I was tagged by Nicole from Thoughtful Inklings to do 'The Lovely Words Tag'. You can read her post here.
 
  She created this tag, which goes like this - pick three books with prose that stands out in vivacity and beauty. Books that could stand on imagery alone without characters or plot.

   Here are my three books!

  1. The Pilgrim's Progress | Christiana's Journey

Most people have heard of John Bunyan's famous allegory, which has influenced countless people and been referenced to in many other works - including 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott.

  This book follows the journey of Christian, as he makes his journey to the Celestial City. Along the way, he meets many colourful characters - Worldly Wiseman, Faithful, the Interpreter - and passes through many dangers.

    However, 'Christiana's Journey' is spoken about less, even though it is equally as wonderful a story! I've enjoyed both these books since I was young, listening to the dramatized audiobook tapes over and over again, and then reading the books several times too. The story of Christiana following in her husband's steps, with her children, and Mercy joining her has always been a favourite. The part where Great-Heart joins them, and together with her sons goes down to destroy doubting castle was one of my favourites.

    But as I've gotten older, each time I read the book I find more interesting metaphors, and appreciate the writing more. Here are some of my favourite quotes from 'Christiana's Journey'.

•  When he heard your lumbering noises, he gave a wonderful innocent smile...

•   It is my duty, said he, to distrust mine own ability, that I may have reliance on Him that is stronger than all. 

•  This day I see that Grace doth shine in your faces, and that you are my Lord's Shepherds indeed; for that you have not pushed these diseased neither with side nor shoulder, but have rather strewed their way into the Palace with flowers, as you should. 

• I have loved to hear my Lord spoked of; and where-ever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too.

  2. Words Unspoken

   This is a modern book, unlike the other two books I've included in this post. However, it's really beautiful and well written. This book by Elizabeth Musser is about a teenager who lost her mother to an accident and now can't drive without having a panic attack. She begins to take driving lessons and soon becomes fast friends with her elderly teacher and his wife. The book also follows his life, as well as his middle-aged daughter's life.  

     I really enjoyed this book, it does have a great plot, but although it's not super dramatic, and begins rather slowly, the writing style pulls the whole thing together. Here are some of my favourite quotes from 'Words Unspoken'.

•  She had a smile on her face that to Ev looked like the sun's rays spilling through an opening in the clouds

•   Thinking too much just brings it back to me, me, me-- but thanking takes my eyes off myself and my mistakes and puts them on others, on things bigger than myself. I can't stand here very long without being humbled at how small I am and amazed at how big and beautiful our world is. 

• I believe in a creator God, a God of design and power. An omniscient and omnipotent God who loves humanity and loves the individual. A God who's in the business of redeeming. 

 3. Little Women & Good Wives

  It's probably not surprising that I've included 'Little Women' by Louisa May Alcott, I love this book so much. This book follows the lives of four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, as they grow up and learn life lessons. My favourite parts of this book are the everyday scenes, where sisters are at home, acting out scenes, or making a disaster in the kitchen, or just sitting around talking. Some people might find those parts boring, but there are so many wise quotes hidden in those scenes.

    I think that the writing style of Louisa was ahead of her time, I've read several other classics from her era which take forever to read, and are bogged down by so many words that it's really hard to get through them. But her writing is simple and easy to understand, with the occasional flowery description that is well placed so as not to bog down the story.

    Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book.

• After that, the little brown hood slipped through the hedge nearly every day, and the great drawing room was haunted by a tuneful spirit that came and went unseen. 

•  Conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long; even if it is, the consciousness of possessing and using it well should satisfy one, and the great charm of all power is modesty.

•   I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace.

•    As she lifted the curtain to look out into the dreary night, the moon broke suddenly from  behind the clouds, and shone upon her like a bright, benignant face, which seemed to whisper in the silence, ' Be comforted, dear soul! There is always light behind the clouds.'

•  Oh when these hidden stores of ours, lie open to the Father's sight, may they be rich in golden hours, deeds that show fairer for the light, lives whose brave music long shall ring, like a spirit-stirring strain, souls that shall gladly soar and sing, in the long sunshine after rain. 

I am so excited to be part of the 'Hymns in the Hills' Release tour, it's my first time participating in one. Rebekah A. Morris did a wondering job with this book, a big thank you to her for letting me review it! Read to the end to find out how you can enter a giveaway for a Kindle version of this book!

Leona – Review & Author Interview

Amanda – Book Spotlight

Tuesday, May 28

Kaitlyn S. – Review & Author Interview

Rebekah Ashley – Book Spotlight

Rebekah – Names

Wednesday, May 29

Erika – Review

Sarah – Book Spotlight

Rebekah – Hymn Books

Thursday, May 30

Kaylee – Review – Review

Rachel – this post!

