Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language by Amanda Montell

 "A brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us, written with humor and playfulness that challenges words and phrases and how we use them."

*Trigger warning: This book may upset someone who is easily offended.*

I absolutely adored Wordslut. I listened to it on Audible and I think that is the best way to consume this particular book. The author is also a great narrator. One of my favorite things about Wordslut was learning the history of so many words that I have wondered about in the past. Learning the origins of some of these words was incredibly interesting. Amanda Montell has given us a gem of a book and food for thought on how language develops and how it continues to develop, as well as what direction it is going in.  Combined with wit and humor, Wordslut is the perfect book to read for any word nerd who is interesting in and enjoys language and language development. 

Disclaimer: this blog post may contain affiliate links. I bought and read this book of my own accord. No compensation was received. Opinions stated in the post are 100% my own. 

Raised in the kitchen by Carrian Cheney

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book- 

From the time her children were toddlers, family cooking blogger Carrian Cheney found creative ways to get her children interested in cooking, partly to teach them basic kitchen skills so they could be part of the solution when they were hungry and partly to instill in them a joy of creating and presenting delicious meals, as her own mother had taught her.

From food prep to clean-up, this unique cookbook guides the way through every step, including meal lists and easy-to-follow recipes, and features dollops of heartwarming family stories, insights, and kid-friendly food activities to keep young chefs focused on fun in the kitchen.

The book includes 75 recipes that begin with basics such as fried eggs, pizza dough, and baked potatoes. As new cooking skills are learned, the recipes progress to guaranteed kid favorites like chocolate chip pancakes, steak fajitas, and apple dumplings. Recipes are joined with tips to help home chefs master the art of cooking, from stocking a pantry to proper kitchen etiquette and safety to how to add flair to a table setting—even how to coax a picky eater by tempting their tastebuds.

Raised in the Kitchen is a cookbook for parents and kids about much more than learning to love to cook. It’s about bringing families together with cooking memories that will last a lifetime.

My thoughts-

My kids are getting older. They are all in the pre-teen to teen stage but something we have always done is hang out in the kitchen to gether making recipes, so I adored the concept of this book. I thought maybe we could find new recipes for my 11 year old boys who still love to cook both with me and without me now. I love the way the book is set up, starting with simple, basic recipes and progressing into family friendly favorites that might be a little more challenging (yet still doable) for little ones. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends with younger children, and we will also be utilizing some of these recipes in ourkitchen as well! 

Liar Liar by Laurie Katz

 

*Disclosure of material connection- I received the book in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Like any student about to start university, Laurie Katz was excited to see what the year would bring. Little did she know that just three weeks into her first term, her life would come crashing down around her. What had started as a fun night out with friends ended with Laurie, alone with a terrible secret: she had been raped. Traumatized and confused, she set out to get justice against her attacker. But when the authorities at her university dismissed her case, and warned her that she could be expelled, she was left unsure where to turn. It seemed as though things couldn't get worse, then her attacker filed his own case. Laurie's story is a brave and honest reminder of the injustice still felt in society around sexual abuse. Laurie offers readers her advice, and provides them with the hope that they too can overcome a similar trauma.

My thoughts-

First of all, props to Lauri Katz for being candid and vunerable. This could not have been an easy book to write. She shared pretty much everything, including the parts that some might perceive as making her look bad. I was enraged during the good majority of this book about the way the university handled this case, but sadly I wasn't shocked. We have seen it time and again in the news, even still in 2020, where the victims of these assaults at colleges all over the country get blamed and the actual assaultors get off either scott free or with maybe a slap on the wrist. Laurie's school took it to a new extreme, opening a case against her and finding her guilty of making it all up. It is evident that the school was attempting to bury that this happened to save face and not make the school look bad and some of the things the adults in charge at the university said to her were absolutely atrotious. This account of Ms. Katz's case really resonates with me because she was in college at the same time as my little sister and this could have easily been her story. Or any college woman's story. And it is definitely time to change that. The victim blaming has got to stop. The holding the guilty party accountable needs to be the new normal- which it always should have been.

If you have a similar story and need to talk to someone, there is help. Please reach out to National Sexual Assault Hotline or call them at 1-800-656-4673

A Fine Line by Tim DeRoche

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled that little Linda Brown couldn't be excluded from a public school because of her race. In that landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the court famously declared that public education must be available to all on equal terms. But sixty-six years later, many of the best public schools remain closed to all but the most privileged families. Empowered by little-known state laws, school districts draw attendance zones around their best schools, indicating who is, and who isn't, allowed to enroll. In many American cities, this means that living on one side of the street or the other will determine whether you leave eighth grade on a track for future success or barely able to read. 

