I will Chase my Lion this year

CHASE THE LION is my first foray into the world of Mark Batterson's books and I am very happy to report that it is WELL worth the read. I  highlighted many amazing passages as well as had my eyes, heart, mind, and soul open to a number of scripture verses that I had never paid attention to more than a passing read--and I'm one who has read through my Bible each year for several years now. But I LOVE that the Holy Spirit continues to reveal scripture to me. It is proof positive that the Bible IS the living, breathing, Word of God. No matter how often I read His Word, no matter how many times I study a passage of scripture, He is always able to make SOMETHING new for me! I LOVE THAT!!

People ask me all the time why and how I can read the same book over and over again. For me, reading a book the first time is incredible wonderment, but reading it a second time reveals secrets I missed the first time. And the next time, even more secrets, and so on! Great books never get old or tiresome. The Bible is like that for me as is a number of books I have read over the years and now CHASE THE LION can be added to that short list. 

I will also be reading Mark Batterson's other books throughout this year. I sincerely hope others will join me. Here's a link to Batterson's web site: http://chasethelion.com/

I did not expect CHASE THE LION to be so much about following our Dreams.

Justice for the Mom

SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult is another book with which I have a love-hate relationship. I don't even know where to begin with what I want to say about this new book. I realize that this is a book that has racism/inequality--well, inequity--as its main focus/purpose/point/plot. It is what Jodi has been talking about in her interviews and statements about SMALL GREAT THINGS. It is in everything I'm reading about the book. It is the focus of just about single review I have read so far of the book.

But for me, SMALL GREAT THINGS is not a story about race. For me, this is a story about child loss--the devastation of child loss for ALL involved: the mom, the dad, the nurse(s), other health care staff, grandparents, and on and on the list goes. Losing Davis is certainly incredibly difficult for Brit and Turk, the parents. 

Brit is so incredibly devastated, she never recovers from the horror of the loss of her Precious. 

Turk deals with the loss the only way he knows how: with hate. 

Ruth is the consummate professional, attempting to over-ride her hurt at being mistreated in order to do what is best for the innocent in her care; when that falls apart, she grieves his loss as only one who fights for the life of another is able to grieve. 

The rest of the hospital staff is able to get on with their lives and put the death of Davis in whatever place health professionals do when a patient doesn't make it. They do their jobs. 

No one deals with the loss of this tiny, 3-day old baby in a so-called "typical" manner.

As someone who has experienced child loss myself (3 times), "typical" grieving is an oxymoron. There truly is NO "typical" grieving when it comes to the death of a baby--for anyone involved. What makes the grief that much more difficult to deal with is are the words--the insensitive words spoken in a vain attempt to comfort the bereaved.

Brit experienced such, but not one person cared enough to focus on her and what she may have needed. Not even her husband who supposedly so desperately wanted to help her through her time of grief. SMALL GREAT THINGS makes me angrier than I can possibly say for the sake of Brit--the Mommy who went into the hospital with a baby in her womb only to come out of the hospital with empty arms--the WORST, most WRONG thing that can ever happen to ANY parent. 

Yes, Brit is a White Supremacist who demands that black Ruth be taken off the care of her son, but like Ruth's color, that is NO reason to make Brit suffer even more than she already was. Casting blame didn't do Brit any good. It only fueled her hatred and intensified her grief.

Ruth loses her job and is dragged through the gutter all because those involved want SOMEONE to blame--to pay for--something that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

I'm here to tell you that the blame game only causes more problems and continues the hurt and devastation. I blamed my husband for our loss for a very long time. It almost ruined our marriage. It almost led me to do something similar to what Brit does. It fueled my rage and gave me something to hang on to since I didn't have my baby to hold in my arms. But in the long run, all I got out of it was a lot of physical and mental health issues--that I will probably have to deal with the rest of my life.

The grief will ALWAYS be there, but forgiveness is freedom. Blaming wraps the blamer tight in shackles and imprisons him/her worse than grief ever will.

My compassion goes out to Ruth, of course it does. I want Ruth vindicated with every fiber of my being.

But my real heart goes to Brit, the mom who is ignored and misunderstood as well as mistreated. 

SMALL GREAT THINGS by Jodi Picoult is another story that demonstrates the truth that we, as a society, have NO IDEA what to do with mothers who are not mothers with physical, live children in her arms. We treat these mothers even worse than we treat women like Ruth. Do you realize that there isn't even a name for parents (men or women) who suffer the excrutiating loss of a baby/child???

So Jodi, in spite of the fact that I am fan of yours, have been a fan, and always will be a fan, I want "justice" for Brit more than for Ruth in SMALL GREAT THINGS.

I Choose to Flourish

Margaret Feinberg, I am simply in awe of your ability to share the

Word and what the Lord continues to lay on your heart in spite of all you are going through. I love you so very much. I pray for you every single day. I honestly feel as I'm reading each of your books that I am growing closer to you with each book. FLOURISH is a wonderful devotional; I read through it quickly this first time, but the next time I read through it, I'll take my time and meditate more carefully on each devotion. I simply could not wait to read each day's devotion for a whole week in between readings!!! Each and every devotion spoke to my heart and soul and has caused me to desire to be all that God has for me. 

Yes, my t-shirt in the picture says "I CHOOSE JOY." :)

The Story of Laura Story

Laura Elvington. Who knew?! I've always known the essentials of the background of the song "Blessings" by Laura Story: she wrote it while dealing with the struggles after learning her husband had a brain tumor. But that information had come simply as a result of being an avid radio listener that almost anyone who listens to a Christian music station learns. Reading about the WHOLE story in Laura's WHEN GOD DOESN'T FIX IT has brought a whole new perspective to what has always been an amazing, powerful, and very touching song for me. Wow. I had NO idea. Martin and Laura's story is so very different from mine, but the fact that God is their Hero is the same theme of my story! It is so wonderful to see others praising God in the midst of their trials....IN SPITE OF.....So TAKE THAT, Satan!!! You don't win! My God has already fought the battle--and WON!!!!

