Inspired 2 Read

Book Review: Until the Mountains Fall by Connilyn Cossette

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 17:21:00 +0000

I am going to declare this right up front. This is the best book I have read this year. The writing draws you in. The descriptions of the landscape paint a vibrant picture. And the way the food is described, can I just say Yum!

Until the Mountains Fall is the third book in the Cities of Refuge series. The story follows Rivkah, a young widow, and Malakhi, her dead husband's brother. To follow the law, Rivkah is betrothed to Malakhi to raise up a son for her late husband. Malakhi has loved Rivkah from afar and is happy to marry her, but Rivkah only remembers the brat he was as a child and doesn't see the fine young man he is becoming.

She runs away from the unwanted betrothal. Rivkah has a very hard life after leaving her family. Malakhi finally finds her and must figure out a way to release her from her master.

This was such a lovely story. Brings you right in and carries you through to the end. I know I couldn't put it down.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

Book Review: The King's Shadow: A Novel of King Herod's Court by Angela Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 19:47:00 +0000

The King's Shadow is Book 4 of The Silent Years Series. This is a series that doesn't have to be read in a particular order. The silent years refers to the period of time between the end of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New Testament when God did not speak to the Jewish people.

There are two main characters in this story. One is Salome, the sister of King Herod. The second is Zara, Salome's handmaid. Salome is a selfish and resentful woman. Zara is a child at the beginning of the story. She grows into a selfless and compassionate woman.

Salome loves her brother, King Herod. She tries to help him keep his power safe. She hates the king's wife and mother-in-law who are always gossiping and plotting against her and eventually the king. There is a lot of intrigue revolving around the king's sons. Affiliations with Marc Anthony help the king stay in power but his power is threatened by Cleopatra.

When King Herod took the city of Jerusalem, Zara's father died and her mother was paralyzed. Zara was given the opportunity to become the handmaid of Salome when she was just a girl. She learned how to please her mistress and learned the inner workings of the court. When she grew up, she wanted to have a family of her own.

I really enjoyed this story. It brings a lot of insight into what it might have been like in King Herod's court. Zara was a nice counter-balance to Salome. I thought the ending was very appropriate.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Empty Nest, Full Life: Discovering God's Best for your Next By Jill Savage

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 19:08:00 +0000

Empty Nest, Full Life is aimed right at me! Both my children will be heading off to college in the fall. It helped me identify what was bothering me about them leaving. The book had very practical advice on how to relate to my kids as adults. It had topics about relating to our spouse, our friends and ourselves now that the kids are out of the house.

The book was divided into two main parts. Part 1 was about letting go. It talked about letting go of our expectations, guilt, opinions, traditions and your child's problems. I personally find that letting go of guilt and my child's problems to be the hardest for me. The advice in these chapters were very helpful to me.

Part 2 was about holding on or grabbing hold of. Some of the topics were grabbing hold of new passions and friendships. Holding on to your marriage and God's hand. I found the topics about friendship and marriage to be the most helpful to me.

This book is aimed at a Christian mom. I highly recommend.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White Review

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 15:51:00 +0000

The Number of Love is the first book in a new series from Roseanna M. White. Margot, the main character, was previously introduced in A Song Unheard. Margo is a codebreaker in World War I. Her mind sees numbers and patterns everywhere. She even prays in numbers. After the war, she wants to go to university and study mathematics. She doesn’t want to be the traditional wife and mother. She has goals and dreams.

Enter Drake Elton. He is her best friend’s brother and secretly a spy for England stationed in Spain. When he gets hurt and sent back to England, he falls for Margot. She declares she has no use for romance but slowly her feelings for Drake intensify.

The tension rises as enemy spies are about. Margot needs to break the code they are using so Drake can stop them.

I really enjoyed this story. Margot is a well thought out character. Her journey from extreme logical thinking to finally accepting and giving love was very believable. The plot with the enemy spies was exciting. It was nice to learn more about codebreaking in World War I.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest opinion.

Review: The Calling by Rachelle Dekker

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 16:35:00 +0000

The Calling is a sequel to The Choosing. The Calling is told more from Remco’s point of view. Remco and Carrington are now living outside the city with other Seer’s. Remco is becoming overwhelmed trying to protect the group and rescue other Seer’s from the city. He is frequently told that he needs to surrender the fear that drives him but he can’t do that. His fear consumes him and almost destroys him and those he loves.

