Let me start this review with a caveat: I was asked to review this book because I have known Douglas Mann for almost 6 years. In fact, he was my boss at my first "grown-up" job right out of college. During the time we worked together, I was constantly fascinated by both Douglas' mind and his heart. At times, he was an enigma, but he had already lived a fascinating life, and I knew a book about his adventures wouldn't be far off. To say that I knew I would "like" the book was a foregone conclusion. What I didn't expect was how much I would truly appreciate it.
Douglas has taken a myriad of topics and combined them into a cohesive book. It's part memoir, part art appreciation, part creativity, part evangelism, and part call to action. What emerges is something truly special. One of the central ideas of the book is the idea of "creative inciters." Creative inciters, well, look at the world differently. And it's a wonderful thing! They ask "why not," instead of "why." They stir creativity, and encourage the world to break free from the monotony.
He encourages creativity in/as worship, especially. Do you feel closest to God when painting? Create paintings as worship, that can bring others closer to God through art. This really touched me. I feel that the church can be complacent in worship, and see it as a drudgery, when really it should be the most important part of our lives. God has given us unique talents, so why not use them as worship?
I could go on and on about The Art of Helping Others, but I will sum it up as best I can: if you're at all creative, read this book. It will leave you encouraged and ablaze with passion and meaning. You can't ask for more from a book than that.
Let me just start by saying I really, really wanted to love this movie. I'm a huge Les Mis fan (I think the 25th Anniversary Concert with Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean should be required viewing for everyone), and when I heard they were making a movie, I was officially stoked. Less so when the less-than-favorable reviews came out. So when I finally saw it (a whole two days after it came out!), it was with some fear and trepidation.
I shouldn't have been worried. From the first few opening bars, I was enthralled. For those of you who don't know, I'll try to give a quick recap: Jean Valjean was imprisoned by 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Upon his release, Inspector Javert warns him he will be watched for the rest of his life, and if he steps out of line, he'll be back quicker than you can sing a song about it (I paraphrase). Valjean is taken in by a kindly priest, but Valjean is hardened by prison and time and chooses to steal the priest's silver. When he is caught red-handed by the authorities, the priest covers for him, later telling him "I have saved your soul for God." This makes a huge impression on Valjean, and he leaves behind his name and identity to become a good man. Cut to years later, when he is the mayor of a small town in France. He has made good on his promise to become a better man, but turns a blind eye when a young factory worker named Fantine is fired for resisting the advances of her supervisor. She has a child to support, and must turn to all sorts of awful ways to support herself. When she sees Valjean again, she blames him for her plight, and he offers to care for her daughter. Years later, there's a revolution boiling in France that threatens all of their lives. From then there's all sorts of twists and turns that I won't get into for fear of spoilers.
OK, now the actual review: this movie was nearly everything I wanted it to be. I say "nearly" because there were a few things I was ever-so-slightly disappointed in. However, Hugh Jackman's stellar performance as Valjean is not one of them. He's a powerhouse, knowing exactly how to emote when singing (did I mention the whole movie is singing? I should've. Seriously, 98% is singing.), but also showcasing the voice he's been blessed with. Anne Hathaway blew me away, as well. I'm not a big Anne Hathaway fan, and I fully expected to be disappointed. But no! Her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" is one of the most powerful things I've ever seen on screen. You could've heard a pin drop in the theatre - there wasn't even a sniffle.
Much has been made of the fact that all the actors are singing live, and not lip-syncing to a pre-recorded soundtrack. And for the most part, it works very well. I know a lot of people have criticized Russell Crowe's performance as Javert, but I thought he did a good job. The rest of the actors sort of talk-sing through their songs, and he full out sings. While it's jarring at first, I choose to believe it's a character choice. His character is very methodical and by-the-book, and to me it made sense that he would sing that way, as well.
The only disappointment I have is in Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers. In the show, they are much-needed comic relief, but that wasn't translated well here. Particularly in their introductory song, "Master of the House," it felt unnecessarily seedy and wasn't nearly as much fun as in the stage show.