Leaving May be Best

I pre-ordered LEAVE ME because it is by Gayle Forman! I've read everything else by her, so purchasing her newest book was a no-brainer for me. As I began reading LEAVE ME, though, I was a bit disappointed. Not in the story. I can relate to the story more than many others considering the fact that I was at death's door myself--but with a severe infection from diverticulitis, rather than a heart attack, that almost killed me and then took quite a while to recover. 

What concerned me was how often Maribeth used the f-word. It made me feel as if Gayle was throwing the word around a lot, through the voice of Maribeth, because LEAVE ME is her first adult novel and, well, she could. I was frustrated because I simply did not feel that Maribeth was the type of person (character) who would use it as often as she was.

As I read further, though, it became apparent that the use of the f-word was out of Maribeth's extreme frustration, discouragement, and simply her disappointment in her LIFE--how things had taken a complete 180 from what she'd dreamed--how she and her husband Jason spend more time apart than together--how she and Jason didn't "get" one another any more or support one another any more--how her friendship with Elizabeth had dissipated over the years--how life with twin 4-year-olds was not everything she had dreamed it would be--and on and on her frustrations went.

Such frustrations, discouragements, and disappointments I could relate to. I think every woman--and man--can relate to how LIFE takes us down a completely different path than what we expected. And then when our expectations become too overwhelming, we have no idea how to change directions--by then, we're so lost, even a roadmap--or a GPS nowadays--can help us get back on the right path.

So Maribeth does the ONLY thing possible to find her way home: she runs away. Ironically and miraculously, it actually works. And to make it even more of a "right-track" experience, along the way, Maribeth meets and makes some new, long-lasting wonderful friendships. Best of all, Maribeth loses her previous expectations and eventually finds herself again--her REAL self.

So in spite of the fact that I wondered if I would finish LEAVE ME because I simply didn't want to read the f-word one more time, as I turned the last page, my sobs of joy for Maribeth were blurring the page and I can truly say that Gayle Forman has another winner on her hands. I will definitely continue to pre-purchase any and every book Gayle writes!!!

"SOMETIMES (emphasis mine) leaving someone is the most loving thing you can do." (301)

I will share...I will BE my own Truth

I don't know what to say about Glennon's heart, LOVE WARRIOR. So much of her words resonated with me in every fiber of my being. So much of her story is so very different from mine, but yet so very many of her FEELINGS are MY feelings, too. What makes LOVE WARRIOR so incredibly amazing, as has already been discussed greatly, is the power of Glennon's TRUTH--her willingness to be vulnerable. (It's no surprise at all that she is teaming with Brene Brown to teach about being Love Warriors!) 

Truth is something we have been studying in my Sunday School class, specifically as it relates to Priscilla Shirer's ARMOR OF GOD, and how we must take EVERYTHING and compare it to the Word of God--the TRUTH. It has been quite powerful studying the belt of truth of how truth gives us Freedom. The more we acknowledge TRUTH and allow TRUTH to be our guide, the free-er we are. 

Glennon says the exact same thing, but in her own way, using her own personal experience. I heard Glennon say that she was more nervous about the release of this book than she has been anything else she's written because of the fact that she has shared so much of herself--she has exposed so much of her own TRUTH. I admire her so much for being willing to lay her heart before us, not asking us to love her as she is, but saying that regardless of whether we love her or not as she is, she loves herself--and she loves.....

As I have been sharing my story in my blog and with people around

me, I hear over and over again how these people find me "brave" in being so vulnerable in sharing my own personal truth. I don't feel that I'm being brave. To me, it's sharing my own Truth and telling others that I love myself exactly as God has created me, and I love.....

We hide behind our masks and only reveal our true selves when someone else shares her truth. Well, who is going to be the first one to open up if we all hide?

Like Glennon Doyle Melton, I am choosing to be unmasked and face the truth of my hurts, pain, sorrow, joys, love, life, friendships, faith, and on and on. I will sit in my "hot lonliness" and FEEL and become the LOVE WARRIOR I am meant to be.

Will you?

The Shining Star: Ruth

As a short story in preparation for the release of SMALL GREAT

THINGS in a few short weeks, SHINE by Jodi Picoult has certainly done a great job in whetting my appetite for her next release!!! Ruth is an amazing young girl and I am excited to see more of her and of what happens with her. She is strong, adorable, smart, and bold in a way that is unusual for a girl of her age. At this age in SHINE, she is precocious and just plain adorable. I am excited to see more of her soon!!!

Predictable, but still very much worth the read

I don't normally do this, but I'm going to write a short review BEFORE I read THE MEMORY BOOK by Lara Avery. I don't have much to say, but I do want to say that as I read the jacket and a brief synopsis of the book, it reminds me an awful lot of 50 FIRST DATES. I'm curious to see how this story carries itself out. I know the women in both stories lose their memories for different reasons, but the fact is that both women are losing their memories (or have lost) and need to be gently reminded on a daily basis of who they are and, as in the case of 50 FIRST DATES, that she is married and has a little girl--by the end of the movie. That is done via video tape while THE MEMORY BOOK is done in writing, but if I remember correctly, Drew Barrymore starts a journal--memory book--and even shares it with Adam Sandler. Hmmmm.....already, I'm noticing more similarities and I haven't even started THE MEMORY BOOK.....

I hope this book is as good as I think it'll be. I saw it online while shopping randomly and ordered it as soon as I could. I look forward to reading it!!

I finished it. I would have finished it last night, but my night-time medication finally kicked in and I HAD to put the book down and go to sleep. But I finished it as soon as I could this afternoon after school. Yes, I was sobbing and snotting all over my copy as I finally closed the book.

THE MEMORY BOOK ends exactly the way you expect it to end. Her disease is "inevitably terminal," after all. But that doesn't take away from the fact that as I came to the final few pages, my heart felt as if it was outside my body, weeping for me. This is a fairly simple story of a high school senior coming to terms with her diagnosis and her attempt to outrun it and then turn to stand it face it head on--as fearlessly as possible with her loved ones surrounding her and helping hold her up.

