Thursday, July 5, 2012
Book Review: "My Stubborn Heart"
This review may contain some spoilers. Read with caution!
"My Stubborn Heart" by: Becky Wade
As most of you will have guessed by now I love a good light-hearted romantic-comedy in my films and I love it when a book is able to pull off that same depth of warm fuzzies that a (good) rom-com can! When "My Stubborn Heart" popped up in my review selection I knew that from the cheerful cover to the warm description that this book promised a good light-hearted romantic read!
The story is about Kate Donovan, a thirty-one year old single young woman who is completely burned out on every aspect of her life. Feeling the need to break the ruts he has lived too long in she has agreed to take a sabbatical from her job as a social worker and pack up and move from Dallas to rural Pennsylvania to help her Gran refurbish and restore the house she grew up in. Kate and Gran dig into the project with gusto purging the home of its 1955 redecorated interior and uncovering long forgotten treasures while breathing life back into the grand old house. With a project so large it's hard to get by without a little help from your friends and Kate and Gran are no different- Gran's hometown buddies, a quirky mix of ageing retirees lend a hand and humor to this book.
Also lending a hand is handy man Matt Jarreau a local young man that Gran has known since he was 'this big' who is now living with a tragic past that he can't outrun. Matt, once a professional hockey player and mega celebrity has quite simply quit hockey and quit life after the death of his wife to cancer several years before. Matt is a hard, closed case for social worker Kate who likes to be open and bring people out of their shells- and Kate begins to wonder if this is what she was really brought to Chapel Bluff for even as she fights her growing attraction to Matt. Matt in the meantime has no doubt as to the attraction he is feeling for Kate- and the guilt that it brings with it...the only problem for Matt is that his heart is still in tatters from his wife's death- what happens if he lets Kate get a hold of it- and worse, what happens if he lets God get a hold of his heart too?
I really loved about the first six chapters of this book, from there the plot went a bit sideways. The prologue is sweet and charming pulling the reader in with a 'once upon a time' style set up that quickly jumps into the heart of the story. From there- and throughout the book- the dialog is quick, natural and snappy breathing a lifelike, 3-D quality to each character and situation and moves the plot along rapidly. And that is where things get sticky. By the time the reader hits chapter seven Matt is insatiably 'in love' with Kate going into a complete 'abort-mission-eject-now' tailspin that sees him crashing and burning simply because Kate has gone away for the weekend! From there Matt's passion and desire for Kate is not logically and thoughtfully cultivated but brought to and left in top gear for the duration of the story up to its stormy, passionate resolution at the end of the book. While Matt does get his life together as a result of Kate's help and Kate does reach a point of 'surrender to a higher purpose' in helping him, the thing that drove the book- and drove me crazy in the process- was that the characters stop- or in some cases, never start- talking to each other in an honest and direct way about the way they feel or the way they feel God moving in their lives! It's a fault that leads them both to further heartbreak and disillusionment before it ever leads them together. It's a fault that leaves, this reader at least, disillusioned with the direction of the plot.
No good romantic-comedy revvs its viewers up full throttle only to hold them there for the remainder of the film. Instead, every great romance involves a secret well hidden and gently cultivated until the time of revelation and redemption comes. While I really love this new author's writing style and way with words (her observations on church singles groups and on taking out the trash chores had me rolling with laughter) I can't help but wish and think that a more steady pace with more open conversations would have produced a story that would have had more power and less theatrics.
Having said that, I will look forward to giving this author a second chance with her next publication and hope that with time her writing matures and gives readers that depth of warm fuzzes that every rom-com reader is looking for.
For this book I say 3.5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Book Review: "The Messenger"
"The Messenger" by: Siri Mitchell
I chose to review this book because I had confused the author with Syrie James whose book "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" I had read, and I wanted to see what that author could do with more original material. Unfortunately, I only realized my mistake after I had finished reading "The Messenger"! Oh well!
