Book Review: That Hideous Strength

That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
4.5 of 5 stars

That Hideous Strength, the third in C.S. Lewis' sci-fi trilogy following the character Ransom (based on Tolkien), was by far the best of the series. Set on Earth after Ransom's inter-planetary travel, we follow a couple, Jane and Mark Studdock and their interaction with N.I.C.E., an organization intent on world/natural domination. As Mark is drawn deeper into the organization, Jane finds out more about gifts she has been given and how it all relates back to the Director (Ransom, the Pendragon), a docile bear (Mr. Bultitude), and even Merlin. This theological trilogy draws one through Lewis' ponderings on how the gods and goddesses of mythology could possibly relate to the true God..among many other wonderful things. Suffice it to say that I will be mulling this book over for a long time. I think this series is an absolute must for anyone interested in writing theological sci-fi. It is foundational to this particular genre and illustrates the necessity of fully planning out ones thought progression through a book series. A fantastic read. 

Book Review: Perelandra

Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
4 of 5 stars

This is the second in C.S. Lewis' sci-fi trilogy following the character, Ransom, a space traveller. This time Ransom visits Venus (Perelandra) and we get an interesting glimpse of a Garden of Eden-esque scenario with a woman being tempted into sin. Ransom stands as witness to this event, and eventually realizes his role in the entire scheme. This book brings up a lot of questions about morality and gives Christians a way to look at how Satan can tempt us, and arguments we can use to combat his work. It also gave a picture of true innocence in the Green Woman and how all things and situations can be used to the glory of God. As for the injury of Ransom's heel: that serves as a reminder that true sacrifice and obedience to the Lord often leads to some type of persecution and suffering. But those who endure will be saved! A great book, followed by an even better one!

Book Review: Out of the Silent Planet

Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis
3 of 5 stars

My appreciation of the talent and imagination of C.S. Lewis only grows with each book I read (or reread). This sci-fi trilogy was implausible from a scientific standpoint, but he was writing about things that hadn't been imagined yet, so I am going to give him a pass on that. I will say that, although this was my least favorite in the series (because each book got better and better), this book was a necessary step the the build up of the trilogy as a whole. Ransom (who is believed to be a character based on Tolkien) easily becomes a lovable character that you will root for. Don't go into this book thinking it will be a light read. It delves deep into sociology, and more specifically, how our sociology would be different if we had interaction with other sentient beings on Earth. I have a feeling Orson Scott Card read these before writing his beloved works.

Book Review: The Scribe: Silas

The Scribe: Silas by Francine Rivers
5 of 5 stars


This was by far my favorite in this series. To look at someone - a writer, a teacher - with whom I have many shared interests, and to see how he succeeded in his craft and was able to use it as a tool for God was life-changing. My current recurring prayer to the Lord is for Him to use me as He did Silas. If that means helping others write books, great. If that means writing stories and books of my own...even better. I want to be malleable enough to be used by the Lord how He sees fit. Silas became a new role model.

Thunderstorm - Poem

I DO NOT consider myself a poet, but some seriously powerful lightning and thunder during a storm in Haiti recently inspired me to write this. The storm was a reminder of my need to fear God.


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When the lightning smacks and the thunder cracks and the rains roar...
You are feared, Oh God.
When the night is still and the brisk breeze chills and Your Spirit fills me...
You are loved, Oh God.
When the waves crash and the waterfalls splash and the aspens reach to the heavens...
You are revered, Oh God.
When the meadows glow and the willows hang low and the butterflies flutter by...
You are adored, Oh God.
When the woods are dark and the path shows no mark and I'm unsure of the way...still
You are praised, Oh God.
When the sun shines through and the adventure is new and you guide my hand...
You are thanked, Oh God. 

You are worthy to be praised.
You are worthy to be praised.

Book Review: Go Set a Watchman

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
2 of 5 stars

This book was very odd. It wasn't what I expected at all, and so I think that is part of what left me disappointed with it. I can understand why Lee's publisher told her to write another book before releasing this one. This book doesn't even come close to comparing with the beauty of To Kill A Mockingbird. A lot of the thought processes of Scout seem erratic. There were many obscure references that a decently educated person could understand but I think if this book was intended to be read by a larger audience most readers would be discouraged from reading because of them. 

Lee's depiction of Atticus completely destroyed my beliefs about TKAM. She used Atticus' character to make a point through the view point of Scout, but I think she greatly destroyed his character to make some points that were out of character. She wrote him so well the first time, I think she shouldn't have written any more about him. Some characters are too good to be messed with. 

I think the only point that seemed really relevant and important to today's political atmosphere was Scout's realization that she was a strong supporter of states' rights. This is a hot topic in a time in which executive order and Supreme Court rulings are taking a lot away from the 10th amendment giving all other rights and decisions to states. Some of the political moves being made today are going through states rights (legalization of marijuana) and others are not (SCOTUS ruling on homosexual marriages). I think this book could start some interesting discussions about the power of the federal government and its interaction with the power of state governments.

Book Review: The Prophet: Amos

The Prophet: Amos by Francine Rivers
4 of 5 stars

This was one of my favorites out of the Sons of Encouragement series so far because it took a book that most people can't even fathom or understand, including me, and fleshed it out into a story that people can connect with. We see more of the man behind the prophesies and are able to understand the world he was living with. I reread Amos after reading this book, and had an entirely different perspective. In a culture in which people are very conscious of judgment for anything on anyone, it was interesting to see into the world of a man sent to tell the world of God's judgment and then to witness the types of persecution he was willing to endure for God. It was an encouraging story for a modern Christ follower, especially a missionary sent to proclaim the Good News. Inspiring.

