Archive for November, 2010

« Older Entries  |  
November 25, 2010

A Giant Paragraph of Thankfulness

I’ve come to the conclusion that I am overwhelmingly blessed.

To start off with, I’m thankful for God and his abundant blessings and never-ending love. I’m thankful for the promise of heaven and the bits of heaven I see here on earth. I’m thankful for the time I’ve been given in my life so far, and for whatever time I have left. For my family—particularly my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, grandma, and Aunt Bonnie, as well as my aunts and uncles and cousins. Their love and support is why I am the person I am today. I’m thankful for Amy, my coworker and best friend, who is absolutely one of the biggest blessings in my life—her joy, wisdom, love, compassion, and friendship mean the world to me. For my other amazing friends—particularly Brittney, Robert, Jenn, Esther, Becca, Katrina, Pete, Lori, Carolyn, Hannah, Jessy, Robyn, Katie M, Katie P, Siobhan, Hillary, Julia, Sheena, and Noelle, as well as the multitudes of friends I have throughout the US (and world, come to think of it). For the BF, who both challenges me and makes me laugh and who found a website where I can watch Top Gear without cable. I’m thankful for my incredibly smart godson, Luke, and his brothers Micah and Dean, and for the fourth baby on the way. For Emily, because she was the person who invited me to church for the first time. I’m thankful for my friends’ children—in particular, Chloe, Judah , Jewel, Noah, and Andrea—for reminding me what the joy of a child (and the joy of new parents) looks like. For the friends I’ve “met” (and actually met) blogging—particularly Jen, Steve, Susan, Kelly(Vision), Kelly(South), Janie, Stephanie, Jim, Matt, Hannah, Jeanette, Lennis, Nicole, Melissa (Maura_ea), Melissa (Mello), Erin, and Christa. My close-knit online community never ceases to amaze me. I’m thankful that I can blog and not be dragged off to prison for having an opinion. I’m even thankful for Facebook, for helping me keep in touch with more people than I’d ever be able to without it. I’m thankful for former youth group kids, who make me so incredibly proud that I want to cry. For my fellow ninjas—particularly Dave, Chanti, Brittany, and Hami. For the fact that I am healthy enough to be a ninja. For my beautiful church families at Bridgeway Christian Church, the Upper Room, and Living Water. For my job—both the fact I have one and the fact that I love it. I’m thankful I made it through the recession without much of an impact. For being debt-free, other than my mortgage. For owning my own home, and loving every minute of it. For not loving my home so much that if God asked me to sell it tomorrow it would be a problem. For opportunities to travel and see the world, and to have taken recent trips to New Zealand, England, Colorado, Iowa (yes, that Iowa), San Diego and Lake Tahoe. For my education, from the preschool through grad school. For incredible former teachers that have been on my mind lately. For the other people who have been influential in my life, who have spoken truth and wisdom into my heart. For my good health, clean water, more than enough food, and a safe place to lay my head at night. For the freedom to worship who I want, read what I want, learn what I want, love who I want, and live how I want. I’m thankful for love, hope, patience, kindness, joy, peace, and goodness. I’m thankful for the difficult times in my life, the trials that have brought me closer to the people I love and the God I worship. For the amazing organizations that I support, love, and pray for—Blood:Water Mission, the International Justice Mission, Courage House, Mercy Ministries, Compassion International (in particular, for my Compassion child Andrea Nicole and her family), World Vision, and Invisible Children. I’m thankful for forgiveness, mercy, grace, and turning the other cheek. For worship and praise and the fact I have knees to fall on. For being literate and loving to read and having friends who love to read as well. For having books at my fingertips. For dogs—even though I can’t have one myself, I love my friends’ dogs, especially Annie and Penny. For creation—particularly the trees, sunsets, flowers, and the ocean. For the rain, which I can’t get enough of; and for the sound of rain on the roof, which is my favorite sound in the world. For the authors who have made me rethink how I look at the world this year—particularly Donald Miller, David Dark, Susan Isaacs, Timothy Keller, David Platt, Joshua Ferris, Gary Haugen, and Matthew Paul Turner. I’m thankful for sleep, rest, relaxation, and a good massage. I’m thankful for harvest, local growers, good food, and the farmers’ market. I’m thankful that I’m finally learning now to cook something other than spaghetti. I’m thankful for art of all kinds, and my ability to appreciate it. And finally for laughter and joy, no matter my circumstances. I am thankful that I love life so very much.

