tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21783710162736891752024-02-06T19:38:26.931-08:00The Flying Librarian's HideoutThe journal of an eccentric librarian and her eclectic reading habits.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-70596228999858130432013-03-20T07:30:00.001-07:002013-03-20T07:30:49.821-07:00Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsCise9ayBvTYFOQ4BMGoCf3AFIgfeLek_9pWhKSrK4zNJWGwDYTyVPTRdC1WIzUbBZ9w2iJRfkL-bSuHqNv_HyGuDL1oAcGCeD2svVGfOm0LE7oJNJEmwvtfd4IpmZn3_-2bcRi9m8/s1600/winter+keven+newsome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRsCise9ayBvTYFOQ4BMGoCf3AFIgfeLek_9pWhKSrK4zNJWGwDYTyVPTRdC1WIzUbBZ9w2iJRfkL-bSuHqNv_HyGuDL1oAcGCeD2svVGfOm0LE7oJNJEmwvtfd4IpmZn3_-2bcRi9m8/s320/winter+keven+newsome.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<b>Author:</b> Keven Newsome<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Spiritual Warfare, Supernatural<br />
<b>Publisher:</b> Darkwater (an imprint of Splashdown Books)<br />
<b>Pages:</b> 322<br />
<br />
<b>My Thoughts:</b> I'd been wanting to read this book for a long time,
so I was very excited when I finally got a chance to make that happen.
The unique premise of a new Christian (who's also goth) discovering that
she has the gift of prophecy intrigued me. Actually reading the book
kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover.<br />
Winter is a new Believer whose faith is helping her put her life back
together after a childhood that was more than a little rough. It's slow
going, but she's making progress bit by bit.<br />
Her progress gets a pretty major shaking-up, though, when she begins
having premonitions, seeing things that haven't happened or knowing
things she has no logical way of knowing. When her friend Kaci talks to
her about spiritual gifts to Believers, Winter begins to suspect that
hers is the gift of prophecy.<br />
And when hideous, violent crimes and an anti-religious power grab rock
the campus of the university, Winter's gift might be the only way to
save the lives of her friends and bring the college back to its
Christian foundation.<br />
<br />
This book had me hooked from the first page. The author, Keven Newsome,
is absolutely an artist with the written word. He has the ability to
present an image or setting in complete, vivid detail in the reader's
mind with just a single turn of phrase or a word or two (literally) of
description. His ability at scene-crafting is incredible. There were
multiple scenes throughout the book that just amazed me with their
vividness and the way they came to life, making me feel like I was
watching a movie instead of reading a book. If nothing else, writers,
read this book to learn how to create scenes and settings like Keven
Newsome does it!<br />
As for the content itself, be forewarned that it is very, very dark
throughout the book, which just sort of comes with the territory.
Between the spiritual warfare and brutal crime (and by brutal I mean <i>very</i>
brutal) that make up the plot, and the frequent flashbacks to Winter's
early teenage years, following her path into the Goth sub-culture and
her eventual experimentation with witchcraft prior to her conversion,
darkness is a necessary element. What I loved about it was the way that
Winter's own experience with the dark elements of the book was part of
what enabled her to figure out what was going on and fight against it,
and in several instances it was what kept her from being shocked and
freaked out to the point of not being able to function. I thought that
was a skillful use on the author's part of the fact that what we intend
for harm, God uses for good.<br />
One element that seriously bothered me about this book was when Winter
was first realizing that she had the gift of prophecy, but was doubting
her own suitability for the calling. During one of her doubt-filled,
questioning prayers, she hears the voice of God saying "I, the Lord,
believe in you." Which is <i>totally</i> not a Biblical concept in any
way, shape, or form. God makes it abundantly clear over and over in His
word that our ability is not ours, but His. He pulls no punches making
sure we know that we don't have the ability in ourselves to do what He
wants of us, that the ability all comes from Him. So that really got
under my skin.<br />
Another thing that puzzled and perplexed me was the lack of parental
involvement in the plot. At one point a few of the main characters even
show up at parents' house seeking medical help after one of them has
been kidnapped and beaten, tell the parents what's going on in full, and
ask their advice. The parents offer them advice, prayer, and
encouragement to face the situation as God would have them to... and
make no attempt whatsoever to get involved. Their children are facing
sadistic Satanic maniacs, and they don't make an effort to get involved.
Really, now? I understand that, as a writer, if your main character is a
child you sometimes have to marginalize the parents to an extent, since
a parent's job is to protect the child from the kind of things that
usually go on in fictional stories. But this was just a little extreme
for my tastes.<br />
There was some lack or realism, too, in how quickly Winter seems to
recover from the various injuries she receives over the course of the
story. For instance, at one point she gets a few broken ribs; after
looking her over a nurse sends her upstairs to take a shower before she
wraps the ribs. Having had a little bit of experience with rib injuries,
let me tell you that with broken ribs, you're not going to be
interested in undertaking anything more ambitious than just breathing -
and even that becomes a chore. No way are you going to walk upstairs and
take a shower.<br />
But, if I forced myself to ignore the "I, the Lord, believe in you"
thing, and overlooked the other few things, like I said I really enjoyed
this book. Dark, yes. Brutal at times, yes. I definitely wouldn't
recommend it for anyone under 18. But a very unique story with a unique
cast of characters, and stellar writing and scene-craft. <br />
Let me know when the movie comes out - I'll have my ticket reserved!
<br />Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-75751669774484992972013-02-12T14:32:00.000-08:002013-02-12T14:32:04.276-08:00The Floating Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNV3mrtNdd8V9ejCZDgu_sTY5C9OrR8bOX1XnEvcEjkvAd7cUb3UaxX4vhrrNBr2epLVMyQB6V3t03BpZlHWM6YW0I0CSsnC28njK-vlvoiZOZ0R_xYl_7bZKBE7vxyIC_EpzwHPPrQ0/s1600/the+floating+island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNV3mrtNdd8V9ejCZDgu_sTY5C9OrR8bOX1XnEvcEjkvAd7cUb3UaxX4vhrrNBr2epLVMyQB6V3t03BpZlHWM6YW0I0CSsnC28njK-vlvoiZOZ0R_xYl_7bZKBE7vxyIC_EpzwHPPrQ0/s320/the+floating+island.jpg" width="210" /></a>Author: Elizabeth Haydon<br />
Series: The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Publisher: Starscape<br />
Pages: 351<br />
<br />
I stumbled across this book in the library last week and, in spite of the fact that I had never heard of it or its author before, I was intrigued so I picked it up.<br />
<i>The Floating Island</i> is the story of Ven Polypheme, a young Nain (similar to a dwarf) boy who finds himself thrown into a 'series of unfortunate events', as it were. Being attacked by pirates, nearly drowned, threatened by unintentionally-made enemies, and forced to seek shelter in a haunted inn, are just a few of the mishaps that befall him along the way as he seeks to find his way home and, at the same time, satisfy his own insatiable curiosity and desire for adventure.<br />
I really enjoyed reading this book. I must admit, I have absolutely no idea what the dragon on the cover has to do with anything in the story - a talking cat, or a mermaid, or even a ghost wolf would have been much more appropriate and applicable - but it was still a very fun story.<br />
