Blue Skies Tomorrow

Earlier this summer we had one Saturday that was a bit of a summer "snow day" for my family.  The weather outside was unbearably hot so we all stayed inside.  I picked up Blue Skies Tomorrow and settled down into one of our lazyboys for a long read.

After reading The Sweetest Thing by Ann Moser recently and greatly enjoying it, I thought I would give another historical Christian fiction book a whirl.  The Sweetest Thing had elements of romance in the story, but it is not what I would call a "Christian Romance".  Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin is a Christian romance.  It is the third book in her Wings of Glory series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone novel.

Storyline:  Helen's husband, Jim, died two years earlier in WWII.  She lives in a home owned by her father in law and receives a monthly stipend from him that comes from her husband's life insurance (that he named his parents custodians of).  Early on in the story, you get clues that Helen acts the part of the grieving widow but does not have the feelings of one.  You learn why as the story goes along.  The reasons why are at the core of this story.  Ray Novak is an old childhood friend of Helen.  He returns from flight instructor school.  His desire is to be a pastor, but knows he must serve in the armed forces during the war.  His two brothers are also serving.  The story primarily focuses on their romance and the journey of their coming together, apart, and then... 

Writing:  This story is written fine.  I was discussing with my husband this weekend how the choice of words tells you a lot about the focus of the author in the story.  Here's are two examples of Ms. Sundin's writing:

"Ray reached into a blue glass bowl and popped a strawberry into his mouth.  His tongue savored the contrast between smooth skin and rough seeds until he couldn't stand the temptation any longer." p. 27

"His own strawberry-scented breath wrapped around her, and she drew closer to cover her memories of gregarious charm with Ray's quiet strength." p. 61

Both examples typify romantic fiction to me.

Plot:  The plot becomes clear after the first third of the book.  The ending is satisfying.    

Social Issues:  This book centers on the issue of domestic abuse.  I have wondered how generations past dealt with this issue.  My understanding is that it was largely kept behind closed doors or swept under the rug.  I wish I knew someone who lived during this time that I could ask about it.  I would like to know if the portrayal of how the families in this story cope with it is realistic. 

Conclusion:  Did I enjoy this story?  Yes...and no.  I didn't enjoy it as much as many I've read.  It felt very formulaic.  I have a hard time believing that a man would feel about Helen the way Ray Novak's feelings are described in the book.  I think his feelings are described as a woman would long for them to be.  Perhaps that is my cynicism.  All in all, the story and writing are fine, but this book kind of blends into the pack for me.

Please note that I was given a complimentary copy of this book for review by Revell Publishing.

Sweet Christian Fiction

It always says a lot to me that I can whip through a fiction book in a day or two and a nonfiction book in weeks.  When I start reading a good story, I get drawn in and just want to know how it ends.  Last night, I finished reading a new book and when I was done, I just smiled. 

The book I read is Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart.  I have never read a book by this author before, but I enjoyed her story and her writing. 

Storyline:  Kate's family is a mess.  Her father, Victor, is turning to the bottle and her mother, Nadine, and he are both belittled by their controlling fathers.  She finds an abandoned little girl on the church steps when she goes to the church to take her grandfather some preserves.  This little girl causes a stir in their extended family and the town.  You hope that this will be the story of healing in Kate's family and without giving too much away--it is just that.

Writing:  The writing is good and easy to read.  The characters were easy to imagine and seemed very real.  They weren't perfect by any means--even Kate, who the reader deeply sympathizes with.  I liked that. 

Plot:  The plot is interesting.  It is set in 1936 during the Great Depression.  The story of Nadine and Victor's past is interwoven with the story of the present in this book.  The past for these characters, as for us all, is rooted in our pasts.  The desire for power takes a central role in this book and it is clear how that desire of Victor and Nadine's fathers affected not only their lives but the lives of their children and their children's children.

It is rare to find Christian books that are just fun to read that are not romance novels.  This one is not and that makes it a unique book in my eyes.  I think it's easy to draw readers in when it is a romance novel.  As women, we love to read romantic stories and we get drawn in very easily, at least I do.  For a book to not rely on romance as the central theme in the story and to portray it as a part of the story--just as it is a part of our lives, but not the whole--is much more realistic in my opinion. 

Yes, this book is characteristic of typical Christian fiction.  But, in this case, I think that's a very good thing.  This is a book you would sit down with and enjoy from beginning to end.  Just make sure you get yourself a good cup of tea or coffee before you get started because you may not want to get up out of your comfy chair for a little while...