Posted in Personal + Whatnot | 11 Comments »

November 23, 2010

#75 – Ivy’s Ever After by Dawn Lairamore

Ivy’s Ever After by Dawn Lairamore

Read: because Dawn is a friend of a friend and I offered to review it. (Holiday House, 320 pages, originally published May 2010)

Rating: 7 out of 10 (finished 11/8/10)

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Once upon a time in the kingdom of Ardendale there lived a spirited princess named Ivy, who had no interest in being rescued by Prince Charming, and an undersized dragon named Elridge, who was better at solving word puzzles than breathing fire. Sailing into this world on a ship made of whale bones came Romil, a handsome prince with dastardly designs on Princess Ivy and her kingdom. Ivy and Elridge, both disappointments to their families, join forces to try and thwart Romil’s evil plot. In the process these traditional enemies become fast freinds, discover hidden strengths, and earn the respect of all who know them. Full of humor and high adventure–and plenty of slightly skewed fairy-tale motifs—this frothy fractured fairy tale is sure to delight young readers.

Overall Impression: I don’t have much to compare this to—my knowledge of children’s lit is fairly slim. The writing, of course, is simple—but its whimsical and moves right along. Every once in a while the writing gets a little out of control and discombobulated, but it rights itself fairly quickly. The story is broken into little episodes, which probably works well for a younger audience, but I found it felt a little boxed in. I loved the idea of turning a traditional fairy tale on its head—it gave the chance for the princess to be empowered for once. The real prize of the story, however, is the moral. Morals, actually. Appearance doesn’t really matter—it’s character that counts. Perseverence matters. There will always be someone (dragon or otherwise) who is willing to help. Smart risks to help the people you love pay off. And, romance isn’t the most important thing!

Pros: A fun tale that flips our traditional sense of fairy tales.

Cons: I was not the target audience—I’d love to know what a ten-year-old girl took away from it!

Other blogger opinions:

Books at Midnight: “Ivy’s Ever After is an empowering, intriguing debut on the helpless princess that offers strong lessons to young children.”

One Librarian’s Book Reviews: “…I was expecting a little love story.  But, it managed to scrape by with just a hint and therefore was able to focus more on other kinds of relationships.”

Charlotte’s Library: “Although it didn’t, for me, ever become truly enchanting (the light and fun aspects of the book, although diverting, didn’t pack that much emotional punch, and the story was not one I found wildly original), it should be enjoyed lots by its target audience.”

Other books I’ve read by Dawn Lairamore: none—this is her debut novel.

Posted in Books + Media | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , ,
November 19, 2010

#74 – The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (audio)

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, narrated by Richard E. Grant

Read: because it’s been on my to-read list for forever, half the people in the world recommended it, and the miniseries inspired me to finally pick it up. (Penguin Audio, 41 hours, 973 “pages,” originally published in 1989)

Rating: 8 out of 10 (finished 11/5/10)

Synopsis: Arguably the best work of an author known for spy thrillers, this is historical fiction at its finest. The hope and despair of several people are tightly woven with the enormous task of cathedral construction in medieval England. Narrator John Lee adds vigor to Follett’s descriptions of otherwise mundane matters: the graceful arch of a gothic spire, the innovation of using a mill wheel’s power to felt wool. Follett’s poignant characters blossom with Lee’s reading. Lee reveals level-headed Prior Phillip’s rare moments of pride as the church construction flourishes, and his anguish in the face of stolen funding. Phillip’s nemesis, an ambitious nobleman, is cunning, and his lack of self-confidence is clear in Lee’s capable reading. After 41 hours of listening, readers will yearn for more.

Overall Impression: This book ate my brain, and followed it up with a cup of weak ale. Literally, Richard Grant narrated my dreams during the time I was listening to it. Because it was forever long, Follett had time to build some crazy-interesting characters, none of whom was entirely angelic or evil. Granted, a couple of the bad guys were SERIOUSLY BAD, but they still had some human-ness that showed they were more than flat stereotypes. The women were strong-willed and did well in a man’s world, which didn’t seem all that historically accurate, but I liked them as characters. Ellen in particular was saucy. I also liked that the main monk Phillip was, for the most part, a good man. Yes, there were evil men in the church, but I liked that Phillip was so likeable—I wanted to see him succeed and perhaps hit Waleran with a piece of broken cathedral, even though that was unlikely. There a ton of history was built into this book, and I learned about building cathedrals and everyday life in medieval England. Follett’s research was outstanding (reminded me of James Clavell in the mega-research department). It really made me want to take a class or something on medieval architecture, and then visit all of the beautiful cathedrals in Europe. And eat more stew.

