| Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer |
[03 Jun 2010|02:24pm] |
Flight of Shadows by Sigmund Brouwer
The sequel to Broken Angel, Flight of Shadows is another blisteringly fast-paced novel from Sigmund Brouwer.
Flight of Shadows picks up where Broken Angel left off – Caitlyn has escaped Appalachia and is trying to make her way through life in the Outside. But being Outside doesn’t mean she’s free. As Caitlyn navigates this dangerous new world, the government picks up her trail, as does an old enemy, and she has to rely on the enigmatic but talented Razor to find her friends and survive.
Brouwer’s created a fascinating (and dark) possible future for the United States — city-states that function on a caste system: Influentials, Invisibles, Industrials — and the book is nearly impossible to put down. Razor is a fantastic amount of fun but harbors a dark secret, Caitlyn finally discovers the true value of her genetic makeup, and the villain is deliciously creepy.
A great read, especially for fans of dystopian stories.
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[18 Sep 2009|06:14am] |
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Anyone here read Girl Meets God or Velvet Elvis?
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| North! Or Be Eaten - Andrew Peterson |
[04 Sep 2009|10:56am] |
North! Or Be Eaten
by Andrew Peterson
Peterson’s first book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, was a quirky romp with surprising depth and a dash of scare-inducing moments. The second book in the Wingfeather Saga, North! Or Be Eaten takes the series to the next level: deeper, darker, heart-wrenching, hilarious, hopeful, redemptive.
As the Igiby family sets off for the promised safety of the Ice Prairies, they’re separated both physically and emotionally. The book follows Janner, the oldest sibling, as he struggles to find his family and come to terms with the conflicting feelings inside him. Along the way, he’s chased by Fangs, captured by cold-blooded thieves, held prisoner in the dreaded Fork Factory, and battles all sorts of ferocious, unique fantasy creatures. It’s a journey, a quest, and though somewhat episodic in nature, it never feels disjointed as every event pushes the characters toward the climax.
Though darker than the first book, it’s an organic change as the Igibys face a dark world and find their own hope in each other. It’s Peterson’s Empire Strikes Back. The end of the book is a game-changer, making me antsy for book three.
Cross-posted to  christian_books.
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| Hello |
[25 Jun 2009|08:29am] |
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Hi there! My name is Sheri and I just joined LJ and this community yesterday. I love reading, especially Christian books! I am currently reading So Long, Status Quo by Susy Flory. It introduces nine women who made a difference in their world and how we can apply what we learn from them to our own lives. One of my favorite quotes so far is from Mother Teresa. "We feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean will be less because of that missing drop." It has encouraged me to give of myself in whatever way I can to serve God.
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| Amazing author |
[07 Apr 2009|12:19pm] |
Hi there. New member to LJ and this community...just wanted to share my experience with the author George MacDonald. C.S. Lewis was very fond of him (mentioning him in the 'Great Divorce') and his work is very spiritually uplifting. I recommend, for starters, 'Diary of an Old Soul'. If you are interested in fiction, try 'the Seaboard Parish'. Hope someone is as blessed as I have been with this author! God bless!
~Mike
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| well hi there! |
[05 Apr 2009|12:42pm] |
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Hi, I'm SaVanna. :) I just joined, so I thought I'd introduce myself and recommend a couple non-fiction Christian books that I've read.
"Living Beyond Your Lifetime: How to be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave" by Mike Huckabee. I'm a big Mike Huckabee fan, so I really enjoyed this book. He can cheese it up a little sometimes, but his analogies are funny and meaningful. Here's one of my favorite quotes from the book: "Our responsibility for the next generation will outweigh our roles in our current jobs. More important than the money we are paid for our work is what we will become as a result of our work. Our character will become more critical than the careers we follow."
"Sex and Dating" by Mindy Meier. We studied this book in our college leadership class, but I think it would be much more effective for junior high and high school-aged students. She uses a question-answer format, and covers a huge array of topics in the realm of sex and dating. It might be a bit juvenile for some of the people in this comm, but I think it's a great read for teens who are dating or who are ready to start dating. Also, this book has what I would consider a Catholic equivalent: "If You Really Loved Me" by Jason Evert. I've read both of the books, but there were some portions of "If You Really Loved Me" that I didn't understand because I'm not familiar with Catholicism.
I'm currently reading "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Has anyone read this book? What did you think about it?
