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Book Review: Every Piece of Me

31 Monday Dec 2018

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I received Every Piece of Me: Shattering Toxic Beliefs and Discovering the Real You by Jerusha Clark from Baker Books in exchange for a review.

 

This book covers topics every woman needs to reflect upon. Our thinking processes require constant supervision and adjustment, and these chapters remind us what to observe and how to take action. Jerusha Clark takes common struggles and explains how they work, how they affect us, and how we can better align those thoughts to the perspective Jesus teaches. Despite these representing issues most people experience in everyday life, they don’t exactly hold the everyday applicability. The writing style comes off a little dry and slightly inaccessible. However, the message still holds clarity and strength. It even goes a little deeper than some of the more accessible books, so that makes a nice contrast. I recommend this to someone who doesn’t need the warmth other titles offer.

Book Review: A Bound Heart

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

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I received a copy of A Bound Heart by Laura Frantz from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a review.

 

A Bound Heart has the allure of the Scottish highlands and a romance that endures a perilous voyage across the ocean. However, it falls short of fully planting its characters and setting with the weight of their history. It has a lot of potential for learning more about indentured people and colonial living, but it doesn’t explore the full extent of the personal implications and the internal dilemmas the characters face. These circumstances would stir a lot of emotion in most people, but these characters seem mildly affected. It all comes across a little too clean. I hoped to see more of the reality of their struggle both internally and externally.

 

Warning: If you search for this title on Goodreads, this book does not show up first. The results show books with covers indicating erotica. The Laura Frantz one reviewed here does not fall into that category.

Book Review: The Mountain Between Us

18 Tuesday Dec 2018

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I’ve recently read Charles Martin’s The Mountain Between Us with my library book club. This book has surpassed my expectations of a rough adventure in the wild. Though it does involve a rather bleak trek through snowy mountain terrain, it goes beyond physical survival. The friendship that develops between Dr. Ben Payne and Ashley Knox has depth to it as they learn each other’s backgrounds their conversation. Ben has the necessary skills to keep them alive on a basic level, and he goes beyond by keeping Ashley’s spirits uplifted as they converse on their journey.

I have enjoyed this book more than I initially anticipated, and I have felt pleasantly surprised. I like the depth added to the characters and the development of their friendship. The plot structures around survival, and that gives some spice to my usual settings. Then the conversations fit right into what I like to read.

Since reading this, I have noticed a few other Charles Martin titles I’d like to read. As a Christian fiction author, his books have an uplifting undertone. I have heard and read the movie adaptation vastly differs from the book, but I’m curious to check that out as well.

 

 

Book Review: I Was Anastasia

17 Monday Dec 2018

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Ariel Lawhon’s I Was Anastasia has given me my first introduction to Anastasia and the Romanov family outside of the animated film named after Anastasia I saw once in theaters as a child, and I have enjoyed learning about the history surrounding the Romanovs, their captivity and Anna Anderson’s identity.

Told backwards from Anna’s perspective and in normal progression from Anastasia’s, the storylines unfold until their timelines converge. This structure keeps readers engaged as well as thinking because it requires another level of thought to keep the events straight. It also carries a certain weight as the anticipation of what readers know comes at the brutal end for Anastasia leaves a feeling of dread in the background. I have learned a lot about these people’s experiences, different as though they stand. Though this book doesn’t fall into an uplifting category, I appreciate how informative and interesting Lawhon has made it.

 

This book has not only introduced me to the Romanovs and their history but to Russian history as well. Somehow I have not learned much about Russia, and I would like to continue. I have a couple classics lined up for reading next year.

If you read I Was Anastasia and would like to pair it with another book that explores some of Russia’s history, I highly recommend the modern classic A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (my review here). It follows a man under house arrest at a hotel for many years, and it has a great cast of characters and story. This would also pair well with a viewing of Casablanca.

Book Review: Fiercehearted

16 Sunday Dec 2018

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I recently read Holley Gerth’s Fiercehearted: Live Fully, Love Bravely with my friend Stacie.