Biggest gripe was that it felt unevenly paced. I wanted to switch back and forth between characters more—I spent too much time wondering what was happening to other characters. I also felt like it was one trial and triumph after another, which, for the most part, worked. But sometimes I was like…didn’t Jack and Alfred just come to blows the last time they ran across each other?

Grant was a great audiobook reader, although his women could have used some work (they sounded like drag queens…). Other than that, though, he did an excellent job.

Pros: Characters, plot, history…it has it all! I think that most readers would like it, if they don’t mind the length.

Cons: Some of the situations got repetitive (there are only so many problems these people can encounter). Some readers might be turned off by sexually graphic material—there were parts I wished I’d been reading on paper so I could skim them.

Other books I’ve read by Ken Follett: none

Other blogger opinions: Shelf Love, Home to Heather, Miss Bluestocking, and Annie’s Closet

Mini review of the miniseries: The BF and I watched the miniseries before we both listened to the audiobook. Having watched the movie and listened to the book so closely together (literally, we finished the miniseries and I had the audiobook going within a few days), it was very easy for me to tell the differences in plot and narrative. The differences didn’t bother me too much—it would have taken WAY more than eight episodes to cover what the book covers. In fact, some of the smaller things were condensed into one big thing—which I appreciated. I thought that the miniseries did a good job of relating the essense of the book. I enjoyed all of the acting, and when I was listening to the book, all of the characters from the miniseries worked for my brain. Highly recommended.

Posted in Books + Media | 9 Comments »

Tags: , , ,
November 17, 2010

What Should I Read Next?

All right. I have about eleventy twenty thousand un-read books. So here are ten I’ve selected at random. What should I read next? I’ll read whatever gets the most votes!

  1. A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George
  2. The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
  3. Gentleman and Players by Joanne Harris
  4. Getting Over It by Anna Maxted
  5. Lucia, Lucia by Adriana Trigiani
  6. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
  7. The Third Sister by Julia Barrett
  8. March by Geraldine Brooks
  9. I am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak
  10. One Big Damn Puzzler by John Harding

GO!

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments »

Tags:
November 16, 2010

#73 – The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Read: based on the recommendation of someone a long time ago. I can’t remember who. Maybe my brother? (WingSpread Publishers, 128 pages, originally published in 1957)

Rating: 8 out of 10 (finished 11/4/10)

Synopsis: In the muddle of day-to-day life, have you somehow forgotten that Christianity is a living, vibrant relationship with a personal God? In this classic bestseller and recipient of both the ECPA Gold and Platinum Book Awards, The Pursuit of God reminds and challenges you to renew your relationship with your loving God. In each of the 10 chapters, Tozer explains one aspect of hungering for God and ends with a prayer.

Overall Impression: It’s no wonder to me that Tozer’s book is a “classic.” It just has that classic, timeless feel, like it’s something you can come back to over and over again when you feel empty. What he wrote in 1957 applies just as much today as it did then, and will probably be applicable until Jesus returns. His main thesis is that Christians aren’t seeking God. They go to church, tithe, act “nice,” and think they are living the Christian life. Instead, we should be thirsting after God in a bigger way, aching for that divine relationship. He lays down ten different ideas that Christians can use to build a stronger relationship with God as more than just the guy in the sky making rules.

Tozer’s writing is beautiful and evocative. Here are two of my favorite passages:

Page 48 — Over against all this cloudy vagueness stands the clear scriptural doctrine that God can be known in personal experience. A loving Personality dominates the Bible, walking among the trees of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and manifesting Himself whenever and wherever His people have the receptivity necessary to receive the manifestation.

Page 84 — Believing, then is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives. At first this may be difficult, but it becomes easier as we look steadily at His wondrous person, quietly and without strain. Distractions may hinder, but once the heart is committed to Him, after each brief excursion away from Him, the attention will return again and rest upon Him like a wandering bird coming back to its window.

Pros: Timeless writing, solid theology, beautiful words.

Cons: The writing might be a little difficult to readers who are used to more modern writing.

Other books I’ve read by Tozer: none

Other blogger opinions: Vialogue, Bart’s Barometer, and Mark Kelley

Posted in Books + Media | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries  |  
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 784 other followers