Recent Reads {The True Saint Nicholas}

The True Saint Nicholas - Why He Matters to Christmas by William J. Bennett - This little book was a great read for the Christmas season, and would be a good  choice for a family read-aloud too, in my opinion.  Bennett retells what little is known about the historical Nicholas of Myra along with many of the legends and stories that have been told about him over the years, and also explains how the stories of this good bishop traveled the world and were embraced by so many cultures.  And how in more recent history, he became Santa Claus and part of Christmas traditions even though his feast day is at the beginning of December.  I thought Bennett did a nice job of putting the fantasy and magic associated with Santa into perspective in its place in the celebration of Christmas.  If I remember, I may get this book next December to read aloud with my kids.

Recent Reads {Taliesin}

Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead - This wasn't the first time I've read this book, and I'm sure it won't be the last.  I'm a confirmed Lawhead fan.  This book is the first in the Pendragon Cycle, a series of five novels based on the King Arthur legends.  The tale starts with parallel stories of a princess of the island kingdom of Atlantis, and the mysterious child Taliesin in Britain.  The Atlantean princess Charis foresees the destruction of Atlantis and coordinates the escape of many of their people on ships, which eventually wind up on the western shores of the Island of the Mighty.  Taliesin himself grows up as a greatly respected bard and prophet, and the histories of his people and the transplanted survivors from Atlantis intertwine.  Christian priests have also come to Britain and Taliesin is one who accepts their message.  As I've come to expect from Lawhead, the combination of history, legend, and fantasy makes for a page-turner, even the second time around.

By the same author:  Patrick, The Skin Map,  and the other books in the Pendragon Cycle: Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon.  My first comments on Taliesin can be found here.

Recent Reads {Beloved Castaway}

Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y'Barbo - I bought this book ages ago, basically because it looked kind of pirate-y and the price was right.  For whatever reason, it took me until my vacation a couple weeks ago to read it.  I was surprised at how good it was!  Honestly, I was sort of expecting a cheap, formula "Christian romance" which just happens to involve a ship's captain.  The story is actually more complex than that, with some intriguing twists and turns, despite the fact that it's obvious from the very first that the two main characters will fall in love.  That part, at least, sticks with the formula.  Isabelle Gayarre is desperate to escape from New Orleans and slavery, hoping to reach abolitionists in England.  She must trust Josiah Carter, a ship's captain, to help her get away, even though what she's heard about him doesn't inspire trust at all.  Some improbable coincidences, extenuating circumstances, and tragedies along the way conspire to thrown them together, and to learn to trust God as well.  It's hardly a spoiler to say that it is a happy ending, although how it all works out makes for a pretty good read.

Recent Reads {The Romance of Tristan}

The Romance of Tristan by Beroul, and The Tale of Tristan's Madness, translated together by Alan S. Fedrick - It seems to me that the Tristan and Isolde stories vary so widely that it's hard to believe any of them come from a common source.  I was looking for a version of the story that was suitable for kids and never did find it, but I did pick up this translation of a very old written source.  Beroul's epic poem - or, the portions that remain of it - is thought to be the oldest extant version of the Tristan and Isolde narrative, and it is translated into English prose by Alan S. Fedrick.  There are amusing and odd details throughout, and the story is quite a bit different from the Avalon novels I read recently, and different from almost any popular version I've ever heard.  The story-telling style is also a departure from what modern readers are used to, but Fedrick's introduction does a fair job of explaining how troubadour or jongleur stories were commonly told and how the tales may have developed before and after the time of Beroul.  Of Beroul himself, nothing is known, except that his poem dates from about the middle of the twelfth century.

The introduction is more detailed reading than the stories themselves, but I do recommend it for background.  The opening and closing sections of Beroul are lost, so this book offers a summary based on a reconstructed narrative from another scholar.  The translation of Beroul's work begins with The Tryst Under the Tree, and from that point it reads like a simple chapter book, although not all of it is suitable for children.  I found it a quick and interesting read - almost like a cheap romance from medieval times.

Recent Reads {Mozart: His Life and Music}

Mozart - His Life & Music by Jeremy Siepmann -  We recently studied (briefly!) Mozart in our homeschool, and I was disappointed that I was unable to get my hands on biography books suitable for the kids on time.  In my library search, I found this biography geared for adults and decided it looked interesting.  I was impressed with how very readable it was! Not at all a dry biography, but a very interesting survey of Mozart's life and times, with alternating chapters focusing on life and career events and on the music.  Mozart's own letters and writings of his contemporaries are quoted often.  The chapters entitled "Interludes" which describe the music are detailed enough for music students, with numerous insights into the influences and nuances of the compositions, yet I don't think they are too technical for a reader who has not studied music.  In any case, there is a glossary of music terms at the back of the book to help out!  There are two CDs of music included with the book, and any time a specific composition included on the CD was mentioned in the text, there was a convenient sidebar giving the track number.  I read the book while on vacation and without a CD player, so I wasn't able to listen as I read, but I would have loved to!  I will be listening before I return this to the library, and I've already ordered the book about Beethoven to read next.

Recent Reads {Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt}

Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt by Joyce Tyldesley - I decided to read this biography because I'd recently read a couple of novels set in Cleopatra's Egypt and was curious as to how accurate some of the fictional portrayals of the queen, her court, and her city were.  While the book was definitely interesting and went into great detail separating the myth from the facts about Cleopatra, it is not exactly light reading and is probably more "scholarly" than would appeal to the casual reader.  Much of what most of us think we know about Cleopatra has been influenced by the popular movie portrayals so our concepts of what she looked like and how she behaved have been modernized and shaped by Hollywood to a greater extent than we are aware of!  Tyldesley gives a great deal of background on Egypt under the Ptolomaic dynasty, and explains the culture and politics and many other details exceptionally well.  One thing I found confusing at times was that the book was arranged more topically than chronologically.  However, I learned much that was new to me and very interesting.

Recent Reads {Sunrise of Avalon}

Sunrise of Avalon by Anna Elliott - This novel of Trystan and Isolde completes the trilogy by Anna Elliott.  Elliott retells the legend with a few twists, combining the Arthurian legend with the historical setting of sixth-century Britain.  The story picks up where the second novel ended - Trystan and Isolde have married, a secret which very few people know, and she is pregnant - which only she knows.  Trystan has been called away in the ongoing tribal wars in the country.  The storyline is full of intrigue and danger - personal danger to the lovers, and an imminent threat to Britain as the Saxon invaders seem to gaining strength and the alliance of Briton kings is tenuous.  Elliott based her retelling of the legend on the earliest written version of the Arthurian tales and gives the whole a satisfying ending.

By the same author:  Twilight of Avalon, Dark Moon of Avalon

Recent Reads {In the Shadow of the Sun King}

In the Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons - What caught my attention initially was that this novel is based on the family history of the author.  I was definitely intrigued, and throughout the book found myself wondering how much was indeed fact, and how much was embellished to create this story.  It takes place in seventeenth century France, during the reign of Louis XIV.  It was a time when the Huguenots (Protestants) were being persecuted despite the Edict of Nantes which was supposed to protect them.  Madeleine Clavell and her family are Huguenots, but she also has a past relationship with Louis, and when French dragoons show up at her family estate and threaten their safety and their very lives, Madeleine makes the decision to travel to Versailles to plead personally with Louis for her family.  The story is gripping and intense, and highlights the faith and sacrifice of the Protestants during this time.  I highly recommend it to readers who like historical fiction.