Book Review: Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
4 of 5 stars

Jane Austen has always been fun to read, and this is no exception. You can't help but love Fanny and desperately wish throughout the book that her cousin would finally realize her value. My only disappointment was the allotment of this realization to a few pages at the end. I would have liked to see more of how her cousin finally came around. Great book!

Book Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5 of 5 stars

I read this classic in ninth grade for the first time, but was recently able to read it again due to an untimely sick day (as if those are ever timely). I understand why many of the classics are required reading for public schools in high school. But with some books, I feel like I missed a lot when I read them, this being one of those books. I had forgotten what lovely prose Fitzgerald used throughout this book. His descriptions are unlike any other writer, which is obviously what sets him apart. This is a story that is so relevant for our current culture. The American Dream can become the American Nightmare.  So many people still chase dreams of wealth and fame and money, and Fitzgerald knew then that the pursuit of this would not bring happiness. Fitzgerald also deserves acclaim for this book for its original point of view. Not many writers have dared use a narrator in the first person that is not the protagonist of the story. For this particular story, it was the very best choice and I marvel at how he came to that conclusion for himself. This is a book I would advise everyone to read or reread. I put off watching the new The Great Gatsby movie until rereading, so I'm interested to see how it will line up with the story. Another great classic that deserves its acclaim.

Book Review: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
5 of 5 stars 

This book was a delightful read. This one has been on my to-read list for quite a while, and I'm so happy that I did read it. The gossipy style writing of Emily Bronte made an otherwise melancholy and tragic story much more enjoyable.  Nelly's ability to see the people she interacted with for who they really were and not who she wanted them to be was a breath of fresh air. Her attitudes towards everyone in the book were more realistic than I think many of the interactions we read about in modern books. This one is a classic for a reason. 

Book Review: The Secrets of a Fire King

The Secrets of a Fire King by Kim Edwards
2 of 5 stars

Many of the stories in this collection are fantastic. Kim Edwards is definitely a very talented writer. My favorite story was "Thirst" about a woman of the sea (a mermaid, I hope)? I enjoyed her other work The Memory Keeper's Daughter very much.

But I finished this collection feeling...attacked. She is obviously very disillusioned with religion, particularly Christianity, and she used this collection of stories to vent her hatred. As a Christian, I know that the path of Christianity is far from perfect and has hurt many people over the years, as has every other religion. Jesus was perfect and we that follow Him definitely are not; but this was just a beat down for no apparent reason. When I started reading this book I felt that I had a kindred spirit because we have similar writing styles, but now I just feel alienated.

There is a difference between challenging people to think about things and just insulting them. She did the latter. I usually deal with people's criticism of Christianity in writing pretty well, but there was no criticism or correction. She used irrational "Christian" characters, with whom no Christian would identify to justify her agenda. She may think of Christianity as a religion she wants no part in, but she just spread a lot of hate, something she claims to stand against.  She has freedom of speech and I respect that, but I won't be reading any of her future writing. She lost me as a formerly devoted reader.

Book Review: Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2.3 of 5 stars (only slightly better than Wild)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book. A story about a boy surviving the Pacific with a tiger for almost a year was very interesting and it was interesting to see where the author took the story line since they were essentially in the middle of nowhere. 

However, I found a lot of the book irrelevant and parts of it just trying way too hard. The first part of the book about Pi choosing his religion really didn't fit into any part of the story line. I feel like it could have been cut and the book would have been better off. It was like Martel wanted to include it to be hipster or different or artsy and it just didn't work with me. 

I also, of course did not agree with the theology, because it wasn't well founded at all. I'm not sure about Hinduism but Islam and Christianity do not agree that all ways lead to God or heaven, so it was really absurd that he even presented that and then acted like Pi was practicing three religions well. I felt like he didn't know much about any of the religions other than the names people used for God/gods.

 I also detested the chapters that he included basically from his perspective. Again, just trying way too hard to make his book different. It wasn't daring writing, it wasn't art for art's sake, it was just kind of lame. He just wanted his one hundred chapters and that was a weird way to do it. 

Then he got into his weird act of self-suffocation, which didn't add anything. It just reminded me of my friend who accidentally killed himself that way and made Pi less relatable to me than he already was. 

All in all, not my favorite read ever, but the tiger was cool. Richard Parker was my favorite character.

The Lake

This is something I wrote for class that was fun and difficult and morbid...odd to write. But I kind of enjoyed getting into this mind in a weird way and I got good feedback about the exercise, so I decided to share. I hope you enjoy it. Perhaps I have a future in murder mysteries.

Prompt: Describe a lake as seen by a young man who has just committed murder. Do not mention the murder. 

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The skeleton trees are swaying in the breeze as I stand alone on this lakeshore. The bare bones corpses of tall pines are rotting and dying. That fire last year claimed their souls but hasn’t quite claimed their decaying bodies. 

As I approach this lake, my friend, I watch the sun set blood-red over the horizon. I stand on the edge of the sand, enraptured by the simple beauty of water. This lake has been my home, has kept me company through most of my life. This lake knows my hopes, my fears, my secrets. 

And its about to learn one more. This lake is my confessional booth. This is where I repent my sins. The lake listens. It never says a word. It understands me. It hears me, does not judge. It is the best confidant you could ask for. 

This might be my worst sin yet. I must tell the lake what I did where no one can hear me. If I confess it to the lake, maybe the lake will cleanse me, absolve me of what happened. But no one else can ever know. 

I remove my hiking boots first. My pants, polo shirt and boxers stack neatly on top of them. I can’t hide anything from my constant companion. I must bare all to be forgiven of all. The rocks are sharp and jagged on my feet. Your penance the lake whispers to me through lapping waves. I wade into the murky swells. The water is cold and dull, full of minerals and debris. I can’t see the bottom but I know this lake by heart. I have spent countless hours fishing and swimming and exploring and living in this pool of water. 