In A Fine Line, bestselling author Tim DeRoche takes a close look at the laws and policies that dictate which kids are allowed to go to which schools. And he finds surprising parallels between current education policies and the redlining practices of the New Deal era in which minority families were often denied mortgages and government housing assistance because they didn't live within certain desirable zones of the city.

It is an extraordinary story of American democracy gone wrong, and it will make you question everything you think you know about our public education system.

My thoughts-

When my oldest child was 5 we decided it was time to buy a house. Both my husband and I were in our late 20's and just starting out so we didn't have a huge budget to spend so we ended up in a town with a school district I was aprehensive about, and I still am not a huge fan of 7 years later. The school I had wanted her to attend was literally 5 minutes down the road, but the houses on that side of town were astronomically more expensive. I feel kind of dense now, but I never really realized until I read this book that housing prices can be  directly related to the type of public school your child will end up attending and it is infuriating! There are definitely some discrepencies in the public school system in the United States and A Fine Line lays them out for you. It is evident a lot of research has been put into this book and a ton of thought has been put in by the author about how to fix these problems. We didn't get into the school we wanted and we are not in a financial struggle. There are people with far less that have even worse choices in bigger inner city school districts. Unfortunately I think it will be an uphill and very long battles, but the more people that are educated about these unfair practices, the more people that can join the fight to remedy them. 

Elephants by Tom Jackson

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Other than the size of their ears (African elephants have much larger ears), how else do African and Asian elephants differ? Well, both male and female African elephants, rather than just some male Asian elephants, have long tusks. And African elephants also have two, rather than one, finger-like digits in their trunks to help grip. African elephants have more wrinkly skin, and their heads are more rounded, whereas Asian elephants have twin-domed heads. Elephants is an outstanding collection of photographs and captions showing these majestic animals in their natural habitat. You’ll discover how, yes, African and Asian elephants differ, but also about the different species or subspecies in each continent. You will learn how herds of female elephants and their young are formed, how they feed and use their tusks – elongated incisor teeth – as weapons or for moving objects or digging, how they use their ears to cool themselves and how intelligent they are – they’re up there with primates and dolphins. They have captured the popular imagination for thousands of years and have been domesticated by humankind., Featuring the surviving species and subspecies, from African bush elephants to Asian pygmy elephants, the book explores how these fascinating animals hunt and feed, reproduce and rear their young, compete, defend each other from predators, and protect the herd. Featuring 150 outstanding colour photographs, Elephants is a brilliant examination of the world’s largest land mammal.

My thoughts-

The beauty of the magnificent elephant is captured in this book full of gorgeous photography. Sprinkled throughout every few pages are facts about elephants. I loved the close up pictures on the body parts as part of the descroption for learning about each part of an elephant and what it does. The book teaches about both African and Asian elephants, and about the species nomadic lifestyle (did you know an elephant's life is pretty much mostly devoted to searching for food? It makes sense since they are such massive creatures!). My adored everything about this book, but my absolute favorite thing was the last chapter about the precious babies. They are so adorable! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about wildlife. 

The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000's by Andy Greene

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

When did you last hang out with Jim, Pam, Dwight, Michael, and the rest of Dunder Mifflin? It might have been back in 2013, when the series finale aired . . . or it might have been last night, when you watched three episodes in a row. But either way, fifteen years after the show first aired, it’s more popular than ever, and fans have only one problem--what to watch, or read, next.
 
Fortunately, Rolling Stone writer Andy Greene has that answer. In his brand-new oral history, The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s, Greene will take readers behind the scenes of their favorite moments and characters. Greene gives us the true inside story behind the entire show, from its origins on the BBC through its impressive nine-season run in America, with in-depth research and exclusive interviews. Fans will get the inside scoop on key episodes from "The Dundies" to "Threat Level Midnight" and "Goodbye, Michael," including behind-the-scenes details like the battle to keep it on the air when NBC wanted to pull the plug after just six episodes and the failed attempt to bring in James Gandolfini as the new boss after Steve Carell left, spotlighting the incredible, genre-redefining show created by the family-like team, who together took a quirky British import with dicey prospects and turned it into a primetime giant with true historical and cultural significance.
 
Hilarious, heartwarming, and revelatory, The Office gives fans and pop culture buffs a front-row seat to the phenomenal sequence of events that launched The Office into wild popularity, changing the face of television and how we all see our office lives for decades to come.