Recent Reads {The Deception at Lyme}

The Deception at Lyme (Or, the Peril of Persuasion by Carrie Bebris - At last, the newest Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery arrived on my bookshelf!  I've been anxiously awaiting Carrie Bebris' latest addition to the series for months now.  Darcy and Elizabeth take a seaside vacation to Lyme accompanied by their little daughter, and Darcy's sister Georgiana.  Not long after arriving, they are on the Cobb (the seawall, where there are walkways) and find a woman who has suffered an unfortunate and possibly fatal fall and do their best to get her to safety and help.  And the question arises - was the fall an accident, or was she pushed?  The assistance rendered by the Darcys brings them in contact with many of the characters of Jane Austen's Persuasion:  the Harvilles, the Elliotts, and the newlywed Wentworths (Captain Frederick Wentworth and Anne Elliott) and their connection with the victim of the accident.  At the same time, the Darcys have business in Lyme as well as vacationing.  Mr Darcy is meeting with a naval officer to collect the personal effects of his cousin who died in naval action a few years earlier.  The contents of this cousin's seachest and diary raise more questions and mysteries, and the realization that the events may be connected in some way.  The Darcys seek assistance from the Wentworths in their enquiries, and find that not everyone is what they appear.

I found the first couple of chapters difficult to get absorbed in, possibly because there is so much description of the physical surroundings at Lyme.  Readers of Austen know that she rarely gave much descriptive detail in terms of what people or places looked like.  However, the layout of the Cobb (which is a real location in the very real setting of Lyme) is important in the plot, so once I was past all the initial descriptions, I was involved in the story and wondering at possible connections, motives, and explanations along with the Darcys.  There is a lot going on, and the pace is swift, but it's a great mystery and I especially enjoyed catching up with the Wentworths again!  I'm a little concerned that this will be the last Mr & Mrs Darcy Mystery from Bebris, since she has set one within each of Austen's novel settings now, and the Epilogue to this one seemed to wrap things up rather tidily.  There is just a hint that the adventures will continue, and I certainly hope they do, as this has become a favorite fan fiction series of mine.

By the same author:  The Intrigue at Highbury,  The Matters at Mansfield, North by Northanger, Suspense and Sensibility, Pride and Prescience.

Recent Reads {Guardian of the Flame}

Guardian of the Flame by T.L. Higley - This is the third in Higley's Seven Wonders series, and is set in Alexandria, Egypt in 48BC.  If you're sketchy on your ancient history, that was when Julius Caesar and the Romans entered Egypt and the battle for power between the Romans and the Ptolomaic heirs to the Egyptian throne, including Cleopatra.  The main character is Sophia, a reclusive and embittered widow who is the Keeper of the lighthouse at Alexandria.  She faces many difficult decisions in the uncertain times - how to protect the scholars from the Museum and their work, how to support her former student Cleopatra, and how to respond to the Roman centurion who is invading her lighthouse and possibly her heart.  One of the scholars is an elderly Jewish man that has been Sophia's friend through many years, and who gently but persistently reminds her that the One God loves her and she doesn't need to prove herself worthy of His love. The story explores the time from the viewpoints of Greek Egyptians and Romans, and is a great read for anyone interested in historical fiction.

By the same author: City of the Dead, Pompeii: City on Fire, In the Shadow of Colossus

Recent Reads {City of the Dead}

City of the Dead by T.L. Higley - This novel in Higley's Seven Wonders series was not what I expected, but I mean that in a good way.  Obviously it is based in ancient Egypt, during the building of the Great Pyramid, but I thought it would probably be a romance.  Although there is a love story winding through it, it is actually a murder mystery, and a fairly good one!  The story is told in first person by Hemiunu, the Grand Vizier and the architect of the Great Pyramid.  He references a tragedy that occurred in the past that still haunts him, and as events unfold he realizes that it is linked to the murders happening in his present.  Hemi is also cousin to Pharoah Khufu, and their royal circle includes Khufu's wife, Merit, and a couple of other high-ranking Egyptians.  One of their number, Hemi's closest friend, is murdered and Hemi is determined to find the killer and restore ma'at (the Egyptian concept of order) without losing any time on the ongoing construction of the pyramid.  When Merit is also murdered, the search for the killer is intensified, but Hemi begins to meet resistance and to see the possible connections between the murders and what happened in his youth.  During this time he also befriends his new foreman and his daughter, who happen to be People of the One - worshippers of the One God of the Jews - and accepts their help in his quest for answers, and a relationship between himself and the daughter blossoms.  Hemi is himself accused of the murders and spends time in prison and on the run before the mystery is solved.

So is this book a "Christian romance" novel?  Not exactly.  It's unusual in a few ways, and a very enjoyable read, one I highly recommend.  By the way, you can also visit Higley's website, No Passport Required, for more information about her books and what is fact and what is fiction in each of them.

By the same author:  Pompeii: City on Fire, In the Shadow of Colossus

Recent Reads {The Devil's Queen}

The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici by Jeanne Kalogridis - Catherine de Medici was not exactly popular, as French queens go.  She came from the influential de Medici family of Florence in a political marriage to the second son of King Francis I of France.  She had a reputation as an extremely intelligent and politically astute woman, but was excluded from governing while her husband, King Henry II was alive. After his death, she had much more influence during the reigns of her sons - sickly Francis II, mad Charles IX, and Henry III, and although she probably had nothing to do with the decision to assassinate leading Huguenots (which led to the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre), she was blamed and reviled for it afterwards.  This novelization follows Catherine from her childhood in Florence until shortly after the St Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and imagines the beliefs, actions, and motivations that may have contributed to her nickname "The Serpent Queen"  It is a matter of record that Catherine was a devoted student of astrology, had prophetic dreams, and had a large collection of talismans and a deep interest in magic.  One of her properties had pentacles painted on the floor.  Kalogridis creates a very believable character around what is known about Catherine and her contemporaries, and presents a fiction that could well be true regarding the lengths to which Catherine would go to produce children, protect herself, and guard those she cared about.  The story contains a couple incidents where violence is described in detail that made me wish I hadn't read it right before bed, and a couple of bedroom encounters that are unnecessarily graphic, but other than that I found it an engrossing and thought-provoking novelization.  Usually Catherine de Medici is demonized, and probably with reasonable cause, so a novel from her point of view is rather unique, and put me in a position of sympathizing with a historical character that would normally not receive much sympathy from me.

Recent Reads {The Seven Wonders of the World}

The Seven Wonders of the World by Ron Tagliapietra - This book is kind of like a combination of a travel brochure, a history lesson, and a Bible tract.  It presents a short description of each of the accepted wonders of the ancient world, and then lists and describes the seven wonders of some other categories - technological, archaelogical, architectural, and natural.  In each Tagliapietra carefully explains the criteria and why some 'wonders' were chosen over others.  When describing the wonders of the ancient world, he puts them in context of Biblical history and draws some contrasts between the religious beliefs of the builders of these wonders and the truth of God.  The descriptions of all the wonders are fairly short - about three to five pages - and most include historical background and some brief information about visiting the sites.  I've found this book to be a good "extra" when studying history and geography in our homeschool.  When we studied Egypt, we read the section on the Great Pyramid.  When we studied Australia, we read about the Great Barrier Reef (a natural wonder).   The narrative lacks continuity in some places, and a few of the Biblical lessons seem a bit contrived, but overall it's a unique study of various wonders of the world suitable for readers from middle school up.

