Where the Light Fell - by Philip Yancey: Book Review

Title: Where the Light Fell

Author: Philip Yancey

Pages: 320
Publisher: Convergent Books
Publishing Date: October 5th 2021
Genre: Memoir, Christian
Format: Kindle
Rating: 5* 

It's been a while since I last read a memoir. The plan was to read this one in the morning, a bit at a time, knowing non-fiction books are not  prefered genre. To my surprise, I read this one in two days. It's a wonderfully done memoir, it's honest and open, without focusing on unnecessary details. It's the first book signed by Yancey I've ever read, and although he writes Christian life books, which is not something I gravitate towards, now I want to read more from him.

The book is structured in five parts and covers his early childhood, his boyhood, the teenage years, and up to his young adult years, with a short part at the end focusing on his adult years. It's the story of his fundamentalist upbringing, he and his brother, Marshall, being raised by a young widowed mother, in the South of United States. Every child raised in the American Bible belt or raised in a conservative church environment will recognise parts of Yancey's story. However, his is an extreme, yet, as he mentioned a few times throughout the book, not as bad as others had it.

The tone he uses is not full of regret, resentment, pain, or anger. It's the story of a man who, through grace, learned to accept his background. The first part of the books reads fast, as if you're reading a gripping novel. In the second part, he talks about his questions and struggles to understand and make sense of God. I'm glad to see a man who found God through personal inquiry, personal wrestling with Him, and personal faith. He mentions that the main themes of his book are suffering and grace. It's the same two themes he deals with in this book, too. It's not a theological book by any means, which was a relief, because who wants to read theology in a memoir, anyway? It was fun to see all the books he read in order to discover more of what other though, so that he could reach the point of thinking for himself.

Because it's a memoir, the ending is not a beautifully tied happy end. The severed ties between his family members are still there, the past isn't erased, and the scarrs are still visible. However, it's God's grace that made him the man and author he is today. I'm glad he wrote this book, and I'm glad this is how I discovered his writing. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone who's interested in reading the stories of people coming from a fundamentalist background, or are fans of well-written memoirs.

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Simple & Free by Jen Hatmaker: Book Review

 

                                         Title: Simple & Free. 7 Experiments Against Excess
                                                                  Author: Jen Hatmaker
                                                                           Pages: 336
                                                           Publisher: Convergent Books
                                                       Publishing Date: March 23rd 2021
                                                           Genre: Nonfictiona, Christian
                                                                        Format: Kindle
                                                                             Rating: 3*

I've been meaning to read Jen Hatmaker's book "7" for years, so I was glad to see it was available on Net Galley a while back. It took me a long time to read it, but it's the sort of book that makes you want to stop and think about what you've just read.

The book follows Hatmaker and her family during a year when she chose seven big areas where she wanted to make changes and remove the excess of contemporary life. The areas she focused on are: food, clothes, spending, media, possessions, waste, stress. She approached this from a Christian perspective, but it could very well be seen as a secular decision to simplify and reevaluate. I am so glad she focused on the spiritual aspect a lot, and she didn't shy away from being honest and admitting her failures & errors.

The seven aspects she's tackling in her book are important and relevant today, just as they were back in 2011 when she first wrote the book. There are some funny parts, just as you'd expect from a Hatmaker book, but through funny she draws home tough points. I also liked the edits she wrote throughout the book pointing to the changes that intervened since she first wrote "7", and how things changed or stayed the same. 

All in all I liked this books, although at times it was slow paced. It did help that for each of the big seven parts she structured the book on days, which made the reading easier. It was fun seeing the good and the bad days string together. I do recommend it to readers who feel the same way she felt when she decided to do this experiment: overwhelmed with too many options and stuff. It's relatable and fitting to our daily life.

 

I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Dream Big - by Bob Goff: Book Review

Title: Dream Big. Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You're Going to Do About It
Author: Bob Goff
Pages: 256
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publishing Date: June 23rd 2020
Genre: Christian Nonficion

Format: Kindle

I liked this one because it read like a collection of pieces of advice from a father or grandfather. The tone is friendly, like a pep talk from someone who really believes you're the guy for the job, namely to work on your own ambition(s).

