20 hours ago
(Affiliate link below.)
I wasn't sure what to expect going into The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron. I don't know much about 1920's vaudeville, and I don't even know that much about Harry Houdini (besides that he was an amazing illusionist). This book sucked me right into that world though!
This book opens with a man named Stapleton supposedly raising a man from the dead - only to have him die moments later. Wren Lockhart, a famous illusionist, is very skeptical and dislikes when performers feed off of other's grief...so she agrees to help Elliot Matthews, an FBI agent who is investigating the supposedly-raised-to-life man's death. However, it quickly becomes clear that this mystery goes a lot deeper than a trick, involving Wren's past that she would rather keep buried.
While this book is subtly Christian, with passing references to Christ being the only man to truly conquer death, the story itself wasn't rooted in the Christian faith. Sometimes it bothers me having a book with hardly any trace of Christianity coming from a Christian publisher, but the way Cambron handled her story made it seem more natural. If she had forced in too many faith references it would have been awkward, so I understood it in this book, and it seemed to work. I'd say this book isn't overtly "Christian", but has some Christian influences since the author is a believer.
I thought this book was so well-written. The whole thing had a mysterious air about it, before we even got to the mystery part of the story, and I credit that to Cambron's ability to create atmosphere. The author weaves in so many elements to the story but really manages to make it all cohesive. I was rooting for Wren and Elliot right from the start, and their romance was full of old-style flair. The author also seemed to take a lot of care with her historical facts, and wove in so many pieces of history that I didn't recognize them all until I read her Afterword - still it gave a really authentic feel to this book. I also liked what the author did with some of the secondary characters, and everyone's personality was colorful and distinct. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by Cambron!
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
1/5 stars.
The back cover of Treasured Grace by Tracie Peterson sounded interesting, which was why I picked it up. I had read a book by Peterson in the past, and though I didn't remember loving that one, I thought I'd give her another shot. I probably would have thought better of it if I had realized this book was about a massacre.
I don't have a problem with books that deal with tragedy, but I have little patience for historical fiction books that portray historical events by heaping one tragic event after another upon the characters, with no lighthearted moments to break it up. That's what this book did, and by the end I was just so tired of the book. It felt like every time something got slow she'd throw another death or other difficult situation in there to try to keep it interesting.
This book also just dragged on and on to me, and I think that is because I just don't personally like Peterson's writing style. I felt like a lot of the deaths and tragedies felt cold, because I never felt like we really got into the character's heads and emotions. The author was just telling us how the characters were feeling instead of letting us feel things with them, if that makes sense. The characters seemed one-dimensional, and any personal histories that were woven into the story seemed like an afterthought, instead of something that was incorporated from the beginning. There was nothing really driving the plot forward, it just felt like a bunch of historical events and personal tragedies were strung together, and that was it.
I also felt like Peterson tried to address too much in this book. This book tried to address loveless marriage, alternative medicine, hypocrisy, racism, death and grief, r.ape, abortion, adoption - all in one book, and it was too much. I couldn't pick out an overall theme or point to the story.
I also had little confidence in Peterson's portrayal of historical events. Some of the historical figures were portrayed in less than flattering ways, and she provided no historical research to back up her representation of their personalities. I'm thinking particularly of Dr. Whitman, the missionary involved in the massacre, who came off like a total jerk. When I read historical fiction, I like to know that the author tried her best to get it right, and I didn't see the effort here aside from a short note at the beginning of the book. There was no explanation of her research and why she included certain figures/events/conversations. It felt careless.
On top of that, I find the main character very unrelatable, and almost unlikeable. She acted like a know-it-all and got on my nerves. This is obviously just a personality conflict between me and the character (that does happen, and I don't blame the author for that).
Finally, and this was disturbing to me - there was also a comment on page 89-90 where a character made a very sympathetic statement about someone wanting to marry their dog...I think it might have been a joke, but the context didn't seem like that statement was a joke. No characters laughed after he said it. Some people might not take this seriously, but I do, because I know in many countries around the world people do actually marry animals. And it's animal abuse, and it's sick. That sentence came out of left field and made me very uncomfortable. We no longer live in a global culture where a sentence like that can automatically be counted as a joke, and I have no idea what she was getting at by including it.