Also, do any of you have any recommendations for books about witnessing to friends/family? Thanks so much, and nice to meet you all. :)
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| Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer |
[05 Apr 2009|10:28am] |
Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwer
Amazon Description:
In the rough, shadowy hills of Appalachia, a nation carved from the United States following years of government infighting, Caitlyn and her companions are the prey in a terrifying hunt. They must outwit the relentless bounty hunters, skirt an oppressive, ever-watchful society, and find passage over the walls of Appalachia to reveal the dark secrets behind Caitlyn’s existence–and understand her father’s betrayal.
In this engrossing, lightning-paced story with a post-apocalyptic edge, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer weaves a heroic, harrowing journey through the path of a treacherous culture only one or two steps removed from our own.
When they say "lightning-paced," they mean it. This book starts fast and just keeps going until the end. The futuristic/alternate reality Brouwer has created portrays the frightening concept of a dictatorial theocracy that tells you what to believe and how - and makes you disappear if you don't obey. Amidst this oppressive society, Caitlyn struggles to find the secrets to her past - why she is different, why she and her father have been hiding from the Outside her entire life - so that she can unlock her destiny. Add just a dash of science fiction, and you've got a book that's part X-Men, part Bourne Identity, all thrills.
Though only in hardcover right now, the paperback releases on May 5.
Cross-posted to christian_books. Sorry if you see this twice.
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| Am I Good Enough?: Preparing for Life's Final Exam by Andy Stanley |
[31 Mar 2009|05:49pm] |
 Am I Good Enough?: Preparing for Life's Final Exam by Andy Stanley
GoodReads Summary: I Ask Myself Every Day...“Am I Good Enough?” Christians claim that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But how could a good God, who created the entire universe in all its diversity, be so limiting? Is Christianity unfair? Isn’t it more fitting to believe that good people from any religious or nonreligious background go to heaven, rather than people from one particular belief system? Maybe not, says Andy Stanley. In this updated edition of the bestselling book, teen readers will find out why Jesus taught that goodness is not even a requirement to enter heaven—and why Christianity is beyond fair. Andy Stanley leads the next generation of young people to a grateful awareness of God’s enormous grace and mercy.
If only good people go to heaven,
would I make the cut?
If Christianity is true,
why is God so narrow-minded?
And why aren’t the answers obvious?!
They are. Find out why being “good enough” has nothing to do with heaven’s requirements, and why God is, in fact, not fair at all.
My review
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Parable had a sale recently where this book was marked down to less than 1/2 price. The title intrigued me, as I've been having a lot of questions, lately, about my faith. The title plus an appealing price tag, and I decided to pick up the book.
Largely, it told me things I already knew, but it shared some of them in a new way. So, there were a few "Aha!" moments for me.
One thing I've been struggling with, is the idea that Christianity is very "legalistic." This book explained that the various laws written in scripture were not meant to show us how we can perfect. God knew we could never live up to such a standard. Instead, they were written to highlight/illustrate how bad we can really be, and how much we desperately need a Saviour & his forgiveness.
Although written for teens, I enjoyed this book as it was written in a very logical & rational fashion. I'm still working out some things, but I found this book to be very helpful.
View all my reviews.
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| The God Cookie by Geoffrey Wood |
[21 Mar 2009|05:09pm] |
The God Cookie by Geoffrey Wood
Amazon Description:
Meet Parrish. He’s a regular guy, owns a coffee shop. He happens to be shooting the breeze with his buddies at the neighborhood Chinese buffet, talking about the dents in golf balls and such, when the discussion develops into a debate on whether or not God still speaks to people.
When his friends skip out and he is left alone, Parrish tells God he's “all in.” Ready to listen, do what he’s told, and see what happens. Only moments later, back at his table, he opens his fortune cookie to find a surprise -- instead of a proverbial statement, he reads a directive from God.
“Take the corner.”
God, via cookie, sends him on this first step of a seemingly absurd adventure. His quest sends him to the corner bus stop, where he finds a dropped and forgotten letter, written in a desperate tone, to help those God brings across his path. There, Parrish befriends Audra, a nursing student who rides the bus home. And together they begin to follow the god cookie message, pursuing the random threads of the experiment, tying them together and discovering more about themselves than either ever imagined possible.
First Line: Perhaps none of this would have happened had they not been arguing about golf balls.
Geoffrey Wood, author of Leaper (another fine, hilarious read with surprising depths), has done it again with The God Cookie.
The premise of this novel amused me, so I picked it up, and before I realized what had happened, I'd read the first thirty pages. The writing is playful, the dialogue crackles, and I laughed out loud more times than I can count in the first chapter alone.