I thought that this was a good middle book. It continued the story from The Choosing and the ending is satisfying even though the story is not done. Some of the main themes of letting go of fear and trusting in the Father remind me of the themes in Ted Dekker’s stories. She was definitely influenced by her father. This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to the conclusion.

I rate it 5 out of 5.

My kids are mirroring my reading choices.

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Wed, 01 May 2013 23:51:00 +0000

During the school year, my kids check out books from the school library. They choose these books without any input from me. Recently, I asked them what they were reading that wasn't related to their schoolwork. I was so surprised when they brought out their books. They had each chosen a book that I loved!

My 14 year old son was reading Black by Ted Dekker! I love Ted Dekker's books. I can't say I have loved all of his books but most of them are very dear to me. Black is certainly high on my list of favorites. I have probably read it 5 times. As he reads further into the book, I anticipate some good discussions about the themes in the story.

My 12 year old daughter had just started The Song of Albion (Book 1, The Paradise War) by Stephen R. Lawhead. As soon as she showed the book to me, I walked over to my bookcase and pulled out my copy of the book. She decided that she would rather wait until summer and read it with me. It has been a long time since I read it so that sounded good to me.

It thrills this book lover's heart to know that I can share some of my favorite books with my kids.

Review: When Jesus Wept by Bodie and Brock Thoene

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 20:31:00 +0000

When Jesus Wept is the story of Lazarus and his friendship with Jesus. Lazarus is a master wine maker. He travels to see who John the Baptist is and is there when John baptizes Jesus. He next sees Jesus at the wedding at Cana and witnesses Jesus turning the water into wine. Of course, this makes a huge impression on Lazarus. He seeks Jesus out more and more and becomes close friends with him. There are many comparisons involving how grape vines are pruned to get the best grapes and how the Father prunes us to get the best out of us.

The best part of the book was when Lazarus was dead and in Heaven. He is greeted by his parents first and then his son that died at 3 days old. Then finally by his wife who died in childbirth. Being reunited with our loved ones is something all of us look forward to. The description of what happened in Heaven when Jesus wept was very moving.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable read. I can highly recommend it.

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 20:20:00 +0000

With my husband's encouragement, I have decided to come back to blogging.

Many things have changed since I last wrote. I now work part time at the local library but ironically I don't work with books. I work as a computer lab assistant and when I am not helping someone, I process DVD's.

I will be doing some book reviews. I would like to spotlight some authors that might not be as familiar to most. I will write about ebooks and the best places that I have found to find free ebooks.

I would welcome any suggestions for topics that you would like me to cover.

I hope you will be Inspired 2 Read.

What to do?

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:56:00 +0000

I am trying to decide what to do with this blog. I haven't updated it in a long time. I find myself wanting to get back to it but take it in a different direction. I just need to decide what direction to take.

I don't really want to focus on book reviews. I found that I wasn't really enjoying the book knowing that I would be reviewing it. I would be analyzing it while reading it. I will still do some book reviews but not all of the books that I read. I do have one book review that I need to finish.

I have always wanted to write a story. I have never felt like I could. I am feeling a strong pull right now to write. It seems that everywhere I look today, someone is mentioning NaNOWriMo. Maybe that is what I need to do. I am still trying to decide on that one.

Book Review: Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:50:00 +0000

Shades of Blue
Karen Kingsbury
Zondervan
336 Pages
2009

Shades of Blue is a stand-alone title from Karen Kingsbury. It is a story of forgiveness and healing.

The story starts with Brad Cutler. He is an advertising executive in New York. He is engaged to Laura and they are to be married in four weeks. He is working on an account about baby blankets. He can't concentrate and come up with a slogan for it. Something is bothering him. He finally realizes that an event in his past with his former girlfriend is standing in the way.

He is miserable. He must resolve the issue before he can get married. He tells his fiance and then goes to North Carolina to find his old girlfriend, Emma.

Emma is having her own problems. She can't put the past behind her and move forward.

Brad and Emma work through the past and eventually find forgiveness and healing.

Spoiler Alert

This story works through some tough issues. It works through the emotional pain that abortion causes to the people who have had one. It shows that the only way to true forgiveness is through God.

This was a very emotional story. The last third of the book, I had tears running down my face constantly. It is a good reminder that unresoved conflict can eat away at us for years until we take care of it.

