Sarah

This was a fun read. I had a hard time putting it down and even found myself reading it aloud to my 2-year-old son during breakfast so I could find out what happened next! The Clock Island series mentioned in the book reminded me of all the different series I read as a kid that served as an escape from everyday life when I needed it most - The Boxcar Children, The Babysitters Club, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, A Series of Unfortunate Events... Stories can be so powerful for children and adults alike, and this theme is prominent throughout the book. (Also, I would absolutely read the Clock Island series if they were real.) I was surprised by some of the heavier topics addressed that could be triggering for some readers. However, I appreciated the heavier parts and reminders that dreaming and wishing can be helpful and also harmful. That we each have a responsibility to be active writers in the stories of our lives and are not limited by how others may perceive us. Will definitely be recommending this book to others!

I found out about this book after working with my church on an adoption/foster/child sponsorship initiative. Someone recommended that I read it, and a co-worker even lent it to me. I didn't get around to reading it though until this past week while on a mission trip. I didn't bring a book other than my Bible and daily devotional to read, and a friend happened to have the book with her. I read through it this week and am so glad I was able to do so while doing ministry in another country (the Dominican Republic). Her heart for orphans, the sick, widows and all of God's people is so clear and helped keep my own heart in check while working with young children who often were dirty, sick and yet so beautiful and lovely all the same. Not once does Katie allow any credit to fall on herself or for any attributes such as “brave” or “courageous” to be attributed to her efforts. She always points back to Christ and scripture and is constantly able to identify examples of God working even during the hard times.

Katie is a wonderful example of being the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that could intimidate and scare away many quite easily. A wonderful story to read about a wonderful and humble servant of the Lord doing wonderful things to let others know how loved they are by the God who created them intentionally and equally.

This book was an easy and entertaining read giving some insights into the life of a man pursuing Jesus and whimsy. I really enjoyed the anecdotes and call to actively love people - in small and big ways. However, I see this book as more of a memoir than a how-to or piece of theological writing and feel that is important to distinguish. The book lacks depth into what the gospel truly is and he only vaguely references scripture throughout, often providing his thoughts or interpretations without scripture backing these ideas. Nonetheless, I still have great respect for Goff and how he has used his privilege and affluence to serve others locally and globally.

Lemony Snicket can do no wrong. As depressing and gloomy as the story lines may be, Snicket has an entertaining and dry (humor) style that makes for an interesting read. I read most of the books in this series in middle school and still enjoy them as a 23-year-old graduate student. In this book, in particular, I love the elements of absurdity incorporated into the Baudelaire's “prism of experience” at the boarding school. Sunny, a baby, is forced to serve as secretary to the vice-principal. The three children are provided with abysmal housing in the form of the orphan shack, infested with tan fungus and toe-biting crabs. Onto #6!

I was drawn in by the premise, and for the most part, the book didn't disappoint. I wasn't a huge fan of the ending and how quickly things unfolded, in a way fitting with the dream book world lens Nina views the world around her. There could have been less romance and more purpose around Nina learning who she is when she doesn't have her nose behind a book. All the same, I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, which kept the book at 3 stars for me instead of 2.

It was great reading a story that essentially paralelled a Biblical scenario (based on the book of Hosea in the Old Testament but really only the first chapter or two) and used it as the basis for a fictional novel. I decided to read this book upon the numerous recommendations I received from friends and read it at a time I really needed to which made the story that much more relevant to my life. This story helped me make several significant realizations about a past relationship I was in that ended not that long ago. Redeeming Love additionally provided a great portryal of God's great love for us despite how often we “run away” and make detrimental decisions through the relationship between Angel and Michael.

Definitely an easy read and took no time at all to finish. This book would be great for a new Christian struggling to comprehend how God loves us regardless and is more than willing to meet us despite and in the midst of our brokenness. In fact, I think this underlying premise is one that any Christian can appreciate and benefit from understanding on a deeper level.

Started and finished this book in 5 1/2 hours - couldn't put it down! I was incredibly fascinated by the world the author creates in this novel. It's one that is so far in the future and yet starkly more primitive than that of today, where the privileged and poor are pitted against one another in order for the government to remain powerful and unchecked. Katniss Everdeen is unlike any 16 year old female character I've encountered. The scenarios faced by Katniss and the other main characters are frankly horrific at times, especially considering it's all for sport and as a reminder of the government's power (read the book to find out more). The ending definitely left me ready for the next book to see where the story leads next.

I was looking forward to reading Oscar Wilde in novel form, as I remember thoroughly enjoying The Importance of Being Earnest my senior year in high school and loving his writing style. However, I got bored quite often in reading this novel, skipped over paragraphs and pages and thought Wilde could be quite long-winded at times (particularly the pages where Wilde goes on and on referencing the stages Dorian Gray goes through in embracing aestheticism and the “new Hedonism” through collecting fine furniture or whatever it was). The novel, in my opinion, is too long and could be a few chapters shorter. Nonetheless, the concept of “art for art's sake” and living a life solely for the purpose of seeking out pleasure is a fascinating concept, especially considering how unconventional this must have been at the time it was published. Lord Henry is a ghastly influence over Gray and this relationship seems to be a fair warning to those who allow certain individuals, thoughts or ideas to navigate their life and moral compass for them.