My one complaint was the part of the story that hinged on the cursed spirit of someone who was buried at a crossroads, and the characters' quest to bring the spirit rest in order to restore the magic of the land surrounding the crossroads. The magic itself didn't bother me that much in and of itself, because of the author's explanation that magic was a force or energy built into creation when the Creator (and yes, she capitalized Creator) made it. I was more bothered by the ghost character who came into the story, and by some of the ghost-related circumstances that arose, however. I won't say I would never let my kids read this book, but I would definitely wait to let them read it until they were mature enough to understand the true nature of ghosts and spirits and not be confused. I would let my 18-year-old brother read it without a second thought, but I wouldn't give it to my much more impressionable 13-year-old sister.<br />
So on the whole, a very fun, lighthearted fantasy read, but one I wouldn't necessarily recommend for the young audience it was intended for.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-19216152954670690932013-02-05T12:15:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:15:48.977-08:00Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXen7BMsG6QlvXVG4vYb7BbP8n9i2zlM72ArknN1Hn4zPv7ny5RyeBGRJbfabK0ujRONnOP1ZjJBenXFtX_ypHV30_WuMSpjCN4nZU1kjnGjCzCy5RezxE59S6Rlftw-YFbddu_yHHW3w/s1600/rules+of+engagement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXen7BMsG6QlvXVG4vYb7BbP8n9i2zlM72ArknN1Hn4zPv7ny5RyeBGRJbfabK0ujRONnOP1ZjJBenXFtX_ypHV30_WuMSpjCN4nZU1kjnGjCzCy5RezxE59S6Rlftw-YFbddu_yHHW3w/s320/rules+of+engagement.jpg" width="205" /></a>Author: Derek Prince<br />
Genre: Theology, Christian Life and Thought<br />
Publisher: Chosen - a division of Baker Publishing Group<br />
Pages: 266<br />
<br />
While I have to say I absolutely love the amazing cover art of this book, I have rather mixed feelings on the book itself. A lot of it was great, very thought-provoking, convicting, encouraging, and inspiring. It made me think about several parts of God's Word in ways I hadn't considered before, and brought issues and struggles in my own life that I hadn't noticed or paid much attention to, to the forefront of my mind. That's always a good thing.<br />
However, there were several instances throughout the book when I thought the author might be reading a little too much into a particular passage of the Bible, basing a little too much on speculation. None of the thoughts he put forth in those instances seemed wildly off the reservation or anything, but there were multiple instances in which I would have like a lot more scripture to back things up. Things like that make me very nervous. I'm not opposed to ideas and imaginative thought, I just like it to have a solid, irrefutable base in Scripture.<br />
There were a few instances where the book seemed a little touchy-feely - a suggested 'Faith Response' with a model prayer placed at the end of each chapter, for example. It wasn't just thick with it, but touchy-feely-ness in any amount turns me off very quickly.<br />
So on the whole: not all bad, but not all great, either. Read it, but do so with a grain of salt.<br />
<br />
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-51565369112647355672013-01-30T01:00:00.000-08:002013-01-30T01:00:16.407-08:00Worldshaker<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3rMD2jCBGHKayJY6sBGaxs8m8mP6s3oZIzlGg-pNH2CrUCN1QxOOoXkWDlNWUiMxApXmWKWb0DEyVgu_hlNid3HK6Xw-cXiPtQApKc3esNxpl0eKBCCQpZaMKBo_ZqLoGPcMBO3C1YI/s1600/worldshaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3rMD2jCBGHKayJY6sBGaxs8m8mP6s3oZIzlGg-pNH2CrUCN1QxOOoXkWDlNWUiMxApXmWKWb0DEyVgu_hlNid3HK6Xw-cXiPtQApKc3esNxpl0eKBCCQpZaMKBo_ZqLoGPcMBO3C1YI/s320/worldshaker.jpg" width="215" /></a>Author: Richard Harland<br />
Genre: Steampunk<br />
Publisher: Simon and Schuster<br />
Pages: 388<br />
<br />
I
was very unsure when I first picked up this book at the library. A book
I'd never heard of, from an author I knew nothing about, in a genre
that's still considered cutting-edge and somewhat experimental... but, I
figured, it's just the library. I can always bring it back if I don't
like it.<br />
To my delighted relief, however, I loved this book!<br />
<br />
At
16 years old, the main character Colbert Porpentine knows nothing about
anything outside of his highly sheltered and controlled Victorian life
on the upper decks of the massive juggernaut <i>Worldshaker</i>. When
he's told that the 'Filthies' who live in the bottom decks, 'Below', are
mindless, animal-like creatures with no emotions, no capacity for
intelligent thought, no ability even to speak or understand speech, he
believes it. When he's told that the 'Menials' - slow, speechless
creatures who serve the upper classes - are Filthies who have been
improved with intense training, he believes it. His whole life consists
of social functions, and training to succeed his grandfather as Supreme
Commander of the <i>Worldshaker</i>.<br />
Until a Filthy escapes and
accidentally finds her way into his life. Amazingly, she can speak and
think and learn, and she seems completely human. What else has Col been
told that isn't true?<br />
<br />
Honestly, I couldn't put this
book down. From beginning to end, it kept me eagerly turning pages and
didn't get boring a single time. The action and character development
are great, and the story has a thrilling plot as well as a great
message, all in an amazing steampunk setting the likes of which you've
never seen before. But on top of that, there is the added delight of a
story that contains absolutely no language, and no inappropriate scenes.
There was one scene that was the slightest bit suggestive, but the
suggestiveness lasted for <i>maybe</i> two sentences, literally, and as I said, it was very slight.<br />
The
only thing I can say that would come close to a complaint would be the
dark, brutal violence of the story. The darkness itself, I don't have so
much a problem with because of the message of the story. You have to
have darkness to show light, after all. But the violence towards the end
of the book, as things started coming to a head, was very brutal and
bloody in places, which I didn't like. I understand that realistic
violence <i>is</i> bloody and brutal, but we all know that. We don't need to see it in technicolor.<br />
The
only other thing was the few instances in which some of the non-central
characters seemed to make choices for which there was no prior
suggestion in their character. The readers are left with a little bit of
the where-did-that-come-from? feeling, since we were given no reason to
think a particular character had it in them to make that particular
decision. (I can't give specifics lest I give something away.) But it
wasn't an overpowering thing, and I was able to enjoy the story in spite
of it.<br />
I would definitely say that <i>Worldshaker</i> is a book for older readers, simply because of the violence factor. Otherwise, a great read that I really, really loved!Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-890718419207520782013-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:002013-01-19T13:27:03.102-08:00The River<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid32S7Yohs0gdni95r5bMA_2X9iSouK9QHqioJla246yRhVNeUnhxSGPg19EIiwc4zbMTUubEBANn8X0CcGSJS5lDuC79hJhmDrhsA8eg-g9k_8XjDJiuISO_t0a0iyZcoMIO-7AcA1oY/s1600/the+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid32S7Yohs0gdni95r5bMA_2X9iSouK9QHqioJla246yRhVNeUnhxSGPg19EIiwc4zbMTUubEBANn8X0CcGSJS5lDuC79hJhmDrhsA8eg-g9k_8XjDJiuISO_t0a0iyZcoMIO-7AcA1oY/s320/the+river.jpg" width="218" /></a>Author: Michael Neale<br />
Genre: General Fiction<br />
Publisher: Thomas Nelson<br />
Pages: 287<br />
<br />
I have to admit, when I first picked up this book I was more than a little skeptical. I've read enough books that were backed by countless rave reviews to know that great reviews don't always mean a great book. Having read dozens of 5-star reviews about how <i>The River</i> changed the reader's life, I was just a bit doubtful.<br />
I was very pleasantly surprised with the book, though, I'm pleased to say. Though I'm not sure I would call it life-changing, it was most definitely meaningful and impacting - and I don't just say that about any old book.<br />
I've recently been reading quite a few books that follow themes similar to <i>The River</i>'s - namely, don't live life on the sidelines, get in and embrace it, take risks and follow your destiny. And although that trend has been unintentional on my part, I've been enjoying the ideas it has encouraged me to explore. <i>The River</i> is definitely the best book of that nature that I've read so far. Who knows? Maybe God is trying to tell me something.<br />