Recent Reads {Pompeii: City on Fire}

Pompeii: City on Fire by T.L. Higley - It's the intriguing setting of this novel that captured my attention - Pompeii, shortly before the catastrophic eruption of Mt Vesuvius.  I don't think I've ever seen a Christian 'romance' novel set in Pompeii before.  The main characters are Cato, a rich patrician Roman who has left an unfulfilling career as a politician in Rome and wants to build a new life in Pompeii; and Ariella, a Jewish slave who has disguised herself as a young boy sold into a gladiator troupe.  Pompeii's local government is corrupt and despite Cato's attempts to sidestep the issue, he is finally drawn into the upcoming election after his own business and family are threatened.  In the meantime, Ariella must prove herself in the gladiator ring while keeping her secret.  Cato and Ariella cross paths and, predictably, find themselves drawn together.  They also come in contact with the Christians in Pompeii and must make their own decisions regarding the faith.  All while Vesuvius is giving the first warning signs of the disaster to come.  The story itself was interesting, with new perspectives on the setting and the daily life of Roman citizens and slaves at that time.  However, every few chapters there was a short excerpt that was from the mountain's 'point of view' that I didn't care for.  It set the tone for the chapters to come, and revealed that the eruption was coming ever closer, but it also gave a little nod to the earth goddess belief system, suggesting that the mountain viewed itself as a 'mother' to the city and was making her own decision to punish and destroy.  This is only partially debunked at the end.  I found it slightly off-putting to read a page of the thoughts of the 'volcano goddess-mother' while chapters before and after featured Christians claiming that there is only One God and rejecting the Roman belief in many gods.

By the same author:  In the Shadow of Colossus (which I read awhile ago, but failed to write about...)

Recent Reads {Read For the Heart}

Read For the Heart: Whole Books for Wholehearted Families by Sarah Clarkson - Sarah Clarkson is the adult daughter of well-known homeschool author Sally Clarkson.  In this book, she shares her own love of books which was fostered by her family's priority on reading and enjoying books.  Clarkson begins by sharing how important good books are to a well-rounded education and a well-lived life, through stories from her own experience as well as research that highlights the value of reading quality books.  She then shares book recommendations in many different categories and genres, with brief summaries of the books along with age guidelines.  I found this to be a great resource, with ideas for read-alouds and for companions to our science and history studies, and full of encouragement and inspiration to keep providing opportunities for my children to get familiar with good literature and uplifting stories.

Recent Reads {Jane Eyre}

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - since I was kind of on a classic novel kick, I thought I'd better include the Bronte sisters on my reading list.  I have to admit it took me awhile to really get into this one.  Just at the point where I was thinking to myself "is this whole book going to be about Jane being 10 years old at the boarding school?" she introduced the tenth chapter by skipping ahead several years to the time she spent as a teacher at the same school, and the following chapter finally took her to Thornfield Hall where she would meet Edward Rochester.  From that point on, the novel had my full attention with the melodrama, psychology, and the unlikely romance between Jane and Rochester.  I was often reminded of the type of Gothic romance that Austen satirized in Northanger Abbey - a dark secret hidden somewhere in the mansion that threatens the happiness of the lovers.  There are coincidences and foreshadowings to spare, yet it all seems to "fit" and doesn't seem unbelievable at all while reading.  I also noticed the contrast in Bronte's style and Austen's  - Austen leaves the reader to decide what characters look like, other than the barest of descriptions, and really doesn't spend much time describing settings in detail; while Bronte goes into great detail about the appearance of characters and engages in lengthy descriptions of settings.  These features are used to establish character and mood.  I truly enjoyed this classic novel, and it's reminded me that I never did finish the Jasper Fforde series that stars with The Eyre Affair, and its many references to Jane and other characters from the novel!

Recent Reads {Already Gone}

Already Gone by Ken Ham & Britt Beemer with Todd Hillard - This book explores the results of research into the reasons why young people are leaving the church, and suggests the issues that need to be addressed in order to rectify the problem.  Why have America's churches lost a generation of believers?  The research suggests that it may be largely due to the lack of a firm stand on the authority of Scripture and a failing to teach apologetics and to connect the Bible with the real world.  One thousand twenty-somethings who were raised in the church but no longer attend were surveyed, and the results deserve our attention and sober consideration if we want to change outcomes.  I think this book should be required reading for Sunday School teachers, youth directors, and parents.

Recent Reads {The Scarlet Letter}

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne - This classic American novel is on the reading list for American Literature (Notgrass Exploring America) and even though Spencer will not be reading it this year, I decided I would like to read through everything on the list.  I vaguely remember reading it many years ago, and oddly enough I couldn't remember exactly how it ended.  I read it this week and once I'd adjusted to Hawthorne's style, I found it hard to put down!  In keeping with the story's theme, the tone of the narrative is rather dark, and the reader is immediately drawn into sympathy with Hester Prynne as she stoically faces her public humiliation for adultery, and wears her beautifully embroidered letter almost as a badge of honor.  She refuses to name the man who fathered her child, but the reader is left to decide why she withholds the information - whether love or fear motivates her.  As fate would have it, her husband, whom all had presumed dead, shows up and takes it upon himself to discover her fellow-sinner and take revenge, and he convinces Hester to keep the secret of his identity as well.  Over the years, the townspeople gentle in their treatment of Hester, although she and her child are never accepted as part of the town's society.  Hester finally decides to tell Rev. Arthur Dimmesdale (who is the child's father) the true identity and intent of the man acting as his physician when she sees how Arthur's health and spirits are failing.  Arthur and Hester decide to run away and return to Europe, but Arthur realizes he is near death, and so he mounts the scaffold where Hester was punished and confesses his sin.  Definitely not a happy ending, feel-good book, but thought-provoking.  It's easy to understand why it is considered a classic.

Recent Reads {Cleopatra's Daughter}

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran - I didn't know much, if anything, about the children of Cleopatra and Marc Antony before reading this historical novel, so it came as a bit of a surprise to me that the daughter, Kleopatra Selene, and her husband were known for their great love story as well. Moran's well-researched novel tells the story, from Selene's viewpoint, of the defeat of Marc Antony and the death of Cleopatra, followed by the exile of the three youngest children to Rome under Caesar Augustus (as he would be later known). Selene and her twin brother Alexander must cope with the sudden deaths of both parents, followed by their captivity and the death of their younger brother.  They are treated as honored guests in Rome, brought up in the Caesar's household, with his sister Octavia (who was Marc Antony's former wife! - this is where soap operas get some of their ideas, I think!) as their guardian.  Friendships grow and are threatened, especially as they all grow older and closer to marriageable age.  At the same time, someone calling himself the Red Eagle is challenging the system of slavery in Rome and stirring up possible rebellion, and Alexander and Selene have their own speculations about the Red Eagle's identity.  Selene faces tragedy, fear and injustice with determination and hope, and there is a happy ending for her when she is given in marriage to Juba, the heir to the kingdom of Mauretania who has been serving Caesar for most of his life.  This is a great read for anyone interested in this historical time period!