Yes, it is very reminiscent of 50 FIRST DATES as I thought before I started reading it, but it is also, very clearly, its own story....Sammie's own, personal story and it is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. Thank you for writing this beautiful story, Lara Avery.

I do have one "complaint": Sammie is quite free with her use of the f-word. I knew when I first picked up THE MEMORY BOOK that it was not advertised as a Christian book. That rarely deters me from reading a book, though, if I really like the plot or have heard that it is a very good book to read. It's simply that, as a Christian, I would prefer not to have to read a book with the f-word littered throughout. It did not diminish my enjoyment of the story; I just didn't want to have to "hear" Sammie use such language. 

I definitely highly recommend THE MEMORY BOOK by Lara Avery!

Save my life...? Through Writing?!

Please don't be thrown off WRITING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE: HOW TO HONOR YOUR STORY THROUGH JOURNALING by Michele Weldon by the fact that I only give it 3 stars. Michele's book is definitely worth the read; I truly am very glad that I read it. I gave it only 3 stars, though, because there were parts of the book where I felt that she could have used a lot fewer words (examples) to make her point. Interestingly enough, I have exactly the same issue! I know my own students often wish that I would just state my point, maybe 1 example--if that many--and move on, but like Michele, I tend to go around my arm to get to my elbow! Isn't it often what we see in ourselves that we criticize in others?! Regardless, WRITING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE is well worth the read. 

I am still working on some of the exercises in the book. Some of them are ones that need some real ruminating and time while others are quick and easy to get through. 

One of my favorite passages comes in the last chapter "Enjoy the Music in You": "'To love what you do and feel that it matters, how can anything be more fun?' Katherine Graham, the author and businesswoman who steered the helm of the WASHINGTON POST for decades, said it and lived by it. It is joyful to write when you believe what you are writing matters" (227).

I get to choose!

I did not have high expectations of enjoying Shauna Niequist's PRESENT OVER PERFECT, but I was definitely very interested in reading it. The back cover and reviews sounded great. Happily, the book exceeded my expectations and I am so much the better for having read it! 

My absolute favorite part is the chapter called "Agency." It's as if I've been waiting for someone I respect to tell me that I "get to decide how [I] want to live"..."[I] get to make [my] life" (103)!!! This is something I have been struggling with for years. My counselor has told me over and over that I have to take care of Polly before I can even begin to consider taking care of anyone else--or even caring about others. If I'm not whole and healthy, I am not who I need to be for those I love.

It reminds me of how we are told on a plane that if there is danger, we must put on our own oxygen mask before helping our kids because we can't help our kids if we've passed out. I don't know why it's so empowering to have someone tell me that I get to decide when deep in my soul I already know that truth, but empowering it truly is.

Thank you for sharing this journey, Shauna. Thank you.

"The world will tell you how to live, if you let it. Don't let it. Take up your space. Raise your voice. Sing your song. This is your chance to make or remake a life that thrills you" (104).

Seasons of Joy

As I began reading through JOY FOR ALL SEASONS by Carol McLeod, I quickly began to wonder if there was anything in this amazing devotional that I wouldn't underline and/or highlight?! It was as if McLeod had been living MY life, reading my mind, and feeling every single thing I was feeling!!! What that proves to me is that the Holy Spirit is in this fantastic devotional. 

I am truly honored to have been given the wonderful opportunity to read through JOY FOR ALL SEASONS prior to its release date. I do not take that honor lightly. I want you to know that I am saying it's a super-great devotional because I'm receiving anything special from Carol McLeod or her ministry, Just Joy; I'm saying that JOY FOR ALL SEASONS is a must-read because I mean it. 

Once I receive my official book copy at the beginning of September, I have every intention of taking the time to read this awesome devotional as it was meant to be read and absorbed, one week at a time. 

http://www.justjoyministries.com/
[book:Joy for All Seasons: 52 Weekly Devotions|29885481]

Loving from the Outside

WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE by my new favoritist author, Angela Pisel--and my new best friend--is better than a 5-star book. Wow. I haven't cried this hard over a work of fiction since Snape died!! This may be Angela's first published novel, but it clearly demonstrates her amazing writing ability--her awesome storytelling skills. Wow.

I had the wonderful joy of meeting Anglea at Barnes & Nobel in Hickory, NC the evening of the release of WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE, Tuesday, August 9. My counselor had told me about the release of Angela's book and suggested that I might like to meet Angela, especially since she's from Hickory and is a writer--and I am, too. (I just don't have anything published beyond my blogs.) So I ordered her book from Amazon, put the date on my calendar, and waited anxiously to meet a local author.

I was so excited about meeting Angela, I was there--with my friend--at 4:30 even though she wasn't scheduled to be there until 7:00! I even got a front row seat!!! Angela shared some facts and statistics and other interesting information about her book and then she read a few passages--both of which were really intriguing. The irony is that when I read the 2nd passage myself just a day later, even though Angela had read it the night before at her reading, I bawled like a baby--as if I'd never heard that section!

And I didn't stop crying throughout the whole book. In fact, I kinda-sorta cried the first 3/4 of the book, but from about page 250 on, I cried non-stop. By the end of the book, I was sobbing so hard, I couldn't see the words on the page through my tears. I had to stop and allow myself a good five-minute crying-fest where I went through about 10 Kleenex.

Don't let the tears keep you from reading WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE. The tears were because this is an AMAZING story. Part of the reason why we love stories such as HARRY POTTER as much as we do is because of the tears we shed over beloved characters; it's the same with Angela's book. I CARED about the characters in this book. They became REAL to me. I want, so desperately, to hold both Sophie and Grace--and Thomas and Max and Roni and others--in my arms and let them know how powerfully their story has affected me.

I can't help thinking about Roni just a little more than other fairly minor/background characters. I want to know Roni's whole story. I may have to explore some more about this amazing woman on death row--even though she's a work of fiction. Angela did say that many of her characters in this book are based on real people, so I'd love to hear more about the real woman Roni is based on, as well as more about Roni herself.

