On this cool and rainy day I am reading the Psalms, several of them I have read aloud, my cat Noelle is at my side purring--attentively listening to me read.
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Why let the nations say, 'Where is their God?' Our God is in the heavens, and He does as He wishes."
Psalms 115:1-3 NLT
"I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:1-2 NLT
Today I have read:
Psalm 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Review-"Thirsty"
Review--"Thirsty" by Tracey Bateman
WaterBrook Press a division of Random House, published 2009--376 pages
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307457158
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
"Thirsty" is a book that has the blogging community and readers in a dither.
It is a raw, edgy, clever book unequaled in the Christian book community----after all how many Christian vampire books are there?
Nina Parker, is an alcoholic. She has an ex-husband that she is still in love with. She has 2 children: Meagan and Adam. She has parents and a sister living in Missouri that she has not seen in many years. After Nina spends time in a recovery program, she seeks to make amends to her family and to get back on her feet. She moves back to Abbey Hills, Missouri to live with her sister, her daughter Meghan joins her for a visit during spring break.
Nina has many unresolved painful memories that are crouching behind her like a menacing shadow. Everyday is a new day in her sobriety, but it is a gritty conflict.
Meanwhile a mysterious and handsome stranger named Markus befriends her. His piercing gaze, gentleness, and attentiveness make Nina blush. Should Nina trust Markus, or should she be cautious?
When I began reading "Thirsty" my first feelings were about the heavy price that is inflicted on the families of alcoholics. The erratic drama that is played out by muddied intoxicated people that have no inhibitions, and no care for the damage that is done to the family. They do not care about others while they are drinking, then later when they remember what they've done--if at all, they want another drink.
The author Tracey Bateman wrote a palpable account of an alcoholic in her character Nina. Tracey gave details that leads me to believe she did her research.
While reading I felt the pain that Nina's family felt, and I felt the spiraling out of control addiction that was affecting Nina, it was painful to read.
Alcoholism has affected my family. I have witnessed the escalating moments of the inevitable drama of the "bad drunk." Are there any "good drunks" by the way? Maybe I should not have said that last sentence, but I've heard that term many times, and in my opinion drunk is drunk---both bad.
Nina is not a character that I initially loved, I would have kept my distance from her if I knew her in reality. She was like watching a train wreck. Somewhere a long in the story I no longer felt like a voyeur on her life, but began to cheer for her and hope that she would stay sober and get her life together.
The book "Thirsty" examines the lives of other characters as well; Nina's family, old friends, and some new characters with shady pasts.
The mysterious neighbor Markus is a ravishing and personable fella, yet is he a good guy or a bad guy? In the way he was presented I was left guessing and I loved that.
I loved the movement of the story and the introduction of another kind of intoxicating addiction.
I felt this book gave a gut wrenching account of addiction through the character Nina, and addiction was also presented in another more weighty heinous dramatization.
Tracey Bateman's website is under construction.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
WaterBrook Press a division of Random House, published 2009--376 pages
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307457158
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
It is a raw, edgy, clever book unequaled in the Christian book community----after all how many Christian vampire books are there?
Nina Parker, is an alcoholic. She has an ex-husband that she is still in love with. She has 2 children: Meagan and Adam. She has parents and a sister living in Missouri that she has not seen in many years. After Nina spends time in a recovery program, she seeks to make amends to her family and to get back on her feet. She moves back to Abbey Hills, Missouri to live with her sister, her daughter Meghan joins her for a visit during spring break.
Nina has many unresolved painful memories that are crouching behind her like a menacing shadow. Everyday is a new day in her sobriety, but it is a gritty conflict.
Meanwhile a mysterious and handsome stranger named Markus befriends her. His piercing gaze, gentleness, and attentiveness make Nina blush. Should Nina trust Markus, or should she be cautious?
When I began reading "Thirsty" my first feelings were about the heavy price that is inflicted on the families of alcoholics. The erratic drama that is played out by muddied intoxicated people that have no inhibitions, and no care for the damage that is done to the family. They do not care about others while they are drinking, then later when they remember what they've done--if at all, they want another drink.
