Eve A Novel Of The First Woman

Eve A Novel Of The First Woman by Elissa Elliott

Elliot takes poetic license as she delves into the mysterious lives of Adam and Eve.  The story is told by Eve and her daughters; Naava, Aya, and Dara.  Eve tells about the Garden, her relationship with Adam and her children and the undoing of Cain.  Naava is a self centered beauty.  Aya is the caregiver.  Dara is young, sweet, easily swayed and somewhat overlooked.

Elliot had some great nuggets of wisdom interspersed with eh.  I didn't really like any of the characters except maybe Aya.  By the end I finally came to appreciate the Eve that the author set out in the book.  At the end, Elliot did make note of the obvious reasons she had to use such depths of literary license.  Also she explained where her ideas came from.  I appreciated that.

Rating 2.5  The book didn't do it for me.  I think it had great potential and I am really rating it poorly because Eve didn't fit the mold I had for her, which really isn't the author's fault.

Rating R murder, incest, sex,

Kingdom Come The Final Victory

Kingdom come The Final Victory by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins

This is the final book in the 'Left Behind' series. Christ has returned to earth to reign and Satan is bound for a thousand years. Naturals (the people that lived through the return of Christ and those born after His coming) and glorified beings (the ones martyred or raptured) exist together. Apparently their only reason for existence is to worship. The naturals that were born after Christ's appearance have 100 years to become believers or they die on their hundredth birthday. There are many who do not worship Christ as their Savior. They begin an uprising to build the greatest army the world has ever seen in order to stand as the army of Satan when he is again loosed on the earth.

The concept was an interesting idea it just sort of fell flat for me. At times I skimmed when I was tired or disturbed by their interpretation of scripture. Basically everyone lived for a thousand years and then Satan was loosed. There was no battle. The earth was renewed. The end.

Rating 2.5 Meh.....it was okay. I'm glad I finished the series. The first book, 'Left Behind' was a book that I disagree with doctrinally but I did find entertaining enough. I give it a 4 for entertainment. I read all of the ones after that because I wanted to read the series, but I didn't enjoy them as much.

Rating G

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden

Eve And The Choice Made In Eden by Beverly Campbell

This was not my first reading of this book so I may be more critical this time. There was nothing wrong with the book first off. I am just not a go get em' feminista. I have never thought that one gender was any more important than the other. I do believe that each gender has some unique and specific roles better played by them. I do not want to be a man. I have never thought Adam and Eve made a mistake. I have never thought it was all Eve's fault (although I have had a poorly educated religious leader tell a group of young women that......boo hiss! I promptly corrected his male chauvinist attitude.).

The back cover states, "Understanding what happened in the Garden can change your life." I guess that is possible if you have any misconceived notions such as the ones stated above. Considering that I don't.........my life is still the same.

The book does try to pump up Eve which I don't have a problem with. She certainly rocked or she wouldn't have been Eve. I would only hate for anyone to read and feel superior. Adam and Eve were equal in intelligence and power. They were just different.....which is why it is so great. I feel like hopefully Campbell put this across.

I do however LOVE that Campbell explains through doctrine the difference between sin and transgression AND the fact that there was transgression in the Garden......not sin. She also hits on mercy vs. justice which is a topic I always enjoy. And the information also covers the thought that Adam and Eve probably had a trying time contemplating what to do. This may have taken years, not like one afternoon. The author also delves into the difference in ways that men and women assess morality, decision making and risk taking. To round it all out she makes us aware that this was all part of the Plan and not a mistake or whim. Adam and Eve had to use their own agency to leave the Garden and the presence of God. God made a Plan whereby this would take place and then there would be a way already in the works to be able to return. Campbell also puts forth the thought that although Satan tried to thwart the Plan, he really just helped the right thing to happen.

In all I really enjoyed the book especially the points with doctrine to uphold it. My life wasn't changed because I already believed I am divine in my own right......and that women are just as great as men. I do like that this may strike a chord with those thinking that women of our faith submit like a beaten puppy. Not so. We make our own choices and only follow men of faith.

Rating 5 I give it a five because I feel like this is something you could read every few years. Mostly my favorite parts were the ones about the difference between transgression and sin. This is something I like to keep straight in my mind and I need to brush up on the specifics.