I now feel like Holley Gerth is a kindred spirit even though we’ve never met. This book has short chapters that all share a vulnerable, authentic voice and a unique light. Gerth has a perspective on her life that allows her to see God in the seemingly ordinary details of her life, and this allows her to learn from her experiences. As she invites readers into these situations, they too can grow closer to God and recall similar times in their own lives. Gerth’s unassuming openness welcomes readers into a life lived in the light. Now I feel like I can walk with a more confident step.

I highly recommend this book and highly look forward to the next book of hers I read. Fortunately, I’ve got a few on my shelf waiting for me!

Book Review: The Things You Save in a Fire

15 Saturday Dec 2018

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I received an advance reader edition of Katherine Center’s upcoming release The Things You Save in a Fire from NetGalley.

 

I’m happy to write that this book is the second Katherine Center book I’ve read this year (the advance copy of this year’s How to Walk Away my favorite read this year), and this has lived up to my anticipation. The Things You Save in a Fire follows 26-year-old Cassie as she moves from Austin to a city outside of Boston to reunite with the mother her left her ten years prior. Cassie transitions into a life where she works with a new firefighter crew that vastly differs from her Austin crew and where she has closer contact with her now sick mother.

As a teenager, Cassie learned how to close herself off to protect herself emotionally, and she continues to grapple with those effects as a young adult. She exhibits physical, mental and emotional strength as she lands her spot as the most highly valued crew member. Despite her previous captain’s advice to not show emotions as well as to not develop further relationships with another crew member, Cassie finds herself facing new emotional territory as she works with the rookie, whose status makes his nickname Rookie. This gentleman makes a perfect romantic lead, one admired even by the rest of the crew. While he may seem almost too good to be true, he makes a likeable character worthy of interest; I appreciate seeing a nice, respectful guy receive the affection of the lady. On that note, some descriptions about him or the team dynamics at the fire station get borderline cliché at times. However, the overall story hits a sweet note that has some depth to it.

Though mostly on the sweet side, this story also dives into themes like forgiveness. Cassie and her mom make a good example of how to ease into trust and how seeking reconciliation impacts the possibility of a genuine connection. Through her experiences, Cassie learns how to deal with her past and move on more open to relationships. The story falls short of giving that a full exploration since it ends at the end of the bliss of the first step of healing, an important one but only the beginning. Forgiveness sought and given gets multiple perspectives here, showing each one’s importance. This point serves as a good reminder to all readers.

I have enjoyed How to Walk Away a little more than The Things You Save in a Fire, but both have sealed Katherine Center as an author whose new releases I follow and seek. I appreciate how she’s written characters in my age group and shown positive messages, surprisingly an accomplishment I haven’t seen often. Now I would like to check out her back catalogue.

 

Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book early!

Book Review: P.S. I Still Love You

14 Friday Dec 2018

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My best friend and I continued our buddy read of Jenny Han’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy with the second installment. P.S. I Still Love You didn’t hit that sweet spot quite as strongly as the introduction to Lara Jean and the recipients of her love letters, but it did still hit the spot.

This story continues Lara Jean’s first steps into romance as she faces the aftermath of her fight with Peter Kavinsky and the release of a video of them online. As she navigates confronting the issue and enduring the ridicule of her peers, Lara Jean demonstrates how her actions as well as others’ actions can have a tremendous effect on her life. Of course her sisters and dad continue as her constant support, and she makes new friendships with a couple older and wiser ladies at the nursing home where she interns. Lara Jean’s experiences make a good example of how internet shaming greatly impacts people and how teenagers and young adults face significant pressure when it comes to relationships. I appreciate how Han creates a likeable character who reminds us of the vulnerability of developing relationships and communicating boundaries. Lara Jean models a realistic approach to balance cultural pressures with her personal values and makes a good example of voicing her wants rather than following her peers’ expectations.

So far this trilogy has provided some great conversation, a likeable and admirable character and a sweet story with the awkwardness, angst and fun of being a teenager and discovering love. I highly anticipate the third book, and the first goes in my top ten books I’ve read this year.