Although the book is structured into seven main parts each with a stated idea and its own chapters, I found the book to be somewhat disjointed. I don't know if this is because I read it framentarily, or because, repeatedly, the final point of each part was to focus on your ambition. Do you know those quotes that aim to lift you up and encourage you to get things done? This read like that, and this is the overall tone.

The structure is like this: there's a story and then it transitions into telling the reader how this applies to our lives and ambitions. I loved all those stories and how they did actually drive home the point he was trying to make. However, make sure you get the idea of the stories, because I am sure not many will recognize themselves in the stories of building schools in war-ridden countries, making a bid for a town (!), setting up a flying company, or some other crazy and cool ideas.

For those who've read and enjoyed Bob Goff's previous books this might be something they're interested in. I liked Love Does and Dream Big better, the latter being more mature, less fluff, and actual sound, practical ways to get things moving towards your most desired ambition. In typical Goff way, there's the constant reminder to pay attention to the people around you, to surround yourself with the right people, and to love people.

Read it like a gentle nudge to move forward with your more or less wild ambitions that take up the most space in your head and heart.

I received a free e-book copy of the book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Stand All the Way up - by Sophie Hudson: Book Review

Title: Stand All the Way Up: Stories of Staying In It When You Want to Burn It All Down
Author: Sophie Hudson
Pages: 224
Publisher: B&H Publishing
Publishing Date: 16.06.2020
Genre: Christian Nonfiction, Memoir
Format: Kindle

I'd missed Sophie story-telling. And make no mistake, this is a collection of stories from the south, told in a southern way. If you've read her previous books, read her blog, and/ or listen to her podcast with Melanie Shankle than I am sure you'll like this book, too.

Sophie is one of those Internet people I wish I knew in real life and I'd also like her to be my friend/ mentor because she's wise, but in a totally relatable and down to earth kind of way.

The book is divided into 13 chapters, each one sharing stories relevant to an idea she presents in that chapter. The second part of the chapter is where she makes her point and she makes it relevant to her readership. I like this sort of nonfiction writing, especially since the ideas are relatable, despite the age difference between me and the author.

However, one thing that fell flat for me were all those details and digressions. Of course details are the sauce of a story, and her story-telling skills are on point, but at some points I felt that the focus was too much on the anecdotes (plus, they were too long sometimes), and too little on the substantial part. I wish she had written more on the deeper aspects because she makes Scripture passages so relevant and easy to understand for the day-to-day life. 

Having read her first three books, I can see how her writing has become better. This book is funny, yes, I have laughed out loud a few times, to my surprise, but also honest, deep, and mature. I love it when an author I've been reading from the very beginning becomes more settled into their craft. This is the case with Sophie Hudson in this new book, a book I recommend for fans of Christian nonfiction and lovers of family stories; you'll laugh, and then take something to heart and think about it. 

I can't wait for her next book!

I received a free book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Complicated Heart - by Sarah Mae: Book Review

Title: The Complicated Heart. Loving Even When It Hurts
Author: Sarah Mae
Pages: 240
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Release Date: 17th September 2019
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian, Memoir
Format: Kindle

It's someone story, and how can you rate the accuracy of someone's life?  

I have known Sarah Mar thanks to the (in)courage.me site for a number of years, but I haven't been actively following her. When I saw this book available on the Net Galley site I was curious to learn more about her. Also, I heard her on Annie F. Down's podcast before I read the book, which is actually what prompted me to want to read it. I can't comment on the topic of the book: it's raw and hard and I am glad she was brave to share it and open the conversation for people with a familiar or similar background.

All that to say, if you want to read about someone's resilience and victories in Jesus despite all that's thrown their way - this is for you. If you want to read more tips on how to persevere, more how to’s - this is merely a starting point. Towards the end of the book she offers some guidelines, more of a point where to begin. 

The topics she deals with: alcoholism, sexual relationships, abortion, and child negligence - all these are potential triggers, and are hard topics, so proceed with caution.

As far as the way the book was constructed, I liked that not only do we get to learn of her life starting from the adolescence years, but she also shares bits of her mother's journals. I love that the story is told from both "protagonists'" point of view, thus giving the reader a more rounded perspective. At times it reads like a I-cannot-believe-this-is-real novel, and yet! 

