Review of Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

Joshua Harris’ first book, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, impacted me when I was a teenager trying to figure out the opposite sex and how to date guys while honoring my promise to remain pure until marriage. While some of Harris’ ideas seemed a little archaic and laughable to naysayers, his book helped me set in place a strong foundation for dating (even though he recommends courtship) that has allowed me not to compromise my beliefs to this day. And, no, I don’t blame Harris for the fact I’m still single.

Similarly, Dug Down Deep, Harris’ latest book does what I Kissed Dating Goodbye did for me as a teenager—it helps 20 and 30-somethings build a strong foundation for faith and belief. Yes, there is absolute truth, Harris argues, as he argues that theology and biblical doctrine DO matter. In Dug Down Deep, Harris shares how he came to understand the importance of theology under the guidance of pastor and author C.J. Mahaney (an author and speaker I also respect).

In an age where younger Christians shrug off the important of accountability, church history, and doctrine, Joshua Harris makes an appeal to my generation—his generation—to hold fast to absolute truth and challenges them to a crack at theology (“the study of God”). Dig a little deeper before the shallowly surface of the prosperity gospel, and become rooted in the truth of God’s Word with Dug Down Deep.

Review of The Help by Kathryn Stockett

I spent 20 minutes sobbing clinging to my paperback copy of The Help, as if the New York Times bestseller could understand my outpouring of emotion.  Kathryn Stockett’s The Help is that kind of book—the kind of book I want to start re-reading, even though I just finished it, the kind of book that has such lively characters that I want to know them in real life, and the kind of book that makes me think long after I closed the tear-stained pages.

The Help is one of the best books I have ever read.  In fact, it is my favorite literary fiction, and I feel funny saying that because I feel a deep passion for many of the books I read (and music to which I listen), but this book goes beyond my normal realm of “liked it,” past “loved it,” past my “favorite books shelf,” and straight into “life-changing, best books I’ve ever read.”   The Help will find its home amongst my most personal books.

Stockett’s characters are well-developed (even the minor ones)—Skeeter Phelan, the white writer who gathers the stories of the maids, Aibileen, her friend’s black domestic and Aibileen’s friend, Minny, who find maids willing to tell their anonymous stories to Skeeter.  Each of these three characters tells the story of The Help in alternating chapters, adding her distinctive flavor and voice to the story while moving the plot forward.  This story doesn’t shy away from the South’s racial tension in the early 60’s, nor is it an easy read.  Some moments made me laugh out loud, and other times I cuddled with the tissue box, blowing my nose in a most unladylike fashion (Skeeter’s mom would have been appalled.)

Skeeter, Aibileen, Minny, and their friends will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I will revisit their story often, so I don’t forget what is so beautifully written, and then repeated by Kathryn Stockett in the essay she wrote at the close of the book, “Wasn’t that the point of this book? For women to realize, We are just two people.  Not that much separates us.  Not nearly as much as I’d thought.”  This book taught me that the barriers (or “prisons”) we make between “us” and “them” are truly ours to tear down.  And I’m not talking about just racial barriers, but any barrier that keeps “us” in the way of loving “them.”  Like me, you’ll see the line of separation isn’t much, not nearly as much as you once thought.

*Read how the new movie stacks up against the book at Backseat Writer.com!*

Pre-order Shaun Groves’ THIRD WORLD SYMPHONY to help fund adoption

{Originally posted on Backseat Writer}

I know this isn't about books, but it is a project close to my heart.  Musician Shaun Groves is releasing a brand spankin’ new album on August 30 called Third World Symphony.  I met Shaun Groves years ago when I did a bit of grassroots promotion for his first album and thought it was a very nice musician, but since them I moved on with my life.  I was glad to be introduce to Shaun and his music by a friend who sent me a link to this post: “This Much I Can Tell You.”

In the post, Groves talks about raising funds to adopt a sibling group from Ethiopia from sale of his upcoming album.  Groves writes, “So, we’re not asking for donations. We’re not having a garage sale. (Yet.) We’re simply asking that you continue to champion this record, Third World Symphony, across the internet and in the real world too. It won’t be in stores. It won’t be on the radio. So, you are our marketing strategy…and now you are our adoption fundraising team. There’s not a better one in the world!”  Awesome, right?  I love that Groves has produced a product to fund his adoption and he’s asking others to help him.


I bought three albums–one for myself and two for a future giveaway (see, you benefit, too!)  But don’t wait for my giveaway.  Pre-order the album NOW.  If you read “This Much I Can Tell You,” then you learned that Shaun and his wife were asked to adopt a four year-old boy immediately, and of course, the Groves’ welcomed him into the home.  Quite an adjustment for all. 

