Comments from a Book Lover

Tim Tebow: Great QB, Great Leader, & Most of All, Great Heart After God

2011-06-05T17:55:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I’m a born-&-raised Florida Gator fan. Orange, especially when paired with blue, happens to be my favorite color . . . But I didn’t start really watching the Gators play till high school. The credit for that can go my high school class—I was the only girl, so sports was always on topic. They got me hooked, and I’ve been loyal ever since.

Chris Leak was playing QB when I started really paying attention. I watched through his years, and when Tebow started playing in Leak’s senior year, I saw him and thought, “Good to know we’ll have someone to step up when Leak’s gone.” I left it at that.

Didn’t think another thing of this Tebow guy.

Until that summer.

I read a piece about Tim being in a church play as Goliath and the boy who played David did the Gator Chomp as he stood over him. It made me laugh, and made me wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was more to this guy than football. So I kept reading the stories to see. I watched him the following season, and my respect for him grew.

It’s hard for someone to earn my utmost respect, but this man, who is almost a year younger than I am, has earned it through his action on the field and—most of all—off the field. I particularly love the stories about his family. His parents, sisters, brothers . . . His mother is such a beautiful lady who seems to be full of so much wisdom that I would just love to sit down and chat.

I even attended an event he spoke at, but I’m getting a little off track here . . .
This is a book blog, not a sports blog . . .
Well, for this post, it’s both.

I received Tim Tebow’s book, Through My Eyes, and just had to start reading . . . I know, I know, I have a pile of books plus all the kindle books to read too.

But I had to read this. And, as each page was turned, Tim Tebow earned even more respect in my eyes. Tough feat, but he did. As I read his stories from growing up—his family stories, his work ethic, his sports life, his love of God—I couldn’t help thinking that his parents certainly did a great job. Then I read about his football career at Florida. As he recalled the games, I could see them playing over in my head—I watched most all of them myself.

What I loved most was how he readily used each piece in his life as a life lesson with God. He didn’t shy away from talking about Christ, and how his relationship with Christ plays a vital role in everything he does. That is where the majority of my respect for him comes from—from truly standing as a Christian, and not just playing the “Christian” when it’s convenient. Far too many people are Convenient Christians.

All in all, this book is inspiring, informative, and just a good read—it gives you a glimpse into Tim’s mind, motivation, and heart. Florida Gators fan or not . . . Denver Broncos fan or not . . . This is one guy of whom we can all be a fan.

Check this out: http://www.timtebowfoundation.org/

Lots of Catching Up...

2011-05-17T16:08:00.002-04:00

So I haven’t been so good about updating this thing lately… but then again, I haven’t even had a chance to read much. It’s been about a year since I very steadily read a lot. School and work kept me pretty busy and tired. Thanks to school though, I got a kindle. Why am I thanking school? Well, I had to buy my textbooks, which I then sent in to Amazon’s trade back program, and I got over $140 as an Amazon gift card—after applying that to the price, I only paid about $30 for my kindle including the shipping. I’ve been taking it with me everywhere I go, and thus, I’ve been reading more.

Four books have kept my imagination occupied over the last few weeks. The latest one I finished is by the author from my last post—Jeremy McNabb. He has published two works on Amazon: one a novella which I read and reviewed in February, the other a novel that I’m reviewing now.

Joy & Carnage

Joy & Carnage tells the story of Mercedes--a girl who, once popular, becomes an outcast after an accident that kills her best friend and leaves her face disfigured. She is then welcomed by people from one of the very groups she once considered the outcasts. Eli and Damian let her in on an event they’ve been plotting, the massacre of all their classmates. She thinks they’re joking at first, but after a painful prank, she eagerly joins them. When the first plan doesn’t succeed, they try again at their ten year reunion. Yet, something is very different in the second attempt—Eli, now a pastor, is working to stop the massacre at the reunion.

The ending… well, let’s just say that it is certainly worth the read.

The story is particularly interesting in how it follows the plots of each event at the same time. The events of the high school attempt and the attempt on the reunion seem to be happening simultaneously. McNabb does a great job with the characters and the plot. It keeps your attention so much so that I have to add the name Jeremy McNabb to my list of authors whose books have kept me up late into the night. (Thanks, Jeremy.)

Jeremy McNabb does a fantastic job in this book, and I highly recommend it.

And, Jeremy, just so you know, I’m still waiting for more of your stories to read.

Get Jeremy's books here: Joy & Carnage

Gravesight (Long Tail City)

Other works I have to review:
Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
The Warriors by Mark Olsen

On my reading list:
Apotheosis by Nathan Hodgdon
Splinters of Eternity by Michal Ingraham
Burn by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy
Immanuel’s Veins by Ted Dekker
The Priest’s Graveyard by Ted Dekker
The Best of Evil by Eric Wilson
Dark to Mortal Eyes by Eric Wilson
Demon by Tosca Lee
Havah by Tosca Lee
…and more...

Gravesight by Jeremy McNabb

2011-02-02T02:02:00.001-05:00

I’m very picky when it comes to what fiction I read. And yes, I do judge a book by its cover. So getting me to read a new author takes lots of convincing. However, this author was given a bit of a freebee because I happen to have met him a couple years ago at The Gathering—the yearly get-together of Circle members/Dekker fans. So knowing he reads one of my favorite authors, I had to give his works a shot.

And I’m glad I did.

Gravesight by Jeremy McNabb is a novella connected to the Long Tail City trilogy. While these books are unpublished at this time, I’m confident it won’t be too much longer. Because Gravesight comes after the trilogy, the reader doesn’t have the privilege of knowing these characters and their backstory. While not everything is explained, McNabb does a great job explaining anything that is necessary for us to know within this story.

This story starts with these young twins who found a new friend that needs help. The boy’s uncle is after him. So they introduce him to Cage. Cage Donnagan is one of the Otherkind—and though without much backstory, I don’t really know how to explain this, the Otherkind seems to be a race that can mentally change from one form to another. (I’m sure the author can explain it better.) Cage sees that this boy is in trouble and decides to help him, getting a few other interesting characters involved along the way.

I don’t want to give too much more away since this isn’t a long piece so I’ll just tell you to go to amazon and look it up—it’s available for Kindle (or Kindle for PC), and at only 99 cents, how can you not want to check it out?

Overall, I’d say this is a great piece, and a good way to get introduced to this author—a writer from whom I only expect great things to come.

