It occurred to me while reading my latest book that it doesn't make sense to be reading a book entitled Hot Apple Cider when it's been close to 100 degrees outside. But this book was not meant to warm the body. It's designed to warm the heart, and most of us could use a heart-warming story any day of the year.
The full title is Hot Apple Cider: Words to Stir the Heart and Warm the Soul. It's a collection of stories and poems by 30 Canadian authors edited by N. J. Linquist and Wendy Elaine Nelles, co-founders of The Word Guild. The book is similar to the Chicken Soup series in that the stories are short, and you don't feel like you have to make a big time commitment when you sit down to read a story or two. However, I found myself wanting to read another and another because they are so well-written.
All of the selections present a Christian worldview, but they are not necessarily evangelical or preachy. One story described a woman's struggle with drug addiction and her subsequent turning to Christ for final victory over her addicition. Heartwarming, educational, inspirational, and even entertaining---that's how I would describe this volume. You can buy the book on Amazon.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Jan Karon: Another of My Favorite Authors
I just finished reading Home to Holly Springs, the first book in a new series called The Father Tim Novels.
I have read all of the books in Karon's Mitford series, and I hoped that she would come out with a new series, however, it never occurred to me that she would do a "pre-quel" on Father Tim's life. I read the book in two days. I won't say I couldn't put it down, but I did get caught up in the mystery of the cryptic note that Father Tim received from an unknown person in his home town of Holly Springs. It simply said, "Come home."
Most of the critiques on Amazon are favorable, although some said they were disappointed that all the the Mitford characters were not in this story. Many of them were mentioned, though. And we are treated to a whole new cast of characters in the charming town of Holly Springs, MS. We learn something of Father Tim's family and childhood traumas, some of which are resolved in this novel. The new characters and story lines hold promise for subsequent Father Time novels.
If you have never read anything by Jan Karon, start with At Home in Mitford, the first in the Mitford series. The town and the characters remind me of the folks in Mayberry of The Andy Griffith Show.Most public libraries stock Karon's work, so look there first if you're short on cash for your summer reading.
http://www.mitfordbooks.com/
I have read all of the books in Karon's Mitford series, and I hoped that she would come out with a new series, however, it never occurred to me that she would do a "pre-quel" on Father Tim's life. I read the book in two days. I won't say I couldn't put it down, but I did get caught up in the mystery of the cryptic note that Father Tim received from an unknown person in his home town of Holly Springs. It simply said, "Come home."
Most of the critiques on Amazon are favorable, although some said they were disappointed that all the the Mitford characters were not in this story. Many of them were mentioned, though. And we are treated to a whole new cast of characters in the charming town of Holly Springs, MS. We learn something of Father Tim's family and childhood traumas, some of which are resolved in this novel. The new characters and story lines hold promise for subsequent Father Time novels.
If you have never read anything by Jan Karon, start with At Home in Mitford, the first in the Mitford series. The town and the characters remind me of the folks in Mayberry of The Andy Griffith Show.Most public libraries stock Karon's work, so look there first if you're short on cash for your summer reading.
http://www.mitfordbooks.com/
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