German Theologian Jurgen Moltmann wrote tomes on The Theology of Hope. Drew Barrymore makes this concept approachable and simple in her pictorial collection titled "Find it in Everything." Hope is among us. Happiness is in the obvious and unexpected. Hearts are symbols of hope and love. God [by whatever name and religion] is part of that. Check out Drew's book at your local library or a bookstore near you. Guaranteed to warm your heart and bring a smile to your day!

We each have a life journey. If we are blessed to live long enough, we experience both love and loss along the way. Sometimes the loss is through illness, job, death. It's how we embrace these milestones that shapes us. The author shares her own journey and how she gained strength and wisdom for her journey by reading the lives of the saints. She realized that these strong women of faith shared the same struggles as women face today. This poignant memoir is timeless and will move the reader whether Catholic or Protestant.

Boo provides intense detail in her documentation of daily life in the Mumbai slums. It may be hard to read when you first begin because of its graphic depiction and hard to put down because you will want to understand what happens to the selected families. After reading, I have a new appreciation of life outside of the slums, a new understanding of the degradation that is still among us, and a renewed awareness of social injustice.

"Prodigeous!"

When life gives you lemons and the making lemonade thing isn't going so well, sometimes you just need to kick back and get absorbed in someone else's problems be they real or fictional. One of the things I love about Dorothy's writing style is how she is able to introduce her characters and bring you along with them as they develop so that by chapter 3 or so, the reader finds him/herself caring about them as people - not just something made up. This story, set in the low country, shares all the culture and warmth you've come to expect from Dorothy. It is the story of how one extended family deals with tragic loss, separation, healing, and reunion. So, if you have a porch or deck and the weather is right, take your book or e-reader out and lose yourself in the Porch Lights spell.

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors. This Newfoundland community lived the denominational promise of the United Methodist Church the week of 9/11. This book portrays how a small island community was able to overcome constant obstacles to wrap their arms around all of the world's suddenly homeless population in air transit on 9/11. The stories are both heartwarming and heartwrenching. Don't be surprised to feel overwhelmed, overjoyed, and perhaps deep sorrow while reading. I'f I'm ever suddenly stranded in air transit, I hope I will be one of the lucky ones to be routed to Gander.

The Lambspun community could be set in any small town. That is part of the charm of Maggie Sefton's craft. With the re-emergence of knitting, this series is sure to attract younger readers. The writing is easy to follow and the variety of characters will surely allow readers to find at least one to cheer for. I enjoyed learning more about other characters and how the author kept Kelly at a distance in this story.

If you are looking for a good old-fashioned whodunit set in a small town over the holidays, you won't be disappointed. If you enjoy knitting, you will be further engaged by the pattern at the end of the book.

Fun escape

Just finished a great book -

For those who have encountered cancer personally or have watched a loved one struggle, you must read this book.

The story of one woman whose cells were stolen from her and used for research after her death. One woman’s cells who were instrumental in curing polio and countless other diseases. One woman’s cells who, even today, are still being manufactured for cancer research.

The story of the children and family left behind. The heartbreak, anger, and confusion they experienced upon learning 20 years after their mother’s death of her immortality.

The story of mental illness and institutionalization. The horror of treatment of the colored.

The story of deception and greed by the medical profession.

The story of perseverance and honor by one researcher.

The story of Henrietta Lacks.

I received an Advance Reader’s edition of An Amish Christmas. I found it an easy read which I tend to prefer these days in fiction. Good fiction takes your mind off of the daily grind and Ms. Keller achieves that for me. Her character development is in keeping with the geographic regions she chooses. Her themes are timeless regardless of the season. I believe it is perfectly placed for seasonal reading in light of today’s economic circumstances. I would think that Fiction based book clubs would be able to gather a lot of discussion with An Amish Christmas.

Book Review - Lowcountry Summer

If you are craving a delightful romp along the Edisto River, this is the book to read this summer! The sequel to Plantation, DBF brings the Wimbley family back to entertain you once again.

Set in the South Carolina lowcountry, you will encounter small town life, gullah beliefs & folklore, marital discourse, teenage rebellion, rollicking romance, deep sorrow, and great happiness through the eyes of the Wimbley’s extended family. However, the cast of characters is so great you’ll need a docent to assist you in order to remember who’s who in the family tree and who is an “extra.”

Caroline, the heroine is portrayed as a divorced middle aged mother who moved away to NYC and returned to her home place “Tall Pines Plantation” after her mother (Miss Lavinia) died. When she returned she resolved to go back to the old ways and run the place as a true southerner would - harkening back to Gone With The Wind traditions just as Miss Lavinia did.

Trip, (her brother), a lawyer by trade, is married to Frances Mae, a woman the family considers “beneath his stature.” Together they have three children ranging from 8 to 18. Trip has a lover (Rusty) on the side that he goes public with. This is such an embarrassment to the wife that she becomes an alcoholic and is sent to California for rehabilitation for the summer.

Millie & Mr. Jenkins, caretakers of Tall Pines, weave in and out of the story stepping in to remind the reader of the lowcountry show more ways. Not only is Millie the cook of Tall Pines, she is also a gullah priestess who conjures up spells and fixes for those she foresees in need.

While Frances Mae is in rehab, Millie, Caroline and Rusty decide to reform “the girls.” Their attempts are met with rebellion every step of the way which is a rollicking laugh riot.

The summer is also filled with Caroline’s romantic-al escapades & the men who donate to the cause - Billy Mack, Matthew, and ex-husband Richard.