Jesus Manifesto

2010-06-28T00:23:00.001-04:00

Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola is a great book to get you into studying the scripture to see who Jesus really is, which is not always who He’s made out to be. This book makes you see for yourself what your answer is to the important question “Who do you say that I am?” Have you lost sight of who Jesus really is and instead replaced Him with the doctrines of a church or what someone else says about Him? Each person needs to know who Christ is through their own study of the Word and own encounter with Him.

Sweet and Viola take the time to point out the problem—that many people have “Jesus Deficit Disorder.” They make the gospel about so many other things but don’t realize that unless Christ is at the center of it all, even the good things don’t matter. As Sweet and Viola point out the things that have stopped us from seeing Jesus for who He really is and placing Him in His rightful place, they also se scripture to point us in the right direction—that said, one should still always study the scripture for themselves. This is a good book, and a good tool for anyone that wants to make sure they know Jesus for who He really is.

Book provided by Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program.

Jerusalem's Undead: Valley of Bones

2010-06-14T21:17:00.003-04:00

Eric Wilson, your Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy has placed itself permanently at the top of my favorite series list. The story contained within those three books is brilliantly inspired. I fell in love with the characters . . . well, except the Collectors, in which case, I loved to hate them. Okay, I do admit, one of them I didn’t hate, but anyway.

On to my comments.

So could vampires be explained Biblically? In the story that spans three books—Field of Blood, Haunt of Jackals, and Valley of Bones—it certainly seems possible. While they aren’t exactly explained with scripture, the way history is tied into the story, one would wonder just how possible it could really be.

Valley of Bones continues right where Haunt of Jackals leaves off. (For any who haven’t read these books yet, I won’t spoil it—WELL worth the read.) The story of Gina, Cal, the Nistarim, and the Collectors comes together in a climactic battle of good and evil. The Collectors are trying to bring final vengeance on their terms by taking out the Nistarim, those who bear the burdens of the world. If even one Nistarim falls without another to take his place, the world would end. But the Collectors’ numbers are dwindling. Will they succeed in ushering in their Final Vengeance? Or will the Nistarim and Those Who Resist succeed in taking out the Akeldama Cluster?

As I mentioned, history is tied into this story. First, the history of the Nistarim found in Matthew 27:52-53. From there, Eric ties in other pieces of history--usually with a bit of something left unexplained. These bits and pieces are weaved perfectly into the story, making it that much more enthralling.

The description and exploration of the settings in the story also add to the believability. In reading about the foreign places, and even the places within the US, it was easy to envision it in my mind even though I’ve never been to most of them myself.

And of course, the characters are what make the story. Following Gina, Cal, Natira, Erota, and the others within the pages, you find yourself captured within their minds, reading their thoughts, feeling their emotions—whether you love or hate them.

All in all, Valley of Bones is an amazing ending to this excellent trilogy. And I am sure I will read these books again and again.

Mr. Liparulo, you and your endings have done it again!

2010-05-30T02:56:00.002-04:00

Imagine you have the ability to go into the past and change it. Imagine it was your calling in life. It seems to be the calling of the King family in the Dreamhouse Kings series by Robert Liparulo.

I’ve just finished book 5 of this 6 book series, and I wish I had book 6 right now so I could dive into it. Anyway . . . so about Whirlwind . . .

This book is properly named. From the moment I opened the cover and started the first chapter to continue the exhilarating quest with the King family, adrenaline has pumped through my veins. There is a whirlwind of adventure in those 310 pages. I’ve followed the Kings, hoped with them, wanted to scream for them, and cheered them on in their battles.

R.L. Stine’s endorsement of this series is fitting. As an elementary and middle school kid in the 90s, I was a fan of Goosebumps. The Dreamhouse Kings series has kept me on edge just as much as those books once did!

And then, there’s Mr. Liparulo’s endings. Yes, sir, I know we’ve talked about this before, but really? It just HAD to stop there? Now I’ve got to get Frenzy that much more. I’ve got to know what happens to Xander, Dae, Toria, Ed, Keal, Jesse, and even the evil Taksidian (who, by the way, in my head sounds like Scar from Lion King when I read his dialogue).

Will they find their mom? Will they change the past before it’s too late for the future? I guess I’ll have to get a copy of Frenzy soon and read it to find out.

I’m excited!

Lis Wiehl's Hand of Fate

2010-05-06T20:47:00.001-04:00

So it’s taken me a while to finally get to this book. I’ve had it for well over a month, but until schoolwork was done, I hardly had time to read. Now, after finishing Bride Collector, I’ve finally been able to enjoy Hand of Fate by Lis Wiehl. It’s the second of her Triple Threat Novels, and I have to sadly say I haven’t read the first one. Yet, I can say this is a great read with interesting twists. And though it is the second book, if you haven’t read the first one, you don’t feel completely out of the loop—I was still able to get to know the characters as well as I would any other book, though when it hints at things that happened in the last one, you may feel a little behind.

In this book, the reader follows Allison, Cassidy, and Nicole as they investigate the death of Jim Fate, a famed voice of talk radio. There are more than enough suspects, since he seemed to make a lot of people hate him with his opinions. Each lady also deals with personal conflicts as they’re trying to figure out who murdered this man, including one of them who was closer to Fate than what she let on with her friends. All in all, interesting, and it reminds me of the show Women’s Murder Club—which was based off novels by James Patterson, though I have yet to read the books.

The Bride Collector

2010-04-30T20:09:00.002-04:00

I have to admit, the first few chapters of this book had me wondering if I should even continue reading. But I did. It’s Dekker. He has that way that just makes you want to know what happens and how the light shines in the end despite the darkness the story takes you through to get there. This story is dark, but it is full of pinpricks of light, like stars giving a glimpse of light in the darkest night. And the ending . . . oh what a beautiful ending. But I won’t say anything else about that now.

The Bride Collector brings together an interesting array of characters, full of a wit and beauty all their own. The FBI agents, Raines and Holden, are intriguing, but not so much as Roudy, Andrea, Cass, and Paradise. And in this story, while it does deal with those threatening to kill the body, it is also a story about what kills a person from within. The story is a beautiful story of love, and a story of facing the fears within oneself. While there is light at the end of the tunnel, the journey to get there is dark—but it is a beautiful and insightful read.

Radical by David Platt

2010-04-29T15:32:00.002-04:00

So my recent facebook status—Are we settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves?—actually came from an excerpt of the book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream, a book by David Platt. And I must say, just the first chapter is a challenge to how anyone views their Christianity. It got me to think and I’m sure this is something I will be taking to heart for quite some time.