Recent Reads {Miniatures and Morals}

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Miniatures and Morals - the Christian novels of Jane Austen by Peter J Leithart - Several years ago a friend recommended a book by Peter Leithart, a literary study of the Old Testament.  I purchased it, read it, and loved it, and have been a Leithart fan ever since.  I have a couple other books of his, and the ones I don't own are on my wish lists.  Near the beginning of this year, a fellow blogger mentioned challenging herself to read all of Jane Austen's works in 2011, using Leithart's Miniatures and Morals as her study guide.  I decided to take the same challenge, purchased the book and started in.  Yesterday I finished the final Austen novel on the list (Persuasion) and also the final chapter of Leithart's insightful commentary and analysis.  Leithart is a Senior Fellow of Literature and Theology at New Saint Andrews College, and his study of the characters and themes in Austen's novels focuses on her 'miniaturist' style and her interest in Christian virtues.  While the novels are never 'preachy' it is clear that godly virtues such as patience, self-control, charity, honesty, and integrity are held in high esteem by Austen and her noble characters.  Leithart brings these to the fore, showing how Austen highlights the virtues and contrasts the characters that display them with the characters that are lacking, often using irony and wit to do so.  The book opens with a chapter entitled Real Men Read Austen (how can you not love a book with that chapter title!?), in which he extols Austen as a master of intelligent humor and a writer with incredible insight into human behavior; and challenges the notion that Austen's novels are only for women.  He admits that much of the action does take place in quiet domestic settings such as drawing rooms and formal gardens, but asserts that she creates strong male characters who may be considered Christlike lovers in that they are willing to sacrifice for their brides and are servant-heroes.  Leithart also suggests that men can learn much about romance from a woman's point of view by reading Austen, and that she is a leading commentator on ethics, morality, culture, and public theology.  Worth reading, indeed!  From there, he analyzes each of Austen's novels in turn, beginning with Pride and Prejudice, showing how each focuses on a set of manners, moral guidelines and attitudes.  The commentaries include review and thought questions, so this book can be used for the casual reader to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of Austen's work; as well as for the scholar who wants to delve deeper into the literary and theological themes.  I am confident this book could be used as part of a Literature course for high schoolers, and to that end, I do intend to use it in that way for my daughter when she reaches high school age.  She already is enjoying the BBC mini-series adaptations of several Austen novels with me, so I have reason to believe she will thoroughly enjoy reading them herself when she is a few years older.  I highly recommend this book to all Jane Austen fans!

 

Recent Reads {Persuasion}

Persuasion by Jane Austen - Although Pride and Prejudice remains my favorite Austen novel, it's hard to say whether Persuasion or Sense and Sensibility would earn second place.  A very close second place too!  Austen begins this love story when Anne Elliott is getting very close to 30 years old, and her family is facing the prospect of moving out of their ancestral home because of their reduced financial situation.  Anne and her older sister are spinsters and their marriage prospects are dwindling.  Her father, Sir Walter, is vain and self-absorbed, and his preoccupation with acting the fine gentleman and giving every appearance of being wealthy and socially important has led him to spend more than he ought.  Instead of taking Anne's counsel to simply cut back on their style of living, the Elliotts choose instead to lease out their home so they can continue to pretend to wealth and consequence in the resort town of Bath.  As it turns out, the property is leased to a couple related to Captain Frederick Wentworth, with whom Anne had had a relationship some seven or eight years prior.  At that time, Anne had been persuaded to break off the engagement because of her family's objections to Wentworth's inferior connections and fortune.  With all of that background, clearly the reunion between Anne and Wentworth will be awkward and uncomfortable, and while we know that Anne is still deeply in love with Wentworth, we don't know what his feelings are.  Anne herself must rely on studying his expressions and actions, and on snippets of conversation to deduce what his attitude towards her may be, as propriety doesn't allow her to open the subject or even have a private conversation with him.   The story follows all the circumstances surrounding their meeting again and all the situations in which they are thrown together in the company of the many other characters, and the growing conviction Anne has that he still cares for her.  I found this a delightful love story, and the supporting cast of characters provides ironic humour and insightful glimpses into behavior, manners, and relationships.

By the same author:  Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, The History of England, Mansfield Park

Recent Reads {Maire}

Maire by Linda Windsor - some time ago I was introduced to author Linda Windsor after picking up a book from the library feature shelf.   Her historical novels are really intriguing me!  This one is the first in a trilogy called The Fires of Gleannmara, and is set in fifth-century Ireland.  Maire is the young warrior queen of Glennmara who meets Rowan of Emrys when her warband attacks his settlement in Wales.  Maire takes Rowan as her hostage and husband, in order to secure tribute from his settlement and to save herself from an arranged marriage to a druid she doesn't trust.  She doesn't understand Rowan's faith or dedication to the one God, but finds that she can trust Rowan's courage and wisdom, and eventually comes to faith in the one God herself.  Windsor sets her fictional characters into an historical Ireland that brings the early days of Christianity in Erin to life.  A very enjoyable story!

By the same author:  Healer, Thief

Recent Reads {Deep Church}

Deep Church by Jim Belcher - It took me a very long time to read this book, partly because it's very meaty and full of information and 'thought-provokers' that I wanted to turn over in my mind for awhile before reading further.  And partly because I took lots of breaks from reading it.  8-D  Belcher, a church planter and lead pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in California, has background in both the traditional or mainstream church and the beginnings of the emerging church movement, so he is well-qualified to discuss the merits and criticisms of both sides in this debate.  He begins the book by giving some of his own background and experience, and by carefully defining for the reader what he is referring to in using the terms "traditional" and "emerging".  Just as there are many denominations and a broad spectrum of church personalities that would fall in the traditional/mainstream church category, there is a broader range of styles and approaches within the group generally referred to as the "emergent" or "emerging" church than many of their critics may recognize.  He also discusses how the movement began and how it is influenced by post-modernism, while much of the traditional church is still influenced by Enlightenment rationalism. After establishing the groundwork, Belcher goes on to explore the seven main protests that the emergent movement (in general) brings against the traditional church.  In each case, Belcher discusses the issue, the criticism the emergent church has of the traditional church, the criticism the traditional church has of the emergent, the defenses of each, and the validity of these arguments.  Then the chapter dealing with that issue ends with a discussion of how the "deep church" (a term coined by C.S. Lewis) may be able to forge a third way, providing "constructive models of what this alternate, dep church looks like - a missional church committed to both tradition and culture, valuing innovation in worship, arts and community but also creeds and confessions." (from the book cover)  Most of these suggestions for the third way have been tried and proven by Belcher's own Redeemer Presbyterian or other churches.

I found the entire book very informative and thorough in presenting both viewpoints, and fair in offering defense and criticisms.  It gave me a bit of pause in reading the endorsements appeared to be from leaders associated with the emergent church, and I wondered why I didn't see endorsements coming from traditional church leaders.  I still don't know why that is the case, but I was satisfied in reading that Belcher was giving equal time and consideration to the concerns raised on both sides of the issues.  While reading his suggestions and experiences in seeking the deep church ideal, I sometimes had to fight the perception that Belcher was in effect saying that HIS church was getting it ALL right, but he really didn't have a haughty demeanor in presenting these thoughts - it was more in the vein of sharing what their church adopted as its mission and goals in these areas and how they were living those ideals out in the real world.  Not everything was a success, certainly not on the first try.

My opinion on the tension between traditional and emergent is generally that both may be valid viewpoints and approaches to doing church, but whenever the church is out of balance there will be a problem.  Reading this book has, for the most part, reinforced and expanded that idea by exploring ways that the church can avoid veering sharply to one side or the other and instead look for ways to go deeper and beyond the extremes.  For example, we shouldn't focus solely on personal righteousness and ignore the responsibility to serve in our communities and impact the world, or vice versa.  The vastness of God's grace and mercy can only be grasped when we also recognize His holiness and the seriousness of sin.  When we cut off our ties to our history and our roots, we become less relevant to our present day.  While the church needs boundaries, we need to keep our focus on the "well" that is Jesus Christ in our center that draws people in, not on the fences that can keep people out.  (I especially appreciated that analogy!)