Other standout performances are Samantha Barks as Eponine, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras. Amanda Seyfried is fine as Cosette, and sings very well, but didn't stick in my mind as much as she could have.
So there you have it! All in all, I give it an A. And I dare anyone to walk out of the theatre not singing/whistling/humming the songs.
I'm not going to lie: I really needed this book right now. Lately there's been so much cause for worry and stress in my life, and this book seemed to speak directly to this need. If you are in the same season of life, then I can't recommend this book highly enough.
If I had to sum up this book in one word, it would be simply "hope." Hope to get out from underneath the crushing worry and anxiety of our everyday lives and focus on the sheer joy of living in the love of Jesus.
This is the best Lucado book I've read to date. It is worth noting that this is a reprint of "Every Day Deserves a Chance." The book itself is fairly short, but includes a 30 day "Day Changer" application section at the end. The chapters are full of sage wisdom, Biblical truth, and enough humor to be to thoroughly engaged in the text. It is the type of book you'll come back to again and again, for good reason.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Heart of Gold, by Robin Lee Hatcher, tells the love story of Shannon Adair and Matthew Dubois. Shannon is the devoted daughter of a Southern preacher, and the book opens with them moving away from their native Virginia to the town of Grand Coeur, in the Idaho territory. To say that the accommodations aren't what Shannon is used to would be an understatement - they have moved from a semi-luxurious life to a cabin that isn't much more than a shack. Although Shannon has trouble adjusting, her father seems to think nothing of it, and sets about his work.
The stagecoach driver who drove them to Idaho, a man by the name of Matthew Dubois, has also made the decision to settle in Grand Coeur. His sister, who he hasn't seen in years, and her son, are also en route to accompany him in his new home. When they arrive, he finds out that his sister is dying of cancer. Eventually, this means he'll have to take care of his nephew, since his brother-in-law has been killed in the war. Matthew hasn't settled in a place in almost a decade, and this new life seems to press upon him. Shannon offers to stay with his sister as a home nurse, and their story develops from there.
I really liked Heart of Gold. I thought it was really interesting to set the book during the Civil War, and juxtapose Shannon, whose friends and former fiance have fought and died for the South, and Matthew's sister, whose own husband was a Yankee soldier. I also found it to be a well-researched book, heavy on the period details, but not too heavy. The book seemed to ring fairly true, and I appreciated that. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys American history, as well as Christian fiction.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
If you know me at all, you know how much I love Titanic. As an 11-year-old girl when it first came out, I was the perfect age for the movie: I fell in love with Leo, saw the movie too many times in the theatres, and bought it on VHS the day it came out. Almost 15 years later, not much has changed. I'm not in love with Leo anymore, but I still love the movie and watch it a few times per year. So, suffice it to say: I know this movie.
So, when I had the chance to see a special advance screening, I jumped at the chance. I'm not really into 3D (I usually find the movies too gimmicky and the 3D distracting), but I figured it was a fun way to see my favorite movie in theatres again. Going in, I told my sister, "As long as we don't have to sit in the front row, I'm fine." As we settled into the front row (the last seats available), the lights dimmed and I couldn't even begin to contain my excitement.
The next three hours were absolutely surprising. Like I said, I know this movie by heart. But I found myself holding my breath on more than one occasion, telling myself I knew what would happen, but willing it to happen differently. The 3D is nothing short of truly stunning. After the first 10 minutes or so, I got used to it, and allowed it to pull me deeper into the movie. As a result, I noticed things in this movie I've simply glossed over before. The ship, and the passengers on the ship, became more real to me. Of course, the moments you expect to be fantastic in 3D, such as the "King of the World" scene, the kiss on the bow, etc., are all wonderful, but they actually take a backseat to some unexpectedly great 3D.
For instance, the scene where Rose is about to jump off the stern of the ship. After she climbs over the railing, there's a shot from directly above her, showing the icy water far below as she leans forward. In the 2D version, this is a fine shot, but nothing too striking. In 3D? It was all I could do to not grab the back of my seat as the shot showed the sheer magnitude of what she was about to do, and how ridiculously far from the water the ship actually was.