About the book-

Like many other people who were fans of the original UK version of "The Office", I am pretty sure I rolled my eyes and resisted the US version for quite a while thinking it could never live up to the original. I am so glad my husband started watching it and talked me into it as well during the original run because it ended up surprisingly far surpassing the UK version and becoming one of my favorite sitcoms of all time. I know so many people who go to this show as their "comfort binge" on Netflix too and I am glad to see so many new people fall in love with such an innovative piece of tv history. This book gives a behind the scenes look in the form of various interviews with many of the people involved from the creators to the writers to the crew to the actors themselves, giving us a well rounded look at what it took to make The Office in to what it was. Even if you are a super fan you will come away with new information regarding the creative process, Steve Carell's departure from the show and how that all went down, character development, and thoughts on a spinoff or reboot. I recommend this book to any fan of "The Office".

The Grumble Free Year: Twelve Months, Eleven Family Members, and One Impossible Goal by Trisha Goyer

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

The Goyer home--with two parents, eight kids, and one eighty-eight-year-old grandmother with dementia--is never without noise, mess, activity, and, often, complaining. And it's not just the kids grumbling. After adding seven children in less than six years through adoption, the Goyer family decided to move out of survival-mode and into unity- and growth-mode. They decided to tackle the impossible: a grumble-free year.

With grade-schoolers, teenagers, and a grandmother who believes children should be seen and not heard, plenty of room exists for flunking the challenge. Add to that seven children being homeschooled together in close quarters, and what could possibly go awry?

In The Grumble-Free Year, the Goyers invite readers into their journey as they go complaint-free and discover what it looks like to develop hearts of gratitude. They share their plans, successes, failures, and all the lessons they learn along the way, offering real-life action steps based in scripture so that readers get not just a front-row seat to the action but also an opportunity to take the challenge themselves and uncover hearts that are truly thankful.

My thoughts-

I have read a lot of Tricia Goyer's fiction works over the last several years and even a few of her non-fiction books. I always seems to enjoy what she writes so I jump at the chance to read whatever I see by her. I felt this book got off to a slow start, but that is because the grumble free year at the Goyer house also got off to a slow start- which makes sense in such a large family, even my family of 5 would take a while to get used to such a big change. We are wired to be negative so we have to fight those urges to get to a place to be positive. I thought the book gave some great advice on how to be more positive, how to complain less, and how to takes life's punches as they come in a better way than just always focusing on the bad of difficult situations. I appreciate the Goyers letting us learn from their year long project and their willingness to be open about their struggles to get there. I enjoyed the discussions questions at the end of each chapter. I recommend this book to anyone looking to be more positive. 

The Map Challenge by Tracy Packiam Alloway

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest thoughts from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

When Sammy's group loses their map on a camping trip, can he use his SEN Superpowers to save the day and lead them safely back to the campsite? SEN Superpowers: The Map Challenge explores the topic of dyslexia with an empowering story and adorable illustrations.

The SEN Superpowers series celebrates the positive traits associated with a range of common SEN (Special Education Needs) conditions, boosting the confidence and strength-awareness of children with those conditions, while also allowing for better understanding and positivity among their peers. Each book includes a page of discussion points about the story, a page of tips for how to boost abilities (inclusive for children with and without special educational needs), and, finally, a further page of notes for parents and teachers. The books feature a dyslexic-friendly font to encourage accessibility and inclusivity for all readers. 

My thoughts-

I don't have any kids with dyslexia, but I am pretty sure my daughter has dysgraphia (since it isn't a recognized diagnosis in our school district, we haven't pursued it, but I am pretty sure she does) I thought this would be an interesting read. Whether my kids had special needs or not, I would find this book interesting and it is definitely something I would read to them to help them better understand their peers that struggle with dyslexia. It is always good to learn about challenges others might face to help be more accepting and understanding. I thought it was a cute book with beautiful illustrations. I know it's a children's book and the point was to illustrate some of the positives of dyslexia, but when a scout is lost they are supposed to blow their whistle not try to get back without a map so that part wasn't my favorite. I understand why they used a scout camping trip to illustrate their point but I don't want my scout trying to find her way back without a map. Overall, I thought this book was a great introduction to dyslexia for kids who don't have it and it may be of comfort to those who do. 

Emotional Advantage by Randy Taran

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

In recent years, there has been an overwhelming interest in the science of happiness and positive psychology, and many books on the subject. There is a good reason for this: it is a core, universal human drive. And while happiness has opened the door for many to move forward, there is a burgeoning curiosity about the full range of human emotions, all of which factor into the human experience. What do we do when life does not go as planned?

Neuroscience reveals that to understand and utilize any emotion, we need to “name it to tame it.” It turns out that even negative emotions have something to offer, if we know how to learn from them. Have you ever woken up in a fog of feelings and felt directionless? Or maybe it was hard to pinpoint exactly what you were feeling, but it wasn’t where you wanted to be? What if we could actually use our feelings as a pathway to guide us back to our inner compass? What if, like alchemists, we had the tools to transform our emotions to take charge of creating our very best life? What if we could comprehend how even the most troublesome emotions are sending messages to alert, protect, and fuel us forward?

Emotional Advantage is that guide. It will show us how a new perspective on fear can move us to courage, how guilt can clarify our values, and how anger can help us create healthy boundaries.

My thoughts- 

I like that the chapters were divided by the particular emotion. It was nice to focus on them one emotion at a time. I wish that the book would have went in order from heaviest emotion to deal with to lightest emotion to deal with instead of going in the opposite direction and starting with happiness although I understand it is because happiness as an emotion doesn't need much direction to follow since it is an easy emotion to feel. I do like the book advocates naming and feeling your emotions to get through them, instead of ignoring them or automatically medicating them. I think Emotional Advantage is a great book that would be helpful to any human person. 

Gin A Short History by Moses Jenkins

*Disclosure of material conneciton- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Uncovering the mysteries of gin manufacture and production, as well as its fascinating history, this book is a complete guide to one of the world's drinks of choice.

Gin is a drink deeply rooted in our culture. From "Dutch Courage" to "Gin Soaked," our language is full of expressions which reflect our gin-drinking heritage. In the early eighteenth century, Britain was gripped by the Gin Craze, when the drink was dubbed "mothers ruin," before becoming more respectable as advances in distilling led to a drink of higher quality and improved flavor. This led to the construction of lavish "gin palaces" in the Victorian and Edwardian era. In recent years a twenty-first century renaissance in gin drinking and craft gin production has led to the drink once again rising high in the national consciousness.

My thoughts-

It isn't often that I partake in consuming alcoholic beverages, but I am a social drinker when with my friends or husband for a rare night out. In recent years, I have found myself reaching for gin based drinks more often than not. There is something so classic and sophisticated about having a French 75 or a Gimlet. I enjoyed reading about the history of gin in this book. To be honest, I didn't even know what gin was made of, only that I like the way it tastes! It was interesting to learn that it has a botanical base. The book also explores the distilling process, as well as the controversy gin has caused in the past. The book mentions brands, and sprinkles gin recipes throughout. Next up on my gin repertoire- Aviation- a beautifully lavender colored drink that utilizes creme de violette. I recommend this book to all gin lovers, or anyone looking for new drink recipes to impress their friends and company. 

The League of Extraordinarily Funny Women: 50 Trailblazers of Comedy by Sheila Moeschen

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

A celebration of the most groundbreaking women in comedy who used humor to shake up the status quo and change perceptions of gender and comedy forever.


Step aside, Seinfeld. It's time for the brave, hilarious women of comedy to finally get the recognition they deserve. The people who say women aren't funny are actually saying something else: that humor in the hands of women is radical and scary. Nevertheless, women have persisted for generations now, deploying their wit in game-changing ways. The League of Extraordinarily Funny Women is a beautifully illustrated book that showcases fifty women -- past and present -- who use humor to deliver cutting social commentary, tangle with sensitive subjects, challenge traditional ideas about femininity, and, above all, do anything but sit still and stay quiet when laughs are on the line.

The result is a sisterhood of empowering and often under-recognized figures who have gone on to become standups, writers, and actresses, including Mae West, Lucille Ball, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Amy Sedaris, Wanda Sykes, Ellen DeGeneres, Mindy Kaling, Jessica Williams, and many more.

My thoughts-

My husband and I are HUGE comedy fans. When I was pregnant with our first baby before we knew the gender, we picked out a boy name immediately but struggled hard to agree on a girl name. After about each contributing 30 names each that we both couldn't agree on we came to Madelyn and both immediately knew that had to be our daughter's name. You see, we were big fans of a movie called Young Frankenstein starring an extraordinarily gifte comedienne named Madeline Kahn. We love comedy so much that it took a comedian to influence our baby name decision (and of course that baby turned out to be a girl and she is a funny female in her own right. The last two years at her school's talent show, she has done a comedy act!). Madeline Kahn does not get a mention in this book (a travesty really) but there are 50 worthy women from all backgrounds, both personally and comedically, and different time periods who deserve their stories told in this book. I love that there are several different categories with a handful of comedians listed and their stories told. Some of my favorite people profiled in the book are Lucille Ball, Mindy Kaling, Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Gilda Radnor. There were even a couple I have never heard of that now I will have to look up! I recommend this book to anyone who loves comedy. You can get your copy starting April 9!

Embroidered Lettering by Debra Valencia

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Nothing is funnier than the unexpected combination of a lovingly handmade embroidery piece with an irreverent (though not necessarily less heartfelt) statement. This book shows how to use a traditional craft to add a very modern message to coasters, bags, patches, pillows, tea towels, eyeglass cases and more. Innovative designer and author Debra Valencia presents 25 fun embroidery lettering projects that let you say what you REALLY mean—in stitches! Embroidered Lettering also includes an alphabet for you to use in stitching your own phrases, along with basic instructions for stitches and advice on materials and tools. Bold, snarky, amusing, or clever—these needlework ideas are anything but old-fashioned samplers.

