Tag: Tyndale

Biblical · Uncategorized

A Review, The Pharisee’s Wife

RebekahElizabeth1 Comment

Janette Oke is a name well-known among Christian Fiction circles. Her books have graced a thousand bookshelves, passed between friends at church, and been treasured finds at thrift stores. Several of her works have birthed film adaptions, such as the Love Comes Softly movies and When Calls the Heart series. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise to me to see her most recent release at the library– The Pharisee’s Wife–but it was.

For one, Janette is no less than 90 years old! Always a bit of a skeptic, I remember scrutinizing the front, back, and inside covers looking for another author who must have co-written Oke’s vision and released it under her name. But as 2nd Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” I truly believe God worked through Janette’s years and enabled her to write, to my mind, her finest work.

In fairness, I haven’t read a great portion of the staggering 70+ novels Oke has penned. Speaking humbly–with respect for how much she contributed to the Christian Fiction genre–I didn’t connect with most of those I tried. The romances, in particular, often felt cliche and even a bit hammy to me… I’ll never forget one chapter from When Calls the Heart where the female protagonist faints dramatically and is predictably gathered up in the arms of the ever-ready handsome Mountie.

Whether we see eye to eye in that regard– adore Oke or nay– I hope you will give The Pharisee’s Wife an opportunity. The book reads as a different flavor of love story– a love story to the Gospel, a love story to God’s people waiting expectantly for Him to come again, and a love story to ordinary women. It connects you to the heart of a young girl during Jesus’ first coming, trying to make sense of everything she is hearing about the “teacher” both from his followers and from her Pharisee husband, who bitterly hates Him.

The Pharisee’s Wife is set in a completely different time and culture than Janette has typically written in all her life, yet it felt natural and well researched. Mary–the titular wife– isn’t “ahead of her time.” She doesn’t think or talk like a modern woman, and I find that refreshingly realistic. She’s little more than a child, raised in an insular, tiny village… naive, innocent, and unsophisticated. She’s also kind, discerning, and warmly endearing.

Mary “ties the knot” with a Pharisee–a total stranger–and in turn her family receives a dowry that will help her crippled father live a comfortable life. Her husband, Enos, is neither gentle nor generous. Thankfully (depending on how you look at it) he spends most of his marriage away from home, trying to make an end of Jesus.

The book isn’t without flaws. The book lost steam in the second half– and the ending in particular left me somewhat unsatisfied. There were hints at directions I thought the book was headed that never led to a conclusion (some characters in particular were left dangling). There was one scene where the Gospel is shared, and I remember noting it felt unnatural, somehow. While the Gospel certainly has not changed since Jesus first shared it– repentance and belief in the Messiah for forgiveness of sins– I doubt the earliest believers sounded like TV evangelists. Especially since Jesus hadn’t even died or risen yet, so their understanding of his teachings wasn’t “complete.” I wished that Jesus’ actual words had been quoted.

That said, after reading the Note from the Author at the end of the book, I had a newfound respect even for some of the plot points I would have preferred to tweak. Janette intentionally left the ending a bit anticlimactic, pointing forward to Christ’s return, “for the climax of God’s great plan is still in the future.” Some of her character arcs made more sense when she explained that she wished to remind readers that “…it is not always the person we would choose as worthy who makes the important decision of becoming a believer. God has given each individual free will. We deeply grieve over those we love who do not choose to repent and believe. At other times, one whom we see as the greatest sinner does seek forgiveness and God responds in mercy.” While imperfect (as all books are besides our Heavenly Father’s), The Pharisee’s Wife left me with spiritual food to chew on and ultimately honored our Lord. I commend the author for this thoughtful story and her prayer, with which I will close:

“To you who hold this book in your hands, no matter the time or your circumstances, may you know that I have prayed for you, that in some way, as only God through his Spirit can do, your heart may be touched to meet whatever is your present, personal need.”

Full Reviews · Historical

Full Review, Count the Nights by Stars

RebekahElizabeth1 Comment

In my last post, I said that I planned to look into other books by Michelle Shocklee after being so taken with Appalachian Song. I’ve certainly done so– since then I’ve finished two more and started a third! If you haven’t heard about this relatively new name in Tyndale, she’s worth looking into at the local library or bookstore. I would be especially likely to mention her to someone who loves Cathy Gohlke, as the writing style feels similar to me.