Most of all, the 3D did exactly what it was designed to do: pull the viewer into the movies. Especially in the second half of the movie, where the ship sinks (let's hope that's not a spoiler), I felt the plight of the doomed passengers more than I ever had. All of a sudden, they were real, not just extras or actors playing a part. Granted, some of this may be due to the fact that I was sitting in the front row, and literally couldn't see anything but the screen. But I believe that what Cameron and his team have done, especially with the smaller, nuanced 3D effects, have turned this blockbuster into a truly touching, emotional movie.
My advice: Go see it, and sit in the front few rows to be as involved as possible.
So, these New Year's Resolutions of mine to read more and blog more are picking up steam! 'Bout time - it's already the end of February, for goodness' sake. Aaaanyway, I've been reading like a fiend (and going to movies!) and have some posts coming up in the near future. They are:
a review of Titanic in 3D (I saw a special advance screening on Valentine's and can't wait to share my thoughts).
a review of Frank Peretti's newest book, Illusion. PLUS, hold onto your seat, this will be my first official GIVEAWAY! More details to come, but I'll be giving away a free copy to someone.
a review of The Voice New Testament, the latest Bible translation from Thomas Nelson. It looks different from everything else, and will be a review you don't want to miss.
a (possible) live-blog of the Oscars on Sunday, February 26. I say "possible" because it's entirely likely that I'll get wrapped up in them and forget to blog. But I'll do my best to not let that happen.
a review of Stephen King's latest book, 11/22/63. I'm currently fighting my way through this 800+ page behemoth (my first Stephen King book!) and will have my thoughts up in the next few weeks - gotta get it done before the library needs to take it away from me!
So, there you have it. Be on the lookout for everything, especially the blog giveaway - I'm super stoked about that one. Now, must get back to reading...
When I first started reading The Accidental Bride, by Denise Hunter, the word that kept coming to my mind was "dramatic." In the first few chapters, the main character, Shay, struck me as over-dramatic and I wasn't sure that I would keep reading. But I'm so glad that I did. Here's the description from the publisher:
Shay Brandenberger is raising her daughter in Moose Creek, Montana on her childhood ranch, nestled against the Yellowstone River. Despite her hard work, she can’t seem to keep her head above water—and now the bank is threatening to foreclose. She prays for a miracle, but the answer she receives is anything but.
Having agreed to play the bride in the Founders Day wedding reenactment, Shay is mortified to be greeted at the end of the aisle by none other than Travis McCoy, her high school sweetheart—the man who left her high and dry for fame and fortune on the Texas rodeo circuit.
Then the unthinkable happens. Thanks to a well-meaning busy body and an absent minded preacher, the wedding reenactment results in a legal marriage. But before Shay can say annulment, Travis comes up with a crazy proposal. If she refuses his offer, she’ll lose her home. But if she accepts, she may lose her heart.
At first, I just couldn't get into the story - it all seemed so preposterous. However, as the story kept going, I found myself caring for Shay and Travis more and more. I especially appreciated the relationships between Shay and her daughter, and Travis and the daughter, because they rang true to me. In all, this ended up being a great book that held my attention. For me, the test of a good book is whether or not I think about the characters when I'm not reading the book, and I thought about this book quite a bit. I recommend this book to any fans of Christian fiction.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I'm the first to admit that I'm not the target demographic for this book. I'm in my mid-twenties, whereas the book was written for those who are much older than me, and preparing to go to their heavenly home. However, I had never read a book by Billy Graham, and I thought it looked interesting.
While I'm not the target demographic, I still appreciate what Mr. Graham has to say. A lot of the subjects that he covers, such as living a life that matters, staying strong despite your circumstances, and most importantly, the hope of Heaven, are subjects that span all generations.