I hope and pray that WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE by Angela Pisel becomes a top ten best-selling novel and that it stays in the top ten until hundreds of thousands of millions of people read it. I also hope that Angela Pisel will allow me to be one of her groupies and to "stalk" her--but in a good way....if she can agree with me that there is a "good" way to stalk someone!!!!  ;)

Your Word is a Light to me

For the first time in my life, I didn't just read my Bible, I R.E.A.D. my Bible. I have come to the conclusion that I would like to be able to spend all day every day reading and studying my Bible. I have always known that the Bible is the LIVING Word of God, that it is a LAMP to my feet and a LIGHT to my path, but this year, in reading my Bible, I experienced the LIVING Word of God rather than just read it. And I am changed for it. God is doing a work in me and I hope and pray that I stay true to Him. 

Hebrews 4:12, New Living Translation (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

If you want to write, then write

I don't want you to get the impression that since I have given

Brenda Ueland's IF YOU WANT TO WRITE only 3 stars that I didn't like her book or feel that it's worth reading. I did like it and I do feel that it is a valuable book to read, especially those who want to write--and even for those who don't want to write. 

What keeps it from being a 4 or even 5-star book, to me, is that Ueland does exactly what she tells her reader NOT to do: she forgets her audience. She has a LOT of great specifics about writing to share--especially the fact that we should write from our hearts, what we love or are passionate about and quit worrying about doing it "right" or what the so-called critics tell us is good writing--but she could have said it all in a short essay rather than an almost 180-page text. Granted, the margins are huge, which means that the book could possibly be about 50 pages if the margins weren't so wide.

I did highlight a lot of the book and I am very glad I read it. I just wish Ueland had chosen to KISS--keep it simple silly.

Read to Beautiful

If I could give Jimmy Wayne's WALK TO BEAUTIFUL more than 5 stars, I so would! This amazing, beautiful memoir is a MUST READ. It is so inspirational, powerful, moving, and just plain BEAutiful. 

I am embarrassed to admit that I've had this book in my possession since some time in April. WALK TO BEAUTIFUL was chosen to be our Interdisciplinary Read (IR) for the 2016-2017 school year at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, NC, so I was given a free copy of the book to read to decide whether or not I would participate in the upcoming IR. I have not participated in recent years, so I was not very excited about this new book. One reason why I had not participated in the IR in recent years was because, in all honesty, I simply did not like the books that have been chosen. Last year's book was good, but I did not feel that it was a good choice for our students. 

So I let WALK TO BEAUTIFUL sit on my desk until the end of the semester, grumbling meekly whenever someone on the IR committee would remind me to read it about how I'd get to it....eventually. Once the Spring semester was over, I did bring the book home with me, but I put it on a shelf with the intention of reading it--not so much. 

I just did not have high hopes for this book being any good or being one that would be of any value to our students.

I have no idea what made me finally pick it up and start to read it except to say that I highly respect several of the folks on the IR committee and I knew that if they recommended the book, it might not be too bad. From the first sentence, I was hooked. As I began reading, I had NO idea who Jimmy Wayne was--is. I had never heard of him, and I actually like country music, believe it or not. 

I am now officially a Jimmy Wayne Groupie! I am pretty sure that he will be visiting our campus at some time over the course of this upcoming year and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to be part of the team that welcomes him to CVCC and who gets his autograph and a twofie (selfie with two people--I like it) taken with him!!! 

WALK TO BEAUTIFUL is nothing like what you'd expect from a country music star, but I promise you that it is WORTH reading. Jimmy is honest and open about his story; he does not hide behind his fame and pretend that he is something that he isn't. His vulnerability in his story makes me want to hug him so hard that he will forever feel me hugging him.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about WALK TO BEAUTIFUL by Jimmy Wayne. I will be using it in my classes this upcoming school year at CVCC; I can hardly wait to introduce this amazing book to almost 100 students!!!!

LOVE Rowling

Rowling just can do no wrong when it comes to writing under her own name. VERY GOOD LIVES is the  commencement speech she gave at the Harvard Graduation in, I think, 2008. If you've heard it, watched it, or read it, you already know how very inspiring she is. It is her humility and understanding of REAL LIFE that makes her one of the greatest writers of the 21st Century, not just the fact that she has written THE GREATEST series of the 21st century. I love that she knows and understands that failing is not failure, but an opportunity to learn--for growth--and for knowing what Rock Bottom is truly like. We as a culture get so caught up in wanting, no--NEEDING to be successful at everything we do, the first time we do it that we cower in fear of ever doing anything at all. But when you're at Rock Bottom and you have nothing left to lose because the only direction possible is up, the choice of moving forward is [finally] easier.

I'd watched Rowling's speech on youtube back when it was first available, so I was very aware of the incredibleness of her physical presence. As a reader, though, I also like being able to come back to her speech in its very black and whiteness to "hear" her voice again and again and again. Reading it makes it more real for me and helps me remember it better than just listening to it.

All I have to say is that I may not read Rowling's novels that she writes under pen names (or I may), but I am pretty positive that I will always read whatever is in print under her name J. K. Rowling. 

LOVE.

Disney Disappointment

Ridley Pearson's KINGDOM KEEPERS: DISNEY AFTER DARK

is the first in the KINGDOM KEEPERS series. As a lover of all things Disney, I was definitely intrigued with this series, and I have been anxious to read it. A sweet friend loaned me the first three books. It's taken me almost half a year to find the time to read it, but I finally got to it!

I can't say that I really enjoyed it, though. I liked it, but I didn't enjoy it. It is very much like the MAGIC TREE HOUSE BOOKS. I think that I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd anticipated simply because it's written for a much younger audience. There are a lot of great teen/tween books that cross over into adult reading very easily and really don't read as teen novels. This one very much reads as a teen novel with an obvious intention of being directed at 12 to 14-year olds. I'm very sure that kids within that age range, and a few years older or younger--give or take, will thoroughly enjoy this book (series).