I dance fluidly through the ripples to the right where I know there is a deep spot. The minnows are surrounding me, investigating. They want to witness for me, hear me testify. I know they won’t tell anyone either. They don’t speak! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

My feet are on the brink of the deeper pool within the lake. I gently push out with my toes and begin to tread water, slowly steadily. With one last breath and a glimpse at the darkening sky I plunge beneath the surface, eyes open. I can’t see anything but I must be completely open to the lake. 

I am ready to tell it what I’ve done. I do. I shout it to the water. I scream! The release of breath and confession is exhilarating and gratifying. I inhale. The lake responds by filling me with water. The bitter taste of stagnancy floods my mouth and lungs, but it is refreshing to me. The lake is assuring me that it heard me. It won’t tell. It doesn’t even want me to tell. The tepid water is purifying me! It’s working. I take in more until the dull strings of unconsciousness begin to pull at my mind. Only then do I release, shooting upwards, sputtering, choking out water, gasping for air. 

I swim to the shore line, my body burning. I crawl on hands and knees back onto the sand and rocks away from the water’s threshold. I am now safe ashore, but already missing how the lake holds me in its grasp. One day I will give into the lake completely. But not yet. 

There is one last thing for me to do now. The lake calls to me for the last remnants of my sin. I load my shoes with rocks and sand and knot my clothes around them. With a great exertion, I send them flying into my lake, my secret-keeper. Plunk. I smile gratefully as the bundle splashes into the water and then sinks, bubbling slowly down. 

Now, I can walk away, naked, sinless, purged, and restored. I am refreshed. And no one will ever know. The lake will keep my secret. 

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
5 of 5 stars

This book deserved all of the acclaim it was given. It is worth the time to read, especially if you like to laugh and cry at the same time. I will admit, I finished the book in a sobbing mess, but that doesn't mean you should fear this book. It engages you with feelings that we should all be more attuned to and speaks many truths about young death and people who are afflicted with cancer. 

 I definitely did not agree with the theology (or lack their of) in this book, but it still has merit as a lovely work of fiction. I think how John Green portrayed Christianity was an overdramatized and overly-petty depiction, however, this book could be used by Christians to learn how some of what we collectively do and say, affects others. Some of the things that he pointed to in the book that came across as annoying from Christians are some things that annoy even me, a Christian. We should use this book as a discovery of how we come across through some of our speech and action.

There isn't much more to say. This book is a great existential novel (even for people who don't agree completely with existentialism). And you should read it. It has young adult characters, but that doesn't make this a young adult novel. This novel transcends time. It's one of my new favorites. It's one of the best works of fiction I have read in a long time; it's possibly one of the best works of fiction written in the past few years. 

Book Review: Killing Jesus

Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly
3 of 5 stars

This book gave an interesting history of the political and social issues during the time of Jesus with some fictional elements. It was a bit of a dry read, even for someone who loves history, but you are able to gain insight into how Jesus was received during his time.

Book Review: The Dovekeepers

The Dovekeepers
by Alice Hoffman
4/5 stars

This historical fiction novel uses actually historical events at Masada after the Romans sacked Jerusalem to explore the lives of four women and how their identities revolve around men in their society. Alice Hoffman is  Jewish by blood, Spritualist by religion. She has written many books with a common theme of magic; in this case, it is the mysticism of the Moabites and Hebrews. 

I came across this book because I had read other historical fiction novels set in the same general time period (same century), and I thoroughly enjoyed them because of their historical accuracy. Hoffman began this book after a visit to the museums at Masada and based her characters on real people. The story is based on what actually happened at Masada when it was taken after the destruction of Jerusalem. According to the historian Josephus, two women and five children escaped; this book provides you with an imaginary tale about the people that might have survived. 

In general, I liked the book. Her writing style is lovely and captivating, encouraging to you to delve deeper into the story. There were a few passages that I tagged because I thought they were beautiful. 

page 272: "I heard the voice of God all around me, but I was unafraid...But now I understood that, although words were God's first creation, silence was closer to His divine spirit, and that prayers given in silence were infinitely greater than the thousands of words men might offer up to heaven. 
   I listened to the wind that had risen in the desert to follow us here.
   I heard what it had to say."

page 488: "That was why the Almighty had given us prayer, to distinguish men from animals, to leave the beasts inside of us locked away, as demons are locked in lead jars."

As a Christian with a reasonable understanding of the Bible it was difficult to read about that idolatrous worship of Ashtoreth, but many of the passages reminded me of the voodoo worship that I encounter living in Haiti. The amulets, potions, spells, etc. are very similar to many practices here, giving me a little more perspective on how people who believe in these items think and understand the world. It was also difficult sometimes to distinguish the voice of each character. By the end of the book, I felt like all of their voices were so similar that I wouldn't have been able to read a passage and tell you who was speaking right away. I wanted a more stark contrast between the voices of these very different characters. 

Each of the book sections for the four women was entitled using that woman's relationship to a man in her life. It illustrated how difficult it was for a woman to exist outside of a man's protection at the time. It provided a a notable contrast to the characters themselves who each managed to create something of their own identity without the help of a male overseer. 

This was an interesting read that I would highly recommend to people who enjoy reading about historical events and learning about different cultures. I'm intrigued to read more of her books, because many of them have a magical or mystical undertone. I am also looking forward to the TV mini-series recently aired to see if it follows the book closely. 

Book Review for Derrick Storm Shorts

A Brewing Storm, A Raging Storm, and A Bloody Storm
by Richard Castle
3/5 Stars

I read each of these in about a day. They are great if you don't have time to read a novel but want a little more excitement in your life. These espionage thrillers are also great, obviously, for fans of the TV show, Castle, especially if you are clinging to hope that they may continue with season 8. I'm hoping they set everything up well for the next two books in the series: Storm Front and Wild Storm.