My thoughts-

There are so many cute projects in this book that I literally want to make them all. The days of the week tea towels, the drink recipe coasters, and the bookmarks are my favorites. I like that the beginning of the book includes a lot of different stitches for beginners like me who need to practice different stitches before starting these amazing projects. It is nice to have the visual aides for that at the beginning and the advice about what kind of needles to use. I think this is a great book for a beginner as well as someone more experienced who is looking for interesting projects to do. 

Almost Gone by John Baldwin & Mackenzie Baldwin (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

This is the never-before-told, riveting true story about a teenage Christian girl who was seduced online by a charming young Muslim man from Kosovo, and her father who ultimately worked with the FBI to save her from disappearing forever.

Told from the viewpoint of both father and daughter, Almost Gone follows Mackenzie’s network of lies and deceit and her parents’ escalating bewilderment and alarm. More than a cautionary tale, this is the incredible story of unconditional parental love, unwavering faith, and how God helped a family save their daughter from a relationship that jeopardized not only her happiness, but also her safety.

My thoughts-


This was one intense book. I wanted to read Almost Gone because this happened right in my backyard. I live 20 minutes away from Plano, TX where Mackenzie Baldwin grew up and this situation went down. I commiserated with and felt deep empathy for her parents as I read from her father John's perspective and as these events unfolded for him and he and his wife figured out what was going on and had very little time to put a plan into place that would ultimately save their daughter from what could have been a very bad situation. I commend Mackenzie for being strong enough to share her story in hopes that it might help other girls her age from making the same mistakes. What I took away was to never assume your kids won't do something no matter how far fetched it is, no matter how many times you have told them not to or talked to them about the danger of things, even a smart kid at 17 or 18 years old can fall victim to the pitfalls of internet relationships. I was happy this story had a happy ending and the Baldwin's shared the whole thing, painful as it must be, to help others. I recommend this book to anyone who reads non-fiction.

The Polygamist's Daughter by Anna LeBaron (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Tyndale Publisher's via their Tyndale Blogging Network in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

My father had thirteen wives and more than fifty children . . .This is the haunting memoir of Anna LeBaron, daughter of the notorious polygamist and murderer Ervil LeBaron. Ervil’s criminal activity kept Anna and her siblings constantly on the run from the FBI. Often starving, the children lived in a perpetual state of fear—and despite their numbers, Anna always felt alone. Would she ever find a place she truly belonged? Would she ever be anything other than the polygamist’s daughter?

Filled with murder, fear, and betrayal, The Polygamist’s Daughter is the harrowing, heart-wrenching story of a fatherless girl and her unwavering search for love, faith, and a place to call home.

My thoughts-

I am fascinated by what I can't understand, as I think many people are, and something lately has me particularly interested in the fundamentalist Mormon group that Anna LeBaron was once a part of, mainly because she was born into it. The good majority of the memoir is heartbreaking. This kid is dumped on other people in different places, never sees her parents, is forced to work for nothing and never knows what's going on. I could not imagine a childhood like that. She could wake up one day and be living in Texas only to be told that now she is moving to Mexico. Beyond the fact that her childhood without her parents must have been super confusing, her father lead the cult and is known to have committed or ordered many murders on people who he felt had a wavering faith or on rivals who he felt threatened by. Anna had only met this man a handful of times. Who knows how many other kids he had with how many other wives! Luckily, one of her older sisters and her husband who had left the cult adopted a parental role with Anna and took her under their wing. Sadly, there was still more tragedy to come, but I don't want to spoil the book for anyone so you will have to pick it up to see what happened. The Polygamist's Daughter will make you angry, sad, confused, and probably make you feel more empathetic to the people born into this cult. It will open your eyes and give you more of a direct look into what life was like for someone who didn't choose this path and the danger it can create trying to escape it. I recommend this book to people who enjoy memoirs.

Letters From My Father's Murderer by Laurie A. Coombs Blog Tour + Book Review

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Litfuse Group in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the book-

When her father was murdered, Laurie Coombs sought justice and found it.

His murderer now serves two life sentences with no possibility of parole. Yet, despite the swift punishment of the killer, Laurie found herself increasingly full of pain, bitterness, and anger she couldn't control. After coming to faith, she realized she was being called to seek something infinitely more difficult than justice: forgiveness.

