming only one at a time and never on a predictable schedule--it soon becomes clear that the trains will not be saving the day. Not til spring. The town's survival, the Ingalls' family survival, is a big if at this point.

Cold. Hunger. Starvation. No supplies. What's not to love?

My thoughts: The Long Winter has always been one of my favorites of the Little House series. I'll admit it tends to make you cold and hungry. But that's not a bad thing, right? I didn't think so. Only two books can trick my mind and body--okay maybe three--into thinking it's cold and hungry. One, of course, is The Long Winter. The other two are by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I think one of the reasons I love The Long Winter is that it introduces Almanzo Wilder onto the scene. True, there was Farmer Boy, but not every reader takes the time to read Farmer Boy. I spent forty plus years avoiding it. I read it earlier this year for the first time. But this Almanzo is a man--a young man it's true--19 years of age. And he's acting "manly" alright when it's time to save the day. I love every scene Almanzo is in. Laura first meets him when she's lost and trying to find her Pa in the slough of hay. Here is the description: "His blue eyes twinkled down at her as if he had known her a long time." Anyway, I love this book.

Is it my favorite and best from the series? Probably. I do love These Happy Golden Years. So those two are my favorite and best. But I really LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this one so much.

ETA: I listened to The Long Winter--a book I've read dozens of times--on audio narrated by Cherry Jones. The audio book is a little over seven hours.


© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews