tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-316470672024-03-23T03:13:47.876-07:00Reading to Know"We read to know we are not alone."Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.comBlogger2043125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-78678727653508417392021-07-23T06:00:00.000-07:002021-07-23T06:00:00.295-07:00Books I Read in July (But Did Not Enjoy)<p> When I look at my reading stack for July, I feel like I was more of a mechanical reader who was reading books simply because they are "supposed" to be read and not so much because I was enjoying them. I read them on the recommendation of others and my dislike of them is in no way meant to disparage the other readers. Everyone likes what they like in literature and I just didn't like these books for one reason or another. Are we all clear on that point? If you love these books, don't take unnecessary offense. :)</p><p style="text-align: center;">*****</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8BaYPrYmcGD-YS-LwY3xzcIBF5CfjkkTBGnviqsPjTeJa4Z8j4qDh-UVkFSH2zww2I-gmdHJji4Q6MmzuW__pAFKEeeXMdBO54I_CShpPIOupYVWyHuCQx5vyVh1_XJE4SQg/s528/enchantedapril.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="353" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8BaYPrYmcGD-YS-LwY3xzcIBF5CfjkkTBGnviqsPjTeJa4Z8j4qDh-UVkFSH2zww2I-gmdHJji4Q6MmzuW__pAFKEeeXMdBO54I_CShpPIOupYVWyHuCQx5vyVh1_XJE4SQg/s320/enchantedapril.jpg" /></a></div>First up, I read <u>The Enchanted April</u>. I wanted to like this because people I really like, really liked this book! Apparently Lucy Maud Montgomery read and enjoyed this read which was originally published in 1922. That bit of info was the tipping point in my deciding to read it for myself because <i>anything that Montgomery read . . . !</i> <p></p><p>This book follows the trails of four women: Lottie Wilkins, Rose Arbuthnot, Mrs. Fisher and Lady Caroline Dester. Each woman is looking for some sort of escape from her life in England and when a castle is offered up for rent during the month of April on the Italian coast, the women pitch in and spring for it. Their hope is for a break from the monotony of duty, essentially. They each have ways in which they are simply tired of "being good" and want a vacation from life's constant demands upon them. A vacation in a castle in Italy seems just the ticket. (Honestly? It's hard to blame them, eh?) They go to Italy and stay in the castle, and the overriding theme is that the castle atmosphere is full of the magic necessary to bring all things in life to rights, mending broken hearts and opening closed ones.</p><p>On the one hand, I liked the idea of a month long vacation in a castle. That idea is enormously tempting. To be able to travel to unfamiliar places and escape the norm can be a truly beautiful and blessed thing which I cannot deny! I found Elizabeth Von Arnim's writing style to be quite pleasant and engaging. I thought she had a few really clever lines and a way with words which I cannot complain about in the slightest. Then too, the way the story was written rubbed me a bit wrong in that here you had four discontented female (two of whom were married) who were sneaking away from husbands and family strictly because they were "tired of being good all of the time." In that way, this book reads as a precursor to <u>Eat, Pray, Love</u> -- a book I think has had disastrous effects on married women everywhere.</p><p>Interesting to note, if you'll circle with me back to Montgomery for a moment, is that <u>The Blue Castle</u> was published in 1926. I think the character of Valancy would have gotten along rather famously with the women at the Italian castle. I would venture a guess that this book had its influence not only in Montgomery's book writings but also in her personal thought life and journals as she battled with her own demons of discontent.</p><p>All in all, I can't say that I <i>wholly</i> disliked <u>The Enchanted April</u>. However, I can see things about it that I definitely do <i>not</i> like and that rub me the wrong way. I see where the message of escaping "doing good" leads and that makes me ever so cautious about <u>The Enchanted April</u> on the whole. </p><p><i>My two-cents!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">*****</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduftMGhROUURMP81ZXX4epnFJ9TGXcKyGOcLy9S0A3YHGEmeaWuT0edrR86KjyOju5Xt5FRwbMKmjgG-1SpKBma-depi-B4CxQKgh1yYACL2HLjXsGxsqTANVTcPlXrip_MJN/s350/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduftMGhROUURMP81ZXX4epnFJ9TGXcKyGOcLy9S0A3YHGEmeaWuT0edrR86KjyOju5Xt5FRwbMKmjgG-1SpKBma-depi-B4CxQKgh1yYACL2HLjXsGxsqTANVTcPlXrip_MJN/s320/summer.jpg" /></a></div>Secondly I read <u>Summer</u>, by Edith Wharton. This is my second Wharton to read, the first being <u>Ethan Frome</u>. I didn't care for <u>Frome</u> but I know plenty of people who 'love a good Wharton' so I had no qualms about giving her another go. <u>Summer</u> seemed appropriately themed (it being July and all) and I thought I would choose this selection for my next in-town book club selection. It's my turn to choose the book and lead the discussion and so I dutifully pulled out my copy well in advance, read it, felt desperately depressed, and changed my reading selection for the month. (No problem because one other lady in the group also read it in advance was equally depressed by it. <i>Kindred Spirits are we!</i>)<p></p><p>This book tells the story of Charity Royall who was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Royall in name only, but not legally. Mrs. Royall passes away and Charity is the lone woman in the house in this coming-of-age story where she has to deal with both the inappropriate attentions of Mr. Royall and also with the inappropriate attentions of one Lucias Harney. (<i>Anyone with a name like Lucias Harney . . . . </i>) </p><p>I believe the intelligent response to this read is to say: "Charity learns what true love and sacrifice really look like." But all I can say is: "Charity was immature and unlikeable from start to finish and there wasn't a man in the book to admire. Read it and weep." It felt bitter from beginning to end and I was infinitely relieved to be done with it.</p><p>I had a few other Wharton's on my shelf yet to be read (<u>The House of Mirth</u> and <u>The Age of Innocence</u>) but I came to the conclusion that I've had about as much fun with Wharton as I think I can bear. Her writing style was similar enough in the two stories that I <i>did</i> read, that I doubt I'll find much enjoyment in the others. Being a good reader though, I did research <u>The Age of Innocence</u> online before deciding too hastily against it. I read a synopsis or two and watched movie trailers on YouTube (<i>heh....</i>) and decided that, no, I really don't want to read anymore Wharton! </p><p><i>My four cents!</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>*****</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim4C_FcfkH3NWY18mBAI9A1ZzS8p4RSPF1v5ijS81xhEQqYhiBl5_eb5lz08Jt_NDZiggoMzStnsnYtKopzJEWVTy13ZZfYoDF7NuqfK4USD1Hih4UJJe6JZdAxQmXCHbpfwY/s499/philomena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhim4C_FcfkH3NWY18mBAI9A1ZzS8p4RSPF1v5ijS81xhEQqYhiBl5_eb5lz08Jt_NDZiggoMzStnsnYtKopzJEWVTy13ZZfYoDF7NuqfK4USD1Hih4UJJe6JZdAxQmXCHbpfwY/s320/philomena.jpg" /></a></div>Lastly, I read <u>The Lost Child of Philomena Lee</u> by Martin Sixsmith. (It has since been renamed, simply, <u>Philomena</u> but I am including the original title and cover art for purposes of this review.) I have even less nice things to say about this book. I picked it up because I had watched the movie <i>Philomena</i> starting Judi Dench and was intrigued by it. I wanted to learn more about Philomena herself and a good thick book on the subject looked just the ticket. However, I am afraid to say that the movie is better than the book! (And most Goodreads reviewers would agree with me! <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6791212-the-lost-child-of-philomena-lee">Look it up</a>!)</div><p></p><p>Philomena Lee was born and raised in Ireland. In 1952, when she was an unwed teenager, she gave birth to a baby boy who, through a series of events, was adopted by a couple in America. The baby boy was renamed Michael Hess and if you Google his name you'll find out why this book became important. </p><p>I am an adoptive mother myself and I was very interested in reading Philomena to know and understand the mother better. What would a birth mother feel like, having her child taken from her? How would she live her life, knowing she had a son who was living on the other side of the world from her? Somewhat understandably, author Martin Sixsmith focused his attentions on the life of Michael Hess. Philomena was more of an after thought in the writing. That was disappointing, but it was made infuriating because Sixsmith spent 90% of the book discussing Hess's sexual orientation, preferences and encounters, burying any other topic available to him. </p><p>I skated and skimmed my way through the book trying to avoid the salaciousness and get back to Philomena who, sadly, only re-entered the scene at the end of the book! Furthermore, if you check out any article about this read online, and make a study of the Goodreads reviews, you'll see that the people who interviewed for this book decry the absurdity of Sixsmith's writing. Sixsmith downright fabricated parts of Hess's life, making up conversations and scenarios, and seemed to want to dive more into the topic of Hess's homosexuality than his status as, oh, say, a basic human being with an interesting backstory. </p><p>There is an incredibly interesting history of adoption between Ireland and American that absolutely <i>can</i> and <i>should</i> be explored. It was absolutely not researched or dealt with by Sixsmith in any productive or educational way. This book is an exploitive, explosive, fabricated obsession with sex, rather than dutifully told fact. </p><p>If you would like to explore the topic of International adoptions - as specifically relates between Ireland and the U.S. - please do not read this book. If you want to get to know Philomena and her story, watch the movie and then watch Youtube clips of interviews she personally gave. Get to know her as a person. Get to know Michael as a person! But as the people who knew him suggest he is not really to be found within the pages of this book -- don't bother with it!</p><p><i>My six cents! </i></p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-27680512101751488272021-07-21T21:22:00.003-07:002021-07-21T21:22:56.149-07:00Incident at Badamya, by Dorothy Gilman<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUoJio4FLm-ZI-ReUhBJLgcooZA6jnpWXLFPIrSgrRXdQoIxRTMfkUhDmFGe0SVeJ3lQuXUHLtRZnS6nM7Rj3xnmL2PL07KiC7gG1-PqXXR8xv1SSBPg9IlTUQ2tYaA7Zb3o2/s500/incident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="306" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUoJio4FLm-ZI-ReUhBJLgcooZA6jnpWXLFPIrSgrRXdQoIxRTMfkUhDmFGe0SVeJ3lQuXUHLtRZnS6nM7Rj3xnmL2PL07KiC7gG1-PqXXR8xv1SSBPg9IlTUQ2tYaA7Zb3o2/s320/incident.jpg" /></a></div>July has been a somewhat miserable reading month for me and not because I didn't make significant headway in my TBR stack! Rather, I didn't really care for very much of what I read. I'll probably hit up the books I disliked in one post to save time, but I thought I'd take a second to note one book that I did very much enjoy.<p></p><p>Have you read Dorothy Gilman before? Born in New Jersey, Gilman began writing children's stories under the name of Dorothy Gilman Butters. She dropped the name Butters after her divorce and began writing solely under her maiden name. On the heels of Agatha Christie, Gilman offered up the character of Emily Pollifax, a sixty year old woman who doubled as a member of the local garden club as well as a spy for the CIA. Mrs. Pollifax is the character that Gilman is most well known for, however she did write several other novels, including <u>Incident at Badamya</u>.</p><p><u>Incident at Badamya</u> tells the story of sixteen-year-old Gen, daughter of an American missionary who has been raised in Burma. Due to a series of hardships, her father commits suicide in 1950, leaving his young daughter with a charge to find her own way back to America and to her aunt for guardianship. Gen leaves the village, where she had lived with her father, to hike along the river where she had observed a steamer ship. The ship had passed by the village on the day of her father's suicide and she hoped to secure passage onboard. The 1950's in post-independent Burma saw a lot of upheaval and civil unrest and Gen's journey isn't all that she had hoped. She ends up being captured and held with a group of Europeans, who had been onboard said steamer, for ransom. </p><p>This book is part mystery but mostly suspense. Gilman's style of story telling is engaging and intelligent. It's clear that she has a good handle on world events as well as different world religions and philosophy which makes this an intriguing story to read. Gilman traveled extensively in her adult life and that set the stage for her Mrs. Pollifax series, but also aided her in crafting other tales such as this one. Gilman really is a joy and a pleasure to read. </p><p>If you've not yet read Gilman, I'd recommend you start with Pollifax first as I think you'll like her best. But if you do have a chance to read any other of Gilman's works, I would also recommend you take the opportunity. I don't believe you would regret it.</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-50599891095907127102021-06-30T15:14:00.001-07:002021-06-30T15:14:10.832-07:00Gerald and Elizabeth, by D.E. Stevenson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5n1nge4h8iMCgIlmtplKQtbEiGhZ3Lqxw-YKYKPMxu7zulmr9cgCpBaRD3mAfQ8rtVbT35IETxQvsss7z_Fjbc8EAa8VCxHoYSzAIykMDFNQTm0uFMmwp-f2sP2EPtSzd2nO/s293/geraldandelizabeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5n1nge4h8iMCgIlmtplKQtbEiGhZ3Lqxw-YKYKPMxu7zulmr9cgCpBaRD3mAfQ8rtVbT35IETxQvsss7z_Fjbc8EAa8VCxHoYSzAIykMDFNQTm0uFMmwp-f2sP2EPtSzd2nO/s0/geraldandelizabeth.jpg" /></a></div>I now have a long term bookish relationship with D.E. Stevenson. I hunt for her books when traveling in the UK, I scout them down online, and I browse for them in antique shops and thrift stores everywhere. I pick up each one that I find - not a single one has been left behind! I love D.E. Stevenson and so I was delighted when traveling to find this copy at a thrift store. What a find!<p></p><p>If you've not yet read a D.E. Stevenson, I would recommend that you get to it! When people ask me what her books are most like, I commonly compare them to the <i>Mitford</i> or <i>Miss Read</i> series. They are very calm, usually have a happy ending, they contain solid characters and provide a good chuckle or two. These are very pleasant, light and engaging reads and I love them.</p><p>I dove into <i>Gerald and Elizabeth</i> immediately upon purchase. This book tells the story of a brother and sister duo. Gerald has hit rock bottom and as a trail or two going on in his life, whereas his sister Elizabeth has met with great success. The two aren't a perfect match but they love each other dearly and this book tells the story of how they help each other along, navigating heartbreak and clearing up mysteries. It is a fun, distracting read just as I expected that it would be. </p><p><i>Gerald and Elizabeth</i>, I noted when reading, felt different than some of Stevenson's other books. As usual, when I'm reading a book I don't stop to research anything about it until I am done so that I can focus on the story exclusively. An impression that I had when reading was that the times in which Stevenson were writing had changed to some extent. Her characters spoke of looser morals than in previous books (nothing torrid happens in the story <i>at all</i>, but characters are referenced). Airplane travel had entered into the picture and the gap between Scotland and England didn't seem quite so far as it had before - when her characters had to travel by train. There were just little notables which told me something was different about this particular book.</p><p>Sure enough, upon the conclusion of my reading, I went to research it. D.E. Stevenson wrote prolifically from 1932 to 1970. From the years 1952 to 1969 she wrote one novel a year! <i>Gerald and Elizabeth</i> was published in 1969 and is largely touted to be her final work which explains why her characters are a bit more lax and travel more accessible. Having read much of what she wrote in the earlier half of her career, it was fascinating to read a book that came towards the end of it. </p><p>One thing that remains extremely unclear to me is how D.E. Stevenson concluded her life. In 1970 a sequel to <i>Gerald and Elizabeth</i> was published called <i>The House of the Deer</i>. While many websites list <i>Gerald and Elizabeth</i> as her last work, it would be more accurate to say that this was her last mini series. Apparently a collection of works were also published posthumously which I am now eager to get my hands on!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn95Mev9rY-snIEQZ5U7p78nt7lptDwXHys3kETgXEKAvkIXreTCpiDkqkghf4HDo8HqE5ggVgqQ2IwcXFgu2NfXj093ODmwhV8gz8YFpPFr3hICEsnU85Yz5lVIlVv0rcs8p/s457/destevenson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="355" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXn95Mev9rY-snIEQZ5U7p78nt7lptDwXHys3kETgXEKAvkIXreTCpiDkqkghf4HDo8HqE5ggVgqQ2IwcXFgu2NfXj093ODmwhV8gz8YFpPFr3hICEsnU85Yz5lVIlVv0rcs8p/w186-h239/destevenson.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>D.E. Stevenson passed away in 1973 at the age of 81 years of age. I'd like to think she spent her final years just relaxing and enjoying life. She certainly had produced an epic amount of work in her lifetime and fun work at that! I love this picture of her, taken when she was older. She looks like a friendly soul that I would like to have had the chance to talk to. Since I can't do that, I will go on enjoying her works, appreciating more now how she evolved as a writer over time.<p></p><p>Who is an author that you just love to read over and over again? Is there an author that you just cannot get enough of? Care to share? If you're looking for a new writer to love and you haven't read Stevenson yet, <i>well</i>, I'll push her forward as an option. Again.</p><p> </p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-70122489819892101432021-06-23T06:00:00.001-07:002021-06-23T06:00:00.431-07:00A Place to Hang the Moon, by Kate Albus<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq2u2496F-KvSzNxI5pNrv11a-2Mxf9b7xP_edwGFfW0NbAqiJ2R1Sr0FXhE_l5Ei6TLLPO-3i0YpqrEo6b-36MhgTVgT8SlRyGuLNsSaTtB5lvbmwUgd-k5hCMXj63I7j9w5/s500/placetohangthemoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOq2u2496F-KvSzNxI5pNrv11a-2Mxf9b7xP_edwGFfW0NbAqiJ2R1Sr0FXhE_l5Ei6TLLPO-3i0YpqrEo6b-36MhgTVgT8SlRyGuLNsSaTtB5lvbmwUgd-k5hCMXj63I7j9w5/s320/placetohangthemoon.jpg" /></a></div><i>A Place to Hang the Moon</i> is Kate Albus's debut album and worth every bit of your reading time. It won't last long enough for you -- that's how good it is. I had this book recommended to me by a trusted #Bookstagram friend (@bookworm_baggins) and she did not steer me wrong. I trust I'll not steer you wrong either.<p></p><p>This book is set in England during the early stages of World War II as children were just being sent to billets outside of London. Siblings William, Edmund and Anna find themselves in an usual situation in that their grandmother has just passed away and there are no other relatives for them to be sent to live with. It's not exactly the most stable situation in England, so what will their solicitor choose to do with them? Dare they use the systems in place to evacuate children in order to find them a forever family? Certainly it's a bit of a different approach, but will it work? That's what we find out in <i>A Place to Hang the Moon</i>.</p><p>Kate Albus's writing style is clever and calm. Although this is obviously a high tense situation that the children find themselves in, it has a Narnia flavor about it. The kids are capable of seeing the adventure and understanding what is at stake for them. Yes, they meet with challenges but you are confident of their ability to overcome. The characters are believable and appealing enough to wish you could know them in real life. There isn't anything I disliked about this story.</p><p>I was delighted at the conclusion of the read to discover in the Acknowledgements that Albus herself is a fan of Narnia (hence Edmund) further cementing the friendship I feel towards her. You all know of my long fascination with both Narnia and <i>The Mysterious Benedict Society</i>. Put this piece of Middle Grade fiction high up on my list of Top Books Carrie Recommends. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't like it. If someone said that they weren't a fan, assume the fault is theirs and not the book's. Albus has done beautifully and I will look forward to reading anything else she writes in the future. </p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-40493847690268612942021-06-21T06:00:00.001-07:002021-06-21T06:00:00.328-07:00Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC5aJbmO_o6aWT71I0sXXS8ST9XCR7VLyYB1PRODCAGOOwBmlcbNtZ6MmjdbPJVWOFHKfexXRpFOvgDA5YosSblBiIltVuiqTr3CjeL6PSgozwWL8kwJkdAe8iHlsE1d4VDKb/s499/bernadette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcC5aJbmO_o6aWT71I0sXXS8ST9XCR7VLyYB1PRODCAGOOwBmlcbNtZ6MmjdbPJVWOFHKfexXRpFOvgDA5YosSblBiIltVuiqTr3CjeL6PSgozwWL8kwJkdAe8iHlsE1d4VDKb/s320/bernadette.jpg" /></a></div><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette?</i> by Maria Semple is not my normal cup of tea. Seriously, if you are familiar with me and with this blog <i>at all</i>, you know I'm really picky and choosey about what pieces of modern fiction I will agree to read. I think as I age, I'm actually becoming (just slightly) less picky and more agreeable to the idea of just sitting down with a book which might not be All That, but which <i>is</i> a bit of fun. That's what I hoped this book would be and that is what it was.<p></p><p>I'm going to give you my regular Conservative Reader Alert straight up so that you know and understand that I didn't miss things. There are curse words scattered throughout the book, definitely more in the second half than the first. (That's to reel you in, see? Turn down those defenses.) There is also the issue of infidelity which I thought was handled in a very flippant manner and which completely and totally ignored the fact that such actions have significant consequences. Not to mention, these actions cause ridiculous amounts of pain. Semple wrote about the topic in a manner which suggested it was not only excusable and understandable, but also no big deal. I took huge issue with her handling of this topic. However, I will say she doesn't become explicit in her writing of the story and for that I remain grateful. Then, too, her writing style for this book is very unique and not altogether to my liking. </p><p>After all of the above, are you asking yourself why I read it? <i>I read it for fun</i>. Just that.</p><p><i>Where'd You Go, Bernadette?</i> was published in 2012, is a "National Bestseller", has loads of people and publications supporting it, and was made into a movie starring Cate Blanchett which I am now very curious to see. The book was written as if it would one day be made into a movie, and discerning readers will know exactly what I mean when I say that. Semple's writing style is very casual and goes above and beyond in describing any individual character's emotions and reactions in such a way that suggested to me that it was set up to be a screen play. Sometimes you can read a book and just know what the author was hoping would happen. Perhaps that is an unfair characterization of Semple, but there it is. The book reads like a movie and, for me, that's actually what ended up making it fun. I didn't read this book to think, so much as I read it to be entertained. And it was very, very entertaining.</p><p>The story is told through the eyes of Bernadette's fifteen-year-old daughter, Bee. We get to know their family and quirks through a series of e-mails, letters and second-hand accounts that Bee shares.T his is ultimately Bee's book about what happened to her mother. You could think of this story as a bit of a redemption to the likes of <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i>. Mom gets fed up with life. Mom hits some snags she doesn't know how to properly deal with. Mom disappears. But, in this case, mom comes back. (I don't feel like that spoils the book. It's obvious that's what's going to happen. If it didn't, this book was likely to read off as a murder mystery and the cutesy cover is your clue that story does not involve a murder.) The story is set in Seattle and Semple writes amusing descriptions of the city and its occupants. She has a very tongue-in-cheek style of humor and you will find yourself smirking as you read from time to time, especially if you are a reader with Idaho plates on your car.</p><p>Would I recommend this book liberally? No. It's not a perennial classic. Certain personalities will love it; others will flat out hate it. Both reactions are valid, I feel, in this case. There are things to be enjoyed and things to raise your eyebrows at. If you are looking for a fun read and you want to know whether this book is worth your time, well, I don't feel altogether helpful except to tell you that Semple is a playful writer who seems as if she wants to have fun with a fun story. It isn't masterful by any stretch, but if you like a good comedy/drama on the screen, then you are probably of the inclination to like this story on the page as well. </p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-48858963291224432552021-06-16T06:00:00.001-07:002021-06-16T06:00:00.324-07:00Each Little Bird That Sings, by Deborah Wiles<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDjbeX6iEQAluitaJOGGak21MzMy5M1YtNi8p5TID1b3HN8g__WRl-1Hu3biKX0mMPh8qct4Kf6hTABZ9k2nxeUfmUxtPw-b33SQKscq8JvrrzdOTiBngzC1M2Tdv8hOxD4go/s500/eachlittlebirdthatsings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDjbeX6iEQAluitaJOGGak21MzMy5M1YtNi8p5TID1b3HN8g__WRl-1Hu3biKX0mMPh8qct4Kf6hTABZ9k2nxeUfmUxtPw-b33SQKscq8JvrrzdOTiBngzC1M2Tdv8hOxD4go/s320/eachlittlebirdthatsings.jpg" /></a></div><i>Look at me go!</i> Two posts in one week. What on earth? I may not write as often as I used to, but I would like to make note of particular books that stood out to me that I've read and think others would be curious to know more about.<p></p><p>I know I've said this before (and I will totally say it again because it was A Very Impacting Thing) but I was once told that I liked books that were rather on the childish side and weren't as worthy of my reading time as I might believe. I disagreed then and I disagree even more heartily now. I'm really glad that when my kids were little I read as many Middle Grade fiction books as I did. Not only did I enjoy them but I poured a lot of time and energy into previewing books and building up a Legacy Library for my family. My kids are now teens and pre-teens. When they come to me and tell me that they finished one read and are looking for another, we can just take a quick little jaunt over to our home library shelves and find another. I've already read (most of) them and have a good idea what is there and am not scrambling for information.</p><p>Also, let's be real. I like Middle Grade fiction best and I now happily and very boldly embrace that fact. Don't let anyone tell you that the genre you like to read isn't worth your time. (Unless it's the <i>Twilight</i> Series or <i>50 Shades</i> and then we need to have a serious sit down.)</p><p>I like Middle Grade Fiction but I don't care for much of what is being published these days. Picking up titles published anytime after the year 2010, I feel, is moderately risky business for the more conservative reader. I haven't spent a lot of time previewing new releases in recent years. That explained, I was out thrifting and I came across this title <i>Each Little Bird That Sings</i>, by Deborah Wiles for about the fifteenth time and took that as a sign that I should buy it and check it out (which I proceeded to do). </p><p>The other afternoon I was looking for a quick read so I snatched this one off the shelf and it occupied the next hour and a half of my life. I'm not remotely sorry about it. Now, if you should pick up <i>Every Little Bird That Sings</i> on my recommendation know that you will open it, begin reading, and if you know me at all, you'll begin to wonder what I saw in it. Before you get antsy, hear me out.</p><p>This title opens up in the usual modern (2010+) way. The writing style begins as something I consider cheap, flippant, and too "grabby" in an effort to capture the reader's immediate attention. Authors these days have a way of dumbing down their words, appealing to a more base sense of humor which hardly requires anything from the reader. Another way to say that is that the writing style is unrefined. If you yourself also dislike modern novels, you perhaps know what I'm talking about. I almost didn't make it past the third chapter of this read but I decided to give the book a go mostly because I didn't feel like moving off the couch to find another book. What luck my laziness has brought me! In the end, while I didn't find this book to have a brilliance about it, I did find it to be very curious in that the entire subject of this book is death. </p><p>Our protagonist is ten-year-old Comfort Snow who lives with her family at the local gravesite in the local funeral home. Everything in their life revolves around the topic of death. As the story begins we learn how how death is a very normal part of life for Comfort's family. Dead bodies are simply there, but they are not creepy. Comfort is nonplussed over this fact of life until her own elderly relatives die and their family is forced to say goodbye to those they personally love.</p><p>Wiles deals with this topic adroitly, using a ten year old to describe how children feel about death and how resilient they can actually be when it comes to this topic. Death is not, by any means, <i>fun</i>. Personally, we've had enough rounds of dealing with death in our family that I'd just as soon not talk about. I don't like death. It hurts. It <i>is</i> a reality of life and also a tender topic. That's what compelled me to go on reading this book. While Wiles' writing style is verging on flippant at the start, she settles down into her story and discusses the topic in a way that young readers can easily understand. Death <i>does</i> hurt. And yet it is a part of each and every beautiful life and nothing that we should ignore or shut out of our conversation and reflection. The story is so heavily focused on death that I found this book to be an interesting tool which others might wish to know about. You might read or discuss with your own kids. It is also a title I feel pretty confident that you would want to understand before you just blindly handed it over to a child to read on their own. Hence my little PSA here. </p><p>Topics to be aware of:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Death in general</li><li>Death of elderly relatives</li><li>Death of friendship</li><li>Death of pets</li></ul><p></p><p><i>Each Little Bird That Sings</i> didn't turn out to be the light and fluffy read I was expecting. Nor was it flippant. For introducing the topic, or possibly talking through it with your kids, I found it balanced. I do plan to keep a copy on our bookshelves. I think our kids will find it a little on the strange side but it's interesting and compelling as well. I've never read anything quite like it and felt it was worth a mention for you to take with and do what you will.</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-72563680457760808152021-06-13T21:21:00.000-07:002021-06-13T21:21:05.944-07:00The Compelling Community: Where God's Power Makes a Church Attractive, by Mark Dever & Jamie Dunlop<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq3UyCV8GejCfgJfqMutzr8oXX2DPPSC0fDatKx2axAxwhnuRabEhq1zVXtSpFggYILdA_ZBukHLlZ4OjofAy4Y1IZiO7JIYoZBtu8PNd1PslmvT1XGneWPN5zRlJL5NW0Ngw/s500/compellingcommunity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq3UyCV8GejCfgJfqMutzr8oXX2DPPSC0fDatKx2axAxwhnuRabEhq1zVXtSpFggYILdA_ZBukHLlZ4OjofAy4Y1IZiO7JIYoZBtu8PNd1PslmvT1XGneWPN5zRlJL5NW0Ngw/s320/compellingcommunity.jpg" /></a></div>It's been a hot minute since I've posted any sort of book review. Life sort of went topsy-turvy a few years back but more recently it's been sorting itself out, falling into place, and things are all the better for it. The events of life definitely made blogging take a backseat - and may yet do so - but right now, at this minute, I read a book I want to talk about it! Also, someone commented on an old post which sent a notification to my e-mail today reminding me that I had a book blog that could still be used. So here we are, you and I, together again! Let's have a little book chat, shall we? For old times' sake.<p></p><p>I've had my copy of <i>The Compelling Community</i> for years but no note around these parts that I read it and/or reviewed it previously. I know I read it but it could be that I purposefully didn't make a note of it. Talking about church life can be a rather sensitive thing from time to time. One doesn't want to go around offending willy nilly, and people are always apt to think that you are talking about them online when you probably aren't. That can lead to Trouble which is why I imagine I let the read go without commentary. Let me assure you posthaste that I am not talking about any particular church, church body and/or specific person in writing this book review. I am writing a book review and working my thoughts out. That is all.</p><p>First, I'd like to <strike>suggest</strike> say that every Christian ought to read this book. They should especially take the time to read this post-2020 when the whole world went haywire and community, as we knew the concept, blew up in our faces. It's time to return to community now (if you've not yet done so) and do so with renewed vigor to know how you can contribute to the building up of the body of believers to whom you belong.</p><p>A good question one should be asking one's delightful self is: "To what sort of community should I be returning?" One should hastily answer one's self: "I'm returning to a sinful community of which I am a chief sinner. I bring my own sin, making the sin pot bigger." If you were on a high social distancing horse, you should probably get off because staying there isn't beneficial to you or anyone.)</p><p>The church has been under attack this past year and no, I'm not talking about politically (but you could argue -- ). Over 30% of church goers (based on the last numbers I was referenced to) left the church to stay home and never came back. On the one hand, you could look at this as good news. The church has had been paired down. Those that remain are looking at each other, sometimes with new eyes, wondering how dangerous the others in the bunch might be. I'm not talking about germ dangers; I'm talking about fellowship dangers. Who formed what opinion during 2020? Who became more vocal, politically? Who became less? Who was more agitated by the demands of the day? Who chilled out? Who stopped working? Whose business took off and why? These and other speculative questions begin to fill the minds of those that remain in the pew and this is why I'd suggest that a serious, focused reading of <i>The Compelling Community</i> is rather essential in this exact moment in time.</p><p>In this book, Mark Dever and Jamie Dunlop write ignorant of anything that happened in 2020 (the book having been published in 2015). Untainted by political and social events, they focus their attention exclusively on scripture and what defines community within the church (local, but universal). Throughout this read they challenge their reader to consider various scriptural principles to building up the local body, breeding interaction between all members for their good and for the glory of God. They tackle things that get in the way of church fellowship such as:</p><p>* Sin</p><p>* Demographics</p><p>* Marital status</p><p>* Shared Vision</p><p>* Like-mindedness vs. that One Person We All Know . . . </p><p>* Discontentment</p><p>These subjects and more are handled with a firm hand, the authors taking pains to plainly cite what can cause divisions in the church and what pastors and lay people alike can do to foster true community. </p><p>And what IS true community and Christian fellowship? What drives and motivates our choices and decisions as an individual body of believers? What would compel a non-believer to pay attention to a church body - <i>any</i> church body - and to want to belong to what they see? Essentially there is a laying down of one's life and preferences for the good of another, being willing to learn the scriptures and teach them diligently and faithfully with and to one another. The desire of this sort of fellowship ignores the world's boundaries and focuses instead on our commonalities within the faith. With Christ and the cross as our focus, the differences between us disappear and we begin to see each other with spiritual eyes. We love as Christ and forget ourselves. </p><p>I think this quote from the book sums it up as best as possible:<br /><br /></p><p></p><blockquote>"A church composed of natural friends says little about the power of the gospel. Yet the gospel-revealing community of natural enemies will require sacrifices in every aspect of our life together. Not surprisingly, when Paul in Romans 12:1 speaks those famed words, "present your bodies as a living sacrifice," his attention immediately moves in verse 4 to congregational life. It is very possible to enjoy the idea of attending a diverse church, and yet never lift a finger to love someone who's quite different from you." (p. 81)</blockquote><p></p><p>They make the point that you can form a club of very likeminded people who all like cars, chess, or even books and their love of that item is what is going to draw them together. There is nothing supernatural in the way two people can relate over a shared love of books (let's go with books) because it's easy for one reader to like another person who themselves likes to read. That comes naturally. What doesn't come naturally is when you blend rich and poor, black and white, male and female, British and American, book reader and illiterate, single and married, into a single group of people who are willing to lay their lives down for one another. What picture comes to mind when you think of a group of people who combine all of the aforementioned "labels" and who come together for the express purpose of worshipping God in song, teaching and encouraging each other with the scriptures, and who pray boldly for one another? You think of something almost otherworldly, don't you? A supernatural gathering of people who do not look alike, act alike, or even think alike on the surface whose one and only commonality is Jesus Christ? You would pay attention to them, wouldn't you? Would you not wonder how they do it? You might find yourself <i>compelled</i> to lean in with questions and a desire to learn what the Lord is working in and through their gathering.</p><p>I could say a lot about <i>The Compelling Community</i> but, in summary, I'll just repeat that I think that at this time in history, when everyone is <i>encouraged</i> to own and love their own label, it's important to read this book. It is a straight forward message that reminds us that our focus as believers to be on God and God alone. Our excitement in gathering shouldn't be to get together on Sunday morning with our best and closest friends. It isn't about that at all! We are gathering not with the intent to change things socially but to fellowship and worship with a shared passion for Christ. That's it. When we look at Him we see what we are not and we also get to catch a glimpse at what we will be. There is excitement in learning to love those who you wouldn't naturally fall into place when when you purpose to love one another as God Himself as loved you. </p><p>I definitely walked away from this book encouraged and refreshed. I feel refocused and renewed. I understand my mission and I'm committed to it by first being committed to Jesus and declaring my need to be obedient to Him. This review barely scratches the surface of the book and/or my reasons for thinking it should be moved to the forefront of discussion between believers in Christ. Sure, we hit a rough patch this past year and lost a few. But the church is by no means destroyed. Are you still in? Then we've work to do.</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-61184392141113819622019-02-13T11:30:00.001-08:002019-02-13T11:30:33.217-08:00Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge Conclusion (2019)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcLyrAf1oOl2d4q13WNShuPU6Ga-9tzmTG0LdQhRfColvYbvmBipy5ODc6hPIVkmLKtgorH5H4Q0l712Lq_ivgmB4uvK3x2ix8PzeKXJ2VYAD9FBUrWImx_EskecTl4pUNoTe/s1600/lmmchallenge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcLyrAf1oOl2d4q13WNShuPU6Ga-9tzmTG0LdQhRfColvYbvmBipy5ODc6hPIVkmLKtgorH5H4Q0l712Lq_ivgmB4uvK3x2ix8PzeKXJ2VYAD9FBUrWImx_EskecTl4pUNoTe/s1600/lmmchallenge.gif" /></a></div>
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Right. So, I bet you thought I forgot to bring this to a close, didn't you? It's a reasonable assumption. The fact is, life has just not ceased to slow down. I was thinking that as long as I closed down the challenge within the first week of February all would be well. But life has a way of snowballing and I don't really know how it is that the month is halfway over. (Actually, I DO know how that is. It's been a hard and long month and yet a fast paced one!) Anyway, for those of you who have patiently been waiting for this last post, here it is.<br />
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What L.M. Montgomery books did you manage to sneak in during the month of February? I managed only the one: <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2019/01/along-shore-by-lucy-maud-montgomery.html">Along the Shore</a> (linked to review) but I enjoyed it thoroughly.<br />
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As this was the 10th year of the challenge, I did want to host a little giveaway and I'll do that now!<br />
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I would like to offer one of my original watercolor portrait mugs and a mug rug to one of you lovely readers from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AFineQuotation/">my Etsy shop</a>. There are two Anne versions to choose from <i>or</i> an Emily. As for the mug rugs, you can choose between Anne or Emily.<br />
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Mug Option #1 - <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/648575286/anne-of-green-gables-mug-anne-diana">Anne of Green Gables Friendship mug.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4qR_zy0vODY0RicuFGZXAKX542PwCSC_WikGsiAFESSCjPi8pAEcZ1Te3sWv6nPWHWDlE921fB0miYzSO-XR0VPApTzQc4IkmxaxKCQeAKVsiw_8DxvZCHH9zk2evDgIa_RX/s1600/aandd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="570" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO4qR_zy0vODY0RicuFGZXAKX542PwCSC_WikGsiAFESSCjPi8pAEcZ1Te3sWv6nPWHWDlE921fB0miYzSO-XR0VPApTzQc4IkmxaxKCQeAKVsiw_8DxvZCHH9zk2evDgIa_RX/s320/aandd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mug Option #2 - <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/641793726/anne-of-green-gables-mug-quote-fan-gift?ref=shop_home_active_56&sca=1">Anne of Green Gables mug.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eO4kYkRfBaoxYMtOaOTFAlzhuueUNMGlTyPslu49Hm4Z-Pcex55mGardSXGvo7I_npQahRpErMDy6cjJyGGKI57VKBsR517gPhiXydTZyWvJJtHUkmu5Jko0JnBT8iAIxXdV/s1600/annemug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="570" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eO4kYkRfBaoxYMtOaOTFAlzhuueUNMGlTyPslu49Hm4Z-Pcex55mGardSXGvo7I_npQahRpErMDy6cjJyGGKI57VKBsR517gPhiXydTZyWvJJtHUkmu5Jko0JnBT8iAIxXdV/s320/annemug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mug Option #3 - <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/662920826/emily-of-new-moon-mug-l-m-montgomery?ref=shop_home_active_16">Emily of New Moon Mug</a>.<br />
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And then let me know your preferred choice for a mug rug, either <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/679622965/anne-of-green-gables-l-m-montgomery-mug?ref=shop_home_active_2">Anne</a> or <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/665783846/emily-of-new-moon-l-m-montgomery-mug?ref=shop_home_active_15">Emily</a>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtMxAhlsZpd_H-e1fglFhHnUXP-ajQ9HbCph0QPsviDc32lpTGAuJVszl51tStMjmu1aHbOFWu9g0hqWkgAPa34Nvy8Hhircncp0_x9fim4SRgUhrDSxGgawH-1oyyGRNleKJ/s1600/mugrug3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtMxAhlsZpd_H-e1fglFhHnUXP-ajQ9HbCph0QPsviDc32lpTGAuJVszl51tStMjmu1aHbOFWu9g0hqWkgAPa34Nvy8Hhircncp0_x9fim4SRgUhrDSxGgawH-1oyyGRNleKJ/s320/mugrug3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All of these Anne items are located in my Etsy shop (along with many, many other bookish characters)! Browse around at <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AFineQuotation/">A Fine Quotation</a>.<br />
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To win? Easy!<br />
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1. Leave a comment letting me know which mug you would choose and which mug rug you would choose should your name be drawn as the winner.<br />
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2. An extra comment for an extra entry may be left if you participated in the reading challenge. Let me know which book you read during the month of January and, if you wrote a review of it, leave a link!<br />
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That's it!<br />
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<b>This contest will be open through Sunday, February 17, 2019. A winner will be announced on Monday.</b><br />
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Many thanks to all who hang around these parts and read book reviews. I hope you all had a lovely start to 2019 and maybe Montgomery made the transition a little bit easier. Maybe!<br />
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Enjoy!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-18068587086027440862019-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-22T21:18:46.825-08:00It's Not Supposed To Be This Way, by Lysa Terkeurst<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WG9o4UFH5kiAZNqooLK54-wGC_Be91tMUYLBfFeeap-Omt1As0BxNQM5HaZcUo7moA9IXp7cE4BAWqFIjHibB_xXIU2JC-e9YOvZ1u9t5-rTZvOWpcCxkB48gKxyn-CSpO3V/s1600/notsupposed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WG9o4UFH5kiAZNqooLK54-wGC_Be91tMUYLBfFeeap-Omt1As0BxNQM5HaZcUo7moA9IXp7cE4BAWqFIjHibB_xXIU2JC-e9YOvZ1u9t5-rTZvOWpcCxkB48gKxyn-CSpO3V/s320/notsupposed.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Supposed-This-Disappointments/dp/0718039858/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547794054&sr=8-1&keywords=its+not+supposed+to+be+this+way+lysa">It's Not Supposed To Be This Way</a> is the latest book by Lysa Terkeurst. As many of you are no doubt aware, Terkeurst and her husband had separated for a time after it was discovered that her husband had had an affair. Quite recently it was announced that they had celebrated their restored marriage with a <a href="https://www.faithwire.com/2018/12/14/lysa-terkeurst-gives-stunning-update-about-her-broken-marriage/">recommittment ceremony</a>. Christians everywhere erupted at the news, both in favor and against. Why against? There were suspicions that Lysa jumped the gun and might have begun the business of rebuilding her marriage too soon. People do love to speculate on such things which are honestly none of their business in the first place.<br />
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For my part, my position is that only Lysa, Art, and their counselors can know all of the ins and outs of this entire thing. I know that they began dealing with her husband's sin out of the public eye for a long time before it became generally known. We didn't all know about it the day she found out about his infidelity. I also refuse to speculate over whether she has made right decisions or wrong ones for this specific reason: I have several friends who have walked the same path, unfortunately. And I've learned enough through their experiences to know that I can't know everything that there is to know <i>and</i> that I don't need to know. Infidelity is a hard, hard road for any person to walk in. The ups and downs are completely unimaginable to me and it truly does break my heart to see a person having to deal and learn to live again under these circumstances. To everyone who wants to critique Terkeurst for her choices, I feel they ought to sit down and probably shut up. Harsh much? That's my opinion.<br />
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Now, I didn't read this book because I have walked the same path as Terkeurst. I haven't. (And I don't want to!) Nor did I read it because I wanted to see what Terkeurst had to say about her situation in specifics. Rather, I have my own struggles of which have caused me to make the same statement: "It's NOT supposed to be this way!" We all do. We walk through this world broken whether we want to or not. We have each of us been crushed into dust in some form or fashion. If you haven't been, you will be. We aren't supposed to be surprised at the trials of life (even though we usually are anyway!) but stand at the ready to receive the trials knowing, understanding, and believing that the trials serve a greater purpose in making us more like Christ. This is always and forever going to be a hard pill to swallow but learning to swallow the pill is ultimately better than choking on it.<br />
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Terkereurst writes this book to say that while she well knows how difficult life can be, we have hope in a sovereign Lord who knows exactly what He's working out in our lives. At the point in time she was penning these words, her husband was separated from her. She mentions living out her own season of "I don't know" and acknowledges that we all have those moments in life when we aren't standing on solid ground. She talks about how in each trial we face we typically find ourselves somewhere in the middle of Point A and Point B with a complete lack of understanding of how it is we're supposed to keep on keeping on. She calls this the "middle ground" and references it possibly being the hardest part of any trial - the part where you've gotten over the initial shock but you haven't come to any point of relief just yet. It's a rather fearful place to be, and a lonely one, as any of us who have walked a trial can testify. (See 1 Peter 5:10 and James 1:2-4)<br />
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For my part, I received some comfort in this read. No, I don't understand Terkeurst's personal trials but I do understand my own. And I know how very, very alone I've felt and have been made to feel. I know what it means to have the rug ripped out from under you. I know what it means to experience brokenness. I know what it means to feel shut out and uninvited. These are experiences that many of my nearest and dearest friends know too so I know that I am not alone (and I am immeasurably grateful to have such companions on life's journey!). Lysa writes to reach out and touch her readers in the best way she can to say the following:<br />
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"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12</blockquote>
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Are you feeling broken in some form or fashion? Take heart, friend. Weeping is welcomed and allowed here. God meets us in the truth of our pain and assures us that joy is coming in the morning. That morning might be quite a ways off for some of us, but it <i>is </i>coming because He has already crushed death! The Victor has already been declared.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Supposed-This-Disappointments/dp/0718039858/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547796641&sr=8-1&keywords=it%27s+not+supposed+to+be+this+way+terkeurst">It's Not Supposed To Be This Way</a> is a good spiritual pep talk and a fierce hug from a woman who has plumbed the depths of heartache and held tight to her faith and is therefore able to rise and say, "I see you, friend. And even if I do not know you very personally, I'm with you." Sometimes that's just exactly the message we need to hear the very most.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-77324478051750846072019-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-21T06:00:01.143-08:00Along the Shore, by Lucy Maud Montgomery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ6HH5-SpGMa46Raa78JdEHx9qAhZ4xvEdDR1dZjo5gl1g2ATxz_5GRPoGNsN3ACWzeFrF_954o55AADS8u4rPPLmwJcDzUuC8gDiFu0FWkolJVGm71W2JSIhv8vCHBERowo6/s1600/lmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQ6HH5-SpGMa46Raa78JdEHx9qAhZ4xvEdDR1dZjo5gl1g2ATxz_5GRPoGNsN3ACWzeFrF_954o55AADS8u4rPPLmwJcDzUuC8gDiFu0FWkolJVGm71W2JSIhv8vCHBERowo6/s1600/lmm.jpg" /></a></div>
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How are y'all fairing on the <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2019/01/lucy-maud-montgomery-reading-challenge.html">Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge</a>? I set my expectations low for the month, selecting one book of short stories. All you need to do to participate is read just ONE book! That's all!<br />
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I personally had not read any of Montgomery's short story collections in awhile and so I glanced through my books and settled on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Along-Shore-L-M-Montgomery/dp/0553285890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547708735&sr=8-1&keywords=l.m.+montgomery+along+the+shore">Along the Shore</a>. This book features stories which are set along - <i>wait for it!</i> - the Prince Edward Island shoreline. There. I knew you'd be surprised by that! I have the Bantam Starfire edition of this book which you see pictured here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5JXb2YHadQuvY2WuwAGWfrdvzjpdxkRJ1fKx2vvNhyphenhyphenKO0wfbPG4Hs-5nCZqfUbJMJ-OpdempToqL_zAjG1HlNiwCko_jITX6jY1S2-_CI51f83x_Cibo4b7_G2aJkf4quYmL/s1600/alongtheshore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="287" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig5JXb2YHadQuvY2WuwAGWfrdvzjpdxkRJ1fKx2vvNhyphenhyphenKO0wfbPG4Hs-5nCZqfUbJMJ-OpdempToqL_zAjG1HlNiwCko_jITX6jY1S2-_CI51f83x_Cibo4b7_G2aJkf4quYmL/s320/alongtheshore.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
I've now been to Prince Edward Island three times: once with my best friend in law school, once with my husband, and once with our whole family. Each time was magical in its own way and I do not think I will ever, ever grow tired of visiting. (My family might get tired of repetitious trips when there is a whole world to be explored but I would be content with constant repeats.) There is just something altogether magical about the Island. I don't know what it is, but it is.<br />
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In my case, I might particularly enjoy the ocean views a bit more than anyone else in my family because I grew up in South Texas along the Gulf Coast. The waves were always just a few blocks away from where we lived and the sound of the ocean is a familiar comfort to me. There is something calm about hearing the waves crash loudly on the shore. Being at the beach, (or, when we lived in Oregon, along the rocky coastline), reminds me of just how small I am and how big God is. This thought soothes. In light of the crashing of the waves, everything else seems to feel the need to be still and quiet and I just love it.<br />
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Re-reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Along-Shore-L-M-Montgomery/dp/0553285890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547708735&sr=8-1&keywords=l.m.+montgomery+along+the+shore">Along the Shore</a> was fun for me because I can very easily visualize the scenery which Montgomery describes. Each of the characters in this set of stories is drawn to the water in some form or fashion; it is in their blood and they cannot escape it. This book contains love stories, sob stories, and children's stories and in each one I found a person to identify with. Of note in this collection is one story in particular. For every critic of Montgomery who says her writing is too syrupy sweet, I give you <i>The Waking of Helen</i>. It is bold, honest and, quite frankly, depressing. It is definitely an example of the dark side of Montgomery which only comes out in bits and flashes and this one tale alone makes this collection stand out, in my opinion. There are a few short stories here that will also be familiar to fans of Anne. Montgomery clearly harvested ideas from some of her shorts when writing the Anne series. Still, I had a very good time and enjoyed myself thoroughly. I always do.<br />
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I'm glad I pulled <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Along-Shore-L-M-Montgomery/dp/0553285890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547708735&sr=8-1&keywords=l.m.+montgomery+along+the+shore">Along the Shore</a> off the shelf. It gave me a good breath of salty air which I was rather badly in need of. The wondrous thing about books is that they can transport you to places in your imagination which you cannot easily get to on your own. An imagination is a gift and I'm glad Montgomery had one because it has allowed me peaceful moments in the storms of life over and over again! I love L.M. Montgomery for this gift. It truly is a gift!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-43785696717258360392019-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:002019-01-18T06:00:10.760-08:00Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, by Laura Geringer & William Joyce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMWZ5226lZRUC2rSkKbRK8JJON0hzaSPUAr0R5wA-doy5vO_vIg3cXs-DI0-8Drg39eyX8q1g2JcOKT4PT2tNO_1jA-oUV5GAFi-aeDIrSC28i1HuXEsJ9dvOY6FDhJ9BMi7Q/s1600/nicholas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMWZ5226lZRUC2rSkKbRK8JJON0hzaSPUAr0R5wA-doy5vO_vIg3cXs-DI0-8Drg39eyX8q1g2JcOKT4PT2tNO_1jA-oUV5GAFi-aeDIrSC28i1HuXEsJ9dvOY6FDhJ9BMi7Q/s320/nicholas.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
I heard about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-North-Battle-Nightmare-Guardians/dp/1442430494/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547707284&sr=8-2">Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King</a> on #Bookstagram. (It's Instagram, but its all about books!) The cover art was beautiful (in my opinion) and the story line intriguing. This is the first book in a series which re-imagines imaginary characters in roles of guardians of children everywhere (and, I suppose, all the rest of humanity along with them). This first title in the series introduces us to Nicoholas St. North, former outlaw but destined to be known as Santa Claus. Nicholas has come to save the day. He is the first of the Guardians, the rest of which I gather are the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, etc. Together these characters face and will, I presume, slay the mortal enemy of children, a nightmarish creature called Pitch.<br />
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As an idea for a book, I found <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-North-Battle-Nightmare-Guardians/dp/1442430494/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547707284&sr=8-2">Nicholas St. North</a> intriguing. As a read, I found it ridiculous. Oh, it has promise! It has great potential! It could be completely awesome and I would have enjoyed it if Geringer and Joyce were writing it as a story involving a detailed plot with twists, turns and climax! Alas, I fear they were writing a screen play. (And I bet they were. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z8Sqn4ct3w">See here</a>.) Reading this book felt like I was watching what someone wanted to be a movie. This is a pet peeve of mine in a book. A <i>big</i> pet peeve. I can't stand it when an author is clearly writing with the idea of having the book turned into a film. You can always tell when that happens because descriptions are brief but forceful, (I don't know how else to describe it), leave very little to the imagination, and write as if in jest. There's nothing serious about such a story to grasp hold of because anything you might want to guess a little about, or have slowly explained, is just there for you to take in in approximately the same amount of time you'd spend at the theater. I hate these kinds of books for their impudence.<br />
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I would like it if someone came along and wanted to give this story another go, anticipating only that readers might love it. No expectation for grandeur in the form of plastic action figures! I would appreciate being told a story strictly for story sake. I wanted to like this book but I really just did not. Nor do I find myself in a position to recommend it. There's a movie version if you want to see it and it might be better than the books because a.) ultimately it will take up less of your time and b.) that's that the writers were going for in the first place. Cut to the chase. Skip the book.<br />
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<i>You can find me on Instagram @1000lives_and_severalcupsoftea</i></div>
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-33563666950368446802019-01-16T20:51:00.000-08:002019-01-16T20:51:15.373-08:00The Gown, by Jennifer Robson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14ZmkMbQLBFXqvEpQxR0X644FWkliPFtNj7qzsuYazWZNIGA3ZNXHPP_-JH28Gmea9EWEi02aRaYQTlYSt2t8YJYSK7FpvK9py3smfjw5kluxpTq4wMr162QsTXY6VkAUs7gy/s1600/thegown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="430" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14ZmkMbQLBFXqvEpQxR0X644FWkliPFtNj7qzsuYazWZNIGA3ZNXHPP_-JH28Gmea9EWEi02aRaYQTlYSt2t8YJYSK7FpvK9py3smfjw5kluxpTq4wMr162QsTXY6VkAUs7gy/s320/thegown.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
I received a complimentary copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gown-Novel-Royal-Wedding/dp/0062674951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547698863&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gown%2C+by+jennifer+robson">The Gown</a>, by Jennifer Robson from <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/corporate/harpercollins-imprints/william-morrow/">William Morrow</a> for review purposes, a fact that makes me very happy. It's been awhile since I've accepted a book for review, but I do love the Royal Family and read up on them all of the time so a novel about the dressmakers who made Queen Elizabeth's dress sounded right up my alley! Indeed, it was!<br />
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Robson tells her tale of the dress through the lives of three different women and in two different time periods. If you are the type of reader who enjoys stories which hop back and forth between eras, then you will enjoy this. Robson clearly did a good job researching the dress, dressmakers and various points in history in writing this book which made it all the easier to relax into. The writing is engaging and the subject matter a win for me so I really have mostly positive things to say, with one caveat which I'll explain (without spoilers) at the end.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gown-Novel-Royal-Wedding/dp/0062674951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547698863&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gown%2C+by+jennifer+robson">The Gown</a> takes us on a journey during life in post-World War II England with the royal wedding fast approaching. Anne Hughes and Miriam Dassin are two embroiderers who have been chosen to create the stitchwork design on the Princess's gown and veil. Anne is British and has lived in London through the Blitz, suffering her own heartaches and losses. Miriam has left France to move to England and she also has hardships in her past which she would rather not discuss. The two girls friend one another and form a bond that is sweet and endearing. During the book we learn about how the gown was created, what the media circus was like surrounding the royal wedding, and, of course, we get to know Anne and Miriam.<br />
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The third woman in the story, Heather, lives in Canada and she is the granddaughter of Anne. How she stumbles into the story of the gown and her grandmother's involvement is something of a mystery itself. In delving into the unknown parts of her grandmother's past, Heather discovers both things about her grandmother that the family had often wondered at, and also how to live her own life in the process. I'm a fan of books which tell you the story in fits and starts so this book suited me well, although I suppose it is a style that could annoy some.<br />
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Over all, I thought <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gown-Novel-Royal-Wedding/dp/0062674951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1547698863&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gown%2C+by+jennifer+robson">The Gown</a> was superbly enjoyable. The only caution I would offer is to the conservative reader. There are a handful of moments where Robson used foul language. The words popped up maybe five times at most through the course of the book. They weren't altogether necessary and I will always find it regrettable to think that storytellers believe that they must use such words at all! They rarely add anything to the dialogue and are completely unnecessary in my opinion. There is also a rape scene in the book which some might wish to take note of. I didn't find it overly gratuitous and it can be skipped entirely. (It's brief, thank goodness.) But it's there and I know that some of my readers here at <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/">Reading to Know</a> will want to know about this. So there it is.<br />
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Would I read this book again? No, I won't. I enjoyed it very much but I'll probably find someone else who would like to read it and pass it along to them.<br />
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<i>Many thanks to <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/corporate/harpercollins-imprints/william-morrow/">William Morrow</a> for sending me a copy to check out. Much appreciated. It should be duly noted that I received no additional compensation for my reading services and all opinions expressed above are entirely my own (although I wish my opinion about the use of foul language in books was universally shared).</i><br />
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<i>You can find me on Instagram: @1000lives_and_severalcupsoftea</i><br />
<i>You can find me on Goodreads at: Carrie Readingtoknow</i>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-35293590335198181482019-01-07T06:30:00.000-08:002019-01-07T06:30:07.460-08:00The Gospel Comes With a House Key, by Rosaria Butterfield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-DbqrONSEsU3GcOIRog9PGrXxaAQLoH8mjfziWicYil21pin9sNNQtE8wDp9BM_6WvDBmGvqnfNsTvZsyXf5kEs4wVvB_CgJXHBuJbosXzmFqTdpGop3m94uJ3FGdaGE7o1l/s1600/gospel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-DbqrONSEsU3GcOIRog9PGrXxaAQLoH8mjfziWicYil21pin9sNNQtE8wDp9BM_6WvDBmGvqnfNsTvZsyXf5kEs4wVvB_CgJXHBuJbosXzmFqTdpGop3m94uJ3FGdaGE7o1l/s320/gospel.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
I've been putting off a review of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418679&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes With a House Key</a> for awhile because I read it along with ladies from my church who were meeting regularly to discuss it. Due to family colds and conflicts in schedule it never came about that I could join in! <i>Talk about bummed!</i> This is one of my favorite topics to discuss (for real!) and I really wanted to know what the other ladies in my community thought of this one but, alas, I missed the boat. There <i>were</i> a few random snatches of conversation but in large part I missed hearing the in depth thoughts of others. A part of me fears now that my review is going to be a bit lopsided because I didn't get the chance to really, really hash out my own opinions verbally. I want to offer the disclaimer here that I'm writing this without much discussion and if you want to disagree with me I'm okay with you doing so. You have my permission. If you needed it. I can be nice that way.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418679&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes with a House Key</a> is the latest book on the scene from Rosaria Butterfield. I, like so many others, read and very much enjoyed her first book, <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2013/05/the-secret-thoughts-of-unlikely-convert.html">The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert</a> (linked to my review). In fact, before proceeding in the writing of my review of this her second book, I re-read my review of <i>Secret Thoughts</i> to see what I thought of Butterfield then. Her first book had enormous impact on me as a reader. It was riveting, inspiring and convicting. In that book she touches on the topic of the need for Christians to serve the world and she did so in a balanced, fair and genuinely concerned manner. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418679&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes with a House Key</a> is an expansion of her thoughts about what hospitality from Christians to non-Christians could look like.<br />
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One thing that I feel <i>very</i> passionately about is the calling of all Christians to practice hospitality. I'm a firm believer in the importance of a continued, faithful practice of inviting others into your homes and lives. If you remove the practice of hospitality from a Christian community (or any community really, but for the purposes of this review I'm going to refer strictly to Christians) then you are assigning its members to death. I do not believe that God allows or requires that any one person live their life in some sort of solitary confinement away from a Body of Believers. I think that any person who would like to believe that they do not need others is lying to themselves in a bold and harmful manner. Life is not easy and we are each are constantly surrounded by temptations to sin. If we are not surrounded by faithful people then we are more likely to cave to the pressures of society and life in general and have a greater likelihood of falling into sinful behavior as a result.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Be honest, sinning always feels easier than doing the right and holy thing. At least at first. Sooner or later your sin will eat you alive but for awhile it will feel like the best thing there is. </b></div>
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A Christian who is surrounded by a faithful cloud of witnesses is much less likely - or even <i>able</i> - to fall into sin. If they <i>do </i>give in to a moment of worldly pleasure and their fellow brother and sister notice, it is highly likely that they will be pulled out of their confusion and set back to rights in quicker fashion. We <i>need</i> people to come alongside us and to encourage us to do right and pursue Christ above all else. In order for one person to be able to do that for another then they must know them, <i>really know</i> them. To be in fellowship and to practice hospitality with one another you really need to know the heart of someone. You need to know their struggles, their aches and their pains because if you know those things then you actually stand a chance at helping them avoid the pitfalls which Satan has surrounded them with! To know those things takes time; it takes a willingness to invite them in to your life.<br />
<br />
Butterfield's primary focus in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418679&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes With a House Key</a> is to piggy back on her last book and explain how she and her husband, Kent, practice hospitality to non-Christians. She has several reasons for focusing on this particular aspect and angle of hospitality, chief being that she was drawn to the saving grace of Jesus Christ through someone's Christian hospitality which was a witness to her soul. Her's is really a beautiful story and I have no doubt she feels quite passionately that Christians today need to quit "playing safe" with their fellowship but invite the unbelievers in so that they, too, can know Jesus. Admirable? <i>Yes.</i> Do I object? <i>No.</i> Not in the least. It is a good and right thing she suggests and if you need the motivation to do these things, by all means pick up this book. Her passion for the subject is genuine and beautiful. We need Rosaria Butterfields in this world today to encourage us to think outside of our own little boxes!<br />
<br />
That all said, it ended up that I did not like this book and it's not for any of the above mentioned topics of conversation. Rather, I disliked it because of the way that Rosaria handled the topic of Christians within her own church body with whom she found herself in conflict with. Now, Butterfield's husband is a pastor and they are leaders of a congregation on the East Coast. They've apparently had some struggles as a church and some of their members (including those in leadership!) did some very, very wrong and sinful things. Things that split the church. She mentions this in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418679&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes with a House Key</a> and, to some extent, I could understand why she was including this information. Their sins were public so it wasn't like she was exposing things that she ought to have kept hidden. Her point in raising their church struggles was to bring attention to the fact that even the sinners within their body of believers needed hospitality. True point and well taken! My distaste for the book came in the dragging out of this point.<br />
<br />
To build her case about practicing hospitality to the "sinner in the midst", she mentions that certain people within their congregation decided to leave the church "instead of" practicing hospitality to these public sinners. This apparently and very clearly did not sit well with Butterfield and she outs them in this book. (No, she doesn't name them, but she very pointedly discusses her opinion about the attitude which she believes she perceives in them.) Given that Rosaria is a public figure and given that she's put her home church on the map, so to speak, I feel like her talking about this church split was bad form. She's a pastors wife who writes books and speaks publicly. I was left with the distinct impression that if you disagree with her and happen to attend her church, you run a risk of being publicly denounced for your perceived misbehavior, instead of perhaps more privately and graciously dealt with or understood. Do I think her former parishioners are going to be feeling very graciously when they understand what she has published about them? Did she take what was a private matter and make it very public with good purpose, justifying the inclusion of this particular story in her book? I would say no. I would be forced to disagree with her plan of action by taking her argument against her former friends to a publisher and letting us all hear about their church problems which she was very clearly unhappy about. This is very bad form in my opinion and it ultimately left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It's regrettable that she felt the need to wield her pen as if a sword in this manner and it cost her some of my respect.<br />
<br />
Back to the point of all of this though. Do I think that practicing hospitality is of great importance? I could not <i>possibly</i> find it more important. To know and to be known by others, to belong and to be loved is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to one another. We recently moved to a new town and there is something tremendous that happens internally when a person that you don't know at all comes to you and says, "Come into my home, I want to know you!" It gives you a warm feeling to the depths of your soul. To be asked to join in is a gift that I cannot quite describe. Asking a Christian into your home is to affirm to them that they have a place among you and that is overwhelming to the recipient. Asking a non-believer into your life is a way to invite them to also know the hope that is in you. That is a far more valuable an act that we are likely to understand in this lifetime unless we've been the unbeliever, which Butterfield has been. She understands the importance and so she has a fiery passion for the topic which is good. I do not object to her passion on this topic, but <i>welcome </i>it. I merely request that her passion be delivered with a dollop of grace towards her fellow believers and this was something which I felt was sadly lacking over the course of this read (particularly in the matter of her home church split).<br />
<br />
In the end, I feel like her first book is far more impacting than this second. Obviously there are a lot of people who really loved this book and my opinion is that it's good but there are better books on the topic of hospitality. Here are some I would recommend:<br />
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<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2012/11/making-room-recovering-hospitality-as.html">Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition</a>, by Christine D. Pohl. Go grab a copy! It's <i>the best</i>. (Title is linked to my review.)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2013/05/the-secret-thoughts-of-unlikely-convert.html">The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2011/05/meal-with-jesus-by-tim-chester.html">A Meal With Jesus</a> (which I would now recommend over TGCw/aHK)</li>
<li><a href="http://offeringhospitality.blogspot.com/2010/04/practicing-hospitality-chapter-1.html">Practicing Hospitality</a> by Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock. This is one of my top favs and I wrote about it in a series of blog post which are hard to sort out on website I started called, "Offering Hospitality" years ago. Because yes, hospitality has long been a passionate concern of mine!</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Face-Meditations-Friendship-Hospitality/dp/1591280664/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546418046&sr=8-1&keywords=face+to+face+by+steve+wilkins">Face to Face, by Steve Wilkins</a></li>
</ul>
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<br />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-30765188041154885912019-01-02T01:36:00.004-08:002019-01-02T01:36:42.060-08:00Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge (2019) - TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsn5lf-ZGNCpNOBnemhsgRQhUD8nvGV2UZsJnjBaFo3uAxiLclX84DeApr2g_mha-Jt5RKlTapGTP7AFHBoouXnPJ90Ij2hLLKF5SBp3tUIGcCE7rVCpM30ebkr-5jzfWHpIC/s1600/lmmchallenge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsn5lf-ZGNCpNOBnemhsgRQhUD8nvGV2UZsJnjBaFo3uAxiLclX84DeApr2g_mha-Jt5RKlTapGTP7AFHBoouXnPJ90Ij2hLLKF5SBp3tUIGcCE7rVCpM30ebkr-5jzfWHpIC/s200/lmmchallenge.gif" width="200" /></a></div>