I recommend this one especially for the Christian that's been moving in the Christian culture/ spheres his/her whole life. It's eye-opening to what people may come to God with. I have finished this book quite a while ago, but I needed some time to process it. I am ashamed to say and admit that at some points I was... well... judging both the author and her mother. How can someone who claims to love Jesus and be a Christian *do* something like that?! was my white Christian lady reaction. I knew I was looking down on fellow sisters in Christ, hence my reluctance to write a review. Then I was reminded of the prodigal son's brother, and his brother I was, shame on me! Who am I to judge and regard with contempt or superiority someone for whom Jesus died and forgave? That's why I think this is a needed read for the one who's been a Christian for many a year.

Thank you, Sarah Mae, for being willing and open about your story. I hope many more people will get to read it and find comfort, and above else, find Jesus.

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire - by Jen Hatmaker: Book Review

Title: Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You
Author: Jen Hatmaker
Pages: 224
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: 21st April 2020
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian Self Help
Format: Kindle

Let's keep this short: this book bored me. I couldn't wait to finish reading it. Anyone who's been following Jen Hatmaker for at least 6-12 months knows what the core of her ministry is. This book is the expanded version of all her Instagram posts (which she admits at the end of the book). 

A lot of information structured into twelve chapters was thrown at me, the reader, and many reseachers' words and studies that supported Hatmaker's ideas

I think this might be useful for some women, but I was not the audience for it. Expect a lot of self confidence and self reliance pep talks, family&friends reliance, LGBTQ+ supporting, women's rights, and much social justice advocacy. Despite what she says, I don't believe that everythings she endorses is Bible based, so I guess I'm the one in the conservative camp she talks about. 

She does mention Jesus and her love for Him, but this is not a Bible verses filled book, so temper your expectations if that is what you're after. This is her manifesto, what she believes in. Kuddos to her for being open and willing to share it in book form. 

The ideas seemed repetitive, despite the clearly distinct chapters. There is the clear funny Hatmaker the world is used to, but also the serious Hatmaker. I was curious to see what she can say that I didn't already know related to her beliefs, but not much was new. A lot of the ideas presented in her previous books can be found here, but from the perspective of a woman more mature now.

As a whole, it was OK-ish, but as I said, I wasn't the target audience for it.

I received a free e-book copy of the book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are mine.

For All Who Wander - by Robin Dance: Book Review

Title: For All Who Wander. Why Knowing God Is Better Than Knowing It All
Author: Robin Dance
Pages: 352
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Release Date: 14th January 2020
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian
Format: Kindle

I enjoyed this book a lot. I always approach Christian nonfiction books with low expectations. However, because I knew of Robin Dance from the early days of (in)courage, I was curious to learn more about her. I was happy to see that this book is mostly a memoir dripping with Bible verses. Having grown up in a Christian family and environment myself, I saw a lot of myself in it. This truly is for every Christian.

I liked how she followed her life from the early years to the her (almost) present day life. It's refreshing to see an author, especially a Christian author, admit fault and flaws. This is what Robin Dance does - she sees her shortcomings, but is ready to put them on display because that's how she got to know God better and learn more about Him, as well as about herself. 

It reads quickly, especially the first half. I highlighted A LOT because there are a lot of good passages. If you read it in one seating, or in large portions, you might notice the change of tone as the book progresses. There might be that "preachy" tone towards the end, but by that point I was invested and I was nodding my head and highlighting away that I didn't mind it. As I mentioned, there are a lot of Bible verses used. This book is not watered down theology or feel good Christian book. It may sound a bit too dramatic from the title, but what I discovered is that the author lived what many people of faith over the years and centuries experienced: a need to have their faith tested and proven the right choice. It can appeal to every Christian who wants to have a deeper relationship with God that goes beyond the shallow surface.

4*

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

12 Days at Bleakly Manor - by Michelle Griep: Book Review

Title: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor
Author: Michelle Griep
Series: Once Upon a Dickens Christmas
Pages: 192
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press
Release Date: September 1st 2017
Genre: Christmas, Fantasy
Format: Kindle


Goodreads Synopsis:

When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

This is a Christian Christmastime romance. If any of these three words is not what you want your novel to be about, move on, this is not for you.
This is the love story of a man who's apparently Christian because at the very end he prays to God for help after throughout the events of the novel he didn't even mention God. I need to add that this man is handsome and broadshouldered, despite coming from middle/upper class, and therefore hasn't worked that much physically in his life. His name is Benjamin Lane, but we'll call him Ben. It's also the story of a woman who's lost her status because the men in her life are unwise and she's the victim. This woman is rather short, but beautiful, and her height makes is so that she perfectly fits into the man's embrace. Her name is Clara Chapman. Of course the two share a history, and they will end up patching this back together and declaring their love for one another. But how will they get there?