If the rest of the book is like the first chapter, I’m not sure steel-toed boots will help because this message is so weighty that you’ll feel your toes being stepped on as he asks questions and compares the message of the Word with the message of the church today. Are we shaping Jesus into what we want of Him, or are we letting Him shape us into what He wants of us?

This book is definitely on my must-read list.

You can also read the first chapter of this book (in PDF format) by going here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/2010/04/20/sneak-peek-radical-by-david-platt/

To order a free copy of The Radical Question: What is Jesus Worth to You then go here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/RadicalQuestion/

Roy Hallums: Buried Alive

2010-03-02T01:48:00.002-05:00

Buried Alive is an intriguing book about the almost year-long captivity of Roy Hallums in Iraq. He relives the kidnapping and the captivity to great detail. Hallums was in captivity for 311 days, and while we don’t get to read about all of those days, with the information he provides it is easy to imagine each of the places he details. His family’s reactions are scattered throughout the book as well. The rescue by the US Special Forces is so touching at times it could make you cry.

Reading his family’s reactions is at times heartbreaking. There are times this story is so real to the reader that you forget you’re just reading a book and feel like you are there watching the events take place. You hear the voices of the captors and the other hostages. You can imagine the small room and cramped it must have been at times. Yet, we can never fully know just what this man endured. For he did endure. And he has now shared his story with the world. It is shocking, but it is most certainly inspiring.

Free To Be

2010-02-07T18:40:00.002-05:00

“Can you not see that your fears of what could happen are keeping you from what could be?”

Free Book by Brian Tome is a great book that challenges our everyday thinking and invites us to enjoy freedom in Christ. He tackles the issue of strongholds that may keep us from experiencing that freedom. Then he offers advice and wisdom based on experience and Biblical understanding to help attack the fears that come at each one of us. He talks about forgiveness, the love all Christians are supposed to live by, and how God wants us to have freedom in Him.

This book certainly makes a person think about the fears that attack our lives every day. Some of them may be small, but they are still fears. As is pointed out several times, God didn’t give us a spirit of fear. That spirit of fear keeps us from living life to its fullest, keeps us from loving the most, and keeps us from experiencing all God has for us. Brian Tome confronts these things head on, and asks the reader to do the same. I certainly recommend this book to anyone that wants to deal with the fears and strongholds in their lives and experience life freely.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-06T04:24:00.003-05:00

So I started back to college at the end of October. And because of that, I haven't read as much as a hobby as I have for school. In fact, I have three stories I am trying to read, I am starting my classes for this session, and I just ordered two more books to read. Getting a little bit swamped from it? Maybe, but I love it.

One thing I never finished was the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein reviews. I read the third book, Dead and Alive. It was a great ending to the trilogy--following Deucalion and the other characters around as they plot how to take care of Frankenstein once and for all. The characters are all unique and some are downright funny. I think the way it ended was fitting. And a bit eerie. Overall, I was pleased.

Let's see what I get to read this new year.

May your year be filled with blessings.

NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible

2009-12-01T02:40:00.001-05:00

I recently received a book in the mail, and have enjoyed exploring it’s contents. Many of these stories are well-known to me, but the format is different—and refreshing.

The NKJV Greatest Stories of the Bible is a collection of 250 stories from the Old and New Testaments in storybook format. The stories of the scripture are divided into easy to read sections--if you just want a short piece to read to yourself or as a bedtime story for little ones, you’ve got plenty to choose from.

This is a beautiful book inside and out. The cover gives it an air of a family treasure to be passed down for generations. Each piece is titled, tells the scripture reference, and has each verse numbered as you read—this information is even listed in the table of contents for your ease. This is a good way to introduce kids to the stories of the Bible, or just a good way to read parts of the Word in a different format. This doesn’t contain the full text of the Word however. So if you’re looking for a good study Bible, this isn’t what you’re looking for.

To give you a general feel for this book:
There is a table of contents in the front that lists the title of the section, the scripture reference, and the page number. There is no concordance, only a small index in the back. Of the 250 stories, only 47 are from the New Testament. In the stories of Jesus, they include scripture from more than one book (i.e. Jesus’ Birth: Matthew 2:1-18 & Luke 2:17-39). Since this is a “storybook” of scripture, some books of the Bible aren’t included or only partially used. Some of the books not included are: 1 & 2 Chronicles, Psalms, Proverbs, Galatians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy.

Max Lucado, Fearless.

2009-10-13T21:20:00.002-04:00

“Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here!”
—Matthew 14:27 NLT

What are you afraid of? Every day seems to bring a new item to our already long list of fears. But how do we overcome those fears? What can we do, even if the situation is out of our control? How do we keep fear from controlling us? How do we have peace during the storm?

Max Lucado’s Fearless is a phenomenal book. He talks about so many fears, and relates all of them to stories in the Bible. I have only read a couple of his works, and have been pleased with all of them. He writes in such a way that anyone can understand it, sometimes using mental pictures to help describe things: “as gloomy as a giraffe with a neck ache” (Can anyone say “Ouch!”) or “collapsed like a sand castle in a typhoon.” He backs up his words with scripture, and even explains things to help the reader better understand. There is also a discussion guide at the end of the book that includes study of scripture, questions, and applications.

Fear is something everyone deals with, and anyone can find something to relate to in Fearless. Therefore, I highly recommend it to everyone.

Jenna Lucado, Redefining Beautiful: What God Sees When God Sees You.

2009-10-03T19:29:00.002-04:00

I saw this book on the review list, and knew I had to read it. Talk about the right choice.

So what is Redefining Beautiful? This book for girls is about learning what beauty is from God’s perspective. Jenna changes the focus from looking in the mirror, to looking at what God, our heavenly Father, sees when He looks at us. As she talks about each girl’s personal style, it’s not about just the outside appearance; it’s about the inside, about our attitudes, our quirks, how we view others, how we view ourselves and why we view ourselves that way. Then she takes that and compares it to what is pleasing to God.

When I ordered this book, I wondered: Would Jenna be able to relate it to girls like me, the girls without earthly fathers to help us to relate to God? And I was pleased with the answer. She does a great job in relating to girls with good dads, not so good dads, and absent dads. She uses her own story, stories from the Bible, and the stories of others to give examples. She asks questions, and then gives room for answers, which really helps in applying the things she talks about in a person’s life.