This book has also helped me to appreciate what is going on in the lives of the elderly people in my life.I’m ashamed to say that many people of my generation don’t stop to put themselves in another’s shoes, so to speak, and this book has helped me understand more of what happens as you age.
I did glean a few morsels from this book, and I believe that the demographic it is intended for will gain true peace, comfort, and perspective from it.
I'm a big fan of Colleen Coble. She's written some great books, that all have the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and Christian values. Lonestar Angel is no exception. In fact, I found this book so thrilling that I have barely put it down since receiving it in the mail.
Coble jumps right into the story with Eden and Kent having a romantic dinner. Eden knows Kent has every intention to propose, and she has every intention to accept. But right in the middle of their dinner, her ex-husband, Clay, interrupts them. He says that their daughter Brianna, who was kidnapped a six weeks old and presumed dead ever since, is in fact alive and Eden has to come with him immediately so that they can go get her. She's on a ranch with four other girls, and they're all foster children who have been taken from bad situations. It's up to Clay and Eden to figure out who their daughter is, and quick, because the kidnapper has come back and wants revenge on the couple.
Like I said, I couldn't put this book down. Coble weaves a fantastically intricate story, and leaves her readers constantly guessing at what's going on. Clay and Eden are both wonderfully written characters, and seem to leap off the page at times. Additionally, the five little girls are at times both heartbreaking and hilarious. I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially for fellow fans of Colleen Coble.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In short, "There You'll Find Me," by Jenny B. Jones, is a fantastic book. I was immediately caught up in the story from the first sentence, and couldn't/wouldn't put it down until I was finished. It's the story of Finley, who goes to Ireland not only for a year of a foreign exchange program, but also to escape her past. She brings along her late brother's journal, and is determined to follow along in his footsteps and feel closer to him in the process. On the plane ride over, she meets Beckett Rush, a handsome twenty-something actor who stars in vampire films. She immediately hates him, and he's taken aback and amused by this woman who doesn't automatically throw herself at him. Of course, a friendship blooms, and then romance.
This book has a little bit of everything - romance, travel, humor, sarcasm, a little bit of reality, and a great Christian perspective. I really appreciated that the author didn't try to make the characters perfect - a main character deals with loneliness, bitterness, bullying, and even battles an eating disorder. It felt real enough to truly invest myself in the characters, which I didn't expect. Additionally, the romance that buds between the two main characters has its share of problems, and it feels as though you are actually experiencing every bump in the road with them. I loved Beckett Rush especially - his charm, wit, sarcasm, and level-headedness made him a character to cheer for.
While I recognize that I'm a little older that Jenny B. Jones' typical audience (I'm in my mid-twenties, and I believe she usually writes for teens), I nevertheless enjoyed this book thoroughly. I would recommend it to any teenage girl to read, partly because it has a very honest look at some harder issues that teens face. I'd also recommend it for anyone who wants a breezy, fun read - you won't be disappointed!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I thought Surprised By Oxford would be the perfect book for me: spiritual journey, a little bit of romance, and it takes place in Oxford, a huge plus for an Anglophile like me. The book centers around Carolyn Weber's search for Truth, and her eventually finding faith in God while she pursues a Master's Degree at Oxford.
While well-told and often interesting, I hate to admit that Weber's book was a little too scholarly for me. Although I consider myself intellectually not-too-shabby, I found myself reading and re-reading pages, to try and figure out what she had been talking about. Add this to the fact that the book is north of 400 pages, and it became pretty laborious to read after a while.
Weber does a good job of describing her wrestling with questions and with God, but I found it odd for her to say that she had been so closed off to the very idea of God, and then was almost immediately open to exploring theology upon her arrival to Oxford. While I'm sure her book is an absolutely accurate portrayal of what happened, I found it hard to believe that people who all disagreed so vehemently on important issues could get along so well.
In all, I think this was a pretty good book. It's definitely suited for more intellectual types, and if you're not wanting to finish a book in less than a week, it's great.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The word that kept ringing in my mind as I read A Reluctant Queen was "accessible." Joan Wolf has done a marvelous job of taking the biblical story of Esther and making the key historical figures accessible. They are not just words on a page anymore - they seem to be living, breathing people who are following the course that has been set out for them.