Princess Diana

For this assignment, we were asked to describe a historical event and its impact on our personal lives. I would have written about 9/11, but pretty much everyone was going for that, so I decided to talk about Princess Di. Eventually I will write about my reaction to 9/11 because I think it important for the historical community to gather people's responses from across the nation. I think we should all write down our personal responses to historical events to chronicle our time. 

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Being a princess is a typical dream for a seven-year-old girl. Boys strive to be ninjas or cowboys or superheroes. Most young girls train unceasingly in plastic high heels and fluffy dresses to parade as a pretend princess. Once upon a time I was a princess in training, along with my best friend, Kristen*.

Today most PITs (princesses in training) desire to emulate Elsa and Anna from Frozen. The best part about growing up when we did was that we had a real princess to follow through the news: Princess Diana. The fact that she was no longer a princess due to her recent torrential divorce didn’t matter much. She had been married to a prince and she had two royal  children; that was enough for us. She was glamorous and lovely and elegant, everything you want in a princess. And she had married in to the royal family, so it gave us hope that one day we could be a princess, too. 

Kristen’s seventh birthday party was a Princess Di party. We rode around town in a limousine waving at our royal subjects and had a massive royal tea party in the back yard. We stayed up all night playing with makeup in our royal castle made of sheets and pillows. If Princess Di ever needed a helper, we were ready for her call.

Then tragedy struck on August, 31, 1997. Kristen’s mom sat us down on the couch and explained to us as gently as possible, “Princess Di was in a car crash in Paris. Girls, she didn’t make it. Princess Diana is dead.” Kristen and I squeezed each others hands, dumbfounded. My stomach rose into my heart and hot tears pressed into my eyelashes as I struggled to understand. Princesses can’t die, can they? Princesses are supposed to be saved from disaster in the nick of time by a knight in shining armor. They are supposed to live happily ever after forever with their prince, their one true love.

The mystery around the cause of her death just made it worse. Was it the paparazzi’s fault? Were drugs or alcohol involved? Why wasn’t Princess Diana wearing her seat belt? Didn’t all princesses know to wear their seat belt? Daddy always told us they did.

Kristen and I couldn’t even be around each other for a few weeks. All we talked about were princesses and the only one we knew was gone. Our princess parties just weren’t the same after that. Our princess, the one that belonged to us, had left us. A hole gaped in my seven-year-old heart. Not only was my role model gone, but my idea of perfect fantasy evaporated with it. Life is not a fairy tale, as I had hoped. There weren’t always picture perfect endings. Happily ever after could end in divorces and car crashes.

*name changed for identity protection

Cowardice

For this assignment, we were to choose something we hate and write about it. Ranting was allowed...which led to this piece, for which I do not apologize. In my future non-fiction work entitled Ye Brood of Vipers, you can expect a lot of this. Please reply with critiques, questions, etc.

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I abhor cowardice. I especially despise when cowardice stops people from acting as they should, doing what they are called to do. I have a friend who could be a great leader. She could run for president but she can’t imagine leaving the confines of her home town. What is she so afraid of? Why is the thought of living outside the norm so terrifying for some? Most people like little adventures. They like to get tipsy, spend all night partying, vacation in a different city, etc. But they can’t stand the idea of exiting their known realm. It’s too…uncontrollable. Too many variables could change the way they see the world. And that’s just unreasonable. 

I especially hate Christian cowards, people who say they follow Jesus but really only want to do so if it is convenient. They like to remember Jesus’ kindness and generosity and love, but they skim over the verses that talk about him eating with sinners and prostitutes and cleansing the temple of money changers with a whip. That would require genuinely caring about other people and then doing something about it. That would require taking a stand about something one believes in. And that’s unspeakable. What an uncomfortable idea!

Jesus’ last words before His ascension were “Go into all the world and preach the Good News.” He didn’t say, “Go to church and don’t do too many bad things.” He didn’t say, “Go…treat yo’self because you really deserve everything. You’ve earned it.” He didn’t even say, “It’s ok, you don’t have to go. Just send some money.” He said to get out of your comfort zones and find people who are lost and sick and hungry and naked and imprisoned for the purpose of taking care of them and sharing with them in times of grief and happiness. 

Many Christians cower behind security systems in their fancy houses. Only two live in an eight-bedroom house. (Yes, Brentwood, TN, I’m talking to you.) The idea of interacting with people who are different is just too ghastly to endure. They couldn’t possibly be expected to invite homeless people into their home for the night. How absurd! They would get something dirty! These “Christians” hoard food in pantries larger than some houses and only share on Christmas when they feel guilted. They can’t imagine giving money to people on the streets because those people haven’t earned it like I have. 

The comfort zones that console Christians have become prisons that we don’t even realize enclose us. And we cage in others, too, not just ourselves. Christians now create homelessness through vanity. We create starvation through selfishness. We create poverty through laziness and greed. Christians now create everything that Jesus stood against. Jesus who was himself homeless and poor and hungry and dirty. We would not know Him.

I refuse to be this. I stand against this hypocrisy. I loathe being near people like this. My blood churns and roils when I think about how many “Christian” cowards there are. I contend mightily with this cowardice within myself. Jesus was not a coward. He is a Lion, a fierce and mighty lion with so much love that He cast aside fear for our sake. To be a Christian, we must emulate Him in all respects, especially this one.

--“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it.” —Stephen Colbert

Loretta and Mick

My assignment was to rewrite the below paragraph exactly, showing instead of telling. I hope you like it. PLEASE post feedback. This type of exercise is the flesh of writing, so I need to know if I need to make changes in my writing style to improve.

