Recent Reads {The Priest}

The Priest by Francine Rivers - I thought this novelization of the life of Aaron, Moses' brother, would be a quick and interesting read and I was not disappointed.  I have enjoyed many of Francine Rivers' books in the past and she delivers again with this one.  This is the first in a series of five novels that focus on the lives of Biblical characters that don't usually get much attention because another character seems to steal the show.  But there are lessons to be learned from these "background" characters as well.  Aaron's contribution and role in the Exodus story is usually overshadowed by his younger brother, the larger-than-life (especially as played by Charlton Heston!) Moses, but these two men were partners in fulfilling God's calling of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt and establishing the descendents of Jacob into the nation of Israel.  I especially liked Rivers' telling of the golden calf incident - I have often wondered what on earth could Aaron have been thinking?!  It was interesting to read the scenario that Rivers presents for that scene, and the entire book prompted me to think about the Exodus events from other points of view and consider what Aaron might have felt or thought.  "Sons of Encouragement" seems an apt name for this series, and I will soon be starting the second in the set.

Recent Reads {Pride and Prescience}

Pride and Prescience (Or, A Truth Universally Acknowledged) by Carrie Bebris - Yes, it's me back on the Mr & Mrs Darcy tangents again.  This was a really enjoyable read, the first in a series of "Mr & Mrs Darcy Mysteries" that follow the couple after their wedding.  The story picks up on the wedding day, when the newly married Darcys and Bingleys find that Caroline Bingley is stealing the show yet again by announcing her own engagement and upcoming wedding.  The Darcys find the timing sudden and odd, and when they meet coincidentally with Caroline and her new husband, they find even more to wonder at.  A series of circumstances leads the cast of characters (the Darcys, the Bingleys, Caroline and her new husband, the Hursts, and a few others) to spend several weeks at Netherfield where strange and sinister events confront them, and only the Darcys seem to recognize the danger and work at solving the mystery and identifying the plotters.  The book was a quick read, and very engaging.  I liked it well enough that just this morning I bought my own copy of this and the following books in the Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery series.  My library doesn't own the second book in the series, so what else was I to do?  ;-)   I expect to dive into the second in the series just as soon as my order arrives in the mail.

Recent Reads {Remember Me?}

Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella - This was another book club pick, and I'm having a hard time deciding how many "stars" I would assign to it.  I think it might be easier to say what I liked and what I didn't.  What I liked:  the storyline really was engaging, with a plucky and spirited lead character (Lexi, who wakes up in the hospital after an accident to find that the most recent three years of her life are gone from her memory - including the fact that she is married and has a new career).  She has an optimistic and humourous outlook and tries her best to adjust and learn about her new life and make the best of things.  The cast of supporting characters is interesting and I really found myself wanting to know how each situation would turn out and how characters would react.  Lots of humour along the way, some more touching and dramatic scenes, and I felt I could usually admire Lexi's can-do attitude and optimism.  What I didn't care for:  the language.  This was the big drawback of the book for me, and I imagine it would be for many of the readers I know.  Most pages were liberally sprinkled with f-bombs.  :-(

Recent Reads {The Eight}

The Eight by Katherine Neville - I first read this as a book club pick over a year ago, and loved it.  Honestly, not near as fond of the cover displayed here as I am of the cover of my copy, which has a chessboard with the white knight piece.  But that's really not important.  This is a thriller/medieval mystery/historical novel/romantic adventure story all rolled into one.  The actions jumps back and forth between two main characters and their respective time periods - Mireille, a French nun in the late 1700s; and Cat, a modern-day computer specialist in the 1970s.  Each finds herself on a quest to find and decode the secret of an ancient chess set with a mysterious power, and to find the scattered pieces of the chess set before the team of  "bad guys" does.   Intrigue, conspiracy, power struggles,  and dangerous situations are part of their daily adventures in the Game they are involved in.  In many instances, it's hard to tell who is on the White Team and who is on the Black Team - and even which team is considered the "good guys"  The first time I read it, most of the surprise ending elements were truly unexpected - I read the final chapters with all the storyline resolutions and realized that it all made sense but I hadn't seen it coming at all.   There is a sequel, titled The Fire, that is an upcoming book club pick, and I am eager to get started on it, in hopes that it will be just as enjoyable as The Eight.  If you want to read it, I do want to add a little disclaimer - the review blurb on the front cover of my copy says "Readers thrilled by The DaVinci Code will relish the mulit-layered secrets of The Eight."   In other words, if you're the type of person who was bothered by The DaVinci Code, you may not be comfortable with this either.  It is definitely a secular book, and subtly presents the idea that all religions have their basis in ancient mysticism, and also contains a couple of 'love scenes' that aren't overly graphic but are pretty descriptive nonetheless.

Recent Reads {unChristian}

unChristian by David Kinnaman - I really took my time reading this book, which is a compilation and commentary on what surveys of "outsiders" reveal about the perceptions of Christians.  I preferred to read it in short chunks and then mentally chew on what I'd read before tackling the next section.  The research is eye-opening and really quite sobering; it should move all of us that claim to be Christians to think through our own attitudes and how we are representing the Gospel.   Did you know that a large percentage of "outsiders" (those who do not attend church or profess Christian faith) view Christians as hypocritical, judgmental, anti-homosexual, or sheltered and out-of-touch?  Sadly, too often their perceptions are based on their interactions with Christians who have acted in an "unChristian" way.   It's up to us to change those perceptions, starting with the outsiders that we each have contact with, by actually living what we say we believe and accurately reflecting Jesus Christ to those around us.