Monday, March 18, 2024

Book Review: If I Were You - Highly Recommend

Here's the proof that I felt compelled by this story: I turned down my husband's offers to wash the dishes and extended my treadmill time, just so I could snatch extra minutes listening to this audio book. By the end, I even set excuses aside and sat on the couch enjoying the tale's unfolding and resolution. I thought I might have tired of historical fiction (especially focused on WWII), but this book proved otherwise. It was so worth the lengthy time investment (13-1/2 hours).

I should note that this is Christian historical fiction, but it is the sort where the strong story leads to faith insights. The author didn't hammer the message (I've only read one Lynn Austin book where that was true). Instead, in this book, Austin peels back a story that illustrates God's love and care in authentic and meaningful ways. The characters have realistic problems. It was easy to walk a mile in their shoes and imagine the difficulties they faced. No, more than that! I recognized my own sins and mistakes, my own struggles with faith, and felt uplifted by reminders of God's love and His purpose for our pain. Author Liz Curtis Higgs says, "If I Were You is a page-turning, nail-biting, heart-stopping gem of a story." I agree!

As the Amazon teaser outlines, this is a novel of sisterhood and self-discovery, of faith and friendship. I tried several times to summarize the gist without giving up important details. In the end, I will settle for the alluring Amazon teaser:

"1950. In the wake of the war, Audrey Clarkson leaves her manor house in England for a fresh start in America with her young son. As a widowed war bride, Audrey needs the support of her American in-laws, whom she has never met. But she arrives to find that her longtime friend Eve Dawson has been impersonating her for the past four years. Unraveling this deception will force Audrey and Eve's secrets - and the complicated history of their friendship - to the surface."

Austin sets the stage beautifully with this initial dilemma. Then, she goes back to construct their friendship and their faith struggles through the years. It is very true to life. Our faith journeys are different and fluid, ever-changing. Sometimes we have no idea that God is walking with us. Sometimes we sense Him in the presence of a lamb. Regardless of our personal struggles, or where we are on our path of faith, He is with us in the good and the bad. And boy is this world full to the brim of good and bad! It is understandable when people struggle with believing in a loving God when they see and experience the world's pain. Yet, as this story so powerfully illustrates, the Shepherd knows His sheep and will go to all lengths to find them when they are lost.

If you read and enjoy this book, there is a novella sequel called The Wish Book Christmas. (Review coming soon.) Or if you're curious to see which other Lynn Austin books I recommend, visit my reviews for Though Waters Roar, Wonderland Creek, and All Things New.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Mid-month Mention: Armchair Travel to the British Isles

Photo by Elie Khoury on Unsplash


March began with a roar. I will write more later concerning my first week of March. It was a grueling time, caring for my Alzheimer-afflicted mother. You could certainly say it came in like a lion.

When the seasons are in flux, I'm desperate to spend some time escaping to locations I love. My favorite place to go? The British Isles! Thanks to Viking TV, I've been able to whisk myself away to places of interest from the comfort of my recliner. I'd love to one day take a Viking River Cruise. In the meantime, I was thrilled to discover 61 videos, of varying lengths, covering the British Isles. You can learn about Winston Churchill, explore Highclere Castle (film location for Downton Abbey), celebrate Scottish poet Robert Burns, and visit other historic homes and landmarks.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments, if you've ever gone on a Viking River Cruise and would recommend the journey. Or let me know what your favorite destination would be. March may still roar along, but you can spend some time in armchair travel with Viking TV (to your favorite location) and perhaps it will calm to go out like a lamb.


Photo of Lake District National Park by Danny Lines on Unsplash

Monday, March 11, 2024

Book Review: Authentically, Izzy

Ever since I published a book of poetry for parents of prodigals (talk about a narrow, hard-sell category!), I've paid attention to rankings on Amazon for books I read and discover. Pepper Basham's Authentically, Izzy is the #1 Best Seller in the Contemporary Christian Romance category. Wow! It deserves that spot! I've said before that I'm not drawn to romance books. This book lured me in with promises of both epistolary story and bookish fixation. It was great fun!