I think that this is one of Karen Kingsbury's best books. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Source: Library

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:26:00 +0000

The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger
Mariner Books
560 Pages
2004

I had heard about this book from other book bloggers and then saw that a movie was made about it. I have always liked time travel stories so I logged onto my local library's web site and placed a hold on it. It had a lot of holds on it and took about two months before I had it in my hands.

The Time Traveler's Wife is told from two peoples point of view. The story of Henry and Clare is a love story that spans time.

Henry was born with the ability to time travel. He can't control when or where he goes. Sometimes he is gone for minutes and sometimes for days. A lot of the time, he travels to places where his loved ones are. He has viewed his mother's death over and over. He meets himself many times. He instructs his younger self on how to survive when he travels.

Harry has a big problem when he travels. His clothes don't travel with him. So he is frequently naked and without money. He has to learn how to steal wallets and clothes.

There is one place that he travels to more than any other. That is to a meadow behind the house of a little girl named Clare.

Clare is the other main character in this book. She meets Henry when she is 6. She leaves clothes for him in the meadow. She brings him food. He visits many times over the years. As time goes on, she falls in love with Henry. Henry knows that this little girl will eventually be his wife.

The story does go back and forth a lot. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of who is where in time. I have to look back and see what year it is. Even so, I think that the author does a fantastic job of telling the story.

There is a sub-plot about Clare and another man that I didn't like. There is also too much sex. I would rather not read about their sex life.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Library

Book Review: Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:19:00 +0000

Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently
Marcus Buckingham
Thomas Nelson
2009
288 Pages

Marcus Buckingham is a consultant that specializes in strengths-based solutions. His newest book, Find Your Strongest Life: What the Happiest and Most Successful Women Do Differently, grew out of a workshop he did for The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Mr. Buckingham and his team counseled thirty women to help them rediscover the passion they were missing in their work. They followed them for six months and then came back together to see what changes had been made.

It was what happened after the show aired that caused him to write this book. After the show aired, over a million (mostly) women downloaded the workshop from Oprah.com and then lit up the message boards.

Mr. Buckingham has created a test called The Strong Life Test. It asks you 23 questions and then tells you what your lead role and supporting role is based on your strengths. In chapter 7, he defines what each of the nine roles are. The nine roles are: Advisor, Caretaker, Creator, Equalizer, Influencer, Motivator, Pioneer, Teacher and Weaver.

I was very interested in reading this book. I am in the midst of a transition and have been trying to decide what type of work I should look for. For me, the best advice that Mr. Buckingham gives is to examine the times in your past that were strong moments. What excited you. What made you look forward to going to work. You must pay attention to those moments and apply what you learn to the decisions you make about the future.

I took The Strong Life Test. It said that my lead role is Teacher and my supporting role is Influencer. These are not the roles that I would have thought described me. I am not saying that it is wrong but I am going to have to think about it more and see where those roles might lead me.

I would recommend this book for any woman who is not satisfied with her work.

Reviewed for Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger Program. http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

You can take The Strong Life Test here.

What's on My Nightstand - September

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Looks like the last time I participated in What's on My Nightstand was April. It is time to dive back in. Since I have already posted my Fall reading goals for Callapidder Days Fall Into Reading, I will be picking from that list.

Here is my list for this next month in no particular order:

Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham
HTML In Easy Steps by Mike McGrath
Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies by Barry Burd
National Audubon Society Guide to Landscape Photography by Tim Fitzharris
The Creative Photographer by John Ingledew
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Green by Ted Dekker
Eleventh Guest by Bodie & Brock Thoene
Left Behind: The Kids Books 1 and 2

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting the Fall Into Reading Challenge. It is a challenge to list the books that you want to read this fall and at the end post how you did.

These are the books that I am going to read this fall:

Non-fiction:

Find Your Strongest Life by Marcus Buckingham
HTML In Easy Steps by Mike McGrath
Beginning Programming with Java For Dummies by Barry Burd
SQL Demystified by Andy Oppel
National Audubon Society Guide to Landscape Photography by Tim Fitzharris
The Creative Photographer by John Ingledew
First things First by Kurt Warner

Fiction:

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Green by Ted Dekker
Eleventh Guest by Bodie & Brock Thoene
1st To Die by James Patterson
2nd Chance by James Patterson
Left Behind: The Kids Books 1 and 2
Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Forgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray

That makes a total of 17 books. As you can see from the non-fiction titles, I am trying to teach myself programming and photography. We will see how that goes.

