Letters to Karen

My Bible teacher gave us an assignment to read one of the books that he recommended for this quarter. I choose "Letters to Karen" because it looked like an easy book to read. It interested me that it was a collection of letters about a married life that a father wrote to his daughter. I was told that it might be too old and boring, but actually I found it very absorbing as I read it. The Dad in the letters talks to his daughter very respectably with deep thoughts. He talks about many different struggles incidental to a married couple and gives good examples based on his experiences. Each of chapters taught me some new lessons that I would have never even thought about if somebody did not tell me. Of course, I am not going to be married to someone right now, but those little tips were good to know because I probably will be married someday. I wish I could get some advice like them from my own Dad, but I am from a broken home, and I know that I probably will not. At least now I know where to find some guidance for marriage if I needed some. I think, if there is someone like me, it would be nice for them to read this book. I also want to encourage others who are not from a home like mine just because it might be helpful for them too!

I gave "Letters To Karen" five stars because I found it to be full of interesting information. Even though the book was written in 1965 I did not find it to be as old fashioned as I thought it would be. Shedd gives good ideas on how to keep your marriage going smoothly. For instance: Shedd talked about giving your spouse some space when he or she needs it. I liked the chapter "A Savory Smell From The Kitchen" and how it talked about all the things you could do to make your meals more enjoyable. I thought it was clever how the list went from A-Z in ideas. There was a story that Shedd told in this book that was good if you are having a lot of troubles in your marriage. This couple was having surrmountable problems and were considering divorce when they got an idea. They wrote out all the things they did not like about each other, let the other person read the list, and then they burnt the bad lists. Then they made a list of all the good things they liked about each other, framed the lists, and hung them above their bed. That way they could look at those lists every day and remember the good things they liked about their spouse. I thought that was a wonderful idea. I also admired the way Shedd was able to openly and honestly talk about sex with Karen. I think some dads would have a hard time even thinking that one day their little girl will grow up, get married, and have sex. So, I appreciated his truthfulness. In one chapter it talks about how you should act like you were still courting in marriage. Shedd used the example of husbands opening the car door for their wife. Just little things like that to show you still care. I am very pleased I was able to read this book. I enjoyed it very much, especially because Shedd based a good marriage on having a firm relationship with God. With God anything's possible.

I found this book's Chinese version in China. It's really amazing how good and practical this book is! I wish that I would have read it 2 years ago, then I could be a better wife. :-) But anyway... thanks to Charlei. It's never too late to read this book and practice it. ^_^

This is wonderful, witty, practical advice on how to keep love alive. For years, it has been my favorite gift to give to engaged couples...along with its companion, "Letters to Philip." Charlie Shedd is a master on building healthy, loving relationships in a world bent on destroying them. I read everything he writes!

I was really surprised in reading this book. You would think that a book on marriage written 35 years ago would not hold true in the nineties. But Dr. Shedd truly does understand marriage, and his advice does hold today as well as it did 35 years ago. In this time where "love" is lost pretty quickly in marriages, LETTERS TO KAREN helps provide easy-to-follow guidelines for keeping that love in marriage