This book is the story of Hannah Sutherland a Quaker in the midst of the American War for Independence. The story takes place in Philadelphia over the winter of 1778- the winter of Valley Forge's almost starvation... Hannah and her family are forced to quarter British troops in their home and live side by side with men who they want nothing to do with. These circumstances quickly force Hannah and her family out of their home and they take refuge in the home of her affluent aunt and uncle. In the midst of the upheaval in her life Hannah and her family has learned that their son, Hannah's twin brother, who fights for General Washington has been captured and thrown in jail but as part of the Quaker mandate they choose to let him rot in jail as part of the 'consequences' and 'just punishment' for the action he has chosen in going to war. Hannah, having a deep connection to her twin begins feeling the specter of her brother and the deplorable conditions he is living in and is determined to do something to help him even though she knows it is forbidden by her 'Meeting'.
Enter Jeremiah Jones, a former British soldier in Pontiac's War. Jeremiah lost his hand in a skirmish during that war and now runs a tavern and lives in bitter resignation that he will never lead the life that he thought he would, the life that he desires to live with a wife and family. Jeremiah is a mercenary with no true loyalties and uses his tavern, as a bustling center of activity and gossip, to pass that information on. At the moment he is working to pass information to Washington through an intermediary- but finds himself on his own as the man feels the risk is becoming too great for him to continue. This leaves Jeremiah the recipient of a message planning a jail break to liberate Washington's captured soldiers with no one to work with and no means to deliver it...
So begins an unlikely partnership of convenience. Through a series of events Jeremiah is able to get Hannah into the prison to visit her brother- and pass messages and materials- in the hopes of making the jail break possible and in the process save Hannah's brother from certain death. Hannah and Jeremiah constantly butt heads and fight over the things he asks of her and what she is willing to do for him. In the midst of this Jeremiah falls in love with Hannah, but although he feels the effects of her kindness and self-sacrifice that warms his hardened heart and causes him to become a better man he continues to believe that no woman will ever want him. Hannah, in seeing the effects of war up close and personal, begins a tortured journey of conscience that eventually separates her from her 'Meeting' and her family as she can no longer stand by and remain neutral.
I really wanted to like this book as I have always enjoyed 'Revolutionary War' fiction but I kept putting the book down in disappointment... I did feel that the book is well researched but try as I might I just couldn't connect with the story. The storyline itself could have been workable and good but the narrative throughout feels really off as it is told in a really odd first person voice which also switches back and forth between the two main characters perspectives.
Much of what Hannah struggles with throughout the book stems from philosophies and theologies that I know are integral to the Quakers but are so opposite of what I myself believe that it was difficult to see that played out without wanting to throttle a few people! I was glad to see her reach a point of decision and action that allowed her to move forward with her life in a direction that she knew to be right.
Something that really grated on me was the actions of Hannah's parents, particularly her father. As they are living as guests in the aunt's home they repeatedly make a nuisance of themselves by refusing the help of the household servants/slaves or by trying to do their work. This action does nothing but make life more difficult for the servants as it brings attention and hardship to their usually unnoticed lives/work. This is always done in the name of abolition with the reasoning that 'these people are made in God's image and should not be owned by any one' (which is true) but the sentiment is curiously laughable in the face of their refusal to take sides and help those- like their own son- who are dying in the prison or are fighting to free the country from being under the tyrannnical rule of the British!!
The thing that was extremely frustrating was the book's abrupt ending! After more than 350 pages we finally get to the big event and the reader feels that the wrap up is about to begin- then you turn the page and find you are at the end without even an epilogue! So many things are left up in the air and without answers that it really cheats the reader out of a truly happy ending! With good resolution this book could have had a strong ending that would have left the reader more satisfied.
So, in the end this is a story with good potential that never lives up to what it could be and leaves readers wanting what they should have gotten after so many long pages!
This book gets a disappointed 2 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
I chose to review this book because I had confused the author with Syrie James whose book "The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen" I had read, and I wanted to see what that author could do with more original material. Unfortunately, I only realized my mistake after I had finished reading "The Messenger"! Oh well!