As an adult in her mid-forties, though, I just found it trying too hard. If you like THE MAGIC TREE HOUSE books and/or if you like Disney, you'll more than likely really enjoy the KINGDOM KEEPERS series. Please don't take my lack of enjoyment as bad press, so to speak.

My heart....

THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M. L. Stedman is not a book for light-weight readers. It is important to know going into this book that it is deep and incredibly heart-wrenching. It deals with loss--extreme loss--and not only the feelings that come from experiencing such incredible loss, but the actions such losses lead to that never would have occurred without the deep pain and soul-wrenching sorrow experienced.

I saw that THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS is being made into a movie--or has already been made into a movie. It apparently will be released on September 2 this year. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnBMGa6z-Bg> I bought the book online; it was here two days later. I read it in 3 days. I would have finished it on the 2nd day, but we had a birthday party to go to.

I don't know how Stedman got the idea for this book, the research required, or anything beyond the fact that she was born and raised in Australia (the setting for the novel), she now lives in London, and that THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS is her first book. I normally try to find out as much as I can about the authors of the books I read, but Stedman remains a mystery that I would love to solve. I will continue to research her until I know more. 

I want to know how much loss she herself has experienced. I want to know what research she had to do to write this novel. I want to know how she got the idea for this story. I want to know her writing process--her writing journey. I want to know how hard she had to think to come up with her amazing poetic language throughout the novel--language that speaks volumes that mere words can't convey. 

This is a beautifully written book, but very difficult to read--as one who has experienced child loss similar to that of Isabel. My heart was wrenched out of my chest with the turning of each page, but I was powerless to stop reading. If you choose to read it, go in with your eyes wide open, knowing that the story is gut-wrenching.

*As kind of a side-note, I couldn't help thinking of THE MEMORY-KEEPERS DAUGHTER as I read THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS. Both dads make decisions that impact not only the futures of their families, but the futures of others. Both dads are tortured for many years by that one moment of decision. Both stories in as happy an ending as is possible with such stories--with a reminder that no matter how difficult life gets--no matter what life throws at us--life does go on and we can only choose what we're going to do with our lives each moment. One major difference between the books that makes THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS definitely the better book of the two is that in THE MEMORY-KEEPERS DAUGHTER, the author always told me what to think and explained certain parts of the story as if I was unable to read between the lines. For example, one scene I remember specifically is when the dad goes to a bridge and stands on the edge with his toes sticking out over the edge in the pouring rain. It's a powerful scene, of course, demonstrating the difficulty of the dad as he struggles with the decision he made all those years ago. What ruins the scene, though, is that the author then takes two pages to explain to the reader how the dad was on the bridge because he was considering suicide and, just in case we had trouble figuring out why, she reminds us of the dad's horrific decision all those years ago. As a reader, I love minimalism. I love being allowed to figure out what's going on inside a character from inference rather than being blatantly told by the author, "Hey, idiot reader! Just in case you didn't understand, here's what you were supposed to GET from that scene you just read!" 

I desire to be deeply rooted in Him

Several years ago, a sweet friend of mine who shall remain nameless (Amber Benge) introduced me to Jesus Culture and I have been a big fan ever since. We are the proud owners of all their albums which we listen to every chance we get, especially on Sundays. My husband even has a bit of a crush on Kim Walker-Smith that I think is adorable. I can't help but agree with him about

the anointing that is on her; it's impossible to be angry about a crush on someone so passionate for the Lord! ;)

So when I heard about Banning Liebsher's book ROOTED, it was a no-brainer for me to get a copy immediately and read it with great care. There is a website to accompany the book with a group Discussion Guide as well as a video for each chapter of Banning discussing the book with a reading group (see below for the link). 

When my husband first started preaching, one of his very first sermons was about how God puts us in His quiver as He prepares us for the ministry He has for us. He uses the quiver as an opportunity to test us and tweak us so that when the time is right, He pulls out of the quiver and shoots us to do our ministry for Him.

Banning's book ROOTED is essentially the same idea with a different metaphor. We must be prepared for ministry. We can't just jump into ministry without growing roots and being prepared according to God's great plan for us. We are tested and tweaked and prepared so that when the time is right, we are so rooted in Him that everything we do is in service to Him, to honor Him.

ROOTED: THE HIDDEN PLACES WHERE GOD DEVELOPS YOU by Banning Liebscher is a book that any and everyone with a calling to ministry should read. Don't be surprised if your Christmas present sounds familiar! ;)

http://jesusculture.com/rootedbook/

Southern fiction

Many of my co-workers and friends have mentioned Lee Smith over the years as an English Instructor in the state of North Carolina. I had never heard of her, though, and simply allowed their recommendations to go in one ear and out the other. Several years ago, we had Lee Smith at our CEI Conference (Conference of English Instructors). My colleagues were quite excited to have her there. I was oblivious. I still had never read any of her works and, honestly, had no real desire to do so--even though she gave everyone on the CEI board (of which I am a member) an autographed copy of one of her books, BLACK MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN. (No, I haven't read it yet.)

My co-workers were appalled that I had never read anything by Lee Smith, so one of them loaned me a copy of FAMILY LINEN.  I have had it for at least 3 years. I finally decided that I needed to read it so I can give it back to my co-worker. I always try to read books that are loaned to me--even if I personally have no interest in the book or author.

So then the question is, I suppose, did I like FAMILY LINEN? That honestly is not an easy question to answer. I didn't hate or dislike it. I didn't love it, either. As a Southern novel, it certainly has everything to delight those who enjoy the Southern genre. There is even a really GOOD story that made me, as the reader, want to keep reading.

I did not like the foul language or the fact that everyone was having an affair and acted as if that was the way of life for a Southerner. 

Anyway, I think I will go ahead and read BLACK MOUNTAIN BREAKDOWN and see if I like the works of Lee Smith more with that one.

My curiosity about Lady Jane continues

Yes, I read another book about Lady Jane Grey. And?!

