Faith and Politics: an Often Fatal Combination

I feel like it's been forever since I last posted, sorry for the delay!

This month I reviewed, Raised Right: How I Untangled My Faith from Politics, by Alisa Harris a short quirky memoir about coming to terms with living out her faith. Alisa Harris grew up picketing abortion clinics, going to republican rally's, and debating her fellow home-schooled friends. She thought that being politically active was the best way to live out her conservative christian faith. As she gets older however she begins to realize that maybe no matter how hard you try you can't change the world if you're hiding behind your signs. You have to live it out in your actions every single day.

Overall, I felt that this was a very poignant well-written, and inspiring memoir, it's perfect for the ultra-religious, the non-religious, the politically savvy, the non-political, it's just really great for everyone. The stories that Alisa shares from her childhood are funny, sad, serious, inspiring and fulfill every emotional pull that you could possibly combine in a book. I would recommend this book to anyone, it illuminates an important aspect of our culture and tries to make sense of our hectic society. In an age where Jonesbro Church members picket army funerals and harass the public this book attempts to come to terms with this era's culture warriors. A must read for everyone!

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

Mercy Come Morning

I was finally able to find some free time this weekend to sit down and read some books. I finished The Lost City of Z which was a fantastic must read novel and Mercy Come Morning an alright book that I would probably never read again. Mercy Come Morningis the tale of woman having to come to terms with her mother who is dying from alzhiemers. Krista comes back to her hometown to settle things with her mother and to spend some time with her old high school beau. Of course Krista has to overcome many obstacles such as forgiving her mother for neglecting her as a child and learning to trust herself around Dane. Thankfully, the Lord is on her side and gives her the courage to face her trials. Overall, this book is sappy and everything turns out like it's supposed to. It's a good read for those who know people going through Alz and having to cope with it's affects. It's not anything that I would ever re-read or reccomend though.

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me

When my copy of The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall arrived I have to admit that I wasn't too thrilled to start reading it and it wasn't because there was a farm and a wistful looking young woman in Amish garb adorning the cover. I honestly just don't do well with religous romantic novels. In this book's defense though it wasn't nearly half as bad as I thought it would be. The novel doesn't just have one main character or even two. It has about 10 and it even comes with a character guide in the back. Basically a bunch of single Amish men and women overcome many obstacles in order to be together. Instead of their plain lifestyle being a challenge they have to learn to trust God completely in order to be with the ones they love. As mentioned, the novel focuses on many different characters. First there is, Sylvie, a young woman who flees her home and family to work on a dairy farm miles away after making a mistake she can't bear to face. Then there is Aaron, a recoverin alcoholic who comes back to his his parents to seek a new life  and forgiveness, while home he encounters their new farm hand Sylvie and the attraction starts. Next is Cara, a young mother who fled a life in the big city of New York and from an abusive stalker. In Amish country she finds solace and true love in Ephraim. I could list off all the charaters and their troubles but that would take nearly as long as reading the story yourself. It isn't a bad read either. I'd give it a shot. First impressions aren't always a good thing, I'm glad I tried reading it. It proved that all religious romantiv novels aren't as ... obnoxious as I like to think they are :)

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

Suprisingly Simple

The One-Day Way by Chantel Hobbs wasn't exactly rocket science, but its simplicity is still empowering. Chantel doesn't promise all the hidden keys to success, she outlines the major one that stares everyone in the face, all we need to do to be happy and content, is to live each day to the fullest and to not look back on our faults and slip ups. If we take it one day at a time then we will be happy with our lives in no time. It's a great concept, it's just so damn simple. I was expecting something with a little more substance. I'm not doubting that this truth is empowering and helpful to our lives but at the same time I am boggled at how she turned this tiny revelation into an entire book. Impressive. This book wasn't bad, but wasn't great either. It prompts you to take action with your life, but at the same time I felt it was a little lacking. I think that it's one of those books that everyone will react to differently. Regardless if its a New York Times Bestseller or not, it still worth the read.

Hope everyone is having a happy summer. My grad school starts in a mere three weeks. Scary!

“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

Libraries and Facebook

The Johnson County Public Library is pleased to announce that it has a fully functioning facebook page accessible to all library patrons, facebook users, and visitors. The page will be used to promote and advertise upcoming library events and programs via online calendars and reminders, share pictures and videos from previous activities, and to share new items that have entered into the library's circulation. The site is easy to navigate and was created in the hopes that the younger generation and the technologically savvy will have an easy way to stay connected with the library, a central hub in every community. The library facebook site has many different features that will be sure to interest everyone. Videos, blogs, news updates, calendar of upcoming events, photos, contests, links to library related web pages, and much much more.

 For more information please visit the Johnson County Public Library's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Johnson-County-Public-Library-Indiana/236886676250

Or my wikispaces page: www.wikispaces.com/ecataldi

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover

Words cannot describe how suprised I was when I got the mail today and my newest book What Are You Waiting For? The One Thing No One Ever Tells You About Sex by Dannah Gresh arrived. Great I thought, some kooky religious book about why even kissing before marraige is bad. Just what I want to read this summer. I flipped to the first page to skim over what nonsense I had in store for me and two hours later I found myself reading the acknowledgments. What?!? I had read the whole thing in one sitting? I couldn't put the book down, I literally sat at my desk engrossed in this book and dead to the world. This book was mesmerizing and an absolute must read for anyone. Mrs Gresh talks about religion and sex and it really revolutionized how I viewed it. She wasn't one to shy away from any hard topics and even discusses: porn, masturbation, and homosexuality (although I loved the book, I still don't agree with all of her viewpoints towards homosexuality, still a little bit narrow minded for me). Her quest to finding the life changing truth about sex is amazing and inspiring. It causes one to think more critically about our fast paced sex crazed culture and evaluate how it affects our relationships. I can't rave enough about this book. What a total suprise. I expected to hate it and I ended up loving it, what a read!

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Young at Heart

I didn't really realize until I started reading, that Departures: Two Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn was a teen novel, so I was in for a treat. It was like going back in time to middle school. Even though the book was a little out of my age range, I still thoroughly enjoyed it however.

Departures consists of two short stories about two very different fifteen year old girls. The first story focuses on Christy Miller as she travels with her family to her grandparents small town to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. While there she encounters her old crush and begins to reevaluate herself and her relationship with this boy and with God. As she gets closer with her old crush she really begins to discover what's important to her and what she wants out of life.

The second short story focuses on Sierra Jensen as she vacations with her friend's family. She and her overly competitive friend discover that its more important to deepen their relationship with each other and with God, rather than chasing boys and getting into trouble.

Overall, this book was a fast read. It was a little predictable and a little churchy for me, but the writing was great and the characters realistic. A great read for middle schoolers.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.