This book is the story of Hannah Sutherland a Quaker in the midst of the American War for Independence. The story takes place in Philadelphia over the winter of 1778- the winter of Valley Forge's almost starvation... Hannah and her family are forced to quarter British troops in their home and live side by side with men who they want nothing to do with. These circumstances quickly force Hannah and her family out of their home and they take refuge in the home of her affluent aunt and uncle. In the midst of the upheaval in her life Hannah and her family has learned that their son, Hannah's twin brother, who fights for General Washington has been captured and thrown in jail but as part of the Quaker mandate they choose to let him rot in jail as part of the 'consequences' and 'just punishment' for the action he has chosen in going to war. Hannah, having a deep connection to her twin begins feeling the specter of her brother and the deplorable conditions he is living in and is determined to do something to help him even though she knows it is forbidden by her 'Meeting'.
Enter Jeremiah Jones, a former British soldier in Pontiac's War. Jeremiah lost his hand in a skirmish during that war and now runs a tavern and lives in bitter resignation that he will never lead the life that he thought he would, the life that he desires to live with a wife and family. Jeremiah is a mercenary with no true loyalties and uses his tavern, as a bustling center of activity and gossip, to pass that information on. At the moment he is working to pass information to Washington through an intermediary- but finds himself on his own as the man feels the risk is becoming too great for him to continue. This leaves Jeremiah the recipient of a message planning a jail break to liberate Washington's captured soldiers with no one to work with and no means to deliver it...
So begins an unlikely partnership of convenience. Through a series of events Jeremiah is able to get Hannah into the prison to visit her brother- and pass messages and materials- in the hopes of making the jail break possible and in the process save Hannah's brother from certain death. Hannah and Jeremiah constantly butt heads and fight over the things he asks of her and what she is willing to do for him. In the midst of this Jeremiah falls in love with Hannah, but although he feels the effects of her kindness and self-sacrifice that warms his hardened heart and causes him to become a better man he continues to believe that no woman will ever want him. Hannah, in seeing the effects of war up close and personal, begins a tortured journey of conscience that eventually separates her from her 'Meeting' and her family as she can no longer stand by and remain neutral.
I really wanted to like this book as I have always enjoyed 'Revolutionary War' fiction but I kept putting the book down in disappointment... I did feel that the book is well researched but try as I might I just couldn't connect with the story. The storyline itself could have been workable and good but the narrative throughout feels really off as it is told in a really odd first person voice which also switches back and forth between the two main characters perspectives.
Much of what Hannah struggles with throughout the book stems from philosophies and theologies that I know are integral to the Quakers but are so opposite of what I myself believe that it was difficult to see that played out without wanting to throttle a few people! I was glad to see her reach a point of decision and action that allowed her to move forward with her life in a direction that she knew to be right.
Something that really grated on me was the actions of Hannah's parents, particularly her father. As they are living as guests in the aunt's home they repeatedly make a nuisance of themselves by refusing the help of the household servants/slaves or by trying to do their work. This action does nothing but make life more difficult for the servants as it brings attention and hardship to their usually unnoticed lives/work. This is always done in the name of abolition with the reasoning that 'these people are made in God's image and should not be owned by any one' (which is true) but the sentiment is curiously laughable in the face of their refusal to take sides and help those- like their own son- who are dying in the prison or are fighting to free the country from being under the tyrannnical rule of the British!!
The thing that was extremely frustrating was the book's abrupt ending! After more than 350 pages we finally get to the big event and the reader feels that the wrap up is about to begin- then you turn the page and find you are at the end without even an epilogue! So many things are left up in the air and without answers that it really cheats the reader out of a truly happy ending! With good resolution this book could have had a strong ending that would have left the reader more satisfied.
So, in the end this is a story with good potential that never lives up to what it could be and leaves readers wanting what they should have gotten after so many long pages!
This book gets a disappointed 2 out of 5 stars.
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Book Review: "The Rose of Winslow Street"
"The Rose of Winslow Street" by: Elizabeth Camden
The Rose of Winslow Street is a tale set in 1879 Massachusetts and revolves around Libby Sawyer a 28 year old spinster who lives a solitary life with her father in a well-appointed, quiet neighborhood home. Libby is a talented young woman who delights in painting botanical illustrations, nurturing her deceased mother's rose garden, and loving on her five year old niece. She is a woman of character, strength, and infinite patience with her elderly, absent minded, inventing professor father.
She is also a woman who has lived an unnoticed life.