When the story ended, I found myself both happy and sad. Happy to have experienced the drama of the summer. Sad to let this family go. I can only hope that the Wimbley family will return again. They are too colorful a cast for the heart to let go of. show less

Book Review - Changing Me, Change The World

If you thought there was no more to say about prayer or Psalms, think again. Lynnda Ell has created an inspiring book designed as a tool for learning to pray using Psalms as her model. Using each of the first 41 Psalms, Ell has drafted a contemporary first-person prayer that can be used as is or customized for private reflection. For the student in all of us, there is a section dedicated to writing our own prayers. Each prayer has a title that introduces the reader to the type of prayer it is in everyday language. I found this book inspiring and one that I will go to again and again.

For you worship planners out there, the prayers can be easily modified for small group devotionals or for broader congregational use. I highly applaud this work.

When my book club picked this as our next read, I thought ‘What a great way to kick-off spring!’ Then I started reading and it was not what I was expecting. Don’t let the title mislead you. It is not a book about Tulips per se. It is more so the history of the Tulip, the mining of the Tulip, the behind the scenes deals and extremes the wealthy would succumb to in their obsession to obtain the greatest bulb. It is also a story of extremes, those who nurture & breed the bulb vs those who buy. Our world is more advanced now than in the 1630’s due to innovation and technology. But after reading and reflecting on the main message, when it comes to behavior, our species hasn’t changed very much. The subtitle: The story of the world’s most coveted flower and the extraordinary passions it aroused’ is very fitting. Would I recommend this book? It would depend on the occasion. Did I learn anything about tulips? No. Was I reminded of the age old teaching that pride goes before a fall and that in any society where there is greed; destruction is right around the corner? Oh yes! and that is a very powerful message in these economic times. My favorite sections were those of the Tulip house, in het ootje, and the chapter of the orphans of Wouter Winkel.

Chick lit at its finest! Take a plain Jane and give her an imaginary friend named Michael to cope with her fashionable society-focused mother. Add heartbreak. Fast forward, plain Jane has turned into rich Jane. More heartbreak. Enter Michael the second time. Simple formula but it works.

I tried but could not relate to this book.

This is just the second book I've read in the series. So far, they both share the same formula. The White House Chef is the heroine and always seems to find herself in the WH in the wrong places which put her in the spotlight not always for her great cuisine. The series is fun - a little Nancy Drew-ish, and I recommend it if you're looking for a light-hearted read to take your mind away from your daily routine.

If you only read one Julia Child cookbook, read this one. It's sort of the Cliff Notes version of Mastering the Art... for very busy people. Julia entertains as always. Her one approach method can make even a novice feel at home in the kitchen.

A warm, funny, coming of age book. First time I've read Whitehead.

This is Alan Bradlley's debut mystery novel. This one was written in the first person from the viewpoint of a pre-teen in Britain who is somewhat of a geek and doesn't fit in with her two older sisters. She has a knack for chemistry and crime-solving which comes in handy as the book unfolds. It's a fast read. Good lite fare for summer. Sort of Nancy Drew-ish.

The story of Peter Fawcett, a Royal Geographical Society explorer, who disappeared in 1925 in the Amazon looking for The Lost City of Z. After his disappearance, people from all over the world became obsessed with both the disappearance and finding Z. This well researched documentary is detail packed and hard to put down.

This book grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. The story of a nine year old girl who happens to watch a woman toss a baby into her family's well was captivating and compassionate. I loved the detail that the author adds and hope she writes a second book. I will recommend this one to friends and family.

This is the August Non-Fiction Book Club pick. It is about a baby boomer who returns to his home town to live after years of being away. He finds that he is no longer perceived as one of them and joins the volunteer fire department to prove his loyalty to the townspeople. The small town in Wisconsin has a population of 485. He tells the story in the first person and it is easy to travel along with him. Most of the book is about his adventures as a volunteer fireman which run the gamat from touching and heartwarming to TMI. Small towns are a hybrid unto themselves and this one is no exception.

Not just a book filled with recipes, this is an extraordinary collection filled with black & white photos of the region, quotes & history of the cuisine. A big fan of dry rubs, I am looking forward to experimenting with these suggestions as well as making my own chutneys. The slow-cooker meals use fresh ingredients most of which can be found in mass-market grocery stores. I anticipate many meals to become family favorites.

Normally, I enjoy historical fiction. Not so with this one. Not a fan.

Culinary mystery at its finest. The story of a White House Assistant Chef who finds herself in the middle of a Secret Service crime scene and later is the only one who can eyewitness a would be assassin. Fun summer read! I look forward to the next volume in the series.

Incredible collection of bisquick recipes. Great for stretching a dollar in these tough economic times.

As a collector of southern food recipes, traditions, and history, Mama Dip's Family Cookbook contains all three. If you aren't old enough to remember the good ole' days, don't fret. Now you get to read the story behind the food and if you follow her directions, you also get to taste them. Reading her autobiography is like listening to an old friend tell you stories from their childhood. Who could ask for more?

Mouth watering, easy to prepare food that tastes good too! The only downside is that you are tempted to eat more than the recommended portion size,

Simple, straightforward directions on how to prepare NOLA cuisine at home. Great stocks and dry rub recipes.

Brave, inspirational, tear-jerker. Pausch decides to take advantage of his last opportunity to give a college lecture to leave a lasting tribute of the stories, memories, and things he wanted his children, colleagues, and others connected by cancer to remember about what makes life worth living. I wish my Dad had left me something like this when he was diagnosed with cancer. Sort of a unique combination of Everything I ever learned came from Kindergarten and Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.