#10: The House of Scorpion

This book I read for our high school's Media Center's Blind Date with a Book for Valentine's.  On the table, several books were wrapped with a big red heart on each with a short blurb about the novel.  Tempted though I was (for I have committed to read several other books) to pick the shortest, I chose the one that sounded the most intriguing.   Glad I did.

Nancy Farmer's The House of Scorpion, winner of numerous awards, takes us to Opium, located between the United States and Aztlan (once known as Mexico), where Matt lives.  Matt is a clone.  A clone of the richest and most powerful man of  the time.

Conceived in a petri dish, Matt grew to birth in a cow's stomach.  Yes, a cow.

Nancy Farmer's voice on cloning, drugs, immigration all came through and would make for great discussion starters as the reader remains engrossed in the maturation of Matt. This book, I would love to teach.  Better yet, this novel would be a great selection for a history/social studies class.

Full of action, dialogue, plot changes, conflict, the story line moves quickly, where we are introduced to mama Celia, bodyguard Tam Lin, girlfriend Maria.  Upon checking out the novel, the librarian told me she had read the book in one night.  Now, I know why.

Good news!  Farmer has written a sequel entitled The Lord of Opium, which continues Matt's story.

Next week, I will book talk this one in class, foreseeing its quickly being checked out again. Yes!

Happy reading!

#9: The Someday List

Women Bible Cafe's Fiction Book of the Month, Stacy Hawkins Adams' Christian novel The Someday List introduces the reader to the Jubilant Soul Series and main character Rachelle Covington who is struggling with her role within her own world.

When her husband goes on a mission trip to Uganda and her children travel to spend a month with the grandparents, Rachelle finds herself with the time to visit a dying friend, who inspires Rachelle as she wants to model a list of completed list of to-do's before I die.

Set in Texas, this novel challenges the reader to consider his/her views on drinking and driving when Rachelle's aunt is involved in an accident in which a young child is hurt.  Rachelle finds herself giving more than she is receiving, and, as she does, she realizes that her relationship with God is lacking, the same conclusion that her husband is discovering on his mission trip, a trip he originally took for positive impact it would have on his career.

Characters are developed and relationships grow as Rachelle faces a flame from the past and confronts who she is and the new role she will now play in the own drama of her life. Scene by scene, act by act, decisions are made and growth occurs.

A good read, a quick read, this Christian fiction was enjoyable and inspiring.

Happy reading!

#8: The End of the Affair

Graham Greene's novel The End of the Affair was author Gretchen Rupin's (The Happiness Project) eccentric book selection for January.  Of her three recommendations, I chose this one because I hope to read more classics this year, and I placed this one in that category when I happened to notice its original publication date in 1951...well, a somewhat modern classic?

First, I was all but offended from page one when narrator Maurice Bendrix, an author himself, denounces God; then, the reader quickly learns of his adulterous affair with Sarah Miles. Goodness!  What I had I gotten myself into?  Then, I recall Rupin's reason for selecting this category of books:  "an excellent book that I love, yes, but one that may not appeal to everyone."  Okay.

I had spent the money on the book, and I have a growing respect for Rupin and the purpose behind her best-selling book.  So page-by-page, I progressed through the novel.  What I found was...a story of reformation, of redemption.

Sarah Miles, unhappily married and seeking love, becomes a believer where she finds love with one whom Bendrix initially does not like because God becomes the one she loves.  This novel is her story and the influence that her belief has on others.  Does Bendrix become a believer?  You have to read to the very last page...literally...to find out.

The World War II setting was interesting, for I had not read a novel set here in some time, a time frame that must be a character, a minor character, but a character, nonetheless, for the setting affects these characters in a subtle way, always there, always present.

With all this swirling in my mind, I read some about the author.  Interesting.  Quite the successful author, Greene, a Catholic, was involved in various works, including the British secret service and journalism.  His biography is one I would appreciate reading.

For February, I chose Rubin's young adult selection Up a Road Slowly by author Irene Hunt...awaiting its arrival in the mail.  Thinking I may count this one as a classic?  It was published in 1967.  Maybe?

Happy reading!