Please note that I was given a complimentary copy of this book for review by Revell Publishing.

What We Choose To Read

For the most part, I choose to read Christian fiction because I feel safer.  I'm less likely to have my mind led to places it isn't wise for it to go.  


A month ago, I read a book that was very disturbing to me.  It was published by a Christian publisher that is thought by many to be one of the most dependable, but there was a lot of crass imagery in the book and lustful thinking by the characters.  I literally thought the characters had made love in the book.  I set the book down and didn't realize they hadn't until I read in another person's review that they hadn't.  But, the language had been that strong.  I did contact the publisher and ask about the decision to publish the book, but I haven't received any response.  


I was relating this story to a friend of mine who is single and she commented that she thought that was only a struggle for single women--why did married women need to be concerned with such things?  My response was that when you're reading a book, you aren't picturing yourself with your husband, you are imagining the two characters.  It's like looking into someone else's bedroom.  Please forgive the imagery, but that isn't something we should be privvy to.  And I don't believe it's wise to let our minds go there.  But, it wasn't just that one scene that set me ill at ease.  It was also the way the characters thoughts were related--full of lust.


My conclusion that I've come to is that although Christian fiction may not always be written as well as I'd wish, I am safer than I'd be if I chose to read secular fiction.  I've read several secular books in which I got hijacked by the agendas of the authors.  The scenes in the stories made me sick to my stomach and ultimately I set the books down or skipped large sections. 


I don't have to post this review, but I did enjoy this book and it was an interesting read in light of these conversations I've had recently about secular and Christian fiction. 

A friend of mine who knows Lisa Samson asked me a few months back what I thought of her books. I only recalled reading a book of hers several years ago and didn't have any particular strong memory so I wasn't sure what to say. In the past few years I've read over 200 books and likely 50 of those were fiction. This book, Resurrection in May, will stand out to me for several reasons. 

First, the writing is good. The pace is slow, but the story never completely stops moving. If you've read Wendell Berry's descriptions of country life, you'll be able to glimpse that life in the character of Claudius. At one point, the author mentions reading "Old Jack", which is a book by Wendell Berry. The descriptions are very much in the vein of contemporary secular writing rather than the typical Christian fiction. But, in contrast to Amy Inspired, which I read a month ago, the descriptions are never crass or lustful. Ms. Samson writes well without ever going in the gutter, so to speak. 

Second, the plot has multiple twists and layers. It isn't simple and straightforward. It is a journey of healing and redemption. The ending has a sense of closure and peace. It isn't written like a made for tv movie, like much of Christian fiction today, which is a good thing. 

Third, this book is not what what I'd call typical Christian fiction. It falls in a gray area. It reads a lot like secular fiction, but God is in there too. And Claudius' faith is real. It reminds me of my neighbor who is an older man who was once a brick layer. I can see him saying the things that Claudius says about faith and God. But, expect this to be more like secular fiction than most Christian fiction you've read. 

Sometimes hope takes time. Sometimes it doesn't grow very quickly, but takes a lot of watering and a long dormant winter. That is the story of May-May. 

One last note, this book did remind me that we shouldn't take our theology from fiction books. There were a couple of things that the Episcopalian priest says that I didn't agree with. But, I will say that the church goers in this book are real--flaws and all. The bumper sticker is true. Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven. Corny, very corny, but true. 



Please note that I did receive a complimentary copy of this book for review from Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Interesting explanation

I received notice of a book today available for review.  Although I don't think I'm going to review it, it was very interesting to me what the author had to say about why he writes about crime and evil in the world...

http://stvjames.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-i-write-about-evil.html

Dreams that Won't Let Go...

Just now I began to think about the title of this book. If I had picked up this book up at a bookstore, I would have assumed that the dreams spoken of in the title were good dreams that someone was chasing after to achieve. Actually, this book is very different. It's a good one, but different than what the title sounds like.

A few weeks ago, I reviewed a book that really made me consider what makes a book a "good" book--one that I would recommend. I ran into a lot of issues with that book. Since it was the second book in a series and I hadn't read the first, I had to consider the question whether it could stand on its own. In the case of that book, it couldn't very well. It was difficult to follow the story and understand a lot of cultural assumptions that were made about what the reader would understand.

The book I'm reviewing today is actually the third in a series. I didn't realize that at the time I agreed to review it. Dreams That Won't Let Go is written by Stacy Hawkins Adams. She has written 5 other novels. It intrigued me that it is considered contemporary fiction rather than contemporary romance. It made me curious about how this book would be different than the two other books I've read recently that were called "romance" novels.