Count the Nights by Stars is a dual timeline story centered around the lives of Priscilla and Audrey–one a young woman living in 1897, the other coming of age in the early 1960s. Each has ties to a famous Nashville, Tennessee hotel called Maxwell House. Sound familiar? It’s the real-life namesake of Maxwell House Coffee. (“Good to the last drop!“) The choice of setting was masterful on Michelle’s part– the hotel is a fascinating location, saturated with colorful history and events from which she could easily propel her story.

Priscilla visits the Maxwell with her family just before the turn of the Century, when Nashville is brimming with all the excitement of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. I relished being whisked away into the wonder of this incredible event… 200 acres of discovery, with everything from a literal recreation of the Parthenon to a giant steel see-saw ride that fit 20 people at a time and propelled you several hundred feet into the air!

In the 1960s, Audrey gathers clues from Priscilla’s Centennial scrapbook and slowly pieces together what unfolded all those years before. Both young women are coming of age in their respective timelines; Audrey is maturing in how she views her autistic little brother and the death of her mother. Meanwhile, Priscilla’s eyes are opened to the need for Christ’s mercy and help to be extended to women trapped in the prostitution industry of her day.

While I really enjoyed both female leads, and adored the setting, the dialog and plot felt a bit stilted. Conversations, especially ones about faith topics, sometimes came across as unnatural to me. The storyline was somewhat simplistic, if solid. In some ways, I was reminded of old black and white films– the bad guy is overwhelmingly bad, the mother is spoiled and aggravating in an exaggerated way, and there’s a bit too much telling versus showing. But, like many classic movies, this book is also wholesome and warm. Since Count the Nights by Stars came out earlier than Appalachian Song, it’s possible that Shocklee just needed more time and practice to grow into her writing talent. If, somehow, she ever read this review, I’d hope she would take the criticism as constructive and know that I still think there is a lot in this book to praise.

One last thought… what is up with all the similarly titled “star” books in Christian Fiction lately? I really can’t keep them straight anymore. There’s Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette… Hidden among the Stars by Melanie Dobson… and I’m pretty sure both are Tyndale books, as well. If you’ve read this, tell me your opinion of the title and cover. Do you think they suit the novel?

God bless, and happy reading!

Full Reviews · Historical

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

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It’s a great feeling to discover a writer you didn’t know anything about and love that first book; I imagine it’s akin to finding the first gold nugget in a creek. You know you’ve got a treasure in your hands, as well as the tantalizing prospect of more to be found—maybe just around the corner! Somehow Michelle Shocklee flew under my radar until just recently, when I was drawn to the beautiful cover image for Appalachian Song and checked out the audiobook version from my library.

Appalachian Song is the story of a young pregnant girl who is taken in and cared for by a group of older spinster sisters. They live alone in a backwoods Tennessee cabin while the Second World War wages. Songbird, as the sisters lovingly call their little ward, is an utterly charming character who quickly wins the hearts of her new family. Even grumpy-but-practical sister Jenny, who reminds me a lot of Marilla Cuthbert (from Anne of Green Gables), warms under Songbird’s influence.

Flashing forward to the 70s, Country singer Walker Wylie tries to dig up the truth about where he came from, and what happened to his parents. I’m sure you can guess where this is going, but I enjoyed following along as the story unfolded, as there was a bit of mystery around what exactly had/would happen to Songbird and her baby.

Because some of the subject matter is more mature in nature, I would advise caution before giving this to younger readers. That said, the author handles topics like teen pregnancy with compassion and discretion. Bertie Jenkins, one of the sisters who cares for Songbird, is an especially memorable character; a midwife, Bertie becomes like a grandmother to her charge, as well as a spiritual mentor. Bertie beautifully shares the Gospel with Songbird as well as Biblical wisdom and encouragement. Even so, she’s every bit a product of her time and place, equal parts grit and practicality.   

I wish I could say I loved every character as much as Bertie (if I did, this would surely be a five-star review), but I never warmed up to Walker. I think if the author had mingled in some of his more positive character traits early on–alongside his frustration and anger over his recently discovered adoption– I would have been more sympathetic towards him. As it was, he came across as whiny and self-absorbed. Not so detrimental in itself–since he had a huge “about face” moment at the end– if not for an underlying romance thread throughout the book. I still don’t understand what exactly the girl fell in love with, since Walker mostly wallowed in angst the entire time. Just a few well-placed paragraphs of Walker charming everyone with a few guitar melodies, embracing farm life, or doing an occasional kindness would have really helped me root for him at his lows. Either that, or hold off on the romance till the end when he has a change of heart, and give a subtle hint that it’s in the cards so we all know he gets a happy ever after.