Rating G

Standing For Something

Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley

This is not a first time read for me. If this book were ever timely when first published, is now extremely timely. President Hinckley lays out the road less traveled. A road that he professes can save humanity if we will all begin the journey in our own lives and homes. Only can we change the world if we start with ourselves.
Although written by the former President of the LDS church, the book is one that should hold great value for all Judeo/Christian sects. Hinckley simply lays out ten virtues that he believes should be our ground work. These virtues may seem to many of us, now lay by the way side in modern society. The ten virtues are love, honesty, morality, civility, learning, forgiveness and mercy, thrift and industry, gratitude, optimism, and finally faith. He goes on to talk of the guardians of these virtues which are marriage and the family. Hinckley has it right when he says that 'we can save our nation by saving our homes'.
Standing for Something is uplifting although it speaks of serious topics and brings to mind our duty to make life better in a time where virtue and morality seem to be quickly fading from our forethought's.
I would recommend this book to anyone whether LDS or not. I didn't feel like any religious sect was at the forefront, only basic Christian principles.
Rating 5 I spent a lot of time underlining thoughts since this was not my first reading.
Rating G

The Shack

The Shack by William Paul Young

The Shack is a book about more than one story I would say. First there is the story......and then there is the theology. The story intrigued me. I was drawn in by the cover of the book and then I read the back. A child kidnapped and then the father's healing by spending a weekend with God in the 'shack' where the child was held.

I should have known that I wasn't going to love this book like the zillions of other people that read it because......a) zillions of others liked it.........b) I had to put it down when I realized what was happening to the child..........c) zillions of others liked it.

I hate to say that I don't like this book because I feel like it was a truly faithful and heartfelt endeavor by the author. However I do not like this book and would caution against reading it. If you already have a religion.......you are going to be upset by the messed up theology. If you don't, I would hate for you to read this book and think that it held truth.

On the flip side I am happy that this book has touched so many because that means that there are people out there searching for a personal relationship with God. And that relationship can only bring good to their lives.

The story did make some good points. That God, Jesus and The Holy Ghost are three separate people. The are only one in the sense that they basically have the same mind set about everything. Also I did feel like it did a great job of explaining free agency and its vital importance to everything. God explained that He cannot stop people from making choices because if He stopped one choice He would have to stop all choice..........that making everything pointless. He also explained how he does not create 'bad' things but He will use them to His advantage in bringing to pass 'good'. These were great explanations and I hope that any one that reads this book concentrates on these things.

Also I did like the magical quality and the beauty that was described. The 'story' was a good story.

The things that were clearly horrible were the way that Adam was made to seem like he messed up the whole 'plan' by the choice he and Eve made. This is not so. Without choosing to become mortal the 'plan' had no where to go.

Also the Commandments or basically any rule was made to seem foolish. I believe God actually told Mack (the main character) that he did not have to follow any rules. There was a confusing explanation why this was so.

It also seemed like Jesus was the good guy and God was the bad guy. But then the book really never gave Jesus credit for everything he did. Which if you are a Christian means EVERYTHING.

A huge thing for me also was the way that God was portrayed. I did not like the 'character' he was given to play. If that is what God really was I would not have a problem. But it isn't.

There were surely touching and poignant scenes and some great bits of truth but they were so mixed with untruth that I cannot recommend this book.

Rating 2 I wasn't gagging but I also didn't have a very good feeling when I read this. Many of you may now laugh because I admit to reading unsavory things now and then. However they are put out as unsavory.......not as gospel. I cannot give this book a 1 because there were some points made that were really really good. I am mostly certain that I will throw this book away instead of passing it on.
Rating G

To A Child Love Is Spelled T-I-M-E

To a Child LOVE is Spelled T-I-M-E by Mac Anderson & Lance Wubbles

Super short read, which I will probably pick up now and again just to keep me focused on being the right kind of mom. Anderson and Wubbles have compiled great thoughts on parenting along with some fabulous quotes. As I was reading it, I immediately had it pointed out to me that no matter how tired or hurried I am I need to give time to my children. So I let the baby fall asleep on my bare stomach as he is prone to desire, and I read the whole book. Then I promptly got up this morning to read to one of the other little ones.

