Charles Martin

It’s another Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl!

Top Ten Tuesday at The Green Mockingbird

Officially, Top Ten Tuesday Turns 10! Congratulations to the beginning ladies at The Broke and the Bookish for starting this Tuesday tradition and to Jana of That Artsy Reader Girl for continuing it!

The assignment this week is to pick a past topic and redo it or to pick one you haven’t done and participate! I have decided to do a twist on book cover design, particularly my favorite landscape-style covers. Some of these are favorite stories, some are still on my TBR. I recommend checking out these authors’ other books, too, for more great landscape covers.

Top Ten Tuesday: Landscape #CoverLove

The Mountain Midwife by Laurie Alice Eakes

Honeysuckle Dreams by Denise Hunter | review

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton | review

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

Set the Stars Alight by Amanda Dykes

The Right Kind of Fool by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Water from My Heart by Charles Martin

Promise Me Tomorrow by Lori Wick

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright | review

Together at the Table by Hillary Manton Lodge | review

Review: The Mountain Between Us is so much more than a story of survival. It’s a story of steadfast hope, sacrifice, and commitment.

This is very much Ben’s journey because it is told in his 1st person POV. Through his eyes, the reader learns of his past (through audio dictations to his wife that read like letters) and experiences firsthand how this sudden test of extreme circumstances challenges him and brings out his admirable determination to succeed. Ashley’s character growth and tenacity is never shortchanged, though, as her spunk, humor, and optimism are easy to love and see.

I am once again impressed with Charles Martin’s emotional prose and ability to maintain tension both in circumstance (stranded in the wild) and heart (Ben has an enigmatic side) until the last few pages. The heart-journey is much deeper than the snow Ben and Ashley find themselves in. And WHAT A TWIST!!!!!! This book is one I would highly recommend to fans of contemporary drama, action/survival stories, or even emotional romantic dramas in the style of Nicholas Sparks.

Movie thoughts: Clearly I loved the book —- highly recommended. The movie was good, just not the straight book-to-movie adaptation I had hoped for (as typical with book-to-movie changes). A few key things were changed —- most I could understand for the film medium and time’s sake, except for a couple key moments. It was beautiful visually and well-acted (I always love Kate Winslet). BUT, there were a couple things that happened which altered the portrayal of Ben, his history, and even altered his character’s integrity that disappointed me. THE GOOD NEWS? Check out this recent response from author Charles Martin in his newsletter concerning the changes and his minimal role in the process. I agree and am encouraged by his response. If the movie is spurring the popularity of the book and the message of HOPE it contains, I’m very happy!