Glad Tidings

The First 25 Years of Flanders Family Christmas Letters

Non-Fiction - Genealogy
182 Pages
Reviewed on 01/17/2012
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Alice H. for Readers' Favorite

"Glad Tidings" by Jennifer Flanders is basically a biography of the Flanders family from birth to the present. Jennifer Flanders began to write annual Christmas greetings when first married and the letters chronicle family births, illnesses, homeschooling, family vacations and the interests and talents of each of the twelve children over a 24 year period of time. The glimpse into the family life of this large family is fascinating but also a reminder of the tremendous responsibilities that accompany the parenting role. The father is a physician and the mother a stay-at-home mother. This allows for a cohesive family operation in which rules and boundaries are clear and expectations known and comprehensible. The various antics of the children and their various pets and activities are enchanting and the author tells of each episode from memory with humor and humility. There is a hint of what the responsibility of twelve children does to the parents; however, the fact that religion has such a big role in the family life is an apparent focus of the book and the reader assumes that most events are taken in stride as simply another hurdle placed by God that is to be overcome by the person to whom the challenge has been given.

The author writes with expertise and a genuine, believable style that will capture the interest of most readers. It is obviously family-oriented and geared to traditional value systems. The family is to be admired for their challenging, loving and cohesive family unit.