    Loretta and Mick were driving down a lonely highway one winter night. The car hit something, making a loud noise. Loretta and Mick bickered about whether he was driving drunk or not, then they got out to see what was hit. They peered into the darkness, seeing nothing.

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 Mick was beginning to doze. They were still a two-hour drive from home and the wedding’s atmosphere had left him in a daze. The drinks, the dancing, and the gaiety all swirled into a night of mirthful relaxation leaving him exhausted after only forty-five minutes of driving. He was operating the only gas pedal on a hundred-mile stretch of interstate, and his girlfriend, Loretta, was zonked in the passenger seat. 

Mick loosened his tie and tugged his sports coat tighter around his body. It was near freezing outside, and the cold permeated through the windows even with the heater on full blast. 

He took a quick glance at Loretta. The hairspray from her bridesmaid up-do was blending with the sickening-sweet smell of alcohol, threatening to give him a massive migraine. But she looked so peaceful slumped against the middle-console. Mick smirked. He loved that mess of a girl. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of tawny fur in the lower right corner of the windshield. Instinctively, he swerved left but not before a squeal erupted from whatever he just hit outside. Bones crunched beneath the right tires. Loretta gasped and shot upright, eyes wild as she flailed about in her drunken stupor trying to make sense of what just happened.

Mick eased on the brakes and began to pull his truck over. Finally aware of her surroundings Loretta moaned, “Oh, I swear I should not have let you drive! Not after that last shot of whiskey.”

“That last shot of whiskey was about two hours ago and three margaritas fewer than what you drank. You stay in the car. I’m going to go see if we need to pull whatever animal that was off the road.”

“I’m going with you. I need to pee anyways, and since we are in the middle of nowhere, this is probably just as good a place as any.”

“It was just a rabbit or something. I just hope it didn’t mess up my new tires. I just had them put on,” Mick groaned as he opened his car door. A blast of frosty wind slapped him in the face as he got out. Loretta adjusted the straps on her heels and rifled through the backseat in search of her coat. Mick jetted around the vehicle and opened her door. He attempted to shield her bodily from the whipping gales. The wind nipped at their ankles and noses like an angry puppy. 

Snowflakes were just beginning to flurry in the sky. The couple peered back through the frosty haze, scanning the pavement for the roadkill they had probably just created. The red tail lights on the car weren’t putting out much of a glow. 

 “Maybe I should back the car up or at least put the reverse lights on,” Mick offered. The dark void beyond the truck’s lightbulbs draped over them like a thick blanket. Mick and Loretta surveyed the mirky black surrounding them, both feeling lonely and vulnerable. The oppressive darkness weighed heavily on their waning spirits. Something just wasn’t right… 

Book Review: The Memory Keeper's Daughter

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards is one of the most extraordinary works of fiction I have read in a long time. This book is a beautiful exploration of depression, sadness, hiding, and decisions through a heartrending tale. This story had a special place in my heart because my husband's uncle had Down Syndrome and they were given a similar prognosis when he was born. He unfortunately did have a heart condition, so he died just before I met my husband, but the love that the entire family had for him is the glue that bonds them together. The struggles that his family endured to give Johnny opportunities were very similar to those of Caroline in the story. This is a real story, even if it is fiction. 

The voice and language of this book is phenomenal. This book is the epitome of enjoyable descriptive writing. The fluidity of this book entices you to continue reading. Each person in the book makes questionable and often obviously wrong decisions, and she uses the freedom of this story line to explore the effects of those decisions on the family unit and all the characters, individually. It is a story of secrets and how damaging they can be for a family, especially secrets of this magnitude. I would describe Kim Edwards as one of the best authors of our time. I can't wait to read her other book and anything she will publish in the future. 

If you have a heart for people with special needs, you should read this book. If you don't, you should read this book and let your heart grow inside of you. This book would be great for book clubs or people dealing with depression. I don't want to ruin this book at all so I will leave my review brief. It is great. Everyone should read it. This is worth your time.

Book Review: Gone with the Wind

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

I was very conflicted with this book, as I think anyone who reads it should be.

I definitely understand why it is one of the most widely read books in American literature. Margaret Mitchell created a protagonist that I can barely stand (Scarlett O'Hara), but somehow I still needed to know what happened to her and wanted good things for her. Not many writers can do that. Her writing style is enticing, always looping me in to reading more. Each of her characters, even with their blatant faults, make me want to be different. Melanie makes me want to see the good in all people. Ashley creates a need in me to want to enjoy the culture that I am now a part of because it will change very soon. Scarlett's character inspired me to find true meaning in life through her failure to understand how to find happiness outside of money. Her ineptitude at reading people and judging character makes me desire more perceptiveness when characterizing a person's demeanor. Even the rogue Rhett Butler inspired me with how he gave his love freely, even if it did hurt him because he put others (granted, others that he actually cared about) before himself.

However, in issues of race, this book was a painful read. Her constant affiliations of all "watermelon-tongued" black characters (yes, that is a direct quote) with labradors and monkeys and children who need guidance definitely tell you that this book was written in another time. I was more surprised by how recently it was written. I now understand why this book has been banned by different organization over time. Her glorification of house slaves who chose to remain with their masters was shocking. Her "Mammy" character was the personification of her desire for blacks to be accepting of and understanding about slavery. That's an entire other discussion right there. If you are black and you read this book, it will make you straight up angry. Considering how angry I got at times, I can't imagine what it would make you feel, so I apologize for this horribly racist book. I didn't write it but I feel like someone should apologize for it.

