No New Books- Just 2 old favorites

In between al the BBQ’s, hair appointments, brunches, church and friends, I re-read two of my favorite books this weekend. Something Borrowed & Something Blue by Emily Griffin.

These are two of my favorite books (the one I missed my bus stop for back in 05), although Blue did not grow on me until this weekend. I read these books for the first time two summers ago and loved them then, passed them around my old office and still love both of them today. In fact, I’m not even sure if I could give a good review of these books. I can say that I have re-read them both several times and I started to notice a pattern of when I would pick them up- When I need a pick me up and need to believe in two important things:

1. Things always work out- no matter how messy- no matter how messy things are today, no matter how queasy your stomach feels when you think about that situation- things always work out. No necessarily for your own good- especially if you are doing wrong, but somehow things always work out for the best.

2. What Goes around does come back around

3. True love always wins ( or close enough anyway)

I don’t agree with man/ fiancé steeling. Rachel was still wrong- even though I routed for her and not just because she was “ the underdog” but because she truly loved Dex AND Darcy and after these past two years, I’ve realized that sometimes life puts you in these crazy situations and you have to deal with them and make the best of them.

After this weekend I can only hope that things work out- not even in the Rachel Dex way but in the Darcy/ Nathan way.

I’d like to think that in my life I’ve elevated past the superficiality of wanting Darcy to loose that I had the first few times I read Blue- to the “happiness” I felt for her while reading this weekend. Finally understanding and appreciating her growth by the end of the book. Although that made the book not as juicy as borrowed- I’m happy that I’m able to appreciate it at this point in my life.

So when I start to loose hope or have even lost it (as I have now) I go like to read these books to remind me of those two things. And hope that it traverses over to my life. AND SOON.

And maybe soon- I’ll post and honest review of both of these books.

*I also love her newest book (now in paperback) Baby Proof- for reasons # 1 & 3 above- mostly number 3. In fact it has given me more hope for number 3. That we can make a mistake, but if it’s what’s meant to be- it will be.

Redemption

Redemption

Jacqueline Thomas

**** ( 4/5)

Redemption introduces us to two unforgettable characters- Pastor Warner Brice and hot Hollywood actress Marin Alexander and what happens when these two from different world, find love and get married- uniting not only themselves but their two worlds together.

Soon after their idealistic courtship and marriage Marin discovers that something is missing and goes in search. She tries returning to her old career, but soon finds herself fulfilling her life with a dangerous passion that threatens everything she has and has worked hard to build.

Unable to beat this “passion” she soon fall victim to it. Her husband, children and parents struggle with watching her downfall. The person it hits the hardest is God- fearing Warner Brice who doesn’t question “Why?” but keeps in mind the promise that God made him and that he vowed before God. When everyone else looses hope in Marin, Warner doesn’t and stand up to the test- no matter how difficult it becomes, Warner will not fail.

Like the title, the overall theme in the book is redemption and the costs of forgiveness. Ms. Thomas weaves between the two world- Hollywood and the church which such ease and I loved how she though to bring them together in this book. Many times, we look down on Hollywood, but as Warner mentions in the book- it’s a battlefield that must be one as well. Jesus never committed something as a lost cause and turned his back.

Another by Ms. Thomas is that this book is not too preachy, when can often happen in the genre. She weaves the lessons between the bible and experience and it flows throughout the book.

Although I found a little of the book to unrealistic, Ms. Thomas portrayed the drug world with frightening reality, experienced only by someone who has watched a loved one fall down that trap ( or even been there themselves).

Redemption is an enjoyable read and would make a great book club read to discuss many of the issues it brings up (drugs, Hollywood, marriage, making marriage works, relationships (especially mother and daughter, forgiveness and most importantly REDEMPTION

Why I Read Christian Fiction

This got me excited. The keynote speaker, Lauren Winner, is one of my favorite authors, not to mention the subject of her speech is one that I have been contemplating for a while.

In case you haven’t noticed, my tastes are a bit eclectic. I read a little of everything from non-fiction to chic-lit, to mysteries to- you name it, I’ll read it. However, I do read Christian Fiction a lot more than anything else and I wanted to explain this and a difference I noticed recently.