This is an extraordinary true story of grace, mercy, and the redemptive power of God to change lives. The reader is swept along with Laurie as she undergoes the life-changing transformation of becoming a Christian. As she studies Scripture, seeing God redeeming losses and healing deep wounds time and time again, she starts to understand that her own healing would require her to love her enemy in a real, practical way.

Using her incredible correspondence with the man who killed her father, Laurie reveals a compelling journey of transformation, not only in her life, but in the lives of those whom many would call irredeemable.

Letters from My Father's Murderer is for any audience Christian or secular who

-Craves freedom from the inability to forgive those who've caused them harm 

-Wants to hear testimony of God's power in our obedience 

-Has experienced pain through other's sin against them 

-Needs to know healing is always possible

The real story here is not primarily about murder and its fallout, but rather about redemption and how far it can reach.

 

 

My thoughts-

When I read the premise of this book, I knew I had to read it and saw how this letter writing business with a murderer, the murderer of Ms. Coombs father no less, went. I couldn't imagine wanting to be face to face with someone that hurt someone so close to me, but I applaud Laurie Coombs for doing what she felt God led her to do.  The book takes us through her feelings right after the murder occurred, through the trial, and then when she felt led to give this man a Bible. That is what led to these letters and this journey that she goes on working through her feelings about this man and also getting to know him. It was a heartbreaking story to read, but at the same time. a truly touching story to see what these two people meeting did in both of their lives. If you have ever been in the position of holding a grudge over something much smaller than this, I highly recommend reading Letters From My Father's Murderer. This book just might change the way you feel about forgiveness and redemption. 

Connected: Curing the Pandemic of Everyone Feeling Alone Together by Erin Davis (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Technology has allowed us to connect with more people in more places than ever before. Sure we have “friends” we even have “followers” and yet, a silent epidemic is sending shock waves straight into our living rooms. What is this hidden disease? Loneliness. Popular author Erin Davis knows what it’s like to feel lonely. She knows how it feels to have many friends, a full schedule, and a pit in her stomach. As she wrestled her own feelings of loneliness to the ground, Erin started to feel like the scientist charged with finding the cure for the lonely epidemic—a journey that has proved to be funny, encouraging, and helpful. What is causing the pain of loneliness to gnaw at our hearts? What does God know about feeling alone? While swimming in a sea of people, what’s a lonely girl to do? Where should she turn for a life raft? Erin has traveled across the country to talk with other women and answer these questions for us all. Come along in Connected to learn about her journey as well as the stories of women who are probably a lot like you!


My thoughts-

It is sad that we live in a society in which people feel like they are more connected than ever via technology and yet are more lonely than ever in reality. Busyness and misplaced priorities are a huge culprit. I long for a world in which Sunday dinners with family and more in person interactions with friends are the norm. I absolutely think it is why there is such a prevalence of depression and why so many people feel so alone. Connected hits the nail on the head several times about relationships- actual real-life, in person relationships, not the superficial all online kind- and the things that have led them to have almost disappeared. Smart phones and Facebook seem to take priority over real life get togethers- something I think many people will regret years down the line-up you can't ever get that time back. The book gets off track several times for me into other subjects when I think the absolute focus should be on how we as a society can get back the community aspect of relationships, but the author's heart is in the right place. This is definitely a subject we should all take the time to think about.

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www.erindavis.org

The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

In Afghanistan, a culture ruled almost entirely by men, the birth of a son is cause for celebration and the arrival of a daughter is often mourned as misfortune. A bacha posh (literally translated from Dari as “dressed up like a boy”) is a third kind of child – a girl temporarily raised as a boy and presented as such to the outside world. Jenny Nordberg, the reporter who broke the story of this phenomenon for the New York Times, constructs a powerful and moving account of those secretly living on the other side of a deeply segregated society where women have almost no rights and little freedom. 

The Underground Girls of Kabul is anchored by vivid characters who bring this remarkable story to life: Azita, a female parliamentarian who sees no other choice but to turn her fourth daughter Mehran into a boy; Zahra, the tomboy teenager who struggles with puberty and refuses her parents’ attempts to turn her back into a girl; Shukria, now a married mother of three after living for twenty years as a man; and Nader, who prays with Shahed, the undercover female police officer, as they both remain in male disguise as adults. 

At the heart of this emotional narrative is a new perspective on the extreme sacrifices of Afghan women and girls against the violent backdrop of America’s longest war. Divided into four parts, the book follows those born as the unwanted sex in Afghanistan, but who live as the socially favored gender through childhood and puberty, only to later be forced into marriage and childbirth. The Underground Girls of Kabul charts their dramatic life cycles, while examining our own history and the parallels to subversive actions of people who live under oppression everywhere.