Hello, friends.<br />
<br />
If you can believe it, I started the Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge TEN YEARS ago right here at Reading to Know. <i><u>Ten years?! </u></i>Where's the time go already!? Every year many of us have gathered to read a few books from one of our favorite authors. It's time to do it again - with a few treats thrown in for the faithful, eh?<br />
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If you've not participated before, consider doing so this year? I like to keep things easy around here so if you're new to this, here's the idea behind the challenge: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Read as much Montgomery as you can during the month of January.</u></b></div>
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Just that. Pure and simple. Perhaps you'll only get through one book and maybe you'll read through several. Whatever you can manage to squeeze in qualifies you to be a participant!<br />
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Montgomery is my favorite female author of all time and I love beginning a new year with her quiet, spunky, imaginative characters. Despite the fact that her life was far from serene and perfect, she managed to create characters that have made the world laugh and smile for over 100 years. I take pleasure in her books, despite the fact that they are rather formulaic. I find them to be remarkably peaceful. They are quiet reads which keep a slow and steady pace and which continue to draw me back to them year after year after year. If you have not had the pleasure of reading a L.M. Montgomery book, I hope you'll take the time to do so this month. If you are looking for another excuse to take a leisurely walk around Prince Edward Island with some of your favorite friends, well then, please, let me provide that excuse!<br />
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I invite you to read any book by Montgomery <i>or about</i> Montgomery as part of this challenge. Audio books are, of course, very welcome as are the first two Anne movies created and produced by Kevin Sullivan.<br />
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The only two things which never have and never will "count" towards participating in this challenge are the following:<br />
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<ul>
<li><i>Before Green Gables,</i> by Budge Wilson. This is a made up history of Anne. It's the imaginings of another author about my most beloved Montgomery character.</li>
<li>I also do not allow the inclusion of <i>Anne Of Green Gables - The Continuing Story</i> because it's so far off the mark. This movie should be considered Anne heresy and is banned around these parts.</li>
</ul>
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This year I'm also going to specify that the new Anne with an E show is not allowed because it's just rubbish. Consider these limitations a host's prerogative if you must.<br />
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Everything else is fair game.<br />
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What I ask participants in this challenge to do is to write up a post on your own blog (if you have one still!) or share the following information on FB or Instagram: <br />
<br />
1. Indicate that you have every good intention to participate in this Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge (link to this post for the ease of other potential participants);<br />
2. List which of her books you intend to read (or which movies you intend to watch); and<br />
3. <i>Enjoy</i> whatever it is that you manage to work through during the month.<br />
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I do hope you will join in and be a part of this reading challenge. I so enjoy hosting this every year and always try to learn something new about Montgomery as I read. If you're planning to read along, please let me (and everyone else!) know in the comment section! <br />
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Given that this is the 10th year of the reading challenge, watch for a giveaway or two and treats for those who are reading along. Be sure to let me know you are playing along so that I can include you in upcoming prize giveaway! Let's have fun with this, shall we!? Happy 10 years to the faithful! :)Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-16906214932800006632018-12-31T15:22:00.001-08:002018-12-31T15:22:40.323-08:00List of 52 Books I'd like to Read in 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70Ed_tfe2u29KNMiF9edADorO2vSpVfsMQgQ4WOBOytWDaCRZjt7mQOZKO6ZqgE_PWqSarVBWvTHPdrW7WVmuE7y6nNIaPzNqX2_NrDn-meEDHgUqxneXT1qaOPjGQdPaDxlv/s1600/foxreading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70Ed_tfe2u29KNMiF9edADorO2vSpVfsMQgQ4WOBOytWDaCRZjt7mQOZKO6ZqgE_PWqSarVBWvTHPdrW7WVmuE7y6nNIaPzNqX2_NrDn-meEDHgUqxneXT1qaOPjGQdPaDxlv/s320/foxreading.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
I'm going to try something I've never tried before. I am going to set my reading goal for 2019 at 52 books. (You can track with me on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?feature=friend-invite-url&invite_token=MGE5Yjc4YmEtMWM5Mi00NTQzLTkxOWUtNzdiM2Y4MjZkMzNj">Goodreads HERE</a>.) Usually I like to go with the flow of things and pick books randomly as the year trots along and who knows but that I'll do that yet. However, I'd like to conduct a little experiment and see how much I could read from a planned list of books. Let us see.<br />
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Out of 52 books I'd like to leave room for 12 random reads because something tells me this experiment doesn't stand a chance unless there's room for some amount of flexibility!<br />
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That leaves 40 books to select and put on a Prepared Reading List for 2019. In no particular order, these are the titles I'd really like to get to in 2019. Many are from my own bookshelves and there are some I'm probably going to be forced to collect. (Wink)<br />
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Starting with the most important read of the year and moving on from there -<br />
<br />
1. I'll be using the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Chronological-Bible-NIV/dp/1414359934/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546298025&sr=8-1&keywords=one+year+chronological+bible+niv">One Year Chronological Study Bible </a>this year again. I've used it for the past 5(ish?) years and I find it the easiest, most consistent way to make sure I read through the Bible every year. It's laid out by date which is ever so helpful as I'm not trying to keep track of a separate piece of paper and keep track of readings. Why that's a challenge for me, I don't know, but I <i>do</i> know that this particular One Year Bible has been tremendously handy and feel I ought to stick with it!<br />
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Account for Flexible Reads -<br />
<br />
2 - 13. Open slots for flexibility.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>BOOKS FOR ME</u></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fiction - </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileXhyphenhyphensSJOHDYC_lJN9zakaweIjb1LB6Icg9jHK24j4TRA5U6cPcd0BkKoEPBJwff6LFBV5-aMmS9fAAnesuaY-TPFZfKxc61UhZZWDq-o16QlJaFm4hyphenhyphene-9wvRRJT8LDF0k_X/s1600/reading.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileXhyphenhyphensSJOHDYC_lJN9zakaweIjb1LB6Icg9jHK24j4TRA5U6cPcd0BkKoEPBJwff6LFBV5-aMmS9fAAnesuaY-TPFZfKxc61UhZZWDq-o16QlJaFm4hyphenhyphene-9wvRRJT8LDF0k_X/s320/reading.png" width="251" /></a></div>
14. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Clockmakers-Daughter-Novel-Kate-Morton/dp/1451649398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546281296&sr=8-1&keywords=the+clockmakers+daughter+kate+morton">The Clockmakers Daughter</a>, by Kate Morton. This title was just released this fall. LOVE Kate Morton. My son gave me this book for Christmas and I can't wait to dive in.<br />
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15. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Peddler-Weaver-Trilogy/dp/1683701364/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546281266&sr=8-1&keywords=the+story+peddler">The Story Peddler</a>, by Lindsay Franklin. Another gift from another son for Christmas. (It was a very good, bookish sort of Christmas!)<br />
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16. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Carries-War-Bawden-Nina-Paperback/dp/B00IIAURP2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1546281219&sr=8-2&keywords=carrie%27s+war+by+nina">Carrie's War</a>, by Nina Bawden. I picked this one up in Scotland because, I mean, how could I not?<br />
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17. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Long-Legs-Puffin-Classics-Jean-Webster/dp/0141331119/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1546281133&sr=8-3&keywords=Daddy+Long+Legs">Daddy Long Legs</a>, by Jean Webster. I picked up the Puffins Classic version because a.) it's pretty and b.) I haven't read this book yet.<br />
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18. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rogues-Life-Wilkie-Collins-ebook/dp/B00847S2KQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296031&sr=8-1&keywords=a+rogue%27s+life+by+wilkie+collins">A Rogue's Life</a>, by Wilkie Collins<br />
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19. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Lads-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/1844080730/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296082&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=golden+lads+by+daphne+du+marier">Golden Lads</a>, by Daphnie Du Maurier<br />
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20. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Safety-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/037575931X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296289&sr=8-1&keywords=crossing+to+safety+by+wallace+stegner">Crossing to Safety</a>, by Wallace Stegner<br />
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21. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Castaways-Flying-Dutchman/dp/0142501182/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296373&sr=8-1&keywords=castaways+of+the+flying+dutchman">Castaways of the Flying Dutchman</a>, by Brian Jacques<br />
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22. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Along-Shore-L-M-Montgomery/dp/0553285890/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296439&sr=8-1&keywords=along+the+shore">Along the Shore</a>, by L.M. Montgomery<br />
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23. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gown-Novel-Royal-Wedding/dp/0062674951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297498&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Gown">The Gown</a>, by Jennifer Robson (I have a review copy for this one!)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Non-Fiction - </b></span><br />
<br />
24. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Allah-Finding-Jesus-Christianity/dp/0310527236/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296168&sr=8-1&keywords=seeking+allah+finding+jesus">Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus</a>, by Nabeel Quireshi<br />
<br />
25. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Abdul-Movie-Tie-Confidant-ebook/dp/B06XBPQ8CC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296513&sr=8-6&keywords=victoria+and+abdul">Victoria and Abdul</a>, by Shrabani Basu (I'm terribly iffy on this one and if there was a book I might change my mind about, this would be the one. I picked it up at the library book sale after hearing about the movie. Reading the back of the book makes me rethink things. We'll see.)<br />
<br />
26. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Other-Survival-Signals-Protect-Violence/dp/0440508835/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296587&sr=8-1&keywords=the+power+of+fear">The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence</a>, by Gavin de Becker (Came highly recommended by a friend of mine.)<br />
<br />
27. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Supposed-This-Disappointments/dp/0718039858/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296694&sr=8-1&keywords=it%27s+not+supposed+to+be+this+way+terkeurst">It's Not Supposed to Be This Way</a>, by Lysa Terkuerst<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLTIqE8ZMA2ZOoTJ35FaTljDrFV0Q6so94j4x6N7Ax6BmblSgXlYicxm5-kPXdjbOzo_9F0LGxjMjW-HsEjDss_Y4HdjAjcfwn0qPWa5dT9SCRn0gBZGiA5EtlzrZl1u8WqzV/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLTIqE8ZMA2ZOoTJ35FaTljDrFV0Q6so94j4x6N7Ax6BmblSgXlYicxm5-kPXdjbOzo_9F0LGxjMjW-HsEjDss_Y4HdjAjcfwn0qPWa5dT9SCRn0gBZGiA5EtlzrZl1u8WqzV/s320/books.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Books I'd like to Re-Read - </span></b><br />
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28. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stepping-Heavenward-Introduction-George-Prentiss/dp/1420959433/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296770&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=stepping+heavenward+by+elizabeth+prentiss&psc=1">Stepping Heavenward,</a> by Elizabeth Prentiss<br />
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29. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hinds-Feet-High-Places-Devotional/dp/0768442028/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1546296827&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=hinds+feet+on+high+places+by+hannah+hurnard&psc=1">Hinds' Feet on High Places</a>, by Hannah Hurnard<br />
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30 - 41. The Mitford Series, by Jan Karon<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">To Read With the Kids</span></b></div>
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42. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mysterious-Benedict-Society-Trenton-Stewart/dp/0316003956/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297066&sr=8-1&keywords=the+mysterious+benedict+society+book+1">The Mysterious Benedict Society</a>, by Trenton Lee Stewart (a re-read, but the younger kids don't remember it)<br />
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43. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wonderful-Wizard-Oz-Frank-Baum/dp/1717379184/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297111&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=the+wizard+of+oz&psc=1">The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</a>, by L. Frank Baum<br />
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44 - 49. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Great-Mouse-Detective-Crumbs-Collection/dp/148147717X/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297207&sr=8-3-fkmr2&keywords=The+great+mouse+detective+boxed+set">The First Five Great Mouse Detective Books</a>, by Eve Titus<br />
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50. The Magic Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton<br />
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51. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Poppers-Penguins-Richard-Atwater/dp/0316058432/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297413&sr=8-1&keywords=mr.+popper%27s+penguins+book">Mr. Popper's Penguins</a>, by Richard Atwater<br />
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52. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ramona-Pest-Quimby-Book-ebook/dp/B0016P2FF6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546297699&sr=8-4&keywords=ramona+series+book+2">Ramona the Pest,</a> by Beverly Cleary<br />
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That's a wrap.<br />
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Even just writing down those titles made me realize how little reading time I've carved out for myself of late and how small a stack 52 books really is when all is said and done. Clearly I shall die with a TBR list that's 14,000 miles long. I'm sure you can appreciate the feeling, yes? Writing this down motivates me to read, read, read and see if I can best myself. But. If all I read are 52 books it will be good and I need to be satisfied with that! Here's to books, the places they take us, and how much that they teach us!<br />
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Happy 2019 everyone!<br />
<br />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-80806102895774888442018-12-29T21:59:00.000-08:002018-12-29T21:59:16.485-08:00Favorite Reads of 2018I still have reviews in my head which I'd like to write out but somehow the month of December just flew right by! So I've spent the past few days trying to wrap up reads and make sure I marked all of the books that I managed to read down.<br />
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This year was the first in which I utilized Goodreads' Reading Challenge program. If memory serves, I originally set my goal at 35 books, wanting to err on the conservative side of things. But then a good friend of mine suggested that I could do better than that so I upped it to 50 which made her happier. <i>Ha! </i>(Everyone needs a friend who will gently push them in the right direction!) Turns out 50 was just about right. I managed 52 books - that's including books read aloud with my kidlets - giving me a 104% success rate on Goodreads! My little over achieving self is made happy.<br />
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Now, let's get to the point of all of this. What were my favorite reads of 2018? Here they are, in no particular order:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FAVORITE WORK OF FICTION</b></div>
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Hands down, no contest, it was <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/03/a-gentleman-in-moscow-by-amor-towles.html">A Gentleman in Moscow</a>. The title is linked to my review of the book, which is remarkable because I didn't write very many reviews at all this year. I read <i>A Gentleman in Moscow</i> back in March which honestly feels like a lifetime ago. This is a beautiful piece of work and I highly recommend it.<br />
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<b>FAVORITE PIECE OF NON-FICTION</b></div>
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This one is always harder because each piece of non-fiction that I ended up reading was read for a different reason and was impacting in different ways. However, I will do my best to narrow it down and go with <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/01/the-pursuit-of-holiness-by-jerry-bridges.html">The Pursuit of Holiness</a> (which, when I re-read my review again, makes sense). I definitely recommend this read if you've never picked it up.<br />
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<b>FAVORITE BOOK READ ALOUD W/ THE KIDS</b></div>
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TOUGH QUESTION! I'll go with <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/the-adventures-of-hamish-and-mirren-by.html">The Adventures of Hamish and Mirren</a> which we read ahead of our family trip to Scotland. This was such a rich, delicious and entertaining read! Highly, highly, highly recommended!<br />
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<b>LEAST FAVORITE BOOK</b></div>