A favorite quote: "Our greatest danger in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important. -Charels E. Hummel

I was reminded over and over where to keep my focus. I think I will keep this next to my bed to read frequently. Topics range from responsibility, time, love, listening, marriage relationship, traditions, and discipline.

Quote: "At every step the child should be allowed to meet the real experiences of life; the thorns should never be plucked from his rose." -Ellen Key

Rating 5

Rating G

Love Comes Softly

Love Comes Softly by Janette Oke


I am learning that this author and these books are quite popular and from the picture I assume they are also movies. This series was recommended to me and so I thought I would give it a whirl.

Marty (Martha) is a young bride, in love with her husband Clem and pregnant with his child. They have moved west to settle and make their way. They have no land or home, just a wagon. Clem is killed in an accident with his horse, leaving Marty alone on the frontier. As the neighboring homesteaders come to help bury her husband, Marty sits in shock.

Clark, one of her new neighbors, bashfully and with great price, asks Marty if she will marry him. He knows she is all alone and he cannot offer her shelter if they are not married. Clark as a one year old daughter that he needs a mother for. If Marty agrees they will be married by the visiting preacher before he leaves the settlement. She will be the mother to Missy. Clark will move from the house into a lean-to. He will let Marty leave in the spring and take Missy when the time comes, if she decides not to stay.

Marty of course struggles with the loss of Clem and becoming an instant mother and wife to a stranger. Clark is a good and kind man that is supportive and positive. He is soft spoken and gentle with Marty as she learns about running a home and farm. He teaches her about God, whom she comes to love.

Marty meets the neighbors and learns to love and rely on them. Clark finally realizes that Marty is pregnant with Clem's baby and makes arrangements for her to be cared for when her time comes. Clark takes the baby as his own just as Marty did for Missy. Clark and Marty become increasingly comfortable with each other as they struggle on the western front. They make it through the destruction of their barn and much of their grain. They see through the death of a dear neighbor. Clark and Marty plant a garden and care for their children, adding more rooms onto their home. Finally when their new son nearly dies by accident, the two realize that love has finally come to them.

Sweet story. I can see why they are popular. I sometimes felt like Marty didn't give Clark a chance and thought poorly of him when he was trying to be supportive of their predicament. My biggest complaint is the speech. I'm not saying Oke made a mistake in the way she chose to have her characters talk, but it was very distracting for me to read.

Would be very interested to see the movie version.

Rating 3.5 Sweet
Rating G Great clean read

World Without End

World Without End by Ken Follett

The epic follow up of Pillars of the Earth. World Without End is also set in Kingsbridge........just two centuries later. The Cathedral has been built and the town has prospered since the first book. Now all new characters take us through the religious and medical themed book. In this male and Catholic dominated society, women are treated like cattle........or witches. The church crushes anything in its way in the name of God. I can see why people hate organized religion.