Her glorification of the South was very interesting because history is always written by the winners. And while Scarlett isn't exactly a loser because she didn't really support the cause, she falls into a category of others that identify with the South. What I learned during my schooling of the Civil War was that the South lost and was upset about it and did everything possible during Reconstruction to change back to their old ways. That was true to the book. Most teachers, however, always made Reconstruction out to be a huge flop that was never very successful or overbearing. Mitchell describes it as a horrible time of foreign invasion, starvation, and human atrocities by Scallawags, Carpetbaggers and blacks. I never really heard that side before. You learn that terminology in school, but I always somehow felt distant from it, as though only a few people felt that way about them. She concentrated a lot on black-on-white rape. Most history books mention this fear, but they don't come close to painting the picture of the terror she describes. Her insistence that the "Lost Cause" was states' rights was laughable because she often stated that it was upsetting that the southern "way of life" was disappearing. That way of life could have only existed through slavery. I think the most disturbing part was the way in which she didn't outright agree with the Ku Klux Klan because she thought it extreme, but she obviously understood and agreed with the reasoning behind it. Once again, that belief is NEVER held in history books. I think this books should be read with Civil War/Reconstruction units just so people know how racist people could be at that time period.

Her stance on women's rights was most intriguing throughout the book. Near the beginning of the book she briefly brushes aside lunatics like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a women's rights activist. No southern girl would ever support her. She constantly points out that women should be strictly under their husbands' guidance at all times. However, she uses the rest of the book to show that Scarlett O'Hara is a better businessman and thinker than many men. She adds figures in her head, a feat not even her beloved Ashley can accomplish. She may have been dull about interpersonal relations, but she had business sense. I later read that Mitchell's mother was a women's rights activist, so you can see how she used this book to further the idea that women can be just as good or better than men at many jobs.

I felt that this book was one of the best and worst books I have ever read, which is why I gave it four stars. I recommend it to most readers (definitely not all) because there is a point of view in the book that is nowhere near what most of us know and agree with. I think that because I so strongly disagreed with her on so many points, I was able to ensure my exact position on these topics. A very odd and challenging book, but for the most part worth the read.

Book Review: Wild

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

The only reason I gave this book two stars was because my least favorite book of all time is designated for the one star. 
There were some good qualities to the book. The author's voice is easy and interesting to listen to. The book is a quick read. Her stories about her mother were very inspiring. You also appreciate how she portrays her ex-husband in a continuous positive light, especially after what she does to him. 

But for me, that was pretty much it. She uses a tragedy to justify some horrible personal decisions and then decides she's going to forgive herself of these things because she feels she is on the right path. She doesn't really seem to care at all about any of the people she hurt along the way. She never acts out of remorse for wrongs committed. No one else seems to really matter to her as long as she feels good about herself. She mentions her abortion with such casualty, and then decides to equate her hike to a pregnancy. That alone was enough to turn me off. The story is pretty much an ongoing picture of being self-centered. The only thing that really upsets her is when someone calls her a hobo. The only time she felt really good about herself was when she was after she had relations with a guy she knew she didn't want to see again. Nothing really mattered to her except her own feelings.

Most memoirs give you some feeling of self-realization and desire for change. I never really saw that. I was just disappointed when I got to the end. I wanted to feel that I had learned something, but I wasn't able to because she didn't really learn anything about herself. 

Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
5 of 5 stars

In a world in which we are constantly hearing of parents finding out their children have Asperger syndrome, autism, etc. this book gives outsiders a glimpse into the mind of someone experiencing the world through this lens. The book never specifies exactly what the main character has, but it is definitely something in the autism spectrum.

I gave this book five stars because I consider it a piece of good writing. I consider something good writing if it is writing that affects how I perceive the world. When you first start reading this book, I will admit it is difficult. The voice we hear is not one we are used to. It was the voice of someone wholly different from me. However, as you delve into the life of Christopher and experience how he interacts with the world, it actually begins to make sense. Even someone like me, who has never particularly enjoyed mathematics, can understand why he uses the order and rationale of math to calm himself in a chaotic world. You appreciate the sheer depth of his genius.

Now, I would never claim that I understand what it is like to be autistic, but this book gave me a better appreciation for the struggles families of people with autism experience in everyday life. It also made me think about ways that I could improve the world around me for someone who falls in the autistic spectrum.

I would consider this a modern classic and would recommend it to anyone, especially people who are interested in finding more out about the autism spectrum.

Dead Man (September 4, 2014)

No one can tell you how it feels to see a dead body for the first time. 

Other than funerals and being with my best friend as her mom passed away, I have never seen a dead body. Today I saw one on the side of the road in Haiti. Trucks continued to whiz by. People didn't stop. You can't stop for a body in a world like this. If you stop for a dead body like that the police will arrest you, especially if you are an American. They will say you killed the poor bloke, even if they know you didn't. They want bribes to get you out of jail. You must carry on as if nothing happened. You can call the police and report it and the police will call their family if they decide to take the time to figure out who it is. But you can't stick around. Most bodies are found down here by family members who are out searching because they haven't seen their kin in a few days.

This dead body was a man in his late twenties. He looked like he was sleeping on his side except for the red pillow spilling out from under his head. Someone had marked the body like you mark a broken down vehicle in this country, using tree branches. It was as if that person wanted to believe that the man was just broken down. Someone could fix him up just right with the correct tools. 

As we drove by David told me why we couldn't stop. I understood. I did. He said you have to harden yourself, make yourself callous. We can't risk getting involved and getting thrown in prison for a crime we didn't commit. Prison isn't a good place here. It's a very dangerous place. You are almost guaranteed to contract a disease you can't get rid of in prison if you don't starve or get shanked first.