Despite my salty tone, this is a sweet story, perfect for a lazy winter afternoon or a train ride, as it was the case for me. It read like a mystery novel that reminded me of Agatha Christie. I enjoyed the glimpses in the past and the not too preachy Christian tone, as some novels of this type tend to have. The collection of characters gathered at the Manor is interesting, and I had the impression that there was something ominous looming over the house. 

The plot is rather simple, but it creates enough mystery and suspence to keep you reading. I must admit there are still moments when I think about this novel, probably because I don't read a lot of Christian novels, and this one is different from what I've read so far.

It's the perfect read for those looking for a novel set around Christmas time, and told from a Christian point of view. Of course the cheesyness specific to this genre is there, but if this doesn't bother you, you might give it a try. 

2.5*

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Roots and Sky - by Christie Purefoy: Bookreview

Title: Roots & Sky. A Journey Home in Four Seasons
Author: Christie Purifoy
Pages: 208
Publisher: Revell
Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Genre: Christian Nonfiction, Memoir, Essay
Format: Kindle

I got to know a bit more about Christie Purifoy because of her podcast which she co-hosts with Lisa-Jo Baker, Out of the Ordinary. It's more a mom podcast, but I like listening to it and take what applies to my life. As we should do with mostly everything we listen to and read about. #justsaying

This book is very poetic. If you are not at all familiar with Christie this might be surprising. She reminded me a bit of Ann Voskamp and her ability to turn the mundane into poetry. This is what Christie does: she takes the normal, ordinary, every day things and looks at them through a deeper and more profound lens. You need to pay attention to her words, not approach the book feeling tired and just wanting to get this book over with. There is a lot of good stuff in here and she offers quite a few thoughts to ponder.

I liked how she structured the book in four parts, each for one of the four seasons. The first one is autumn because that was the season when she and her family moved into Maplehurst, the house her husband and her had dreamed about for a long time. Autumn is also the time of year when her youngest daughter, Elsa was born. I liked her take on each season and how she relates to them and how these look like in a new city and a new house. I tried as much as possible to read a season in one sitting, or at least to not let too much time to pass before I moved to another one because I wanted to see what she saw in each one. The book reads like a collection of journal entries. A few times she talks in the present tense and I had some moments where it seemed that some ideas made sense to her, but were a bit more tricky for me as a reader to get them and be able to be keep up with them. As I said, the language is quite poetic, you need not rush in reading it. I enjoyed reading her take on some things, although I don't necessarily agree with her completely. I kept imagining what she was describing and I so wish I were able to visit Maplehurst myself!

She has a new book coming out this year called Placemaker. I hope it get to read that one as well.

I received this book a long, long time ago from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

If You Only Knew - Jamie Ivey: Book Review

Title: If You Only Knew. My unlikely, unavoidable story of becoming free
 Author: Jamie Ivey
 No. Pages: 240
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Release Date: 30.01.2018
Format: mobi Kindle

I knew about Jamie Ivey because of her podcast, The Happy Hour, a podcast some of my favourite bloggers/ writer were guest on. She is bubbly and funny. You can tell right away that she is authentic (something she mentions people say about her all the time) and blunt. She tackles a rather taboo subject in her book/ memoir, but she is open with the readers, clear and concise in sharing her message so as to understand where she's been, what she's in the process of, and where she's going.

I closed the book feeling encouraged and pushed to get closer to Jesus. Not many books can do that.

I loved the illustration she used with the letters: for every thing we think we are, every bad thing, we usually pin a letter on us. It's a "The Scarlet Letter" thing. We are not the letters we pin, but the stories we tell. "We are not our letters anymore. We belong to a new Storyteller." As a lover of a good story, her words carried weight. What's I walked away with was that we are all a walking story that could point to God and what He does in us.