Caris is the town wooler's daughter. She wants to become a doctor but settles for learning from the town apothecary, which turns out that she learns a whole lot more than she would have at university. She also revitalizes the town with her wool dying techniques. She is in love with Merthin the town builder. They spend most of their lives pining for each other.........and most of that is Caris' fault. She doesn't want to be the slave to a husband and family but she still wants Merthin. She even goes as far as having an abortion when she becomes pregnant with his child. Caris finally decides she wants to marry Merthin and on the eve of their wedding is tried for witchcraft by her cousin the Prior of Kingsbridge.......Godwyn. Caris is forced into the service of God and becomes a nun in order to save her skin. Through the cloth she is able to serve the town with her medical skill. The plague attacks the village and kills many but Caris learns much. Finally she is able to free herself from the priory and marry Merthin. They build a hospital that she can run properly without the heavy threat of the priory stopping her from using logic instead of myth.
Merthin witnesses a mystery as a child. The mystery is connected to the King and a knight turned monk. The mystery follows him throughout his life. Because Merthin's parents are in debt they strike a deal with the priory. They will be cared for by the priory and give their boys up.....Ralph to be trained as a knight and Merthin to train with a carpenter. Ralph becomes an evil, raping, murdering animal and Earl of Shiring. Merthin becomes a famous builder and travels to Florence to learn amazing techniques which he brings back to Kingsbridge. Merthin is able to see out his destiny and build the tallest tower in England as part of Kingsbridge Cathedral. He becomes the town leader.
The Priory goes through some changes. After many years of heavy handed, back stabbing, scheming done in the name of God the plague kills the evil Prior Godwyn. He is replaced by the soulless Philemon, Godwyn's former lackey. Finally after much tightrope walking, logic, and truth.........Caris and Merthin are able to get the village removed from the rule of the church and put under the rule of the King. This makes more money in taxes for the King and the town is able to flourish when the priory isn't taking all of their money. Finally the mystery witnessed by Merthin is discovered by the right people and with this power Merthin is able to gain a new and sympathetic prior for Kingsbridge. Philemon is sent packing!
Gwenda, the poor unfortunate soul. She becomes friends with Caris at a very young age. Gwenda's father is a landless laborer, which means most of the time he's a thief. At one point he sells Gwenda to a band of outlaws. She is to be their prostitute and her father gets a cow in exchange. The law allows this because Gwenda is not an adult, therefore she is the property of her father. Gwenda is able to break free from the band of outlaws with only one rape and one murder to count. She is desperately in love with Wulfric a sweet and devoted boy two years her junior. Wulfric is engaged to another girl, whom he adores. When she is assaulted by Ralph, Wulfric breaks Ralph's nose in her (Annet) defense. Ralph makes Wulfric pay for this the rest of his life. Wulfric is not given his father's land after the plague wipes out the whole family.......leaving only Wulfric. Annet then marries another. Wulfric is heart broken. Gwenda woos him ending up pregnant and a landless laborer. Wulfric and Gwenda marry and live a life of misery, unable to own their own land. Gwenda tries in vain to persuade Ralph to give Wulfric his land back. Ralph is the one to impregnate Gwenda but neither Ralph or Wulfric know. Years later their child Sam, having the same evil disposition as his biological father, catches Ralph attempting to rape Gwenda AGAIN and kills him. Freeing the family of the tyranny they have lived with for years. Wulfric gains his land back because Ralph had no one else to work it.
This review could end up as an epic itself! The book was so long and miserable at times. I couldn't stand the Prior or the evil committed in the name of God. Caris made me want to run screaming. She caused so much grief for Merthin but she was also a good and strong character.
Rating 4
Rating R murder, rape, violence, war, sex, disease and distress.

The Brethren

The Brethren by Beverly Lewis

Louisa has stayed in Denver and has started teaching art classes again. Michael wants to get back together. Louisa still talks with Julia, Annie's Mennonite cousin. Because of this Lou is beginning to believe in Christ. Her Amish love, Sam, has decided to leave the order. Nothing with Lou is ever resolved.

Ben comes back from Kentucky after finding out that he was adopted. He was found when he was four and no one ever claimed him. He only spoke Dutch and his family suspects that he came from an Amish community. Ben and Annie discover together that he is Isaac, Zeke's brother and the little boy that disappeared from their community years ago. The bones that were found by the preacher were not Isaac's. They were a little girl. Ben and Annie have a hard time convincing the community that Ben is Isaac.

Zeke is taken to a mental hospital. He is treated for depression and anxiety. He finds out that Esther is pregnant again. The Mennonites pray with him and he is convinced of a Savior. He returns home a better man. He will be banned or shunned for disobeying the laws of shunning and sleeping with his wife.

Annie decides that she will leave the Amish community and become fancy so that she can be with Ben. She cuts off her hair and buys fancy clothes.

As Annie makes this choice, Ben decides that he will be baptized and join the Amish community. His birth father returns and begs forgiveness of the community and is embraced by them. He identifies Ben as Isaac. He sees Zeke and Esther even though they are shunned.

Annie decides to also be baptized and give up her art so that she can marry Ben. After a year of marriage her father talks to the other brethren and Annie is allowed to paint and draw as long as she doesn't paint people.

Although I liked this book because it finally came out that Ben was Isaac.........which I already knew, I still think things never seemed to come full circle. Louisa just sort of left the picture and never came to any conclusions in her life. Esther and Zeke have Mennonite beliefs and are shunned from the Amish community, but instead of becoming Mennonites they just stay shunned Amish.