Recent Reads {Child of the Mist}

Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan - Despite my slight disappointment in the previous Morgan novel I read, I did have this one sitting around so I read it last week.  What can I say - I can't stay away from historical fiction set in Scotland.   While still "lustier" than I think is absolutely necessary for this genre, it was toned down compared to As High As the Heavens.  In this first of a trilogy set in the Scottish Highlands of the 1500s, Anne MacGregor is pledged to marry the tanist of a rival clan in order to bring about a truce between the long-standing feud.  Anne and Niall Campbell are both resistant to the marriage for different reasons but are committed to the good of their families and clans, so they try to make the best of it.  The Campbells are suspicious and fearful of Anne, who has been suspected of witchcraft because of her healing; and Niall's position of leadership is threatened by a traitor.  Anne and Niall both face death and fierce opposition while trying to keep peace and order, and while realizing their growing genuine affection for each other.  The story is quite well-crafted, action-packed, and the Christian faith of the characters, especially Anne, is given much more importance in their actions and motivations than in the previous novel.

By the same author:  As High As the Heavens

Recent Reads {As High As the Heavens}

As High as the Heavens by Kathleen Morgan - it wasn't that I didn't like this book, but I must say I was disappointed.  Great potential for an intriguing storyline, and the main plot was a great premise, but I thought there were a couple of minor gaps in the subplots.  However, my main disappointment was that I felt that this was basically a cheap bodice-ripper that had been cleaned up a little.  (Just doing a little bit of quick research, it appears that this book was originally on the secular market and then was reworked a little - IMO, not enough - for the Christian romance fiction market. If that's true, it explains a lot.)  You know just by reading the back cover that the two main characters, Heather and Duncan, will fall in love and live happily ever after despite all the circumstances against them.  What I didn't expect was that they would both be so blatantly lusting after each other right from the first meeting, and that the romance would be so driven by their physical desire.  I don't have objections to the story including these aspects of their relationship, but I didn't read enough evidence that each was actually finding themselves loving the other for their mind and character.  The author tells us that's the case, but focuses more on how difficult it was for them to maintain propriety and virtue in the face of so much temptation.

Anyway, the basic storyline is this - supporters of Mary, Queen of Scots, have hatched a plan to help her escape from the castle at Lochleven and need the rough highlander Duncan to impersonate the court favorite that he resembles closely in order to complete the operation.  Duncan's speech and manners need to be refined so that he can fool the castle's keepers, and Heather is sent to tutor him because her father is one of the conspirators.  Not surprisingly, the two fall in love (and lust LOL) and need to overcome obstacles of mistrust between them and the opposition and manipulation of Heather's father following the the completion of the mission to free Queen Mary.

Recent Reads {Surrender the Dawn}

Surrender the Dawn by MaryLu Tyndall - The final book in the Surrender to Destiny series focuses on Cassandra Channing and Luke Heaton, who previously served on Noah Brenin's ship (in Surrender the Heart, the first book).  Heaton has a reputation as a gambler and drunkard, but has hopes of fitting up his ship as a privateer in order to support himself and his younger brother.  Cassandra's father and brothers are gone, leaving her to support her mother and younger sisters.  She wants to invest in a privateer with the last of her family's savings, but no one will accept a woman as an investor.  The two have a passing acquaintance, since Cassandra is close to Noah Brenin's wife Marianne, so they enter into the business agreement together, and the venture is off to a great beginning - and they are both finding themselves attracted to each other.  There is, of course, a suitor for Cassandra who is devious and manipulative, especially when Cassandra is uninterested in him.  He makes trouble for Heaton, and Heaton's second voyage runs to bad luck, and Heaton is left with few options other than deception and betrayal.  The climax of the story is the bombing of Fort McHenry, and naturally there is a happy ending.   Fluffy, far-fetched at times, but nonetheless fairly enjoyable reading.

By the same author:  Surrender the Night, Surrender the Heart, The Falcon and the Sparrow, Charles Towne Belle Series (The Red Siren, The Blue Enchantress, The Raven Saint), The Legacy of the King’s Pirates series (The Redemption, The Reliance, The Restitution)

Recent Reads {This Time Together}

This Time Together by Carol Burnett - I LOVED the Carol Burnett Show.  And obviously I'm not alone.  It was one of the most popular comedy shows in television history.  This book is a collection of short memoirs about Ms Burnett's career, colleagues, and family.  For some time she had been travelling the country and doing Q&A appearances, allowing the audience to ask questions similar to the way she used to open her show.  This book contains the 'answers' to some of the most commonly asked questions, and is full of hilarious moments, just as you'd expect.  It contained insights on the people she worked with, including her co-stars Vicki Lawrence, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway.  I especially liked all her funny stories about her first time meetings with celebrities, in which she invariably did or said something very embarrassing but very funny.  Quick read, as the majority of the stories are only a couple of pages long, so it was good for reading in little snippets of time.

Recent Reads {Surrender the Night}

Surrender the Night by MaryLu Tyndall - I read the first book in this series quite a long time ago, it seems, and finally decided to finish the trilogy.  This second book is about a young American woman, Rose, and a British naval officer during the War of 1812.  Rose is alone on her family farm near Baltimore, when a brutal naval lieutenant attacks her.  She is surprised to be rescued by the 2nd Lieutenant, Alexander Reed, and dismayed that he is injured in melee.  She cares for the wound and decides to shelter him on the farm until he is recovered enough to return to his ship, rather than turn him in to the American militia.  Naturally, the two develop feelings for one another (do you ever NOT see that coming in these types of books? LOL) but Rose's past experience has taught her that no one can be trusted, and Alex wrestles with how to reconcile his sense of honor and duty to his family and country with his growing distaste for the war and his own countrymen's treatment of the Americans.  This was an easy read and kept my interest - I finished it in one day! - and in my opinion, Ms Tyndall's writing is showing improvement from her first novels.  She still has what appears to be some overused 'favorite' phrases, but I found these far less distracting than in some of the earlier titles.  She does a great job of inventing characters and putting them in rock-and-a-hard-place situations within historical setting frameworks.  The situations are a bit on the far-fetched side, but it wouldn't make a good story if they were too ordinary, right?

By the same author:  The Falcon and the Sparrow, Surrender the Heart (first in this series), Charles Towne Belle Series (The Red Siren, The Blue Enchantress, The Raven Saint), The Legacy of the King's Pirates series (The Redemption, The Reliance, The Restitution)

 

Recent Reads {Mr Darcy's Little Sister}

Mr Darcy's Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson - As the title indicates, this 'sequel' to Pride and Prejudice focuses on Georgiana, the younger sister of Mr Darcy.  The story picks up after Darcy and Elizabeth announce their engagement and reflects on the wedding preparations and first year of their marriage mostly from Georgiana's point of view.  Georgiana is preparing for her presentation at court and her first Season, and her close friendship with her new sister proves invaluable as she navigates London society and pursues her own dreams for happiness.  Pierson has been very respectful of Jane Austen's characters and morals, and the result is a well-researched novel that is dignified, classy, and mostly believable, yet told for a 21st century reader.  I kept turning the pages, interested in the storyline, yet not completely drawn in emotionally, but I'm not sure why.  It seemed to me that Elizabeth's character became much too staid and matronly immediately upon her marriage, with her spirit and humour much more subdued than I would have imagined, and that did disappoint me somewhat.  Overall, however, I think this book ranks among the finest of Jane
Austen fan fiction, because the main characters and major storyline are in keeping with the original work, and Austen herself would not need to blush over the behavior of the characters she created.

