Monday, January 28, 2008

Marriage on Mondays

Getting along with men isn't what's truly important. The vital knowledge is how to get along with a man, one man.

Phyllis McGinley (American author 1905 - 1978)


Marriage to a Difficult Man is an unfortunate title for the book I'm reading, because it really is a very readable volume covering the life and times of a famous preacher and his wife.

It's been several years since I first became aware of the biography, but I just now bought it: one for me and one for a gift ;)



Several others are talking about the Edwards. Desiring God's, Noel Piper, has a short lecture available online; and T M Moore (Breakpoint columnist) has edited several books, which seem to be suitable for Sunday School classes.

The Pipers introduce the reprinted 1971 Elizabeth Dodds biography and promote it precisely as an ingredient needed to reform the unbiblical, modern concept of marriage.

While I've only completed three chapters, I'm looking forward to learning more about how the well-educated Sarah was a suitable help for the large personality of her famous husband.

Her wedding dress is mentioned (it was a pea green brocade) as well as some of the gifts they received (silver porringer and pewter dishes). But the truly revealing tidbit:

The interior of their house was most of all distinctive because it was full of books


Did you receive any books as wedding gifts?

4 comments:

  1. I have this book. I was given it years ago. Read it then, but perhaps should read it again. Yes, I think the title is deceiving. A good read.

    As for wedding gifts, I was given The Joy of Cooking by that teacher who writes thank-you notes in the form of diagrammed sentences. She was definitely an interesting teacher who was good at what she taught.

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  2. I, too, received The Joy of Cooking from Miss Cheeseman. She was a good teacher all around in my opinion.

    Also, I received a very nice family Bible. It's is over-sized and perfect for keeping track of weddings, births, baptisms, and deaths for generations.

    Perhaps *that* should be my standard gift for my nieces/nephews, as I have not settled on one.

    I could hide a crisp $20 bill inside and see how long it takes for it to be discovered. giggle

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  3. That one's on my list of hope-to-read-before-I-die books.
    :-p

    At a shower I received a book of devotionals for newlyweds (N.B. this is a good gift for a groom but a bad gift for a bride); Good Housekeeping's All-American Cookbook (very good, still use it a lot); and book on the basic principles of decorating by Mary Crowley, I think her name was -- the woman who started Home Interiors and Gifts (this was also a very good book, but I lent it to someone and never got it back; I keep telling myself not to do that but I keep on doing it anyway!).

    Your family Bible idea is cool, including the money, but you'll have to leave a note telling each couple not to clue in the next cousin who marries.
    ;-)

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  4. Ah, yes, I remember receiving that Bible too. The lady who ran "that" bookstore gave it to us, I believe.

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