Sue Reid's version of LADY JANE GREY is told through the perspective of Jane herself, in diary form. The reader is incredibly limited in details given as, it appears, Jane must have been. She was a young girl in a world that was changing by leaps and bounds faster than anyone had time to absorb. What wasn't changing was the power parents had over their children, so Jane had to do what her parents told her. That brings to question, then, how much Jane knew of what was going on to make her queen and how much she was kept in the dark and truly was surprised when she was told she was queen--and that she had no choice but to accept.

As I mentioned previously, I have always been extremely fascinated with Lady Jane Grey, the Nine-Days Queen. She may have been queen of England for only 9 days total, but she made a powerful impact in the history books--enough so that people like me continue to be curious about her and want to know as much as we possibly can about the very young woman who became queen of England for a grand total of 9 whole days.

More love for Oscar Wilde

I adore Oscar Wilde. Because of that, I'm not so sure it's a good idea for me to evaluate his works. As a big fan, I simply love reading everything he's written! So yes, I thoroughly enjoyed THE HAPPY PRINCE AND OTHER TALES by Oscar Wilde. I'm not sure others would enjoy these stories, but I found them simply charming. I was even pleasantly surprised by one story that is very Christian in its focus and purpose, a clear deviation for Wilde. I like the way Wilde uses these stories to demonstrate the idiocy of some people in their thinking, especially in regards to friendship. Each story is short enough to be read in just a short time and just fun to read for one such as me--who enjoys just about everything ever written by Oscar Wilde.

I LOVE this book!!!!

Yes, I stayed up until 4:00 am to finish MY LADY JANE by the Lady Janies. And it was so very worth it!!! This is my new favorite book! The Lady Janies have taken the tragic, horrific story of Lady Jane Grey and made it something hysterical to read. It is very clear that this a work of historical FICTION. There are details that are true to history, too, which makes a book like this that much more fantastic. I LOVE historical fiction and since I have always been uber fascinated with Lady Jane Grey, this book fed my love of reading like nothing else has! This book is simply delightful!

What makes this book even more super-fantastic are the wonderful

references to modern-day movies/stories!!

It is a clear tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies, LADYHAWKE--"always together, eternally apart." I hope this book sends millions of people running to watch this movie because it's fantastic!!!

There is a reference to The Red Wedding in GAME OF THRONES!!!

To my great delight, it is also a wonderful tribute to the amazing and super-fantastic THE PRINCESS BRIDE!!!! 

Lady Jane is described as a Hermoine-type character with a love of reading, loving libraries, and wild [red] hair!!!

Elizabeth (yes, THE Queen Elizabeth) is a Professor McGonagall-type character!!!

Lady Jane uses a frying pan to beat up soldiers, just like Rapunzel in TANGLED!!!! That's quite possibly my favorite part!!! "Frying pans! Who knew?!"

G reminds me so much of R in WARM BODIES! He's also portrayed as a would-be, possibly-could-have-been William Shakespeare! And his constant, "Oh, that's good. I need to write that down," is wonderfully reminiscent of the fantastic DRAGONHEART!!!

There is even a reference to JAWS!!! "We're going to need a bigger sword!"

I know I haven't even come close to mentioning all the wonderful stories the Lady Janes have referenced in the wonderful MY LADY JANE, so if you see others, I'd LOVE to compare notes. This book was worth the impulse buy, reading it all in one day, and staying up until 4:00 am!!!

A more serious Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's delightful play LADY WINDEMERE'S FAN could

easily become one of my all-time favorite Wilde plays. I think I will always prefer THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST simply because of the cucumbers, but LADY WINDEMERE'S FAN, as a serious play rather than comedic, is simply fantastic. I was disappointed in the predictability of the story, yet found that I simply enjoyed the story anyway. Typically I get bored when I am able to predict the plot and especially when I am able to figure out the "secret" well before it is revealed, but knowing such things prior to their reveal did not diminish my enjoyment of the play in the slightest. I can't wait now to see a version of this play on stage or even as a movie!!! I have no idea as of the writing of this if there is a movie, but I promise you that if there is, I will be watching it as soon as I can find a copy to watch! Maybe even one day I'll find an opportunity to act in a local performance of this play.....That could prove to be a LOT of fun!!!!

Weird Oscar Wilde

A HOUSE OF POMEGRANATES is a book of short stories by Oscar Wilde is just plain weird. The stories are interesting but odd. It is easy to see why these stories are not widely advertised as stories by Oscar Wilde. If you like Wilde, though, it's worth reading, if only to see other types of stories he wrote. 

The Campy Silly Genius that is Oscar Wilde

As a big fan of Oscar Wilde, I am game to read any and everything I can by him. The irony, though, is that I had no idea he had written a story called THE CANTERVILLE GHOST. Last weekend, my friend came over and we watched the movie version (with Patrick Stewart). The movie is silly and quite ridiculous, but yet fun. Of course I had to read the book after we watched the movie. And the story is just as silly and ridiculous, but yet fun to read. Oscar Wilde simply has a way of telling a story that makes me want to read everything he's ever written! So on to the next book by Wilde!!

Movie title is not the novel title

Jane Austen never fails to entertain! In excited anticipation of the movie LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP that is, apparently, based on LADY SUSAN, I eagerly purchased a copy on my Kindle and read the whole book in the matter of the length of one whole movie! LOL. My disappointment, though, comes in the fact that Jane Austen does have a novel called LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP this is NOT the same as LADY SUSAN in any shape, form, or fashion.

OK. In a few ways: both novels are epistolary (written in the form of letters back and forth). Both are comedic in nature, although I personally enjoy LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, the novel, more than LADY SUSAN. Both novels are about the absurdity of relationships between men and women, especially in relation to marriage, in Victorian times. 

I have been checking the local theaters in eager anticipation of finding an opportunity to go see this new movie version of LADY SUSAN, but none of our local theaters are showing it, unfortunately. I must say, though, that I am very disappointed in the fact that whoever chose the title of this particular film chose to use the title of another of Jane Austen's novels even though this movie is so very much NOT that novel. How confusing for non-readers!!! And how very frustrating for those of use who love and revere Jane Austen's works!!!

