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cassiealexandra's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
3.5
This was my second time reading this book and I think I appreciated it more the first time. I was still touched by Voskamp’s story and her transformation through the practice of gratitude. I like the way she weaves suffering and beauty together and shares that giving thanks is often the key to joy, contentment, and fulfillment. But, I had a more difficult time with her writing style. There were some beautiful turns of phrase and passages of poetic prose, but sometimes the meaning felt convoluted and I struggled with her choice to leave out so many articles (dropping the word “the,” etc. often). Theologically I also felt that this toed a very fine line between God causing suffering and God being with us in our suffering. That line is very important to me. My mother-in-law gave me a copy of this book before she died years ago, and looking back, I can see why she personally loved it so much. Overall, this just didn’t hit me the same way it once did, but it was interesting to pick it up again and see some of my MIL’s footsteps in it.
— NOTES —
Genre: Christian nonfiction
Content: death of a loved one, depression, mild suicidal ideation, past self-harm
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Levity/Humility: 4
Information: 3.5
Transformation: 3.5
My Gut Feeling: 3
Total Stars: 3.5
— NOTES —
Genre: Christian nonfiction
Content: death of a loved one, depression, mild suicidal ideation, past self-harm
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Levity/Humility: 4
Information: 3.5
Transformation: 3.5
My Gut Feeling: 3
Total Stars: 3.5
lschoessel's review
4.0
I had a love-hate relationship with this book. I didn’t care for the writing style but she was also very raw about her struggles which I appreciated. I also enjoyed the many connections she made with grace and thanksgiving and what the Bible says about them. I overall enjoyed the concept of the book as it has challenged me to find deep thanksgiving and gratitude even in the trenches.
awilsonmomof2's review
3.0
I was torn if to give his one or 4 stars. There were parts of this book I really loved....helping me see the importance of giving thanks. But there were other things, including her writing style, that got on my nerves. Would I recommend it? Yes, but only to a certain few...you really need to be grounded in what the Word says first.
heyallimarie's review
4.0
A friend sent me this book as an encouragement for the new year after I told her my “word” this year was “Be Present”. It took me a while to get through it simply because the writing was so poetic and much more flowery than I’m used to reading, but I absolutely loved the heart and message of this book. It was equally convicting and encouraging. A few of my favorite passages:
“Worry is the facade of taking action when prayer really is.”
“Are stress and worry evidences of a soul too lazy, too undisciplined, to keep gaze fixed on God?”
“While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.”
“C.S. Lewis argued that the most fundamental thing is not how we think of God but rather what God thinks of us: ‘How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important.’ Years of Christian discipleship, Bible study, churchgoing had been about me thinking about God; practicing eucharisteo was the first I had really considered at length what God thought of me.”
The idea that the practice of giving thanks for His gifts will bring us into deeper joy and communion with God is one that will stick with me and I’m excited to start my own list of One Thousand Gifts. Thank you, Amy, for this encouraging book! Four and a half stars.
“Worry is the facade of taking action when prayer really is.”
“Are stress and worry evidences of a soul too lazy, too undisciplined, to keep gaze fixed on God?”
“While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.”
“C.S. Lewis argued that the most fundamental thing is not how we think of God but rather what God thinks of us: ‘How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important.’ Years of Christian discipleship, Bible study, churchgoing had been about me thinking about God; practicing eucharisteo was the first I had really considered at length what God thought of me.”
The idea that the practice of giving thanks for His gifts will bring us into deeper joy and communion with God is one that will stick with me and I’m excited to start my own list of One Thousand Gifts. Thank you, Amy, for this encouraging book! Four and a half stars.
erlhopkins's review
2.0
2/5
if this book was less fluffy it would’ve been more bearable. also i don’t recommend this as an audiobook, definitely read it with your eyes.
chapter 4 is the best chapter by far.
if this book was less fluffy it would’ve been more bearable. also i don’t recommend this as an audiobook, definitely read it with your eyes.
chapter 4 is the best chapter by far.
nicolemhewitt's review
This book is very difficult to review because I thought the message behind it was wonderful and there were some beautiful lessons to be gleaned. The idea that thanksgiving is absolutely vital and central to living a truly joyful life, one where we trust God with our whole hearts, is insightful and can be life altering if you allow it to be.
But, in the end, I couldn't get past the overly flowery, highly elevated, ultra-poetic language of this book. This may simply be a matter of style preference, but I got tired of the way Voskamp described every event in her life as if it were some sort of holy experience (which, to be fair, is sort of the point of the book). Honestly, I knew I was in trouble from the second sentence of the book where Voskamp describes her own birth (yep, she starts right at the very beginning) in this way:
"And I fill my mother's tearing ring of fire with my body emerging, virgin lungs searing with air of this earth and I enter the world like every person born enters the world: with clenched fists."
Granted, it's poetic and even somewhat profound (especially the end), but an entire book written like this? Nope. Couldn't do it. (Well, I did finish the book, but I had to force myself - and I'm the only one in my Bible study group who managed it. I have a real issue with quitting.)
In the end, I'd say that if you want the message of this book, but can't handle reading the whole thing, watch the DVD study and leave it at that. It's incredibly abridged (and still repeats messages a lot). Just know that Voskamp's style of speech in the DVD matches the tone of the book exactly - expect lots of flowery language.
Great message, but the book was not for me.
But, in the end, I couldn't get past the overly flowery, highly elevated, ultra-poetic language of this book. This may simply be a matter of style preference, but I got tired of the way Voskamp described every event in her life as if it were some sort of holy experience (which, to be fair, is sort of the point of the book). Honestly, I knew I was in trouble from the second sentence of the book where Voskamp describes her own birth (yep, she starts right at the very beginning) in this way:
"And I fill my mother's tearing ring of fire with my body emerging, virgin lungs searing with air of this earth and I enter the world like every person born enters the world: with clenched fists."
Granted, it's poetic and even somewhat profound (especially the end), but an entire book written like this? Nope. Couldn't do it. (Well, I did finish the book, but I had to force myself - and I'm the only one in my Bible study group who managed it. I have a real issue with quitting.)
In the end, I'd say that if you want the message of this book, but can't handle reading the whole thing, watch the DVD study and leave it at that. It's incredibly abridged (and still repeats messages a lot). Just know that Voskamp's style of speech in the DVD matches the tone of the book exactly - expect lots of flowery language.
Great message, but the book was not for me.