I Can't Resist ~ Check It Out....

I got this Chick-Lit-a-delic book cover picture in my in-box the other day.

Now, I haven't read this book and I haven't "read" the author. But if you click here, or on the book cover, you will find out how to get this e-book for nada. Disclaimer: I don't know if we're talking G, PG, PG-13 or R-rated so keep that in mind. Her book reading (YouTube link below) was tame....I've downloaded Jumble Pie and will eventually get to it.

Check out her YouTube link. I watched it several months ago and thought the story was pretty clever but at the time I was buried in books and didn't review it....the girl has a charming way with words.

Serials and Scenarios ~ That's (Not Quite) Amore

Happy Wednesday.

Here's some fun reading for those still looking for a beach book.

As per usual, click the book cover to head over to the Amazon info page. And if you want to read the first chapter click here. Finally, visit Tracey's website here. Come back Friday for a Dregs Q & A with Tracey. Now without further ado...here's my

Review:

This is my first Tracey Bateman novel. It won't be my last.

Fun characters run amok through food, coffee, design, hormones and drama. Italian grandmothers, "the uncles," crime drama, angst, angst and more angst plague Laini while she struggles with the fact that she can't figure out who she is and what she wants to do with what she's got. Bateman masterfully manages a huge and very eclectic cast of characters. Humor is laced throughout, yet there is a touch of melancholy for those who like a hint of it in their chick-lit.

Serials and Scenarios ~ The Shack

Just in case you've wondered about this book, in case you want my opinion...keep reading. The buzz about it reached Iowa so I picked it up and read it. If you think you have God all figured out, I dare you to read it. What are your thoughts? Have you read it?

My Review:

I didn't want to read this one. I have such a huge stack of books to get through that I couldn't bear the thought of one more...especially one I didn't think I'd like. I expected The Shack to be melodramatic and poorly written. Young was turned down by a lot of houses, and I figured that his writing skills might have something to do with it. But The Shack ended up on my local book club list, and I picked up a copy and began reading.

I was surprised by what I found between the covers of this little novel. The writing is compelling, a little overdone is some spots, a little mechanically iffy in others. The beginning scenes are a little slow moving, but it's solid and descriptive writing that paints pictures and engages senses. But the story, wow. The story is gripping and beautiful and awful and full of pain and sorrow and joy. I wept through a few scenes. Not dashed a tear away, but wept.

I'm not going to recommend it to everyone. There are some who shouldn't read it. If you can not separate fiction from doctrine, why set yourself up for annoyance? Theologically, this book soars on imagination, wonder, questions and it oozes grace. The Shack doesn't belong on a shelf full of Biblical study tools. Nor should it be read to discover error or to fuel a bully pulpit. The Shack should be read by people who are desperate to find healing or those who are sick and tired of religion. If you are afraid to think outside of your doctrinal lines, you will find much to be offended about. On the flip side, if the Shack or anything outside of Jesus becomes your hope for salvation, stop, turn aside to the Bible and discover Jesus as written through the Holy Spirit.

The several struggles I've noticed seem to be focused on the depiction of God and the gospel message. The author very clearly states that this is a story, a fictional account. Young bravely takes liberty with God, creating pictures and dialog, putting words and emotion and spice into the God of the Bible. If this offends you, then you are probably not ready for the message in The Shack. But if you have an image of God as a lightning bolt throwing bully or a disinterested floating ruler or a bumbling fool, The Shack may just change your mind and possibly your life. The book does not share a Gospel where Jesus is anything but God the Son and fully human. His death and resurrection are clearly portrayed.

The uncomfortable issue with the theology stems from the author's stretch of imagination and his obvious love for God. Truth is, God doesn't behave the way we expect Him to. Why should He? God doesn't answer to us, God doesn't have to do things the exact same way He has in the past, He's not bound by our limitations. God is complete and full without our understanding of His business or our definition of Him. God is big enough to work through fiction, truth, the Bible, nature, other people and whatever else He might choose.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Chasing Change

Even though my really restful and laid back vacation did not require a few days to recover from said vacation...I'm pretty sure life went on in abundance while we stepped out.

Somehow, we are nearing the middle of August. I'm just getting used to the idea of 2008. Do any of you remember Y2K? Nine years ago I was deciding whether or not to take it seriously. Would life as we knew it end at midnight? Or would I be dumping gallon after gallon of carefully hoarded water on my summer garden months later?

On a less global scale is the major change in our lives.

Hubby has been given an opportunity that knocked our collective socks off (figuratively...we DO NOT wear socks with flip-flops) and will change the face of our family. Instead of building and constructing and grinding his joints in ten plus hours of hard labor every day, he'll teach others how to build.