While I was also a bit unsatisfied with the ending written for Songbird (I didn’t feel like it made sense for her character, but I can’t say why due to spoilers), I won’t deny this book left me with a lot of good feelings. One of my favorite verses, Psalm 90 verse 2 says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” I hope you will meander through the Appalachians as well and leave with the same sense of warmth, dwelling on our everlasting Creator.

Biblical · Full Reviews · Historical

King’s Shadow by Angela Hunt

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When you were a kid, did your mom ever make you watch history documentaries? You know the ones; maybe they were about the Civil War, or the Aztecs, or uncovering the secrets of Ancient Egyptians (seems as if new mummies are discovered every day). There was a deep voiced narrator who had perfected the art of sounding ominous, and interviews with at least one old guy who appeared to spend too much time locked away in a dusty museum basement. But the best parts of the film were when they would use actors to reenact historical moments in the background. You could watch Pharaoh so-and-so yell at underlings, lounge by the Nile, order a pizza, and ultimately die at the hands of some angry conspiring family member (okay, I made up the pizza part). If you’re like me, you ultimately found yourself surprisingly entertained. Fifteen years later, it’s not what you’d pick for movie night, but you still remember enjoying the learning process.  

I finished a book a while ago that reminded me of one of those films– King’s Shadow by Angela Hunt. Based on the events just before Christ, the story revolves around King Herod’s sister Salome and her fictionalized handmaid Zara. Since much of the unfolding drama in the book is drawn from true history of the time, the plot meanders around like ordinary life does. Real people rarely have stories that fit perfectly into the plot-writing standards you learned in high school English, with orderly climaxes and obvious overarching themes. For those reasons, I think Angela’s hands were tied, (pen and all) and the story tends to lack direction.

That said, King’s Shadow still did an amazing job breathing life into the years just before and up to Messiah’s birth. Christian fiction centered on the years of Jesus’ life are commonplace, but the time period for this book was unique–and set the stage in a way that helped me to better understand the cultural and political backdrop that followed. It documents Herod’s life through the eyes of a sister who is fiercely loyal, even as he slowly degenerates into the baby-killing monster we read about every Christmas. If you enjoy political intrigue, there is plenty of it here, even (or especially) within the royal family. Handmaid Zara is a quiet presence throughout, lending the viewpoint of a God-fearing and humble Jew.

Of course, I made the mistake of reading what turned out to be the fourth book in a series (!)– oops. Do I regret it? No. This book solidified my opinion that Angela Hunt’s best work is her historical fiction. Her research and rich writing style shine here, while the constraints of the timeline help her keep her characterizations and stories more believable (something I think she struggles with in some of her contemporary fiction, such as an earlier work, The Canopy). Not unlike those documentaries, I walked away feeling as if I knew the time period and the motivations of its main players better, but lacking deep emotional attachment to the story or practical application to my own life. For those pros and cons, I gave the book 3/5 stars.  

Do you like documentaries? Who are your historical inspirations? As always, I love hearing from you.

Ramblings · Short Reviews (1-2 Star Rating)

Far-fetched Civil War Stories (and One of Them Is Mostly True)

RebekahElizabeth1 Comment

It’s 1861, and eighteen year old Cassie runs away from home to avoid the loathsome marriage her drunkard father has arranged for her against her will. With few options open to her and a fervent desire to hide somewhere her father cannot find her, she joins the Union Army—disguising herself as a man. At first an engrossing and action-packed story, Where Dandelions Bloom by Tara Johnson unfortunately seems to completely lose steam about half-way through, letting loose its grip on the suspense and character development it was building up to that point. Notably, Cassie’s secret identity is discovered by a handsome young photographer, and rather than build slowly on the relationship between the two, the author focuses in on their relationship and the story devolves into near-constant romantic drama. I ultimately lost interest completely around the same time phrases like “It was all he could do not to sweep her up in his arms and cradle her like a wounded kitten” started popping up, which seemed jarring against the raw backdrop of the American Civil War. Somehow I find it hard to believe that in the midst of such a bloody war the main characters would act and think the way Johnson renders them.

