lighthousebooks's reviews
556 reviews

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

3.0

This novel started out so well. The portrait of a friendship set against the historical backdrop of 1950s-80s Iran was compelling. What happens to us need not define us is a beautiful truth that is communicated. But overall the story fizzled for me. It was slow in the first half and then rushed in the latter. And I thought it also illustrated some not so good aspects of freedom in America. It set up a contrast in my mind between two extremes: secularism and fundamentalism or no boundaries and absolute control. Neither seemed “good” to me. 

This is a very popular book. Many loved it and you may, too! I’m landing at 3⭐️, I liked it. 

🤐 infrequent 

🌶️ one mild bedroom scene

🌍 superstition; secularism; fundamentalism; feminism

Out of Africa: and Shadows on the Grass by Karen Blixen, Isak Dinesen
Did not finish book. Stopped at 33%.

Untangling Emotions: God's Gift of Emotions by Winston T. Smith, J. Alasdair Groves

4.0

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-The-Pooh by Sally M. Walker

5.0

The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis by Karen Swallow Prior

5.0

I really enjoyed this survey of the ways in which evangelicalism is a product of history and culture and how that is reflected in art, literature, and metaphor. This book helped me to understand the dissonance I feel at times between what the Bible says and what is practiced in evangelicalism, a movement that began as a response to the neglect of biblical truth and that has since morphed into a broader cultural mindset. 

My favorite chapters were 3, Conversion and 4, Testimony, but I also enjoyed 6, Sentimentality and 7, Materialism. All resonated so much with my experience. 

When Dr. Prior references “Hurt,” a song performed by Johnny Cash, I highly recommend you listen to it as she suggests before proceeding to read. Powerful 😭

The book does get a little technical and may initially be more appealing to literary theory or worldview nerds 🙋‍♀️, but it is not a difficult read. It is a thought-provoking and educational read that I highly recommend.

Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel by Landon Dowden

5.0

I found this commentary to be accessible and it enriched my time in God’s Word. I am coming away with a greater appreciation for Ezekiel’s message and for his commitment to the Lord. Ezekiel’s life challenges me in my walk with Christ. I appreciated that the commentator refrained from speculation in the prophetic parts of Ezekiel that have not yet come to pass. I don’t think it’s helpful to try to figure out who, where, when or how, but rather to focus on what we can know today from the text. I highly recommend spending time in this book of the Bible and supplementing with this commentary! 

Overview of the series: The Christ-centered Exposition series is intended for pastors, parents, teachers, small-group leaders and student ministers. While not every commentary is a verse-by-verse exegesis, the goal is to explain the text carefully and rightly. It is not given to wild allegory or typology. It affirms that the Bible is a Christ-centered book; in other words, the Old and New Testament are cohesive, conveying a united message of redemption through Jesus Christ. 

Each chapter begins with an outline and introduction. Then the biblical text is broken up into sections and taught in a pastoral manner. The chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion making it ideal for group study.

Beyond the Wand by Tom Felton

I enjoyed Tom Felton’s memoir. He is down to earth and fairly ordinary, a Muggle if you will. It was interesting to read about the challenges of being a child actor and how he never took this part of his life too seriously until Harry Potter ended and he lacked direction. It reminded me that children don’t understand the impact of their choices until they are much older. If you like the HP movies you will find a lot of interesting behind the scenes information. Just make sure you have watched them all or read all the books because there are spoilers. I don’t read many memoirs of actors. They are often parables of why material wealth and fame is a stumbling block. Felton’s story is no different, but it does end on a hopeful note. 

‼️ Some crude/foul language. Other info would be spoilers.

Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention by Sarah Clarkson
Did not finish book. Stopped at 38%.

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

4.5

This debut thriller novel is so good. Excellent writing. Atmospheric. Legit creepy. Good twists. Psychologically mind-bending. If you are a ruminator you will appreciate it. Recommend reading during a snowstorm. 

⚠️ Some cursing/profanity; no sexual content. Appreciate how clean it is for this genre. 

✝️ Asks how can God exist when there is evil in the world. 

Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show by Bethany Joy Lenz

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

Wow, this was really heartbreaking 💔😳😭 but the Acknowledgments ended on a hopeful note. Misusing Scripture to control and manipulate resonated. It must have been so hard for Bethany Joy Lenz to revisit her time in a cult and it is incredibly brave for her to share her story. 

“…cults can come in multiple guises and anybody can fall for one—it just depends on your blind spots.”

No Star Rating: Some of it could have used a little more editing, but I also thought she included great scene details that really brought the story to life. 

🤐 Some really strong language.

⚠️ Spiritual and psychological abuse; some violent behavior and mentions of sexual abuse.