My only complaint - and it's so small and trivial that it doesn't really even qualify as a complaint - is that throughout the book, every time anything was said about the river (which was a lot - it's about whitewater rafting), the words 'the river' were capitalized. I get what the author or editor or whoever was trying to do with that, but when you're reading along at a good speed and all of a sudden The River is capitalized in the middle of a sentence it can be jolting. More than once my rhythm got derailed because I saw the capital letters and thought I was starting a new sentence, which didn't make sense with the words themselves. And then it wasn't even done every time the words 'the river' were written. I caught several instances in which they were all lowercase, with no detectable pattern to the difference. That whole issue got on my nerves quite a few times throughout the book.<br />
But other than that tiny annoyance, as I said before this book was great. What makes it even more impressive is that it is apparently the author's first work. As a fellow writer, I take my hat off to Mr. Neale. Well done on an outstanding first novel! The rest of you out there, take note. This is an author to watch.<br />
On the whole, a really enjoyable and thought-provoking read. This one will be staying on my shelves for a good long while, and I'm already thinking about reading it again.<br />
<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge for the publisher in exchange for my review. A favorable review was not required, and my opinions are my own.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-54848675359755372062013-01-14T17:28:00.000-08:002013-01-14T17:28:49.662-08:00Two Ends of a Rope<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindoDLoZV5Eg8JSto5dSUvRRIBxIJpS_kJO8wbsvYog0OQrMAEoRrgGR0zX4Ar4KAL_-FatVSnYiRgnUuRwwYZzQo_rKHL43dEC76mCPdKl8PONd0s-HMozRI6MRNMzVzszbhwDzTRveI/s1600/two+ends+of+a+rope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindoDLoZV5Eg8JSto5dSUvRRIBxIJpS_kJO8wbsvYog0OQrMAEoRrgGR0zX4Ar4KAL_-FatVSnYiRgnUuRwwYZzQo_rKHL43dEC76mCPdKl8PONd0s-HMozRI6MRNMzVzszbhwDzTRveI/s1600/two+ends+of+a+rope.jpg" /></a>Author: David Kyles<br />
Genre: History/Biography<br />
Publisher: Lamplighter Publishing<br />
Pages: 121<br />
<br />
<i>Two Ends of a Rope</i> is a self-proclaimed biography of William Carey, the pioneer missionary to India. And while it does focus largely on him, personally I think it would be more accurately categorized as a light history of the beginnings of the Baptist missionary movement in India. It delved into the lives of many different people involved with the beginnings of that work, not just the life of William Carey. That's not a bad thing at all. I quite enjoyed it, actually.<br />
As I said, it is a <i>light</i> history - at 121 pages, it couldn't really afford to go into any kind of deep detail. But the information delivered was straightforward and helpful. This book would make a wonderful introductory read for anyone wanting to learn about the events and people involved in the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society and the beginnings of the efforts to evangelize India. It's definitely helped me figure out how and where to channel my continued research.<br />
The only thing I can say that approaches a complaint is that the author's writing style got rather annoying from time to time. It wasn't a serious or constant thing, but every so often the wording gave off the impression that it was written by a great and wise sage addressing an audience of small and saintly but none-too-bright children. I'm sure it wasn't intentional on the author's part, and it certainly didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book, but it did just strike me every now and then as a little odd.<br />
Regardless, this was a great read that I plan on adding to my personal library at the earliest opportunity.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-39982395098140593902012-12-20T12:35:00.005-08:002012-12-20T12:35:52.212-08:00The Girl in the Glass<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3B-UNGmhw4uVlKrfbxqa0o59Xg2GqNI5hAZyI0_d64olsenhfi9ETaDdrvy6R1UuxSihurtdAzbKIbUiY3Pqoo1wD1ntFa2B7tBZFtFTSlfhW0wwc3-jQ6YI4_6QZIlwKf9TTuhPnb4/s1600/the+girl+in+the+glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3B-UNGmhw4uVlKrfbxqa0o59Xg2GqNI5hAZyI0_d64olsenhfi9ETaDdrvy6R1UuxSihurtdAzbKIbUiY3Pqoo1wD1ntFa2B7tBZFtFTSlfhW0wwc3-jQ6YI4_6QZIlwKf9TTuhPnb4/s320/the+girl+in+the+glass.jpg" width="213" /></a>Author: Susan Meissner<br />
Genre: General Fiction<br />
Publisher: Waterbrook<br />
Pages: 328<br />
<br />
Having only read one of Susan Meissner's books before this (<i>A Sound Among the Trees</i>, <a href="http://theflyinglibrarianshideout.blogspot.com/2012/01/sound-among-trees.html" target="_blank">Click Here</a> to read my review), I was already familiar with her writing style, but wasn't sure what to expect from the story itself.<br />
As before, Meissner drew me into her story world completely with descriptions and settings and details so vivid and sensory that it felt like I was actually there. Reading writing that skillful is always refreshing, and I totally want to take a trip to Italy now.<br />
The story itself was somewhat... how shall I put it?... foggy. I don't mean the plot. The plot was very easy to follow. The message of the story, however, not so much. Basically it comes down to some of the characters being people who see the world as black and white with no in-between, and the rest of the characters being people who see the world as a blend of hundreds of shades of gray, and different people making decisions based on their different perceptions. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Personally I tend to lean more towards being a black and white person, but I can still allow room for gray areas where needed. Unfortunately, the theme of this story seemed like it was <i>so</i> gray that there was nothing solid, nothing that you could grab hold of and take away from the story other than a vague, hazy notion.<br />
Definitely a feel-good story, but not one that offers a solid moral to take away, in my opinion. Nothing wrong with that, but if you're looking for a book with a strong, clear message, this might not be the best choice.<br />
<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-81279481530744852422012-12-13T13:31:00.001-08:002012-12-13T13:31:47.735-08:00Resurrect<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUN7NE5hEjbT2rgFZokXbzuVmW7rLF-IrejNb3_8H4ay4J71J2vIPMETOs72huBpULF9sS7Rx0vb0VhbNePxUD9gT910LbgR16_gAouLEWbTRRobzO80dFqil5BVP_fUgiwnwxgDTuwI/s1600/9780857212498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUN7NE5hEjbT2rgFZokXbzuVmW7rLF-IrejNb3_8H4ay4J71J2vIPMETOs72huBpULF9sS7Rx0vb0VhbNePxUD9gT910LbgR16_gAouLEWbTRRobzO80dFqil5BVP_fUgiwnwxgDTuwI/s320/9780857212498.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
Author: David E. Stevens<br />
Genre: Action/Thriller<br />
Publisher: Monarch Books<br />
Pages: 374<br />
<br />
I
wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book when I requested it,
since I don't have a lot of experience with this genre. But I have to
say, it kept me engaged and intent from the first to the last page. The
author doesn't waste a minute getting to life-and-death action, and
rarely stops for a minute for the rest of the book.<br />
In all honesty, were it left to me I wouldn't categorize this as a 'Christian' book.
Sure, one of the central characters claims to be an 'Evangelical
Christian' (though she doesn't exactly behave like one), there are a few
references to faith and spiritual issues throughout, and I expect that
the author is probably working towards some kind of faith-based
conclusion over the course of the trilogy as a whole, but by itself <i>Resurrect</i>
comes across more as just a good action/thriller. Not that I have a
problem with that, per se, it's just something that I think readers
ought to be aware of.<br />
This book was very frank and no-nonsense in
presenting the facts, which makes for a very clear and vivid read...
though at times it got a little overly frank for my personal tastes.
