WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? I you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult:  Checked out from the library. Jodi Picoult is one of my favorite authors. Read more about her here.

What I recently finished reading:

Distant Melody: Received from Revell Books for a blog tour next week. See my review on Monday.

What I think I will read next:

The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey: This book is from Hatchette for review.

What are you reading now? What have you just finished? What will you read next? Tell me in the comments.

Tolle lege!

Waiting on Wednesday: Pearl of China by Ainchee Min

I read The Good Earth when I was a teen and I was fascinated by the stories of the Chinese people. I especially remember the part where one of the characters was expecting a child. She was working in the fields, and when it came time to have her baby, she stopped working, gave birth, then simply went back to the fields and resumed her work. I couldn't believe that some people actually lived like that! It wasn't until later that I found out that that particular part of the book was true. Childbirth is very different in China among the working class. Pearl S. Buck was simply writing about the Chinese culture that she had come to know.

When I first saw an article about Pearl of China by Anchee Min a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to read it. I have heard about Pearl S. Buck for many years. I'd like to know more. And to see that this is a book written from a Chinese perspective makes it even more intriguing.

It is written from the viewpoint of a friend of Buck's named Willow. Willow is a compilation of several friends that Buck had while she lived in China. Min tells the story of their friendship and the things they learned from each other as they shared in each other's lives. It is a work of fiction, but the stories are basically true.

Here is a video of the author talking about her new book:

Book Review (sort of): Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis

I did read all of this book. It was the book for the month of February for Semicolon's Book Club. I wasn't sure how much I would like it, since C.S. Lewis' books are ones that I sometimes like, and sometimes don't. But I dove in, trying not to make any judgments about it until I was finished.

At first, I enjoyed the story of Orual and Psyche. I was intrigued by the character of the Fox and I began to truly dislike the king. I felt drawn into the story.

However, I think because I don't read much fantasy stories, I soon tired of this one. I stopped several times trying to figure out what was happening and why it was happening. Although I read it completely, I had to make myself finish.

Now, for those who like fantasy and/or C.S. Lewis, I have decided to take the coward's way out and instead of trying to tell you what the book was actually about, I will quote other's reviews and let them tell you. So here are those quotes along with links so you can read the reviews in full:

"The story is set in the fictional kingdom of Glome around the last centuries of B.C. (approx. 100-200 years before Christ's birth). As the story is narrated by Princess Orual it characteristically follows her life, from a young girl to an old woman, with everyone else taking the role of supporting characters. Thus along the way the reader learns of Psyche and her story and what part Orual plays in it. Although a story of Orual, Psyche is very much at the heart of it, it is because of Psyche that Orual is even telling her story -- a story that she believes to be an accurate and truthful account of her life and which she will use to plead her case before the gods, whom she believes have treated her unfairly." (A Library is a Hospital For the Mind)

"There are two daughters of a mean old king in a barely civilized fictitious land. Their mother has died. The older daughter, Orual, is but a child observing. The king marries another wife for another political link but more so for a son. But this young mother, dying at delivery, produces only another baby girl. Orual takes it upon herself to become the baby's new mother. And baby Istra is a remarkable beauty. Orual has learned from their Greek slave/tutor that Istra means Psyche in Greek. As she grows she only becomes more beautiful - for she is bright and meek and kind as well." (Love To Learn)

"In Till We Have Faces Lewis reworks the myth of the Psyche and Cupid. It is a compelling story of Love, and Love’s imitators (desire, dependency, etc). Lewis’ adaptation is complete with vibrant characters, an absorbing plot, and many layers of meaning for those who can’t resist the temptation to explore and deconstruct them.



I expect this book to be on my list of favorite books read in 2007." (Kevin Stilley)

So, there you are. Call me ignorant, or call me uninformed. I just didn't get very much out of this book. Yes, I did see the allegory and "layers of meaning" (probably not all, but some). I simply didn't enjoy it. Sorry.

DVD Review: What's In the Bible? by Phil Vischer (and a giveaway!)

Phil Vischer has done it again! The creator of VeggieTales has come out with a new DVD series entitled What's In the Bible? The goal of the series is to "bring the Bible to kids and make it alive to them." Mr. Vischer wanted to present the story of the Bible to kids and to "teach kids the Gospel and how to live it." I believe that is a worthy goal. And I believe that these DVDs will accomplish that goal.