Recent Reads {The Bell Messenger}

The Bell Messenger by Robert Cornuke with Alton Gansky - It surprised me to see the Cornuke has also written some works of fiction, and piqued my curiosity, but I did manage to find this one through my local library.  The story follows a Bible as it passes from one 'messenger' to another, always with the challenge to "Be God's messenger as I have been."  The Bible is first passed from a young Confederate named Elijah Bell to the Union officer who shot him, and from there the Bible journeys around the world with its various owners.  Cornuke uses parallel storylines beginning with the Union officer, Jeremiah Tate, and the modern-day recipient of the Bible, Gary Brandon.  Gary receives the Bible as a graduation gift from an alcoholic uncle and begins to research the names recorded in the Bible in an attempt to find its true owner and its history.  Tate takes the Bible with him to San Francisco, and it passes through the hands of a Chinese doctor, a new bride on her honeymoon tour of Egypt, a soldier during the Great War, and a treasure-hunter seeking gold in Saudi Arabia.  The story is enjoyable, and as I expected from Cornuke, full of well-researched historical background.  I'm not sure the ending was completely satisfying, but I won't give it away. ;-)

By the same author: In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah, In Search of the Mountain of God, In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant,  The Lost Shipwreck of Paul

Recent Reads {Mine Is The Night}

Mine Is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs - This is the continuation of the story of the Kerr widows, Marjory and Elisabeth, from Here Burns My Candle, and it's another real gem.  Marjory and Elisabeth return to Selkirkshire, where Marjory has a cousin she hopes will take them in despite their scandalous ties to the Jacobite rebellion.  The ladies are in extremely reduced circumstances, and Elisabeth finds work as a seamstress in order to provide a small income.  Just as in the Bible story of Ruth, Elisabeth finds another income and favour with a wealthy landowner in the neighborhood, who shows her great kindness.  But he is also an Admiral in the King George's Navy, and Jacobites are still not safe.  Elisabeth and Marjory both find love and second chances in this novel, but face trials of their faith and courage along the way.  One element of the story that struck me as rather unusual is that the heros and heroines are all honorable, God-fearing people from start to finish in the book - none are reprobates that must change in order to earn the respect of the one they love.  It seems like Ms Higgs has a winning 'formula' - a parallel based on a Biblical story set in historical Scotland - but it shouldn't be a surprise that the Bible's demonstrations of love, justice, and salvation are the basis of the best stories.

By the same author:  Here Burns My Candle, Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, Whence Came A Prince, Grace in Thine Eyes

Recent Reads {Shakespeare Undead}

Shakespeare Undead by Lori Handeland - Believe it or not, my local library has a whole feature shelf of zombie lit right now.  Creepy, right?  But since I liked Pride and Prejudice and Zombies so much, I have glanced over the titles on that shelf a few times.  This was the title that caught my eye, and it turned out to be an entertaining book.  The fantasy premise is that William Shakespeare was a vampire (in case you are not up on your trivia of the undead, vampires are capable of raising zombie armies) and the mysterious Dark Lady in his sonnets was a zombie-hunter with whom he had a love affair.  Now, if the Bard was a vampire many centuries old, that would certainly explain how he had the knowledge background to write all those plays, even though it seemed that he had a relatively modest education and wasn't well-traveled. ;-)  In this story, Will has a run-in with a young zombie hunter - a young woman dressed as a boy - and they join forces to combat the growing number of zombies in London, eventually falling in love.  Will is trying to find out who is raising the zombie army and what their purpose is, yet he cannot let his Dark Lady guess that he is not human.  Shakespeare's inspiration for his plays comes often in the form of ghosts of people he has known in his long un-life, and there are many humorous references to the plot ideas he has and how they may play out.  In the future, under the names of other authors and playwrights, of course.   And the ending is a bit of a cliff-hanger!

Recent Reads {Eco-Chic Home}

Eco-Chic Home by Emily Anderson - I can't even begin to explain why this caught my eye at the library, because while I do attempt to be smart and responsible when it comes to the environment, I am certainly NOT a tree-hugger or anything like that. Basically I recycle, reuse, reduce consumption, and avoid unnecessary chemicals and processing when it's economical and/or relatively convenient. Anyway, these little how-to book is full of little tidbits of environmental information tucked in among a selection of projects that are supposed to be economical and environmentally-conscious ways to add style and function throughout the home. There were a lot of projects that I found intriguing and possibly worth trying; a few projects that I thought were irresistable; and quite a few that I thought were a whole lot of expense and trouble. Even those, however, were clever ideas.  Not a book that rocked my world, but a book that sparked a few ideas.

Recent Reads {Thief}

Thief by Linda Windsor - In the second novel of this trilogy, the attention is on Caden, the second son of Glenarden.  Caden had proved to be a traitor in the first story, which focused on oldest son Ronan, and had been exiled from the kingdom.  Bitter and hopeless, Caden has been making his way as a mercenary soldier until he is injured in a battle.  He is nursed back to health with the help of a gentlewoman who gives him his next mission - the search for her long-lost daughter who was kidnapped years previous.  Sorcha had been adopted by a Saxon family, and was making a living a minstrel and carrying on her father's business, and is suspicious of Caden's offer to take her back to her mother.  No surprise that the two of them are meant to be together, but of course there are roadblocks and trials in the way.  Eventually they are accused of murder and wind up running for their lives.  It took me a little longer to get the characters and locations straight in my mind when I started reading this book, but once I had it settled who belonged to which kingdom, I was drawn in by the story and found it difficult to put down.  Since the third in this series is probably not going to be available till sometime next year, I may see if I can pick up one of Windsor's other titles in the meantime.

By the same author:  Healer

Recent Reads {Mr Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman}

Mr Darcy and the Secret of Becoming a Gentleman by Maria Hamilton - It can be mind-boggling to consider the sheer number of Pride & Prejudice spin-offs, sequels, and "what-if's" available.  Trying to figure out which ones are worth reading and which ones are trash is quite a task.  This "what-if" by Maria Hamilton is, in my opinion, one of the better ones out there.  Hamilton takes up the story as Mr Darcy leaves Hunford after Elizabeth rejects his first proposal.  The remainder of the novel sets out an alternative course of events in answer to the question, "what if Mr Darcy had acted immediately in an effort to repair the damage he had done to Mr Bingley and Jane's relationship?"  The alternative love story sees Mr Darcy return to Hertfordshire much sooner, and determined to do whatever he could to earn a second chance with Elizabeth and take her criticisms of his character seriously enough to make changes.  Overall, the book is very well-written and in the spirit, if not quite the style of Austen.  It seemed to me that Hamilton's style was a somewhat simplified version of an Austen-style narrative, obviously written for a 21st century audience.  There were sections of dialogue that were a bit stilted - for example, there were a couple of conversations in which I was heartily tired of the lady prefacing almost every sentence with "Sir,..." and I had some minor quibbles with characterization.  Darcy worries and obsesses over his decisions much longer and with more angst than I would expect from him, even considering that he is doing his best to anticipate how Elizabeth may interpret his actions. As Darcy very subtly courts Elizabeth and she realizes that she is falling in love with him, they both recognize the danger that misunderstandings between them pose to their relationship, and they make great efforts to be patient and honest.  This sometimes goes a bit too far and they apologize to each other excessively.  (Spoiler alert, sort of: I didn't like that Darcy and Elizabeth anticipate their wedding vows near the end of the book, but that said, I am glad that it wasn't trashy and graphic.  And even though I didn't like this plot twist, it didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story at all.)  The storyline was delightful and romantic, the writing (and editing!) was well-crafted and classy, and I think this is a wonderful addition to the growing collection of JAFF.