Review: Next Generation New Testament Audio Bible

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:06:00 +0000

I received the Word of Promise Next Generation - New Testament: Dramatized Audio Bible through the Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger program. It includes 3 MP3 CDs and a behind the scenes DVD. It features an all-star cast. It uses the International Children's Version of the Bible.

From the publisher's website:

Now the entire New Testament is ready for the Wired Generation.
Today's youth ingest media at a faster rate than any previous generation. And they can't get enough! The Word of Promise: Next Generation - New Testament is the perfect way for young multi-taskers to absorb Scripture. This ambitious recording makes the Word accessible to more kids than ever before.
Starring a Hollywood-level cast of young talent including Cody Linley (Hanna Montana, Dancing with the Stars) as Jesus, AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Mary Magdalene, Jordin Sparks (American Idol Winner) as Elizabeth, Cobin Bleu (High School Musical) as Peter, Alyson Stoner (Cheaper by the Dozen) as Martha, and narrated by Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings). The project includes informative book introductions by author Max Lucado and his daughter, Jenna Lucado, who is a speaker on the Revolve^® Tour.

My children were excited to be able to listen to the Bible. They put the audio files on their mp3 players. They both thought it was a good way to learn what the Bible says. They liked recognizing the voices of some of their favorite actors and actresses.

I thought that the readings were good. The readings weren't as polished as they would be if adult voice artists were used. The translation, International Children's Version, does a good job of modernizing the dialogue.

I would recommend this for children 8-13.

Book Review: Fearless by Max Lucado

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson
2009
224 Pages

Fear confronts us everywhere we look. We are reminded of our fears when we watch the news or read the newspaper. We are afraid of what will happen at our child's school. We are afraid when we go to the doctor. We are afraid when we look at our finances.

In Max Lucado's latest book, Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, he brings our fears into the light so that we can face them and overcome them. He devotes a chapter each to 13 of the most common fears we face. He uses scripture and anecdotes to illustrate how to overcome fear through faith.

I found this book to be very easy to read. It is not a deep theological discussion. It is written so that anyone can understand and apply this to their life. It includes a comprehensive study guide that would be good for personal or small group study.

If you need some help overcoming fear in your life or know someone who does, this would be a good book to read.

If you would like more information about this book, you can click Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fearto go to Amazon or click on The Fearless Times.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Reviewed for Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger Program. http://brb.thomasnelson.com/

Summer's Over

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Wow! The summer flew by. We seemed to spend most of the summer at the Little League Park. My son played in the major division for the first time. His team won the regular season. Then he played on the 9-10 All Star team. We went 2-2 in district pool play and didn't move on. Then he started playing in a fall league that is still going on.

My daughter played softball for the first time. She has such a small strike zone, that she walked most of the time. She played right field. I think that she enjoyed the team camaraderie more than the actual game. But she says she would like to play again next year.

School started August 12. That seems so early to begin the school year. So now we are getting back into studying and memorizing and projects. The kids were very glad to be back with their friends but not so glad to get back to the schoolwork.

Our fall sports season has started. My son has started hockey training camp. He has moved up to the Pee-wee level. He is a full-time goalie. He will have to adjust to the faster pace of the game.

My daughter will be starting dance classes again. We are still trying to decide what form of dance she will be taking. It will probably be ballet or tap.

As for me, the little girl that I have been babysitting 3 days a week will be going to preschool now. So I will have more time to work on this blog. But I will also be looking for other ways to replace the babysitting income.

I will have several reviews posted this week. I am also working on some author spotlights.

What's on my Nightstand - April

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:12:00 +0000

It is time for the monthly What's on my Nightstand post hosted by 5 minutes for books.

It was a good month for reading. I read most of the books on my list and added a few others. Here is the list of what I read last month:

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (My Review)
Weekend Makeover by Don Aslett
The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
Michal by Jill Eileen Smith
Blog Blazers by Stephane Grenier
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Take One by Karen Kingsbury (My Review)
The Noticer by Andy Andrews (My Review)

On my nightstand for next month:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (for Classics Bookclub)
The Prayer Chest by August Gold and Joel Fotinos
Inside the Revolution by Joel C. Rosenberg
Children of God by Mary Doria Russell
Ulterior Motives by Mark Andrew Olsen
Boneman's Daughters by Ted Dekker
Tenth Stone by Bodie & Brock Thoene

Little League starts this Saturday and both of my children are playing. Maybe I can read between innings. Maybe I just won't sleep. Anyway, it should be a busy but enjoyable month.