So, let me begin...

One of the marks of a good book to me is that it makes you want to read it--you want to know how it is going to end--there are questions you want to know the answers to. Another mark to me is that the characters are real and believable. Their struggles are genuine as well as their joys. One last thing that I think is really important in light of recent books I've read is that the reader can really follow what is happening in the story and not feel ignorant or at a loss about who is who.

This book is about a black family living in Jubilant, a small town in Texas just north of Dallas. The parents of Reuben, Indigo, and Yasmin died when they were young. Their paternal grandparents took them in as their own. The story begins as Indigo is preparing for her wedding and Reuben has decided to move back with his family to Jubilant. The story follows the challenges that Indigo and all of the family face as her brother moves back.

The Story: Good. The twists were realistic, but unexpected at times, too--but not overly so. I would compare it to a good cup of coffee. It wasn't too strong, or weak.

The Writing: Interesting, easy to read, not too slow or fast. Honestly, Ms. Adams' writing reminds me of Karen Kingsbury's novels. There was one particular detail that the author includes at the beginning of chapter 28 about black Baptist church customs that was really interesting to me. But, it was written in a way that was relevant to the reader no matter what the racial background is of the reader. After reading Songs of Deliverance a few weeks ago, I really appreciated this. She skillfully included it.

Issues: It was not a soap opera and marriage/romance is not portrayed as the center of one's life. Rather, it was portrayed as a part of life. When counsel was given by friends to one another, it was honest and biblical, but not preachy.

In Conclusion: This book is good and I would recommend it. I enjoyed it and I'm glad that I read it.

Thoughts on Books and Culture...

Rather, I should say "questions", not thoughts.

I am reading a Christian fiction book by an African American woman. I felt like I should read it, so I requested it. I'll be honest, I'm caucasian. This book has caused me to ponder a lot of questions about books and writing and I'd love your input. Please forgive me if I use the wrong or not politically correct terms--I get so confused nowadays about what words I'm supposed to use. So, if I use the wrong words--I don't mean to.

1. Do white authors expect black people to read their books? Do they hope they will?
2. Do black authors expect white people to read their books? Do they hope they will?
3. What does race equality mean when it comes to books and movies?

So, here's what's going on. I am reading this book. The first third of it I was totally confused! There was no cast of characters in the front and words like "bishop" and "reverend" were used interchangeably. I visited a black church once in Denver, Colorado and served for an inner-city camp in California that was primarily black. In Georgia, I was told by a pastor's wife that black women would only listen to other black women for advice and not to white women. For example, they wouldn't listen to Family Life on the radio because, though it had good things to say, it was the speakers were white. All of these experiences have taught me that the culture of the Christian church and what people expect when they go to church is different for white and black people.

The way the book is written that I'm reading assumes a lot of knowledge about black culture and families that I don't have because I'm white. I would like to understand. Genuinely, I would like to understand.

Unfortunately, earl on in the book, the reader realizes that all of the characters have slept with other people before marriage and it gives the reader a very strange impression of young people in black churches. I am left wondering what impression did the author think her book would give a white person who read it? Did she only intend to write to a black audience? I remember from school that when you write, you do choose an audience that you are writing too. I am very puzzled by all of this am trying to sort it out.

I am not racist. I am not prejudice. But, I do believe that we all have cultural differences. My husband is Italian and an Easterner. I am polish and a Westerner. We have distinct cultural differences between us and we have to navigate them in our marriage.

The Sweet By and By...

My last post was a quote that I read in this book and one that I thought was really good. I've finished it now and I did enjoy the rest of the book...

I enjoyed this book because it caused me to reflect on my own childhood and my responsibility for my decisions and who I am. But, let me back up a moment. This story is about Jade Fitzgerald who owns a vintage shop in a small town and is about to get married. She has significant baggage but is about getting married. She and her fiancee had decided that they would let the past be the past and not dig into each other's baggage or dredge up the past. But, Jade isn't able to avoid this because of several circumstances in the weeks leading up to her wedding. The story flows smoothly and easily. It is interesting and I enjoyed the characters. There was only one major flaw for me but it has to do with how little attention her fiancee received and his baggage. It seemed very disproportionate.

I have noticed that in our society today we are reticent to take responsibility for our actions and it was such a refreshing and convicting part of this story for me as Jade does this. It caused me to think about my childhood and how my actions affect my own life.

Christian fiction today is much like this book. It fits well within its genre. It isn't the best book I've read, but it is an enjoyable read and it's one you could sit down with a cup of tea and a blanket with and settle in to read.