At 12-years-old, Isabelle Edgewood's parents died in a plane crash. Now her concerned cousin (quasi-sibling) has signed her up for a dating website. Although she would love to find Prince Charming, her checkered love life makes her hesitant. So, when book-loving Brodie strikes up correspondence, Izzy believes he is too good to be true. She is sure it must be her cousin writing the letters. Just as she's learning he's real (and living on a delightful island near Scotland), a local author named Eli asks her out. It is the age-old question: Should Izzy seek the adventure far away or the available romance nearby? Will her fear of plane travel keep her from pursuing a possible soul-mate?

I love epistolary novels! (To explain my romance via correspondence, see my Dear Henry, Love Edith review.) Thus, I didn't necessarily agree with reviewers who struggled with a novel written entirely in letters, texts, and messages. Another author friend of mine, who tried listening to Positively, Penelope (follow-up book), said it is perhaps better read in hard form. Although I didn't feel put off by the format, I agree with her assessment. I'd recommend physically scanning pages, as opposed to listening to them in audio book form.

Still, that quibble aside, I loved so many aspects of this novel. Brodie... oh, my! I crushed on him more than the Scottish boyfriend in Sliding Doors (a character I adore). I loved the banter back and forth between the cousins. Izzy IS authentic and vulnerable and sweet. She deserves to find the love of a fellow booklover. I enjoyed all the book references (and connected with many of them). The book makes you wish the island of Skymar and all these characters were real! If you love epistolary novels and seek a clean story full of witty banter, look no further. Authentically, Izzy will warm the coldest heart and inspire the flagging book lover. (I liked this one better than Dear Henry, Love Edith.)



Thursday, March 7, 2024

Book Review: The Keeper of Stories

For a debut novel, I am impressed. The Keeper of Stories is like Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris, in that a lowly cleaner learns to assert herself and claim her own story. Because the personality-packed dog expresses foul-mouthed thoughts, it reminded me of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (whose memorable opening line sucked me in: "The first thing you find out when yer dog learns to talk is that dogs got nothing much to say.") It is a frame story, much like The Arabian Nights (mentioned in the book). But, most of all, it is, as the back cover proclaims, a book "full of humor and depth - that has taken readers around the world by surprise."

In Janice's role as a housekeeper, she collects people's stories. Whether it is a snippet of story overheard on her bus ride or the tales of her clients, she relishes adding another story to her repertoire. Mostly, her clients are more interested in their own stories. But when Janice begins cleaning for Mrs. B, a flamboyant 92-year-old, she knows her story will be sucked from her eventually. Mrs. B. once worked as a spy. She's keen to know the secrets lurking beneath the surface of this mild-mannered cleaner.

I was thoroughly unprepared for the emotional investment, the clever interconnectedness, and the unexpected humor. By the end of the book, I marveled at the author's skill for bringing tears one moment, followed by snorts of laughter in the next. Despite the content in some stories (harlots, suicide, murder) and despite the foul mouth Janice hears from the beloved dog she walks, it left me enthralled. The book touches on many important truths about human weakness, tenuous familial bonds, and second chances. Primarily, I loved the focus on how each of our stories holds importance in the lives of others and teaches us something about the world. Not only did I enjoy piecing together, bit by bit, Janice's story, but I loved reading the author's bio. How fascinating! Sally Page dabbles in history, flowers, photography, pens, and stories. I'm so glad she wrote this debut novel. I will keep my eye out for more and may look up her daughter, the author Libby Page.   

Monday, March 4, 2024

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger Games was riveting. I owned (thanks to my sister's gift to my non-reading teen) and read every book in the series. When The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes arrived on the scene, Sean and I were both eager to read it. Thus, I asked for the giant hardback book for my birthday and Bryce obliged. Sadly, years passed. While both of us attempted to give it a start, we didn't get far. Now, with the movie out, I decided I would attempt it in a different format. I checked out the audio version from our library.