Book Review: The Noticer by Andy Andrews

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:56:00 +0000

The Noticer: Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.
Andy Andrews
Thomas Nelson
2009
176 Pages

I was very happy to receive a copy of The Noticer by Andy Andrews from Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger program. I have read several of Andy Andrews books and heard him speak several times.

The Noticer is a story about an old man named Jones. Not Mr. Jones as he tells everyone, just Jones. At first, he seems to be a drifter. But as the story progresses, he seems to be much more. He finds people that are at a crisis point in their life and shows them a new perspective.

He talks to a young homeless man, a married couple headed for divorce, a worrier, teenagers, an old woman who feels useless, a business man who cuts corners to achieve the "big picture" and many others. He talks to them about how they can put their life in perspective and make it into something better.

I think that just about anyone can identify with one (or more) of the people in this book. I certainly did. I intend to reread that section and apply Jones' advice in my life. There is a good study guide in the back with some very thought provoking questions to ponder.

The Noticer is a quick read. It is meant to help the reader gain a new perspective on their own life. I found it enjoyable and it gave me a lot to think about.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Review: Hallmark Card Studio 2009

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:50:00 +0000

I will be the first to admit that I am terrible at sending cards. I never seem to remember until the birthday or event is already here or past. I would like to do more than just send a quick e-mail saying "Happy Birthday". I think that I now have the tool I need to help me do that.

I was asked to evaluate and review Hallmark Card Studio 2009 (HCS). HCS gives you the ability to create and personalize cards for just about any occasion. It has over 5,000 Hallmark cards and projects for all occasions. It has over 600 designs and 9,000 clip art images.

Installation

The disk is a dvd and needs a dvd drive. If you only have a CD-ROM drive, you can exchange it for a cd version for free. Details are on an insert with the dvd.

Installation was easy. After putting the disk in the drive, I just followed the prompts on the screen. One of the prompts asks if you want to setup a kid lock. Some of the cards have content that is inappropriate for children. So I chose to set a password for that content. It took 14 minutes to completely install. If you register after installing, you will be able to download a bonus collection of birthday cards.

Card Making

There are thousands of pre-made cards that you can click on, personalize and print in minutes. There are cards for birthdays, holidays, and special occasions. There is a day-by-day section that has cards for thank you, friends, secret pal, bon voyage, sympathy and get well. There are also cards in Spanish and for step-families.

If you would like to start from scratch, you can choose the art studio. The art studio allows you to use their clip art and sentiments or use your own.

If you wish, you can personalize cards by adding your own photos.

Other Projects

You can make more than just cards. There are options to make photo cubes, frames and mini albums. You can make announcements and invitations. There are also calendars, gift tags, stickers, envelopes, labels, stationary and note cards. You can even make scrapbook pages.

Event Planner

HCS has an event planner built in. It is an onscreen calendar that has most holidays already on it. You can add your friends and families birthdays and anniversaries. I am hoping that after I finish entering all the information in it, it will help me remember who I need to make cards for.

Conclusion

I found this program very easy to use. I was able to find cards for most occasions I could think of. I found it easy to create a card from scratch. I was pleased with how fast the program moved from screen to screen. I look forward to making some of the other projects.

I would recommend purchasing card stock to print the cards on. It gives the cards a more professional, finished look.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: Take One by Karen Kingsbury

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Take One (Above the Line Series #1)
Karen Kingsbury
Zondervan
352 Pages
2009

Take One is the latest book by Karen Kingsbury. It is the first of a four book series called Above the Line.

Most of this story takes place in Bloomington, IN. During the course of the story, Chase and Keith meet the Baxter and Flanigan families that millions have come to love from Karen's other books.

There are two story lines. The first one is about the making of the movie and all the problems they encounter. The second one is about Keith's daughter, Andi, and her roommate Bailey Flanigan.

Keith and Chase are trying to make a movie that will inspire and change people's lives. They are limited by a very tight budget. Things start to go wrong right from the beginning of the shoot. One star has a fit over what is served for breakfast and another star is bitten by a dog. Then the union causes problems for the crew. Every delay is costing them money. Without another investor, they will have to close down the shoot and admit failure.