However, this book opens not with Libby but with a mysterious stranger shepherding a lady, two small children and several men into Libby's vacated-for-the-summer home under the cover of darkness. The man is Michael Dobrescu who has recently arrived from Romania and is now laying legal claim to Libby's father's house! Michael is a physically imposing man who fiercely protects his family even as he tries the best way he knows how to provide for them. But just like Libby, Michael is a multifaceted character who holds secrets and proves surprising at every turn!
As Professor Sawyer and Michael tumble into a fiercely contested legal battle for the house Libby finds herself torn between her father's outraged demands for fealty and the shunning of the interlopers and the surprising kindness, acceptance, inspiration and purpose she finds amongst Michael and his family. Despite the inward and outward turmoil it causes Libby finds herself reaching out in Christian charity to the people who occupy her home and quickly finds Michael himself occupying her heart. But why should anyone love a forgotten woman like her? And who will find themselves the true owner of the house on Winslow Street? These questions and more are answered with such satisfaction and storytelling skill that the reader will be amazed at where this tale ends!
One of the surprising things about this book is that the supporting characters are just as well crafted and important to the story as the main characters! From Michael's sister the quiet and broken Lady Mirela to Libby's sister-in-law the ingratiating and conniving Regina, these characters add so much to the story that they help to bring to life and further highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters. One supporting character that I had a great deal of trouble putting up with though, much less liking, was Libby's father Professor Sawyer. The Professor is an ill-tempered, off balance, and even at times unhinged old man who has used Libby's artistic talents to have technical drawings of his inventions made while all the time looking at and treating her as a burden and a "mental deficient" because of her illiteracy and her singleness. His verbally harsh treatment of her in a number of scenes broke my heart but throughout it all Libby amazingly honors her father and never retaliates in any way and continues to care for her father's wellbeing until her long awaited exit comes.
This book is driven by the conflict and resolution of the issue of the house but is graced with the gentle love story of Libby and Michael. It is a love that slowly develops and is uncontrived and unforced- something that is refreshing to see in any current piece of fiction!
This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Camden and after this it cerainly won't be the last! From the very beginning to the final pages the author grows a story that is, just like a rose, deeply layered and revealing it's true beauty as time goes on to finally be fully mature and produce the sweetest of fragrances. It is a true pleasure to read and I hope you do!
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
The Rose of Winslow Street is a tale set in 1879 Massachusetts and revolves around Libby Sawyer a 28 year old spinster who lives a solitary life with her father in a well-appointed, quiet neighborhood home. Libby is a talented young woman who delights in painting botanical illustrations, nurturing her deceased mother's rose garden, and loving on her five year old niece. She is a woman of character, strength, and infinite patience with her elderly, absent minded, inventing professor father.
She is also a woman who has lived an unnoticed life.
However, this book opens not with Libby but with a mysterious stranger shepherding a lady, two small children and several men into Libby's vacated-for-the-summer home under the cover of darkness. The man is Michael Dobrescu who has recently arrived from Romania and is now laying legal claim to Libby's father's house! Michael is a physically imposing man who fiercely protects his family even as he tries the best way he knows how to provide for them. But just like Libby, Michael is a multifaceted character who holds secrets and proves surprising at every turn!
As Professor Sawyer and Michael tumble into a fiercely contested legal battle for the house Libby finds herself torn between her father's outraged demands for fealty and the shunning of the interlopers and the surprising kindness, acceptance, inspiration and purpose she finds amongst Michael and his family. Despite the inward and outward turmoil it causes Libby finds herself reaching out in Christian charity to the people who occupy her home and quickly finds Michael himself occupying her heart. But why should anyone love a forgotten woman like her? And who will find themselves the true owner of the house on Winslow Street? These questions and more are answered with such satisfaction and storytelling skill that the reader will be amazed at where this tale ends!
One of the surprising things about this book is that the supporting characters are just as well crafted and important to the story as the main characters! From Michael's sister the quiet and broken Lady Mirela to Libby's sister-in-law the ingratiating and conniving Regina, these characters add so much to the story that they help to bring to life and further highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the main characters. One supporting character that I had a great deal of trouble putting up with though, much less liking, was Libby's father Professor Sawyer. The Professor is an ill-tempered, off balance, and even at times unhinged old man who has used Libby's artistic talents to have technical drawings of his inventions made while all the time looking at and treating her as a burden and a "mental deficient" because of her illiteracy and her singleness. His verbally harsh treatment of her in a number of scenes broke my heart but throughout it all Libby amazingly honors her father and never retaliates in any way and continues to care for her father's wellbeing until her long awaited exit comes.