When I thought about the body laying there, my inner cultural respect for the dead was shrieking, "This is wrong! This should not happen. Someone should care for him. For his family's sake." I could feel my heart pounding in my neck. I was suddenly conscious of all the blood pulsing through my own body, and how much I don't want any of it to come out. The tears pressed behind my eyes, yearning to escape, but I didn't let them. I don't cry. I cannot cry. I must become callous. I laugh and make jokes but I know the smiles don't make it to my eyes. David knows. He always knows I'm upset when my eyes don't smile with my face. He kisses my head and talks to me about anything else so that I can slowly forget the pounding in my body. 

Eventually the pressures in my body fade but the image of the man doesn't. It's raining now. I hope someone moved his corpse out of the rain. Unless I'm to believe that idea that every child thinks about, the one that rain is GOD crying. If that's the case, let Him cry. Let Him cry for the son he just lost and for His nearby children that are showing great apathy. Let Him cry for the soul of the person who just left him on the side of the road after killing him. I couldn't let myself do it, so let The Lord cry over his remains. The man needs someone to cry for him. 

Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie was a book I read for a class in college at Abilene Christian University. It was especially resonant with me because my best friend's mom had suffered and recently died from ALS, the disease that Morrie died from as well. As someone who strives for wisdom, I loved getting to hear all that Morrie had to say as he was facing the end of his life. This book is a tear jerker and a fantastic reminder of all the difficulties surrounding someone dealing with this tragically fatal disease.

The Window

This is an assignment for my class with the prompt: the window. If you know who this is about I ask that you protect the family's privacy and not comment about them. But feel free to comment about the work itself. 

for Becky

Someone once said that the eyes are the window to one’s soul. That feels…right, especially now. My body has deteriorated like a run-down house, boarded up and sealed shut. It was once lovely to gaze upon and enchanting to explore, but over the past year, it has closed, little by little, until all I was left with were these windows. ALS does that to you. I’ve been entombed within this frame that refuses to work. But I have these windows.

I communicate using my windows, blinking once for yes, twice for no. It’s all I’m capable of now, towards the end. I use them to say when I’m hungry, thirsty, or need the restroom. But most of the time I just watch from my blue-eyed panes as life passes me by. 

When my daughter visits, I press myself against my windows urgently. I must convey my love to her, give her advice, be her mother through the windows that enclose me. Tears cloud my eyes as my frustration swells. Curse these windows! Let me be free! Release me from this translucent prison! Let me hold her one last time! 

My emotions are all squeezed through two panes. How does a glance portray the depths of my emotions? How do I show all my love, heartache, joy, and fear with so small a canvas? 

When my husband was still here I hid myself. I locked myself away and drew the curtains distancing myself from his abuse. “Why aren’t you normal? Why did you have to get ALS and ruin my life?” He left, along with the rest of my existence, and I couldn’t fight it. I didn’t want to. There is nothing left of me to fight for anyway. 

My parents care for me now, since he abandoned me. I hate that they have to watch me decay and die. No parent should have to experience that. And I have to see them watch me suffer. I can’t comfort them. I can’t affirm them, I can’t…anything. I can only gaze out of my windows because they are all I have.

A house with only two windows is dark. Gloom closes in around you until you can’t breathe, just like this disease. I will die of suffocation. I know that. My lungs will congest with fluid. Emptiness will saturate me as I lose my mind. Death will consume me from behind my windows and no one can break through and release the flood. At least I will finally be free then. Free to soar to Paradise away from my disease-riddled jail cell. 

I wonder, though, as I sit here. Did I do enough when I could move? Could I have done more to serve others? Could I have pushed myself any farther? I know that won’t save me but, oh, how regrets consume me.

The air is stale in here with just me and my thoughts.  All I have are echoes of the past. I peer out of my windows and scream, “I’m here! I want to do more! I want to live and be alive with you!” 

But people don’t listen to windows. 

Book Review: Mark of the Lion series

Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers
Books: A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure as the Dawn

I don't think I post a review that glows with enough adoration and appreciation to do this series justice. This is one of my all-time favorite book series. I am seriously considering reading this book every year because of the profound impact it has had on the person that I am and desire to be. Many readers of Christian fiction appreciated Rivers other book Redeeming Love, but I found that this work of historical fiction far surpasses that in quality. Not to say that Redeeming Love was bad, this was just so much better.  

I would recommend this book to anyone. I think Christians and non-Christians alike could enjoy this series. Following the endeavors of Hadassah just made me want to be a better person. For Christians, this book is a reminder of how we should serve others through prayer, complete devotion, and unfailing love. For non-Christians, this book is a picture of what Christianity is supposed to look like when lived out, not what modern, hipster Christians actually do. 

Many readers completely despise Julia but I found that her character was integral to this book. She is a reminder that there is always a chance to find something good in each person, no matter what happened in the past. While Hadassah is what I strive to be, Marius and Rizpah were the more relatable characters to me personally. Their questions and their faults depicted the way that most people struggle with God. I think that Atretes was a character to which people who come back from military tours could more easily relate. 

She did a fantastic job researching for this book. There were times when I just felt disheartened because I could never do such great research. I loved how she included the apostle John with such vivacity. The lifestyles of the wealthy Romans reminded me of modern Americans, and led me to ponder the fate of our nation considering the disaster that followed the fall of Rome. Her ability to depict the trade industry in the Mediterranean was an impressive feat. My only critique of this book, as a history nerd, was that when talking about the slaves in the colosseum, she mentioned corn, which was only found in the New World at this time and had not yet made it to Europe or Asia. Only after trade began with the Mexican Aztec and Mayan civilizations did corn appear in that area. There might have been one other similar mistake but they would only distract you if you had extensive knowledge on the subject. 

All in all, a fantastic work that is worth anyone's time. 

Book Review: A Song of Ice and Fire (books 1 through 5)

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin

Books: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons

*Spoiler Alert* If you have read at least most of the series you are safe. A few points I make may reveal the fate of some characters.