Another thing I appreciated about Groves’ post is this–he’s realistic about adoption and its after costs including time off from touring to help the new kiddo adjust and gain stability.  He’s being real about it and not asking for a bunch of donations–just to buy his album, which by the way, is awesome!  You can listen to the whole album on his site or on SoundCloud.

Personally, I’m glad to take in a grassroots promotion for Shaun Groves again;  it’s been far too long.

 

Sunday Stew: August 7, 2011

Sunday Stew is a weekly meme hosted by my gal pal Shannon of Books Devoured.

Bookmark Event of the Week:  Did you know that registration for Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW) is now open?  The event, created by Amy Riley of My Friend Amy, runs from September 12-16 (and I'm supposed to be helping with promotion!  A *fine* job I"m doing.)  Sign up to participate, nominate your favorite blogs, and join in all the book blogging goodness!  You know you want to...

Around the Web:  Today is the very last day to enter all the wonderful giveaways in the Summer Giveaway Hop.  Over at Backseat Writer, you can enter to win a copy of the book, Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith.  I said in my review that the book "ruined me" because despite knowing about the travesty of human trafficking, I was amazed at Smith's determination to leave her corporate life and DO SOMETHING!  Her story inspires me to do something--ANYTHING--to improve the lives of people right where I'm at. I do believe that this book acted as a catalyst in my passionate campaign to inform people in the U.S. about the wonderful foster care and adoption opportunities available in the states.

 If you do nothing or read nothing else on my blog today, please, please, please visit Make Way Partners online.  While you may not be a Christian (yes, it is an organization run by Christians), I believe it is essential that we all learn more about human trafficking, that it happens HERE, and that we do something to help (just being informed helps). 

And, of course, here's a giveaway...

My pal, Girl From the Ghetto, is hosting a giveaway on her blog of the same name for a bunch o' books she dragged back from Book Expo America (BEA).  She is giving away ONE ARC to FIVE people who comment, Tweet, write a blog post, and so on.  The worst part is that she's got some funky tendonitis thing going on with her hand and is having issues blogging.  Feel better, friend!  The giveaway runs until @NerdGirlBlogger receives 2K Twitter followers and it is an international giveaway (no P.O. boxes).

Around Me:  It's been quite an eventful week!  I got bit by a werewolf (full story on "Friday Faves: Werewolf Attack Edition"), I've been feverishly trying to catch up on blogging (full story on "Where She [Me] Went"), fixing up Backseat Reader (yes, it *does* look a bit different, doesn't it?) after the right sidebar mysteriously disappeared (evident to no one but me), and our garden was attacked by torrential rains yesterday.  BFF Sarah and I also hosted my Bible study's picnic, which was moved indoors due to inclement weather conditions.  Below are some EXCLUSIVE "Sunday Stew" pictures, just for you guys!

Here's my werewolf attack injury.  My hand is mostly bruised and swollen, but I think I'll survive and won't be howling at the moon anytime soon.  Maddy the Shih Tzu just *had* to get herself in this picture.  I'm sure Hira will advise me on treatment.

Since our vampire hunting has reached a summer lull, BFF Sarah and I decided to use our stakes (which rant from bamboo twigs to now six-foot stakes) to keep our hulking tomato plants upright.  Remember when my garden used to look like this?  (Note:  You can't even see our garden decoration and the plants grow above the panes of Sarah's bedroom windows.) That was before the days of staking.  And, yes, there are tomato cages in there--somewhere.

When I planted my "extra" zinnias, I wasn't even sure the 6" plants would survive.  After last night's storm, the over 3' tall plants needed some loving help from our 4' stake collection to regain upward movement.  The zinnias used to be this big! (Note: Trust me on this!  They grew about 2' since the photo was taken.)

This week is a BIG week for a lot of reasons.  My good friend, Shari, is getting a hemicolectomy this Wednesday, August 10.  We've been calling it her "hemi." Despite our levity, the operation is serious and necessary to remove carcinoid tumors (hers are cancerous) that were discovered when Shari had an emergency appendectomy in April.  Shari will be in the hospital for 5-7 days and then will be recuperating until mid-September.  Please pray for her.  I'll update you in next week's "Stew" (and via Twitter!)

Also coming up this week: tomorrow I'm getting *another* root canal.  Now before you all thing I have poor dental hygiene...let me explain WHY I have all these dental issues.  Apparently, I have weak teeth due to medication I had to take while my teeth were forming.  I am relieved to know that it's not my fault (I floss every day, use a Sonicare toothbrush, mouthwash--the whole nine!).  Still, I'm not thrilled to have dental issues at my age (or any age.) 

