coffeestainsandinkspots's reviews
36 reviews

Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice by Po Tse, Stacy King

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This was a fun and interesting adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Updates and changes were made to the dialogue and events of the story to make the thoughts and motivations of the characters clearer to the readers. Whether or not you find this a good thing depends on how much of a purist you are. Despite the changes, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art is beautiful—stunning, really. This is a good way to introduce the story to a reader who feels intimidated by the original form, or it can be used as an object lesson in adaptations. It's also a great palette cleanser if you want something fun to read. 

Holier Than Thou: How God's Holiness Helps Us Trust Him by Jackie Hill Perry

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

I've had this book on my shelf for a few years, and this year, I finally read it all the way through. 

This book was so timely for me and where I'm at in my walk with Christ. Jackie did a phenomenal job building her presentation of God's holiness and how understanding it leads us to a deeper relationship with Him. 10/10. I absolutely recommend this book.  

Reckless Christianity: The Destructive New Teachings and Practices of Bill Johnson, Bethel Church, and the Global Movement of Apostles and Prophets by R. Douglas Geivett, Holly Pivec

informative slow-paced

5.0

Bethel Church, out of Redding, California, has its share of controversy but also more than its share of influence. Holly Pivec and Doug Geivett have written several books on the New Apostolic Reformation, the larger movement behind Bethel, but in this book, they focus specifically on Bill Johnson and the dangers of the teachings coming out of Bethel. 

Holly and Doug do a good job of balancing the task of evaluating poor theology but also having love for the people who are in a movement that they are critical of. I had an opportunity to participate in a book group with the authors, and that trait is evident in them personally and in the book. Reckless Christianity is more on the scholarly side of writing. There are a lot of footnotes, and it takes time to digest all of the information. If you have some knowledge of the NAR/Word of Faith movement already, then you should definitely pick up this book. But if you are new to the topic, you may want to start out with one of Doug and Holly's earlier books such as Counterfit Kingdom. That or be prepared to do a lot of googling. 

All in all, this is an excellent resource for people to understand the teachings of Bethel and the larger NAR movement. I would encourage you to pick it up, no matter your position or feelings about Bethel, and evaluate what Holly and Doug are saying for yourself.

Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional mysterious slow-paced

4.25

The Lost Metal by Brandon Sanderson

adventurous emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.5

After two years (literally almost to the day), my journey with Mistborn is finally complete. 

Sanderson has earned the distinction of being an author that can make me simultaneously hate a book, but yet still want more. While these are not my favorite books in the world, I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this small part of the Cosmere. I will probably return one day... but I need a bit of a break due to the sheer amount of emotional damage inflicted by the ending of The Lost Metal. 

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.5

"Trusting in God's will of decree is good. Following His will of desire is obedient. Waiting for God's will of direction is a mess." - From Chapter Two

Upon reading this quote, DeYoung had me convinced to continue reading Just Do Something. Overall, I found this book to be healing and helpful. Granted, this book was written in 2009. I would love to read an updated version with new data and thoughts from DeYoung, as it's been 15 years since this book was first published. Regardless of the age, this is a short, approachable book with a wealth of information about appropriately approaching the topic of the will of God. 

The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It's Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett, Alisa Childers

challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

I wish I had this book in my hand a few years ago when I first heard about deconstruction. For many years, there have been debates about how to define deconstruction and what it entails. In this book, Alisa and Tim make an honest (and I think successful) effort to clarify terms and instruct the Church on interacting with this pervasive movement. 

The target audience for this book is, by and large, Christians who have questions about deconstruction or are walking alongside a loved one who is going through it. The language is approachable and compassionate. While I felt some of the illustrations used were unnecessary to get the point across, they don't detract from the message. I heartily recommend this book as a helpful tool for all believers.