By the Chapter Wrap-up Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter

I really had such a blast reading this book throughout the week and chatting with Marcia and all of you. I think Mrs. Perfect makes quite a good discussion novel even if I am not very much like Taylor on the surface!

I was pretty pleased with this book up until the ending. It's not that the ending was bad necessarily, it was just a bit too tidy for me. I don't want to give anything away for those of you haven't read it, so I'm not sure what to say!

One of the smaller aspects of the book I thought was interesting was how Taylor had been an enthusiastic born again Christian in her teen years. I loved the part when she discovered her Christian music in the attic...all the vintage stuff! And I really like that even though she had personally moved away from that in her life, she recognized the freedom that it had brought her during that time in her life. Sometimes Christians are portrayed as being narrow-minded, cruel, stupid, and legalistic in books. I suppose I am especially sensitive to it, because I am one. So it was nice to read in a book a character who "got it" and still respected it even if it wasn't her current way of life. Admittedly, when it was first brought up, I cringed just waiting for the mocking to start. But that never happened. So, um, thank you Jane Porter!

Reading that attitude of the wealthy was in many ways interesting as well. When they are forced to move, they act like it's a really huge deal. But part of me was put off by that because some people would be just so thrilled to have any house to live in! I guess it's always hard to downgrade.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Taylor's story. I could so often feel her pain and sympathize with her struggles. I'll wrap this up with one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"It hits me how hard this thing called life is and how ridiculous it is to make it any harder than it has to be."

So true. Thanks everyone! Please share your final thoughts in the comments! And many thanks to Marcia for all her work in coordinating By the Chapter!