I started reading African American Christian Fiction at a time when the world of contemporary African American literature was filled with trash. I would buy books filled with bad grammar, misspelling and other horrific acts of torture against the English language- in addition to bad writing and stupid stories. So I stumbled upon Victoria Christopher Murray, Jaquelin Thomas and a few other authors who wrote good books. Hands down- these books were great. Yeah there was God in them, but it was subtle. I consider myself a person with morals who lives by the golden rule and the characters in these stories did that, unlike some of the more popular novels that were taking front and center shelf position at Barnes & Noble. I’m not a prude and I like sex just as much as the next person, but that is not what I am about and I don’t want to read entire books about sex and nothing else( or with loose stories based on sex). Like I said, I’m not perfect but I try, and so books like this, were not cutting it. I’m not from the “hood”, but I do know what it is about and I got tired of reading books that glorified this life. All the people I knew from that life, worked hard to escape it and fought even harder to keep from going back.

In my early days of reading ( African American) Christian fiction, the books were simple. The premise was about God, but not evangelism. There were not too preachy, just good stories , written by good authors with legitimate plots, correct spellings, few run-ons and real characters.

Then I noticed that these books were becoming more and more popular. I no longer had to scour amazon.com for HOURS to find titles and recommendations. By 2005/6 there were publishers devoted to this- Walk Worthy Press, KNB Publications, to name a few. I could walk into Barnes and Noble and between Street Dreams Volume 12 and Diary of a Ho, there was a Christian fiction book.

I also noticed the fiction evolving. Some books are pure preaching, other like to keep the drama of contempary African American literature ( Eric Jerome Dickey, Carl Weber, et.al) and add a Christian theme- I loved them all. Unfortunately, they were not producing enough books a month for my reading fancy so I gravitated from the AA section to Christian Fiction. There I found Christian chic-lit i.e. Kristin Billerbeck series and Emily Ever After. What ? Christian chic-lit. So I ventured out even further. I should also note that I also began exploring my “faith” and so read tons of other religious fare during this time ( including the aforementioned Lauren Winner books) and I loved it.

Reading Christian lit does not keep me from reading other genres. I still read and enjoy Stephanie Plum novels, Gossip Girl, Eric Jerome Dickey and the like. I just enjoy Christian Fiction a little bit more. Usually because I always know what I am going to get, especially in the African American arena. The second reason it because I genuinely like Christian Fiction. I would love to say that I am a Christian and yada yada yada, but the truth is I enjoy Christian fiction and more if when I don’t or am struggling to believe. It is when my faith is it its lowest point, when I’m tired of reading the Bible ( sorry) that I turn to Life, Libby & The Pursuit of Happiness or Further than I Meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay, for pick-me up for reassurance. It is precisely because I can partake in one of my favorite activities ( reading) but yet somehow be spoken to by God at a time when I am ready to give up, that resonates how important Christian Fiction is in my life. I look for the word of God, for the words he has given the authors, for the author’s testimony and for the novel’s testimony. Although fiction, it is a hope based on what I myself believe in .

Don’t get me wrong, not all CF is good or worth reading. I’ve read some un-proof read CF and some crazy stuff, I just generally find it to me closer to me- my morals, belief and my experiences than some other stuff out there today. I read Christian fiction because it is good, there are several sub-genres ( chick-lit, historical-romance) that I can get my fix met with out stepping out and being disappointed as I had been in the past. Christian Fiction has also mature a lot in the past few years ( as I hope at had). Once considered fairytell-ish and condescending and preachy, the stories today resonate on a different level. There are more sublte. Of course you still run into preachy novels today- they are usually few and far between.

So that’s how I got to Christian Fiction and why I was first attracted to it. Later I’ll discuss why I still am and my personal views on the CF Market.

Link to Check out:

A Few Thoughts- Interesting Site with resources and quotes.

Farther Than I Meant To Go, Longer Than I Meant To Stay

Further Than I meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay.

Tiffany L. Warren

**** ( 4/5)

“Sin will always take you further than you meant to go and keep you longer than you meant to stay”.

I read this book praying that I had not made this choice so this book was VERY relevant to me. Anyway.