Additionally, Mom and I are both going to the same foot doctor on the same day half and hour apart--Mom for her more serious foot ulcer, which is healing (Thank God!) and me for my neuroma/bursitis.  Please keep these foot, dental, and most of all, Shari's surgery in your prayers! (And let me know how I can be praying for you.  If you don't want to share it here, shoot me an email.)

So, what's going on with you?  Read any good books lately?  Have a garden?  Spill the stew!

RAK'ing in August (& July Follow Up!)

It's August RAK time a.k.a Random Acts of Kindness by Book Soulmates!  Hooray!  This month I improved on my RAK'ing abilities by buying mailers...and sending an e-gift card to someone.  See, I'm getting better.  This month I will make it to the post office.  It seems like the summer is flying by so very fast.  Anyone else feel like that?


In July, I received one of my most-wish-for books,  Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby from Amber at Me, My Shelf, and I (guest post by Amber coming up next week) and by author herself!  Thank you so much, Amber and Jennier for my Kindle copy of Sleight (which I hope to read soon!)  Check out the swoon-worthy cover below! (Wouldn't you just love to have gorgeous red hair like that?  The cover of Fury also sports a chick with some kickin' red hair.)  Too bad Kindle is in B&W!  (Boo!  Hiss!  No wonder people get Nook: Colors!)

Anyway, I'm on the RAK list, so you can check out my Amazon.com Wish List for the complete run-down, but I'll post a few here.  Also, I love used books and ARCs, too. (P.S. I share a Kindle account w/ mi madre, so if you are dying to gift me via Kindle, email me for the deets!  I can't do it through *my* Amazon Wish List because it only goes to my free Kindle for PC, Kindle for iPod Touch accounts.)

Because my mom and I decided to put my Kindle on her account (hehehe!), I gained access to all her books including Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, One Thousand White Women (my recommendation), Molo'Kai, and a massive amount of Tudor-era historical fiction (not my cup o' tea.)  In exchange, my mom didn't get anything from my archives (so sad), but she will get books I buy or download for free for my Kindle in the future (not e-galleys because they go directly to my Kindle address).  She thinks my YA and fantasy reads are "strange."  Whatever, Mom, you just enjoy that copy of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers I managed to snag for you!

Here's a snippet of what I'm wishing for:
1. How Harry Cast His Spell by John Granger (No relation to Hermione!)
2. What You Must Think of Me by Emily Ford
3. Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks
4. The Healing Wars, Books 1-3 by Janice Hardy (Book I: The Shifter, Book II: Blue Fire, Book III: Darkfall [pre-release])
5. Mortal Instruments, Books 3-4 by Cassandra Clare( City of Glass, & City of Fallen Angels.) Note: I have City of Bones & City of Ashes.

What did you get this month?  What would you like to get?  Do you forget to go to the post office like me?

Mini-Challege: A sort of the ol' Hat!

As part of a Harry Potter read-a-long/mini-challenge over at Pretty Deadly Reviews, I had to pull out the ol' Sorting Hat and find my place among the Hogwarts students. Now, honestly, I always thought I'd actually be in Ravenclaw, but I always fix the answers on these things so I end up in Gryffindor (because that's where all the action happens, but I'd love to spend my evenings witnessing Fred and George's antic). Seems like this quiz was too tricky to fool, and I ended up in....

Isn't that thrilling?  Now I can totes hang with Cho Chang (ugh!) and Luna Lovegood (hooray!).  I always knew that Luna and I would get along swimmingly.  Maybe she can teach me how to make my own radish earrings!

P.S. I'm actually listening to the Harry Potter books via audio for the first time thanks to the recommendation of Andye at Reading Teen.  Narrator Jim Dale does an excellent job, and I hear he only gets better and better with each book.

Where She (Me) Went + Giveaways

Since I put up that "Out of the Office" post, I know that you, my faithful followers, have been counting the seconds until my return.  You can wipe away the tears, for I have returned!  Hooray!  I planned to post a "Sunday Stew" announcing that I was back yesterday, but as it is now Monday evening, I guess that won't work out.  Therefore, I decided to take it upon myself to answer all the questions you have. Yes, I know what you want to ask...I'm *that* good.

Nothing says "Lancaster, PA" like "Amish Stuff, etc"

Where were you?