This book is driven by the conflict and resolution of the issue of the house but is graced with the gentle love story of Libby and Michael. It is a love that slowly develops and is uncontrived and unforced- something that is refreshing to see in any current piece of fiction!
This is the first book I've read by Elizabeth Camden and after this it cerainly won't be the last! From the very beginning to the final pages the author grows a story that is, just like a rose, deeply layered and revealing it's true beauty as time goes on to finally be fully mature and produce the sweetest of fragrances. It is a true pleasure to read and I hope you do!
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Book Review: "No We Can't"
Today's review is for "No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence" by Robert Stearns.
Well this book isn't quite my normal review fare but when it came up offered on Bethany House's review program I knew it was I book I wanted to read! For quite a while now I have been interested in learning more about Islam from a historic perspective and Islam from a Christian perspective and this book really filled the bill!
Mr. Stearns begins his book by laying out the cultural landscape of today's world and explaining multiculturalism, coexistence and what the Bible says about understanding the times we live in; additionally exploring current events and Biblical end times prophecy and how each of these things operate as cogs in the ever turning wheel of our world. His approach is methodical and clear in laying out the historical background, current cultural relevance and future likely significance for what he calls the 'three houses'. These three houses 'Radical Islam', 'Militant Secularism', and 'Judeo-Christianity' are each given their own chapters to delve deeper in to the worldviews of each and how they have reached out and affected the world we live in today. The book wraps up with three final chapters where Stearns steps back from looking at each of these houses and takes a look at the ultimate house- God's House. In these wrap up chapters Stearns really explores how Christians today are to be living and that is ultimately with eternity and Christ's kingdom in view!
I really enjoyed Stearns style and the way he put this book together, it reads smoothly and brings the reader along for an enlightening ride that is sure to wake up those still asleep in the tumultuous river of current events and buoy up those who are already awake and riding those rapids. At times I do find Stearns repeating themes and thoughts but I didn't find it detrimental to the book just reinforcing and building of his theme. I truly appreciated the wrap up of this book and the clear and inspiring call that is given to the Church today to rouse themselves and remember who they are and what God expects of them and what they can do about that. It personally saddens me that at large the Church does seem to be uninspired and uncaring to what is happening in the world around them. After reading this book I don't know how any Christian can remain uncaring of what is happening and uninspired to do something! It was a great read with lots of great information for the informed reader (my book is highlighted within an inch of it's life!) and a great read with lots of food for thought for the uninformed friend or relative that you should definitely be passing this book along to!
This book deserves every one of the 5 stars I'm giving it!
Well this book isn't quite my normal review fare but when it came up offered on Bethany House's review program I knew it was I book I wanted to read! For quite a while now I have been interested in learning more about Islam from a historic perspective and Islam from a Christian perspective and this book really filled the bill!
Mr. Stearns begins his book by laying out the cultural landscape of today's world and explaining multiculturalism, coexistence and what the Bible says about understanding the times we live in; additionally exploring current events and Biblical end times prophecy and how each of these things operate as cogs in the ever turning wheel of our world. His approach is methodical and clear in laying out the historical background, current cultural relevance and future likely significance for what he calls the 'three houses'. These three houses 'Radical Islam', 'Militant Secularism', and 'Judeo-Christianity' are each given their own chapters to delve deeper in to the worldviews of each and how they have reached out and affected the world we live in today. The book wraps up with three final chapters where Stearns steps back from looking at each of these houses and takes a look at the ultimate house- God's House. In these wrap up chapters Stearns really explores how Christians today are to be living and that is ultimately with eternity and Christ's kingdom in view!
