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egbella's reviews
212 reviews
Expecting to See Jesus: A Wake-Up Call for God's People by Anne Graham Lotz
4.0
I truly appreciate Lotz's heart for Jesus, and for leading others toward Him. Though I haven't read as many of her materials as I would like, I'm always awed and inspired by how she's truly living a life for Him - expecting to see Him in her lifetime. Will Jesus really return in her lifetime? That remains to be seen, but how wonderful that would be! And she does present a very compelling case as to why it could happen.
As for this book, it's a very timely message for today's world, and I enjoyed it. There were quite a few instances of unique formatting inside (not erroneous just experimental) that for some reason made it harder for me to focus on what she was actually saying, and I did feel that there were a few times I wished a point would have been expanded on or really driven home.
But overall, I'm very grateful for all the reminders, challenges, and piercing insights she offered in this book. I especially like her thorough checklist to help readers identify the hidden, driving sins in their lives, and the help inside for developing regular and powerful prayer lives/Bible studies. She talks about her deep, passionate love for Jesus, and both her own love and her desire to help others grow in that love for Him really show. I pray to develop such faith and love for Him.
I recommend this book for anyone seeking a reminder of why we're on this earth and what - and, more importantly, Who - awaits us afterward!
As for this book, it's a very timely message for today's world, and I enjoyed it. There were quite a few instances of unique formatting inside (not erroneous just experimental) that for some reason made it harder for me to focus on what she was actually saying, and I did feel that there were a few times I wished a point would have been expanded on or really driven home.
But overall, I'm very grateful for all the reminders, challenges, and piercing insights she offered in this book. I especially like her thorough checklist to help readers identify the hidden, driving sins in their lives, and the help inside for developing regular and powerful prayer lives/Bible studies. She talks about her deep, passionate love for Jesus, and both her own love and her desire to help others grow in that love for Him really show. I pray to develop such faith and love for Him.
I recommend this book for anyone seeking a reminder of why we're on this earth and what - and, more importantly, Who - awaits us afterward!
The Path of Loneliness: Finding Your Way Through the Wilderness to God by Elisabeth Elliot
5.0
I have such admiration and respect for Elisabeth Elliot, and this book was just what I hoped it would be. Her accounts of her single and waiting days, being widowed (twice), and all the lessons God's taught her through those events are a very needed reminder that - no matter where we are in life - it's okay. God is there, God is working, and God has a plan. Even when we're unsure and lonely, we can trust that this moment serves a greater purpose. We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. This book served as timely encouragement to keep the faith and simply focus on walking with God day by day, not being anxious or allowing loneliness to swallow us - but to offer it to God as a sacrifice and trust Him to bring blessings from it.
How to Handle Adversity by Charles F. Stanley
5.0
This is one of the best books on adversity that I've ever read. As always, Stanley offers sound teaching and timely reassurances, and his writing style was conversational, succinct, and engaging. I especially appreciated his reminders that it's far more important not to ask why adversity is happening to us, but what can we learn from it? What is God trying to teach us through the trials? How does He want to work in others' lives because of the pain we experience?
We all face adversity, and we all struggle with it. What changes is how we respond to it. Will we respond to troubles with whining, anger, and resentment? Or with faith, peace, and joy? I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering how to deal with the hardships in their lives.
We all face adversity, and we all struggle with it. What changes is how we respond to it. Will we respond to troubles with whining, anger, and resentment? Or with faith, peace, and joy? I highly recommend this book for anyone wondering how to deal with the hardships in their lives.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
5.0
Okay, I've heard stellar reviews of this book for YEARS. And while I do think highly of Francine Rivers, and have enjoyed some of her previous works (like the Lineage of Grace series), I was always just a bit wary of the fact that Redeeming Love is so popular. Add the more adult subject matter and the fact that it's a romance (a genre I rarely read), and it just didn't seem like it'd be the book for me.
However, after hearing more and more good things about it recently, I decided to just give it a try so I'd know what everyone was talking about. And I am so glad I did! This is definitely not a book for young readers (while Rivers never goes into descriptive detail with intimate or violent scenes, there are still plenty of scenes and enough context to be disturbing) and if you're uncomfortable with even reading about things like prostitution and abuse, this is probably not a good book for you. However, what changed it all for me was that none of those things were glorified AT ALL. Rivers gave a gritty, realistic, and heartbreaking portrayal of how sin affects lives, and I think because she didn't shy away from showing the darkness, the light of Christ shines all the brighter.
I know Rivers' writing style isn't for everyone, but I personally found myself so engrossed in the story itself that the few oddly-worded sentences I caught didn't bug me. The characters were realistic and nuanced and sympathetic, the truths woven into the story touched me deeply, and I put down the (substantial!) book finally understanding why so many of my friends and family call it one of their favorites.
So again, while it's not an easy read, it was a very worthwhile one for me, and left me newly inspired to write the kind of fiction that can touch others as much as this touched me.
However, after hearing more and more good things about it recently, I decided to just give it a try so I'd know what everyone was talking about. And I am so glad I did! This is definitely not a book for young readers (while Rivers never goes into descriptive detail with intimate or violent scenes, there are still plenty of scenes and enough context to be disturbing) and if you're uncomfortable with even reading about things like prostitution and abuse, this is probably not a good book for you. However, what changed it all for me was that none of those things were glorified AT ALL. Rivers gave a gritty, realistic, and heartbreaking portrayal of how sin affects lives, and I think because she didn't shy away from showing the darkness, the light of Christ shines all the brighter.