Some parts of it were also a tiny bit over-technical, leaving me feeling
a little like a deer in the headlights, but I was always able to follow
the important facts of what was happening. (I do have to mention,
though, that I was greatly disappointed when the author - who should
know better - called a magazine a 'clip'. Ach!)<br />
But on the whole,
this book was a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to
finish. Let me know when they decide to make the movie! Seriously, in
spite of the few overly-frank moments, there was nothing that I
considered unclean or indecent - even when one of the characters takes
off on a profanity-laced tirade, the author simply says that he 'let
loose a string of expletives' without reproducing any of them. You have
to admire an author with that kind of taste. And the humor sprinkled
throughout the book was absolutely delightful.<br />
I wouldn't
recommend the book for young readers; it was definitely intended for an
adult audience. But personally, I loved it and I'm looking forward to
the rest of the series!<br />
<br />
~*~<br />
<br />
I received
a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my review. A
favorable review was not required, and my opinions are entirely my own.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-82545779686601099762012-09-26T08:57:00.001-07:002012-09-26T08:57:29.923-07:0010 Christians Everyone Should Know<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvlXaLOMsBW5iQggcZDv6g8f6awnDbFotf43EJvl-iVx5PKGHC9b2hD3VYkWf_nuyN1Z2cn2EvTKvJOrfN22whv1yUvQqWJ3_lO5-LhIhVPHCl1LtttK3HPxRHwvpgA02WgpTwDGrWX0/s1600/10+christians+everyone+should+know.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvlXaLOMsBW5iQggcZDv6g8f6awnDbFotf43EJvl-iVx5PKGHC9b2hD3VYkWf_nuyN1Z2cn2EvTKvJOrfN22whv1yUvQqWJ3_lO5-LhIhVPHCl1LtttK3HPxRHwvpgA02WgpTwDGrWX0/s320/10+christians+everyone+should+know.jpg" width="209" /></a>Various Authors<br />
Edited and Compiled by John Perry<br />
Genre: Biography<br />
Publisher: Thomas Nelson<br />
<br />
I really loved this book. It's a compilation of excerpts from the Christian Encounters series, basically condensing and hitting the highlights from 10 of the Christians featured in that series. If you're curious about some of these historical figures but aren't sure you're curious enough to buy a complete biography of them, this book would be perfect for you! Or, if you just want to have a few quick and basic facts about these people on hand for reference, this book would also be perfect.<br />
Personally, I've had my interest and curiosity aroused by reading this book, and I'm now eager to get the complete biographies of several of these people so I can learn more. The time spent reading this book was time well-spent, that's for sure!<br />
<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review. A favorable review was not required. My views are my own.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-51303780193772583812012-09-12T08:47:00.000-07:002012-09-12T08:47:35.815-07:00Mockingjay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyOnDhlZmzPjKBD-Gi2wZrM6fJSHPWGdbHSRE8AM0ktz23Ror8VqcKozKN6g3Q8h-LTN8txdWyaTZ35yz5iX7wGoyiWYOf7qGHfZKP2T33IpgQZrIXPnLw8iH4WE_-ja-HLuJTKcVH1c/s1600/mockingjay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyOnDhlZmzPjKBD-Gi2wZrM6fJSHPWGdbHSRE8AM0ktz23Ror8VqcKozKN6g3Q8h-LTN8txdWyaTZ35yz5iX7wGoyiWYOf7qGHfZKP2T33IpgQZrIXPnLw8iH4WE_-ja-HLuJTKcVH1c/s320/mockingjay.jpg" width="211" /></a>Author: Suzanne Collins<br />
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic<br />
Series: The Hunger Games<br />
Publisher: Scholastic<br />
Pages: 496<br />
<br />
Okay, since my last review consisted almost entirely of incoherent blather, I shall do my best to make this one more sensible, objective, and useful to the general readership.<br />
Well, I finally finished The Hunger Games trilogy. And, much as it galls me to say it, I'm a fan.<br />
The series tells a story that is very dark, violent, and brutal - not exactly light reading. But in the process it also tells a story of human resilience, and the incredible feats that can be accomplished by just a few good people who take the initiative to stand up against evil and tyranny.<br />
I love the realism of the characters - they make mistakes, they struggle, they make foolish decisions, they hurt each other. But they also help each other, pay for their mistakes, apologize to each other.<br />
Before reading The Hunger Games I'd only read one book that was in first-person present tense, but I really liked the sense of immediacy it created. Well... most of the time I liked it. When a swarm of grotesque mutts is chasing you through the sewers, immediacy is not exactly a pleasant sensation. : )<br />
I was extremely worried for the last half of the book or so, wondering how on Earth the author was going to take all the disaster in the story and bring it to a satisfying ending. I won't spoil it with details, but I will say that I was satisfied and happy. It was intriguing to me, though, to look at how scarred and damaged the surviving characters were. They will never be 'normal' after the trauma of all they've been through... and yet they're surviving, making their way through life and dealing with the scars of the past as best they can. It makes me think of Frodo after he destroys the Ring - only these characters don't have the Gray Havens to sail off to. They just have to hang onto each other and make the best they can of it. To me, that speaks volumes. Yes, those characters will never be the same, they can never go back to the way they were. But their sacrifice wasn't in vain. They did it for a cause, and in the end, in spite of all they'll have to suffer and all the scars they'll have to live with, it's worth it. As a writer, that's a message I would love to communicate through my own stories.<br />
I doubt I'll get it done as clearly or powerfully as The Hunger Games trilogy did, though. Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-48044461893450329502012-09-04T13:41:00.000-07:002012-09-04T13:41:01.950-07:00Catching Fire<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjGOIvOu3CRoFncjY04MXPdUHpWuVH6dfFaQGxhmm-dkvSizFa5ns_umJTqiHkKE8MkkMVs4vBWaRwiavQHidiKGmkIG5jUImzEoRFK7YXxnUYdFMscFlby5pAYR3bRYyJKvFNEDrJNQ/s1600/catching+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjGOIvOu3CRoFncjY04MXPdUHpWuVH6dfFaQGxhmm-dkvSizFa5ns_umJTqiHkKE8MkkMVs4vBWaRwiavQHidiKGmkIG5jUImzEoRFK7YXxnUYdFMscFlby5pAYR3bRYyJKvFNEDrJNQ/s320/catching+fire.jpg" width="215" /></a>Author: Suzanne Collins<br />
Genre: Eh... still don't know for sure. We'll stick with post-apocalyptic.<br />
Publisher: Scholastic<br />
Pages: 490<br />
<br />
I don't know what to say about this book. It kept me riveted from cover to cover, and I'm already reading the next one because I absolutely cannot wait to find out how things turn out.<br />
But even though it was a fantastic read, I can't pretend to have enjoyed all of it. A good portion of it kept me in agony trying to figure out how the characters were going to get out of whatever situation they were in, or how things could possibly turn out okay in the end. And I still don't know, so enough of trying to review this book when I have the second one to read!Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-65516423845263215772012-08-27T18:09:00.002-07:002012-08-27T18:18:50.135-07:00The Hunger Games<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXvzJD9240dOCp0fqEBikap0T8gfD-9MHf_z0McLhzc1XVx_ck-cXXvI5EgU0MqIff8fPOacBfMOLAYIf6HdFF026GSr-FG99L0LpGGL4XElz0aJkgwCAxvSA2ewX3liUPx47IWyrzfY/s1600/the+hunger+games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXvzJD9240dOCp0fqEBikap0T8gfD-9MHf_z0McLhzc1XVx_ck-cXXvI5EgU0MqIff8fPOacBfMOLAYIf6HdFF026GSr-FG99L0LpGGL4XElz0aJkgwCAxvSA2ewX3liUPx47IWyrzfY/s320/the+hunger+games.jpg" width="211" /></a>Author: Suzanne Collins<br />
Genre: I honestly have no idea. Post-Apocalyptic maybe?<br />
Publisher: Scholastic<br />
Pages: 374<br />
<br />
So, I finally got around to reading this. I know, I know, the entire rest of the world had read it months ago. That's kind of the reason I hadn't. I just have this passionate aversion to following the crowd, so if the crowd is reading a runaway-best-seller, I'm going to be avoiding said bestseller.<br />