The things you learn in the book, what she shares is not something new. She knows this and she says it. Her book is just one more story that can show and testify to what God is able to do. It's a quick read, but not because it's an easily read story. What makes it accessible is that it's written in a friendly tone and it's relatable no matter your Christian background or lack of it. I left with this nudge: "God uses the stories of His people to change the world. It’s true. Your story can change the world, but you first must be willing to share it."

***

If you want to learn more about the author, she has a podcast where she chats with various guests about the big and small things in life. There's a series on the podcast connected to the book. 

I received a free advanced e-book copy of the book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Love Story - by Karen Kingsbury: Book Review

Title: Love Story

Series: The Baxter Family

Author: Karen Kingsbury

No. Pages: 368

Publisher: Howard Books

Publishing Date: 6.06.2017

Although the book's back-cover promises the story between John and Elizabeth Baxter, this only takes up a rather small part of the novel. Cole Paul, a grandson of the Baxter's has to write a heritage project for school, and this is what starts it all. This story line ramifies and other sub-plots are created. About four love stories are touched upon in this book, but not in depth. For those familiar with the Baxters and their friends, this is like a get-together. 

What takes a larger part of the novel is the story between Cody Coleman and Andi Ellison. I was a bit more interested in their story than in John and Elizabeth's.
Besides these two love stories, the novels touches on the lives of two other couples. One is Ashley and Landon Blake, one of the Baxter's daughters and her husband. Cole, the one writing the heritage project for school, is their oldest son. The other couple is Brandon and Bailey Paul, friends of the Baxter's. Bailey is Andi Ellison's best friend.

For those not familiar with the Baxters and their friends, it may seem overwhelming, what with all the character names. But take heart - they are all presented at the beginning of the book. I haven't read the other Baxter family books in the previous series, but I was given enough details throughout the novel to figure everything out. This novel can read as a stand alone, a good starting point for who wants to read the next books in the series. *raises hand*

It read surprisingly quick. It is a Christian novel, so keep that in mind. The focus is on the plot, mostly, not something necessarily deep in the sense of literature class. There was the potential for more depth (PTSD, out of wedlock talk, past mistakes and consequences), but all the characters seemed to be calm and accepting, and in the know. Maybe it's just me coming to this novel without a background on the characters.

What irked me at one point was all the tears. These characters have no trouble kissing their spouse/ significant other and showing emotion through tears. But I liked the strong relationship this gave the characters, especially the married couples. Another thing that I thought unnecessary were all the isolated sentences to draw attention on them, making sure you, the reader, understand that they are important. Let the sentences live in a paragraph.

One aspect that surprised me in a good way was the openness with which the author showed the characters' faith and their connection to God. It makes them more endearing. I even liked the way they hear from God, "as if He spoke audibly", but this has the potential to be misunderstood, especially for someone not used to the "Christian lingo".

For fans of Karen Kingsbury, this will be a sweet and darling read. For those who don't normally read this genre, nothing to lose. For those who like Christian book series, this is for you.

I received a free e-book copy from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

The Sacrament of Happy - by Lisa Harper: Book Review

Title: The Sacrament of Happy. What a Smiling God Brings to a Wounded World
Author: Lisa Harper
No. Pages: 208
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Release Date: 1.06.2017

It is a liberating book, giving people permission to break away from the grumpy and gloomy attitude we think we must have in order to prove we are good Christians.

Lisa Harper makes a case for the happy God that changes a forlorn Christian into a happy one. Although I enjoyed reading this book, especially because there were a lot of Bible passages from various versions, as well as personal anecdotes, I still think that the happy the author talks about is deeply grounded in the joy we Christians hear a lot about. Despite these nuances, it was a good reminder that there is more to the Christian life, and that there is always the choice to approach each situation in two ways, one of them being the choice of happy.

This was the second book by Lisa Harper I read and I enjoy her writing style. It's not pretentious, but it comes from a good and happy heart who deeply loves God. She sounds like a genuine and relatable person, and this makes her books easy to read.

4/5 stars

I received a free advanced e-book copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Advent in Narnia - by Heidi Haverkamp: Book Review

I am not one to pick up a devotional easily - I find the practice of devotional reading too daunting and stress-inducing. However, this is a devotional that has in its title the word "Narnia" and I happen to like the series (though I haven't finished them all). 

