LIBRARY CORNER
FEBRUARY, MAY, JUNE 2010
FEBRUARY
Nancy and Delana were both impressed with the new book which brought the above verses to mind. The Noticer by Andy Andrews is a great read that is part auto-biographical, part fiction, and all inspiring as it keeps the reader involved and questioning one's own perspective on life. It tells the story of "Jones," a mysterious old man who has a knack for showing up at just the right time in people's lives. He notices "stuff" they usually miss, and he gives them the one thing we all so often need - perspective. Here is a little taste of Jones' observations from this little book:
"Whatever you focus upon, increases." (If you focus on worry or troubles, they will increase.)
"It's time to stop letting your history control your destiny."
"All people - all lives - are either in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis."
"Worry is just a misuse of the creative imagination that has been placed in each of us."
The Noticer can be found on our "Fiction" section, even though it is technically not classified as fiction. When you check out this book, be sure to read through the "Reader's Guide" at the back of the book. It provides a wonderful opportunity for self-reflection and to follow up on lessons you learned from Jones. Perhaps you will also gain a new perspective.
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If you enjoy Amish fiction, you should check out the Sisters of the Quilt series by Cindy Woodsmall. This trilogy begins with When the Heart Cries, introducing the reader to Hannah Lapp, a seventeen-year-old Amish girl. Hannah falls in love with a young man from outside their cloistered community, Mennonite Paul Waddell, and agrees to marry him. On the eve of their engagement, tragedy strikes and all that Hannah has known or believed is destroyed. When the Morning Comes continues Hannah's story as she moves to Ohio to live with her shunned aunt. Fleeing her Amish community and her tattered relationship with Paul, Hannah hides her true identity and struggles to understand the foreign world of "Englischers." The final book in the series, When the Soul Mends, takes place a few years later and finds Hannah settling into her new life in Ohio, where she feels loved and useful. However, she must face the disapproval of those who ostracized her and return to the Old Order Amish community in Pennsylvania after receiving a desperate call from her sister Sarah. As she works with her former fiancee to help her sister, Hannah must choose between the two vastly different worlds. This series should be read in order and will pull you from one book to the next until the last page is turned.
MAY
Kicking off this month's reviews, Max Lucado offers advice on replacing fear with faith in his new non-fiction book (248.8 LUC), Fearless. Every day, we seem to be faced with new things to fear, from layoffs at work and a depressed economy to conflicts in the Middle East and global warming. These fears imprison us and rob us of our contentment, but dwelling on them only brings about new levels of distress. How can you break this vicious cycle?
Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? In this book, Lucado points to scripture and faith as the means to rid yourself of insecurity, doubt, and fear. Envision a day where you could trust more and fear less. With God's help, it is possible.
Fans of Karen Kingsbury will be happy to hear we have the first three books in her Above the Line Series available in LARGE PRINT. The series opens with Take One, introducing Chase Ryan and Keith Ellison, two unknown film producers struggling to fulfill their dreams and change lives through the power of film. Millions of dollars of investor's money is on the line as they realize they may be in over their heads. Take Two and Take Three continue their story as the Hollywood crowd weighs in on the completed feature film. In the midst of their professional success, struggles at home raise questions about the true cost of their good fortune. There will be a fourth book in this series released later this summer, so stay tuned!
With so many wonderful Christian fiction selections available today, it can be difficult to keep track of those we have enjoyed. Making this even more difficult are the occasions when publishers re-release an especially good novel under a new title. One such case is Dee Henderson's True Courage, which was recently released as Kidnapped. You will find this book on our shelves under its original title as part of the Uncommon Heroes Series. In True Courage, FBI agent Luke Falcon must investigate the disappearance of his cousin's wife and son. As the days pass, Luke has more and more difficulty holding on to any hope of getting them back alive. This book can easily be read on its own if you aren't ready to tackle the entire series.
Speaking of tackling a series, how would you like to check out a series that combines football with a special ops thriller? Co-authored by Jason Elam, a kicker for the Denver Broncos, and Steve Yohn, a pastor, the three book Riley Covington Series does just that. After a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Riley Covington is living his dream as a professional linebacker when he comes face-to-face with a radical terrorist group. Drawn into the nightmare, Riley returns to his former life as a special ops team member. The series opens with Monday Night Jihad, followed by Blown Coverage and Blackout.
JUNE
"As I've said before, Grandma Bebe never did tell a story in a straight line like the chapters in a book. Following the thread of her sagas was like chasing a startled rabbit through the woods---you never knew when it was going to turn and head in a new direction." This quote from our first review of the month gives you some insight into how this story plays out. There is a lot of jumping from one character to another in the new book, Though Waters Roar, but Lynn Austin gives you such a feeling for each one that you soon learn their individual voices and it flows surprisingly well.
The scene opens on Harriet Sherwood, a young woman in 1920 Pennsylvania, who has just been thrown in jail for transporting liquor during prohibition. She does not want to phone her respectable father, knowing he never willingly bailed out her Grandma Bebe anytime she was arrested for smashing whiskey barrels with an ax. Since her mother is away fighting for a woman's right to vote, and she obviously cannot call upon her prohibitionist grandmother, Harriet spends her time recalling the histories of the women in her family.
Her great grandmother Hannah, whose total trust in God gives her the courage to participate in the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Her Grandma Bebe, who finds out her wealthy, handsome husband is also an alcoholic, has made her own peace with God and uses her experiences and faith to fight against "demon rum." Even her flighty socialite mother, Lucy, turns her life around and finds a purpose in fighting for women's rights. These are big shoes for a young lady of 21 to fill, but as she brings each character to life through her memories, Harriet comes to an understanding of how these women have shaped her and why she now finds herself behind bars.
Fans of John Grisham should check out our books by veteran trial attorney Randy Singer. Some of his offerings can be found on our "New Books" shelf. In Dying Declaration, Thomas and Theresa Hammonds believe in tough love, old-fashioned discipline, and the power of prayer, but they do not believe in doctors. When their controversial beliefs lead to personal tragedy, the Hammonds face heartbreaking loss, a crisis of faith, and a charge of negligent homicide. Defending them is freewheeling lawyer Charles Arnold. He believes in grace and mercy, but nothing in his colorful past has prepared him for the challenges of this shocking case, or for the dangerous conspiracy at its heart. The Justice Game examines the issue of gun control versus the second amendment when the target of an investigative report storms a Virginia Beach television station and kills one of the anchors. Following the victim's funeral, her family files a lawsuit against the gun company that manufactured the killer's weapon. The lawyers for the plaintiff and defendant are young, charismatic, and successful. They're also easy blackmail targets, both harboring a personal secret so devastating it could destroy their careers. Millions of dollars - and more than a few lives - are at stake. But as Kelly and Jason battle each other, they discover that the real fight is with unseen forces intent on controlling them both.