This book is something I recommend every girl read, no matter her age. It says it’s for teens, and that’s great--but I’m a young adult, and this book really touched me as well.

City of Night, book two of Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein

2009-10-01T00:58:00.001-04:00

So I’ve recently finished City of Night. And I must say, it lived up to the expectations that began in book one.

It’s interesting to think of what would happen if Victor Frankenstein were alive in today’s world. How would we know a human from his . . . creations? And what if those creations suddenly started going wrong, malfunctioning so to speak? How would one take care of such a person and his creations? And what if Frankenstein's original creation came back to finish him?

The adventure of this book is captivating. The characters become real. And descriptions are written so that the reader can see it all.

I’m excited to see how this story ends in book three.

Prodigal Son

2009-09-27T00:47:00.000-04:00

So I’ve never read anything by Koontz before, but have had him recommended. I never really knew where to start though. I got several opinions on that, but no one recommended the books I found at Wal*Mart: Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein. I read the back cover, and bought book one, Prodigal Son.

I finished Dekker’s Green, Liparulo’s Timescape, and then skipped Wendy Alec’s second book of The Chronicles of Brothers--I’ve waited so long for that book, I have to read the first again. But anyway, back to Frankenstein.

When I started the book, I only intended to read a few pages then go to bed. Yeah right. I read quite a few chapters, and didn't want to stop. Such a page turner!

Deucalion is my favorite character. Full of history and mystery. The whole story is intriguing, filled with great plot and characters. I love the good guys, and love to hate the bad guys.

And now I have the second book in hand. I am excited to get into it. Needless to say, Dean Koontz is now on my list of favorite authors.

Andy Andrews’ The Noticer

2009-09-23T01:15:00.003-04:00

Jones is a Noticer, this man that wanders into a person’s life, a mysterious old man that no one really knows much about, but a man whose mindset is desperately needed in many people’s lives. He offers perspective, something we often lose sight of in life situations. He asks questions, answers your questions, gets you thinking, gives you perspective, and then lets you get about what needs to be done.

This book intrigued me by the worn suitcase on the cover. When I got my e-book copy of it, I thought “Well, this is certainly interesting” as the first page caught my curiosity. And I found myself reading through it without noticing how many pages went by at the time.

This book is full of wisdom, insight, and the key word . . . perspective. And he doesn’t give these long explanations that get you lost and confused. Whether you identify with the situations of these people right off the bat, or know that you need to remember this for later, it’s full of wisdom every person needs. I highly recommend this book.

Timescape: Mr. Liparulo, you've done it again!

2009-09-12T00:02:00.001-04:00

Okay, Mr. Liparulo, I know we talked about these cliff-hanger endings before, but here I am--yet again--desperately wanting to know what's going to happen next! Timescape was great, but I want to read the next one . . . now!

You started this book out with a bang--well, you usually start every book that way. This one had me getting frustrated at character’s stubbornness, and I’m sure you can guess who it might be. It had me yelling “DON’T GO IN THERE” several times, and even had me slamming the book down a few times . . . at least a few times more than the first three books of this series.

The intensity and mystery is building with each book, and I’m crazy curious to know how it ends. These may be considered “juvenile” fiction, and though I’m in my twenties, I’ve come to like getting inside the Kings kids minds and watching this adventure unfold. But I don’t want to wait until Whirlwind comes out. I know I’ll just get to the end and desperately want the sixth book of the series.

Each book ending of this Dreamhouse Kings Series is like the season finale of my favorite shows . . . CSI: Miami, NCIS, Burn Notice. There’s always that cliffhanger to keep you waiting and guessing until the next season begins. I want the new season to begin the moment I finish this one!

But alas, as I have said with your books, Eric Wilson’s books, Ted Dekker’s books . . . I will wait. And I will be as eager and excited (if not more so) to read it when the time comes. Just know, I’m tapping my fingers and humming the Jeopardy theme in hopes that it will somehow make the next book get into my hands that much quicker.

DJ

Green . . . Oh wow.

2009-09-10T21:24:00.002-04:00

Sat, Sept 5, 2009 2:30 am
Normally I write my book lover comments blog after I’ve read the book. But at the moment, I feel the need to write my comments for Green as I read. I will not give anything away, but in keeping with my blog title, I will give my comments.

I am currently reading Ted Dekker’s Green. For those that may not know what I’m talking about, Green is book Zero of the Circle Series, the other books being Black, Red, and White. They say you can read Green first or last. At the moment, I recommend last. If my opinion on this changes while I read I’ll be sure to let you know. These books follow Thomas Hunter as he passes between two realities, and the battles in each.
Go here to check out Black, Red, White, and other books by Ted Dekker.
First let me tell you what I’ve gathered about Mr. Dekker’s writing style. Many, if not all in some round about way, of his books are connected—even if they’re not part of a series. Questions you have about one book may be answered in any of his twenty-something published books or in the books he is/will be publishing. I’ve said many times, a journey through Ted’s mind would be the most spectacular thing in finding out if even he can answer the questions I still have regarding his novels.

Now on to my comments about Green thus far:
From chapter 0--yes there is a chapter 0 and no, it’s not the prologue--there is a heaviness that gets deeper as the first few chapters progress. Maybe it’s just me. Honestly, I had to set down the book and mull on the thoughts running through my head after I finished the first three chapters. It was a mix of knowing this is going to lead to something big in the story and a bit of a challenge to me in my personal life. I hope that doesn’t go unnoticed by other readers.

Then came one of his infamous connections. It’s one that should be in the back of his readers’ minds as they’ve progressed through his books, but at the same time, it’s like “OH! You mean it’s really gonna happen?! Really?! Wow!” My exact words upon discovering this connection were “Holy snot!” I know snot is probably far from holy, but there are no words to describe this.

And already the emotion of this book is high. It’s brought tears to my eyes and heaviness to my heart, pushing more and more to the forefront of my mind a challenge to me in my personal life. I have no idea where this story is going, but I know I will have a lot of soul searching during and after I finish this book.

10:15 pm
Less than a day and only a few chapters later . . . I want to dance. Green has within its covers a story that splendidly builds up each emotion that is felt. I’ve been brought to tears, outraged, and most recently filled with joy that caused me to dance around my room. And I’m not even halfway through. Mr. Dekker, should you read this, the story in Green has captured my heart.