#7: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

Just call me Martha...or a Mary-Wanna-Be...or a Martha Mary-ily.  Just not there, am I?  When I asked my Sunday evening Discipleship Training class which they thought I am...they smiled first.

I knew what they were going to say.  "I'm a Martha, aren't I?"

Heads shook up and down.

Yes.

Joanna Weaver's Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World spoke to me. She delves deeply into the relationships among Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus, and herself.  Full of references to other writers and stories that solidify each chapter's topic.

I read this one because the Women's Bible Cafe Book Club via Facebook had chosen it for their nonfiction selection of the month.  Upon posting, the hostess stated she had read this one for the third time.  Now I understand why.  The book is just full, page after page, of wonderful words promoting our Lord and Savior.  I wish you could see the copy of this book that has become mine...annotations on nearly every page.

I so enjoy such books, for they encourage me to spend time...days, even weeks with characters of the Bible.  I keep hearing myself telling my classes that often we read the Bible too fast...so much often happens within even just a few verses.  Don't you wish the Bible was a much longer work with so many of those details added?  That is what Heaven is all about.

Okay...the Martha in me can check off reading this book from my to-do list.  The Mary in me hopes to revisit pages and marinate on the many nuggets that lie within them and share a story or anecdote with either  my Sunday School or the above mentioned Discipleship Training class.  Yes, a nice blend of service and devotion.  Maybe, just maybe, I will eventually be a blend of these two ladies of the Bible.

Click here for Joanna Weaver's blog, where she is hosting Word of God Speak 2014.  She is also the author of two other books, which I hope to soon add to my collection.

Happy reading!  Blessings!

#6: Still Alice

Lisa Genova's first novel Still Alice brought so many memories to surface...my mother was a victim of Alzheimer's disease late in life...the main character Alice Howland is a victim early in life.

Genova has a Ph.D in neuroscience.  This is good to know, as it adds even more validity to the novel.

The novel takes the reader literally into the mind and progression of the Alzheimer disease as the story is told from Alice's perspective (we in the English classroom call this third-person limited point of view :).  Powerful. Startling.  Sad.  Probably just too true.

Once I started, I read to the end.  One, I wanted the journey to be over.  Two, this flashback was too strong as my mother finally eased into Heaven just two short years ago this past January.  Three, could this be me?

With that said...everyone...I mean everyone...should read this book, for as this month's book club leader said, "Everyone will have to deal with this topic at some point."  My one regret now is not reading this book during the time my mom had the disease.  Just don't know that I could have.  Not sure I ever got out of denial until too close to the end.

Genova portrays the family's perspectives so true.   The shock.  The denial.  The acceptance...or not.  The reader is introduced to her very successful career and the loss of that career, to her three children and their varying levels of acceptances, to her husband and his helpful stance and lack thereof.  Never once, as I was reading, ever think, no, that couldn't have happened.  It is real.

As I posted a pic of the cover, I just noticed the butterfly.  Pay attention as a you read...butterflies are actually a powerful character in the book.  Aren't they so pretty?

Today, I cannot end this with "Happy reading!"...today, I end with..

Read for reality.

#5: Fifteen Minutes

Karen Kingsbury's Fifteen Minutes takes the reader into the world of reality television...and, as a result, I appreciate my world even more!

Main character and powerful singer Zach Dylan uses his voice to climb through the rounds of competition, only to find that this climb is costing him his commitment to family, girlfriend, and, most importantly, God.  This book is good reminder to all...anything can become a god, but I should let nothing replace my God.

This was my first read about reality TV shows that focus on talent, and I was not impressed with the Hollywood-like sets and situations that occur.  Too, I was surprised by the hours and the busyness of their schedules that forces the participants to have to little time for themselves and family.  Never is this a good thing.

Now, in Zach's defense his intent was pure...make some money to save his family's failing Kentucky horse farm.  Yes, you may guess...once Zach returns that farm...and his family still await him.  Yes, our prized positions often are right where we left them.

With all that said...some of this sounds so negative, doesn't it?...I do recommend this novel.  As a matter of fact, I have already shared it with one student and will share with others.  The message is there:  remain committed to what matters, for what truly matters can so easily become distant when our priorities take on the glow of success and fame.

Happy reading!