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Well, there are four that I didn't quite care for for one reason or another but if I were to issue a warning, I guess I'd place <i>The Royal Rabbits of London</i> at the top of the list. I don't really have anything much to say about it except that it's stupid. Cute idea in theory but it is slap-stick in the worst possible way appealing to the worst in the reader instead of to the best. I hoped to read it with my kids. Instead I skimmed it by myself and then tossed it.<br />
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<br />
Runners up:<br />
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- <i>Raven, Seek Thy Brother</i> by Gavin Maxwell. This was the third book in a series of memoirs penned by Maxwell, a Scottish author who raised and cared for wild otters up on the Northern Coast. The first book (<i>Ring of Bright Water</i>) was brilliant. The second was disappointing. The third was just depressing as Maxwell showcased his inability to love people over animals and how to take relationships for granted.<br />
- <i>When People are Big and God is Small</i>. This book I found imbalanced in its approach to God and humanity. It pre-supposes that the most holy approach to life is to set aside every God-given emotion that you possess, and the wisdom gained in life to apply wisdom to life's circumstances, and suggests that we must all behave like Lt. Commander Data from Star Trek instead. As we just weren't made that way (on purpose!), I couldn't take the author very seriously. I wouldn't recommend this read as a result.<br />
- <i>Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry</i>, by David C. Robertson. MAJOR SNOOZE ALERT! I like non-fiction reads and I enjoy learning about how business have grown and expanded themselves but this book was boring. Absolutely boring. Save yourselves a read and find a different title about the Lego Company to enjoy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME-AUTHOR</b></div>
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Enid Blyton. The kids and I read her <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blytons-Christmas-Stories-Bumper-Collections/dp/1444922572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546149290&sr=8-1&keywords=enid+blyton+christmas+stories">Christmas Stories</a> over the month of December and I honestly cannot ever remember reading a better book of short stories, aside from E. Nesbit's <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2013/05/the-book-of-dragons-by-e-nesbit.html">The Book of Dragons</a> (linked to review). If you know me and know my love of <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2013/05/the-book-of-dragons-by-e-nesbit.html">The Book of Dragons</a>, you will recognize this as high praise. When we were traveling in Scotland I picked up Blyton books wherever we went and we are now in the process of devouring them! I bought some of her <i>Famous Five </i>books for my 9 year old who started reading them and specifically requested that he be given more titles from the series for Christmas. <i>Ye who know how to give good gifts to your children . . . </i><br />
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Read a Blyton and change your reading world! (Possible Reading Slogan for 2019.)<br />
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I'll stop there. If you're curious to see my entire <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/2018-reads.html">2018 Reading List</a> just click on that link there and it'll take you to it. Meanwhile, if there's a book you think I ought to consider reading in 2019 I am happy to hear of it! Leave me a comment or shoot me a note if you please.<br />
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HAPPY NEW READING YEAR to everyone!!!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-72034938545602821562018-12-05T15:26:00.000-08:002018-12-05T15:26:36.442-08:00Anne of Windy Poplars & Other Reviews (Snippets!)This past month has been a busy blur! Mostly I've been occupied with a head cold which has led to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AFineQuotation">this</a>. However, the Christmas season is now upon us and more than anything I just want to sit down and blaze through a bunch of books and Christmas stories. So the paintbrush has been set down and I'm back to the books, many of which I have finished. My normal practice is to write up a review on each individual title but I fear if I tried to do that, I'd never catch up. So here's a snapshot of the books I've been reading of late.<br />
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I've lost count of the number of times I've read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Windy-Poplars-Official-Green-Gables/dp/1402289065/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1544050881&sr=8-3&keywords=anne+of+windy+poplars">Anne of Windy Poplars</a> but this was my choice for a November read. When I was younger, this was my least favorite of the Anne books. After all, there's no Gilbert and without Gilbert there's no tension. However, this is probably one of my favorite Anne books to read as an adult chiefly because, as it turns out, life is not all romance. There are jobs to do and circumstances to grow through and that's what Anne spends her time doing in <i>Windy Poplars</i>.<br />
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In this particular story we find Anne enduring a teaching job and learning to thrive in a small community which consists largely of the Pringle family. The Pringles didn't want her to be hired at the local all-girls high school as they had favored one of their own relatives for the job instead. Despite initially persecuting poor, dear Miss Shirley, she wins them over in her Anne-ish way and we make new friends alongside her in the journey.<br />
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My favorite quote from the read this time 'round comes out of a letter which Anne is writing to Gilbert in which she is describing her young neighbor, Elizabeth:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I'm glad I don't live in Yesterday . . . that Tomorrow is still a friend."</blockquote>
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Yes and amen.<br />
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My yesterdays are full of beauty and joy and good times. They are also filled with real struggles, challenges and hardships. Some struggles were more difficult than others but God has been faithful and has seen us through. I wouldn't trade or change a single experience, friendship or joy. All the same, I'm glad that there is always Tomorrow ahead, full of new dreams and new hopes. Why the hope? Romans 15:13. I'll bank on that.<br />
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****</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Light-We-Cannot-See/dp/1501173219/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544051462&sr=8-1&keywords=all+the+light+we+cannot+see">All the Light We Cannot See</a>, by Anthony Doerr came to me highly recommended by multiple friends and through #Bookstagram. As a result of the hype it was almost - but not quite - doomed to failure. Readers know how it goes when everyone around you begins to rave about a certain book and exclaims that you absolutely must make time to read it. The book is set upon a pedestal and the fear in reading it becomes that when you finally get around to it, you won't like it as much as you are "supposed" to. I'm afraid that's what happened to me with this one.<br />
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I enjoyed this book for two reasons in particular:<br />
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1. It is a work of historic fiction based on one of my favorite time periods in history: World War II.<br />
<br />
2. The book travels through time, taking you to a period before the German occupation of France, through the occupation, and straight through to the end. I like books that move you all around the place. The only downside of that is that you really ought to read the book in just a few sittings so that you do not become confused by the characters or point in history.<br />
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The writing style is very short and choppy. Chapters are just a few pages long which has the benefit of allowing the reader to read it in snippets if they prefer (just note the danger of forgetfulness). The characters are very memorable and easy to empathize with. Doerr paints a picture of life in an occupied country in such a way that I am not likely to soon forget the atrocities of war. It really is quite the memorable book and I would recommend it without fanfare in hopes that other readers will enjoy it more than I did.<br />
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That's not really a stunning recommendation is it? <i>Hmm.</i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
*****</div>
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Lastly, I read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1544051950&sr=8-1&keywords=the+gospel+comes+with+a+house+key">The Gospel Comes With a House Key</a> and this book really deserves a lot more than a snippet of a review. I have <i>thoughts</i>. I have <i>words</i>. They'll have to wait. <br />
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<i>Review coming soon . . . </i><br />
<br />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-91018208819028073072018-11-01T07:00:00.000-07:002018-11-01T07:00:03.072-07:00The Fairy Caravan, by Beatrix Potter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had never heard of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Caravan-Beatrix-Potter/dp/0141353880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541009558&sr=8-1&keywords=isbn+9780141353883">The Fairy Caravan</a> before just a few months ago. I feel like I <i>ought</i> to have heard about it, but I hadn't. I've always associated Beatrix Potter with England but when our family was in Scotland, driving between locations, we passed by Birnam. We spotted a sign advertising the Beatrix Potter Exhibit which resulted in a quick exit into Birman and to the <a href="https://www.birnamarts.com/">Birnman Arts Center</a> where we learned all kinds of things about Potter than we never knew before! As it would seem, the Potter family spent summers in the Birman/Perthshire area. Two of her books were penned in this region, specifically <i>The Tale of Peter Rabbit</i> and <i>The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher</i>. The museum in Birman is small but cute and the kids enjoyed the stop. Mostly the exhibit featured posters sharing information about the Potter family but then they had a lovely play area for kids to dress up as Potter characters, color, and play at being old fashioned grocers. I wouldn't say that this is a Must See Attraction but we certainly didn't mind the pit stop! (UK pit stops are incredibly enjoyable, in our opinion! Ha!)<br />
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At any rate, inside the gift shop I came across one last copy of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Caravan-Beatrix-Potter/dp/0141353880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541009558&sr=8-1&keywords=isbn+9780141353883">The Fairy Caravan</a>. It's a <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/DT1/puffin-classics">Puffin Classic Edition</a> - (which #bookstagramers will note as being supremely cute!) - and I feel in love with it immediately. Books are my souvenirs of choice when traveling and this seemed a fine thing to bring home. I had intentions of reading it while we traveled but that didn't happen. We read it at home instead, finishing it up this week.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Caravan-Beatrix-Potter/dp/0141353880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541009558&sr=8-1&keywords=isbn+9780141353883">The Fairy Caravan</a> tells the story of Tuppeny the guinea pig who decides to leave town, home, and nagging wife to start a new life. He comes across a miniature traveling circus made up of a variety of different animals. These animals travel about unseen by human eyes because they have magic hayseeds which keep them hidden from view. They travel about the countryside, unawares, and put on performances for various other animals. They have all sorts of adventures in very Potter-y fine form.<br />
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We fell in love with the book instantly upon reading. The character of Paddy Pig, a jovial but somewhat crazy sound pig, quickly captured our hearts and we laughed at his antics and speeches. You know a book is going to be great when it induces laughter. However, I would say that although the book stayed cute and enjoyable <i>for me</i>, my younger kids were somewhat lost as the book continued on. The circus caravan stop to visit a herd of sheep and the sheep engage in some story telling of their own which, between the vocabulary and descriptions of Scottish landscapes and general practices of sheep herding, I sort of lost my readers. We pressed on through these passages, but they are frequent enough that I'd say this is a book worth saving until your kids are old enough to track with the descriptions of animal husbandry.<br />
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Do I regret reading <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Caravan-Beatrix-Potter/dp/0141353880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541009558&sr=8-1&keywords=isbn+9780141353883">A Fairy Caravan</a>? Not at all. We found much to enjoy, despite a few chapters to slog through. It was fun and I'm glad to have become acquainted with this read. If you haven't heard of it, well, here's your introduction! If you are a Beatrix Potter fan, I've no doubt you'll want to find a copy of this story!<br />
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<b>Links to other books we've read aloud together:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2016/02/the-long-winter-by-laura-ingalls-wilder.html">The Long Winter, by Laura Ingalls Wilder</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2015/10/the-trumpet-of-swan-by-eb-white.html">The Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White</a></li>
</ul>
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<br />Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-65473089532583681702018-10-30T07:00:00.000-07:002018-12-29T10:12:03.364-08:002018 Reads<i>I had a separate place I was keeping my reading list but I think I shall combine it with Reading to Know and keep things a bit more streamlined. This post will be updated throughout the year as I complete titles. If you see that a title has a link attached to it, note that it is linked to my review. If you do not see a link, it was a book that went un-reviewed. If you're curious as to what I thought of any of the titles, ask and I may see about writing up my thoughts. (No promises though! This is strictly A Maybe!) </i><br />
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1. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Year-Chronological-Bible-NIV/dp/1414359934/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546075821&sr=8-1&keywords=one+year+chronological+bible+niv">One-Year Chronological Bible</a><br />
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<b>Lucy Maud Montgomery Reading Challenge</b><br />
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2. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/01/a-tangled-web-by-lucy-maud-montgomery.html">A Tangled Web</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/12/anne-of-windy-poplars-other-reviews.html">Anne of Windy Poplars</a><br />
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<b>Others:</b><br />
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<i>4. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/01/the-pursuit-of-holiness-by-jerry-bridges.html">The Pursuit of Holiness</a></i>, by Jerry Bridges<br />
<i>5. Virtous</i>, by Nancy Wilson<br />
<i>6. Uncomfortable</i>, by Brett McCracken<br />
<i>7. Brick by Brick</i>: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry, by David C. Robertson (not reviewed)<br />
8. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/02/laugh-it-up-by-candace-payne.html">Laugh it Up!</a> by Candace Payne<br />
9. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/02/closer-than-sister-by-christina-fox.html">Closer Than a Sister, by Christina Fox</a><br />
10. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/02/loving-little-years-by-rachel-jankovic.html">Loving the Little Years</a>, by Rachel Jankovic (re-read)<br />
11. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/02/the-bark-of-bog-owl-wilderking-triology.html">The Bark of the Bog Owl</a>, by Jonathan Rogers<br />
12. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/03/a-gentleman-in-moscow-by-amor-towles.html">A Gentleman in Moscow</a>, by Amor Towles<br />
<i>13. The Blessing of Humility</i>, by Jerry Bridges (re-read)<br />
<i>14. The Northern Lights: The True Story of the Man Who Unlocked the Secrets of the Aurora Borealis</i>, by Lucy Jago (not reviewed)<br />
<i>15. The Royal Rabbits of London</i>, by Santa Montefiore (not reviewed)<br />
<i>16. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone</i>, by R.K. Rowling (re-read)<br />
<i>17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</i>, by R.K. Rowling (re-read)<br />
<i>18. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</i>, by R.K. Rowling (re-read)<br />
<i>19. When People are Big and God is Small</i>, by Edward Welch<br />
<i>20. The Peace Maker</i>, by Ken Sande<br />
<i>21. Uninvited</i>, by Lysa TerKeurst<br />
<i>22. In Freedom's Cause</i>, by G.A. Henty<br />
<i>23. Green Glass House</i>, by Kate Milford<br />
<i>24. Ring of Bright Water</i>, by Gavin Maxwell<br />
<i>25. The Rocks Remain</i>, by Gavin Maxwell<br />
<i>26. Raven, Seek Thy Brother</i>, by Gavin Maxwell<br />
<i>27. The Coral Island</i>, by R.M. Ballantyne<br />
<i>28. Anne of Green Gables, My Daughter, and Me</i>, by Lorilee Cracker<br />
<i>29. Tales of Mr. Pink-Whistle</i>, by Enid Blyton<br />
<i>30. The Read-Aloud Family</i>, by Sarah Mackenzie<br />
<i>31. Tom's Midnight Garden</i>, by Philippa Pearce<br />
<i>32. Adventures of the Wishing Chair</i>, by Enid Blyton<br />
<i>33. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/what-katy-did-by-susan-coolidge-katy.html">What Katy Did</a></i>, by Susan Coolidge<br />
<i>34. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/what-katy-did-by-susan-coolidge-katy.html">What Katy Did at School</a></i>, by Susan Coolidge<br />
<i>35. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/what-katy-did-by-susan-coolidge-katy.html">What Katy Did Next</a>,</i> by Susan Collidge<br />
<i>36. The Collectors</i>, by Jacqueline West<br />
37. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/frankenstein-by-mary-shelley.html">Frankenstein</a>, by Mary Shelley<br />
38. The Gospel Comes With a House Key, by Rosaria Butterfield<br />
39. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/12/anne-of-windy-poplars-other-reviews.html">All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr</a><br />
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<br />
<b>Read Aloud w/ the Kids:</b><br />
<br />
40. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/01/the-railway-children-by-e-nesbit.html">The Railroad Children, by E. Nesbit</a><br />
<i>41. Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall </i>(Tumtum and Nutmeg Books 1-3), by Emily Bearn (re-read)<br />
<i>42. The Rose Cottage Tales</i> (Tumtum and Nutmeg Books 4 - 6), by Emily Bearn (re-read)<br />
<i>43. Trouble at Rose Cottage</i> (Tumtum and Nutmeg Book 7), by Emily Bearn<br />
<i>44. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</i>, by C.S. Lewis (re-read)<br />
<i>45. Scottish Fairy Tales</i>, by Donald A. Mackenzie<br />
<i>46. Viking Tales</i>, by Jennie Hall (re-read)<br />