I watched the first two episodes of What's In the Bible? with four of my five children. We all really enjoyed it. There were characters that made us laugh, such as Clive and Ian (brothers with Australian accents), Chuck Wagon (a cowboy who sings and plays the guitar) and Captain Pete (a pirate who teaches Bible and church history). And there's Michael, who is an adorable little boy who is watching these DVDs from the back seat of his mother's car along with his younger brother, Pierre. For all of you who are familiar with VeggieTales, you will probably recognize some of the same type of humor and style that was evident in those videos.

The theology contained in these videos seemed to me to be right on. There was only one statement that I might disagree with ("Everyone on earth can be a part of God's spiritual kingdom"), but all in all, pretty theologically sound. The Gospel had a major role (as it should) and there was much emphasis given to God, His plan, and how messed up we are and how we need salvation and redemption.

I highly recommend this DVD series to everyone, young and old. 

And, Tyndale has given me two certificates for the first two DVD's to give away on this blog! Just leave a comment before midnight on March 31. I will pick a winner on April 1. Just be sure to leave your email so I can contact you if you win.

Here's Phil Vischer to tell you more about What's In the Bible?:





For more information on What's In the Bible? visit the Tyndale Publisher's website or http://www.whatsinthebible.com/.

(The DVDs reviewed were sent to me by Tyndale House Publishers. I received no monetary compensation for this review. The opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Books Seized This Week

Here are the books that came into my house this week (and last - I didn't post this last week):

Books (and one DVD) for review:

         


    

Books won in contests:

    

Books from the library:

                 

Wow! I have a LOT of reading and reviewing to do in the next few weeks! So glad next week is spring break so I might be able to get caught up on all of this.......

Reviews on these and others to come soon!


   

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

I really want to read this book!

Book Review: Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury

I have read several books by Karen Kingsbury. Most of them have been pretty good. After reading several, however, I felt that they were beginning to sound a lot alike, so I stopped reading them for a while. When I saw this one, I thought it might be a little different, so I checked it out from the library.

When young people are in love, they sometimes do stupid things. This is a story of a couple who let their passions get control of them and they wind up with many regrets. As they get older, they both wonder what life would have been like if things had been different.

The primary male character in this book, Brad Cutler, is getting married. But weeks before the wedding, he has memories of his high school girlfriend and what they did on a beach several years before. He realizes that before he can pledge his heart to his bride, he must go back and confront his past and seek forgiveness. What happens as a result of this decision is the subject of this book.

When I read the first few chapters, I wanted to put the book down. Kingsbury painted such a "perfect" picture of Brad, his fiancee, and her family that I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief. But I made myself go on. Then the book got better. I began to get into the story and see what my life might have been like if I had made similar choices. I grieved with the characters as they struggled with their past and with trusting God.

I think this book would be helpful for some who find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy, or for those who are struggling with trusting God for their future. It's a little too "sweet", but I know a lot of readers like this kind of book. If you do, you will enjoy Shades of Blue. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Caught by Harlan Coben

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, where we share books for which we are eagerly awaiting publication.

One of my favorite authors of suspense novels is Harlan Coben. He has a new book coming out in a few weeks called Caught. You can read about this book here, or click on the book image to read about it on Amazon.

Here are a few quotes from reviews for the book:

"Caught is filled with so many twists and turns you will swear you’re on a roller coaster ride. Just when you think you have things figured out, a twist is thrown at you that takes things in a completely different direction with a stunning conclusion you will never see coming. Is everything really as it seems? Make sure you pre-order a copy of this book, because you don’t want to be the only one Caught not reading it." - read this review here

"This story takes more twists and turns than an old country road and you better be belted in. It is a story filled with tension, stress, pressure, that challenges the reader. It is a thrilling, gripping, spine tingling novel..." - read review here

Sounds good. I'll be haunting my favorite librarian for a copy of this one!

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? I you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I finally got my hold from the library. I have read several chapters and I am loving it! So far, it is a very sad but interesting story.

(Note: If you click on any of the book cover images, it will lead you to the Amazon page for that book, which will show you information about that title.)

Intimacy Ignited by Dillow and Pintus - I received this book from NavPress for review. Good so far.

What I recently finished reading:

Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury - I will be sharing a review on this book tomorrow.

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis - I read this book for the Semicolon Book Club. My thoughts on the book will be posted in the next few days.

What I will probably read next:

House Rules by Jodi Picoult - It seems like I have been waiting for this book forever! I really like (most of) Jodi Picoult's books, so I'm eager to jump into this one.

 Winston Churchill by John Perry (Christian Encounters Series) - I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers for review.

 

Carpe Libris!

The Librarian Song