Review 5 star
Find It On Amazon Believing: Reflections of Faith by Michael Misiak is a detailed, but easy to read devotional book written for both Christians and skeptics. The author shares his personal journey as a Christian and invites non-believers to consider divergent thinking and open their minds to new ideas instead of what they already think about religion. After exploring the validity of the Bible and near-death experiences and laying the groundwork to reader to consider the reality of God, the rest of the book examines daily life as a Christian, including the timelessness of Christ in the face of thousands of years of fads and being a light in the world even when you are faulty. Believing: Reflections of Faith is a great book to connect with in a personal way. Michael Misiak writes like a friend giving wisdom from his own experiences so you can sort out what you might be struggling with. His gift for really clever imagery that hits the spot and creates a genuine moment shines brightly throughout the narrative. I especially liked the use of wordplay and scientific analogies to create the unexpected and make you think—as in comparing the three-person God to the awesome power of the sun, lens to view the sun, and solar radiation. Other moments of reflection were very funny and deeply real, like the inventive story of what your point of view might be if you were in heaven about to be born on Earth. An earnest and authentic book that never overstates itself or loses its grip on the subject matter, Believing: Reflections of Faith is a great option for someone looking to better their understanding of why people believe in God or to renew their own faith if they are a Christian. Review 5 star
Find It On Amazon Just Her Poetry: Seasons of a Soul by D.L. Finn is a full-length book of poetry with high literary quality. It is divided into two halves, one about the healing beauty of nature and one about relationships and emotional situations. Part One—Just Her Poetry--talks about the seasons of the year in the spectacular scenery around the author’s home and contains a short set of vignettes called “Musings from the Back of a Harley,” detailing the thrill of motorcycle rides around the countryside. Part Two—Seasons of a Soul—explores emotions like sadness, hope, and insecurity in the face of destruction from human behavior and natural forces. There is also an area of poetry inspired by or excerpted from D.L. Finn’s other books, including a memoir, and some poems about the holiday season. I really enjoyed Just Her Poetry: Seasons of a Soul. Rich in content and daily reality, the poems built on each other within each section to take up where the other poem left off. Much like writing chapters in a book of prose, D.L. Finn’s poetry is sophisticated storytelling. It grew in little images gradually to tell a complex story—a novel in verse. My favorite section was “Musings from the Back of a Harley,” a completely unique, distinct set of poetry where sharp edges of words brought the excitement of riding a motorcycle into verbal motion. Thought-provoking depth about the fragility of life appeared in other areas of the book, as in a series of poems (“Fire,” “We Wait,” “Wait,” and “Red Flag”) where fine writing brings the experience of living near forest fires into visceral, vivid clarity. Including some poems that connected into Finn’s other writings added more layers and was excellent for putting this book in context. Review 5 star
Find It On Amazon Goodnight, My Love! by Shelley Admont is a lovely picture book that encourages children to go to sleep at night. In it a father helps his small son, Alex. After drinking water and sending his father to get a particular toy, Alex says he isn’t sure what to dream about. Gently the father invents a dream the boy could have when asleep. The boy relaxes by imagining himself as a bird having adventures of flight over the ocean and scenic vistas on land. The father participates by describing himself as an older bird, the small bird’s companion. In the end, Alex is able to fall asleep while both his parents are pleased. Goodnight, My Love! has a really sweet message and a gentle style. It certainly feels like something that could be read aloud to a kid who is actually in bed and having trouble sleeping. The cute illustrations capture the real home life of this boy, and the serene, uplifting invented world that the father describes for him as well. Shelley Admont does a great job of developing both the adult and the child so their points of view are equally sympathetic—Alex wants more attention and is uncertain about falling asleep, but his Dad knows they both need to rest. In the end, these differences result in a great bond between them and a shared memory as Alex is helped along the path of making his own dreams. Positive thinking for kids is incredibly important and something this book delivers excellently through creating wholesome, pleasant images. |
AuthorThis is the companion for Sarah Scheele's newsletter blog. In it I share reviews for books I'd recommend/are similar to my own. Archives
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