The story centers around Esther. In this fictionalized take on the historical Esther, Esther is portrayed as confident but shy, and fairly unassuming. Her uncle, Mordecai, enlists her to enter the king's beauty competition to find a new wife, so that she can be a secret representative of the Jewish people. As most readers already know, the king picks Esther over hundreds of other girls, and Esther unexpectedly becomes queen.
The meat of this book is undoubtedly the growing relationship between the king (Ahasuerus) and Esther. As was customary in that time and region, they barely knew each other when they married. However, Esther finds herself appreciating him more and more, and they begin to form a tentative relationship. I loved the dialogue between these two - alternately formal and informal. It was great to see the relationship take root and finally blossom, and I found myself smiling on more than one occasion.
The only downfall to the book, in my estimation, is how much political talk there is. I recognize that it is historical, and quite central to the story, but I found it to be detracting from the love story. That being said, Wolf does a great job of portraying Haman as an incredibly jealous man, and by the end (*SPOILER*), when he is hanged, the reader is glad to see him go.
I enjoyed this quick read, if for no other reason than to have these characters come alive so vividly. I highly recommend this book!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have a horrible habit - I almost always read the last few pages of a book after I've read the first third of a book or so. Usually that way, I find out who the villain is, and look for clues through the rest of the book that hints at the eventual unmasking of the villain. However, in the case of The Lightkeeper's Ball, by Colleen Coble, reading the last three pages still left me with a surprise in store. I won't say what it is, but it was great to be surprised by an ending!
The story revolves around Olivia, whose sister mysteriously dies in the first chapter. She journeys west to San Francisco to find out the real story, find out if anyone killed her sister, and find out more about her enigmatic fiance, whom Olivia is leery of. While on the way to San Francisco, Olivia is attacked, thrown overboard, and left to drown. The person who saves her is an unlikely hero: her sister ex-fiance! The rest of the story revolves around finding out how her sister died, her ex-fiance's secrets, and finding out who is trying to kill Olivia.
I enjoyed this book immensely - I've always been a big Colleen Coble fan, and this one did not disappoint. I know it's part of a series, but it worked well as a stand-alone book. It takes a while for it to get going, but once you're in, you're hooked.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I expected Max on Life to be a certain kind of book. I expected there to be questions I had heard before, followed by the typical answers that most Christians will tell people who have these questions. Instead, I found it to be a thought-provoking, gut-wrenchingly honest look at life in the 21st century.
Few of the questions found in the book are easy questions. The questions range from questions about Jesus, marriage, and the afterlife, to genuine worries of people. Parents worried about their children, about their jobs, how they will provide for their families - not much is held back. And for each question, Lucado has a Biblical answer, with his own thoughts interspersed. I appreciated the way he handled sensitive topics, yet also was unafraid to call people out on their own faults (such as when he told the couple who are in debt because they always buy new gadgets to simple STOP BUYING THINGS).
While this book is not one that you'll sit down and read for a story effect, I have a hunch that it will be useful as a reference book for me. I recommend it, especially if you're a Max Lucado fan. This one's a winner.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Seek My With All Your Heart, by Beth Wiseman, was my first foray into the world of Amish Christian fiction. I've been resisting the trend for years now, but when I saw that this book is based in my home state of Colorado, I jumped at the opportunity to review it.
Unfortunately, I learned that, while this book was intriguing, Amish Christian fiction just isn't my favorite genre. I have no problem with the storyline itself, but it wasn't captivating enough to hold my attention for more than a few minutes at a time. The story revolves around Emily and David, who both have broken pasts that they are trying to but behind them. Emily is terrified of David when they first meet, but they soon form a tenuous friendship. Then, the attraction grows.