I know Rivers' writing style isn't for everyone, but I personally found myself so engrossed in the story itself that the few oddly-worded sentences I caught didn't bug me. The characters were realistic and nuanced and sympathetic, the truths woven into the story touched me deeply, and I put down the (substantial!) book finally understanding why so many of my friends and family call it one of their favorites.
So again, while it's not an easy read, it was a very worthwhile one for me, and left me newly inspired to write the kind of fiction that can touch others as much as this touched me.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
5.0
When I started reading this book, I had no idea what to expect, except that I thought I'd be getting a half-hearted middle-grade novel somewhat related to the Holocaust.
Boy, was I wrong.
I've read many, many low reviews on this book, talking about how unbelievable the entire story is. Auschwitz was far more heavily-guarded, the fence was electrified, Bruno is too naïve for any nine-year old boy, etc... I agree, I don't see how this story could have actually happened.
But for me, that's not the point of the book. The point is to show a friendship between two boys in totally different worlds. One well-fed, comfortable, and in an upscale family. The other destitute, persecuted, and separated from his loved ones. The point is to show that despite their differences, love can bridge any gap, and care for one another can brighten the darkest storms. To me, Bruno's innocence served as a very moving way to remind me of the horrific reality of the Holocaust. Sometimes it's far too easy to forget how the event affected everyone, even and perhaps especially the children.
Simple but rhythmic, Boyne's writing style was compelling and kept me engaged in the story from page one. I found myself laughing over Bruno's antics, and blinking back tears at the terrible things that were going right over Bruno's head, as well as the way the Jews were treated by the soldiers and even Bruno's family. The ending was both heartbreaking and moving, and somewhat reminded me of 'Bridge to Terabithia' (another of my favorites). I don't see how it could have ended any other way.
Yes, there are issues with some historical aspects, but if those things were 'fixed', this story would not exist. I do believe this story needed to be told, as is. I definitely needed to read it, and I'm very glad I did.
Boy, was I wrong.
I've read many, many low reviews on this book, talking about how unbelievable the entire story is. Auschwitz was far more heavily-guarded, the fence was electrified, Bruno is too naïve for any nine-year old boy, etc... I agree, I don't see how this story could have actually happened.
But for me, that's not the point of the book. The point is to show a friendship between two boys in totally different worlds. One well-fed, comfortable, and in an upscale family. The other destitute, persecuted, and separated from his loved ones. The point is to show that despite their differences, love can bridge any gap, and care for one another can brighten the darkest storms. To me, Bruno's innocence served as a very moving way to remind me of the horrific reality of the Holocaust. Sometimes it's far too easy to forget how the event affected everyone, even and perhaps especially the children.
Simple but rhythmic, Boyne's writing style was compelling and kept me engaged in the story from page one. I found myself laughing over Bruno's antics, and blinking back tears at the terrible things that were going right over Bruno's head, as well as the way the Jews were treated by the soldiers and even Bruno's family. The ending was both heartbreaking and moving, and somewhat reminded me of 'Bridge to Terabithia' (another of my favorites). I don't see how it could have ended any other way.
Yes, there are issues with some historical aspects, but if those things were 'fixed', this story would not exist. I do believe this story needed to be told, as is. I definitely needed to read it, and I'm very glad I did.
Blank Mastermind by Rosey Mucklestone
5.0
Although I read this a little while ago, I've put off writing this review because I didn't know if I could properly express how much I love this book.
It is hands down one of the best novels I've ever read. The constantly moving and nuanced plot, the intrigue, the unique and captivating characters, the presence of a main character with amnesia (one of my favorite story elements anytime), the gripping and hilarious writing style, the moving theme...all of it was done with extreme tact and talent.
Though it took me a couple of chapters to become thoroughly engrossed in the story, I was intrigued and wanted to find out what was going on from the very start. By the time I reached the fourth chapter I was completely hooked. And upon reaching a certain plot twist, I read the entire second half of the book in one night because not finishing seemed a lot more painful than not sleeping.
Just one of the many elements I loved - but one of the biggest - was the way Mucklestone seamlessly and powerfully wove in faith. She hardly, if at all, mentioned anything regarding God for most the book, setting the stage to showcase the amazing way the Lord can redeem and restore even the most 'decorated' criminals, if only they'll try to seek Him. Not at all preachy, just extremely potent and inspiring.
As soon as I finished, I began pestering my sister to read it, finally reading her the first chapter just to convince her to start. Well, I haven't seen the book since. She was hooked from the first page, and is now continuing without me because I read too slowly for her.
This is definitely going to remain in my favorites and - once I do get it back - I plan to reread it. Several times.
It is hands down one of the best novels I've ever read. The constantly moving and nuanced plot, the intrigue, the unique and captivating characters, the presence of a main character with amnesia (one of my favorite story elements anytime), the gripping and hilarious writing style, the moving theme...all of it was done with extreme tact and talent.
Though it took me a couple of chapters to become thoroughly engrossed in the story, I was intrigued and wanted to find out what was going on from the very start. By the time I reached the fourth chapter I was completely hooked. And upon reaching a certain plot twist, I read the entire second half of the book in one night because not finishing seemed a lot more painful than not sleeping.
Just one of the many elements I loved - but one of the biggest - was the way Mucklestone seamlessly and powerfully wove in faith. She hardly, if at all, mentioned anything regarding God for most the book, setting the stage to showcase the amazing way the Lord can redeem and restore even the most 'decorated' criminals, if only they'll try to seek Him. Not at all preachy, just extremely potent and inspiring.
As soon as I finished, I began pestering my sister to read it, finally reading her the first chapter just to convince her to start. Well, I haven't seen the book since. She was hooked from the first page, and is now continuing without me because I read too slowly for her.
This is definitely going to remain in my favorites and - once I do get it back - I plan to reread it. Several times.