The idea that Gray had a visual soul of sorts to witness the wizening and decay of as he himself remained seemingly pure and full of youth is one that made me think quite a bit. The moral direction of this thought process is one I could probably muse on about for more than is necessary, but ultimately, really made me think about what it is I allow to hold influence over the decisions I make and how I approach life.

Overall, a fairly interesting read with a lot of good quotes and thoughts/ideas/principles to ponder. Would I read it again? Probably not but am glad I finally can add this book to my “read” list.

This will hopefully be just the first of many of Christie's novels I read - I loved this story. I read this novel in particular after hearing so much about the movie and am in awe of a story and writing that is still as entertaining in 2017 as it was when first written in the 1930s. This was a page turner, as I had to know what other evidence and connections would appear or be made. I didn't guess the ending and was pleasantly surprised with how the story unfolded. Would highly recommend!

I was compelled to read this book after learning of the author whose passion for foster children and partnering with organizations advocating for these children was alluring, especially after hearing her share about her experiences at a conference. After finishing the book, I am left with mixed emotions and am uncertain what has me stuck the most.

Having worked in mental health for almost two years now, I have interacted with youth who have had such unstable and troubled pasts and truly struggle to make decisions that will lead them down a different path because of the toll this past has taken, with and without family and natural supports. In this way, I caution myself from judging Victoria's character too harshly because she was abused, mistreated, shuffled from one placement to the next, and learned to guard and protect herself after essentially having to be in survival mode all of her life.

The reality of the world is that there are broken people like this who have been hurt, are hurting, and hurt others because they do not know how else to interact with the world around them. These broken people end up in situations that can be beyond frustrating such as ending up homeless, quitting a stable job, refusing love and support from others, and getting pregnant and having a child despite not knowing the first thing about being a parent. Life can be so messy, and I think this is something the author did not want to shy away from, especially in the life of a foster-child-now-“adult”.

I can most certainly appreciate these things and hope the book opens more people's eyes to the realities of the foster care system and the children who come out of this system as adults. However, even with the “happy” ending, I still did not feel satisfied with the ending and how the story progressed. Perhaps I need to avoid books that hit too close to home with work or maybe this just isn't my preferred style of writing or story.

I wanted to read this book after finishing her other novel (The Sugar Queen) and because it was on sale at Barnes and Noble. It was a quick and easy mindless read but not a book I would read again.

Her story is intriguing - the main family in the novel has a garden that grows herbs and such that have the ability to affect moods and evoke certain feelings in people. Only one person in that family understands how to utilize this garden and the other two Waverlys each have their own gifts - one older woman randomly feels an unavoidable urge to give people random items that will inevitably come in handy for the receiver at one time or another.

The romance element is slightly predictable and formulaic, and I was not comfortable with how graphic the author was at times with the intimacy between one of the couples in the novel.

Overall, a great summer read and easy to pick up and put down if you have free time and just want something to distract you for a while.

Part of me hesitates in giving this book 4 stars and recommending that others read it...for reasons that should in fact encourage me to do just that. This book addresses topics that more that made me feel uncomfortable, guilty and even convicted. The ending is not finite nor will you ever read it in a fairy tale. Nonetheless, my eyes were opened to injustices that take place overseas - which seems to be far enough away for me to remain ignorant and ambivalent and okay with that. I really enjoyed the author's writing style though I was not as big of a fan of the language at times.

Two of my favorite quotes:
“People wonder how they are ever going to change their lives, but really it is frighteningly easy.”
“It is hard, when it comes right down to the actual choice, to know what you want out of life.”

I picked up the book after reading the inside cover, intrigued by the lack of a proper synopsis.

In summation, you should read this book. Incendiary is definitely going on my to-read list!

I'm not sure what the author wanted this book to be. Sure, it's filled with fascinating facts and statistics following life from early childhood leading up until death. There are even more than a few interesting quotes from well-known people and then people I've never heard of (not that I am an authority on well-known people by any means). Some of the anecdotes and stories of the author and his father's past were marginally entertaining as well. Nonetheless, the link between all of these parallels never seemed to really connect - the author was somewhat disjointed in writing the novel and it felt as if he was simply cramming his exhaustive research into chapters at times solely to demonstrate his hard efforts.

He and I most certainly do not see eye to eye as to what the ultimate purpose of life is, Shields being a staunch atheist following in his “devout atheist” father's footsteps and me being a Christian. I'm sure this attributes partly to why I had to force myself to finish this book.