I am REALLY proud of him. A guy who has a semester of college under his belt and next to nil in computer knowledge is going to teach a full-time college course, using a computer to communicate much of what he needs to with his students. He is totally humbling himself in this new arena. He has to admit that there a many things he doesn't know, and he is now a little fish in a huge pond. To give up/scale back what he has been doing for nearly thirty years is a huge step. He has a reputation as a good, honest builder and he has made a good, honest living. This is so new, so different, and I can only imagine a little scary.

This is a huge God-thing, too. Not only did it come out of the blue...three weeks ago we had zilcho in the clue department that something like this could open up. But we can see where God has prepared him to take on this career hairpin turn. As a carpenter, Rob has been a teacher, he trained workers, he taught skills to our kids' 4-H group, he taught skills in our Wednesday night kid's classes. As a elder in the church he's taught all ages on all sorts of different occasions, from pulpit time in a suit and tie, to decked out in faux Biblical garb as a traveling story teller. He's also had training in basic computers as the church treasurer (he knows how to turn one on.)

It's also a picture of my husband's walk of faith. He is fully trusting God to guide and direct him. Did I mention that I'm proud of him? Really, really proud?

Serials and Scenarios ~ Davis Bunn's All Through the Night

Hey there. One more book this week. I read four while on vacation. Okay. Not complete, but I finished two and started two. And still got to float on the lake and cook and sleep and shop. Yes. Dream vacation....

Anyhoo. Click here to read chapter one of All Through the Night and here to visit Davis Bunn's website. A click on the book cover will take you to the mucho informative Amazon page.

My Review:

Davis Bunn has written a story full of redemption and hope. The characters are a rag-tag mix of broken and abused. As so often happens, the characters use their pain as fuel to protect themselves and keep others out of the areas that are still wounded.

And they live with the consequences of those choices -- alone.

On the surface All Through the Night is about a trained soldier with an amazing mind for numbers who settles in a retirement community to help them recover from a scam. Entertaining reading with that element alone because Bunn provides a beautiful woman, guns, explosions, fast boats and bad guys.

But the spiritual aspects drove the story. One fragile elderly lady determines to love Wayne and to pray for him. As his heart softens toward her, a deep transformation begins.

After an initial struggle getting into the story, I discovered a good read.

Serials and Scenarios ~ Chris Fabry's Dogwood

I told you I'd get better about going after those interviews...and I will. Cut me some slack. I was on vacation, people. No internet. It was fabulous by the way: ). So I missed Fabry and Bunn (who's latest book will be appearing in the next couple of days, but I promise, I'm back on track. Besides, Fabry will no doubt be writing for adults again.

You can read the first chapter of Dogwood, here. And visit Chris at his blog. As always, click on the book cover for even more info.


My Review:


Chris Fabry's debut adult novel, Dogwood, is a mosaic of humanity, God's grace and the power of love.

Solidly literary fiction with deep, flawed characters and beautiful prose, Dogwood also contains a mystery within the story that adds tension and a deepening plot. Twists and turns fill this multi-first-person POV novel.

The spiritual elements run deep and into moments that teach, however, the characters who do the teaching end up being so compelling that it doesn't feel preachy, but instead feels like wisdom that needs to be savored and pondered and maybe even considered in the life of the reader.

Sensitive readers may want to use caution because the themes in this book are PG-13 and intense.

Days after finishing the story I'm still mulling over and wondering how I feel about situations and information that I was given in my journey to Dogwood. Haunting may be too strong, but I think there will be a shadow that follows me for awhile as I continue to process what I've read.

Even though the characters had great depth, I struggled with finding sympathy or even like for a main character. But I think this is a back-handed compliment because that means this paper and ink "person" got under my skin.

Those who love literary or general fiction, especially the stories that are infused with a touch from God, may find Dogwood to be a very satisfying read. Fabry is a wordsmith and quite a storyteller. I'm looking forward to his next novel.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ I Interrupt ...

...regular scheduled blogging to announce that I'll be an infrequent or absent blogger for a really long weekend.

But because I don't want you to go through any sort of withdrawal, I'm going to open myself up to public humiliation by sharing this link with you.

Click here and you'll go to a magic page with many, many short stories and devotionals I've written over the months and years since I began posting my "stuff" aka thoughts, words, drivel on the internet. Hopefully, you might see a progression of my "talent." All snarky and sarcastic comments are welcome. Feel free to talk about me while I'm gone. And while I'm away from the computer, I'll be cultivating memories that no doubt will end up here.

And here is a picture my daughter-in-law took of that amazing lightning storm a few weeks ago. Spooky-cool.

Behave. And have a fabulous, restful "weekend." I will.