But, after the raving recommendations of several friends whose judgment I trust (and because my brother is dying to see the movie but I don't want to see it without reading the book), I decided to relent. My thoughts?<br />
<br />
Oh. My. Goodness.<br />
This book is completely unlike anything I have ever read - as evidenced in part, I'm sure, by my inability to assign a genre to it above. The story and characters are completely engrossing, utterly captivating. I don't remember the last time a book has kept me on the edge of my seat like this one did!<br />
Set in post-apocalyptic North America, the story follows the main character Katniss on her forced journey to the Hunger Games - a sadistic ritual bloodbath labeled a sport by the iron-fisted government. The goal: Kill or be killed. As if that's not bad enough - it's not even that simple.<br />
I don't dare try to say any more than that for fear of giving something away, but I will add that I was surprised at how clean the story was for a work of secular fiction. There were a few brief instances of nudity, which I obviously disliked, but there was no sexual connotation to it at all which is one consolation... I guess. In fact, though it wasn't stated as such in so many words, some of Katniss' thoughts and internal monologues even suggest a belief that sex is something reserved for marriage - an amazing find in a secular book! Of course there was a good deal of violence in the book, but it wasn't gory or glorified or anything disgusting like that.<br />
I would feel comfortable recommending this book to anyone eighteen or older. Recommending it to anyone younger would depend on the individual person. One word of caution: make sure you have the sequels on hand when you start reading <i>The Hunger Games</i>. Once you start reading it you won't want to stop, and once you reach the end you won't want to wait for the second one. I'm already reading <i>Catching Fire</i>, and it shouldn't take me long to get through it... since I can't seem to put it down.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-57050505318628550142012-08-27T17:18:00.003-07:002012-08-27T17:18:57.763-07:00The Art of The Fellowship of the Ring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi-q7s1BNo0wNnK7uaVYqbuAegVdIi9M1pHayKT_QDg8t1ibv8Kdx2LGn5IXkj_FE_8mrQY3-iTXyYDAjym_GfEqUcV-110uL_S76_pLxYhBtB4847GKuXUhSVEXKo4WcOYb9YLco0JQ/s1600/the+art+of+Fellowship+of+the+Ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizi-q7s1BNo0wNnK7uaVYqbuAegVdIi9M1pHayKT_QDg8t1ibv8Kdx2LGn5IXkj_FE_8mrQY3-iTXyYDAjym_GfEqUcV-110uL_S76_pLxYhBtB4847GKuXUhSVEXKo4WcOYb9YLco0JQ/s320/the+art+of+Fellowship+of+the+Ring.jpg" width="245" /></a>Author: Gary Russell<br />
Genre: Entertainment<br />
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin<br />
Pages: 192<br />
<br />
This is another one of those great books made just for browsing through and enjoying at your own pace, in your own way - whether that's reading it cover to cover or not. <i>The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring</i> is filled with everything from pencil-drawn concept art to stunning full-detail paintings, costume ideas, CGI scenes and figures, and more. It's so cool to see the ideas that the designers and directors started with before the full glory of the movies ever existed. And there are hundreds of pictures to enjoy - enough to keep any LOTR fan busy for hours and hours on end.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-19205981301738443312012-08-24T06:14:00.001-07:002012-08-24T06:14:40.220-07:00The Bad Beginning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20k0BbXsh_5TkozslhGUNDaWkRKFIzQ7qEY8-50_JcSOr5DylPn6e4w6foZc9brjbHSoGmcBNXgw3YEnEmufpaRJQSyu6-FaBeLZt_-5XYNDkfxIxtuEjqe4hjX5N9J_1kdxd_VK8bDg/s1600/the+bad+beginning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20k0BbXsh_5TkozslhGUNDaWkRKFIzQ7qEY8-50_JcSOr5DylPn6e4w6foZc9brjbHSoGmcBNXgw3YEnEmufpaRJQSyu6-FaBeLZt_-5XYNDkfxIxtuEjqe4hjX5N9J_1kdxd_VK8bDg/s320/the+bad+beginning.jpg" width="204" /></a>Author: Lemony Snicket<br />
Genre: Children's General Fiction<br />
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events<br />
Publisher: HarperCollins<br />
Pages: 162<br />
<br />
After the recommendations from several friends, I decided to finally get around to giving this book a look. I'm glad I did. The author's sense of humor is delightful, as is the story he tells. The content is clean, and the story is straightforward without being dull. The author manages to create a creepy, scary villain without carrying it too far like so many authors who seem to forget that they're writing a book for <i>children</i>. And I love the way he paints the relationship of the siblings.<br />
This is a fun story that I would feel perfectly comfortable letting my little sister read - which is high praise, coming from me - and I definitely intend to continue following the lives and events of the poor, miserable Baudelaire orphans in the rest of the series. ; )Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-27526198287839173152012-08-23T12:30:00.000-07:002012-08-23T12:30:14.248-07:00LOTR - The Making of the Movie Trilogy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQwp84QDmqKNSY3Vzbm1FGMRoraEHwuDHXz0XKWkPbpD1GhLuP0qFdMa5bstEb3MPaQYqj1VKOdIbkAw_XBVMtHyJ14fsairpS-9EprXN01S2aQqGCR3ehZL5gRjGfxfjH46TwncGz4I/s1600/lotr+making+of+the+movie....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQwp84QDmqKNSY3Vzbm1FGMRoraEHwuDHXz0XKWkPbpD1GhLuP0qFdMa5bstEb3MPaQYqj1VKOdIbkAw_XBVMtHyJ14fsairpS-9EprXN01S2aQqGCR3ehZL5gRjGfxfjH46TwncGz4I/s320/lotr+making+of+the+movie....jpg" width="247" /></a>Author: Brian Sibley<br />
Genre: Entertainment<br />
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin<br />
Pages: 191<br />
<br />
This is another one of those fun books that you can read cover to cover if you want to, but in my opinion is better suited to browsing - read a bit here and a bit there, gaze at photos and drawings, and turn pages as the fancy strikes you.<br />
I love this book! It contains snippets of conversations among the cast and crew, memories shared by various actors and production staff, behind-the-scenes looks at casting, set-building, costume design, and more. Plus tons and tons of pictures.<br />
This book would make a fabulous addition to any LOTR nut's library. Great for browsing through with a group of your LOTR-nut friends, too! Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-54757983148580770552012-08-20T09:11:00.001-07:002012-08-20T09:16:38.763-07:00Serpent of Moses<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE9HutV7KpPlPHi7cHl89AHrTsDF97szPn7eWWfKeNiAlZgj-g75RWX0SunlGvHg2MZioF_c30Xdiw5qcj7_NGPDNEZhmycidpklgCEXm5eHo_tbrfeX9cz8Uj4a0gY41vmxlWTJuzAA/s1600/serpent+of+moses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE9HutV7KpPlPHi7cHl89AHrTsDF97szPn7eWWfKeNiAlZgj-g75RWX0SunlGvHg2MZioF_c30Xdiw5qcj7_NGPDNEZhmycidpklgCEXm5eHo_tbrfeX9cz8Uj4a0gY41vmxlWTJuzAA/s320/serpent+of+moses.jpg" width="207" /></a>Author: Don Hoesel<br />
Genre: Fiction, Suspense, Archaeology<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
Pages: 313<br />
<br />
For quite some time during my teen years, I seriously considered becoming a biblical archaeologist. So needless to say, I love a good archaeology novel.<br />
<i>Serpent of Moses</i> was certainly not the best book from that genre that I have read. It sort of gave me the feeling of being dropped into the middle of a story that was already underway, but I was able to put the pieces together and follow the flow fairly easily.<br />
And, I have to say, the setup was rather cliche and predictable - happy-go-lucky and slightly irresponsible archaeologist; exotic, gorgeous, brilliant girlfriend whose field of expertise happens to be very beneficial; old friends all over the world who just happen to have skills and positions to be of tremendous (and convenient) help; a particularly close old friend who happens to be former CIA and has a few favors he can call in; and a creepy European bad guy who's insane. None of that is particularly original and anyone who's read a few archaeology novels (or seen Indiana Jones) has seen that kind of setup before.<br />
