Tag Archives: reading

Clearing the To-Be-Reviewed shelves

Posted on February 7, 2012 | 7 Comments

Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
I loved this book. I mean, seriously: time travel, Italy, and archaeology all in the same book? The adventure, the fun, the ingenuity. Excellent. This is book 2 of the River of Time series (3 books out so far), and while I haven’t read book 1, Waterfall, now that I’ve read book 3, I think part of my enjoyment stemmed from being allowed to fill in those pieces from the bits of background scattered throughout.

Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
This, book 3, was a letdown. Maybe it’s because the storyline seemed so one-dimensional after attempting to construct book 1 while reading book 2? I also thought book 2 indicated a larger discussion of or focus on elements of faith in book 3, but while there was a bit more, it was still seriously lacking in that department.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games trilogy has been hashed and rehashed countless times while I was getting up the courage to read them. See, I was afraid, when I first heard about them, that they would be too much like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, which, when I read it early in high school, left me scarred. But the similarities were quickly overcome once I dove in, and I quickly devoured the whole series. The reality TV (a la Big Brother) component is really interesting, but really they’re just great stories. They plumb the depths of what it means to be human.

And, with that, my writing time for today is just about up. Maybe I’ll add some thumbnails to the above and move on with my day. Hopefully this hasn’t drained me too much and I’ll be able to post another set of mini-reviews (or a few) soon. Hey, maybe I’ll even post more than once in a week — now that would feel like a miracle!

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, review, speculative, YA

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Ye Old Interview(e) Game

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 5 Comments

My Friend Amy posted about this right before Christmas, and I took her up on the chance to be interviewed. I asked her a question, and she sent me five to answer here.

The official rules (this feels a bit of the way-back machine):

  • Leave me a comment saying, “Interview Me.” Please include your e-mail address if it is not in your profile. (lol how old school)
  • I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions.)
  • You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
  • You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
  • When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Amy asked:
1) Describe your ideal book.
Wow, that’s tough. How about this? A compelling story lyrically told, with real characters, who face thing(s) that force them to examine their faith/walk. Not too long.

2) You’re having a baby! What are some of the books that will be essential in your child’s library?
Actually, I’ve kind of struggled with this! I don’t seem to remember much of my reading (or being read to) before I was reading the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew or Madeleine L’Engle books; I remember appreciating the phonics books we had when younger siblings were learning to read … So! What read-aloud or whatever books should I add to my library?

But if you’re asking about books for when he’s older, hrm. Most of the ones I own (we were heavy library users back in the day) seem a little girl-centric: Anne of Green Gables, Caddie Woodlawn … Obviously that doesn’t make them bad, but my collection’s still more than a bit scant.

3) Have you ever read a book at exactly the right time?
I’d say the books that coalesced on a theme for me last year were read at pretty much the right time. :) I’m sure there are other, more precise instances, but they’re not coming to mind at the moment.

4) What is the best thing that’s changed about the book blogosphere since you started? What’s the worst?
I love that there are so many book bloggers now. I think this makes it easier to find one’s bosom buddies — or a collection of people she overlaps with on various genres/subjects — than it used to be. I also think it’s excellent that bloggers now have at least some respect or recognition from publishers.

As for the worst, I hate that so many bloggers now just quietly submit to the increasingly tight hoops that are being placed as restrictions by some publishers (not most) on bloggers (for review copies). I fear they may act as a noose, and it seems to me that these bloggers have little sense of self to allow themselves to be pushed around in these ways. Of course, I also tire of the never-ending drama between bloggers.

5) What’s your favorite Christmas song?
It’s really hard for me to pick favorites of anything, and this is no exception. I tried making a list of my top 10 Christmas songs — in December 2010 — and I still haven’t gotten it figured out. I’m sad, though, that I didn’t hear Mary, Did You Know? even once this past Christmas season.

If you want me to ask you questions, let me know! I won’t ask anything too invasive or personal, promise.

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Posted in blogging, books, WordLily

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Empaths and prophets

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 5 Comments

Most of the media experiences (not just books, although mainly books) that really struck me this year have a couple things in common. I learned something about myself, particularly through their confluence. They’re all about being an outsider, working on something that others don’t really understand. And yet this work is something that drives [the person], that it’s impossible to ignore. A calling, even.

Although perhaps not traditional (and certainly not all-inclusive), this is my greatest hits list for 2011.

ANGEL

I think the first one was from the TV show Angel. Along Angel’s circuitous journey, one of the guys who assists in his mission of helping people is an Empath demon. Backstory: The demons in this narrative (that starts with Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are various races and/or individuals with special skills or giftings. Taken as a whole, they use these abilities to further their bloodlust and rage, but there are a few here and there who’ve chosen another path.

This particular Empath demon uses his ability to feel other peoples’ pain to help them. Later in the narrative the gods see fit to give the empath ability to a human, and it very nearly destroys her. (Actually, I’m not sure I’ve seen the end of that story line. I know it comes close, but I’m not sure if it eventually does or not.) She should die because a human can’t bear that burden of feeling so much the pain of others.