The book is long (528 pages) and winding. The characters felt inconsistent. One minute my sympathies lay with Coriolanus Snow, while in the next, I didn't care for him. The length of the book put me off to begin with, and kept me from completing it, as well. The audio version is 14 CDs long. With Trevor's car out of commission, I wasn't the only one driving, so my husband had to pause the CD when he drove. Perhaps, given the season of snow and ice, I wasn't driving as frequently either. Whatever the reason, my interest was minimal. I continued to listen, but missed the absorbing nature of the original books. I tired of the constant battle between "is this character a good guy or a bad guy?"

To be honest, I don't think I enjoyed it enough to even bother with the movie. If the library acquires it, and I'm lost for something to do some weekend, I may check it out. But I can't muster the desire to see it or experience this tale again. The books still highlight telling social commentary. Our society doesn't hold human life with any more esteem than the Capitol. It isn't a stretch to think we might be capable of similar atrocities occurring right beneath our noses, and few have the guts to protest. 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Compilation - 15 Books About Victorian London


Photo by Hert Niks on Unsplash

My favorite era/location for study is Victorian England. As a teen, I fell in love with Dickens. As a young adult, I pursued a masters degree in history with a focus on Victorian history. Thus, I often read books set in that time/country. Here are some past reads (with links to my reviews) for those who might be interested in fiction or non-fiction about Victorian London:

Fiction:

  1. 12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep - 1st in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
  2. A Tale of Two Hearts by Michelle Griep - 2nd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
  3. The Old Lace Shop by Michelle Griep - 3rd in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series
  4. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva
  5. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens 
  6. At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald
  7. The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton
  8. Kidnapped by River Rats by Dave and Neta Jackson
Nonfiction:

  1. Dirty Old London by Lee Jackson 
  2. The Victorian City by Judith Flanders
  3. A Metropolitan Murder by Lee Jackson
  4. London by A. N. Wilson
  5. Victoria by Catherine Reef
  6. The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale
  7. The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

Monday, February 26, 2024

Joining a New Book Club


Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

I'm the perfect candidate for a book club. I love any opportunity to discuss the books I consume. However, sometimes book clubs can be tricky. For years, I belonged to a book club that met an hour away from me in a northern suburb of Indianapolis. The hour long drive seemed worth it to me. I appreciated the books they selected. We conversed easily. At the beginning, I felt very welcome and involved. Over time, things shifted. The book selections failed to interest me. I wondered if I was truly a welcome contributor. Somehow, they left me off the reminder email list a time or two. Intentional? The drive became difficult as we were experiencing major transportation challenges. Thus, I abandoned that group.

For a while, I attempted book clubs at my local library. This was a bust, too. Most of the times, the books selected were not ones I felt worth the time investment. 

In January, I joined a new group established on Facebook. Their first selection was The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I had listened to it in audio form when my oldest was much younger (perhaps when it first came out around 2003 - he would have been 7). My resounding memory is that the author nailed the voice (the autistic narrator is fascinating) and that the language was very foul (I could not listen when Bryce was in the car with me). Then, I read the book again with the afore-mentioned book group. I cannot remember their take on the book.

I didn't mind reading it again, but put it off until the last minute. Indeed, I skim-read the book in the hours before the book club meeting. There are many commendable attributes to this book club, so I'm hopeful. The others are true book enthusiasts, bursting with book recommendations for books that sound appealing (mostly historical fiction, but I'm okay with that). The others seem welcoming and vocal. Since the majority own dogs, we spent a good deal of time discussing the horror of the first moments of the book (off-putting to several), the curious and cruel incident. We discussed characteristics of individuals on the spectrum. We discussed whether character actions were realistic or believable. Mostly, we kept going back to book recommendations. I'm always up for those. 

Plus, I felt genuine interest in the February and March selections: Forty Autumns and The Women.  I attended the February meeting this past weekend. We had a lively and empathetic discussion. I felt comfortable enough to share more personally than I intended. The others were supportive and encouraging. I felt seen. I'm pleased that we're forming connections. Hopefully, the timing will work out so I can attend again in March. Perhaps this will provide an opportunity to bless others.