January 24, 2010
Buried Alive: The True Story of Kidnapping, Captivity, and a Dramatic Rescue by Roy Hallums is the authors true story of his captivity, torture, and ultimate rescie from a concrete pit in Iraq. He was being held on a $12 million dollar ransom, despite the United States’ position of not paying ransoms. Finally, after 311 days he was rescued by the United States military.
As a former Navy Commander, Roy Hallums never gave up on being rescued. His hope turned into reality in September of 2005.
Although the book does not have a strong focus on faith, I am grateful that he wrote this book so readers can understand and pray for those in captivity. I found the book to be a very engaging fast read. I could barely put it down.
Readers looking for an introspective look at captivity from a captives point of view won’t find it here, but the author does an amazing job of keeping the story moving along and providing detailed descriptions of his experiences. Although I don’t like the glamourization of war, I actually feel this would make an excellent movie.
Included are several photos thoughout the book that provide invaluable insights into his living conditions.
I received a review copy of this book from booksneeze.com.
January 15, 2010
Charles Darwins’ The Origin of Species has been mentioned by me in a previous review. I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember. I’ve never been faced with having any doubt in God or the Gospel of Jesus. Yet I’ve never felt that God and Darwin were in conflict with each other. As I grew up I started to discover that there are muliple camps of beliefs and somewhere along the line I realized that there was a God vs. Darwin line that in the minds of many can’t be crossed.
I applaud Charles Foster for his dedication and research regarding this issue. The two most influential books I’ve ever read are The Origin of Species and the Bible. This book bridges the gap, allows readers to open their minds to the wonders of the creation and purpose of our amazing world. Although the author takes a lot of liberties, I realize they must be taken to explore this subject. For example, he asserts that if Adam and Eve had not eaten the fruit of the tree of life, that Adam and Eve would have died just like any other human. He also goes on to give a very plausible, sensible reason for the increase in the pain of childbirth.
This book is full of fascinating logic, and might be especially helpful for those questioning their faith, or agnostics searching for a plausible explanation of our world.
That’s why I like this book. I certainly don’t take it as the gospel, but it’s thought provoking and might just help open the communication corridors between Darwinists and Christians.
December 14, 2009
(click on the book cover to see inside!)
Gifts of the Heart, a new holiday hardcover book written by Karen Boes Oman and illustrated by Marilyn Brown, was a surprising, fun, and whimsical read.
It’s Christmas Eve and as Grandma and Grandpa set out to visit their grandkids to delivery holiday gifts, their car takes a spin and the gifts fly out landing just where they were needed. Just as those who receive the gifts are blessed, the blessings come back to Grandma, Grandpa, and their grandchildren in amazing ways.
I can’t praise this book enough. It’s not only gorgeous to look at the pictures, but the message is both fun and meaningful. I have absolutely found my new favorite holiday book.
Children from toddler all the way through about third grade are the target audience, but even adults can appreciate this book.
The author is generously donating one thousand copies of this book to children in need
So you can see just how special this book is, a full preview is available at timetobreathe.com.
The book can also be ordered at the authors web site.
December 7, 2009
The White Horse King was one of the most fascinating books I’ve read in a long time. I love history, but it has to be written in an engaging and interesting manner to hold my interest. This book did that for me.
Having read about this time period from the Viking perspective and from the French perspective within the last couple of years, I found it fascinating to read about this time period from the Anglo-Saxon perspective. Interestingly, I had visited White Horse Hill as a child and never understood the significance (although under dispute) and was only told that the horse was made a long time ago. I still remember vividly seeing this horse and walking on this hill with my family.
The details the author was able to gather and organize about the life of King Alfred were amazing. So many things about this king impressed me. Not only was he a God-fearing man, but he was able to forgive his most treacherous enemies. His thinking for the time period was so progressive as well. He was not only the youngest son of a king and unlikely to ever take the throne, but when he did take the throne he overcame a ferocious enemy, he led battles, he organized a standing army, and he planned cities and their defenses.
The historical background provided in this book was also interesting, from the difference between a village, a town, and a city, to the fact that Viking helmets did not actually have horns. I also found it interesting to learn about the Christian traditions of this period. Those tidbits of information kept me interested
I’ve already ordered another book about King Alfred to learn even more, and plan to give a copy of this book to a friend also interested in this period in history.
The book is a short and easy read, although I did find the chapters to be longer than necessary. I like more frequent stops.
November 14, 2009
This is the first book I’ve read by Dr. David Jeremiah.
I felt that Dr. Jeremiah was almost cheating the readers of this book by trying to simplify what we need to do to live with confidence in today’s world until Christ returns. The subject matter and writing itself kept my interest but I was turned off by having everything I need to do start with the letter “C”. Sometimes authors, especially self-help authors try to boil things down to simplistic terms when the world doesn’t work that way.
Here’s the chapter titles:
Stay Calm
Stay Compassionate
Stay Constructive
Stay Challenged
Stay Connected
Stay Centered
Stay Confident
Stay Consistent
Stay Committed
Stay Convinced
A part of me just felt like maybe if the author wasn’t confined to the letter C that maybe the book could be more relevant and interesting to readers who are otherwise turned off by overly neat and tidy writing style. Where would the subject matter and stories presented in this book have gone if they didn’t have to meet a letter C criteria?