September 10, 2009 9:00 pm
I just finished Green. First of all, let me say, I can see this as the beginning of the Circle or the end. Or heck, read it at the beginning and the end. Yeah, that sounds like the best bet . . .
Now, let me tell you what I think of this book.

Green captured my heart early on, and kept it all throughout the story. It brought me to tears numerous times, filled me with joy, made me want to dance and shout, and even made me wonder. And most of all, it made me reflect on myself and my life. And that, my friends, is why I love great stories. The greatest of stories isn’t just a piece of fiction that takes your mind from your own world to the one within its pages. It is the story that makes you think and reflect on things in your life, that bring you to a point of decision and help you to discover truth. Those, my friends, are the greatest stories. And Green, as well as the other Circle Series books, is just such a story.

And if you would like to check out the Ebook of Black, the first WRITTEN book of the Circle Series, go here: Black Ebook and enter the Forest Guard number 5273

Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy

2009-08-27T18:05:00.002-04:00

It is one in the morning, and I have just finished Eric Wilson’s book, Haunt of Jackals. I will definitely read this again and again. This book is the second in the Jerusalem’s Undead Trilogy. And, like its first part, Field of Blood, this book is great.

*To read my post on Field of Blood, go here: Field of Blood *

Having recently read Field of Blood for the second time, I was itching to get Haunt of Jackals. I received it in the mail as a gift from a friend, and jumped right on in to the story. Twelve hours later, I read the last page and about screamed. One, because it’s a FANTASTIC story. Two, because I was right about the author of the journal entries. *HA!*

Eric continues weaving in the threads of history through this work, making you think and sometimes wonder. He continues to expound on the stories of Nistarim and the Collectors, as well as Gina’s own history. And we also learn more about the mysterious Cal—what an interesting tale there, though I’m sure there is more to be revealed.

This story answers many questions, but also leaves you with new questions, which I’m waiting to find the answers to in Valley of Bones.

And still yet, my only complaint: Mr. Wilson! (Gee, I just felt like Dennis the Menace) Why do I have to wait so long for the next book?!

I most definitely will wait, but who says I have to be patient about it? ;-)

People of the Book

2009-08-04T18:18:00.000-04:00

I’ve just finished reading a very interesting book of the historical fiction genre.

People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

This book first caught my attention because of the cover. Yes, I do judge books by their covers. The cover is beautiful in it’s simplicity: Black with a gold and blue outline of a butterfly wing, the title in white across the middle of the wing.

And when I opened it, I knew this book was not a waste of time or money.

People of the Book is a fictional representation of the creation, past, and conservation of the Sarajevo Haggadah. The reader is swept into the life of a rare book expert, Hanna, as she takes on the prestigious job of conserving the Haggadah. Then as she analyses artifacts found within the pages of the book, we are given glimpses into the history, going to Sarajevo during World War II, to Vienna, to the Venice Carnivale in 1609, and to Spain in the 1400s.

The history in this book is rich, and fills every line, flowing from the lives of every character and setting. This book is emotional as well, filled with love, regret, anger, fear, and abandonment.

This book does have sexual content. It doesn’t go into great detail, though a couple passages give greater detail than the rest. So if you don’t want anything like that in a book, you may not want this one. Though I have to admit, the richness of the history is enriched because of the sexual content of some passages.

Reading Eric Wilson and My Writing

2009-07-22T15:18:00.004-04:00

So there haven’t been any updates in a while. What have I been up to? A few things actually.

Reading:
A book I read recently, and absolutely loved, is A Shred of Truth. It is the second Aramis Black book by Eric Wilson. And I sort of cheated.

I read the second one without reading the first one, The Best of Evil. I asked Eric Wilson if I could read ASoT without reading TBoE, and he said it would ruin some things in the first one, but I could.

And I definitely agree. While I can tell that some of it I will know, at the same time, I am completely looking forward to reading The Best of Evil. It’s on my list of books to purchase next.
Writing:
In my writing life, I’ve actually written a few pieces. And one piece seemed to inspire a few people to write similar pieces. That piece is titled The Suffering of a Leper.

Then a couple of friends wrote pieces, and even started a site just for them. Check it out: Life to the Word. And I have a new piece on the site as well. Just click “The Scrolls” to see a list of works available for you to read.

Back to Reading:
I have picked up Field of Blood again. Read my original post on it here: Field of Blood

Lunatic and Elyon

2009-06-14T23:07:00.004-04:00

So I recently finished two more Dekker books. Big surprise there right? But these books are special. There was a cowriter in these books. And Kaci Hill did a great job. I was told that the first few chapters of Lunatic would seem a bit off. I disagree. I think they fit in nicely. Some of the writing in the first two chapters didn't seem to be Ted, but since I don't know who wrote what, it's hard to say if I'm right or wrong on that.

Lunatic and Elyon were great. They take place after White, from the Circle Trilogy.

When Lunatic starts, we are thrown back into the forests with our characters, and follow them as they realize the horde are now living in the forests. Where have Thomas and the others gone? We follow them as they fight the horde, become the horde, and love the horde. We are introduced to a new "species" and discover her powers, and find out what the other half of their world holds.

Darsal became my favorite character in these two books. And another character became my favorite one to hate.

My only questions:
Is there more to come?
Will all nine books about the Circle tie together in Green?
How will it all end . . . or will it end just to begin again?

And only one man can answer those questions, the author of them all, Ted Dekker.

Bookstore Excitement

2009-05-06T16:34:00.003-04:00

So I went on a trip last weekend. While there, my friend and I went to a bookstore. It was glorious. All books were five dollars (except Bibles and reference books). The only thing that wasn't fun was that I had a budget to stick to. I've done quite a bit of traveling lately, and with more traveling planned, I had to be careful with what I spent.

ANYWAY . . .

While I was walking through this store, trying not to drool on the precious books, I was over in the teen section when I saw a man checking out Robert Liparulo's Watcher in the Woods. I stood there watching him read the back, getting excited because the moment he stopped reading, I planned on pointing out other books to him.

Now note to all, I am pretty shy in person so for me to start talking to a total stranger, it has to be about something I love. And books are pretty high on my list of loves.

So I could tell he stopped reading, and said "I've read that book. It's great. And they have the first one right here." *holds up House of Dark Shadows* He said that he read a book by Liparulo already and really liked it, so I mentioned that I saw Germ out on another table and he should check it out.

He picked up a Frank Peretti's Nightmare Academy and said he was a big fan of Peretti's. That just got me even more excited. I told him that if he liked Peretti and Liparulo, he would like Ted Dekker and Eric Wilson as well. I pointed out some Dekker books that were at that table, told him where to find some others, then we parted.