As in Leaper, Wood makes you laugh until you cry - and then makes you cry. I can't wait to read this one again.
Cross-posted to christian_books.
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| The Last Disciple by Hang Hanegraaff & Sigmund Brouwer |
[26 Jan 2009|12:08am] |
 The Last Disciple by Hank Hanegraaff
GoodReads Summary: "What if the Antichrist has already been revealed? The first book in a gripping new series by best-selling authors Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaff explores the lives of Christians who struggle to survive and spread the Gospel during the climactic turbulence of "the last days." With the enemy seeking to decipher the code of John's letter, Revelation, and destroy the church, believers must cling to the hope Revelation provides as they face the greatest of all persecutions. A spellbinding story of faith and fulfillment of prophecy. Discover the "code" of Revelation as you begin to see it through the eyes of the persecuted believers to whom it was written."
My review
Rating: 2 of 5 stars
I found this book quite disjointed. It was like the authors felt the need to manufacture drama. So, they'd give you a few paragraphs (A few pages, if you're lucky.), then jump to a new scene.
There were times when the authors would jump to a brand new setting/characters but leave out imperative details. It left the reader confused and hanging, as they quickly cut to a new scene.
I found the character development lacking
Honestly, it was pretty grueling to get through.
On a positive note, I was impressed by the passion of Christos' followers, who would willingly die for their Master, as He had died for them.
View all my reviews.
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[09 Jan 2009|01:20am] |
Does anyone know of any good non-fiction books on humanism?
Please & thank you!
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[14 Dec 2008|01:16am] |
Have any of you read The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis?
I don't know what I was expecting, but I didn't get as much out of it as I hoped I would. What were your thoughts?
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| Grace (Eventually) by Anne Lamott |
[14 Dec 2008|01:05am] |
![Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith](/%20https://apps.wordpress.com/pt-https-imgprx.livejournal.net/e09f06c6e8b189c8ba33397131d536b1175de4e35988bf086dec2757b1ea9bdd/P2Wkxmt6hAfn2jcqqdEBDwBbtuiXwfF43EGPCLBcgNvAvEmFw5fwWB5yUhB6URwj4xYH0jfOZEEJX0Yf30JqqB5f0iSYa7nY8A:YbT-6M4u2M5-F0UAbw-oog) Grace [Eventually]: Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
Summary from Amazon: "More thoughts on faith. Continued from Traveling Mercies and Plan B.
"Through Anne Lamott's many books (including six novels, her bestselling parenting memoir, Operating Instructions, and her popular guide to writing, Bird by Bird) the subject she keeps returning to is her faith, her deeply personal--"erratic," she says--journey in Christianity."
My review
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was touched by Lamott's openness and her willingness to share her inner most conflicts & airing her dirty laundry, so to speak. I appreciated her ability to forgive herself and to show grace toward herself and others.
I'm thankful for the reminder, that we're all flawed and still somehow loved. (I struggle with this...)
View all my reviews.
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| book rec: cute contemporary romance |
[12 Oct 2008|04:28pm] |
If you're looking for a cute contemporary romance, I've got just the series for you.
Let Them Eat Cake and Bon Appetit by Sandra Byrd
 
These cute novels star twentysomething Lexi Stuart, who's graduated from college with a degree in French but is having trouble finding a job. She knows a desk job isn't for her, but what kind of career could she possibly find that combines her love for French culture and her knack for baking?
Enter the French bakery L'Esperance. Lexi gets to speak French, help with the baking, and it doesn't hurt that her boss is an attractive, flirtatious Frenchman.
These books are cute and fluffy - rather like the French pastry that plays such a vital (and hunger-inducing) role in the stories. They entertain while at the same time touching on the serious topics of finding your calling in life and navigating family relationships while trying to establish your independence.
(A third novel, wrapping up Lexi's story, is supposed to be out next fall.)
Sweet, fun reads to pass cold winter evenings.
Cross-posted to christian_books
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| One Religion Only! |
[07 Sep 2008|05:35pm] |
My friend asked me this... then tell me why there are so many diff religions and beliefs people have?
How do I answer him?
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[26 Aug 2008|11:53am] |
I have received a large donation of books. Included in them is a large collection, possibly even the entire set, of Jeanette Oke's Christian series fiction. I've read most of it previously, but the books I received are in excellent condition. As I have no space for them, I am willing to let them go very inexpensively, particularly if the purchaser is willing to take the entire set off my hands.
If anyone would be potentially interested in purchasing these, please feel free to send me a private message. Thank you!
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Suggestions Please..
