My Favorite Christian Fiction Author

For a lot of years, Francine Rivers' books have been among my favorite Christian fiction books.  I have deeply enjoyed reading them.  I have several of them on my shelf and they are among the few books that I have reread over the years.  I usually only read a book once.  Her new book, Bridge to Haven, however, is different than the others.  I am glad I didn't purchase it and instead checked it out from our local library.

The story centers on Abra, a baby found by the river by a local pastor, Zeke.  For five years, she is raised by him and his wife, Marianne, with their son, Joshua.  The book tells Abra's story of growing up.  I don't want to give away any of the plot and details in case you do read it, which makes it difficult to write this review.

My issues with this book are different than what other reviewers have said.

My first issue is with Zeke's taking Abra home.  I don't understand how it is wrong that he took her home.  This part was quite confusing to me.  His wife wanted her in their home.  She had peace about it.  Did he or didn't he?  I think he vascillated, but he acknowledges that the other family wasn't ready to have another baby to take care of right then.  How he discusses this later with Abra doesn't jive to me.  It seems to be contradictory.

My second issue is when Zeke leaves his wife's room (he is a pastor!) and sees Abra in the hall.  He said something that will scar her for life--honestly, it would scar anyone for life.  He wondered if she'd heard it, but doesn't talk to her about it.  Then, she's given to another family where she overhears several conversations about how "they just don't know what they're going to do about her".  Yet, the characters don't understand why she doesn't trust anyone... why she closes herself off... really???  They should have asked--which they never do!  As a believer (which all of these characters were), they should have asked and cared.

Another issue I had was the unrealistic portrayal of what happens when a woman who has a brutal sexual history enters a healthy relationship.  No, it is not suddenly okay.  I have had several friends in this situation and usually--it takes years to form a healthy sexual relationship with their spouse.

Lastly, I was a bit surprised by how graphic Rivers was when it cames to the sexually intimate scenes.  Though she is a "romance" writer, I have never scene her as such. She is one author I have upheld in my mind as portraying romance as a part of life, but not the center and I haven't felt like she went towards the Harlequin genre... until now.  This book is more of a romance than her previous books (and more graphic about it) and that turned me off.

I still love Rivers other books, but I don't think I'll be reading this one again.

Avatar and Francine Rivers musings

Last week, we watched Avatar.  I had very low expectations of the film.  Everyone kept saying to me that I would like it even if I didn't like the plot.  That statement scared me!  I hated Transformers.  Amazing special effects, but there's a scene in it between the boy and his parents that makes my stomach curdle.  But, back to Avatar.  The plot unfolded and I enjoyed watching the main character find his way.  I know that there is a theme of loving mother earth.  But, I watched this as a fantasy film.  I briefly thought of Baal and the Old Testament at the end of the film.  But, my thoughts about the film centered mostly on other things after the film ended.

After the film ended, I cried for ten minutes.  I know that may sound strange.  I cried because of the things I felt the Lord laying on my heart.  He helped me see through some bitterness I had been holding onto.  He helped me see beauty.  There is beauty in this film.  It is incredible to think that it is all created by a computer.  It is an amazing fantastical world--the world of Avatar.  All beauty reflects God--even when it isn't intended to.  This is such an amazing thing.  We can find God everywhere--in His creation and in what the people Has created create.  In creating things, we reflect our creator.  Our creator was the only one, though, to create something from nothing.  What an amazing, incredible thing to contemplate.  A few years ago, my husband and I were in a Sunday school class about Beauty and Truth.  Many of these things I thought about after Avatar I learned in that class.

Pt. 2

Francine River's new book is called Her Mother's Hope.  I did not have to review this book.  I read it, because I just wanted to.  A gal at the library told me she had started reading it, but that it started off really slow.  I think I've had it in my house for 4 weeks and not picked up the book at all because of it.  I had no idea that a bad review could affect me so much!  Realizing this has made me think a lot more about when I give positive and negative reviews.

Yesterday, I thought I would start reading it.  I didn't put it down for long until I finished it today.  It reminded me of why I have enjoyed Francine Rivers' books so much over the years. She tells the stories of the whole of people's lives--not just the romance in their lives.  A few people have told me that they think she is heavy handed with the messages in her books.  I don't think they could say that of this book.

This book is the story of a mom and her life growing up.  She becomes a mom and has 4 children.  The story centers on Hildemara Rose, her oldest daughter.  As the story unfolded, I was surprised at how I felt about the main characters.  Marta had my sympathy at the beginning and the end, but not the middle.  Hildemara Rose had it all the way through.

The story of Marta and her daughter made me think about my relationship with my parents and with my children.  Marta saw how she was treated by her father, but not how she treats her own daughter.  I want my children to always know how much I love them.  I want them to know that they have my approval and unconditional love.  My mother gave this to me, but my father didn't.  It was conditional at every turn.  I don't want my children to feel the way I did growing up.

I have been struggling with Autumn procrastinating and the girls not picking up their toys.  I know they are silly things in the whole scheme of life, aren't they?  They have seemed so large in my mind of late.  The story of Marta and her daughter made me think about what my daughters can hear from what I say and don't say to them.  I need to consider these things carefully and take the lessons I've learned from this book deep into my heart.  Weigh my words and choose them wisely.   Make sure my children feel safe, approved of, and most of all loved.

So those are my musings that I've been meaning to write down.

New Book

I'm excited. Francine Rivers is my favorite fiction author and a new book by her is being released in 2 weeks. It's called Her Mother's Hope. I haven't enjoyed her Bible stories as much and I didn't read any of the ones she wrote about men in the Bible. But, I have enjoyed her fictional books so much.

Honestly, I've been a bit burnt out on reading lately so I haven't had the heart to pick up any books. I am still excited to read a few books, but I think I chose too many non-fiction books at one time! Lesson learned =)