Thursday, May 17, 2018

Inspired: Slaying Dragons, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again


Much like all of Rachel's other books, I absolutely love this book. The language and stories re-imagined spoke deeply to my soul. I especially loved the chapter on Hagar and the other forgotten women of the Bible. I have often felt a sense of wonder/connection about, and with, the women we never hear about or only hear negative things about in pop culture, the church, and the Bible. I was so tempted to highlight every passage and read it aloud to friends, text friends, and spread the wonderful message.
I did not grow up going to church. I may have attended here and there with an aunt, but it was not consistent, reinforced, or any such thing. However, when I was in my late teens, I began attending a non-denominational church and was baptized there. Looking back, I think I attended for a variety of reasons. It was a time of my life when I was looking for stability in my life and it's the church my friends attended, so it was easy and i knew some people. However, as I got older and experienced more of life, I discovered that it didn't answer ALL my questions, or the answers were too easy, flippant, or not really answers. I left the church for a while, but then found the Episcopal which encourages these questions.
All of that is to say that I was never raised to believe that the Bible had absolutely authority or couldn't be questioned. It was never literal fact for me. The stories of the Bible, all of them, have been just that for me, stories. Being steeped in them Sunday after Sunday, year after year, and after reading Rachel's new book has given me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the mythology of Judaism/Christianity and a better understanding of the writings included in the New Testament.
Finally, I would like to thank Rachel and her publisher for the ARC of this book. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book!


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Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Chloe Flavor by Chloe Coscarelli

I am a huge Chloe Coscarelli fan. I was so excited to get this cookbook. It is full of flavor, spice, and everything I love about food. I particularly always enjoy Chloe's wonderful photographs of her food. I also really like that these are ingredients that are easy to find, cheap and they are easy to make meals. When I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is make quick meal. This book is perfect for that. 

I give this book 5 stars.

**I was given a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.**

Monday, February 19, 2018

The Prayer Wheel: A Daily Guide to Renewing Your Faith with a Rediscovered Spiritual Practice by Patton Dodd

I really enjoyed flipping through this book. As someone who is part of a liturgical tradition and is accustomed praying in that fashion, I found this book to be familiar and comfortable, while introducing me to a new way of prayer. I have not had a chance to actually use the book yet, but can see myself incorporating it into my current (and future) Lenten practices. 

The simple, yet beautiful design of the cover really caught my eye, as well as the bright red. I rate this book a 4/5.

*I was given a free copy of this book by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.*

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Power Plates

I really enjoyed this cookbook. I like that the focus is only on one plate. As a single person, I love not having to drag out tons of pots and pans and dishes, just for one meal. Also, as a bit of junk/comfort food vegan, I really appreciated that the book focused on nutritious, healthy meals. I could definitely stand to add a few more to my weekly meal plan. I also really appreciate cookbooks that bright pictures that make the food look enticing. I love knowing what the end product will look like.  Overall, I thought this was a great cookbook.

I would give this cookbook 4.5 stars.

*I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan

This was a complex, character-driven novel full of suspense. After 35 years, the body of a young woman, one of a large group of friends, is found in the East State Penitentiary. This finding brings out long buried secrets that will shake all the characters to their core.

I did not love this book, but I didn't hate it either. The chapters, often organized by character, or sometimes, multiple characters, go to be too much. There were too many story lines to follow, for my personal taste, but it wasn't all bad. It was just suspenseful to keep me coming back for more.

Overall, I would give this book 3/5 stars. The story was good, but not great.

**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Blogging for Books.**

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

A Short History of the Girl Next Door

This book was not….awesome. I really didn’t make it through the whole book. I found the narrator to be annoying, especially with his overuse of the word “awesome.” The short chapters gave the book the made the reading experience choppy. And, overall, I didn’t feel anything for the teen. I wasn’t hooked right away, which I feel is imperative in a market such as YA.
One thing I did love about this book, was the cover and the way it looked. The bright neon yellow was striking against the black and white type. The inside cover was a beautiful hot pink to offset the white of the book itself.

Overall, I give this book 2 (very generous) stars.


**I got a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review**

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The Daily Question

I am an avid journalist. I write something every day, whether that be all my thoughts and feelings or just a sentence or two. I loved The Daily Question, it was a great way to be asked something specific and have to think about it and have an answer. There are quite a few questions, ones I even asked my friends. It is a great way to add to your spiritual life and can provide deep introspection. I even struggled with some, like "How does God see you? How do you see yourself?" Let me tell you, those are two completely different answers.

I also really like that this is something that can be done over five years so you can see your progress. I also like that it comes with a ribbon so you can remember where you are, you don't need to flip through to find where you are. Each day has a date, so you can start at the beginning of the year, or in the middle.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

**I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by www.bloggingforbooks.com**