Rating 3
Rating G

The Englisher

The Englisher by Beverly Lewis

This is the second book in the Annie's People series. The Englisher picks up where The Preacher's Daughter left off. Lou is still living with the Plain people. Annie has just promised her father to stop painting. Esther is still living with the Mennonites. Zeke is just finding out about the murder of his little brother.
Lou has a fancy friend, Courtney visit. We soon find she was sent there by Lou's ex fiance to get Lou to come home to Denver. The visit doesn't go well, but it does make Lou think about when she should return to her old life.
Annie finally agrees to see Ben. They begin 'dating'. Annie even borrows some of Lou's clothes to go out with Ben to a theater performance. All the while she struggles with the knowledge that she and Ben shouldn't be dating.
Lou hooks up with Sam, an Amish boy. They begin to totally fall for each other. Lou doesn't think she could ever be Amish and doesn't know what to do about her feelings for Sam.
Esther is forced to return to Zeke. She is put under the ban. No one can speak to her. She can't eat at the same table as her family. She cannot sleep in the same bed as Zeke. But Zeke being Zeke sneaks into her bed........but still makes her eat at a separate table. He wants her to bow to his will.
Zeke befriends Ben and tries to get Ben to go to the police about the buried bones of Isaac. Ben refuses to bring the outside world into the Amish one. (Ben is not Amish.) Zeke calls the police himself. They take him to jail. We don't really find out why.
Lou up and leaves in the middle of the night and returns to Denver. I didn't see that one coming. It wasn't explained very well.
Annie's father catches her with Ben. He tells her they can never see each other again. Annie writes Ben a letter. He is heartbroken and decides to return to Kentucky. Annie leaves her family home and moves in with Esther to help her. This will be like Annie is shunned by the Amish also.
I was surprised to find out that the Amish, although Christian, don't seem to buy into the atonement or savior part of Christ. At least that is the picture painted by Lewis. Most of their preaching is in High German and is not understood by everyone listening. To think you are saved by Christ is prideful and that is why Esther is banned.....because she has accepted the Savior as her savior. Also having talents is prideful which is one reason Annie is in trouble with the people and her father. Her talent for art and beauty is frowned on. Also this society is very patriarchal, but not in a good way. The women seem like servants to their husbands and are expected to do the exact will of the husband. The Mennonites on the other hand are Christians that believe in being saved and having a relationship with Christ. Their marriages also seem more of partner marriages instead of a leader and followers.
I know Lewis has a big following and this book has received good ratings on other sites. I liked it because it was clean and I learned things I didn't know. On the other hand this particular book didn't seem to flow very well. I felt like better explanations about events were needed. Maybe she is trying to create mystery, but it felt like confusion instead.
Rating 3
Rating G

Troubled Waters

Troubled Waters by Dean Hughes Hearts of the Children Vol. 2

Troubled Waters picks up right where book 1 left off. Gene is still on his mission in West Germany. Hans is stuck in East Germany and going to church, hoping to be allowed into university. Kathy is just starting Smith college in the east. Diane is starting at the Y and sending her boyfriend Ken off on his mission.

Gene finds out that there is more to a mission than climbing the ladder when he is not made the AP. He finally starts doing the Lord's work instead of vying for leadership positions. After serving his two and a half years he returns to the states at Christmas. He lives in his parents home as they are living in Virginia and his father is in Congress. Gene returns to his studies at the U. He works for his uncle Wally selling cars. This is where he meets Emily. We eventually find out that Emily knew him from an opposing high school and scoped him out. They fall in love and Gene frets about marrying her or taking some time to cool off. The Vietnam war is raging and even though things don't look good Gene still wants to serve America if he is called up. He doesn't want to leave Emily to go to war and die. Finally he realizes that they can be sealed forever if they are to marry and he decides to tentatively propose marriage........which Emily accepts.

Hans goes to a youth conference where he and his crush Greta almost drown. He is convinced that Greta is the girl for him and that they will someday end up together even though he is younger that she. As Hans is accepted to University and moves away from home, he finds out that Greta is engaged to another man. He is seriously depressed. Hans also still has the Stasi on his case because he decided to help a friend escape from West Germany. Hans saw his friend murdered by police but escaped. Even though he wasn't fleeing the country himself, the government is sure that he aided the escape and they are slowly building a case against him. Hans visits Greta to make one last attempt at what he thinks is the love of his life, only to find that she will never feel the same about him. Upon his return to University he is picked up by the Stasi and put in prison. He is sentenced to three years. He will probably now never have a professional job (an engineer) with the government. Life will be even harder.