I wasn't sure about some of the implications of events in the story, as far as biblical accuracy is concerned (I can't really explain what I'm referring to without giving something away). The matter can really be considered open to speculation, since the Bible doesn't actually give specifics in this case, but I don't know that I would agree with the direction the author's speculations took.<br />
All that being said, if you like archaeology novels (or Indiana Jones) and don't mind a few cliches (the genre is what it is, after all) I think you'll enjoy this book. I think I might have enjoyed it more had I been familiar already with the central cast of characters, present in other works by Hoesel, but this was my first time reading his work. And while, like I said, this wasn't the best book I've read in the genre, it has definitely aroused my interest, and I fully intent to investigate this author's work further.<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-51139788059948986042012-08-18T13:47:00.000-07:002012-08-18T13:47:24.124-07:00The Grasshopper Trap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaoxl12jXk2Vs5SB45Apq3Jd9z9Y8cD7pEJISAcft2NqOwVcelHFppVsFfG4AdMQdkpO5JycRiW86WL7x7ebY3RD3tNe3-6VOUR3nVmUZ3p4seJ0j_anqZHpCXQB0y4_bc55Hht5WCF0/s1600/the+grasshopper+trap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaoxl12jXk2Vs5SB45Apq3Jd9z9Y8cD7pEJISAcft2NqOwVcelHFppVsFfG4AdMQdkpO5JycRiW86WL7x7ebY3RD3tNe3-6VOUR3nVmUZ3p4seJ0j_anqZHpCXQB0y4_bc55Hht5WCF0/s320/the+grasshopper+trap.jpg" width="213" /></a>Author: Patrick F. McManus<br />
Genre: Humor, Outdoors<br />
Publisher: Owl Books<br />
Pages: 214<br />
<br />
What is there to say about a McManus book besides the all-too mundane terms like 'hilarious, hysterical, and side-splitting'?<br />
I don't know if <i>The Grasshoper Trap</i> would rank as my all-time favorite McManus book (it's just really, really hard to beat <i>A Fine and Pleasant Misery</i>) but it's very close to the top, for sure.<br />
This book is complete with the cast of characters any reader of McManus will know and love - Retch Sweeney, Crazy Eddie Muldoon, Rancid Crabtree, The Troll, and more - and the outrageous antics thereof, from the dangerous wilds of an eight-year-old's back yard to the Brazilian jungle, and from the horrors of incarceration in the fourth grade to the domestic challenges between hunter/fishermen and their wives.<br />
I laughed myself silly reading this book, and even managed to read several chapters of it aloud to my family (it's very hard to read aloud when you can't even breathe from laughing so hard), which had them all rolling too. No complaints - another great humor book for anyone in need of a good laugh.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-29810674512900740492012-08-08T10:24:00.002-07:002012-08-08T10:31:33.624-07:00The Orphan King<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBu0AIt8dwQ7dHrSf9DhwsWhCt-PIyd_IvwNM_UAWsXPFeNBBk5MpTytlX2io7nfuQxtdKmNGyvgT5Eq0oVIGH1oYNfxOa1riPjbQtQhikDn-r01mtlF0lDlE_m4OgvaUYzFhAhS3kOM/s1600/the+orphan+king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBu0AIt8dwQ7dHrSf9DhwsWhCt-PIyd_IvwNM_UAWsXPFeNBBk5MpTytlX2io7nfuQxtdKmNGyvgT5Eq0oVIGH1oYNfxOa1riPjbQtQhikDn-r01mtlF0lDlE_m4OgvaUYzFhAhS3kOM/s320/the+orphan+king.jpg" width="213" /></a>Author: Sigmund Brouwer<br />
Genre: Historical Fantasy<br />
Series: Merlin's Immortals<br />
Pages: 220<br />
<br />
This was my first time reading anything by Sigmund Brouwer, so I wasn't sure what to expect - one can never tell with historical fantasy, anyway.<br />
But I have to say, while the plot was great, the execution felt very slow-paced and everything seemed to drag by so slowly. Looking back, now that I've read it, and summarizing the plot points, by rights it should have been a fast-paced, action-packed book. But, for whatever strange reason, it wasn't. I can't explain why, but it just failed to hook me and make me believe in the adventure and the mission. The main character's thoughts and emotions felt distant, leaving me feeling like an outsider and confused about his motivations and thought processes, and never really engaging me.<br />
It also got rather confusing - two-thirds of the way through the book brand-new, major characters were still being introduced, bringing layers of the plot and the plots-behind-the-plot with them. That in itself isn't necessarily a bad thing - I've read many books in which key characters get introduced late in the story - but in this book it just didn't work, for whatever reason. I suspect it was because so much of the aforementioned plot-behind-the-plot was left vague and shadowy, and never really fully explained.<br />
And the ending was just a bit too easy. Everything just sort of fell into place just right with a few half-hearted complications, and ta-da, we win!<br />
Definitely not my favorite read of the summer. If the other books in the series were to fall across my path, I don't know that I would necessarily avoid them, but I don't see myself going to great efforts to seek them out.<br />
<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-66952110953407449492012-07-29T12:20:00.000-07:002012-07-29T12:20:26.879-07:00Call of a Coward<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiIooD1dXJ0mWZZAqLyimr6aEn0DPqcro-uaPn2YXx00FjpDucDjVaF938hgYTk9I_-rCRdYqUj0fhQ2dM6VuBzIpxLnOHXNY1AFltTFPnn1aM0Z8l8j-xPR_Ohy5_98Ron14r5d0JNg/s1600/call+of+a+coward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiIooD1dXJ0mWZZAqLyimr6aEn0DPqcro-uaPn2YXx00FjpDucDjVaF938hgYTk9I_-rCRdYqUj0fhQ2dM6VuBzIpxLnOHXNY1AFltTFPnn1aM0Z8l8j-xPR_Ohy5_98Ron14r5d0JNg/s320/call+of+a+coward.jpg" width="209" /></a>Author: Marcia Moston<br />
Genre: Non-fiction, Missions, Memoir<br />
Publisher: Thomas Nelson<br />
Pages: 184<br />
<br />
I love missionary stories and devour missions books every chance I get, so naturally I jumped at the chance to read this one.<br />
However, I was disappointed with <i>Call of a Coward</i>. The author, Marcia Moston, was an average Christian housewife until her husband decided that they needed to move to Guatemala to manage an orphanage for a year. The bulk of the book was taken up solely with her accounts of how hard it was for her to cope with the situation and deal with moving from the USA to a third-world country, and how afraid she was of this and that. It was like the ministry they were there to do was playing second fiddle to the hardships they were suffering to do it. Throughout the book I kept thinking 'Okay, when are we going to move on and talk about something besides you and how hard it is to go without your chocolate?' Honestly, aside from a few small mentions of projects here and there, I didn't feel like I got any real information about the actual ministry they were there to do. It was all focused on the author's personal struggles.<br />
But then, after they had moved back to the States and had been called to a church in Vermont, the author suddenly starts talking about how much she doesn't want to go to Vermont and how much she does want to go back to Guatemala. And I, the reader, am left thinking 'Really? When did this sudden love of Guatemala come about? Last I checked you had spent three chapters complaining about how miserable it was.'<br />
Maybe I'm being a little harsh, but I really did feel like the entire book was 'all about me' from the author's perspective, and I really have no use for that kind of a book.<br />
<br />
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-78010463897031343272012-07-19T09:30:00.001-07:002012-07-19T09:30:29.639-07:00Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsIO5AaoRbzvTdT5FunTFt_jDoq0erdL9tGDLRViwAM2_RwFPkvTPnOOX6fG_evDrmWHxFzhgIXMEmn9s_K6Ejn3lJZi8PCdb3g33jE-JLDTnrrIjQsKm_97QQq_tog1URVF41weJXyQ/s1600/angels,+miracles,+heavenly+encounters,+James+stuart+bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsIO5AaoRbzvTdT5FunTFt_jDoq0erdL9tGDLRViwAM2_RwFPkvTPnOOX6fG_evDrmWHxFzhgIXMEmn9s_K6Ejn3lJZi8PCdb3g33jE-JLDTnrrIjQsKm_97QQq_tog1URVF41weJXyQ/s1600/angels,+miracles,+heavenly+encounters,+James+stuart+bell.jpg" /></a>Various Authors<br />
Compiled by James Stuart Bell<br />
Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian Life and Thought, Spiritual Warfare<br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
Pages: 240<br />
<br />