I really enjoyed Stearns style and the way he put this book together, it reads smoothly and brings the reader along for an enlightening ride that is sure to wake up those still asleep in the tumultuous river of current events and buoy up those who are already awake and riding those rapids. At times I do find Stearns repeating themes and thoughts but I didn't find it detrimental to the book just reinforcing and building of his theme. I truly appreciated the wrap up of this book and the clear and inspiring call that is given to the Church today to rouse themselves and remember who they are and what God expects of them and what they can do about that. It personally saddens me that at large the Church does seem to be uninspired and uncaring to what is happening in the world around them. After reading this book I don't know how any Christian can remain uncaring of what is happening and uninspired to do something! It was a great read with lots of great information for the informed reader (my book is highlighted within an inch of it's life!) and a great read with lots of food for thought for the uninformed friend or relative that you should definitely be passing this book along to!
This book deserves every one of the 5 stars I'm giving it!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
A Cherry Blossom Journey
As many of you know since last fall I have been involved with a girls discipleship group called Bright Lights. An old childhood friend and I lead the group and in our bi-weekly meetings teach about eighteen 7-14 year old girls lessons in 'Being Radiant In Godliness, Holiness and Testimony'. The lessons range from Developing a Close Relationship with Your Parents to Having a Clear Conscience with many in between. These last number of lessons we have been studying about sharing the gospel and and decided we would have a little hands on in the field training for some of our older girls. We planned to take advantage of a local festival to do street witnessing in one of the roughest little towns in our area. This is the post event journaling that I posted on our Wadsworth Bright Lights website sharing my perspective on that day.
I thought you might enjoy it as well....
(Sorry Dani that it's taken me so long to get this up!)
Summer Reading List
First of all I'd like to take this opportunity to let the world know that I am in fact not dead.
I know that my absence from the blogosphere over the last few months has likely provided more than enough evidence to the contrary but I assure you, dear reader, that my exile to real life was alas, entirely against my will....
Now, down to business.
Do you know that the summer is already half over??!
Yes, it is, and that realization last week at the Summer Solstice was enough to send me into a full blown mental panic! What do you mean summer is half over? I haven't even begun most of my summer projects! It is my friends, a mere eight weeks until school begins again and ten until BSF begins again!
The mind boggles.
So with that in view I'm doing a couple of things this week. First, I'm doing my spring cleaning! (Don't laugh.) And second, I'm making my summer reading list.
Here is the official list:
For Learning-
1) No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence -BH Robert Sterns
2) The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades Robert Spencer
3) The Truth About Islam and Woman John Ankerberg & Emir Caner
4) When You Rise Up R. C. Sproul Jr.
5) Family Shepherds Voddie Baucham
6) Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts Jerry Bridges
7) Raising Maidens of Virtue Stacy MacDonald
8) Washington's Spies: The Story of the First American Spy Ring Alexander Rose
9) The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
10) 50 People Every Christian Should Know Warren Weirsbe
11) Sinful Silence: When Christians Neglect their Civic Duty Ken Connor & John Revell
12) William Symington: Penman of the Scottish Covenanters Dr. Roy Blackwood & Michael LeFebvre
13) The book of 2 Thessalonians
14) The book of Nehemiah
For Pleasure:
1) Cowgirls Don't Cry Christine Linxwiler
2) The Betrayal Douglas Bond
3) Against the Tide: The Valor of Margret Wilson Hope Irvin Marston
4) The Rose of Winslow Street -BH Elizabeth Camden
5) The Messenger -BH Siri Mitchell
6) My Stubborn Heart -BH Becky Wade
7) The Great Christmas Bowl Susan May Warren
8) Chasing Mona Lisa Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
9) Heiress Susan May Warren
10) Baroness Susan May Warren
11) Jane Austen Made Me Do It 22 assorted authors in a compilation
12) To Die For Sandra Byrd
13) The Merchant's Daughter Melanie Dickerson
14) Echoes of the Titanic Mindy Sterns Clark
15) By the Light of the Silvery Moon Tricia Goyer
16) Promise Me This Cathy Gohlke
17) Deep Haven Series #1-5 (Opt. as time allows) Susan May Warren
18) Irish Healer Nancy Herriman
19) The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
20) Death Comes to Pemberly P.D. James
Well, isn't that quite the list! Now if I can only manage to actually read all of these I'll feel quite accomplished!
