Book Review: Divine by Karen Kingsbury

Category: Adult Christian Fiction

Format: Kindle...get it here FREE for the next few days

Skomomma's Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

I just finished Divine by Karen Kingsbury and I think it was one of my favorite novels by this author. This book is to be read as a modern day interpretation of the life of Mary Magdelene. It was written a few years ago around the same time that the "The DaVinci Code" movie was released. Those of you that read The DaVinci Code or saw the movie will remember that the story revolves around a fictional - even blasphemous - relationship between Mary Magdelene and Jesus. I believe Kingsbury uses this story to prompt people to discover the real history behind Mary Magdelene. In this story we follow the life of Mary Madison (the modern Mary Magdelene) as she tells it to a young woman that is undergoing a major life crisis. The reader is able to see that God has woven a unique tapestry for each of our lives. The story was very engaging and the reader is likely to experience a full range of emotions as the story unfolds.

As an aside, I read and enjoyed The DaVinci Code remembering all the while that this was written as purely fiction.

Book Review: The Fight of Our Lives by William J. Bennett and Seth Liebsohn

Book Review: The Fight of Our Lives by William J. Bennett and Seth Leibsohn
Category: Adult, Non-Fiction
Format: Hardcover, 186 pages
Skomomma's Rating: 3.5 out of 5

There is no doubt about where Bennett and Leibsohn stand on the issue of radical Islam and it’s documented fully in their book, “The Fight of Our Lives: Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth, and Choosing to Win the War over Radical Islam.” Using events as recent as the shootings at Fort Hood, Bennett and Leibsohn examine the effects on the U.S. from terrorism acts committed under the guise of Islam - radical Islam. In a similar fashion to U.S. policy prior to entering World War Two, Bennett and Leibsohn describe a current America that seems to have their heads stuck-in-the-sand. If we pretend it doesn’t exist to the extent of which it does, then it just goes away, right? They emphasize the amount of time and effort being spent on be politically correct and not offending people while events like the underwear bomber in Detroit and the shootings at Fort Hood continue to take place. I found the book to be very well documented and researched, without being overly-scholarly. Bennett and Leibsohn wrap up the book with a strong emphasis on a changing on the tenets of Islam as being the primary solution, specifically addressing the more controversial and violent doctrines. I certainly do not have a solution, however, I’m not sure proposing Islamic leaders should change their doctrines is the solution either. Regardless of the fact that many “main-stream” Muslims do not follow these violent tenets, my concern is that just the mere suggestion of changing their holy writing to reflect such could bring about even more radicalization.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Book Review: Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn

Category: Adult, Fiction

Format: Softcover, 276 pages
Skomomma's Rating: 4 out of 5

A novel with a great message - Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn. I read through this novel in just two sittings and enjoyed every minute of it. Gunn tells the story of two life-long pen pals that finally meet each other in person when they spend a week together at the home of Noelle, a American ex-pat in the Netherlands. The story of the two friends is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Netherlands in mid-April - peak tulip season. Gunn makes the locations come alive. I was ready to book a flight to visit myself. Wrapped up in a fun story is a wonderful message of faith and friendship. It’s not often today that you can find a novel with a message that is meaningful. The interesting thing was how wonderfully unexpected the message of this book ties into a One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (reviewed here). Having just read One Thousand Gifts, imagine how amazing it was to read a book highlighting some of the same thoughts - I think God might be trying to tell me something. Let me share with you just one short section from Sisterchicks as told by Summer, Noelle's penpal: “I didn’t know if I was ready to put a lot of my thoughts out there for discussion, but this one clear thought comforted me. The sacredness of the everyday. God allowed us little glimpses of heaven here on earth.” (p 217)

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! is just one in the “Sisterchicks” series by Gunn. Don’t hesitate to pick up this book and enjoy it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255