Recent Reads {Jane Fairfax}

Jane Fairfax by Joan Aiken - This novel takes the secondary heroine of Austen's Emma, and gives her a backstory. Aiken writes in a style meant to imitate Austen, and succeeds tolerably well. She imagines Jane's childhood and relationship with Emma, and tells us all the background of Jane's upbringing and education with the Campbell family and how she came to meet Frank Churchill. While the novel provides motivation and storyline for Jane and Churchill, and retells many of the events of the original story as they may have been seen from a different viewpoint, it didn't keep my interest and I didn't feel any emotional connection to Jane. The character of Emma is presented very negatively through the majority of the book, which put me off considerably. Certainly the character of Jane, especially as a young child, may have seen Emma's actions and behavior as selfish, petty, and mean-spirited; but as a reader who viewed Emma with a little more charity, this tended to annoy me more than anything. I did enjoy the love story aspect of the relationship between Jane and Churchill, their secret engagement, and their actions and attitudes from Jane's vantage point.

Recent Reads {The Dark Enquiry}

The Dark Enquiry by Deanna Raybourn - I have an obsession with Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia novels. There, I've said it. I can't seem to get enough of these fascinating, yet flawed, characters and their adventures. I had this latest installment (fifth in the series) in my hands within a week of its release and now that I've finished it, I will have to wait anxiously for the next one!

Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane have returned home to London and are trying to settle into something of a domestic routine, and strike a balance they are both happy with concerning Julia's involvement in Brisbane's private investigation business. As expected with such passionate and quirky characters (with 'help' from Julia's eccentric family), domesticity and routine are more than a little elusive. Soon Brisbane and Julia are involved in the investigation of a Spirit Club and related murders, and are in great danger themselves. Brisbane trusts Julia with more of his mysterious past as they follow the threads of this case through all its twists and turns.

Loved. It. 8-)

By the same author: Silent in the Grave, Silent in the Sanctuary, Silent on the Moor, and Dark Road to Darjeeling are the previous Lady Julia Grey novels. Also - The Dead Travel Fast.

Recent Reads {Healer}

Healer by Linda Windsor - I found this novel, first in a planned trilogy, by chance, having seen the second of the series on the feature shelf at the library. I hunted up the first so I could read them in order, and enjoyed it very much. the story is set in Arthurian era Scotland, during a time when clans and tribes had to unite against common enemies even while feuding with each other. The action opens with a prologue describing the slaughter of one king and his people by a jealous neighboring king. Only the infant daughter escapes the keep, in the care of her nurse, but she grows up hunted and isolated because of the prophecy her mother spoke as she died. Twenty years later, Brenna finds herself face to face with the son and heir of the warlord king that killed her parents, and both have to decide who they can trust and how the prophecy will affect their futures. A very engagin story that I found hard to put down. Now I'm more than ready to read the second, and then await publication of the third!

Recent Reads {Here Burns My Candle}

Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs - Having finished Higgs' Scottish setting novels featuring Leana and Jamie and their family, I couldn't resist delving into another Higgs novel.  This one parallels the Biblical story of Ruth, setting the action in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the Jacobite rebellion.  Lady Elisabeth Kerr and her mother-in-law Lady Marjory Kerr, are the heroines of the story.  Elisabeth is a Highland commoner who has married into the Kerr's noble family.  The family's loyalties are divided between the Jacobite cause and their traditionally royalist leanings.  Readers familiar with Ruth's story will anticipate many aspects of the story but I certainly didn't find it diminished my enjoyment of it at all.  Keep a tissue box handy!

By the same author:  Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, Whence Came a Prince, Grace in Thine Eyes

Recent Reads {Emma}

I finished several books over the past week or two, but am behind on blogging about them. Here we go:



Emma by Jane Austen - this is the heroine Austen herself believed that no one would like except herself. As with Fanny in Mansfield Park, I did find that I liked Emma quite well. She is spoiled and complacent, and a bit snobbish, but is generally kind-hearted and gracious, even if she is often hiding her true opinions behind her impeccable manners and consciousness of her place in society. She is beyond patient and generous with her father's eccentricities as well. The entire novel takes place within the confines of Highbury, with only references to other locales. Emma herself has never travelled outside of Highbury, not even to the nearby Box Hill which the characters visit near the end of the novel (with some disastrous results). The subtle humour throughout gives the novel its charm and movement despite its limited action.

By the same author:  Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, The History of England, Mansfield Park

Recent Reads {The Lost Shipwreck of Paul}

The Lost Shipwreck of Paul by Robert Cornuke - Bob Cornuke's experiences in Ethiopia while seeking the Ark of the Covenant included a shipwreck in a storm on Lake Tana.  His reflections on that harrowing experience led him to consider Luke's account in Acts of the storm that wrecked the ship carrying the apostle Paul and other prisoners to Rome.  Luke was a very accurate historian and gave many details about the journeys of Paul, and some very specific information about this particular shipwreck on the island of Malta.  Cornuke's research led him to speculate that the anchors thrown from that ship might still rest on the ocean floor near Malta, and this book is the chronicle of his investigation.  As in the other related books, he unravels the clues just like the detective he once was; and the account mixes scholarship, history, and Biblical insight with a dose of adventure.  He examines the possible beaching sites where the shipwreck might have occurred, and follows up with several Maltese divers when he discovers that Roman-era anchors have been brought up from around the reef where the shipwreck must have occurred.  Another exciting and eye-opening read from Cornuke!

By the same author:  In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah, In Search of the Mountain of God, In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant

 

Related DVD: Mountain of Fire

Recent Reads {Grace in Thine Eyes}

Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs - Like the trilogy that precedes it, this novel is both a delight and an agony to read.  It is delightful because of the rich settings and beautiful imagery, compelling characters, and a storyline that draws you in and keeps you turning pages until the very end - and wishing there was another chapter.  But that same storyline is full of tears and tragedy, because it parallels the story told in the Bible of Jacob's daughter, Dinah.  Higgs reworks Dinah's story in a Scottish setting, and the main character is the daughter of Jamie and Leana McKie. Davina is mute as a result of an accident in her childhood, but she is also a loving young woman and a very talented fiddler.  Jamie arranges for her to spend a summer with relatives and while she is enjoying her time there, she catches the eye of a young nobleman who doesn't act nobly.  At least at first.  Davina's faith and capacity for mercy and forgiveness are sorely tested, and the faith and grace of her family and friends as well.  As I read, I found myself 'knowing' what would happen to a certain extent, at least if Higgs was going to be faithful to the story in Genesis, and not wanting to read a story so sad, but even when brought to tears, I felt that Davina's story was full of hope and faith, and as the title suggests - emphasizes the beauty of grace.