My thoughts-

When I read stories about the oppression women deal with in other parts of the world, especially the middle east, I am so very thankful to have been born an American. I could not imagine my whole existence being nothing more than bearing a male child or to be ostracized, shamed or even starved by my family for having a girl. I ave never heard of the practice of bacha posh, but that is exactly why this book intrigued me. I tried to imagine myself in these women's shoes and I could see why they would dress up their girls as boys. It is a desperate measure, but it can make all of the difference in a family. I find it appalling that these Afghani men could treat their women this way. It just does not make sense to me. A. A woman can not control what sex her child is (the Afghani people believe that they can just through sheer determination) and b. the man's sperm is actually what determines to the sex of a baby. Imagine if these men realized they were to blame for what they consider a shortcoming. Honestly, I doubt it would make a difference. This book broke my heart. I knew that it is looked down upon to have all girls or to not be able to bear a son, but I had no idea about the shaming and starving and just downright mean treatment of these women. It makes perfect sense that to have a better life as a family they would resort to presenting their girls as boys. I can not imagine the fear they must feel pretty constantly at being found out or the desperation that lead them to make the decision to live this way, but at the same time I applaud them and admire them for fighting the only way they can against the oppressive society in which they live. This was a fascinating story. I do not think many people realize the atrocities that happen when it comes to child bearing in the middle east and even if they do, this is definitely an interesting read. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes learning about other cultures or who is interested in social change. 

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http://bachaposh.com/

The Marriage You've Always Wanted by Gary Chapman Review & Giveaway!

Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of the book via Flyby Promotions. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.


About the book:

You can picture the perfect marriage in your mind, but re-creating it in reality doesn’t come easy. Trusted counselor and relationship expert Dr. Gary Chapman reasons that the most sought-after ingredient in any marriage is true oneness. In The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted, he presents expert wisdom and common sense methods to establishing that true unity on emotional and practical levels. Discover the wit and insight that makes his worldwide presentations and marriage conferences so popular. Are you trying to change your spouse? Do you know what it means to really love someone? Do you feel ignored or even alone in your effort to improve your marriage? Dr. Chapman has answers and action steps on topics from expressing your emotions to managing your money, all in a format that will have you and your spouse talking and learning with every page.


My thoughts:

When my husband and I were preparing to get married, one of the best things we were asked to do during our pre marital counseling was to read The Five Love Languages. I have read a lot of books about marriage and that one has still been the most useful and made the most sense to both my husband and to me. Clearly Dr. Gary Chapman knows what he is talking about, so when I see a book by him, I am always interested in reading it. The Marriage You've Always Wanted is divided into 9 chapters that each focus on different things that will come up in a marriage. Many of the chapters I found would be more useful for a newly married couple, but there were several that screamed out to me "Oh yeah! That is a fantastic idea!" or "That makes total sense!". Even the advice that I found would be more useful for newlyweds were things that we could all use reminders about.  I think the best advice in the book is about how we all want to have a spouse that's understanding and kind, but that we don't always act that way toward them and that the best way to have a spouse that is understanding is kind is to BE a spouse that is understanding and kind. I am paraphrasing, but you get the idea. It is not a novel idea, but I am afraid it is something most of us need to hear for it to click. I know I certainly do! Something I really liked about this book is that at the end of each section there are discussion questions for reflection. These questions are thought provoking and meant to start a conversation between you and your spouse. One of the greatest things about this novel, is the plethora of books and website links at the end to even further your journey of a happy and fulfilling marriage. There were several I know that I will be adding to my bookshelves. The Marriage You've Always Wanted would make a great wedding gift and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their marriage.

You can purchase The Marriage You've Always Wanted on Amazon.com or Christian retailers nationwide.

About the author:

Dr. Chapman is the author of the wonderfully popular The Five Love Languages, as well as numerous other books about marriage and relationships. He also is the host of a nationally syndicated radio program and holds various marriage conferences throughout the year all over the country.

Dr. Chapman holds BA and MA degrees in anthropology from Wheaton College and Wake Forest University, respectively, MRE and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina and Duke University.


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Oh La La! French Women's Secrets To Feeling Beautiful Every Day By Jamie Cat Callahan- Book Review

*Disclosure-I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book: 

French women seem to have a special knack for life’s most important things—food, love, raising children. And in matters of beauty and style, they appear to be at an unfair advantage. But the good news is that everything French women know can be learned….