THE RELUCTANT PROPHET by Nancy Rue

The Reluctant Prophet illuminated what I’d seen in Angel, if that makes any sense. Allison has been asking God what she’s supposed to do, and when she begins to follow through on what she hears, the members of her church aren’t exactly thrilled. It’s a serious examination — in the form of one fictional woman’s story — of what a life of faith looks like and the risks it entails.

It’s a well-written story that I read at exactly the right time. It rings authentic, and I can’t wait to crack open the next book in the series, Unexpected Dismounts. I’ve also been enjoying Rue’s (@NNRue) blog.

THE FALLING AWAY by T.L. Hines

The Falling Away is a truly excellent book (it won the INSPY in December for Speculative Fiction).

This quote will, I think, illustrate how The Falling Away fits into my list: “we’re almost magnets for pain and suffering, but because we have ways to control it, there’s a design to it all” (page 97).

WINTER by Keven Newsome

Winter isn’t really of the same calibre as the aforementioned books writing-wise (or editing-wise), but it does dwell in the same vein, of prophecy. Enough so to earn a place here. It may not speak to everyone as it did to me — the appeal of the others is probably more broad — but that’s not necessarily the point of this list. So.

Switching directions a bit, Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith (2011 INSPY winner for Creative Nonfiction) also deserves a spot on the list. It doesn’t quite fit with the others in that, while the others taught me something about myself and showed a bit of the way I should go, Smith voiced so much of what I’ve felt leading up to this time. It’s almost like her words were echoing what my soul had been crying out. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been working in Darfur unbeknownst to you, but I did find significant parallels.

Summary: Several books I read in 2011 seemed to coalesce around a theme, enough so that it made me sit up straight and take notice. Through these books, plus the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, God spoke to my identity, my place/role in the Body of Christ. I don’t have it all figured out yet(!), but it was encouraging to learn. One piece: an implementable way to channel my empathy.

So, there you have it. Not a traditional best-of list — I read lots of other terrific books — but the ones that most stood out to me.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, memoir, nonfiction, speculative, WordLily

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The Pawn by Steven James

Posted on December 1, 2011 | 3 Comments

Word Lily review

The Pawn by Steven James, book 1 of the Patrick Bowers Files (Revell, 2007), 432 pages

Summary
FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers is called to North Carolina to consult on a serial killer case. The guy calls himself The Illusionist, and he’s one of the toughest Bower has ever been up against. On top of that, turmoil from his personal life — his wife died of cancer, leaving him with a teenage stepdaughter he hasn’t really figured out how to communicate with yet — keeps breaking in on his thoughts.

Thoughts
I’ve heard so much great buzz about this series (mainly from Deborah and Tami, I think) over the last couple years, and I’m glad I finally got around to starting it.

Patrick Bowers, our protagonist, is a coffee snob, a man grieving the loss of his wife. His specialty is environmental criminology, which at times reminded me of Numb3rs.

The story is well-written and gripping.

I enjoyed it so much I immediately picked up the second book in the series, The Rook.

Really an excellent read.

Rating: 4.25 stars

About the author
Steven James (@SJamesAuthor) lives in Tennessee with his wife and three daughters. When he’s not writing or speaking, he’s rock climbing, playing disc golf or slipping away to a matinee.

Other reviews
Tree Swing Reading
A Peek At My Bookshelf
Window to My World
Genre Reviews
Have you reviewed this book? Leave me a link and I’ll add it here.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, mystery, review

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Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark

Posted on October 27, 2011 | 3 Comments

Word Lily review

Secrets of Harmony Grove by Mindy Starns Clark, (Harvest House, October 1, 2010), 386 pages

Summary
Sienna is pretty happy in life; she’s got a new job at a swanky Philadelphia advertising agency, which affords her the amenities of life she’s always wanted. Her boyfriend is really into her, and the mere sight of him makes her swoon. But she returns from a business trip and is called to the bosses’ office. She’s suspended, without pay, indefinitely, because she’s under investigation by the federal government. She heads to Lancaster County to check on her bed and breakfast, and what she finds there puts her being investigated in the back of her mind.

Thoughts
This is a book set in Amish country — Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, even — but it’s not really an Amish book.

I was distracted from the story by corny similes on the page and set this book aside for awhile. I’m glad I came back to it, though, because of this:

“During the renovation, when I was spending more time with the [Amish] relatives than I had in years, I had even done an experiment, privately taking note of how I was feeling and when. Over and over, the way it went was that at five minutes, I would finally stop listening for a radio or TV in the background. At fifteen minutes, even if the company was interesting and the conversation stimulating, I would find myself glancing at my phone wondering if emails had come in, discreetly checking for texts. At twenty-five minutes, I would wonder to myself how these people could possibly live like this. Weren’t they bored out of their minds?

“It usually took about an hour before my muscles would finally start to relax. By the two-hour mark, I would find a stillness I forgot I could even experience. To their credit, this kind of silence was intentional. As isolated as the Amish often seemed, it always surprised me how very aware they were of the impact noise could have on a life and the damage confusion and chaos could wreak on a soul.