The book is about our protagonist, Charmayne, and overweigh, insecure, Christian woman who gets caught up with the wrong man. The book alternates between the past and the present as we get caught up on the story that has led Charmayne to loose everything she once had- her self respect, financially security her job and her pride. Charmayne is an active member of her church, a dutiful daughter and sister and a successful bank manager. Successful by most peoples standards, Charmayne feels anything but because she is

a. over thirty

b. single and

c. overweight- three common problems for hordes of women, of all faiths, backgrounds, races etc. . She then gets caught up in something that feels too good to be true and instead of following her heart and God’s guidance; she decides to keep going leading to disastourous results. Forced to pick up the pieces and put her life back together with the help of family friends and the Lord, this book not only questions us but teaches us Christian’s valuable lessons about thinking that you are in control.

Charmayne prayed every step of the way, however she did not listen and/or act upon the answers she received which is a problem that had faces all Christians and some point or another. Sometimes is not the answer we want or we thinking we can fix it, max it work or whatever instead of doing instructed. Charmayne’s tale is a tale of disobedience and what happens when we do not follow out what we KNOW is right.

But the good news for Charmayne is that God forgives and Charmayne learns that and HOW to forgive, ( another lesson us Christians sometimes forgets) and in the end finds that everything she was looking for – she already had- right under her nose.

The best part of the book for me was learning the Story of Rizpah (2 Samuel 21), whom Ms. Warren uses to parallel the story and the lesson. I loved learning a new story, espicially one I had never heard and I loved how Ms. Warren incorporated it into the story.

Of course there are some other themes within the book- Family relationships, marriage, armor bearers ( which pastor preached on this past Sunday) that merge together to create and wonderful read that is not too preachy, but gets the lesson across loud and clear.

Read for Book Club # 2 – May 2007-

( orginally read June 2006)

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Patricia Haley

*** ( 3.5/5)

In Ms. Haley’s sophomore novel she follows the story of a family with deep, dark secrets and what happens when those secrets come to the surface.

I enjoyed the story, however there were way too many characters and POV and not enough development on any of them. Also the ending of the story was tied up to quickly and nice, although sometimes I have to say – life does end just that way. The book was jumbled and I found myself having to put the book down a few times to stop from getting a headache from all the characters and plot points).

The book is Christian fiction but does not come off as overly preachy, but does adhere some aspects of the devout Christian faith.

This book is a the July Selection for Book Club # 2.

The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner

The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner.
Andrea Smith

The Sisterhood of Blackberry corner begins when the main characters husband finds a dead baby in the creek near their home. This starts ___ to wondering what would make a person do such a thing- abandon or kill their baby and more importantly is there something that could be done to prevent it. This leads her to decide that she will be that prevention. The last hope a woman has. The book weaves between “the present” (the 80’s) and the past- when the Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner starts saving the children and now (or rather the late 80’s) when one of those babies comes back looking for their past.

The weaving between the past and the present made this story a bit hard to read in the beginning, which was slow, but one into it- the reader can appreciate the telling of the story. Ms. Smith tells a wonderful, heartbreaking story about the difference between getting what you want and wanting what you get.

Read for Book Club # 1- May Selection

Adelaide Piper

Adelaide Piper-

Beth Webb Hart

**** ( 4/5)

Adelaide Piper is a “coming of age story” that follows Adelaide Piper thought her college years at a small liberal arts community in the late 80’s The focus of the book is on a traumatic event that robs Adelaide of her innocence and forces her to not only grow up but to contemplate. During this crisis, Adelaide has one of May spiritual awakenings that the author portrays through this book.

This book is a fast read and takes placed over a period of several years where we really get to do Adelaide Piper and the rest of her family, although some characters are more so than others. The book is a categorized as Christian Fiction, and themes of Christianity play an important role in the theme, it is not one where it is beaten down the reader’s throat. In fact, many of the references are rather subtle.

Although I did not go to college in the late 80’s, I could not truly relate to Adelaide college or life experiences, aside from the intricacies of southern societies which Ms. Hart touch on well ( Co-Cola being by favorite)

Overall, Adelaide Piper is a good book. Not a beach book, but perfect for a rainy afternoon.