<i>47. The Little Book of the Hidden People</i>, by Alda Sigmundsdóttir <br />
<i>48. <a href="http://www.readingtoknow.com/2018/10/the-adventures-of-hamish-and-mirren-by.html">The Adventures of Hamish and Mirren</a></i>, by Moira Miller<br />
<i>49. Along Came a Dog</i>, by Meindert Dejong<br />
<i>50. The Door in the Wall,</i> by Marguerite de Angeli<br />
51. <i>The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic</i><br />
52. <i>Christmas Tales</i>, by Enid BlytonCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-17540676864372851602018-10-29T13:43:00.000-07:002018-10-29T13:43:17.936-07:00What Katy Did, by Susan Coolidge (The Katy Chronicles)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvDrXW0gpX4vC28kShJRtWy3ONz83zRhKTY31xxjOzdQvoOQPqGU2qaQsrWGFxnLFMj7L0tyo4vkJRlBpCk4bLsSuQT_eWszgp44nF1jEoD5VArWXkibBB0lBe-IyHNNfUD5n/s1600/IMG_20181029_120645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvDrXW0gpX4vC28kShJRtWy3ONz83zRhKTY31xxjOzdQvoOQPqGU2qaQsrWGFxnLFMj7L0tyo4vkJRlBpCk4bLsSuQT_eWszgp44nF1jEoD5VArWXkibBB0lBe-IyHNNfUD5n/s400/IMG_20181029_120645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Have you all heard of #Bookstagram? It's Instagram, sure, but all about books, so it's awesome. A friend of mine introduced me to the Bookstagram community earlier this year and it has been a joy and a delight. (If you want to find me on Instagram, look for me at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/1000lives_and_severalcupsoftea/">@1000lives_and_severalcupsoftea</a>.) Bookstagram has opened up a whole new world of reading possibilities to me, mostly through beautiful pictures of beautiful books!<br />
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A few months ago several Bookstagramers posted their pictures of the The Katy Carr trilogy of books by Susan Coolidge. Specifically, they featured the editions published by <a href="https://www.virago.co.uk/books/virago-modern-classics/">Virago Modern Classics</a>. I had never read the Katy books before but these editions looked so attractive to me that I felt compelled to read them. I picked up my own copies on Amazon and dove into them recently.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYej8h6370kZK30M7VDzm8qRcXqfTUDQRrVtxx53I41J-7jADv2UcxBAfPKZnmcr0R37zSPpGlcjeyNLeoD4yEZKQXM9IgZM01p9CqM4f6bAyl9fN4cgL7KkftZrc589UXa7sw/s1600/katydid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYej8h6370kZK30M7VDzm8qRcXqfTUDQRrVtxx53I41J-7jADv2UcxBAfPKZnmcr0R37zSPpGlcjeyNLeoD4yEZKQXM9IgZM01p9CqM4f6bAyl9fN4cgL7KkftZrc589UXa7sw/s200/katydid.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
The first book in the series, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009597/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1540837708&sr=8-7&keywords=what+katy+did">What Katy Did</a>, was first published in 1872 by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey who wrote under her pen name, Susan Coolidge. The character of Katy and her siblings are all based on Woolsey's family growing up. The story is set in Ohio in the mid 1860's and is a charming tale of small town America. Katy's father is a busy doctor and her mother passed away so the family is cared for by her father's sister, Izzy. When the book opens we find a mischievous young Katy who is full of life and vivacity. Aunt Izzy has her hands full trying to keep up with all of the shenanigans of her young nieces and nephews, particularly Katy!<br />
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Admittedly, this book got off to a slow start for me. The introduction to the family and characters was not exactly riveting. However, by the middle of the book it was clear that Coolidge was setting the stage for what was to come. Katy, like many young children, believes herself to be far wiser than her elders. In her prideful condition, she ends up disobeying a directive of her aunt which in turn leads to a significant injury to herself. The second half of the book really took flight as Katy learns patience, respect, and love for others while taking lessons in "the School of Pain." The great message of this book is that pain in life is God's tool to mold and make us more like Him. Told in a very gentle manner, Coolidge uses this story to inspire her readers to endure hardship, knowing that each struggle and trial we encounter in life serves a higher purpose. Even if we can't quite see or understand the importance or significance of our trials in the moment, we must trust and believe that God is good and has good things in mind for us. Pain certainly isn't easy and it isn't any fun; gratefully Coolidge doesn't pretend otherwise. Instead she shows how Katy grows and matures through the hard times which is exactly what happens to people when they put their faith in Christ.<br />
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Readers of the Katy books will quickly realize that Coolidge enjoys writing poetry. She wrote a piece on pain which is included in the story. I noted these few lines, in particular:<br />
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<blockquote>
There are two Teachers in the school,<br />
One has a gentle voice and low,<br />
And smiles upon her scholars, as<br />
She softly passes to and fro.<br />
Her name is Love; tis very plain<br />
She shuns the sharper teacher, Pain.<br />
Or so I sometimes think; and then,<br />
At other times, they meet and kiss,<br />
And look so strangely like, that I<br />
Am puzzled to tell how it is,<br />
Or whence the change which makes it vain<br />
To guess if it be Love or Pain.<br />
~ Susan Coolidge</blockquote>
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When in the midst of pain it's hard to appreciate it as being a lesson designed to better one's self. It is easy when in pain to feel angry and confused. I loved how Coolidge handled the subject in this "simple" story which kindly encourages the reader to stay grounded in their faith, <i>to be patient,</i> and to trust that there is a good, good plan at work. I think everyone needs this reminder in their lives from time to time. I certainly do. It's tempting to crumple up when one is being wounded in some way but it's a beautiful thing to bear the pain quietly, submitting to it as a great teacher. That's a hard challenge but a brilliant one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL032oUf40qxLKtQ79Ujr6YCS4W2fiDCLuxTdblbiPkjlnSC1fWlSo_5RqO4jl6GjoKndhtuS-389it0jr5ufpTAfwKofPIE_Xjod79UQfuxmRXC2XyGsOQTU3Ap0SY7z3OHw/s1600/whatkatydidatschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="488" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQL032oUf40qxLKtQ79Ujr6YCS4W2fiDCLuxTdblbiPkjlnSC1fWlSo_5RqO4jl6GjoKndhtuS-389it0jr5ufpTAfwKofPIE_Xjod79UQfuxmRXC2XyGsOQTU3Ap0SY7z3OHw/s200/whatkatydidatschool.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I simply loved <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009597/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1540837708&sr=8-7&keywords=what+katy+did">What Katy Did</a> so much that I immediately picked up What <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-School-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009619/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1540838993&sr=1-2&keywords=what+katy+did+at+school+by+susan+coolidge">Katy Did at School</a> because I wanted to find out what happened to Katy next!<br />
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Katy has recovered from her injury in this second story and her father has been persuaded that Katy and her younger sister, Clover, would do well to attend a girl's boarding school. Off the two sisters go on a new adventure to a fairly strictly run boarding school on the East Coast. While at school they make many friends and endure new challenges. Much of the book is playful and enjoyable but there is a main point and lesson to be learned in this sequel as well as in the first story of Katy. In the middle of the girls' school year, Katy and her sister are unjustly accused of doing something which they had not done. Their attempts at being believed are snubbed and they are ultimately thought the worse of by those in authority over them. The girls must grapple with how to handle this and they do so in a manner that modern day audiences would do well to learn. They take their unjust punishment quietly and peacefully and submit to it in so much as they can and then they determine to live it down. "Live it down!" becomes something of a battle cry to Katy as she determines to respond and act to these accusations in a right way. She doesn't accept the judgment but she has to live with it. Anyone who has ever been unjustly accused of something can appreciate this read. The way that Coolidge inspires and instructs her readers is, again, something quite brilliant! This book flew by for me and I read it in two sittings. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusqOycy9ybep200hCtN8HVDtPm9z-nTpq0JDAoS-1jac1ZtGokqjot6UVgxQvfYQfAMEaTUqwta0wDC4pjjnuwk2fp4AhX4qAw2c94FNAbTroja_8RxoYJrvOYjDTF44PFXGG/s1600/whatkatydidnext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusqOycy9ybep200hCtN8HVDtPm9z-nTpq0JDAoS-1jac1ZtGokqjot6UVgxQvfYQfAMEaTUqwta0wDC4pjjnuwk2fp4AhX4qAw2c94FNAbTroja_8RxoYJrvOYjDTF44PFXGG/s200/whatkatydidnext.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
Yet again, I loved the story so much that I jumped straight into <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009635/ref=pd_bxgy_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0349009635&pd_rd_r=6e085371-dbab-11e8-9014-696761b1e198&pd_rd_w=osfg6&pd_rd_wg=ziMsv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE">What Katy Did Next</a>. I felt like I was cheating by jumping straight into this one. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009597/ref=pd_sbs_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0349009597&pd_rd_r=8c528256-dbae-11e8-ac1d-87dffed7faff&pd_rd_w=mdBB8&pd_rd_wg=TArwU&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=7d5d9c3c-5e01-44ac-97fd-261afd40b865&pf_rd_r=MVYYA6EGDRQGM7ENWQFA&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=MVYYA6EGDRQGM7ENWQFA">While What Katy Did</a> was published in 1872, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009635/ref=pd_bxgy_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0349009635&pd_rd_r=6e085371-dbab-11e8-9014-696761b1e198&pd_rd_w=osfg6&pd_rd_wg=ziMsv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE">What Katy Did Next</a> wasn't published until 1886. Coolidge mentions in the beginning of the story that this particular book was written in response to the request of Katy's many fans who begged to know what happened to Katy after she finished school. If <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009635/ref=pd_bxgy_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0349009635&pd_rd_r=6e085371-dbab-11e8-9014-696761b1e198&pd_rd_w=osfg6&pd_rd_wg=ziMsv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE">What Katy Did Next</a> was meant to appease, it certainly did so for me and I loved it every bit as much as I enjoyed the first.<br />
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I didn't find that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Katy-Virago-Modern-Classics/dp/0349009635/ref=pd_bxgy_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0349009635&pd_rd_r=6e085371-dbab-11e8-9014-696761b1e198&pd_rd_w=osfg6&pd_rd_wg=ziMsv&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=1YC7RA71DVJJZG30JSXE">What Katy Did Next</a> had any particular moral standard or lesson to pass along. A friend mentioned to me that she thought this title dragged a bit. For my part, I enjoyed it because Katy spends the book traveling. She kicks off her European tour in England with talks of Scotland and since I've been to both places I was thrilled to visit them again with Katy as my companion. Clearly Coolidge had visited Europe before writing this book and I think she described things accurate and well. By the sounds of things, I'm not so sure she enjoyed England as much as she could have though; I think I enjoyed it more. (Ha!) This last title in the series was definitely written to appease the curiosity of readers of Katy. It scratched an itch and I appreciated it.<br />
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I did mark one passage, in particular, as standing out to me:<br />
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In my observation, grief can look like different things to different people and it would really behoove the lot of us humans if we'd come to recognize this. For some people, grief is a slow process of coming to grips. For others, they grapple with change more quickly and then pick up and move along. Pain and grief are tricky things and I don't think people use enough caution when encountering either. I'm not saying that there is a perfect way to approach someone who is suffering because there isn't. Sometimes you just have to be willing to try, fail, and/or compromise to stick together in the midst of hardship. That can be a scary thing! The comfort in the trying and the failing and the compromising is in knowing that <i>God</i> is perfect and able to perfectly meet each grief and bear it. We fail where He continually succeeds. There is grace in that belief - grace for each of us as we process life alongside one another in community.<br />
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To summarize my thoughts here, I'd say that if you haven't yet read the Katy books, I heartily recommend them. I'm not entirely sure how I missed them growing up, but I'm glad to have rectified the situation. I'll be pleased to introduce Katy to my daughters earlier on in their young lives so that they can enjoy knowing her longer.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-3498028734689686292018-10-24T14:33:00.000-07:002018-10-24T14:33:16.216-07:00The Adventures of Hamish and Mirren, by Moira Miller<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of this blog's readers picked up on the fact that our family recently took a little vacation. For the past few years we've been blessed to make a trip out of the country. Last year we visited Prince Edward Island and this fall we went on holiday to Scotland. As always, before we travel I like to scrounge for books about the country we plan to visit and read up on it. I'm always looking for picture and chapter books to share with our kids and one of the ones I found this year was <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Hamish-Mirren-Scottish-Children/dp/1782502114/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540414443&sr=8-1&keywords=the+adventures+of+hamish+and+mirren">The Adventures of Hamish and Mirren: Magical Scottish Stories for Children</a>, by Moira Miller. Whether or not you or your family is traveling to Scotland in actuality or not, I recommend this read. At the very least, you can transport yourself there via imagination!<br />
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The book opens with Hamish residing with his "old mother" on a farm by a loch on the west coast of Scotland. A Big Wind comes along and destroys Hamish's hay stacks and he heads off to chase it. His journeys take him to the home of Mirren and her father and sisters. The two fall in love and marry, after which he brings her back to live with his mother on the farm. The remainder of the book talks about their various adventures on the farm with an old and troublesome witch, some mischief loving wee folk, some noble seal people, and Hamish and Mirren's own growing family. It is a delicious book of magic and hilarity and it delighted us thoroughly.<br />
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This is a chapter book with easy-to-breeze-through chapters. Amazon.com ear-marks this book as being best suited for readers for grades 1-2 which is silly. This book is tremendous fun for a person at any age and I wouldn't get stuck on their labeling system. We read through a handful of Scottish fairy tale chapter books in preparation for travels and this one was our absolute favorite. It is good, clean innocent fun; it is not remotely dark or scary. This book was published by a Scottish book publisher called <a href="https://discoverkelpies.co.uk/">Kelpies</a> which is worth looking into as they have a slew of titles worth checking out! <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Hamish-Mirren-Scottish-Children/dp/1782502114/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540414443&sr=8-1&keywords=the+adventures+of+hamish+and+mirren">The Adventures of Hamish and Mirren</a> makes for a terrific read-aloud and bonus points to anyone who can read it with a Scottish accent. (I stumbled and fell but it was still great fun to try in the privacy of my own home.)<br />
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In conclusion I'll share a few random pictures that we took on our visit to the Isle of Skye which lies off the coast of the mainland. We stayed a week in a thatched cottage next to the Fairy Glen. (Yes, it was just as magical as it sounds.) The beauty of Fairy Glen defied imagination and the photos do not remotely do the place justice. It was my favorite spot in all of Scotland and I bet you can guess why when you see these images.<br />
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Again, whether or not you ever manage a trip to Scotland, you can escape there with the help of Hamish and Mirren and we highly recommend that you do! This book is sure to engage the reader and provide a lovely time.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-71369949543608286902018-10-23T06:00:00.000-07:002018-10-23T06:00:02.695-07:00Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankenstein</a> before but I can't find the proof of it on my blog (which is weird). This is a book I avoided during my growing up years because I believed it to be spooky, scary, and therefore most likely evil. It wasn't until I was an adult and heard my friend talking about how much she loved this book that I thought perhaps I was being too harsh. After all, it's a classic and classics are terrifically good for you as we all know. What was I missing? I decided to find out. <br />
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I read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankenstein</a> and ended up loving it. It was not a scary read at all! Perhaps for its time it was terrifying but in today's day and age it really isn't. There are scarier things out in this world than a strange looking, overgrown persons. I found this read to be thought-provoking and full of great discussion about morality and ethics in science and medicine in particular. Reading it removed my prejudices towards "classic horror stories" and I mentally re-labeled it into my "most surprising books" category. Fast-forward to this past September wherein my family and I were traveling in Scotland. We visited a place which was planning to host an event in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankenstein</a> and I decided that I really needed to squeeze this story into my October reads in honor of its birthday and so I have done.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankenstein</a> is a fast read at a mere 200(ish) pages. If you read 50 pages a day it'll be done in short order. I liked the story all over again and was very grateful for my faulty memory which caused me to forget the end. (Yes, I forget books easily. Hence I am a proponent of blogging or else I'll forget the details of a story and why I liked or disliked it.) The positive benefits to having forgotten how the story concluded, exactly, was that I was on the edge of my seat begging my children to please let me finish the final 20 pages before we ate lunch. (My family is very obliging at times. It also helps if one reads fast.) The story was thrilling, thoughtful, well-told and thoroughly engaging all over again. Hail to my bad memory! It can be a real treat sometimes!<br />