Finally, and this was disturbing to me - there was also a comment on page 89-90 where a character made a very sympathetic statement about someone wanting to marry their dog...I think it might have been a joke, but the context didn't seem like that statement was a joke. No characters laughed after he said it. Some people might not take this seriously, but I do, because I know in many countries around the world people do actually marry animals. And it's animal abuse, and it's sick. That sentence came out of left field and made me very uncomfortable. We no longer live in a global culture where a sentence like that can automatically be counted as a joke, and I have no idea what she was getting at by including it.
The one thing I did think she did well was to incorporate the salvation message into her story. She did it very naturally I thought, and I like when Christian authors take that kind of effort. However, I can hardly give the author any points for that considering my other problems with the book, especially the seemingly sympathetic reference to be.asti.ality.
Overall, this book just really wasn't for me at all. Others with different tastes may like it more. I will not be reading Peterson again.
Note: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
(Affiliate link below.)
I was so excited that I got the chance to read Karen Kingsbury's new novel before it comes out in June! Many years ago I got sucked into the world of the Baxters through Kingsbury's books, and it's been exciting to see her writing more books about them again.
In Love Story, we finally learn the full story of John and Elizabeth Baxter, how they met and fell in love, and how Elizabeth was sent away to have their first baby out of wedlock, forced to give the baby up for adoption. That sounds terribly sad if you haven't already read the rest of the Baxter Family books and know how it all worked out, so I wouldn't recommend reading this book at all unless you've read the rest of the books in those series. A lot of the characters and stories in this book won't make sense or mean as much if you don't already have the backstory from the other books.
I also liked how Kingsbury gave us updates on Bailey's marriage and Cody's life through this book. Bailey and Cody were some of my favorite characters from her series, and it was fun to see how things are working out for them.
The only thing I haven't loved about Kingsbury's books in the past is how she will have God "speak" to her characters. At times she has even said that the characters heard God's voice audibly, and I have had concerns with whether she is giving the correct impression of how a Christian can expect to hear from God. I'd hate to have a Christian who was younger in their faith feel like they must be missing some way that God is speaking to them, instead of realizing that God speaks to us through His word, the Bible. There were a couple instances in this book, but I do appreciate how she almost always has God "speak" something that comes from a Bible verse at least. Thankfully I find that Kingsbury has been toning down that aspect of her stories in her more recent books, which has let me enjoy them even more.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and finished most of it in one sitting on a Sunday afternoon. Kingsbury's writing is done in a way that keeps you reading, and I'm a sucker for a happy ending. If you have read any of the Baxter books in the past, I definitely recommend catching up with the Baxters and Flannigans with this book!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
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I didn't really make New Year's resolutions this year, but I mentioned before that an unofficial "goal" for me is to read more about the Cold War. The Cold War was kind of a big deal, and it's pretty amazing when you think about that we fought an entire war without any official shots being fired back and forth. Like many millennials though, I didn't understand it that well, so this is the year I chose to remedy that.
Deep Undercover is the story of Jack Barsky, a former KGB spy turned proud American citizen and Christian. I loved this book! Barsky's story is written as narrative non-fiction, so it reads more like a novel, and it is fascinating. This book gave me a really good idea of what it was like in East Germany in the post-World-War-II era, and how many East Germans thought their communist government was anti-Nazi, and the answer to the world's problems. Even though Barsky doesn't realize until much later the atrocities that have been committed by communist regimes, it was fascinating to get a glimpse into how this ideology was explained to those who had to live under it, and how the American way of life was demonized and the truth hidden under government propaganda.
Barsky is eventually recruited by the KGB, and the stories of his "spy training" were so interesting. I think we have this glamorized view of spies in our culture, but this book made me see that a lot of these spies are just normal people, and their tasks are rather mundane. Dangerous, but not necessarily glamorous. It was so interesting. The way he ended up defecting from the KGB was really clever too! I didn't see it coming.
The best part of this book was reading about how Barsky's view of the US (and Christianity) started to change when he actually started living here, how he developed a love of freedom through experiencing it in America and realized how much of that freedom the people in East Germany did not have.
