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"Chasing Ararat" is about death and heaven. There is the sweetness of the death. From the way Gita Nazareth describes "Shemaya" all of my boring, heavy, monotonous chores will end. In the novel, Shemaya is likened to a "vacation." While visiting Brek Cuttler in heaven, I became loaded down with too many imaginary ideas. These ideas stated by the author confused and perplexed me. I didn't understand the train station idea. I didn't understand the idea of trials without judgment. I especially disliked and thought it ludicrous that a man who had been decapitated during his life would talk with someone in heaven and his head would come off for the second time and the area would spout blood. Really, I thought this was somewhat silly. I had a lot of problems with this book. I feel it let me down. I do not blame Gita Nazareth. I blame myself. My mind is too shallow to catch her images and their meaning. I am too earthy to understand Shemaya. However, I

How important is friendship? I've always been taught that friends are able to make our lives more balanced and happy. "Hurricanes in Paradise" by Denise Hildreth is about four women, Laine, Winnie, Tamyra and Riley, who meet in the Bahamas during a vacation. Before their trip to the islands these women did not know one another. Their friendships are new and serendipitous. Perhaps, miraculous is the word. After all, the life journey of each one became less heavy after they met one another in Paradise . Like in all friendships there is anger, misunderstandings, laughter, tears and the revealing of secrets. Behind all of these emotions is a " healing" of body and mind. The first person to mention a "healing" is Roy Rogers, a man who meets each woman at the airport. Who is Roy Rogers? I have my idea. You might have a different idea. I'll say he is an ethereal person. While there are many emotional hurricanes going on in " Hu

U166 Crew List The Heart Mender by Andy Andrews is an inspiring, miraculous, fascinating book. This true story is told to Andy Andrews by the couple who lived these experiences during the Forties, WWII,  in Alabama near the Gulf Coast. The book begins when Andy Andrews finds a few pieces of WWII memorabilia buried under a tree in a can in his yard. Like any author with a questioning mind Andy Andrews begins a journey to find the story behind the buttons, ring and photograph. His curiosity will lead him to a true story magnificent in its proportions. When I began the book, I had no idea what a U-boat looked like, and neither did I realize how close the German U-boats came to our shores. The Heart Mender is a story of war at its ugliest and hatred for fellow human beings. It is also a love story, a lesson about forgiveness and the meaningful relationships of people in a small town. Usually, we hear about England in WWII and Germany. Not often do we hear about what was happening on

Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O'Neal is an extraordinary book. From the beginning until the end her life story is hypnotizing. Not because she is so different from other women. It's because she is an ordinary woman who kept God close beside her. In the worst of times and the best of times Lucille O'Neal was like Job. She believed her Redeemer lived. In the Foreward of the book Shaquille O'Neal, the NBA basketball player, calls his mother an  angel. Since I did not know anything about Lucille O'Neal before opening the book, my eyes would always glance down to the light green round circle on the front of the book, Walk Like You Have Somewhere to go. The words in the circle are "From Mental Welfare to Mental Health." I had never heard the term Mental Welfare. The two words had my attention until she explained their meaning in the book. For a long time Lucille O'Neal did not have Mental welfare. She had a very low opinion of hersel

When you write your review, do not give a book report. I have heard or read this statement more than once since writing reviews. For a long time I did write book reports. It was not easy writing why I book impressed me or why a book did not impress me. Thank goodness, I have begun to slowly get off the book report horse and have climbed on to the horse named My Impressions. Herman Wouk  rocked my world in only 183 pages.  After reading the words spoken by one of the men who helped make the Atomic bomb, I became a bit loose headed. This intellectual said in so many words Calculus is the language of God. Soon I lost my way. I wandered in a dark, dreary and vague world. I had reached another planet.I was trying to learn Calculus which is a total impossibility for my little brain.  I am use to lighter fare. That is all I need on my tiny plate of a mind and/or brain. You see Mathematics and Science are not in my hemisphere. I am having difficulty just remembering the names of the scient

Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers is a wonderfully amazing story about a Swiss woman named Marta. Marta's father is a hard man. Her mother is kind while her sister Elise is as soft as a whisper. Therefore, she clings closely to her mother. The book is indeed Marta's Legacy. Marta proves herself to be strong always depending on the help of the Lord while moving forward doing what she can herself. Sometimes her strength is almost like a bulldog when it comes to protecting her future family. Martawithout fear moves around the country ending up in Canada and California. Soon, she buys a boardinghouse and manages it and the boarders with a kind firmness. Marta is the woman whom most women would like as a role model. She loves God. She is able to offer wise advice to her husband, and she is a mother who always keeps her children as her chief focus. At times, she seems too tough. There were many times I felt sorry for Hildemara, her daughter. I had to remember Marta was str

This book, 66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb is astounding. I've always wanted to read a helpful Bible aide about every book in the Bible especially those books like Revelations and Leviticus. Thankfully God heard my desire. I received a copy of the 66 Love Letters which is described as "A Conversation With God That Invites You Into His Story."    Thankfully God heard me.  I doubt if I will ever read another book as user friendly as this one. The book is put together with Dr. Crabb sharing his personal conversations with God. Many times throughout the book, I thought Dr. Crabb knew my inner thoughts. I had grappled with the same questions as he grappled with through those nights. I also love the way he, Dr. Crabb, makes each book in the Bible extremely interesting and simplistic. Truly, this is a book I intend to pull off the shelf over and over again. Reading Dr. Crabb's dedication in 66 Love Letters I realized my needs were similar to the needs or