I have to admit, I was a little skeptical when I first picked up this book. I've met more than my share of off-the-deep-end people in my short life, and I was somewhat concerned that this book might fall into that category, or turn out to be some sort of ghost story book finagled around to fit under a 'Christian' heading.<br />
Thankfully, I was wrong. <i>Angels, Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters</i> is a lovely, encouraging compilation of true stories from people all over the world and in all walks of life. The nature of the stories varies widely, from casting out demons to quitting smoking, and from impossible rescues to miraculous healing. Not once did I feel like I was reading some televangelist's advertisement campaign. In fact, the book left me feeling refreshed, uplifted, encouraged, and in awe of the power of our God. It made a wonderful reminder of His constant protection over His children, the very real presence of both angels and demons, and the peace God's redeemed can experience and enjoy.<br />
The book kept me turning pages from start to finish. I wouldn't recommend it for young readers, for obvious reasons, but I believe any Christian adult would enjoy it...even a Christian as skeptical as I tend to be. ; )<br />
<br />
I received this book from the publisher free of charge in exchange for my review. A favorable review was not required.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-68618142511658914192012-07-13T10:30:00.000-07:002012-07-13T10:30:07.348-07:00Guardian of the Flame<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmsSQOrtxsNiPP2QA-zGq-Du1YXgIrrNSlju9J8-mk4gt8ijmf0NlQlv1lHAmvBkJosSiDQ2fmHL3OUVs5MunatBUUZTYvHWmTo4y-VG0jDQTVS5fM5Kb-ZWQPgAhyphenhyphenzq-Utca0K0Omkg/s1600/guardian+of+the+flame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmsSQOrtxsNiPP2QA-zGq-Du1YXgIrrNSlju9J8-mk4gt8ijmf0NlQlv1lHAmvBkJosSiDQ2fmHL3OUVs5MunatBUUZTYvHWmTo4y-VG0jDQTVS5fM5Kb-ZWQPgAhyphenhyphenzq-Utca0K0Omkg/s320/guardian+of+the+flame.jpg" width="209" /></a>Author: T.L. Higley<br />
Genre: Historical Fiction<br />
Series: The Seven Wonders<br />
Publisher: B&H Books<br />
<br />
For quite some time now, <a href="http://theflyinglibrarianshideout.blogspot.com/2012/03/shadow-of-colossus.html" target="_blank"><i>Shadow of Colossus</i> </a>has been my favorite T.L. Higley book. After reading <i>Guardian of the Flame</i>, though, I might just have to switch my sympathies. I mean, really - Egypt, the Alexandrian library and lighthouse, Cleopatra, the Antikythera mechanism... it's a recipe for a fantastic story. What's not to adore?<br />
And adore it I did. Sophia, the main character, has been in charge of maintaining the lighthouse at Alexandria for the last twenty years after tragically losing both her husband and his world-changing life's work, the Proginosko. Sophia has let her loneliness make her bitter, ugly, and reclusive, and everyone under her authority is intimidated by her. Except of course, for Ares - her cheeky assistant. But when Caesar comes to Alexandria to settle the conflict between Cleopatra and her brother, the situation only becomes more complicated for everyone involved - especially when a sarcastic Roman centurion is assigned to take control of Sophia's lighthouse.<br />
I don't know what more I can say. I loved, loved, loved this story. The complications, the twists and turns, the character developments, and T.L. Higley's signature gift of transporting her readers back in time and across the distance to the story's setting made this a read I absolutely couldn't put down. I literally slept with the book in my hands... after I fell asleep mid-page at one in the morning.<br />
If you want a phenomenal historical fiction read, any of T.L. Higley's books would be an excellent choice. But <i>Guardian of the Flame</i> would be the one I most highly recommend.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-33171331838577788452012-07-11T19:19:00.000-07:002012-07-11T19:21:49.545-07:00Grieving God's Way<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fmeui57MewcDX4VxbTTm-y_pNtXky5EJrzfG5kEcw6J0P8Oc7hB5miEY49hFMvR1P3EzBnqA2lDe6WqXTm-2h6P3k2Z3MQAUzmChgmzkqo0tk0Wpls2j4vQ2fZJt81-0Ke5GuYJrOm8/s1600/grieving+God%27s+way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fmeui57MewcDX4VxbTTm-y_pNtXky5EJrzfG5kEcw6J0P8Oc7hB5miEY49hFMvR1P3EzBnqA2lDe6WqXTm-2h6P3k2Z3MQAUzmChgmzkqo0tk0Wpls2j4vQ2fZJt81-0Ke5GuYJrOm8/s320/grieving+God%27s+way.jpg" width="209" /></a>Author: Margaret Brownley<br />
Genre: Christian Life and Thought<br />
Publisher: Thomas Nelson<br />
Pages: 195<br />
<br />
Having recently lost both of my closest grandparents in less than a year's time, I thought it might be interesting to get another Christian's perspective on the grieving process, so I picked this book up.<br />
While the author does have some excellent advice for the grieving Christian, such as turning your focus onto others, keeping yourself active and healthy, dealing with survivor's guilt, and making a conscious effort to learn and grow in your faith through your grief, I have to say that I wasn't terribly impressed with this book.<br />
Yes, grief is an ugly, brutal, complicated thing that doesn't go away over night and is tough to deal with. But there were several instances while reading this book when it seemed like I was being encouraged to dwell on my grief, analyzing and bisecting it rather than actually healing and moving on. The entire book wasn't that way, but a few sections of it definitely gave off that impression.<br />
Some of the author's statements seemed overly poeticized, making grief and bereavement into some vague, almost mystical idea. In my experience, there is nothing mystical about grief. The writing was beautiful, but not always meaningful. There were several times when I felt like quoting Cap Rountree from <i>The Sacketts</i>: "Now ain't that purdy? I don't know what it means, but it sure did sound elegant."<br />
<i>"The stillness of grief is an invitation to sail into the inner self and explore the harbor of forgotten goals and still-cherished dreams..." </i>(Pg. 4)<br />
Lovely writing, I'll be the first to acknowledge. But someone please explain to me exactly what that is supposed to actually mean. My personality and upbringing are both very much geared towards keeping it real, and this book fell a ways short of that mark. I'm just not that touchy-feely.<br />
As I said, there was some very helpful content in this book. I had been my grandmother's primary caretaker for seven months when she passed away, and I've struggled with survivor's guilt as a result. This book did offer some very practical advice on how to deal with that in a positive way.<br />
But on the whole, it was just too poeticized and touchy-feely for my tastes.<br />
<br />
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-11946667205028545172012-07-09T20:51:00.002-07:002012-07-09T20:51:58.626-07:00Fearless<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM80SSOATVsU8eT_6IdGmIEY4fcAYkIa1PBTDJYUTQgo8cyGfNIMwJINQR4mL4A7LG7igTaSqfnCLpbkqwy_5i4Wucx69cMBpdc2H92nzEJJL8kNDJJEdenkD_RSi1xTRrO6o3WGssFOg/s1600/fearless+adam+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM80SSOATVsU8eT_6IdGmIEY4fcAYkIa1PBTDJYUTQgo8cyGfNIMwJINQR4mL4A7LG7igTaSqfnCLpbkqwy_5i4Wucx69cMBpdc2H92nzEJJL8kNDJJEdenkD_RSi1xTRrO6o3WGssFOg/s320/fearless+adam+brown.jpg" width="224" /></a>Author: Eric Blehm<br />
Genre: Non-Fiction, Biography/Military<br />
Publisher: Waterbrook<br />
Pages: 253<br />
<br />
As a patriotic, pro-military American and a soon-to-be military sister, I had high hopes for this book, but was somewhat worried that I would be disappointed. I wasn't. Everything this book promises, it delivers... and then some.<br />
<i>Fearless </i>is the story of larger-than-life Adam Brown, a down-to-earth Arkansas boy whose surrender to Jesus - pointed out in the book as the only time in his life he ever surrendered - pulled him out of a vicious tailspin through drug addictions and everything that went with it. His remarkable character and personality, dominated by his compassion, protectiveness, and as the title implies, fearlessness, shine from every page. His journey was dark and frustrating at times, even for me as a reader. Honestly, there were times when I genuinely wished I could deck the guy for some of the things he did and the mistakes he made.<br />