This book wasn't bad by any standard - it just wasn't for me. The relationship between Emily and David is nice, and I expect that fans of this genre will love this story. Also, I understand that there is a series of books on David's family/their backstory, and so it may also have been less than enthralling for me because I have not read those books. If you are a fan of Amish Christian fiction, I think you will really like this book. However, if you are looking for a first book to read in that genre, I would not suggest Seek Me With All Your Heart.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
"A Billion Reasons Why" is the old story of love lost, and love found again. Katie McKenna is in her late twenties, and has spent the last eight years of her life with one goal in mind: to get over the man (and the humiliation) that she left in New Orleans. She has a good life now: a fiance who is devoted to her, and a job that she's passionate about. But, she no longer recognizes herself. Then out of nowhere, Luc DeForges bursts back into her life, disrupting her everyday routine, and attempts to sweep her off her feet, all over again.
This book was written for my demographic: young twenty-somethings who watch television and old movies, wishing for a love like we see on the screen. References to Top Hat, Fred Astaire, and even Glee abound. Katie and Luc are wonderful characters, if a bit one-dimensional at times. Katie especially seems to be more realistic than many romantic heroines, as she continually wrestles with morality and questions her choices. She's a very relatable character.
The other main and secondary characters are relatable as well, but have more of a stock character feeling. Anyone who reads Christian fiction will see the ending coming from a mile away, but it's still an enjoyable read. Additionally, the city of New Orleans functions almost as a character itself, and the vibrance of the city seems to jump off the page at times.
I really liked the book. However, there were a few times when editing seemed to be an issue. There would be large chunks of dialogue, and few references as to who was doing the talking. Or, a character would enter the room, but would be glanced over, and you are confused as to where/when the character entered. With those minor changes, I think this could have been a truly great book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have always loved hymns. At the ripe old age of 24, they stir my heart like few contemporary worship songs can. There's something very special about singing words that generations before me have sung, somehow knitting us all together through song. So, when I saw this book on BookSneeze, I was very excited to read it.
I curled up with this book, and promptly got nearly every song stuck in my head. The book is set up very simply - the hymn on the left page, and a one-page story/synopsis on the right page corresponding to it. For the most part, this setup works beautifully. It helps the reader to see where original lines have been changed (would "Angels We Have Heard On High" have been as popular if they had kept it "Harken All, What Holy Singing?"), and lyricists versus composers ideas for tunes.
What is most intriguing, though, are the backstories of the hymns themselves and the people who wrote them. Most touching, I think, is the story of Philip Bliss and his wife, Lucy, which is told throughout a few hymns. Knowing what writers were going through when they wrote the hymns also gives the words a new depth and meaning (i.e. Horatio G. Spafford wrote "It Is Well With My Soul" after unspeakable tragedy lead to the death of all his children).
My only criticism of the book is slight - I wish in some cases that there was more than one page per hymn to tell the history of the song. It feels as if you're scratching the surface of the story, but just as you're about to go deeper, the story ends, leaving you wishing for more. All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves hymns and wishes to know more about their origins.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I had wanted this bag for almost a year, and found it nearly half-price on Amazon from other online stores. I was thrilled when I ordered it, but the next day somebody posted a review about an awful smell that came with the bag. The previous reviewer is right - there is a bad smell when you first open the box, and I was immediately disappointed that I couldn't start carrying it right away. To get rid of the smell, I sprayed it with Downy Wrinkle Releaser (one of my favorite products in the world, and basically just watered-down fabric softener). That didn't quite work, so I put baking soda in a baggie and placed it inside, and kept the baking soda box beside the bag, then put the whole thing into a scented trash bag for 2 days. That worked! The smell isn't entirely gone, but I'm fairly certain that I'm the only one who notices it.
Other than that, the bag is great! It's very large, which I love. The bag is soft and well-made, and I've only carried it for two days and have already received over a dozen compliments on it. The combination of the rose and leather-like material is a perfect blend of styles and textures. A few things to note: the bag does not stand up on its own. I expected it to be stiffer, but it's not. Additionally, even though pictures on other websites show it slung over a shoulder, it's not really a shoulder bag unless you have fairly slim arms. Other than those two points and the smell, I absolutely love this bag.