A few minutes later, my friend and I were in the super long line waiting to check out. I was watching people when I saw the same guy get in line a few people behind me. He had three books in his hands: Germ by Liparulo, and Thr3e and Adam by Dekker.

I was so excited. It didn't matter to me that I only walked out of there with two books. I have all of Dekker's, Peretti's, and Liparulo's (except Deadlock but they didn't have it). And only one of the two books I bought was fiction. Shred of Truth by Eric Wilson. I know I need the book before that one, but hey, for five bucks I say I got a good deal. And I'm working on getting his books, since the only one I had before this weekend was Field of Blood.

BoneMan's Daughters

2009-04-23T17:58:00.003-04:00

I have just finished the book, BoneMan’s Daughters, by Ted Dekker. And as I sit here thinking about it, I am beginning to cry. The book is about the love between a father and his daughter. And that subject alone is enough to bring me to tears. But let me move away from myself and tell you about this book.

In the post from Feb 23, I told you about Ryan, a military intelligence officer that puts his job above all else, even his family. This man goes through a torturing experience and after fleeing for his life, he decides that he must go home and reconcile with his estranged wife and daughter. His wife, Celine, has fallen into the arms of another man, and his 16 year old daughter, Bethany, has rejected him just as she felt rejected by him. All the while, the man that was convicted for the BoneMan killings is released.

All chaos breaks loose when Bethany is abducted from her bedroom. Ryan gets a call from the BoneMan and goes on a hunt for him, playing BoneMan’s game in hopes of saving his daughter and finally becoming the father he should have been. And Bethany tries to keep her life by being the perfect daughter BoneMan has been searching for.

This book brought many different emotional reactions from me. I was told beforehand that I would probably cry, and after reading the blog about why Mr. Dekker wrote this book, I expected such. I didn’t expect to feel his despair, the anger, the grief, the horror I felt as I read. Just let me explain. It made me scream, made me cry, made me cringe, and made me smile.

This book isn’t graphic in a blood and guts manner, but it did disturb me more than any book I have read. Maybe it’s because the topic of this book makes it more personal for me. Maybe it’s because I have never known someone to possess such a love as to go to those lengths to save the one he holds dear. Or if I have known such love, they haven’t had to show it in such an extreme sense. Maybe it’s because this book opens my eyes to evil that most Americans shelter themselves from. OR maybe it’s a mix of it all.

This book brought more raw emotions from me than any other book of fiction I have read. As I said, the father/daughter relationship is something that, depending on the circumstances/conversation around it, can easily draw out an emotional response in me. This book did just that.

And it has become one of my personal favorites from Mr. Dekker.

And if you read this:
Ted Dekker, you’ve moved me, touched my heart, and just through this story, you have shown me the deep love of a father that I have never personally known. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Writing

2009-04-13T16:33:00.002-04:00

So I've been trying to write 2000 words a day this month. I've succeeded a few days, and come close most other days. Then there was the last minute trip to Alabama, and when I got back, working on the church production all this last week. I'm about 9000 words behind right now though. Thankfully this week is looking free for time.

What am I writing about? Well, it's fiction. It's about a girl, and a guy, and another guy . . . oh and another girl. Some people die. Some people live. Something happens. Someone goes somewhere. And something is brought to light.

Sound good? haha.

The Watchers

2009-03-25T19:34:00.002-04:00

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I was not disappointed. The front cover says it’s a novel of suspense. That certainly describes Mark Andrew Olsen's The Watchers. This novel takes you from America to Africa to Israel and back again. And in this adventure, is a twenty year old named Abby Sherman.

The adventure begins with a dream. Abby dreams she is the prophetess Anna, and experiences when Anna held the baby Jesus. In order to find answers about this dream, Abby posts about it on a myspace of sorts, and soon receives thousands of responses from women that have also had or know someone who had this dream. Through the number of responses, Abby is propelled into the role of an internet celebrity. But even with so many responses, Abby is only filled with more questions. How could so many women that have no idea about each other have the same dream? What’s more, how can they all then develop this strange gift of seeing spiritual beings?

She decides to do whatever it takes to find the answers. But trying to find these answers has brought unwanted attention of people that want to stop her. Knowledge is power, and they don’t want her finding the power that lies waiting to be discovered.

Another Preview

2009-02-23T00:30:00.003-05:00

I just had a great opportunity to read the first four chapters of Ted Dekker's soon-to-be-released novel, BoneMan's Daughters. The setup is great, as usual for Dekker. I am excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. To summerize the description of the book:

It seems that the killer is the "perfect father looking for the perfect daughter." But who can meet such high expectations? When the victim fails, each of her bones are broken and she is left to die.
Our main character is a military intelligence officer named Ryan Evans, a man that put his job first at all cost, even his family. His wife and daughter don't even consider him a part of their lives.
But then the BoneMan takes another victim, Ryan's sixteen year old daughter. As Ryan goes after this killer, the FBI begins to believe that he is the BoneMan.

I'm sure this will be another hit from Dekker, full of twists and turns we never see coming.

Here's a list of the books I have now just waiting to be read.
Fiction, the love of my life . . .
Perelandra by C.S. Lewis (about half through)
That Hideous Strength also by Lewis (last of the space trilogy)
The Watchers by Mark Andrew Olsen (about fourth of the way through)
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (cover caught my eye while shopping at Sam's Club)

Then there's my two writing books . . .
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers (I'm about half through that one)
Plot and Structure (haven't even started it yet)

I got a reply.

2009-02-20T18:36:00.002-05:00

So our wonderful author, Robert Liparulo, replied to my letter. I will not include a word for word of his reply because it was sent to my inbox and not included here. But he did tell me why he left the ends of each of the Dreamhouse Kings books at such important moments.

First of all, and the best reason I think, is that he didn't want to "wrap the book up nicely" when the story isn't finished. And you know what? I completely agree. I don't like when the books are wrapped up nicely. It's like each one has a separate ending when it's actually a series and shouldn't end until the series does.

Another reason was that when all the books are published for this series, they will be available together much longer than the time he's leaving his readers in suspense. He is correct in that, but it does not make it any easier on us now.

Now here is my reply, which I also sent to him:

To be quite honest, the avid reader that I am, I will most definitely hang in there and wait for the next book—while impatiently tapping my foot, drumming my fingers, and listening to the wheels turning in my head as I think of what could happen to the King family next.