Such a lovely cover and title…

It’s 1861, (sound familiar?) and Canadian Sarah Emma Edmonds, who went by Emma, was making a living in the United States. Having run away from her birthplace and her abusive father–who had set up an arranged marriage for her–Emma disguised herself as a man, selling Bibles door-to-door. Moved for the Union cause, Emma managed to enlist under her alias of “Franklin Thompson.” Emma nursed wounded soldiers and buried the dead; later she was assigned the task of regimental mail carrier (which was more dangerous than it sounds, as carriers were prone to being ambushed!). Emma’s true story, unfortunately, has ballooned almost to mythical grounds today because of an at least partly fictionalized “memoir” she wrote called Nurse and Spy in the Union Army. In it, she recounts stories of espionage, such as infiltrating a confederate fort disguised as a black man (having used silver nitrate to blacken her face and skin). That said, a serious study of Civil War intelligence by Edwin Fishel notes that both “Emma’s name and alias are missing from Pinkerton’s [head of the Union Intelligence Service] roster of agents; no information attributed to her is found in the thousand pages of Pinkerton reports in the McClellan Papers.” As a fellow soldier’s diary mentions “Franklin” to have been present in camp during the time frame she claimed to have been serving as a spy, it’s more than dubious that she was ever involved in espionage, but unfortunately her memoir is often taken as gospel to this day, despite being riddled with errors. If you want to read the rest of Fishel’s notes about Emma, or are interested in military intelligence of the Civil War, you might enjoy his book, The Secret War for the Union. Whatever the case may be with regard to Emma’s later adventures, she served for two years before deserting (she insisted that she left for fear of being discovered after she contracted malaria), but returned as herself (in woman’s garb) and continued helping the cause as a nurse for the U.S. Christian Commission. I’ve left out many details, so feel free to google up one of the many articles about Emma’s life–though in my opinion facts drawn from her memoir should be taken with a grain of salt.

Emma, after the Civil War…

Tara Johnson has confirmed that Emma was the inspiration for Where Dandelions Bloom. While I may not care for her twist on the true tale, I’m grateful to her for drawing my attention to Edmonds’ singular and eventful life… it’s certainly a unique piece of the patchwork of American history.

Q&A With Tessa Afshar
Author Interviews · Uncategorized

Q&A With Tessa Afshar

RebekahElizabeth3 Comments

I told you, dear readers, that I had a lovely Q&A waiting just around the corner for you! In honor of her newest release, author Tessa Afshar has been making time for interviews. I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to ask her a handful of questions! Tessa’s author bio as well as a bevy of other relevant links are at the bottom of this post, so please take a look at those if you are interested in learning more about Tessa after you’ve finished reading through her warmhearted answers. Let’s jump right in!

978-1-4964-2870-7

R: Your newest release, Daughter of Rome, is launching February 4th; I noticed almost immediately that the main characters will encounter Paul the apostle. This isn’t your first book featuring an appearance from Paul (Bread of Angels and Thief of Corinth immediately come to mind), and I’m curious if it’s more than coincidence that you feel drawn to write about him. Do you relate or resonate with his life?

T: What a good question, Rebekah! Because so many of the New Testament letters were written by Paul, we know more about him than almost any other person in the early church. We know of his travels, his travails, his triumphs. We know his friends and his enemies. We know his background and struggles. For a writer like me, Paul’s trailblazing life provides the perfect fodder for a novel.

More subtly, Paul’s presence in different books acts as the cord that pulls the stories together. For example, Bread of Angels is inspired by the story of Lydia, who came to faith through Paul’s preaching in Philippi. Not long after that, Paul traveled to Corinth. So it was natural to have him show up in Thief of Corinth. Paul also first met Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth. Of course, I had to include him in Daughter of Rome as well. He makes a great spiritual father!

R: You also have a number of books set in the Old Testament era—fleshing out the stories of Ruth and Rahab, among others. Do you find it easier to write in one time period versus the other (Old Testament versus New)?

T: I prefer to remain in a specific time period for several years. The more you linger in a certain era, the more you learn about it. Books have a way of expressing that facility and knowledge, creating a more powerful story for the reader. I am currently working on another New Testament book, but eventually I will return to the Old Testament. I have a few ideas percolating in the back of my mind already! I will probably spend the first year in a flurry of research, trying to find answers to too many questions. But it will ultimately be worth it.

