LOVE. LOVE. LOVE this book. I knew before I even bought WONDER by R. J. Palacio that I would cry. I purchased the book immediately after watching the trailer for the movie that is coming out later this year starring Owen Wilson (as the dad) and Julia Roberts (as the mom). So I was prepared for the waterworks. What was a surprise was the fact that I cried as much as I did--that there were so many things in the book that moved me to immediate tears. There were several times when I had to put the book down and wipe my tears away so I could continue reading unhindered.
Palacio wrote about Auggie in such a way that I never once pitied him. I hurt that he had to experience all the hurt--physical and emotional--that he did and he was only 10 years old. Auggie demonstrates that our suffering makes us stronger and that even when we CAN'T, we CAN. I love Auggie. And his mom. And his dad. And Via. And Justin. And Miranda. And Summer. And Jack. And all the teachers. And Amos and the other boys.
And I completely agree with Auggie's precept: "Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world.--Auggie" (333).
Susan Gregg Gilmore's THE FUNERAL DRESS caught my attention as I walked by a poster at the Lenoir Public Library, Lenoir, NC. Caldwell Community College is reading it on their campus this year and the author will be on their campus soon. Of course, since Caldwell isn't too far away and I am always excited about meeting new authors, so I ordered the book and sat down prepared for an amazing read.
I'm sorry to say that I am disappointed. The book isn't terrible, but I had a very difficult time with it. It took me much longer to read a book like this; I plodded slowly through it. The tone of the overall story is too morbid. Granted, it is obviously about death (just look at the title), but even the birth of a baby can't dispel the gloom. If you like that kind of story, you might enjoy THE FUNERAL DRESS. I was just hoping for a little joy in the story--especially when it came to the baby, Kally Faye.
Wow. I love it when I "discover" something in the Bible that--even though I've read it 100 times, is "new" to me. What an awesome message Mark Batterson shares about Benaiah CHASING a lion into a pit on a snowy day! It is well worth the read and truly inspirational. As a Believer, it is my job to put my faith and trust in my Lord and Savior and then to watch Him make the unbelievable happen. While I know that--have known it for a very long time, it certainly never hurts to be reminded.
I was also interested to note that Mark attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri around the same time as my husband! I think Mark was there a year or two earlier, but they still may have briefly crossed paths!!!
It also fascinated me to read that Mark went through an experience very similar to mine where he almost died and had a foot of colon removed! I had 8 inches removed!!! And I almost died, too!
If you haven't read anything by Mark Batterson yet, I would say that beginning with IN A PIT WITH A LION ON A SNOWY DAY is a great place to start!
Bryan Stevenson's book JUST MERCY is absolutely a book well
worth reading. Bryan reveals behind-the-scenes insights into the justice system and the truth that it does not always work. I know that is a truth we cannot deny, but it is still a bit of a shock to the system to read about how bad it really is.
What concerns me about JUST MERCY is the fact that there are so many people who already distrust the justice system, especially in regards to policemen and women. While I know that injustice is a reality, it takes a lot away from when it does work as well as from amazing police work that is done every single day.
Of course, I am a person who likes to focus on the positive, so reading JUST MERCY was difficult for me because it has many stories of injustice that are heart-wrenching. I WANT to read happily-ever-after stories and believe that when push comes to shove, all stories end with the "hero[es]" riding off into the sunset. Reading about the reality is difficult for someone like me, but necessary.
Please don't let the fact that I only gave JUST MERCY 3 stars keep you from reading this book or make you think that I did not like it. It most certainly is well worth reading. I just want to try to hang on to my belief in the innate goodness of humanity for as long as possible.
**My second reading: JUST MERCY is better the second time through. As much as I wish we had chosen WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE by Angela Pisel for our Interdisciplinary Read at CVCC, I am glad that we have chosen JUST MERCY for the 2017-2018 school year. This book will be a wonderful asset to our program and to our school as a whole. The good news is that I'll be able to use WITH LOVE FROM THE INSIDE as a discussion point because it is also about injustice--someone being wrongly accused and condemned to die. :)
I also plan on using BILLY BUDD by Herman Melville in my American Lit for comparison points. Melville is really for modern American Lit, but at least it's American Lit!
And I also hope to set up a discussion--round table--where we watch movies like LAW ABIDING CITIZEN and maybe other stories of social injustice and discuss them with a panel of community leaders and maybe even a few folks who have been involved in the prison system. I haven't mentioned this yet to the Interdisciplinary Read Committee [chairperson], but we had thrown around such ideas previously.
Personally, I want to do more research on Marsha Colbey. As a woman who has suffered a stillbirth and 2 miscarriages, the THOUGHT of being arrested and then condemned to die because someone thought I had.....I can't even type the words. Wow. It really makes me appreciate the support team I have always had, including doctors, family, friends, and just my community as a whole. I want to talk to Marsha personally and to hug her tight and tell her that she is a hero of mine. It was difficult enough grieving under "normal" circumstances; I can't even begin to imagine grieving under circumstances where people believed that I had......ON PURPOSE.
May Mercy be just and fair.
Bryan Stevenson has renewed in me a strong desire to be a stonecatcher--to help others grieving the loss of a child (children) in whatever way possible. That is MY purpose. It is what I am to do. I will let them lean on me--even if only for a moment.
Another amazing book I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Wow.
THE ESTHER ANOINTING by Michelle McClain-Walters is a call to arms--a reminder that the story of Esther is for all of us--"who knows whether you have come to [this place] for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14). Wow.
I am not familiar with the Apostolic faith--denomination?, but I can say with full assurance that Michelle McClain-Walters is a woman walking in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I want to share this book with every single person around me. I would love to be able to purchase copies for ALL my friends, family, and loved ones, so don't be surprised if you receive a copy from me!!
I will certainly be reading THE ESTHER ANOINTING again--soon--and again, and again, and again--until I have it practically memorized. Thank you, Michelle McClain-Walters, for your obedience in writing this empowering call-to-arms.
I honestly wish I could say that Carrie Fisher's THE PRINCESS DIARIST was super incredibly awesome and made me love her more than ever, but the truth is that it was quite disappointing. Considering the title, I hoped for and expected all these wonderful behind-the-scenes stories about the making of our beloved STAR WARS. Instead, Carrie waxed philosophical--especially in regards to her affair with Harrison Ford she refers to as "Carrison"--and mentions Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and George Lucas just often enough to make this memoir related to the time of her life when STAR WARS was filmed.
The book as a whole is good and I'm glad I read it. I, like millions of others, have always loved Princess Leia. Carrie Fisher herself is real and down-to-earth and as lovable as she is misguided. She is brutally honest without holding anything back, but yet doesn't delve deep enough into the world of STAR WARS to satisfy my craving for all things STAR WARS.
I am incredibly saddened by her death as well as by the death of her mother just one day later. In spite of Carrie Fisher's lack of self-esteem, she made a huge impact on millions of people both as Princess Leia and as herself. As someone who has experienced severe depression and anxiety, Carrie helped make it "okay" to talk about such things as well as to admit to them. I mean, if Princess Leia herself was bipolar and managed to save a whole galaxy, then I can strap on my big-girl panties and function day-to-day, right? Of course, right.
So while THE PRINCESS DIARIST is not going on my list of "greatest books," I am very glad I read it and I will forever miss Carrie Fisher.
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.