Rebekah – Editing

Friday, May 31

Esther – Author Interview

Jessica – Book Spotlight

Rebekah –Setting

Saturday, June 1

Kassie – Review & Author Interview

Rosalyn – Book Spotlight & Review

Penny – Review

Rebekah – Final Post + Book Covers

 

   I am not a feminist.

shocker? honestly, probably not.

  The official definition of feminism is this:

   "the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes." 

  Sounds good right? Who would disagree with the equality of the sexes? I completely agree that men and women are equal, and deserve equal rights. However the closer you look at feminism, the trickier it gets.
 
    "The advocacy of women's rights" is the first part of the definition. These rights include {but are not limited to} the right to live free from violence, slavery, and discrimination; to be educated; to own property; to vote; and to earn a fair and equal wage. All sounds good, right? But these are just a small number of the rights that feminism advocates. 

  Let's look at the definition of feminism by a leading feminist.

   "A huge part of being a feminist is giving other women the freedom to make choices you might not necessarily make for yourself." Lena Dunham 

   Now we're getting somewhere. 

Elizabeth Cady Stanton said, “when we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit."

“The gross perversion and destruction of motherhood by the abortionist filled me with indignation, and awakened active antagonism.” Elizabeth Blackwell the first US woman to receive a medical degree.

   Women have autonomy over their bodies. They can choose to do what they want with their body, but when a woman is receiving an abortion she is not terminating her body. She is terminating the life of a baby growing within her. 

    

   There is so much research and evidence about the biology of a baby in the womb, the harm abortion causes to women, and the brutality of abortion. I highly suggest you watch this video if you want more information.

    Even since the right to abortion became a feminist "value", the stance has changed dramatically. No long is it is considered a "necessary evil", or something solemn and sad, but women are told to "shout your abortion", celebrate and be proud of it. 

     When a law allowing third trimester abortions with no restrictions was passed in New York, women cheered, and clapped overjoyed that they were able to kill fully formed babies that look like this. 

 And now they even refuse to pass laws to protect babies who are born after a botched abortion! This isn't pro-choice, this isn't about women's rights, this is murdering babies.

 It's pretty obvious that pro-life women are not welcome in the feminist movement. When they try to join the women's march they are told they are not welcome, and a big funder of the march was planned parenthood.

 Don't get me started on planned parenthood, which has been ridden with scandals and illegal activity. The feminist movement ignores and continues to support the company through it all. Even though the roots of Planned Parenthood was not pro-women {as it still is not}, and was and continues to be very racist. 

 Is this equal rights? Is this what the suffragettes were fighting for? I think not!

 2. Believe All Women

  

  Equal rights? Women and men being equal? We take their words equally serious? Right? Just take a moment and think about the outrage that would come from turning this phrase around - "believe all men". 

   Please do not believe all women. Women are not angelic beings who are incapable of lying, or being villainous. If I think about the women I have known throughout my life, I can't count how many have been prone to gossip - which at the very least consisted of stretched truths, and many times completely made up stories. 

  

   Reality is women lie. Some women are vengeful, and mean, just as some men are vengeful and mean. The idea that we have to believe all women when they come out with abuse and assault accusations is incredibly dangerous! Should we take them seriously? Of course, and their claims should be investigated and proper actions taken if they are true. But we should also stand by "innocent until proven guilty", and take into consideration men's statements. 

   There are quite a few instances where women have made up stories about abuse to get revenge on exes, or an upper hand during divorces. And they rarely face repercussions. 

   With this feminist motto comes a strange exception. If a women does not agree with the feminist agenda, or upholds that a man is innocent when another woman claims he is guilty, we shouldn't believe her. In fact the same people who shout this slogan will try to silence her! 

   "She's just being controlled and influenced by the patriarchy!" or "She must be scared to tell the truth!" or whatever other excuse is given as to why we shouldn't believe her. 

    This is not equality. 

 3. Nasty Women

    Another common phrase that feminists proudly tote around is being that they are nasty women. This was rooted in a quote in which Trump called Hillary Clinton a nasty woman. I get that it's supposed to be a political statement. But it is serving a complete opposite purpose to what I assume it was meant to.

Nasty means "highly unpleasant, especially to the senses; physically nauseating."

  Is this really what feminists want to be seen as? The last thing I would want to be remembered as is nasty! 

    This whole thing ties in with the inner power, and self-love movement that women are so readily embracing nowadays. "We are strong, we are powerful, we are perfect just the way we are." That's a total fallacy, you can read my past post about self-love for a more in-depth explanation. 

    It also ties in with the idea that to be a strong, liberated and powerful woman, means that you can/should be rude, show off more of your body, and reject traditional feminine ideals.