The author Tracey Bateman wrote a palpable account of an alcoholic in her character Nina. Tracey gave details that leads me to believe she did her research.
While reading I felt the pain that Nina's family felt, and I felt the spiraling out of control addiction that was affecting Nina, it was painful to read.
Alcoholism has affected my family. I have witnessed the escalating moments of the inevitable drama of the "bad drunk." Are there any "good drunks" by the way? Maybe I should not have said that last sentence, but I've heard that term many times, and in my opinion drunk is drunk---both bad.
Nina is not a character that I initially loved, I would have kept my distance from her if I knew her in reality. She was like watching a train wreck. Somewhere a long in the story I no longer felt like a voyeur on her life, but began to cheer for her and hope that she would stay sober and get her life together.
The book "Thirsty" examines the lives of other characters as well; Nina's family, old friends, and some new characters with shady pasts.
The mysterious neighbor Markus is a ravishing and personable fella, yet is he a good guy or a bad guy? In the way he was presented I was left guessing and I loved that.
I loved the movement of the story and the introduction of another kind of intoxicating addiction.
I felt this book gave a gut wrenching account of addiction through the character Nina, and addiction was also presented in another more weighty heinous dramatization.
Tracey Bateman's website is under construction.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Coming Soon!
Coming later today a review of "Thirsty" by Tracey Bateman.
I'm off now to take dad to a doctor appointment!
I'm off now to take dad to a doctor appointment!
Two Books To Giveaway!
I have 2 books to giveaway to 1 lucky winner!!
Leave a comment and on November 30 I will announce the winner!
The books are:
"Thirsty" by Tracey Bateman
"Touched By A Vampire" by Beth Felker Jones
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Leave a comment and on November 30 I will announce the winner!
The books are:
"Thirsty" by Tracey Bateman
"Touched By A Vampire" by Beth Felker Jones
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Review-"Touched By A Vampire"
Review "Touched By A Vampire" by Beth Felker Jones
WaterBrook Multnomah Published 2009, 180 pages
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422781
I am not a "Twilighter," nor am I into any other vampire books, movies, or television shows that have had vampires as their cast of characters. Maybe it is my age, or maybe I'm "just not into vampires."
So as you read this review, I hope you will understand that I am reviewing a book, that's subject is reviewing
the Twilight Saga books.
The author Beth Felker Jones is an assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She has written numerous articles and reviews, and is the author of "The Marks of His Wounds: Gender Politics and Bodily Resurrection."
With Beth's background as a researcher, reviewer, and teacher, she has used these skills to write a book touching on the various points of the Twilight Saga series.
She is concerned about the books sweeping magnetism amongst people.
People are gaga over the Twilight books. When I was in Target today I noticed dolls, magazine covers, candy, t-shirts, and other various articles, all focused on the Twilight Saga. Candy for goodness sake! Of course this is commercialization at its "finest."
I felt that Beth wrote a well researched book, and she wrote it with much tact and candor. She knew full well that many of the readers of her book would be fans, and she wrote a book that was not critically offensive.
One of the issues she addressed was the "good side" of the vampire Edward, his morality.
She addresses the sweeping, engaging, all consuming love that the couple Edward and Bella share---but is this how a normal healthy relationship should be taught to young girls?
The Twilight books are a seducing textbook to many girls on love, sex, desire, power, and destiny.
I have to admit I was not enthused about reading this book, but I am glad that I read it--I feel a little more educated when I hear of others that are enraptured by these books.
I believe this is a must read for any Christian parent that has children that have or are reading the Twilight Saga books, it is an eye-opener.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
WaterBrook Multnomah Published 2009, 180 pages
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422781
So as you read this review, I hope you will understand that I am reviewing a book, that's subject is reviewing
the Twilight Saga books.
The author Beth Felker Jones is an assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. She has written numerous articles and reviews, and is the author of "The Marks of His Wounds: Gender Politics and Bodily Resurrection."
With Beth's background as a researcher, reviewer, and teacher, she has used these skills to write a book touching on the various points of the Twilight Saga series.