I would have liked the author to zero in closer on the relationship with his dad - perhaps the more positive aspects of their relationship to balance out the overly negative tones of jealousy and frustration that he seems to be more ailing than his 97 year old father. Or if he could have picked another topic to zero in closer on - Malcolm Gladwell comes to mind as someone who intertwined facts, figures and personal anecdotes much more competently.

Ultimately, to discover the central premise of the novel, one does not have to look any further than the title to uncover the answer.

The point of the novel is essentially provided for the reader in the title. So, read no further than that and you should be set.

Great application of systems theory to mostly modern theories in marriage and family therapy. It was an easy read, especially compared to other works out there addressing systems theory. She provides examples of clients she has worked with, provides a good overview of some modern models, and even touches on a few postmodern models at the end.

The authors aptly refer to this work as a collection of “Christian reflections” (p. 109) - they include key events throughout The Lord of the Rings trilogy and connect these events to essential tenets of Christianity. This is not a difficult read and may not be too profound, but it is perfect for any Christian who loves Tolkien's work. I love the idea of seeing Christ anywhere and everywhere. Regardless of whether Tolkien ever actually espoused these connections or not (although his Christian perspective cannot be denied in his writings) is not of grave importance to me. I love that I can now read and watch The Lord of the Rings with a new, Christian perspective to better understand and appreciate what Christ and God have done for me through yet another medium.

I was given this book to read over after going on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic. I wish I had taken the time to finish this short read after going each time. It's a great summation of how to adjust back to being in our “real world” after having spent time in a different place for any amount of time on a mission trip. The author provides some great questions that are helpful to mull over and journal through in processing the transitional period after returning from doing mission work. This is a book I'll definitely hang on to and read if I do any more mission trips in the future!

This book proffers a lot to contemplate as a future professional, specific to those who are teachers, lawyers, therapists, clerics (a little dated - the book was written in 1992), and those in the field of medicine. There are quite a few quotes and scenarios from people who have experienced or been responsible for boundary violations. This was required reading for my marriage and family therapy ethics class, and I do believe I will be keeping this book as a reference. It is important that professionals do not take advantage of any existing power differentials and realize their purpose is to serve the needs of their clients and not their own. As a future marriage and family therapist, this is something to remember and remind myself of often. I can see myself rereading this book in the future as a reminder. Not the most stimulating read but worth reading nonetheless.

Although I wasn't a fan of the journaling questions (I felt they were sort of redundant from week to week), I enjoyed everything else about this book! McDowell incorporates a lot of scripture in both the chapters and the journaling sections, which I really enjoyed and found helpful. As McDowell says, one of the best ways to see yourself as God sees you is to know who God is and to know His word. “The transformation of your inner portrait is inextricably linked to a growing understanding of the Bible's truth about who you are.” (p. 114)

McDowell also includes some anecdotes about people he knows to help make his points more salient and applicable. That's another thing - there are a multitude of options for practical application of what you are reading.

I think we could all use a reminder of how loved and valued we are in God's eyes - this book does a great job of that!

Such a wonderful complement to The Divine Conspiracy. Really enjoyed having this study guide to emphasize Willard's key points and provide some further scripture and questions to ponder. Also liked the questions provided to journal about what was read. My favorite chapter in the book was chapter 9 and the study guide did an excellent job of walking me through this chapter again with a more personalized and practical application-based approach. One of my favorite passages: “While it is true that we are saved by grace, that God alone is the author of our salvation, and it is impossible to change our wayward hears on our own, it is also true that we have important responsibilities in this journey of discipleship. We must understand the critical truth that God is not opposed to people making an effort, but that GOd is opposed to our using effort to earn salvation. So God is not opposed to effort but to earning. While God's grace birthed us into the kingdom, our continued cooperation with that grace grows us in the life of the kingdom.” (p. 107) It's definitely extra “work” but worthwhile in soaking up every last bit of truth from this book!

Before you read the rest of my review, just know I am a marriage and family therapy graduate student who is currently seeing clients and often works with couples. I am also unmarried but currently dating. Okay, biases addressed.

This book was a quick and easy read that someone could probably get through in one sitting or as I did, read through a couple chapters at a time. Chapman describes each language in detail with case examples of couples he has worked with and some of his own personal anecdotes sprinkle in. The language is straightforward and clear with good questions for reflection and discussion with your spouse at the end of the chapters too. All good things.

This book was definitely not written for therapists and is not research-oriented, which was a nice break from other literature I have read recently. All the same, it's hard to turn the therapist part of me off to not see this book as overly simplistic when it comes to applying to the many couples I have seen. Chapman does cite using this assessment to reach couples who are in dire straits in their marriages, but I wonder how many therapy sessions and other work went into reviving those relationships.

Nonetheless, I see value in trying to better understand how people feel and experience love. The idea of wanting to love someone well resonates with me in a way that makes this book one I will hold onto for my own personal reference and to recommend to clients.