It is fun having cliffhangers, but for the first few hours after finishing a book, I sit and stew about why it had to end there as unanswered questions roam freely in the space between my ears. So in my stewing, I wrote you my letter.

I'm sure I am not the only reader that gets to the end and goes “Oh my gosh! I need to know what happens!” And yet, I--as a loyal reader--will wait until the next book comes out because the need to know surpasses any disgruntled mumblings that may have come out of my mouth in those first few hours after the last page.

Also, I will admit, I am glad you don’t wrap up each book nicely. It makes these books just as interesting after the end as it is during the reading of it just because of the cliffhanger.

Graphic Novels and a Letter

2009-02-10T17:44:00.002-05:00

So I've read my two graphic novels. Chosen and Infidel. There are some changes and a few things left out, I guess to keep it from being too long. Chosen is probably my favorite. I especially love the face in the sand. Now, onto my rampage. The Letter.

Dear Mr. Liparulo,
I have just finished Gatekeepers. I read the last page, shut the book, and shook it for all it's worth. Now you're making me wait until July? How am I supposed to wait that long?

The only reason I waited so long for Gatekeepers was that I got the first two books together and figured since I got to go from book one to book two so fast, I could be patient. Then I distracted myself with books from other authors--Ted Dekker, Eric Wilson, CS Lewis.

With the ending you gave me here, I don't think I can be patient. All the books in the world will not remove my mind from the fact that I NEED to know what happens to Dae, Xander, Dad, and Keal, not to mention Toria, Jesse, and . . . I won't mention someone else because that would give away something to those who haven't yet read this book.

What am I to do? You've left me in a predicament and I see no way out.

In need of answers,

Book Lover

Buying Books & Pre-release Preview

2009-02-07T00:18:00.003-05:00

So I'm sort of a compulsive book buyer. I tend to buy new books before I finish the ones I have. I have yet to finish the five books I got for Christmas. I've finished one of them, and about halfway through another one. And yet, since then, I've bought six books. But to compare the read to not-yet-read ratio, I've finished one and haven't started the others yet. So that's 1 1/2:5 for the Christmas presents, and 1:6 for all the others. I have a feeling the 1:6 ratio will soon jump to 3:6 since I have two graphic novels to read.

That said, I just read the first chapter of a book not yet released. The book is Green by Ted Dekker. It goes with the Circle books. The first chapter is gripping and a great set up for whatever is about to happen. I can't wait to read the whole book.

Out of the Silent Planet

2009-01-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

I have just finished the book Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. The story within this book is superb. We follow an intriguing man by the name of Ransom as he is forced to leave earth and travel to Malacandra. He spends time with the inhabitants and learns the language, while also telling these inhabitants about our earth and our ways.

It’s a wonderful adventure that I recommend to anyone. I will say this, it took me a little bit to get into, but once I was hooked, I loved every word. Now I'm off to read Perelandra.

More than a Kiss!

2009-01-22T17:05:00.001-05:00

I have most recently finished a book coauthored by one of my favorite authors. The book is Kiss, by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy.

In this book, we follow Shauna on a journey to uncover her memory, and in the process, the truth of it all. It takes her on the adventure of a lifetime. In this adventure, we are introduced to numerous characters, all of which play some role in helping Shauna remember who she was . . . and what she was fighting for. But she also has to learn who really has her best interest at heart, and who wants her dead.

I read this book slower than usual, and I think it paid off because I got to think about each piece of the puzzle as I took the time to stop every few chapters. It got harder in the end to take a break between chapters, and I finished the last fifteen chapters rather quickly. There are things in this book that made me laugh, things that made me mad at certain characters, and things that made me go “Aww.”

This book drives in the point that you can’t just run from your past. You have to learn from it and keep yourself from making the same mistakes again.

I most definitely agree with what’s written on the back cover: “where Heart Pounding meets Heart Warming.”

KISS

2009-01-10T23:29:00.002-05:00

So I just purchased Kiss, the book by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy. That means all other books will move to the back burner until I'm done. I've read the first six chapters already and I'm hooked as always. Apparently it's an addiction that has no cure but more.

My Christmas Gifts

2008-12-31T15:14:00.001-05:00

So to me books for Christmas are like toys for kids. I love it. I love reaching into a bag and pulling out some great title I know I’ll just love. Or seeing the square wrapped gift and wondering just what title will appear when I pull away the wrapping.

This year I got four books. But I knew about all of them because I was the one that had to place the order on Amazon. Heh heh.

Two of the books I received are fiction. You see, I recently bought Out of Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis. It’s the first of a trilogy so I wanted the other two. And I got them. Perelandra and That Hideous Strength. I am looking forward to reading them and seeing where it takes me and the interesting Dr. Ransom. I’ve read the first few pages of Out of Silent Planet, and I must say, it certainly appears to be a good read.

The other two books I received are the ones I was recommended by the literary agent. Self-Editing for Fiction Writers and Plot & Structure. The books arrived a few days before Christmas, and I was given the great pleasure of picking one book to have then. I chose Self-Editing. I’ve read and highlighted and noted the first three chapters. I must say, I’m looking forward to all the editing I’ll be doing to my story after I finish this book. And I can guarantee that I will be reading this book numerous times within my life. But it’s definitely not something for everyone. If you’re not interested in writing, no need to read it. Haha.

I will tell you more about the books as I read them. I’m not sure where I’ll start. I may put Self-Editing to the side so I can get the Lewis trilogy out of the way before I plunge into Self-Editing and Plot & Structure since I want those to be fresh on my mind when I go back to edit my own story.

Either way, you’ll hear about what I’m reading soon.

Two Things I Love

2008-12-13T13:51:00.002-05:00

Reading and writing.

So I bought a new book. Out of the Silent Planet by CS Lewis. It's the first of his space trilogy. I have yet to read it and I've had it for over a week. Usually by now I would be done with it, but with how busy this week has been, I probably won't get to it until after Monday.

Now onto writing. I've edited the first six chapters of my story, and even added a new beginning. I think it works well with what the story needs to accomplish. I haven't had much time to edit this week though . . . once again, been busy and won't be able to do much until after Monday.

And now something I did last week. I got to talk to an author over the computer just a little last week. It was great. "Who?" you ask. Robert Liparulo.

I asked him if his gruesome scenes make him cringe. He said that they do, but he has to do research for them so he gets to warm up to them first, a luxury the reader doesn't have.