After many personal and family struggles, Barsky ends up hiring an assistant who is a Christian. He researches the Christian faith and eventually comes to know Jesus as His Savior. This was the coolest part of the story to me. Barsky never found out why exactly he was recruited to the KGB, but if he hadn't been recruited, he never would have formed a life in America, and perhaps never would have come to Christ. It was amazing to see God working through his life, even as a KGB spy.
I highly recommend this book. Even if you aren't particularly interested in the Cold War, this book was an absolutely fascinating read! I couldn't find a big enough chunk of time to finish it in one sitting, but I was sorry every time I had to put it down!
Note: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
We are expecting an addition to our family! Baby #5 calculated to arrive in November!
Details coming next week!
All About Antique Malls And My Love For Them
Just in case you don't have an antique mall near you (which I'm sure you do, they are all over), a bunch of antique dealers can rent space in the mall to sell you their finds. Because of the range of sellers, you could literally find anything in an antique mall. You can never know what to expect, what you may find, or how much you may spend.
The very first time I ever entered an antique mall was with my grandma when I was perhaps eight years old. My grandma used to take each of her grandkids out for their birthday and buy them whatever they wanted for a gift, followed by a sleepover at her house. It was a great tradition, and one that my mom continues with her grandkids today.
This particular year, I wanted to find more Bobbsey Twins books. This was a great old series about four siblings, two sets of boy/girl twins, and their adventures. I had a couple of the books, but the additional titles listed in the back cover always intrigued me. With titles like "Bobbsey Twins On Blueberry Island" and "Bobbsey Twins In Tulip Land", my eight-year-old imagination was running wild. I had to read those books!
So my grandma took me to an antique mall to see if we could find any. After browsing for quite a while, I spotted not one, not two Bobbsey Twin books, but the entire series! In my haste to bend down and see the price tag, I failed to notice a broken ceramic washbasin, and sliced open my knee. My grandma whisked me out of the store, applied hydrogen peroxide, and I later got a stitch. I still have a scar.
And I never did get those Bobbsey Twins books.
How I Shop At Antique Stores Now
Still, that whole adventure seemed to attach the invisible thread that would draw me back to antique stores later in life, and when I grew up and went to the mall as a newlywed, I figured out that there are actually a bunch of other interesting things there besides Bobbsey Twins books. This is what I usually look for:
1. Unique teacups. All the china has a certain appeal to me, because they just don't make a lot of these things anymore! But teacups are so dainty, and also practical, so I find myself scanning the shelves for them most. My criteria for teacups is that they must be unusual and speak to me in some way. Even amidst the unique field of teacups, you'd be surprised how often a rose pattern shows up, and then all the rose patterns start to look the same, so I go for the unusual or even odd-looking ones. I'm also a happy camper if I can find one for less than $15. Over $15 is usually more than I'm willing to spend, unless it's something really special.
2. Old books. This cannot be just any old book, because with the advent of Amazon, you can find almost anything online. In order for me to buy it, it must be an unusual title that I know would be hard to find or cost a fortune online, or it must be a good price, or an edition of a classic that has a cool look to it.
3. Records. I keep asking for a record player for my birthday and Christmas, but so far no one has taken the hint! Still, I am convinced I will get one someday, so I keep my eyes peeled for any good old records. Especially if it's an Elvis record.
I definitely recommend going into the store with a few items that you want to hunt for - otherwise it can get overwhelming. The search is what makes it fun!
I definitely recommend going into the store with a few items that you want to hunt for - otherwise it can get overwhelming. The search is what makes it fun!
Antique Store Haul
My mom and sister and I had a lovely time browsing the shelves last Saturday, after my mom treated us to breakfast (thanks Mom!). There is so much in this antique store. We only made it through half the aisles! We decided we'll have to go again in a few months, and I'm already looking forward to it (and trying to remember to hold some money aside, because I always end up buying something).
(Doesn't everyone need a ceramic Robin Hood head?)
(My Beautiful Mama.)
(Haha, my sis. Can she strike a good pose or what?)
(Moi.)
This is what I ended up getting:
-Peach pearlized teacup.
-Delicate mint and pink daisy teacup.