She is concerned about the books sweeping magnetism amongst people.
People are gaga over the Twilight books. When I was in Target today I noticed dolls, magazine covers, candy, t-shirts, and other various articles, all focused on the Twilight Saga. Candy for goodness sake! Of course this is commercialization at its "finest."
I felt that Beth wrote a well researched book, and she wrote it with much tact and candor. She knew full well that many of the readers of her book would be fans, and she wrote a book that was not critically offensive.
One of the issues she addressed was the "good side" of the vampire Edward, his morality.
She addresses the sweeping, engaging, all consuming love that the couple Edward and Bella share---but is this how a normal healthy relationship should be taught to young girls?
The Twilight books are a seducing textbook to many girls on love, sex, desire, power, and destiny.
I have to admit I was not enthused about reading this book, but I am glad that I read it--I feel a little more educated when I hear of others that are enraptured by these books.
I believe this is a must read for any Christian parent that has children that have or are reading the Twilight Saga books, it is an eye-opener.
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Review-"Surrender The Wind"
Abingdon Press Published 2009, 382 pages
Rita's websites: www.ritagerlach.com and inspire-writer.blogspot.com and steppingstonesforwriters.blogspot.com
The novel is set during the American Revolution, and at the beginning of the novel we are introduced to Seth Braxton. He was born in Virginia and he is fighting as a patriot during the American Revolutionary War.
Seth's sister Caroline had been sent to England at the preface of war to live with their grandfather. At the wars end Seth returns home to Virginia, but he soon receives a letter from his sister summoning him to England. When Seth arrives at Ten Width he finds his sister grieving over the death of her young son Nathaniel. Soon after arriving in England Seth meets Juleah, Caroline's loyal and trusting friend. Seth and Juleah fall in love, but a menacing scheme is unfolding.
This book is one of the most romantic books that I've read. The passion and love that is poetically described between Seth and Juleah was rousing. On this alone makes this book a page turner!
Rita has a beauty of word usage that is amazing. Her descriptions of scenery, people, animals, is all done with a poets liquid aqueous hand.
"Above mossy bluffs The Sea maiden appeared ghostly amid the fog that drifted inland from the sea. Washed of color, it appeared like damp black-and-white etching set on a plain of dew-drenched grass."
She writes of those moments that most authors would omit, such as describing a rustle of a skirt, the sound of blue jays squawking, facial expressions, and characters stopping to watch the sky or a bird.
I loved it that throughout the book (not just placed at the end) the characters often pray for guidance, and scriptures are quoted such as "love one another."
The plot of the book begins as mapped out that Seth travels to England to see his family and the estate. The beauty of the book is in his journey (I'm referring to his life journey) in this new land.
There are many characters in the book, each with vivid details that bring them to life.
The villains are vicious and malevolent. The adversaries are starkly contrasted against the magnetic hero Seth.
I loved this book! It is a great love story! I look forward to future stories that Rita writes.
Rita Gerlach is currently writing "The Dusk To Dawn Series."
Blissful Reading!
Annette
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Roundabout
A Christian Writer's World--Characters wh... This is a well respected blog amongst authors and bloggers. Lena has a enticingly rich and professional looking site!
Already Not Yet Peter Cockrell of the United Kingdom has many articles of interest--"Every Moment of Every Day" on November 15, "Pursuing Greater Humility" on November 12, "Grudem on Scripture's Clarity" and "Only and Always for Christ's Sake" on November 17.
At the Well...In Pursuit of Titus 2 Always wonderful teaching and applicable articles. See "Times and Seasons" by Lori November 13 and "The All-Sufficient One" by Jenifer.
InSpire Please read the story "Miracles" dated November 7. This blog is written and hosted by the author Rita Gerlach, her newest book is "Surrender the Wind."
Through the Looking-Glass... Dr. Mike Thomas is a gifted writer, once upon a time he was my Sunday school teacher, through his writing he continues to teach me. See the articles written November 15, "Stunning Moments in the Bible: Their Eyes Were Opened" (Luke 24).
Blissful Blogging!
Annette
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