“Ultimately, beyond that hard-won stillness came the true goal: a oneness with God. Was it any wonder I always felt spiritually renewed when I spent time in Amish country? By turning down the noise of my life, I was able to hear those still, small whispers of a loving God, whispers that filled my heart and never failed to refresh my soul.”

~Page 194, Secrets of Harmony Grove

In this brief excerpt, Sienna is clearly talking about the stillness she’s found in Amish country, particularly when she’s with her Amish relatives. But she’s also contrasting a fast-paced city life with a slower, more intentional, more rural one. This resonates with me. Not that it’s a completely new thought, but, I guess, I needed the reminder. The last month or so I’ve been craving a slower, simpler, quieter lifestyle, and perhaps the reason for that is just as Mindy Starns Clark (through Sienna) stated here.

I also enjoyed the perspectives given on nonviolence, conscientious objector status and self-defense.

I did figure out well ahead of time some of the answers this mystery sought, without trying.

It had been awhile since I’d read a Mindy Starns Clark book, and I was glad for the chance to try another. While not the greatest books I’ve ever read, I’ve always enjoyed her work, and this was no exception. I’ve especially appreciated her books for the touches of humor.

My [old] reviews of other Mindy Starns Clark books:
The Trouble with Tulip
Blind Dates Can Be Murder
Elementary, My Dear Watkins

Rating: 3.5 stars

About the author
Mindy Starns Clark is a former singer and stand-up comedian; she and her family live in Pennsylvania.

Other reviews
Books, Movies and Chinese Food
Lighthouse Academy
Mom’s Pace
Have you reviewed this book? Leave me a link and I’ll add it here.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, mystery, review, review copy

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Reading preferences: Format shift

Posted on October 26, 2011 | 4 Comments

Since I’ve become pregnant, it seems everything is in flux. Nothing is constant anymore. (Was it ever? But that’s a post for another time.) Among the things changing: My preference for book format. I’ve long preferred hardcovers and trade paperbacks, while shunning mass market paperbacks. Sure, they’re smaller, but they don’t lay open for anything, and they tend to fall apart so much more quickly! I’ve also found the interior layouts to generally be sub-par as well.

But now, since I can’t lay on my stomach to read anymore — I’ve always read a lot in bed — and am relegated to my side, I’ve found hardcovers incredibly cumbersome and heavy! Now, the small dimensions of the mass market are attractive! I’ve even considered not reading anything in hardcover except for maybe at lunch, where it can rest on the table during this time.

Except that would require me to depart from my long-held book monogamy. Hrm.

Do you ever find that your preferences have changed?

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Book Spotlight: Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Posted on October 22, 2011 | 1 Comment

About the book:
Alice Ripley lives with her nose in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she’s planned on falls apart when Gordon breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction rather than the real world. Then, Alice loses her job at the library because of Great Depression cutbacks. So, she flees to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny village of Acorn. Dropped off by relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

Read an excerpt of Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin.

I received this book from the publisher as part of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, historical

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False Witness by Randy Singer

Posted on June 22, 2011 | 8 Comments

Word Lily review

False Witness by Randy Singer (Tyndale, April 2011; originally published by Waterbrook in 2007), 432 pages

False Witness by Randy Singer

Summary
Bounty hunter Clark Shealy gets a call: His wife’s been kidnapped by the Chinese mafia and to get her back Shealy must bring them Kumari, who developed an algorithm that could break the internet (it quickly discerns the prime factors of very large numbers). Also, three law students get involved in case with a couple in witness protection.

Thoughts
Most of the way through, as I was reading, I really enjoyed this book. It’s suspenseful, and I found it promising. And I liked the parts about the Dalits in India (what there was of them). But in the end, False Witness was annoying.

I’m still greatly disappointed at the key to this giant, supposedly unsolvable mystery, was so simple — and given away to the reader so early. I’m not a math whiz, but I knew it immediately. I don’t believe the simplistic nature of this code fits the character of its creator, and I don’t believe Singer when he says it’s brilliant and unbreakable. Maybe I watched Numb3rs too recently?

One other pet peeve of mine irritated by this book: use of a euphemism for a body part. They have scientific names, people! Why are these words considered embarrassing or dirty? So. Very. Annoying.

I’m not sure if it was a matter of doing too much? The book being too long? The last 50 or so pages could have been an epilogue, though, and I think it would have been an improvement for me. In the days after finishing this book, my frustration with it — by and large just the last few dozen pages — grew and compounded.

I wish I liked this book, but I didn’t. It does have some positive qualities (see my first three sentences here), but they were far outweighed for me by its weaknesses.

Rating: 2.25 stars

About the author
Randy Singer is an author, trial attorney and preacher. He and his wife live in Virginia.

Other reviews (Mostly more positive than mine!)
The Friendly Book Nook
Books, Movies and Chinese Food
A Peek at My Bookshelf
Sugarpeach
Have you reviewed this book? Leave me a link and I’ll add it here.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

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Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, mystery, review, review copy

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