To note a few things, the "BH" designation after several books is for Bethany House and are books I have selected to receive as a part of their book reviewers program. I have in fact actually just finished finishing this particular part of my stack and anticipate getting all (ok, most) of the reviews written and published to the blog by the end of the week.
Also, once I have finished a book I plan on doing two things- #1 crossing it off of this list and #2 writing a review of it- even if it is not a BH review book.
Now to the disclaimer.... I know the 'learning' books I have chosen are sound and from respected authors....However the fiction department is a bit up in the air! I have a number of authors that I love and you will see their books repeated in my old and new lists and reviews but there is other fiction that is by new authors that is just sometimes trash no matter how good it seems from the outside! I am good at picking really good books and usually don't have a problem but with all the new authors on the Christian fiction market at the moment is a bit overwhelming.... So- until I post a review I have no opinion on the content or quality of any given fiction book. Thanks!
SO, I think that's everything for now. Let the reading begin!!
I know that my absence from the blogosphere over the last few months has likely provided more than enough evidence to the contrary but I assure you, dear reader, that my exile to real life was alas, entirely against my will....
Now, down to business.
Do you know that the summer is already half over??!
Yes, it is, and that realization last week at the Summer Solstice was enough to send me into a full blown mental panic! What do you mean summer is half over? I haven't even begun most of my summer projects! It is my friends, a mere eight weeks until school begins again and ten until BSF begins again!
The mind boggles.
So with that in view I'm doing a couple of things this week. First, I'm doing my spring cleaning! (Don't laugh.) And second, I'm making my summer reading list.
Here is the official list:
For Learning-
1) No We Can't: Radical Islam, Militant Secularism and the Myth of Coexistence -BH Robert Sterns
2) The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades Robert Spencer
3) The Truth About Islam and Woman John Ankerberg & Emir Caner
4) When You Rise Up R. C. Sproul Jr.
5) Family Shepherds Voddie Baucham
6) Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts Jerry Bridges
7) Raising Maidens of Virtue Stacy MacDonald
8) Washington's Spies: The Story of the First American Spy Ring Alexander Rose
9) The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
10) 50 People Every Christian Should Know Warren Weirsbe
11) Sinful Silence: When Christians Neglect their Civic Duty Ken Connor & John Revell
12) William Symington: Penman of the Scottish Covenanters Dr. Roy Blackwood & Michael LeFebvre
13) The book of 2 Thessalonians
14) The book of Nehemiah
For Pleasure:
1) Cowgirls Don't Cry Christine Linxwiler
2) The Betrayal Douglas Bond
3) Against the Tide: The Valor of Margret Wilson Hope Irvin Marston
4) The Rose of Winslow Street -BH Elizabeth Camden
5) The Messenger -BH Siri Mitchell
6) My Stubborn Heart -BH Becky Wade
7) The Great Christmas Bowl Susan May Warren
8) Chasing Mona Lisa Tricia Goyer & Mike Yorkey
9) Heiress Susan May Warren
10) Baroness Susan May Warren
11) Jane Austen Made Me Do It 22 assorted authors in a compilation
12) To Die For Sandra Byrd
13) The Merchant's Daughter Melanie Dickerson
14) Echoes of the Titanic Mindy Sterns Clark
15) By the Light of the Silvery Moon Tricia Goyer
16) Promise Me This Cathy Gohlke
17) Deep Haven Series #1-5 (Opt. as time allows) Susan May Warren
18) Irish Healer Nancy Herriman
19) The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
20) Death Comes to Pemberly P.D. James
Well, isn't that quite the list! Now if I can only manage to actually read all of these I'll feel quite accomplished!
To note a few things, the "BH" designation after several books is for Bethany House and are books I have selected to receive as a part of their book reviewers program. I have in fact actually just finished finishing this particular part of my stack and anticipate getting all (ok, most) of the reviews written and published to the blog by the end of the week.
Also, once I have finished a book I plan on doing two things- #1 crossing it off of this list and #2 writing a review of it- even if it is not a BH review book.