-Green flower teacup.
-A book for my dad (which I won't specify here, in case he's reading).
-A hardcover copy of The Boxcar Children ($3!).
-A Peter, Paul, And Mary record ($2), which I will play someday on my future record player.
-Two pretty handkerchiefs (one from my mom). Why don't people carry hankies anymore? I guess because of the whole disposable tissues thing.
I'm most excited about the teacups and hankies, because they are so pretty. You can expect these to be making appearances when I have to stage photos for the blog. Can you believe I got all three of those teacups for $20? I thought that was a pretty good deal.
It was so fun to spend the morning with my mom and sister and find some treasures!
Have you ever been to an antique mall? What would/do you hunt for in antique shops?
I highly recommend making a trip to your local antique mall, for a few reasons.
1. It's amazing the amount of interesting things that can be packed into one building!
2. You never know what you will find, but you most likely will find something that speaks to you.
3. If you don't find something cool for yourself, teacups and old books make great gifts!
4. It really is a great outing for bonding with family or friends, especially if you go from someone of a different generation than you. It was so fun to hear all my mom's stories, keep an eye out for interesting items to swoon over or chuckle at, and see everyone's tastes! It's one of the best destinations I can think of for quality time, and definitely was a special day with my mom and sister.
1. It's amazing the amount of interesting things that can be packed into one building!
2. You never know what you will find, but you most likely will find something that speaks to you.
3. If you don't find something cool for yourself, teacups and old books make great gifts!
4. It really is a great outing for bonding with family or friends, especially if you go from someone of a different generation than you. It was so fun to hear all my mom's stories, keep an eye out for interesting items to swoon over or chuckle at, and see everyone's tastes! It's one of the best destinations I can think of for quality time, and definitely was a special day with my mom and sister.
Old School Blogger Shoutout
Last week I somehow snuck in quite a bit of blog reading time, and found a few new favorites! This week I thought I'd point you to Rachel at The Random Writings. I feel like Rachel's blog pretty much embodies everything good about the long-ago days of blogging, and she is also a wonderful social blogger who will return your comments. I am loving her blog and looking forward to getting to know her better!
What I'm Drinking: As you may have seen yesterday on Instagram, hot chocolate with Irish cream syrup. But as you are reading this today I am off to the Children's Museum and have probably picked up a white chocolate iced coffee (my on-the-go go-to).
If you are a Christian, read this book!
You might remember that the main goal I have chosen for this year is to reach out to those around me more. So when I say that a book on hospitality was up for review a couple months ago, I requested it immediately.
The Simplest Way To Change The World (affiliate link) discusses biblical hospitality, both in terms of biblical teachings on hospitality and in terms of practical way we can become hospitable people. I got so much out of this book.
What I really liked about this book was the way the authers discussed theological topics relating to hospitality, and alternated those chapters with practical suggestions.
On the theological side, they framed the gospel in terms of hospitality in one chapter, writing about how in Scripture God is a hospitable God, and I found that really interesting. They discussed the truth of the Gospel and what Jesus did in dying to save us, and expressed how that is what motivates us to reach out to those around us with biblical hospitality.
Some of the best chapters were definitely on the practical suggestions though. The authors know that opening your home and lives to those around you is hard in this culture, in which it is more normal to lock yourself behind closed doors to "relax" than to open the doors and invite people in. They gave so many practical and fun suggestions for starting to open your homes to other people. I loved how they encouraged you to incorporate hospitality into the regular rhythms of your life, and how they made it seem easy and desirable to become more hospitable (even while acknowledging the parts that are hard and sharing their own mistakes).
The end of the book includes a group study guide - I think this would make an amazing small group study.
Everything the authors had to say on how hospitality can be the most effective way to reach other people for Christ was spot-on. You don't have to preach from the sidewalk, give a "gospel presentation", travel to foreign countries, or do something "radical" to reach other for the Lord. Through simply being hospitable, we "share our lives" with people and naturally let them see how important Jesus is in our lives through words and actions - and God can use that to stir their hearts to know more.
Highly, highly recommend this book! Easy and enjoyable to read, convicting and motivating!
Note: I received a digital copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a review. This is my honest opinion.
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