I don't often use this blog as a space for a personal soapbox, but I have something I have to share. Today, I sat in a room with marketing professionals, who were all discussing how they should go about marketing to the "Millennial Generation," which is the term for anybody born from 1979-2001. I fit squarely into this category, and I was very interested in their description of my generation. The presenter defined us as many different things - tech savvy (true), socially conscious (also fairly true), and entitled (unfortunately, very true in many instances).
What unsettled me, though, was when the discussion turned to our love of anything mobile. I chuckled at the fact that Netflix is one of my most-used apps on my iPhone, and continued to listen attentively to what they said. That's when they started talking about an activity that until 10 years ago, had almost been exclusively done on paper. Then it started slowly migrating to the Internet, and today is just now starting to be offered as a mobile app. In wanting to be discreet as to not offend the presenter, the company, or the group of marketers, I won't get any more specific than that. But they all started talking about how stupid and indulgent this new app would be, and how it was superfluous in every sense of the word. If we couldn't wait until we were sitting in front of a laptop, they said, then are we even the type of people they want to be marketing to?
I timidly put my hand up and replied "As a member of the Millennial Generation, I'd like to speak into this. I'm hearing everyone say 'why would we do this?' But one thing you should realize about my generation is that we always say 'why not?'" And honestly, I think that's one thing that I truly love about my generation. We are fearless. We see solutions to things we didn't even know were problems. Most of us have a can-do mindset, in that whatever we set out to do with our lives, we assume we'll achieve our dreams. People can tell us that we won't achieve our dreams as much as they want, and we'll just smile and think "I'll be the exception."
And is that really a bad way to be? Is it wrong to expect our dreams to come true, to be successful, and to think that our far-flung goals are attainable through hard work? We expect ourselves to be great, and to do great things. We've been told our entire lives that we can do anything we put our minds to - are we now to be faulted for thinking that way? I hope not.
This is my plea to all the other generations, and to our peers: don't box us in. Rejoice in our successes, help us to learn from our failures, and encourage us to dream big. Thank you.
The first few times that I tried to read this book, I ended up bored and put it down after the first 10 pages or so. Finally, I pushed my way through the first chapter, and settled into the story. It's mainly the story of Bridget Barrington and the Clavell family, which the story switches back and forth from frequently. Bridget is in love with Philippe Clavell, who has worked for her for six years as an indentured servant (an event which transpired in previous books). However, because he is "only" a servant, she is forbidden to marry him, and her parents instead insist on a more suitable match - the daunting Edward Moorehead.
As I mentioned previously, it takes a while to get into the story. Once you push through the first chapter, though, it's an enjoyable read. I had not read the two preceding books in the series, and so it was hard to have very little backstory on the characters. Although it was fine as a stand-alone book, I never quite felt emotionally vested in the characters. As much as it pains me to say it, I also found the heroine annoying at times - she is basically a love-struck teenager through most of the book, and although she is meant to be heroic there are certainly times when she comes off as desperate. The story moves along at a good pace, and there are a few moments that are truly engrossing. Where Hearts Are Free is a quick read with a good story, but ultimately I don't think I'll remember much about it.
Book Description Provided By the Publisher:
The odds are stacked against Bridget and Philippe reuniting. But God has a plan for them if they'll only believe.
It’s 1687, in the burgeoning town of Philadelphia, and for seven years, Bridget Barrington has watched with growing affection as Philippe Clavell worked as an indentured servant for her father, a wealthy landowner.
Her father rejects her request for Philippe to be a potential suitor as he has none of the qualities Mr. Barrington hoped for his daughter's future husband, the least of which is a respectable income.
Heartbroken, Bridget accedes to her parents’ wishes and gets engaged to a man she does not love. However, Bridget's husband-to-be does not love her, but only her wealth.
But there's always light in the midst of darkness for those who have faith. This stunning historical romance concludes the gripping Darkness to Light series.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