It is especially refreshing with both LADY SUSAN and LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP to see such a wonderful comedic side of Jane Austen. Her more popular novels tend more towards the serious and harsh reality of romance and, while they are wonderful novels in their own right, simply do not have the ability to hold my attention as these two novels do. I readily admit that I love a good romance, but what I enjoy even more is a romance full of ridiculously comedic elements, as is the case with both LADY SUSAN and LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.

If you have never read either of these novels, they are both fairly quick reads and well worth reading! Just know as you begin reading them that Jane Austen went for a campy-silly quality with these romances...which I love, but I know a lot of folks don't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MaSK3POHI0

Austen, Jane. Lady Susan. Kindle. Amazon. Web. 28 May 2016.
Deb, Janeite. "All I Want for Christmas Is...[anything Jane Austen, please!]." Jane Austen in   
     Vermont. Wordpress, 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 28 May 2016.
Love and Friendship Official Trailer 2016. Perf. Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevingy. Love and
     Friendship. Youtube, 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 28 May 2016.

What some women want most

Whew. I finally finished it! I very graciously received an advance copy of Lisa Scottoline's newest book, MOST WANTED, with a request to read it and share my thoughts. Unfortunately, the end of the semester was busier than anticipated and I have only just this week been able to read it. 

One of the things that distracted me quite a bit while reading

MOST WANTED is the gorgeous front cover. I spent a lot of time pretending I was touching (tickling) the feet of a real baby. 

Anyway, I struggled a bit with the plot of MOST WANTED because to my mind, it doesn't matter how a baby is conceived--a baby is a baby--a person--and very much loved. "A person is a person, no matter how small," you know! (Dr. Seuss) Please understand that this is coming from someone who has suffered the loss of a baby through stillbirth and two subsequent miscarriages as well as the loss of the possibility of any more children of her own body. 

I understand Christine's desperate desire in this story to have a child of her own. If it had come down to it, I would have done WHATEVER necessary in order to have a baby of my own. My sister and I even at one talked about her being a surrogate if it came to that. Infertility and difficulty for couples having babies is a very serious and real issue in our world today and, as it does for Christine and Marcus, it not only causes problems for the two of them simply because Marcus is infertile, but it stresses them as a couple (their marriage). I once read that many couples divorce/separate/part ways before/during/after struggling with infertility and/or after the loss of a baby. Lisa Scottoline handles these issues with tender reality. She doesn't hide it or try to make the marriage troubles more--or less--for Marcus and Christine.

I do feel that the ending is too "happily-ever-afterish," but for the most part, the reality of dealing with infertility is portrayed well in MOST WANTED. 

Unfortunately, I didn't LOVE this book, but the good news is that I didn't dislike it, either. It was worth reading, but I probably won't recommend it much. It is a GOOD book and worth reading if you decide to give MOST WANTED by Lisa Scottoline a chance.

Scottoline, Lisa. Most Wanted. New York: St. Martin's, 2016. Print.

I'm glad I gave this one a 2nd chance

In all seriousness, even though I am marking this book as Read, I'm really only halfway through. I LOVED Me Before You, but I just cannot get into AFTER YOU. It has not caught nor does it hold my interest in the slightest. It simply is not at all the way I imagined the story to continue. I would much rather have my imagining of the continuing story than read the rest of this book.

I felt the same way when SCARLET came out (the attempted sequel to GONE WITH THE WIND). Margaret Mitchell's masterpiece has a wonderful open-ended ending that I LOVE because I get to imagine what happened to Rhett and Scarlet. All the hype over SCARLET was NOT worth my time. I didn't make it through that book either.

**OK. I finally finished it. And I'm glad I did. AFTER YOU is in no way even close to the

awesomeness of ME BEFORE YOU, but by the time I read the last word, I no longer greatly disliked it. The worst part of the story, for me, is how Lily shows up at Louisa's door and that Louisa feels an instant responsibility for the girl--even though there is NO REAL REASON for her to do so. I suppose, though, that in grief, we look for any and every reason to hang on to the person we love[d] and to feel ANY connection with that person, no matter how insignificant or tenuous that connection might be.

So as I read the book, I fell more in love with Louisa. What I really love about AFTER YOU is how Moyes demonstrates the truth that just because a few years have gone by, that does not mean that the grieving can or does "get over" losing a loved one. Everyone struggles and deals with grief in his/her own time and in his/her own way. There is no one "right"--or wrong--way to grieve. What is important is to surround ourselves with friends, family, and loved ones who are still available--and to let those friends, family, and loved ones be there for us (don't push them away). 

My heart went out to Louisa as she struggled to do what she felt was best for HER, in spite of the fact that she had a number of people telling her something different. I have struggled with this very thing over the past 17 years and it is very difficult. I don't want to hurt anyone by "ignoring" his/her advice, but ultimately, I have to do what is right for me--what I know in my heart-of-hearts, in my very soul, is best for me--even if it alienates others.

I have lost close friends because I went a different direction than they advised. Yes, that breaks my heart, but at the same time, I KNOW that I did the right thing--for me.

And like Louisa, I have also made some fairly stupid decisions, but my God has everything under His control and if something is in His will, somehow or another, He usually gives me the "kick in the pants" that I need in order for me to see that He has opened--or closed--a particular door. 

So while I struggled with AFTER YOU at first, I am very glad I read it. The book is a wonderful demonstration of the living dealing with life after the death of a much loved one and it is REAL in that regards. Sometimes it does pay to plow through a book that we don't like at first.....

No. Just No.

Christen Meade, please don't hate me for what I'm about to say....

I picked up PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES by Seth Grahame-Smith only because a student recommended it to me. In fact, she was so excited for me to read it, she brought a copy for me to borrow. Since I love it when others read books that I recommend, I felt that I owed it to her to read a book she so obviously loved. 