Kathy heads out east to Smith college. She meets her roommate.......whom she feel they have nothing in common with each other. She joins an SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) group and devotes most of her time to rallies instead of studying. She and LaRue, her aunt don't see eye to eye anymore about politics and the church. Kathy pulls back from her religion feeling like she has nothing in common with the other members. When she is home she fights with her family because they are so uniformed about real life. Martin Luther King Junior is murdered. Kathy begins to see that blacks are no longer wanting to change things peacefully. The radicals begin preaching violence. Kathy walks away from a flag burning. She joins a hippie movement in San Fransisco but his mauled by a free love, nasty hippie and returns to Salt Lake City. The country is in turmoil over Vietnam.

Diane semi promises to wait for Ken, or at least not to get married until she graduates from college. Then she is practically stalked by the smooth talking Greg. He paints a nice picture of their life together.........he will be beyond successful and give her the kind of life she dreams of. Nice home, kids, great clothes and the right kind of people to associate with. Diane lamely tries to hold out for Ken. Her roommates even try to stage an intervention because they don't like some things about Greg. Finally it is time for Greg to graduate and go away to grad school. He proposes marriage in a Greg sort of way and Diane can't help but fall for it. She agrees to marry him and follow him to grad school.

Gene seems more mature in this book, hence much more likable. He loses some of his politician slickness. He evolves into a character that I finally care about. The budding romance helps.

Hans has grown spiritually but his life seems destined for bleakness.

Kathy is almost more than I can handle in this book. I know that she is evolving like a real person so I try to understand. But I did not like Kathy in this book. She is ANGRY and she knows more than anyone else. She's hard to swallow. She does stick by her beliefs though, despite not feeling part of her religious community.

Diane just continues being pretty and dressing cute. I can see her heading for trouble. She doesn't take college very seriously unless it has to do with socializing. Greg gives her the old ' I prayed and God revealed to me you should be my wife!' and she totally is suckered in. He's an icky guy. I don't foresee a happy marriage.

Rating 4.25

Rating G

The Preacher's Daughter

The Preacher's Daughter by Beverly Lewis

I picked this book up after a good tongue lashing for enjoying Twilight. This was recommended as a cleaner read. Truth be told..........it was, but I didn't like it as much so it doesn't really matter.

This takes place in Paradise Pennsylvania in an Amish community. I really like reading about the Amish or Plain. I like the sense of community I get.
Annie is at the end of her oat sowing time and will soon have to make the decision to join the church or leave the Plain life. The one thing stopping her from joining the church, which her father is a preacher in, is her love of art. She is a budding artist and doing quite well, having just won an art contest. Sadly she must hide her love for art from her family and community. It is disgraceful for her to do something so prideful when she should be more humble.
Annie has already given up her beau Rudy because she was unable to commit to the Plain way of life.
Louisa is Annie's pen pal. They have written to each other since Annie was eleven. Louisa comes from a rich family in Colorado. They are pressing her to marry a lawyer that will fit their idea of the ritzy way of life. Tired of the material life, Louisa calls off the wedding and flees Denver to stay with Annie.
Annie's long time friend Esther is married with three children and one more on the way. Her husband Zeke is a mean control freak. I suspect he beats her. Esther runs into a Mennonite family. (This family is related to Annie but they are not Amish. Annie helps clean their house and in turn they have an art studio for her in their attic.) Esther finds she likes their belief in Jesus and becomes saved. Zeke finds out and gets her in to trouble with the Amish elders. She is banned from sleeping in the same bed with Zeke. She runs away and stays with the Mennonite family just as she goes into labor and delivers her last child.
Ben is a 'fancy' person.......not of the Amish or Mennonite faith. He sees Annie and is taken with her.
Long ago when Annie was younger, a small child disappeared from the Amish community. The Amish do not like outsiders in their lives, so the kidnapping was never reported to the police. Recently Annie's father Jesse uncovered what he thinks were the child's bones in a nearby field.

