This book was a fascinating read into the life of someone who calls himself a Crunchy Conservative and I had to admit it was rather thought provoking.
Coming from England, the one and only time I voted, I voted for the Labour Party which is halfway between the American Republican and the American Democratic parties.  This has always made it difficult for me to affiliate with any one party over here- not a big deal since I cannot legally vote as I am not a citizen!
So you can imagine my surprize when in the course of a day, this book pops up twice in conversation.  I immediately get a copy to read.
Dreher begins his book by describing Crunchy Conservatives, their beliefs in certain areas and illustrates these with profiles and conversations of crunchy cons in real life.
In this case, for those who do not know, Crunchy is a term used to describe the kind of person who makes their own granola (muesli in the UK)... hence crunchy.  Typically people who do so are very much the kind who care for the environment, eat organic foods, HOMESCHOOL, grow their own food, follow the slow food movement and support the liberal political parties.  In this case, Dreher points out that there are a number of Republicans out there who do these things too, except they support the Republican party.
Dreher tells us that crunchy cons are CONSERVATIONIST in that they believe in land stewardship, and do not support strip mining, mountaintop removal or the overuse of chemicals.  Crunchy cons are supporters of small businesses and agri-business and do not want whatever big business wants.
Crunchy cons support family and the family meal, quality family time and deplore McMansions...
Truth be told, many of these philosophies apply to our family!  We homeschool, try to eat organic, support the local farmers by buying produce locally, have a smaller house than most and always eat our homecooked food together.

The book has a number of well taken points, although Dreher can get a little preachy and lecturish at times, but his points are non-the-less valid for all that.  I can be hard not to get that way when people do not listen!  Similarly he can also be self contradicting.
It is far from being a book that will change the world, but it could easily make you think twice on your beliefs, and although not especially original fare, it is interesting.

*** 3 Stars- a worthy read, but be prepared to take what he says lightly, not everyone will agree with him.  Amazingly, the crunchy con precepts even tied into the whole Simple Elegance thread...

This book disappointed me.  It had great promise, and it had a valid point.  What it also had, was an agenda.  It is unfortunate when an author decides to fill a book with their political views, because so often (unless it is a political book and you want the views) they colour your perception of the topic.
Louv coloured his topic, with his environmentalist views, and I was turned off to a lot of what he had to say.
The trouble is, he had a real and valid argument to present.
The book tells us of the change in our perception towards the outdoors and how, where many years ago a parent would let their child roam outside, they willl not today.  How large suburban subdivisions, with covenants, govern our children's ability to play, telling them where and when and even what they can and cannot do.
He tells us that ADHD can be controlled with time in nature, that children need the outdoors to be healthy.
I can't say I disagree, and indeed, I performed an experiment myself.  OK, so it didn't start out being an experiment, just a weather caused experiment!
Monday and Tuesday, I let the kids out to play in the garden... on their own or while I was outside but not directing them.  Wednesday and Thursday, a little heat directed, we stayed inside (getting outside early would appear to be the key here).  Trust me, I much preferred the hyper, but obedient kids of the first two days than the mischeivous kids of the latter two!
Is this conclusive?  No... but I do know if we dont take a walk, my two year old doesnt sleep!
The truth is, this is a great argument for more outdoor time for children, I agree, they should be outdoors more often.  If, on the other hand, you are a fan of Charlotte Mason, and you schedule Nature Study and spend lots of time outside, it is really preaching to the choir.  If you are a CM fan who doesnt get out regularly, you should read it.  Just be ready to take the politics with a pinch of salt!

I give it a ***3 Star rating.  A good book, but not one I'd tell you to buy.

On a different note, a few beach reads to suggest!  I am a fan of Jude Deveraux's novels... she is an author of a genre I have always loved to read... the somewhat gothic style of romance novels out there.  I say somewhat gothic, because she is not really as gothic as say, Victoria Holt or Mary Stewart can be, but I highly recommend their books and Deveraux's too.


First on my list was Forever, the first book in the forever and always trilogy.  A book about psychic Darci Monroe and Adam Montgomery... the pair team up to fight some evil witches.  A light hearted read.  I read it because I had read the other two, but never this one!

*** 3 Stars, not her best novel, but definitely an enjoyable read!


Next up was The Mulberry Tree.  I chose to read this one because it was excepted in the back of Forever, but it was by far the better novel.
When Lillian's husband dies, she is left with nothing but an old farmhouse in Virginia.  She changes her identity and discover's how to live alone.  Charged by her dead husband to find out the truth, she has to discover what lies beneath the surface of the history of her inheritance.

**** 4 Stars because I rather enjoyed this entertaining read!


last on my list was Wild Orchids, a paranormal romance.  Writer Ford Newcombe is taken by a story told by Jackie Maxwell, how a woman is pressed for loving the Devil.  Having suffered a case of write's block since the death of his wife Pat, he sets off to the town of North Carolina to find out the truth.  With Jackie along as his assistant, the two of them learn a lot more about life, love, and small towns than they bargined for.

**** 4 stars... the scene at the end is my favourite, and made the book for me!

Ireland, a Novel