R: I was taking a look through your website and noticed that you feature a Bible verse there—Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Such a beautiful verse. Do you feel it is the heartbeat of your novels? A message of healing through Jesus Christ?

T: I certainly feel that it is an important part of my writing. Jesus said he came to bind up the broken-hearted (Isa. 61:1). For me, the best of my writing contains a touch of the Balm of Gilead for the reader.

R: Reading through an excellent interview with you by Mesu Andrews (link to that here) I saw that you mentioned working a day job (at least at the time) in addition to writing. Do you mind if I ask what your occupation is when you aren’t crafting a story? English teacher? Caped superhero? Dye master, like Lydia in Bread of Angels?

T: Actually, I have been a full-time writer for some time now. That interview was from five years ago. At the time, I worked full-time in women’s ministry and prayer ministry, writing whenever I could. Looking back, I can see the grace of God made that crazy schedule possible.

R: Do you feel that having lived the early years of your childhood in Iran gave you a better perspective for detailing the settings of your novels? While I’ve never been to Israel, I’m of the opinion that you deftly capture the flavor of the Middle East.

T: Thank you, Rebekah! I think some of my Middle Eastern background definitely makes its way into the novels. My voice as a writer comes out of a well that was once watered by ancient poems and epic tales of adventures in the East. I was raised eating pomegranates and saffron rice. Those sights and smells are still a deep part of my life, and they spill out on the paper when I write.

***

It’s been a pleasure hanging out with you and your readers at A Page Out of Her Book! You are an awesome host, Rebekah. Thanks for asking such great questions.

R: Oh, it’s been a joy having you here! All the best.

 

Tessa AfsharTessa Afshar is an award-winning author of biblical fiction, including Thief of Corinth, a 2019 Inspy Award finalist; Land of Silence, which was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016; and Harvest of Gold, which won a 2014 Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Born in Iran, Tessa spent her teen years in England and later moved to the United States. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life. She holds an MDiv from Yale Divinity School, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. 

 

Tessa’s Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Daughter of Rome  by Tessa Afshar
ISBN: 978-1-4964-2870-7| Hardcover: $25.99
ISBN: 978-1-4964-2871-4 | Softcover: $15.99
February 2020
Tyndale.com

 

 

Contemporary · Full Reviews · Historical

Full Review, Hidden Among the Stars

RebekahElizabeth5 Comments

If absence truly makes the heart grow fonder, than you must be dearly fond of me by now, friends. How sweet, then, to be able to return to you inspired with new ideas for the blog–armed with possibilities and a number of summertime reads to share!

I’m all for a dessert-first attitude, so I wanted to come back with my absolute favorite book of this year. Hidden Among the Stars is the kind of book I started this blog to find; the kind of book I thought about during the day, and looked forward to enjoying when I got home in the same way I look forward to savoring my favorite comfort foods or lighting my favorite candle. I felt as if I could nestle into this book and its characters.

Written by Melanie Dobson, the book is a time-slip novel alternating between Nazi Austria (late 1930s) and a modern day America. Unlike many dual-plotline stories, I found myself equally invested in and enjoying both, at least until the very end… when I absolutely HAD to know how the past would unfold and finally have all my questions answered. The modern day protagonist owns a children’s bookstore with her sister (cue a surplus of snippets from classic children’s literature),and is trying to uncover the links between a family member’s puzzling origins and two mysterious vintage books. The past holds a musician, a wealthy young man, and a girl in love… plus a large dose of fascination. As if that wasn’t enough allure for one novel, Dobson skillfully set the stages in and around a lakeside castle.

How do you feel about unrequited love stories, readers? It isn’t usually to my taste; perhaps I just think there’s enough loneliness in the real world to invalidate ever wanting to put it into a work of fiction where a happily ever after would be as easy as writing in another “I love you.” There was a case of it in Hidden Among the Stars, but it was so perfectly juxtaposed against a few other romances in the novel that it seemed fitting. Younger readers should be cautioned that this book does deal with some heavy topics. As well as, or perhaps as a result of, the expected anti-semitism and cruelty of the period, a young woman is raped. 