Honestly the only parts of this that really drew me in were Ben and the thought that Annie could leave her community for love and still be able to pain, and the abuse of Esther. At first I wanted to bash Esther myself because I thought she was going to submit to Zeke's abuse and let her children get hurt. Luckily she didn't or I wouldn't even be able to say this book was worth reading. Also I liked their manner of speech and the sprinkling of German and Old Dutch. The characters were okay I didn't really fall in love with them. I will probably read the next book in the series to find out what happens between Ben and Annie, Annie and the church, and if Lou will go back to her old life.
Rating 3
Rating G

Sarah

Sarah by Orson Scott Card

Although I am sure there was much poetic license taken, this is the story of Sarah, wife of the great prophet Abraham. The story begins with Sarai (Sarah's first given name before it was changed by God) as a ten year old girl. She lives with her father, a king without a country. Abram (Abraham) comes to secure a bride price for Sarai's sister Qira, for his brother Lot. Abram and Sarai meet. He tells her he will return in less than ten years to marry her. She sees that he is a truthful man that worships the one true God and that the priesthood of that God is his birthright.
Abram does return. He marries Sarai and takes her off to the desert where he has many herds. There is a severe drought and they move from well to well in order to care for their herds. In the mean time Sarai becomes a great woman in a great house hold. Abram studies the stars, copies the scriptures and writes his own writings. Sarai remains barren throughout their first years of marriage despite God's promise to Abram that he will be the father of a great nation.
The drought drives Abram and Sarai into Egypt. Abram is met by the men of Pharaoh. Abram is told by God not to divulge that Sarai is his wife. He instead introduces her as his sister Milcah. They are taken to different places in Egypt and are kept separate for a year. Pharaoh wants to marry Milcah so his children will have the blood of the priesthood. If he knew she was Sarai and the wife of Abram he will kill Abram and marry Sarai because he is a princess of Ur. Sarai is given Hagar as her handmaid, a gift from Pharaoh to lessen the blow of being held hostage. Abram teaches Pharaoh of God and Sarai warns Pharaoh of an uprising by his highest advisor. Abram and Sarai are allowed to leave Egypt. They finally tell Pharaoh Sarai's true identity after he makes promises in front of his men that Abram and his household will come to no harm. They return to the desert.
Lot and Qira are living in Sodom. The city life is not for Lot but Qira loves it. Sodom and its surrounding cities are wicked. Abram gives Lot some of his herds so that he can move out to the desert. Qira comes very begrudgingly. She makes the camp of Abram miserable. Lot decides to split his herds from Abram and spend some time back in the city to make Qira happy.
There is war in Sodom and her sister cities. Abram takes some of his men to take back the prisoners of war, Lot included. Abram and his men triumph. The prisoners are set free. Sarai goes to Abram. She learns from God that she is to give Hagar to Abram that he may have a son. She can do this because she owns Hagar and so Hagar will stand in for Sarai's body.
Hagar becomes pregnant. It is miserable for Sarai but she handles it like a queen. Hagar shows her true colors and becomes a pain in the rear. Ishmael is born of Hagar. Abram loves him.
Years later Abram and Sarai are aging. Abram prophesies the destruction of Sodom and surrounding areas by meteorites. He also prophesies that Sarai will bear him a son that will build up a great nation. God changes the name of Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah.
Sodom is destroyed just as Lot escapes. Qira turns back to get her jewels and gowns and is turned into a pillar of salt..........or basically zapped by the fire from Heaven.
Sarah becomes pregnant at an advanced age. Isaac is born. Ishmael and Hagar mistreat him. Ishmael is given his herds and they are turned out of Abraham's camp in order to preserve the life of Isaac. Isaac grows into a young man and he and Abraham go out to visit wells and check herds. Abraham seems distraught.......the book ends before we find out why?????
Obviously Card and we can only know so much about Abraham and Sarah. The rest he has studied a great deal to assume. I do not take this book as truth only speculation therefore I am not bothered by anything in the book. I enjoyed it immensely. I liked getting to know Sarah as a person and how she may have felt and reacted to the situations we learn about in some vagueness from The Bible.
Rating 4 This is my second reading so I should probably give it a higher score. Tiny but necessary bits were a little dry........the political and land issues. Still worth the read.
Rating G