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There's very little I could add to a discussion about this classic work so I won't really delve into the particulars here. (It's more fun for me to have long discussion over books that are new and have less things said about them.) I'll merely take a moment to exhort anyone who has felt scared off of this book due to Hollywood or any other reason to re-consider it. My oldest turns 12 tomorrow and I think he's completely ready to tackle this book in all of its particulars. He is a discerning reader and can engage with the arguments. The questions raised in this book are chiefly over who has the power and authority to give life and who can (or should) take it away. What gives someone the right to create at all, let alone create <i>life</i>? And what duties do we have as creator beings to rip life away? Is there a moral law or standard by which we should hold ourselves to when answering these questions? Or do we simply rely on emotions to determine what types of beings should be permitted to exist on this planet Earth? All of these questions and more are explored within the pages of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankenstein</a> and they are questions that have the world's attention right at this moment in time.<br />
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I would highly recommend this read for a book club discussion. I think it would be grand fun (although perhaps testy at times!) to sift and sort through these questions. If you're feeling skittish about the book because you do not see yourself as a "horror" lover, I'd strongly suggest you put that label aside. If you scare easily, read it in daylight just to be safe. Also, search for a copy with decent cover art to help you get past your worries. I took the picture in this post of my copy at night (because I wanted to play around with candles) and I think it makes the book look spookier than it actually is. This artwork lends itself well to the story, but look at it in daylight if you're unnerved at all.<br />
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I'm really glad to have taken the time to read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Mary-Shelley/dp/0486282112/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540271348&sr=8-3&keywords=frankenstein+mary+shelley">Frankentstein</a> again and would encourage the more conservative parent not to dismiss this book outright. It's spot on for discussing current events and the value of human life in general. Don't be quick to steer kids away from the read. It's a valuable story and entertaining to boot!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-15390413735732483002018-10-22T21:17:00.000-07:002018-10-22T21:17:11.058-07:00A hiatus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl1cMGTM8ICjBX-lPsWyB4kVUhxCEL9fk5WLu6WUQmDDwoXTMgCgfLOCIFG-XOT_zciehK6NJkX9FvvlkK1s7PBap1eOJ_y6znnzc3HORiRNvwdIp25Rm2bz_GHhW4bXDcFbA/s1600/books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgl1cMGTM8ICjBX-lPsWyB4kVUhxCEL9fk5WLu6WUQmDDwoXTMgCgfLOCIFG-XOT_zciehK6NJkX9FvvlkK1s7PBap1eOJ_y6znnzc3HORiRNvwdIp25Rm2bz_GHhW4bXDcFbA/s400/books.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookshelves @ Dunvegan Castle, Isle of Skye</td></tr>
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I've been a bad book blogger for well over a year now but I hope that's about to change. Several of you noticed that earlier this year I shut the blog down for a bit. I needed to for a little while. It was time to take a little break and tend to family and business matters. Our family was in the middle of an out-of-state move (we're still in the Pacific Northwest!) and that (reasonably) required a lot of attention to details, details, details! It was just a good time to take a little break from the blog and do the things that needed the doing.<br />
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Life has settled down considerably and we're settling into our new community quite wonderfully. The book reading slowed down with the moving process (as might be expected!) but as I've found the time to pick the books back up, I've also felt the strong urge to write about them. To have reached a point where it feels like this can be a part of life again is exciting for I really have missed it!<br />
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Here's to being back, to catching up, and to taking the time to process reads again! You have no idea how excited I am to be able to do so.<br />
Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-83876756131084169712018-03-15T06:00:00.000-07:002018-03-15T06:00:00.300-07:00A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5uFb_r6lLbrhr1FZ6vvNCluYtzkARRrZxhWsdP7pz5lzu2RbI7l9ofmy4NL5M2_07jYs40s095ALL7lGsefepMncs34cwLd5dfBcmlK6zIYk74mfmDRXRLi_tS_VwXIkOTkE/s1600/moscow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="335" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5uFb_r6lLbrhr1FZ6vvNCluYtzkARRrZxhWsdP7pz5lzu2RbI7l9ofmy4NL5M2_07jYs40s095ALL7lGsefepMncs34cwLd5dfBcmlK6zIYk74mfmDRXRLi_tS_VwXIkOTkE/s320/moscow.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
I was introduced to the existence of this book by my blogging buddy, <a href="https://lisaspence.com/">Lisa</a>. I believe she introduced <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Moscow-Novel-Amor-Towles/dp/0670026190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521089007&sr=8-1&keywords=a+gentleman+in+moscow+by+amor+towels">A Gentleman in Moscow</a> by saying that anyone who reads this book and discovers that they do not like it ought not to tell her. That's fairly high praise coming from her and so, with that endorsement, I went ahead and purchased a copy.<br />
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If you are unfamiliar with this story please allow me the introduction. Chiefly you should know that it is exceptionally well-written. Truly, not much happens between the pages of this book that could be considered wildly exciting (by some people's standards). It is not a thriller or a mystery but a marvelously written account of one fictionalized Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov who is placed under house arrest inside the Metropol Hotel in Moscow in 1922. The reason for this sentence is due to a poem which was published in his name in 1912. The Bolsheviks weren't altogether fond of the poem and wished to punish Rostov. Instead of sentencing Rostov to Siberia - or to death - they place him under house arrest. He is warned that if he is ever to set foot outside of the Metropol he will be shot. The entirety of the book recounts the thirty plus years of his captivity, or, life inside the hotel.<br />
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I realize that the story might sound a bit dull on its face but it is most definitely not. The Count is forced to adapt with the changes in the political winds over the years and he has to find his own joys and contentment in being part of the small but glamorous world of the hotel. His likes and loves can still be explored and enjoyed although his freedom is limited. He makes friends, establishes connections, and takes comfort in relationships and a well-ordered life. To a large extent, I feel incredibly unqualified to be writing a review of this book because Towles is a master of the written word. What could I possibly write to describe his skills as a storyteller?! You are far better off finding a copy of the book and reading it for yourself. <br />
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One thing I particularly appreciated about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Moscow-Novel-Amor-Towles/dp/0670026190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521089007&sr=8-1&keywords=a+gentleman+in+moscow+by+amor+towels">A Gentleman in Moscow</a> was that it somehow contains the magical ability to pace the reader. Trust me, I can fly through books when I am enjoying them but this one wouldn't let me! For reasons inexplicable, this book wants to be read in tiny bites and not in chunks. Curiously, as you are learning about Rostov over the course of thirty years of his life, you want to take your time to get to know both him and his world. I can't claim that I devoured this book in the way that I have any number of other stories. I wasn't "in control" of the read insomuch as <i>it</i> was in control of <i>me</i> in that it set the pace and I followed. I read a chapter here and a chapter there up until the final three chapters where I found myself unable to put it down. The end is exceptionally satisfying. I'll warn you that when you arrive at the end of the book, prepare to be fully engaged with the story such that you will feel an overwhelming desire not to be bothered with anyone or anything until you have completed the read. Warn the people around you not to take offense with your preoccupation.<br />
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Would I also recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gentleman-Moscow-Novel-Amor-Towles/dp/0670026190/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521089007&sr=8-1&keywords=a+gentleman+in+moscow+by+amor+towels">A Gentleman in Moscow</a> alongside Lisa? Absolutely. It is charming, insightful, interesting and informative, and the characters are people you will want to know. I loved it from beginning to end. Don't be surprised if I mention this as one of my top favorite reads of 2018. It's really quite spectacular. Grab a copy. If you read it and you find that you don't like it quite as well as I did . . . <i>well </i>. . . just don't tell me!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31647067.post-44569064536749466552018-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:002018-02-21T06:00:00.291-08:00Closer Than a Sister, by Christina Fox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRIgAZXc9eFNDEn3rW9EHF_JUUlwl7MDBK_Z6m2WNHMgrllXxI-Ld8UMLAEmvxxOktYiejhIFxVuRWgQUvNA0TepBJfGdL7eaE1HDB1chtGZKw-Al6vtHwObnOXpINEM72dmz/s1600/closerthanasister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="319" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRIgAZXc9eFNDEn3rW9EHF_JUUlwl7MDBK_Z6m2WNHMgrllXxI-Ld8UMLAEmvxxOktYiejhIFxVuRWgQUvNA0TepBJfGdL7eaE1HDB1chtGZKw-Al6vtHwObnOXpINEM72dmz/s320/closerthanasister.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
I seem to be on a major non-fiction kick these days. I've been doing quite a bit of thinking and processing lately as to what God might be asking of me in life. And honestly I hesitate even to confess this because it inevitably results in someone, (who thinks they know me), coming up to me while gleefully clapping their hands and taking the opportunity to tell me how they are "so happy" that God is changing me in some manner which they are a.) assuming and b.) feeling that I ought to change. Truly, I am always delighted to talk about the way that God is at work in my life and the life of my family but I do quickly become disgruntled in the conversation when a person hearing my story assumes that now I'll become the person <i>they</i>'ve always hoped I would be so as <i>to suit them</i> better. And I don't believe that's how God works. I think He delights in progress and delights when we delight in the process. Furthermore, I also think He delights in the fact that He has made such a splendid variety of people to live in fellowship with one another and to worship Him in unity. <i>He</i> doesn't expect us to all be the same. We expect it of each other but He has no intention of us looking anything alike. The beauty is in the differences and, really, that's what I'm taking note of more and more frequently.<br />
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<i>Enter: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-Than-Sister-Friendships-Flourish/dp/1527100324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519165170&sr=8-1&keywords=closer+than+a+sister+by+christina+fox">Closer Than a Sister</a>.</i><br />
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One of the great challenges of life is in fellowshipping with other believers. <i>Can I get an 'amen'?! </i>There are a wide variety of reasons for this, of course, and we could speculate as to what causes the greatest barrier to real relationships. The simple answer is that sin is the culprit but how that sin manifests itself varies by person and by congregations. I can know in my head that I'm designed to know and love my fellow Christian sisters but living out that love feels like a complete impossibility more often than not. The older I get and the more disagreements I "suffer" my way through, the more I find myself valuing true fellowship. But true fellowship isn't what I thought it had to be either. In fact, it's pretty much the total opposite of what I hoped it was. True fellowship isn't always being "like-minded" with those I worship alongside but it is being challenged by the differences and learning to extend both love and grace despite of that. <i>Together </i>we make up the Body of Christ. Alone we are arguably not a part of the Body <i>at all</i>. I don't know about you but when my time comes to meet the Lord face-to-face, I want to hear "well done" and I do strongly believe that that means being a part of The Body, or, The Bride of Christ. If He cares much about His bride than we probably should also. All difficulties aside, we really ought to strive to work and live together instead of apart.<br />
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The question is <i>how</i> to get along. Fun question, indeed.<br />
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My bloggy friend Melissa listed <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-Than-Sister-Friendships-Flourish/dp/1527100324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519165170&sr=8-1&keywords=closer+than+a+sister+by+christina+fox">Closer Than a Sister</a> as one of her upcoming reads for 2018 and seeing as how I've also been rethinking what it means to be a part of the church (local) and the Body (universal) I thought this title worth a read. And it is! In <i>Closer Than a Sister</i>, Christina Fox takes a pretty close look at what scriptures have to say about what the church local is called to be to one another. She touches on all topics such as rejoicing with one another, grieving with one another, exhorting, growing, learning, sharing and helping. She also talks a great deal about the challenges we face within our local community of believers. I might have found that section the most poignant for myself, personally.<br />
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Fox takes a truly Biblical approach to the topic and is constantly taking the reader to scriptures in order to understand what our calling is in Christ towards our sisters within the church. This is a role which modern believers seem to approach rather casually and even callously. Again, the reasons for this are many and she lists a big obvious such as the role of social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, etc.) in our modern lives. Fox goes back to the basics (Genesis!) in discussing how we were made for community with one another. One of my favorite verses which she focuses on right from the get-go is 1 Peter 2:9-10 which I will type up for you here:<br />
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"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy."</blockquote>
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Fox asks her readers to focus on the words in this verse which declare us having standing before the Lord not as individuals, (although that does exist too, obviously), but as <i>a people</i> designed to live and work together. Note the words <i>race, priesthood, people</i>. We've been called out to be <i>together.</i> We're designed for community. Not that that is always a fun thing, mind you, but it is the thing to be, like it or no.<br />
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So if we're called to live together then how do we do that when <i>this</i> sister over here works outside the home, and <i>that</i> one is sarcastic to beat the band, and <i>that</i> one is a perfectionists, and <i>that</i> one is controlling, and <i>that</i> one can't stand conflict of any sort, etc., etc.? There are lots of reasons why we <i>shouldn't</i> get along. <i>But God</i>. Incredibly, He makes us TO get along. It really doesn't make any sense sometimes, does it? Hey, I agree, it's bizarre! But we're called to it. And if God calls and bids you 'come and die' then you better get your last Will and Testament written and done with because He has a reason to call you out and use you in ways which you probably cannot even begin to fathom. He's good for that.<br />
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I'm here to say I struggle with this myself. I needed to read this book because I need my own understanding of how God uses people to stretch, challenge, and strengthen His church. In the past few weeks I've been challenged to lay aside prideful thoughts and feelings which operate more as a barrier to fellowship than a boon. It's hard! There are some people that I just flat out don't like and some people out there in this world who flat out don't like me! (It's true, if you can believe it!) Again, this is not an excuse so much as it is a challenge. If God called us to be united in Him, then we'd better work hard to figure out how to be united. How that looks will also vary from friendship to friendship and church to church. But the hard work must still be done.<br />
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What I've been learning is that the very people who I thought I didn't "mix well" with are the very people from whom I have already received some of the greatest blessings. I've been discovering that God has been "setting me up" to fail at my own expectations so that He can broaden my horizons and give me a new set of expectations. Godly ones. Lately everything I thought I knew to be true has proved false and everything I've doubted has proved a huge blessing. What I thought Christian fellowship needed to be has been turned on its head. I would argue it's being turned into a position where my relationships are facing THE Head of the Church (which is Christ) and that's what should have been happening all along. Is it pleasant? Not always, no. Does it feel nice in the end? <i>Ohhhh</i> my word! The freedom and the peace which comes when you deign to listen to God's plan instead of your own are immeasurable.<br />
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I want to be honest about my own struggles because I think that honesty is more healing than not. Will some people misinterpret my words and my expressions? Yes, undoubtedly. And that'll have to be their problem which I won't be at liberty to fix. But I do trust what Fox also affirms: that after the struggles on earth we will find ourselves truly One with the Lord in Heaven. One day we will be united in spirit and in truth. Even if we do not experience this in our lifetime, the time is coming. That will be a glorious thing.<br />
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Would I recommend <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Closer-Than-Sister-Friendships-Flourish/dp/1527100324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519165170&sr=8-1&keywords=closer+than+a+sister+by+christina+fox">Closer Than A Sister</a>? I think it's a good challenging read for pretty much every woman I know. Regular readers know that I don't normally go the devotional book route but at the conclusion of each chapter Fox includes 3-4 questions for the reader to consider. This probably goes down in history as my first book where I'd say the questions are thoughtful and poignant and worth spending a little extra time considering. All in all, I think this book is top notch and I'd happily recommend it.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08772667430500306088noreply@blogger.com1