French women are not born more attractive than anyone else. They simply learn at a very young age how to feel beautiful, confident, and sexy, inside and out. It’s an allure that outlasts youth—in fact, some of France’s most celebrated women are femmes d’un certain âge. Experience only makes them more irresistible. Growing up, Jamie Cat Callan had a French grand-mère to instruct her on style, grooming, and genuinely liking her reflection in the mirror. Now she shares that wisdom along with advice from other French women on fragrance, image consulting, makeup, and more, and shows you how to:

*Discover the power of perfume
*Find mentors who will help hone your personal style
*Begin at the ends—hands, feet, and hair
*Choose lingerie that makes you feel magnifique
*Get an internal makeover and nourish your soul
*Embrace your age gracefully and gorgeously

Bid au revoir to Botox, fad diets, and agonizing over every imperfection, and say hello to the truly timeless beauty that comes with making the most of your own unique je-ne-sais-quoi.

My thoughts:

I remember being 19 and being in Paris with my parents and siblings and thinking there is just no place on Earth (at least that I have ever been) that is as beautiful. The cobblestone streets, the beautiful scenery and yes, the people of France. I didn't give much thought to the fact that pretty much everyone that wasn't a tourist there looked well put together and confident, but I do know that 12 years later I am still obsessed with all things French and would love nothing more than to be back in France. This obsession leads me to read pretty much anything about France, so as soon as I saw this book's title I knew I HAD to read it. Reading through each page as Jamie Cat Callahan takes us through her journey through different parts of France with several of her French friends I kept thinking a lot of the stuff mentioned was kind of common sense stuff that maybe we American women just don't take the time to take care of ourselves. Each of her French friends and women she meets along the way in France have different personalities, the one thing they have in common is their confidence in themselves. Some of the greatest advice that I would never have thought of on my own even though it seems so simple is for your style to reflect who you are. Try on different clothes in different colors and styles and see what YOU feel BEST in? That is style advice? Being an individual? It's so simple yet so genius and it clearly works for the French. I think in America we tend to want to copy off of other people's style and there is nothing wrong with copying something you find cool, but feeling comfortable in your own shoes is definitely a huge factor in being able to be confident in how you look. This book was so full of great information and I plan to use many of the tactics the French do for feeling confident and beautiful. I highly recommend this book to any woman who is interested in fashion or feeling more confident in their own skin. 

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What A Son Needs From His Mom by Cheri Fuller Book Review

From the back of the book:

Ever Feel like your son is from a different planet? Don't worry, Mom. There's a good reason why your son perplexes you. He's the opposite sex! Boys really do think, communicate, and process the world differently than girls. But no matter your son's age, he needs you, and he needs you in not-so-apparent ways.

Drawing from her own experiences, as well as those from moms and sons around the country, Cheri Fuller shares what makes boys and young men tick and how to become a more welcome influence at every stage in their lives. She answers all the top questions including:

• How can I help my son (and me!) deal with his emotions in a healthy way?
• School is such a struggle, how can I help him?
• Our personalities are SO different, how can we get on the same page?
• My son hardly says a thing. What can I do?
• What are the best ways to instill good values?
• How can I encourage a lasting faith in God?

With page after page of use- it-today advice and encouraging stories, this book will help you steer your son toward becoming a caring, confident young man.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers. While I received a complimentary copy of the book, I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

My thoughts:

I have wanted to be a mom since...well for as long as I can remember and those dreams always included having a little boy. My husband and I were blessed beyond belief in 2009 when we found out we were having twin boys to add to the one little girl we already had. While having baby boys was always something I wished for, I never thought beyond that stage in their lives until recently. They are 3 years old and I have been thinking that I really should find some parenting books that deal specifically with boys, since they think and act so differently than we as women might think they should. I hit the jackpot when I found Cheri Fuller's What a Son Needs From His Mom. I am happy that we are still in a stage where my boys are snuggle bugs and mommy's little guys, but I know that all too soon, they will grow more into their little personalities and when that day comes, I want to be prepared. Fuller's book is full of insight from the earliest times in little boys' lives all the way up to letting them go as they evolve into young men. I think that including chapters about how to prepare them to be out on their own is something that is very important. I love that this book is broken down to kind of answer all of the questions our minds as mother's might consider pondering about little boys (and growing boys...and grown boys!) That this book answers questions about growing into their own skin, adolescence and all of the hormones that come with it and preparing to leave the nest makes it a book worth having on any mother's book shelf...or in arm's reach on her night stand. I especially enjoyed the unique perspective offered by men throughout the chapters on what their mom's did to raise them that was meaningful to them or what their mom's could have done differently. I know that I will re-read this book plenty of times in the span of my boys' childhood and will likely include it in baby shower gifts for moms of little boys from now on. You can never start too early!

About the author:

Cheri Fuller is a gifted speaker and award-winning author of more than forty books, including the bestselling When Mother's Pray. A former Oklahoma Mother of the Year, Cheri has worked with kids of all ages and is the executive director of the nonprofit organization Redeeming the Family. She and her husband, Holmes, live in Oklahoma and have three grown children (two boys and a girl) and six grandchildren.

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