I have to tell you that I'd heard about this book years ago when it was first released. I scoffed at such a thing and wondered how in the world anyone would even want to read it. Then I learned that they were making a movie!!! We discussed the movie among ourselves in my department at school and my co-worker and I (she more than me because she LOVES Mr. Darcy) were teased mercilessly about how we were going to be forced to watch the movie. We both vehemently protested. And we both meant it.

In spite of all that, I allowed myself to be talked into reading it....and let me tell you, I wish I had more power and control to say No. I have no idea if the story is meant to be a dark comedy or not. Whether it is or not, I found the so-called humorous scenes ridiculous rather than funny. I posted a bunch of such ridiculous lines/scenes on facebook simply because I didn't want to be the only one having to read such atrocities.

For those of you who love this book, I'm sorry, but I DON'T. This story is simply AWFUL and I was right when I had no desire whatsoever to read it. (Please don't hate or be mad at me, Christen!!!)

Works Cited

Shen, Jean. "Series 1: Healing of Wounds of the Bride and Growing Intimacy with the Lord." Invitation to His Garden. Prophetic Art. Web. 6 Sept. 2014. <http://www.jbrushwork.com/html/paintings.html>.

From Dislike to Like

First of all, it normally doesn't take me a whole month and then some to read a book like this. I honestly began Jessica Knoll's LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE absolutely hating the main character, TifAni. She is, in the first few chapters of the novel, a true first-rate biddy. I disliked her character so much, I honestly wondered if I would ever finish reading the book. She is raunchy, rude, disrespectful, and obviously marrying Luke for all the wrong reasons. 

So what brought me back to the book, ultimately, so I finished it? 
     1. I hate leaving books unfinished. I've only done that a few times in my life and it always makes me feel bad when I do.
     2. A very good friend told me that I need to keep reading because it does get better. Her words kept resounding in my head whenever I looked at the book and I knew I would finish reading it. 
     3. I knew that at the center of the story, TifAni had been gang-raped. I had read an article prior to my ever even purchasing the book where Jessica Knoll discussed the fact that the book was, in part, based on her real-life experience of having been gang-raped in high school. As much as I couldn't stand TifAni in the beginning, I wondered if she had come to the place of being such a biddy because she had never dealt with or coped with what had happened to her.

I will tell you honestly that LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE is NOT an easy book to read. The language can be offensive at times--as a Christian, I just cringe at foul language--and the descriptions of sexual acts are detailed enough to make me blush furiously even though I read the book when I was alone. So if you choose to read it, just go in with your eyes wide open.

I do not regret finishing this book at all. While TifAni never really "redeems" herself as a biddy character for me, I did come to a place of understanding TifAni--as much as is possible for someone who has never been through the same experience. What I do understand, completely, is "that moving on doesn't mean never talking about it, never crying about it" (336). 

Trauma of any kind changes a person. The world around us has difficulty dealing with our trauma, but what the world around us doesn't seem to understand is that dealing with our trauma is a thousand times more difficult for us---the ones personally affected by the trauma. Just because I smile, laugh, sing, and live a life of joy as much as I am able does not mean that I have gotten over or will ever get over my trauma of losing 3 babies as well as the trauma of almost dying. It is a daily CHOICE to move forward and live life to the best of my ability, doing the best I can with each day, each difficulty, as it comes.

So thank you, Jessica Knoll, for writing a book that brings such a truth into the light and opens the door for conversations to happen as a result.....

I am a Woman Warrior

It is not very often that it takes me this long to read a book that I actually like. I have just been having so much coloring lately, though! Anway, Lisa Bevere's GIRLS WITH SWORDS is a must-read. I love studying anything and everything to do with putting on our armor and Lisa's presentation in this book gives a perspective on the armor I had never considered. I look forward to wielding my Word Sword more powerfully as I move forward in my walk of faith!

Becoming REAL Hurts

"...once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Honestly, if you've never read THE VELVETEEN RABBIT by Margery Williams, you really should. This classic is a beautiful representation of how it's only when we have been through times that wear us down--bring scars and other things that might be considered ugly--that we become our Real selves. It is our trials and tribulations that make us who we are in life and give us the understanding of what it is to FEEL alive. 

Many of us have heard that we can't know true JOY until we have known true SADNESS. It is the same with THE VELVETEEN RABBIT: this adorable stuffed animal couldn't know true LOVE--couldn't be Real--until he had experienced life to the degree that it wears him down. 

I love this story because it is a wonderful reminder of the fact that Loving is difficult--it can hurt, but in spite of the hurt--the wounds--Love is worth it--there is NOTHING greater than Loving and Being Loved.

I also remember this sweet story because when I was in middle school, a friend of mine, Roger ? (I so wish I could remember his last name), was in the play and my parents and I went to see it. Roger seemed very pleased that I had gone to see his performance. I think it was the first play I'd ever seen. 

Where I got the picture: http://beautyisinside.com/2013/04/the-velveteen-rabbit/

I will continue to CHOOSE JOY

Reading CHOOSE JOY by Sara Frankl made me wish I had known "Gitzy" while she was still alive. She sounds like an incredibly amazing woman who was "of the race of Joseph." I just know that we would have become fast, forever friends. My heart aches as I read about all the physical struggles she dealt with in her short life, but yet not only did she hold fast to her faith, but she continually--in spite of incredible pain--CHOSE JOY. Wow.

As someone who struggles on a daily basis to find things to be joyful about because of the trials I have been through, reading Sara's story demonstrates that CHOOSING JOY is not easy--it definitely is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment choice we MUST make. Sara knew that allowing herself to wallow in self-pity would only make her pain worse than it already was--and according to her story, it was more severe than most of us can possibly imagine.

I continually struggle with depression and its ugly deception of comfort, but like Sara, I know that allowing myself to stay in that state of depression (in other words, NOT CHOOSE JOY) is worse than living with the pain and CHOOSING JOY regardless.

It is wonderful that even a few years after her death, Sara's life and words continue to make a difference. I hope and pray that others meet her, as well, and come to know that true living, finishing the race, comes only from daily CHOOSING JOY in spite of....