Starting on the first day of Advent, this devotional offers a Bible verse, a suggestion for what chapter to read from the first published book in the Chronicles of Narnia series, namely "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe", a meditation connecting the Bible verse and the events in the suggested chapter, and two or three questions for reflection. It's an easy thing to do, and I even managed to read them daily up to day 19. (Success!)

After the 28 days of Advent, the book offers suggestions for a discussion group leader, suggestions for Narnia based activities as a group or family night, some recipes, and other activities ideas. It has a cozy feel about it, and its simplicity manages to prepare you for the important celebration of Christmas. I read this on my kindle, but to read it on paperback would enhance the reading experience, in my opinion. It would be great to go through this every year in preparation for Christmas. 

5/5 stars.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

One of the Few - by Jason Ladd: Book Review

Title: One of the Few. A Marine Fighter Pilot's Reconnaissance of the Christian Worldview
Author: Jason B. Ladd
Publisher: Boone Shepherd
Publishing Date: October 27th 2015
Page No.: 318

In the beginning, the author mentioned a remark made by one of his friends: "Your life is not that important to grant writing a book about." I read this book, and I agree with what the author said towards the end- every life is important enough to be worth writing abook about. This is all the more true when during the course of that life, the individual realizes their importance as a human created by God, made in His image, for His glory.

Jason B. Ladd is a Marine fighter pilot, so this book is packed-full with analogies and metaphors about the resemblance between a Christian's life and a Marine's. Prepare yourself for a lot of Marine talk and many capital letters words. I was unfamiliar with all of these, so it was a new thing I learned. However, at times it got overwhelming and I stopped trying to remember what all the words meant. I just accepted that they were relevant to the book. If you are familiar with the US Marine and other military structures in US, you're good. If you are not, don't give up, there are some good stuff in this book.

The book starts from the author's young years as a military kid, back when his family was stationed in Japan. The events of the book (although "events" is a bit much said, because events are not the focus of the book) are not chronological. However, the main idea of the book is Ladd's repentance and acceptance of God and Christianity. It is not (as I was tempted to think) an easy-breezy kind of book, where you learn about a man who decided to just accept God. This is about someone who researched God, who read a lot, inquired a lot, and then accepted that this God of the Christians is the only God. At times the book covers some hard topics, and deep theological issues. Reading this as a Christian should be no problem, but for someone who is not used to such aspects of faith it may be a bit challenging. Worth reading, though. 

One of the Few is divided into three main parts. The second and third part are the most "practical", if you will. They approach various daily life situations. This is great - it's like showing the basics to a new believer, or showing a non-believer what this Christian living is all about. As someone who's lived both lives, so to say, Ladd is not talking gibberish, he knows what being a Christian entails in the everyday life. It is encouraging to read it as a Christian, and thought-provoking as a seeking person who wants to learn more about God.

As I mentioned, this is a well researched book. It is clear he's read and studied a lot, and I liked all the references written down at the end of every chapter, not all added at the end of the book. They are useful for anyone who wants to learn more about a certain topic covered in a chapter. Although at times it may seem difficult to read because of the subject approached, it's something useful. I am glad and grateful I had the chance to read it.

3* - I liked it.

I was contacted by the author and offered a free e-book copy to read and review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Present Over Perfect - by Shauna Niequist: Book Review

Title: Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living
Author: Shauna Niequist
Number of Pages: 240
Publisher: Zondervan
Publish Date: August 9th, 2016

I'm always curious of Shauna's new books, although I have realized long ago that I'm not always the targeted audience of everything she writers. I don't resonate with everything she writes about in this book, but there have been some aspects that rang true and caught my attention.

Shauna Niequist tells stories from her personal discovery of what it means to have way too much on your plate, saying "yes" to one more thing, but forgetting what is important and what should be a priority. The author makes several references to her family, her husband and children, and this automatically makes a distinction between those who can relate to this life and those who aren't in that season of life. It's not a deal breaker, but something that should be mentioned. You know, the busy wife&mom life VS those who aren't that.

Something that I think is worth mentioning is that sometimes it feels like she keeps saying the same thing over and over again. In a way it makes sense since the core of what she's writing is not some big theology, although it can be looked at from different perspectives. This is something I find in most non-fiction (especially Christian) books: the author has the idea, and that idea is turned every possible way to make a book out of it. Now, luckily, Shauna Niequist is good with words - I like how she writes, I like how she chooses the right word for the right sentence. Sometimes she goes the long way to make a point, and while this can be slightly hard to follow, one can look at it as her writing style. Others see this as rambling.