I spent a few dates at the SWAN Conference in Lancaster, PA (SWAN = State-Wide Permanency and Adoption Network.  Yeah, I don't know how they get "SWAN" from that either.  It *should* be "SWPAAN" or at the very least "SWPAN.")  I tagged along with BFF Sarah, who is a social worker specializing in adoption.  While I was there, I got a chance to meet and chat with Ashley Rhodes-Courter, author of the book Three Little Words.  In this memoir, Ashely talks about her time in foster care (9 years and 14 different home) and her adoption at the age of 13.  She's a fascinating lady and I highly recommend her book.

Here's Ashley with her book and her brunch.  I like to harass authors when they're eating.

 After the conference, Sarah and I spent two days in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland.  It was over 100 outside, so we didn't do a whole heck of a lot.  We did see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, which I thought was rather lacking.  Plus, the lady sitting behind us brought her 4 year-old son to see DH2.  Holy age inappropriate, Batman!

Other than that, I've been trying to catch up on my reading and writing...and failing miserably at both.

This is a small sampling of the many kids available for adoption at AdoptPAKids.org.

 I heard something about reading...what did you read?


Signs, pamphlets, email, Tweets...you know, the usual!  Oh, you mean, books!  While I was "away" I read an astonishingly low number of books.  I read Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler (how appropriate for a trip to Lancaster!), Three Little Words, and I'm currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett (which could quite possibly be one of the best books I've ever read!) Reviews forthcoming.

This poor pregnant kitty was dumped at our hotel.  She's less than a year old.  Since she's hiding in a holly bush (to stay out of the sun.  She's really quite friendly), I decided to name her Halle and dubbed her unborn kittens "The Berries."  So you have Halle and the Berries.  Hardy har har!  But if you're looking for a cat, the Best Western in North East, MD is a great place to find a furry feline friend.

Did you do anything else worth mentioning?

Hmm...let's see.  I did have this hangnail that...oh, wait, that's not worth mentioning.

You needed to write a whole blog post about this?

No, but I thought it would be rude to just post a bunch of giveaways or go right into my RAK post.

Tell us about the giveaways!!!

Since you asked so nicely, I will share these wonderful giveaways with you....

Now through August 7, you can enter to win a ton of bookish giveaways in the Summer Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Bookhounds.  Over at Backseat Writer, I'm giving away a copy of the book Passport Through Darkness, a true story about a woman's fight to end human trafficking around the globe.  In my review of this book, I said it "ruined me." And I'm glad it did.  Enter now.

Bumps in the Road is celebrating 100 followers by awarding not one, but TWO winners with TWO books of their choice (from an awesome list of titles).  The contest ends August 31 and is open to you as long as The Book Depository ships to your place of residence.

To garner support for Matthew 25 Ministries, an organization that provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief both nationally and internationally, Mommy's Reviews and Giveways is giving away a iPad 2 16GB.  Now, we all know I've been wanting to win one of these babies for a long time, but I'm also touched by the mission of Matthew 25 Ministries.  Check out the giveaway and learn about Matthew 25's work.  It's a win-win for all.  The giveaway ends August 6.

Lea over at LC's Adventures in LibraryLand is celebrating her 500 followers with a giveway (and a nifty giveaway icon...don't you just love it?)  All you have to do is be a follower (or join the other 500+) and fill out a form to win books (your choice!)  You have until August 31 to enter and the giveaway is open to you if The Book Despository ships to your residence.

Read me, Bookmark Me, Love Me has an astounding 850 followers and celebrating this milestone with--you got it--a two-part book giveaway (and another awesome giveaway button)!  You can choose from a list of recent/upcoming releases: Part 1 (May-July) and Part 2 (August-October).  Remember to enter BOTH parts. The contest ends August 15 and is open to you if The Book Depository graces you with deliveries.

I really want to read Lisa Genova's newest book, Left Negelected.  Fortunately, Stiletto Storytime is giving away one copy of this very book!  The giveaway ends August 6 and is only to U.S. residents only.

Carolina Valdez Miller always has a bunch of giveaways going on, but right now you can enter to win FOUR ARCs--The Scorpio Races, Fury, Noctrune, and Shelter. The giveaway ends August 3 and the giveaway is international!

Yes, I know that these are not books, but neither was the iPad.  But you can win one of these CAMERA BAGS (HA!  Bet you thought they were purses!) at Sweeps4Bloggers.  Personally, I think my Canon DSLR would look rockin' in one of these beauties, don't you?  The giveaway ends August 17 and is open to U.S. residents only.

See, now wasn't that fun?  You know it was!  What have you all been up to whilst I've been away?