Now to the disclaimer.... I know the 'learning' books I have chosen are sound and from respected authors....However the fiction department is a bit up in the air! I have a number of authors that I love and you will see their books repeated in my old and new lists and reviews but there is other fiction that is by new authors that is just sometimes trash no matter how good it seems from the outside! I am good at picking really good books and usually don't have a problem but with all the new authors on the Christian fiction market at the moment is a bit overwhelming.... So- until I post a review I have no opinion on the content or quality of any given fiction book. Thanks!
SO, I think that's everything for now. Let the reading begin!!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Confessions of a Bookaholic
Wanted: Minimally noisy, comfortable, well lit spot to catch up on my growing pile of books.
Well I've done it again. See those two books at the top of the stack? I bought those today. Yup, me who has five other books in progress or begging to be picked up and read have just added two more to the stack.
Aggh!
The thing is, like always, I can't resist and good book.
Opening a new book is like opening a present! Opening a new book- even opening the wrapping makes me giddy with pleasure!
But its not just me right? Doesn't everyone love a new book? For me it's one of the most satisfying things in the world to open up a book fresh off the presses and smell that new ink and freshly milled paper! Doesn't everyone feel that anticipation in getting your hands on a new book? Do you wonder what the book-binders have come up with now in the texture and feel of a cover? Is it just me that cares about how important the feel of the cover is in the book reading experience? Gripping its smooth or glossy or soft matted or grainy surface for hours affects the whole of the reading experience... Don't you just love drinking in the fine details and saturated hues of the artists rendering that draws you from cover to under cover? Do you appreciate fine paper and disdain cheep grainy stock paper? Is it just me that cares about the font used and the way the publisher lays out page breaks?
What has a electronic book or book reader got on the read deal? Nothin'. Kindles and iPads may be convenient now but can you pass your book on and share it when your done? Will you ever get the same in-love feeling when you pick up the cold, artificial casing of an e-reader as you get when you touch and connect with the real, living, natural feel of a paper book?
While I'm confessing my book love affair let me confess one of my deepest darkest reading secrets (the one that drives my sister nuts!) and ask you this- how do you read a book? Yes, I'm serious! I mean do you read from front to back? Do you skip forward to see what's happening? Do you flip through before you begin to 'get the feel'? Do you read the end before you begin? That last one I will admit is my weakness. *blush* It's a shameful thing for an avid book reader to admit but honestly- I just can't get through a book without looking! The suspense kills me and have to be able to know that things will turn out fine in the end for me to be able to enjoy what I'm reading and so inevitably I sneak the last paragraph or two before I even begin!
My problem is that during this time of year I have no time for reading! It is a sad but true fact. From the time I begin BSF in the fall to the time we wrap up in May- essentially the whole of the winter/'school' year- I'm lucky if I get to read one or two books! It's pitiful, abominable, and tragic but that's the way it is. (Which is probably the reason I never am without a book in the summer!) However, I had to get involved with the reviewers program with Bethany House! I thought that one book at a time couldn't hurt and it would allow me to keep reading during the winter but although I have tried to keep up the problem is that books are my Lay's- I can't have just one...
Here's a quick run down on what I wish/need to finish in the next month...
From Bethany I am currently reading "No We Can't" a great book on Islam and Secularism...and have been since the middle of December... Sigh. I also have "The Rose of Winslow Street" which is from a new author and looks like it has potential for being a good period drama/rom story set in 1879 Massachusetts.
From the section titled 'Books on my Christmas List' we have Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey's "Chasing Mona Lisa" which is a sequel to "The Swiss Courier". I am eagerly looking forward to this one as I enjoyed the first, and in my eyes at least, Goyer can do no wrong when it comes to the WWII novel. Additionally, there's the seemingly charming "The Great Christmas Bowl" which promises and short and humorous look at family and the holidays.
Ah, yes them there is the fab chick lit compilation novel "Jane Austen Made Me Do It". I'm about half way through this little jem and having been picking my way back and forth through its short stories and have barely found a dud among them! For any Austen fan it is shaping up to be a must read- but more on that later...
So that's it, my book addiction in a nutshell. Obsessed. Impressed. Depressed.
Sigh.
In the end there must always be a moral to a story and mine is this- Don't bite off more then you can chew...unless it's a book- then put aside that other stuff, get busy and dig in!
Wanted: One minimally noisy life, comfortable and well lit, with time conducive for frequent book reading....
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