I have to approach this book series very carefully. There are aspects of this book series that are absolutely fantastic, and then there are parts of this book series that made me want to throw up after reading.

This is an extremely well written series. Martin shows a depth in his characters that most authors will never achieve. While reading A Game of Thrones, you develop certain opinions about different characters (Ned Stark and Jaime Lannister, for example). But once you make it to A Clash of Kings, you realize that his characters are not just one-dimensional. Each character (except maybe Petyr Baelish) has aspects that you love about him/her and aspects that you hate. Even the despicable Cersei Lannister has a love for her children that every parent would understand.

There are certain characters that you love more than any other, however. Daenerys, Jon Snow, and Tyrion are by far my favorite characters in the series. It is obvious that Martin thoroughly enjoys writing from Tyrion's perspective. He should, by all accounts, be dead, but he continues to sweet-talk himself back into the world of the living with hilarious flourish and promises of Lannister wealth.

The plot line complexities are astounding. The number of characters and the way that he twists them into such a dynamic story is impressive. When I think about how he is going to write the last two books, I can't imagine what kind of notes he must have to keep all of the different story lines straight in his head. Even just how he keeps you wondering about the identity of Jon Snow's mother throughout the series is enough to convince you to keep reading.

However, this is definitely adult fiction. I do not recommend children or teenagers read this series. The violence in the fantasy realm is to be expected, for the most part, (the Bolton family is a truly disturbing character group to consider), but many of the sexual encounters had me skipping entire sections. It was difficult as a Christian to read because of the filth he includes. There were many times I put it down and refused to read it for days or weeks because of its content. The only reason I picked it back up was because I plan on one day writing a fantasy novel and I felt I needed to read his work to appreciate the contemporaries in the genre. My only theories are that he wants to point out the abuses women suffer in male-dominated society...or that Martin is just a perverted old man intent on marketing this as ADULT fiction. Either way, I warn strongly against the sexual content in this book series. If, however, you can skip passages without qualms and ignore the occasional offhand sexual comment, this book may still be worth reading.

Another issue I had with this book was that it doesn't have much of a purpose. It is a fun story to read, and you never know where the next page might take you, but I didn't feel particularly challenged in my views about anything. Good writing is supposed to make you think about things in a different light and wrestle with issues. This book series has thus far not challenged or made me question my beliefs on anything great or small. Other than pointing out that men, all men, are fallible, there isn't much to think about, even with the inclusion of subjects like slavery and religion. I prefer to read books that make me want to change, and this book series just didn't do that.

I think one of the greatest absurdities of this series was the title given to Martin as "the Tolkien of America." Whoever said that had absolutely no appreciation of Tolkien, especially of the fact that he wrote Christian fantasy. Martin is a great writer, but I think even he was insulted by this comment because although they both write/wrote fantasy, their goals and intentions with their books as well as their writing styles are completely different, to the point of almost being opposite.

My biggest question about the series: Where is Rickon? And Shaggydog? I feel that they will be an integral part of the twists and turns of the plot in the end of this Game of Thrones.

Book Review: Les Miserables

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

This classic is well worth the extensive amount of time it takes to read it (especially if you read the unabridged version). On the one hand, the book is so very long because Victor Hugo takes extreme liberties with his writing and with the reader’s patience by fully exploring long tangents of his personal opinion. For example, Hugo uses nineteen chapters describing the Battle of Waterloo and numerous chapters describing the lifestyle in a particular convent. This is not important to his story in the least bit, but if you are interested in the historical background, this is a great place to find that. Hugo is notorious for doing this in his other books as well, and I think he got to do it, simply because he was Victor Freaking Hugo. 

Les Miserables is one of the most beautiful, poetic stories ever written. There are so many passages that I highlighted on my tablet because they were some of the most lovely words I have ever read.  Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"To love another person is to see the face of God."

"It is nothing to die; it is frightful not to live."

"Not being heard is no reason for silence."

"He is fond of books, for they are cool and sure friends."

On love: “When love has fused and mingled two beings in a sacred and angelic unity, the secret of life has been discovered so far as they are concerned; they are no longer anything more than the two boundaries of the same destiny; they are no longer anything but the two wings of the same spirit. Love, soar.” 

On Javert: "Before him he saw two roads, both equally straight; but he did see two; and that terrified him--he who had never in his life known anything but one straight line. And, bitter anguish, these two roads were contradictory.” 

You could write an entirely separate book on his passages on the subject of love. All in all, it is a magical masterpiece with a satisfying plot line, vivid and lovable characters, and the best love story of all: that of Jean for his dear Cozette, a father and his daughter. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to cry uncontrollably after reading a book for a few months. 

Blogging and how I intend to use it.

I have a negative connotation associated with blogging and bloggers. I get that it is a great way to raise discussions, express individuality, etc., but usually what I see from blogs and bloggers is a whole lot of talking and not much doing. I do not ever want to be this type of person. There are so many Christian and civil rights bloggers out there that make me sick. They talk about the changes they want to see in the world...but never get around to doing anything but talking. Talking doesn't get you there. It can accomplish many things but it will never be the entire answer to anything. You need both talking and action.

That being said, I am going to start using my blog more actively. I am confident in the amount of action I perform to make the world a better place (although I am always striving for more), but I intend to blog more just for me. As an aspiring writer, I intend to write some of the pieces I am working on as well as book reviews on my blog. I hope I can use it to discuss with fellow writers about different books, ideas, etc. to constantly improve my writing. I am taking classes with Gotham Writers on writing, so when I feel confident about different pieces I have worked on or I wish to free-write, etc. for writing practice, I will post on here. So, here it goes...

If you are interested in what I have to say, I am very interested in what you have to say. Please comment!!!!