While I generally try not to rely on other reviewers to put my feelings about a book into words, I think author Sandra Byrd put it perfectly when she said of Dobson’s work:

“A silver thread of the love-of-others entwines with a golden thread of the love-of-God, tying past and present storylines.”

These threads of Christian truth are woven in delicately and don’t begin to really sparkle until about half-way through. Patiently enjoy the beauty of this novel as you wait for them to emerge and add rich depth to an already lovely book. 5/5 Stars.

Saving Amelie, Full Review
Full Reviews · Historical

Saving Amelie, Full Review

RebekahElizabeth3 Comments

I’ve been busy, book friends—I’ve been on a trip to Germany! More than two weeks spent mostly in the little Bavarian village of Oberammergau. It’s a place where fragrant breakfast rolls and strudels warm your mouth and your heart… and the Alps reach up with snowy hands as if ready to catch the sky if it falls. This is the home of the Passion Play, which has been performed by the locals once a decade for over 350 years.

Of course, I haven’t been there literally; who has money to travel? I’ve been immersed in a WWII novel by Cathy Gohlke—Saving Amelie. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may remember it as one of the books in my bargain haul from Tyndale. $5 for a ticket back in time is certainly a fare I can afford!

Based on the back-cover summary, I initially thought that the story would be at least partly from the point of view of Kristine Schlick, a young mother unsure how to protect her deaf daughter. Married to an SS officer who views the little girl as a blight on his Aryan bloodline, Kristine is forced to turn to an old friend for help. Rachel Cramer, the true protagonist, steps in as a hesitant hero and escapes with Kristine’s child to the little village of Oberammergau. There, she deals with some shocking discoveries about her own past.

Rachel isn’t a gallant hero, despite the whirlwind of danger and deception she finds herself entrenched in. She’s somewhat selfish, a consequence of being raised in the affluent and prejudiced home of a eugenics scientist. Unable to stomach the depravity she comes face to face with among her father’s circle in Germany, Rachel takes a stand for morality… but remains reluctant to help others with their more mundane and down-to-earth needs.

There’s a romantic interest—Jason Young, an American journalist with resistance connections—as well as a whole host of other lovable characters. As both Rachel and Jason begin to understand Christ’s sacrifice for mankind, they also become more selfless… and this is where the core of the story lies, in what Gohlke emphasizes as “costly grace”—grace that requires a servant’s heart and a surrendering of your own desires.

Despite the hard realities of WWII, Gohlke manages to keep the book from becoming too gritty. She deftly paints the heartaches and struggles of her characters but manages quite a bit of good luck (or perhaps she would call it providence!) for them as well. One or two key plot lines seemed utterly far-fetched and unconvincing to me—ultimately hurting my rating of the book, which otherwise could have been a 5/5. That said, if you relish stories that feature undercover subterfuge or a mysterious underground resistance, you’ll probably still find yourself thoroughly enjoying Saving Amelie.

4/5

Biblical · Full Reviews

Full Review, Land of Silence

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LandofSilence1

Close your eyes for a moment… (not too long, or you won’t be able to read this post!)

You’re me. You’re at work at the library. The automated materials handler (a.k.a. the book sorting machine) is humming and spitting books into different bins behind you; someone’s mom is reading aloud in the children’s area; coworkers in sweaters and cardigans answer the telephone at the help desk in a professional tone.

You just received the daily delivery from our sister library in Fairbanks… and opened the lid of one box full of brand new shiny books. If this didn’t already happen every week (and you didn’t have to wonder about little details like shelf space) you might expect some angelic music to fly out when that box opens. Or confetti. With sparkles!

Of course you’re only a little surprised when Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar makes its way out of the box– after all, your ARE the one who requested it for purchase… Continue reading “Full Review, Land of Silence” →

Allegory · Full Reviews

Full Review, Hinds’ Feet on High Places

RebekahElizabeth4 Comments

HINDS'Feet1

Hinds Feet on High Places
by Hannah Hurnard
Tyndale Publishers

I gave you a sneak peek of Hinds’ Feet on High Places a few weeks ago (you can find that here). In case you missed that post, Hinds’ Feet is an allegory detailing the journey of little “Much-Afraid”, a crippled and disfigured young woman following the Shepherd up to the High Places. In my interpretation, the High Places do not represent Heaven and the end of earthly life, but rather the reaching of a deep spiritual relationship with God which continues to grow. Continue reading “Full Review, Hinds’ Feet on High Places” →