Although I had some issues with the neat format and use of alliteration in this book, all of the material presented in this book was interesting to me because it dealt with our modern issues of being a Christian while the world is changing more rapidly than ever. Those interested in trying to better understand how to deal with our modern problems should be able to take some sound advice from this book. I look forward to reading more by this author. But please, Dr. Jeremiah, leave the alliteration to children’s poems.
September 14, 2009
Beautiful Mess is the story of Diamond Rio, their history, their problems, and the individuals that make up the band. Although I enjoy their music, I’m not a big fan, but I do have a son who plays guitar and is seeking to be successful on his own in the music business.
This book helped tremendously to put things into perspective and learn that the music business is not just glossy and perfect. I’ve read a couple of other music-oriented books in the past year, and was so frustrated with the amount of sex and drugs discussion that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing those books with my son, but this one presents a different side of a band that has been together a long and has grown both individually and as a group.
Diamond Rio fans and young people wanting to enter the music business should have plenty to take away from this book. It presents the members of Diamond Rio as real people who support each other no matter what. That is the real secret of their success.
August 19, 2009
Larry Crabb has written a thought provoking book that is sure to spark conversations around the country. Count me among those who have long felt a discord with today’s churches. I’ve actually cried in church, not because I was especially touched by God, but because all the hypocrisy and fake holiness made me truly sad.
I stopped attending Sunday morning services three years ago and have since just joined a less formal and more dedicated group on Wednesday night. Early on in the book Mr. Crabb draws our attention to several places in the Bible where people are rebuked for their false form of worship, citing scripture. That’s a powerful wake up call to examine if our church might be rebuked in the same way.
I’m glad Larry Crabb wrote this book. It has certainly stirred up conversations and made more than a few people reconsider church attendance. Over the years I’ve visited many churches and agree with Larry Crabb that something is missing from the modern church. Although the book does not solve my problems nor the churches current predicament, I think it’s done it’s job of examining the state of affairs in American churches creating a starting point to opening a dialogue on this issue.
Those who feel something is missing from our church landscape would probably enjoy reading this book. On the other hand, if you are really happy with your church and where it’s going, this book would not be worth your time.
July 24, 2009
I compared Mayo Clinic Guide to Living With a Spinal Cord Injury to The Spinal Cord Injury Handbook (isbn 978-1891525018) and found this book to be very comparable in information but updated for 2009. There are not a lot of books on this subject, but both do a great job of covering the basics and beyond for what a patient needs to do to adjust to a new lifestyle while dealing with a spinal cord injury.
I found the book to be open, honest, and well-written. Prevention of problems, identifying problems, and solving problems were key throughout the book. Beyond the medical side of spinal cord injuries, day to day life and care was also addressed. The book went into great detail about how to hire a personal care assistant, covering many issues I would not have thought of. Management of your personal care assistant, how to resolve conflicts, and setting up schedules was included as well.
Health, sex, stress management, substance abuse/addiction, employment, sports, and travel were also covered with real world solutions. This book is a must read for people living with a spinal cord injury or people who are close to someone with a spinal cord injury.
July 24, 2009
I compared Mayo Clinic Guide to Living With a Spinal Cord Injury to The Spinal Cord Injury Handbook (isbn 978-1891525018) and found this book to be very comparable in information but updated for 2009. There are not a lot of books on this subject, but both do a great job of covering the basics and beyond for what a patient needs to do to adjust to a new lifestyle while dealing with a spinal cord injury.
I found the book to be open, honest, and well-written. Prevention of problems, identifying problems, and solving problems were key throughout the book. Beyond the medical side of spinal cord injuries, day to day life and care was also addressed. The book went into great detail about how to hire a personal care assistant, covering many issues I would not have thought of. Management of your personal care assistant, how to resolve conflicts, and setting up schedules was included as well.
Health, sex, stress management, substance abuse/addiction, employment, sports, and travel were also covered with real world solutions. This book is a must read for people living with a spinal cord injury or people who are close to someone with a spinal cord injury.
July 22, 2009
Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant explores the lives of a convent of nuns in sixteenth century Italy. Behind the gates and walls that sequester these nuns from the outside world, these Benedictine nuns struggle with issues of depression, anorexia, control issues, and growing old. Most of the nuns there are put there in lieu of marriage because dowries have risen to the point that most noble families can only marry off one of their daughters. The other daughters are put into convents with smaller, yet still significant dowries as a bride of Christ.
Sarah Dunant did a great job of creating likely characters that dealt with real world problems. I got the impression that very few of the nuns entered the convent of their own will, and had to struggle with their initial adjustment.
The main characters are Abbess Chiara, who heads the convent and has lived there since she was six years old. She comes from a powerful family and thus was born for convent life and the influence that her family could have within the community of Ferrara because she is the Abbess. Suora Umiliana, the novice mistress, in charge of the newer convent members. She thrives on prayer, fasting, faith, and even self-destruction. Suara Zuana runs the dispensary and cares for the ill while tending her herb garden and creating formulas for her apothecary. Finally, the newest member of the convent Sarafina sets the convent into turmoil with her beautiful voice, agonizing cries, her plot to escape, and her deception.
The first third of the book felt a little forced, the next third of the book was very good but left me feeling claustrophobic because as of yet, the story was still retained within the walls of the Santa Caterina convent. The last one hundred pages of the book made the experience worthwhile, although I had to read all the way to the end to feel any sense of satisfaction.
Sarah Dunant keeps readers guessing up to the very end as to how things will turn out. Those interested in this historical period, convent life, or who just like a good historical fiction read will enjoy this novel.