By the same author: Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose, Whence Came a Prince

Recent Reads {The New Answers Book 1}

The New Answers Book 1 - Ken Ham, General Editor - Finally acquired the updated edition of The Answers Book and read it through! It is excellent - part Science textbook, part theology treatise, yet not at all boring or "too technical" for an average reader. At times it seemed repetitive, because so many of the answers overlap, but each chapter's answer is complete for the relevant question. This means that if you just look up the response to a question like whether dinosaurs evolved into birds, you will be able to complete information without needing to refer to every other chapter in order to get the full picture. The last chapter "How Can I Use This Information to Witness?" is one of the most important to read, in my opinion, because it addresses the worldview issue that we face. If we who are Christians claim to believe in the God of the Bible and believe in Jesus Christ for our salvation, we must also believe that the Genesis accounts of Creation and the worldwide flood of Noah's day are true. I think this particular chapter is worthy of 'required reading' status for all Christians.

Recent Reads {The Call of Zulina}

 



The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom - This historical novel is about Grace, the daughter of an English sea captain and an African princess, set in West Africa in 1787.  Grace runs away from the family compound to avoid an arranged marriage, and starts to find out more about her family's business - that her parents capture and trade slaves.  She is held for ransom and imprisoned in the fortress of Zulina, where her father holds captured slaves.  Grace has to make difficult choices and display great courage and leadership as she becomes involved in a slave revolt.

This was the first novel by Strom for me, although she is apparently a prolific writer.  I found that I was probably two-thirds of the way into the book before becoming really emotionally invested in the outcome of the story.  At that point, I couldn't put it down!  There are some unexpected plot twists that Strom saves for the end, and only a hint at the possibilities of a love match for Grace instead of the arranged marriage she escaped from.  This is the first of a series, so it appears Strom has saved the romance part for a future installment.   Of interest to me - in the Acknowledgements, Strom says that Zulina is based on a slave house in Senegal, and Grace's parents are modeled after an English/African couple she learned about while researching her biography of John Newton.  At first I wasn't sure I would want to read the next in the series, but now that I've finished the book, I think I will look up the second book sometime.

Recent Reads {Mansfield Park}

 

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this, except that I find Austen's writing requires me to absorb it more slowly than some other novels.  Mansfield Park is the story of Fanny Price, the daughter of a rather poor family, who is brought to live with her wealthy relations at 10 years old.  Her cousins generally take little notice of her, and her Aunt Norris is continually reminding her of how grateful she ought to be and how little deserving she is any favour.  As a consequence, Fanny is lonely and mostly withdrawn.  However, one of her cousins, Edmund, does take it upon himself to see to Fanny's comfort and treats her with respect and kindness.  As may be expected, Fanny falls in love with him.  But "happy ever after" is interrupted by the arrival of the Crawford brother and sister in the neighborhood.  Henry Crawford eventually pursues Fanny, to her great dismay; and Edmund believes himself in love with Mary Crawford.  The entire family at Mansfield Park is thrown into turmoil in some way by the Crawfords, and Fanny is apparently the only one that observes their character flaws.  Of course, in the end, Edmund does see his own love for Fanny and they do marry.  Austen saves the happy ending for literally the last couple of pages of the book.

 

In reading Peter Leithart's analysis, I was a little surprised to realize that Fanny has not been well-liked by readers! I did like her - she was a bit humorless, and seemed quite satisfied to allow things to happen to and around her, but I thought her sweet and generous, and admired her steadfast sense of morality and faithfulness.  Leithart points out the ways Austen makes use of the contrast between characters - activity and idleness in their extremes with Lady Bertram and Aunt Norris; acting roles and vocational callings with the Crawfords and Edmund and Fanny; and the worldliness of London and the peacefulness of the country.

By the same author:  Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, The History of England

 

Recent Reads {Whence Came A Prince}

Whence Came a Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs - I'm not gonna lie - these books are next to impossible for me to put down!  This third in the series kept me turning the pages at least as much as the first two.  The story picks up shortly after Fair is the Rose left off - Rose is now married to Jamie, and within a short while discovers to her great joy that she is expecting.  Meanwhile, Leana is living with her Aunt Meg and finds that she too, is expecting a child.  Leana returns to her home, thinking that Jamie and Rose have already departed for his family estate, and when she finds them still in residence she tries to keep her own pregnancy a secret.  Just like the Biblical story, eventually Jamie has had enough of his father-in-law's trickery and packs up to leave with both his "wives."  My own perception of Rose softened quite a bit during this story (I was not at all a fan of hers during the previous installment!) and I was struck again by the Leana's strength and graciousness, and the way she always thought of others' needs before her own.  Another beautiful story full of rich historical detail and  insightful parallels to the Biblical story.

By the same author:  Thorn in My Heart, Fair is the Rose

Recent Reads {Fair is the Rose}

Fair is the Rose by Liz Curtis Higgs - After thoroughly enjoying the first in this series, Thorn in My Heart, I was eager to read the next installment, and wasn't disappointed. This picks up where the first left off, but focuses on Rose's point of view. Although I loved the book and was kept turning pages all the way through, this was harder for me to read than the first. And that is because I developed a bias against Rose early in this book. It didn't sit well with me that someone so selfish and so heartless towards those she claimed to love should get what she wanted. My heart broke for Leana and for Jamie in the difficulties they faced, ever more so as the story neared its conclusion. By the time I reached the end, I had softened somewhat towards Rose again, and had even more admiration and sympathy for Leana than before, and I am all anticipation for what Higgs has in store for me in the third book, Whence Came A Prince.

By the same author: Thorn in My Heart

Recent Reads {Thorn in My Heart}

Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs - I'm not sure how long I've had this on my to-read list, but it's been awhile. And now that I finally picked it up and read it, I wish I'd done it so much sooner - it's a wonderful book, and I immediately grabbed the second in the series and got started on that. This is a historical novel, set in Lowland Scotland in 1788, but is based on the Biblical story of Jacob. The description on the back cover only hints at that connection, but readers familiar with the Old Testament patriarchs will not be able to miss it after about page 3! Jamie is the Scottish character that manages to trick his father and claim the family's inheritance rather than have it go to his twin brother. Then he escapes his brother's threats by going to an uncle who has two daughters. Of course Jamie immediately falls for the younger daughter, but it is the older who falls for him. The uncle is quick to take any advantage he can of the situation in order to get free labor from Jamie for as long as he can, and doesn't scruple at bribery or threats or even pitting his daughters against each other in order to turn his own profit. Jamie and the two daughters, Leana and Rose, are all victims and deceivers in turn. In the Biblical story, both daughters were married to Jacob, but clearly that part of the story wouldn't be culturally "possible" in eighteenth century Scotland, so one of the things that kept me turning pages was the anticipation of how Higgs would manage that part of the parallel story. No spoilers here - but it was incredibly well done! I was hard-pressed to put the book down once I got started.

Recent Reads {In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant}

In Search of the Lost Ark of the Covenant by Robert Cornuke and David Halbrook - This is the third book by Cornuke and Halbrook that I've read, and it was fascinating. Cornuke made several trips to Ethiopia, where it's believed that the Ark of the Covenant is located. Cornuke visits Axum and Lake Tana as well as the St Mary of Zion Church, and interviews monks, priests, and scholars. The narrative provides a unique view of the religious practices and daily life of the people of Ethiopia, and the Biblical research raises thought-provoking insights about the possible role of the Ark and the prophecies and clues in Scripture. Of course Cornuke and his team never see the Ark themselves, because it is kept in complete isolation, but there is enough evidence to be convinced that the object the priests guard so carefully is indeed the Ark, and that it may yet play an important role when Messiah returns. Reading this book has been particularly timely, as our adult Sunday School class has recently studied the Exodus, and are now studying the Tabernacle worship of the Jews while in the desert.

By the same authors:  In Search of the Mountain of God, In Search of the Lost Mountains of Noah