Haha. No kidding.

I told him about my friends' reactions to the first chapter of Germ. He said that first chapter is always the kicker. He had an "old lady book club" (his words not mine) choose Germ, and he got an email after they read the first chapter. He told them if they could get through the first chapter the rest would be fine. He said he later got emails from them saying how they loved the book.

That was cool. It was really nice that he took the time to answer me.

And if you read this, THANKS!!

The Reader As A Writer

2008-11-25T14:19:00.002-05:00

So I actually wrote a story.
And I sent it to an agent in September.
The agent sent a reply back a little over a week ago.
He told me that my project has merit and that I show potential. Yet, it's not what they're looking for at this time. He then listed two books to help me out. One is on self-editing. I definitely need that one and hope to get it in the next couple weeks.
I've also been going through writing tips from http://wherethemapends.com -- which I recommend to any person that wants to improve their writing ability. There are some tips which I already have applied and some that I'm like "OH! Duh! Should have realized that one!"

So I guess we'll see where this writing thing takes me. Maybe one day I'll post a blog telling everyone to go check out my book and tell me what you think. One day.

Field of Blood

2008-10-13T14:32:00.002-04:00

I just bought a new book by an author I've never read before.
The author: Eric Wilson
The book: Field of Blood

This book is the beginning of a trilogy, and I am already anticipating the next book of the series. It doesn't come out until August 2009. I can tell it's going to be a long wait.

Field of Blood is an amazing story full of suspense and twists you never see coming. I love how it entwines Biblical history, making you wonder "Is it possible . . . " This book certainly got me interested in researching some of the mentioned findings--such as: What really happened to those raised in Matthew 27? And why were those boxes empty?

I know some Christians would ask how I could read a book about "vampires" and undead, but I honestly think this book is told in just the right context.

My only complaint is this: Why do I have to wait so long for book two?!?

Recent Reads

2008-10-03T13:11:00.000-04:00

I have read quite a few books in the last couple months. Most have been Dekker books--nine of them in fact. The other four were by Robert Liparulo.

First of all, I finished what has been published of the Lost Books. Renegade and Chaos both throw twists that are completely unexpected and tie in other books. I am looking forward to the last two of this series.

After finishing those two, I got to read Sinner. This is Ted's latest book that you don't want to miss. Billy, Darcy, and Johnny are in a battle of power and persuasion.

Then I moved on to Ted's older books that I had yet to read. The Caleb Books and Martyr's Song Series.
Blessed Child introduces you to a child so innocent and yet full of wisdom and faith. A Man Called Blessed takes you on a journey of rediscovering faith and love. Both of these books make you take a fresh look at your own faith.
The Martyr's Song series is powerful and beautifully tragic. It shows that the tragidies of this world are nothing to the joy of the love and beauty of being with the Father. It also shows how heaven fights and weeps for us and how we must sometimes fight and weep for others. They say you can read it in any order, so here's what I suggest: The Martyr's Song, When Heaven Weeps, Heaven's Wager, Thunder of Heaven.

I'll get into Robert Liparulo's books next post.

Since my last post

2008-09-30T14:46:00.000-04:00

So I had a chance to ask Ted Dekker if he enjoys leaving readers thinking "Oh my gosh! What? What's next?" His answer? He laughed and said it was his favorite part.

I've read a few more Dekker books since, and they all leave me going "Okay . . . let me think about this for a while. So many unanswered questions!" But I love each book. They're great, and I recommend them to anyone. The only person I don't recommend them to would be my grandma. She's not much of a Dekker fan. But hey, she still likes the Blessed and Martyr Song series, so it's all good.

Infidel

2008-04-17T17:03:00.000-04:00

Assuming you have read Chosen, you know from the end that Johnis's mother is possibly alive. From the beginning of this book, I knew that his mother was going to be a focal point. But the question I had was this: Is it his purpose to save his mother, or is it a trap? (I won't answer that because it would give it away.) The Roush warn him against going to save her, but what son or daughter wouldn't want to save a loving parent? I know I certainly would.

In trying to find a way to save his mother, he tells Silvie, Darsal, and Billos about the visions from touching the books with his blood. Then the four of them cut their fingers and touch the book. From then on, Billos seems completely enthralled with the power of the books. My mind was screaming "DANGER!" from the moment Billos found out about the books' power.

Honestly, when this book ended, I stared at th last page, and said: "OH MY GOSH! Dekker did it again! He's leaving me hanging until the next book." Now I just have to wait for Renegade and Chaos.

A neat fact about the book: We finally meet another Roush! Actually, quite a few.

One question I have: I thought their eyes were green. How are hers blue then???

This book is considered juvenile fiction, but I definitely recommend it to anyone that loves a good series. I only have one warning when it comes to reading books by Ted Dekker . . . once you start reading them, it's impossible to stop.

To read or not to read . . . good grief!

2008-04-15T13:54:00.000-04:00

I have a mentally painful dilemma with which to deal. Having just finished my twenty-first Dekker book, I have to wonder if the mental challenges I face after each book really make his books worth reading. Let me present the argument in my mind.

The book I just finished is Infidel, the second of The Lost Books. Since I finished, my mind has been in a craze to find out what happens next. Thankfully, I only have to wait till May . . . since I only found Infidel this weekend after four months of searching for it. Let me first make it known that none of this is a question of Dekker's writing ability--even those that don't always like Dekker (hard to believe those kind of people exist) would say his writing ability is phenomenal. The way he tells the story draws you in as if you're watching it unfold before your very eyes, the characters completely unaware of your presense. Speaking of characters, he does a great job there too, well developed and believable.

The themes of his writings are certainly ones that we all need to think about. All of his books seem have one consistant theme, the battle between good and evil. Evil comes in many forms, and he shows that well in his stories: the Horde, Black, Braun, or the core of our very selves.

There is only one thing that I don't know what to do with. It's the fact that the ending usually has me wanting to do a mixture of two things: To thank Ted for the fantastic writing that had me turning pages all the way to the end, or to hit Ted over the head with his own books for leaving me hanging and filled with questions!

I mean, good grief! Could you leave me in more suspense? He just disappears! So now my mind rages in wonder . . . Where did he go? To what other books does this book connect? Is she really the one that I read about in the sample in the back of Adam??

So to read or not to read?

Well, if I do read, I'll just repeat this crazy cycle again. If I don't read, I will be left wondering!

I say READ!