But the power of Christ was unmistakeably evident in this man's life. From the county jail he made his way step after dogged step into the ranks of SEAL team SIX - one of America's most elite fighting forces. His testimony as a Christian, his example as a husband, father, and compassionate human being, and his amazing commitment as a soldier are incredibly inspiring. I was literally in tears for the last 50 pages of the book.<br />
I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. In addition to Adam Brown's incredible life story, <i>Fearless </i>is filled with amazing insight into the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, unflinching looks into the true nature of radical Islamic terrorism, eye-opening descriptions of the training and screening our soldiers go through, and inspiring accounts of the families who stand behind those soldiers. Every American adult should read this book. Period.<br />
<br />
I received this book free of charge in exchange for my review, but a favorable review was not required.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-2452891146478459812012-06-25T14:34:00.001-07:002012-06-25T21:01:45.822-07:00The Legend of the Firefish<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xu9LSHq_jnWWi-9gS0ijL85KXWsfE7KFGy8JoZU1bmuxMBqGx-4HDPIhnUyrGE_uU6SYTnV6TurUdnk7gmiR2J6EyzjNaqxdwXViN4qy1lBnpOkkp7pipkS2dnDhRhkYQbcOTzNBO4M/s1600/legend+of+the+firefish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xu9LSHq_jnWWi-9gS0ijL85KXWsfE7KFGy8JoZU1bmuxMBqGx-4HDPIhnUyrGE_uU6SYTnV6TurUdnk7gmiR2J6EyzjNaqxdwXViN4qy1lBnpOkkp7pipkS2dnDhRhkYQbcOTzNBO4M/s320/legend+of+the+firefish.jpg" width="206" /></a>Author: George Bryan Polivka<br />
Series: The Trophy Chase Trilogy<br />
Genre: Fantasy<br />
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers<br />
Pages: 347<br />
<br />
I. Loved. This. Book. Seriously, I couldn't put it down.<br />
I came across this book completely by accident while looking for something else online, but when I saw that it was fantasy and written by a Christian author, I figured it was worth a look. And boy howdy, was it worth the look!<br />
After being dishonorably expelled from seminary, Packer Throme became the star pupil of Nearing Vast's fencing school. Now he has a plan to help the friends and neighbors of his youth out of the poverty of the fishing industry by learning to hunt and kill the legendary Firefish - a monstrous sea creature whose meat has healing and strengthening properties. Armed with information from his deceased father's journal, Packer sets out to stow away on the <i>Trophy Chase</i>, a pirate ship turned Firefish-hunting boat, and learn the art of hunting the beasts.<br />
Unfortunately, it isn't quite that simple. What follows is a fast-paced, heart-pounding adventure that includes swordfights, high-seas adventure, deadly encounters with Firefish, love, betrayal, and more, and it doesn't relent for a minute from the first page to the last.<br />
As I said before, I loved this book. Some aspects of it were very dark, violent, even brutal, but it was all necessary to portray the depravity of the pirates' world and lifestyle, and it was handled very skillfully by the author. And I loved the way the author managed to transition from darkness to humor without making the story feel forced or awkward. Both sides of the coin felt completely natural, which takes rare skill on the part of the author, and the results in <i>The Legend of the Firefish</i> were delightful. One scene I found particularly entertaining is when one of the characters drowns and another character performs CPR. The other characters, born and raised in a culture similar to our world's eighteenth century, are horrified when the drowned character coughs up a bellyful of water and starts breathing again. They come to the conclusion that the character who performed CPR must be some kind of voodoo witch to do such a thing. You've gotta love that kind of humor.<br />
A few things to be aware of: One is the violence, as I've already mentioned. I wouldn't say it was gory, but there was definitely a lot of bloodshed and death.<br />
Another is the fact that the main characters all drink. There is very little actual drunkenness, and none on the part of the main character (though he does drink as well), but it's something to be aware of if that is a problem for you.<br />
The main character and his love interest/almost-fiancee kiss a couple of times over the course of the story. There is nothing worse than that anywhere in the story, but it's also something to be aware of.<br />
One last thing, this one more of an annoyance than a real problem, is that the author very frequently changes the character point of view in mid-scene... sometimes even mid-paragraph. Over all it didn't cause a ton of problems for me as a reader, but there were a few places where I did struggle to figure out whose viewpoint I was supposed to be in.<br />
And in a few places, the individual characters' spiritual arcs felt kind of muddled and confused, or like they were waffling sporadically back and forth without much rhyme or reason. At first it was vaguely annoying, but if you think about it, how often is a real person's real spiritual journey cut and dried and uncomplicated? So that really didn't bother me that much. And although I didn't always agree with the choices the characters made, I could always see how they had arrived at that conclusion, which is much better than wondering 'Where in the world did that come from?'. <br />
There were a couple of instances where the thought: "Christian version of <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i>" crossed my mind, but not at all in a bad way. A few of the story elements had a somewhat PotC-esque flavor to them, but I never felt like I was reading a Christian 're-make' at all.<br />
Aside from those few things, as I've already made abundantly clear, this was an awesome book! I will be re-reading it very soon, because it had me so riveted that I sped through in record time so I'm sure there are details I missed. If you're looking for a riveting, rip-roaring nautical adventure, <i>The Legend of the Firefish</i> is for you!Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2178371016273689175.post-18319337815600326852012-06-23T20:34:00.002-07:002012-06-23T20:34:39.645-07:00The Truth About the Lordship of Christ<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69gAw8tFOOHDx5ncCAXMRYXoUtk4m1hL__VyRZwwk2U4S02ryQMHJAoVx6hqgqc-7fEc9GQfDmstB-FsVWaLi0hD4iuDvtlAnTr3qnT7enQr5umX-KhUBsJeCrYwaZevRAyZT0hSBu6U/s1600/truth+about+the+lordship+of+Christ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69gAw8tFOOHDx5ncCAXMRYXoUtk4m1hL__VyRZwwk2U4S02ryQMHJAoVx6hqgqc-7fEc9GQfDmstB-FsVWaLi0hD4iuDvtlAnTr3qnT7enQr5umX-KhUBsJeCrYwaZevRAyZT0hSBu6U/s320/truth+about+the+lordship+of+Christ.jpg" width="200" /></a>Author: John MacArthur<br />
Genre: Theology, Christian Doctrine <br />
Series: The Truth About<br />
Publisher: Thomas Nelson<br />
<br />
Like the rest of the series, I have to say that this book was greatly refreshing. As a long-time Believer, it's easy for me to begin taking principles of doctrine and theology for granted. The Truth About series has taken me back to those too-often overlooked fundamentals and refreshed them.<br />
In regards to this book in particular, I should mention that the title is a bit... well, not deceiving, but it made me expect something different than what I got. The basic mission and achievement of the book is a good, solid discussion of what it means and looks like to truly be a follower of Christ. I have no complaints. MacArthur walks his readers through a heavily referenced look at dozens of real-world applications of following Christ, as well as offering a no-holds-barred discussion of the problems and lies Christians can and have allowed to seep into the church and our lives.<br />
As I said, this book and The Truth About series as a whole were deeply refreshing and I recommend them for anyone wanting or needing a trip back to the beautiful fundamentals that form the foundation of our faith.<br />
<br />
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.Mary Ruth Pursselleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03325447738032828151noreply@blogger.com0