On to what I definitely like: I highlighted quite a bit, so that should be enough evidence that I did like this book. My favorite parts were those that referenced to prayer. Adopting this new mantra of slowing down and being mindful of what she accepts in her schedule meant a shift in the way she looks at prayer. [God] has all the time in the world to sit with me and sift through my fears and feelings and failings. That’s what prayer is. That’s what love is like. (...) He doesn’t ask me to show up and catalog my strengths. He doesn’t ask me to show up and abuse myself for my failings. He asks me to bring my whole-fragile-strong-weak-good-bad self. (...) He is love itself, grace embodied, holding the fullness of who we are—strong, weak, good, bad, wild, fearful, brave, silly—in his hands. He can be trusted with every part of it, the silly and the enormous. What she's saying is that prayer is not a brief meeting where we ask for direction when we're stuck, or give the run-down of how we did things - prayer is something that binds us with God. If not for something else, the passages about it are worth reading the book for.

Another thing that I particularly liked was how she linked being still to coming to terms with who you are & who you are meant to be. Because it’s only when we’re truly alone that we can listen to our lives and God’s voice speaking out from the silence. We can ignore what we are called to do and be, or we can live fulfilling our calling. This, too, is something worth reading the book for. Probably given the life stage I'm in, the words had a bigger impact, and they were most welcome.

Although I'm not one of those people who have a lot going on and feel the pressure to make a big sacrifice to rise to the expectations imposed on me, there sure was something valuable I took from this book, as I'm sure everyone will. That is, if you don't make up your mind to see this book as another one in a long list of Christian non-fiction books written by middle-class, middle-age women (wife&mom, naturally). In no way is my life similar to hers, but some things are generally true, no matter the lifestyle differences.

I received an ebook from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Wild and Free - by Jess Connolly & Hayley Morgan: Book Review

This book was talked about so much on social media that even though I was reluctant about giving it a try, I did request it from Net Galley eventually. 

From the perspective of someone who's been raised in a Christian home, embraces the Christian principles, and knows her status as a child of God - well, this brought little perspective. Sure, there were some nuggets that cemented what I already knew, they were like a friendly reminder when you lose track of something important.

Trying to look at this from the perspective of someone who is not living and breathing "Christianese", yes, this is a good starting point toward understanding and grasping the position one has in Christ. The book tries to make clear that there is room in Christ for everyone, for those who are on the wilder side, have a bigger personality, are ready to think grand, people who sometimes think they need to take it down a notch, and also those who are learning to shed their fear and live freer. For those trying to figure out the Christian life - yes, read this book to see someone else's story and journey of faith.

Since this is a book written by two authors, and this is great since they have such different personality, it was good to see two voices complementing each other. This makes the book apply to more than one category of readers. My favorite thing is that each chapter has a short response from the other author. I knew nothing about these two authors before I read this book, but their deep friendship, they way they encourage one another was another thing I thought was wonderful about this book.

However, at times it felt a bit all over the place. Maybe it was just me, but I felt that some ideas were repeated over and over, and I lost track of what subject was discussed at the moment. Moreover, it felt at some point that there is no clear distinction between the things the two authors were saying. Truth be told, I got slightly bored by the time I reached the half of the book.

This book is certainly a good read for those who aren't that familiar with the Christian life, but for the others, those who are familiar and supersaturated with all the Christian books that seem to write about the same thing, well, maybe not the book for you. 

2.5/5 stars

I requested and was granted a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

Night Driving - by Addie Zierman: Book Review

This is a finding-the-God-I-used-to-know kind of book. You keep reading the author's woe over and over: I used to feel God, but now I don't anymore. Coming with the baggage (or blessing) of an American adolescence in the 90s, filled with Christian activities that encouraged teenagers to just love God, and to be on fire for Him, the adult author is left to deal with the presence (or absence) of God when she no longer feels God, and when the specific cliches and lingo no longer cut it. The author gives glimpses into her past just enough to let the reader get the full idea of why she decided to go on a road trip just to maybe rekindle the fire she once had within her heart. Repeatedly she underlines how she was close to God, how she longed for Him, and how it was all good. Sounds like a broken record, but aren't so all those who keep looking for that which they can't fully express into words? To know you had it all in Him, and then you are on the exact opposite of that feeling.