 

In case you were wondering, the Netflix movie adaptation of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before does a great job capturing this fun story on the screen. They cast the characters well, they kept the heart of the book, and gave it an authentic feel with their attention to detail on screen.

Book Review: Developing Emotionally Mature Leaders

13 Thursday Dec 2018

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I received a copy of Developing Emotionally Mature Leaders: How Emotional Intelligence Can Help Transform Your Ministry by Aubrey Malphurs from Baker Books in exchange for a review.

This book covers a lot of technical information. It carries more the cold feel of a textbook rather than the welcoming warmth of a typical Christian living book, which I partially expected upon starting. I appreciate the effort of explaining the history and definitions of this complex subject. Malphurs describes in-depth without making the information inaccessible to the average person. While this targets church leaders and likely benefits them most, laypeople like myself can make use of this knowledge as well.

While the information remains accessible to the average reader, I find myself wanting more application. An extra insight as to how to use this knowledge properly would have been beneficial. The several appendixes in the back give a good starting point for this with quizzes and extra information. However, an epilogue or something similar with more steps on how to move forward might encourage readers truly to apply this knowledge. Considering “developing” starts the title, it seems like the book hints at going beyond textbook knowledge.

Book Review: Becoming Mrs. Lewis

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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I received a copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan through BookLook Bloggers.

 

After hearing some ladies in Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club discussing Becoming Mrs. Lewis, I knew I would enjoy it. A new friend of mine and I decided to read it, so I eagerly selected it as my first choice after joining BookLook. This historical fiction novel broadened my knowledge of C.S. Lewis, introduced me to his wife Joy and did not disappoint.

As Joy points out everything starts with words and acknowledges even the bible shares this truth, and her deep friendship with C.S. Lewis, who goes by Jack, begins no differently. She seeks his advice as a new Christian convert, and their letter writing turns into a regular correspondence and later a personal friendship. As a Christian unsure of how to trust God amidst difficult circumstances at home, Joy captures a feeling many have experienced to some extent. She feels lost and unsure how to move forward while still honoring God’s expectations for her. Of course she also desires to feel loved and understood. Both Joy and Jack find a depth to their friendship than broadens their understanding of theology, themselves and life. This grounds their work together as well as the family they ultimately bond.

This story delivers all I anticipated for a good novel about a historical figure who I wanted to know more. The inclusions of letters throughout the narrative gives it a personal feel, and that matches the closeness Jack and Joy feel to each other as they become best friends and work partners on books. Joy’s backstory gives a good understanding of her life and allows me to empathize with her plights. She makes a relatable character, and I find myself dreaming of going to England for some healing and writing inspiration myself. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to live in England during that time, as Lewis regularly meets with Tolkien (Tollers to his friends) and other notable writers and periodically meets with Sayers, not to mention share his literature knowledge at Oxford and Cambridge. I would love to spend a day amongst such great minds! This book gives me a glimpse into two very neat lives and makes me appreciate their writing contributions.

 

I recommend this book to anyone interested in C.S. Lewis. The writing might not hold the same level as Lewis’s, but the story does have depth that can add to your knowledge bank on such a neat figure. This isn’t my first read revolving around Lewis’s work, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Book Review: Shaken

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

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I recently read Tim Tebow’s Shaken, 2017’s Christian Book of the Year, with my friend Stacie.

After initially hesitating to read this book, I find myself glad for Stacie’s suggestion and interest in Tim Tebow. His stories may come across simple at times, but he shares a lot of his personal struggles along with his triumphs. I hear strong doubt in my head every day and that occurs mostly privately, so I can only imagine what it feels like to have your life broadcast and know the general public doubts your abilities. Yet Tebow stays focused on his mission and pushes forward. He sets a good example for making good choices.

In addition to generally modeling high ethics and the importance of prioritizing your values, Tebow demonstrates how seemingly small actions can reach a lot further than we imagine. So we can all follow his lead to listen to God telling us to take an extra step to show God’s love and truth even when it seems unlikely to help, unimportant in that situation or unpopular to the scrutinizing crowd. That gives me a nudge to follow through on sharing my gifts despite any doubt I face.

 

What can you do to share love and truth with someone this week?