The Christmas Sweater

The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck



Conservative radio talkshow host Glenn Beck, offers up his first novel The Christmas Sweater. The books idea comes from Glenn's childhood. Eddie, the young main character receives an ugly handmade sweater for Christmas instead of the Huffy bike he had been praying to God for and dropping hints as heavy as bricks to his mother for. His father has died of cancer and his mother has taken on four jobs which are barely getting them by. Beyond this point there are spoilers***



Eddie and his mother travel to his grandparents for the remainder of Christmas day. Eddie makes things miserable because he didn't get the bike he wanted. Because he is being such a puke he and his mother drive back home instead of staying at his grandparent's farm. Since his mom has been working straight for years she is exhausted........falls asleep and dies in a car wreck. Eddie's bad attitude and ungrateful nature..........'victim' attitude only get worse as he moves in with his grandparents. He is able to make one friend but Taylor's family only makes matters worse. They show Eddie all he is missing in his life, mainly material goods. Eddie's life begins a tough downward spiral that he chooses not to stop despite the love of his grandparents. He blames everyone including God and his grandparents for everything that has gone wrong.............he never can see that he is the only one making himself miserable. Eddie also meets a mysterious neighbor that tries to teach him the lessons he needs to learn in order to lead a happier life. Finally Eddie can take no more and runs away. He finds himself in a stormy, dark and desolate corn field with a raging storm moving his way. Between the storm, corn field and the suspicious neighbor Eddie is able to see his transgression and turn his life around.



I liked the book. I didn't like Eddie. I felt like the book gave me a good chance to see how I could choose to make my own life happier. A good book about taking responsibility for your own actions no matter what situations you may find yourself in.

Rating 4

Rating G

One Tuesday Morning

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

This book is written by a Christian writer, which I did not know when I picked it up. I grabbed it from the library and the cover looked new and in good shape.........so that's how I ended up with it. Once I figured out it was written as Christian literature I was interested to see what it would be like. I heard that Christian pulishers were sticklers for cleanliness.

The book is about two families whose lives entertwine during the events of September 11th. One family's father/husband is Eric. He is a high powered business man that has let work take over his life. He loves nothing more than power and money, which he freely admits. The other family's father/husband is a firefighter for New York City. This part really hit home for me and that is why I was interested. The fireman (Jake) is an awesome dad and husband and a dedicated Christian. Both men end up in the towers as they are about to fall. They bump into each other in a stair well, Eric fleeing the building and Jake going up the stairs to rescue victims of the tragedy. Eric stumbles into Jake and his helmet falls to the ground. The two men look at each other and realize they look like twins. Eric sees into the top of Jake's fallen helmet, which contains a picture of Jake's little girl. Eric realizes that Jake is climbing to his death. Each man resumes their direction. Eric knowing that Jake is climbing to his death, begins to be repentant of the way he has been leading his life. He begins to pray to make it from the building alive so that he may have one more chance with his family.

*Spoilers*

Jake dies praying with other firemen and victims, knowing that he is going to meet his maker, but having peace with that.......the only regret is that he won't be with his family.

Eric makes it out of the building just as it collapses and blows him under Jake's firetruck. A little far fetched, but it makes the story go.

Eric is found near the fire rig and is thought to be Jake, because they look so much a like. Even more far fetched. He is taken to the hospital with head injuries and burns and Jake's wife is called to come be with him. When he wakes he remembers nothing. Convenient.

To help him remember his life Jake's wife Jamie gives Eric Jake's journal and Bible. Eric learns how to be a good husband, father and Christian by trying to become Jake in hopes that his memory returns. Jamie is also converted to Christianity through this as she has not been a believer up to this point.

Finally Eric/Jake remembers who he is. He is reunited with his family as the man that they always hoped he would eventually be.

This book was pretty good. It was hard to read at parts, knowing what was going to happen......the World Trade Centers, and the fact that you knew Jake was dead and Eric was Eric. I really did enjoy the characters. I didn't feel like the book was too preachy, although if you are not Christian I can't imagine why you would want to read this anyway.

I give the book a 4.

Also the book is rated G. I was happy to see that the book was entirely clean yet you still had great emotions for the love between the couples.