The book is divided into four main parts. The first two tell of her journey from her home in Minnesota to Florida, and the last two parts of the journey from Florida back home. I'm a sucker for the idea of a road-trip, add to that an honest memoir about chasing God, and I'm your reader. 

Besides being a Christian just like herself, I have zero things in common with the author (of whom I knew nothing before reading this book), and still I was struck by the familiarity and the close to home hit of some passages. At times it reminded me of Searching for Sunday (maybe because it's the only book on this theme I've read in the last year?), but Night Driving is more mature. Although it has little Bible passages, it doesn't come up with biblical ideas, it's not set to offer advice on how the Church should be reorganized to fit into the 21st century, this is a book that I enjoyed reading tremendously; it's just a person's quest for what she once had, without any other pretense.

At times I was reading this like a good coming of age story, except it was a coming to grounded faith again story. I was worried she had set off on her road trip, kids in tow, and she was turning back home without the answer she was looking for. Can you tell I was invested in this? Can you tell this reader is, too, looking for some answers? I loved what the "conclusion" of the book was: no high voltage spiritual enlightment, but what she knew all along, but suddenly it made more sense. Funny how that happens! Love doesn’t always look like romance and faith doesn’t look like fire and light doesn’t always look like the sun—and that this matters. (...) God is as close as the air around us, as true as the North Star leading me home. In the dark Kentucky plain, my eyes adjust, and there is so much that I can’t see—and also so much that I can. Mostly that the darkness was never really dark. And that it was never my job to turn on the lights. (...) I know that God is real. And it’s not because I feel him. It’s because the night is dark and bright all at once, because the stars are an infinite repeating liturgy lighting the way back home. I know because I know. It’s as simple and mysterious as that. 

I loved how subtly, over the length of the book, she keeps returning to the audio book she's been listening to while driving. The similarities she finds between Mamah Borthwick of Loving Frank by Nancy Horan and herself are as well noted as the stages of the February moon she keeps refering to. Two small elements I didn't pay attention to in the beginning, but as I kept reading they were ever-present until the very end.

Would I recommend it? Yes, absolutely! No one is more surprised by this than me. You leave this book with the feeling of being understood, that you're not alone during those apparent patches of darkness and loneliness. It's poetic and nicely written, it's honest and open.

I received a copy of the ebook version of this from Crown Publishing via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

I am N - The Voice of the Martyes Devotional: Book Review

When I was a little child in Sunday School, I remember we learned about Corrie ten Boom, and Charles Studd. Bits and pieces of their work as missionaries are still well instilled in my memory. While reading I am N, I was reminded of these two great people of faith. We sometimes think great missionaries are something of the past, but everyday there are men and women who are engaged wholeheartedly in what God has called them to do. I am N tells the stories of these people, but more than that, it points to their miracle-working, soul-saving God.

This book is a collection of real life stories published by The Voice of the Martyrs. It read more like an essay, with a short, to the point telling. We keep hearing about the Christians being persecuted in the Middle East, in the Islamic and Arabic countries, and this book made those stories real, not just news on the Internet. 

The book is structured into six main parts, each dealing with a specific theme: sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness, faithfulness. Some of the stories are stories of encouragement, some are raw, but all point to the important thing of the Christian faith. All the people presented in the book are simple people, going about their lives, but with a mark on their backs because they chose Jesus. It's easy to talk Christianese, so to say, in the free West, but for the Christians in the East the choice to be a follower of God requires total surrender. It truly is inspiring and it sure made me ask some questions and try to refocus my priorities. 

At the end of each main part there's a section titled Martyrs in History. It was probably my favorite part! We get to learn a bit more about some well known or maybe lesser known people of the Christian faith. This part would be a great tool for teaching children about the martyrs and missionaries, or at least a good starting point.

This is not an easy read. At point I opened the book just to speed up the reading and finish the book, but you know the words are not fiction, the events do happen everyday, and this changed the way I approached the book. However, I did finish it, and I can say it's a book that would be eye-opening for those who want to know more about the Christian faith, as well as about the persecutions that go on around the world against the Christians.

I requested this book from Net Galley in exchange for a review. I have read an e-book copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.