Andi and Bailey are freshmen at Indiana University. Bailey is dating Tim but has strong feelings for Cody. Andi is going through a crisis of faith. She grew up as a missionary kid in Indonesia. Now that she is on her own, she is unsure if what she was taught is really relevant in today's world. She wants to live a little.

I enjoyed this book on several levels. First, it was a good story. Plot and characters were well written. Second, I enjoyed the familiar setting. The inclusion of the Baxter family made me feel like I was seeing old friends again. Third, I was very moved by an illustration of the power of prayer. When the union is causing trouble, the community comes together to "pray until something happens".

Karen Kingsbury has again written a story that will appeal to many people. I look forward to the next book in the series, Take Two, which releases June 23, 2009.

Classics Book Club: Around the World in 80 Days

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:08:00 +0000

This months classic is Around the World in 80 Daysby Jules Verne. I remember reading an Illustrated Classic Edition of this story when I was young. This was my first time reading the full story.

I really enjoyed this story. The idea of just traveling for almost three months is very appealing. Today, traveling is just a means of getting where we are going. We can go anywhere in the world in a very short amount of time. My husband and I would love to someday take a train trip across the country. I think that would be a great way to see the country.

I found that I enjoyed the character of Passepartout the most. He was the one who had most of the adventures. He saw the sights. He experienced the local cultures and food. He enters a forbidden pagoda in India. He helped rescue Aouda. He helps rescue the train from the Indians and then gets captured by them. He was full of energy and curiosity.

I think this book would be very good for boys to read. I am always on the lookout for something interesting for my 10 year old son. He likes to read but it needs to have some adventure in it or he loses interest. I think that he would like this story.

If you would like to read more discussions of Around the World in 80 Days, check out 5 Minutes for Books.

What is on my Nightstand - March

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:45:00 +0000

It is time once again for What's On Your Nightstand hosted by 5 Minutes for Books.

I was only able to read 3 books last month:

The Great Eight by Scott Hamilton (My Review)
Luke's Story by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
The Shack by William P. Young (My Review)

I am currently reading:

Weekend Makeover by Don Aslett
Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

I have a lot of books on my nightstand that I hope to get to this month. With spring break coming up, I am not sure how much reading time I will have. So, here goes:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
The Prayer Chest by August Gold and Joel Fotinos
Beauty by Robin McKinley
The Door in the Hedge by Robin McKinley
Inside the Revolution by Joel C. Rosenberg
Blog Blazers by Stephane Grenier
The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Take One by Karen Kingsbury

Now I can go see what other bloggers have on their nightstands and I am sure that my list will grow and grow and grow.

Book Review: The Shack by William P. Young

noreply@blogger.com (LuAnn) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:29:00 +0000

The Shack
William P. Young
Windblown Media
256 pages
2007

The Shack was recommended to me by many people. I read reviews on book blogs that I follow. My friends and family on Facebook recommended it. Some said it was the best book they have ever read. When I checked it out of the library, the librarian told me to have tissues handy. So I was really looking forward to reading it. Now that I have finished it, I have mixed feelings about it.

First, about the book. From the back of the book:

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.
Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant "The Shack" wrestles with the timeless question, "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

This book seemed to me to be two different stories. The first story is about Mack and what happens to his family and how they deal with it. The second story is about what Mack experiences in the shack.

The first story reads like any other story of tragedy. How it effects people and how the people involved deal with it. And on that level, it is a good story.

The second part reads more like a dream. It's style reminds me of The Pilgrim's Progress. When Mack meets God in the shack, he meets God in all three persons. He calls God the Father, "Papa", even though God is personified as a woman. He is taken aback by Jesus' appearance. He is expecting Him to look like we see Him portrayed in the movies. Instead, He looks like an average looking Jewish man. The Holy Spirit is personified as a woman named Sarayu who is hard to focus your eyes on. She is colorful, translucent and rarely still. Papa, Jesus and Sarayu help Mack find his way past the pain to forgiveness and love.

The more I think about this part of the story, the more I don't care for it. God is portrayed as human-like and flawed. He marginalizes institutions like church, seminaries and even marriage. According to this book, all God cares about is relationships. If we love Him, then that is good enough for Him. It suggests that people can come to God on any path.

I feel like I cannot recommend this book. To me, this is not an accurate depiction of how the Bible describes God. I know that many people will disagree with me, but this is how I feel.

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars