My Name is Mahtob, by Mahtob Mahmoody

Yesterday I explained how earlier this year Suzanne from Living to Tell The Story had reviewed My Name is Mahtob which caused me to immediately rush off to purchase the title for myself. This past month I read Not Without My Daughter (linked to review) and, on the heels of that story, picked up this book. As the title suggests, Mahtob, the daughter of Betty Mahmoody, uses this opportunity to share her own memories of the time she spent in Iran as a captive to her father. (See yesterday's post for plot details, if necessary.)

I mentioned that I found Not Without My Daughter a compelling story that I had a hard time setting down. The same is true of My Name is Mahtob. It was curiously interesting to hear Mahtob's "side of the story" and catch her impressions of her's and her mother's experiences. Most interesting to me was all that she shared about her growing up years in America. How did she handle re-integration into this country? What does she think of her father now? Did he ever try to find her and take her back to Iran as threatened? Where is she living and what is she doing as an adult? This book answers all of these questions and then some.

Clearly Mahtob has her mother's panache in being able to connect with her readers. She has the same manner of storytelling which I found absolutely compelling and which held my attention. Again, I think part of the reason (mind you, it's a small part) that this story is so engaging is that it is so unique. While many women might have experienced what Betty and Mahtob have endured, how many of written of their experiences and have traveled to share of their experience with others? Not many.

Mahtob travels back in time with her readers to 1984, relaying what she recalls of the flight to Iran and the Mahmoody family's immediate interactions and experiences with the culture as well as her father's family. She documents her memories of school attendance, shopping excursions, food she liked (and didn't like), how she felt when her father began to physical abuse her mother, and so on and so forth. She had a sharp memory even at a young age and she recalls her experiences in vivid detail at times. It's quite fascinating.

After sharing what her early childhood was like in Iran, Mahtob brings the reader to the present day where we are offered a glimpse as to her adult life. The majority of the book, however, it spent on the "in between" years - after coming back from Iran and up to the modern day.We learn everything from her days in a private Lutheran school to college life. We follow along as she adapts and adjusts back to "American-isms" and then, too, how she has battled certain health scares in her teenage and adult years.

My Name is Mahtob is a must read for anyone who cared for Not Without My Daughter and who wants to find out "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey liked to say. I don't think this title is quite so engaging as her mother's, but Mahtob offers us something not available in her mother's book -- time and perspective. Not Without My Daughter was written fairly soon after their arriving back in America. My Name is Mahtob was written over twenty years later. It's always interesting to look back on life's events and re-examine them with a bit more age and maturity under your belt and that's what this book feels like -- a developing revelation as to who Mahtob Mahmoody is now in light of her past history.

I am definitely delighted to have read this book and I heartily recommend it to you.  It's worth a bit of your time.

My thanks again go to Suzanne who recommend this book to me in the first place. Appreciate it!

Snippets

I'm falling behind in making notes about what books I've read this year! I've got to pick up the pace and quick! To that end, I'll offer up a few "snippets" for today:

The Glass Castle: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls was the last of my Facebook Challenge reads that I had accepted. You might recall that the first of every year I invite a certain number of people to make a suggestion for a book that I then have to read in the coming year. In 2015 I invited 4 people to make such a suggestion and Shonya "assigned" me this book as one of my challenge reads.

I finished it several weeks ago and meant to write about it immediately, because it was something of a haunting read. I wanted to write my thoughts on it out of my system but instead I walked away from it and let them languish. (Whoops.) If you aren't aware of this story, know that it's a New York Times Bestseller and a memoir by Jeannette Walls. In this book she shares her growing up experience with a set of parents who might by all accounts be considered deadbeats, but whom she really adored as a young child. Their family moved all over the country during Walls' childhood, due to her father's inability or interest in holding down a job. Both of her parents enjoyed the concept of having a free spirit that could wander about at whim and fancy. Doing whatever pleased them most seemed to be their life goal. The problem what that is that you can't do just anything you like when you have three children in your care. Jeannette and her siblings knew what it was like to be and/or feel alone, to be freezing cold in the wintertime, and to be hungry year 'round.

As Jeannette comes of age, she begins to feel the urge to make something of herself. She wants to take more care of not just her own person but of her siblings too. She set goals for herself and worked hard at them. I would say that Jeannette Walls has done a great job striking out on her own and pursuing hard goals. She has succeeded in much that she has put her hands to, but never quite lost the respect a child always feels for their parent, regardless of how they are or are not cared for. Walls had a challenging set of parents to write a story about but she does so in such a fashion so as to provoke a sense of compassion in the reader. I'm not quite sure how she managed that as I'm typically not very compassionate towards those who absolutely refuse to work. I can't say that I understand her father at all, but she explains him so that I feel sorry for him, to some extent or another. One thing that I really appreciated her saying was that people with brokenness in their life have some of the best stories to offer. I think there's truth to that. We're all broken but not all of us admit it. If we were to do so, honestly, our stories would be vastly more interesting. We are able to connect with the Walls family in part because she lays all things bare. With nothing hidden, you can find places to identify and connect with and that's pretty amazing.

This isn't a bright and peppy book, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is an interesting one. I think it would make a good book club read because the characters contained herein definitely stand out. Plus there's a lot of social topics to be discussed as a result of reading and thinking about the Walls family story. Anyway, if you like memoir and you like being provoked to thought, then this is a title to be considered.

******

Another title which I devoured in an afternoon (it's short enough to do so) was Hurry Henrietta by Molly Cone. I picked this one up at a used bookstore simply because I thought the premise sounded interesting. It was described as a book about a young Jewish girl who was the oldest of five daughters. Her siblings all grew up and fell in love but she never married, being very focused on educational pursuits instead. Come to find out, this is a true story about Henrietta Szold who you can read about here. She was a U.S. born Jewish Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America.

Hurry Henrietta tells a very condensed version of her life story. Author Molly Cone says of it, "This story leaves out a great many things - you cannot really call it a biography - for it picks and chooses among the events of her life to find her "true" story. Call it only a story." That's probably the most honest disclaimer I've ever seen in a book! That is also a very good description as a great many liberties are taken when it comes to picking and choosing which parts of Henrietta's life to focus on. This story is something of a hodge podge of random bits and pieces from Henrietta's life and it is not very neatly stitched together at that. While I learned who Henrietta Szold was and noted a few interesting things about her personality, there wasn't a great deal more to it than that. I think Cone's idea was to clue you in on Henrietta's existence. In so far as that, she did a great job.

As you might gather, I wasn't enamored with the book. It certainly wasn't what I was expecting to discover when I purchased it to read. Sometimes you have to take a gamble and on this one I learned about someone I had never heard of before. In my mind, that makes this book which wasn't a total waste but I don't know that I'd go about recommending it as being the greatest thing ever. If you come across it and her story sounds a little bit compelling, it makes for an interesting and quick read.

Kids' Travel Journal

Taking a cue from Pinterest, our family kept a travel journal over the course of our trip to England which we went on earlier this year. Already that journal has come in handy as I'm piecing together a scrapbook of the trip. It's amazing how quickly you can forget the little details which stood out and made the days memorable. I'm so glad that we took notes as we went along (even if we didn't manage to keep up the pace and document the entire trip - the first half is soundly recorded!).

When we returned home I saw this Kids' Travel Journal from Peter Pauper Press and I was so curious to check it out! I was kindly sent a copy for review. If you have some kids on your Christmas list that you know will be traveling in the coming year, you might (definitely) want to consider this book. I've peeked at a few travel journals and none appealed to me so much as this one did, which I do think is rather practical and which I plan to take along with us on our next adventure.

The following information is essential for the person doing the packing: the dimensions of this journal are 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches. It's big enough for lots of notes and information to be included in it but thin enough not to be a bear in the suitcase or backpack. It is a hardback book but I think that's fairly important for a travel journal which you hope will hold up under the weight of travel. All in all, I find it to be a manageable size and I don't have any hesitations in deciding to pack it.

I like the fact that this Kids' Travel Journal opens with several pages for pre-travel experiences. There are prompts to get the child to think about where they are going and what the plans are when they get there. There is also a page available to write down what the child would like to see and do while on the adventure which is pretty sweet. Sometimes kids will surprise you in revealing what is most important to them about any given trip. Personally, we think it's a great idea to get input from all family members so that you can better plan a trip which is enjoyable for all ages and interest and this page is remarkably useful to that end.

There are, of course, some pages which I find to be rather impractical and which I can't see us using but that's to be expected in any pre-arranged journal, I think. For instance, I'm not so sure that I'd fill out the pages which allow you to write out your itinerary (which one shall we set aside as a "sick day"?) but those more concerned with sticking to the plan might still enjoy that feature. I also wouldn't list out the "important contacts" on the off chance that the book would get lost but, again, others might find that useful. Do note that this book allows for a 14-day excursion. Depending on what type of trip you'll be on, you will want to consider that.

The later section of the book includes puzzles and games to keep the user occupied which is a clever idea. Those types of pages keep the journal in the hands of the user, encouraging interaction and documentation. There is also what I would call a "trip in review" section where the writer is encouraged to talk about the most memorable aspects of the trip as well as document any unique experiences had when returning home.

Really, if I were going to gift a travel journal to a child, the Kids' Travel Journal would be the one. It's far and away the most useful kids' journal I've run across, with plenty of space to write one's thoughts out and writing prompts that are appropriate, intelligent and helpful. I'm definitely a fan.

This makes for a fun and also practical gift to anyone planning a vacation in the coming year. Just a note to keep it in mind!

Many thanks to Peter Pauper Press who kindly sent a copy of this book my direction in order to facilitate a review. I received no additional compensation and all opinions are 100% my own.

What Led Me to You, by Carrie Dahlin

This past weekend I attended the Called to Love retreat for adoptive/foster mothers here in Oregon. It was the first time I had ever attended a women's retreat, let alone one focused on this subject matter. There are reasons for this, one of which I'll explain in a minute. When it comes to the topic of adoption, I find myself shrinking back a bit, truth be told. Sometimes it's because I'm not sure how the subject matter will be handled and sometimes its for more personal reasons. We have adopted three times now and there are some areas where I've really started to feel like I could use some input from people who are ahead of me on this journey. I thought perhaps that this was a good year to set aside the weekend and go check out this conference. Jonathan agreed and so off I went. Double bonus points: one of my good friends went with me so it was guaranteed to be fun no matter what we encountered at the retreat.

The only thing I had really paid much attention to prior to arriving at the conference was the fact that Stephanie Fast was going to be the main speaker on Friday night. I totally love Stephanie and was excited to hear her speak again. I will never, ever, ever get tired of hearing from her. Whenever she talks I want to jump up and down and run around the room. She has a most dynamic faith. She's genuine and real, with a deep faith that challenges and encourages all around her. I find it amazing the ways that God has chosen to use her to share Him with others. But I digress (a little). If I had any further hesitations about attending Called to Love, they vanished upon walking through the doors. Instantly I knew that the weekend was going to be so good. And it was! It was just stunning (and still is blowing me away) to be in a room full of women who know your story because they are living your story. Yes, our names and faces might look different but a great many aspects of our stories look and sound exactly the same. When you meet people and you say, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." then you know you can be friends. Knowing that the emotions you feel, the struggles you endure, and the victories you cherish are understood by others is one of the greatest blessings in the entire world. 'Phenomenal' doesn't begin to describe it.

Enter: What Led Me To You. At the conference there were a smattering of tables with goods and wares to purchase. If you know me, you know I was looking for the books! And there weren't many which was somewhat distressing. (I do have to say that. The conference needed more books!!) At one table I noticed a friendly looking lady standing beside a pile of friendly looking books. I approached her and discovered that we share the same name, spelled the same way. (Which is, of course, the right way.) I asked her if she wouldn't mind telling me a little bit about her book and she happily obliged.

Carrie Dahlin said that she had a hard time finding books about fostering parenting that were honest about the struggles and real hardships and so she decided to write one herself and the fruit of that decision lies within the pages of What Led Me To You. She and her husband began foster parenting a few years ago and have had an interesting journey which has culminated in a few adoptions as well. Carrie writes about what led them to begin this journey and is quite open about the different hurdles and obstacles they've faced in the midst of everything. She shares their story with gut-wrenching honesty regarding her own emotions at various stages of the journey, a fact which makes this book particularly approachable. If you are looking for a how-to as relates to foster care then this is not your book. If you want to hear someone's heart on the matter, and get an idea of the struggles and the joy mixed up in the process, then this book is a don't miss. She speaks from her heart.

Now, as is the case when someone is writing from their heart, it also reads off more like a conversation than anything else. Reading this book very much feels like a sit-down conversation with Carrie. I feel I can attest to this as in our two brief conversations I found that she spoke very much as she writes. As a result, sometimes you read a passage that is more a stream of consciousness than anything else, but it's not too distracting. If you are thinking about engaging in foster care you likely won't mind her written voice because you'll want to hear how she was feeling at various points in time as it will help to give you a clue of what to expect.

As mentioned, Jonathan and I have adopted three times. We do not feel called to fostering and likely will not do so. However, the door is open for future adoptions if God makes a way for it. I read this book because I was curious about her experiences, because I knew that she had adopted as well as fostered, and because many of the emotions overlap between the two. I stayed up late Friday night in my hotel room reading the first half of her story. The next morning I was able to connect with her over the first of many experiences she had as a foster parent. With this slight introduction, I'm going to make something public which I have never done before but which I feel like I can talk about for the first time ever. Carrie and I had an unfortunate shared experienced upon entering into the foster/adoption world in that we were both falsely accused of harming, or endangering, a child. The details between us differ a bit, but the ultimate reality was that false accusations affected our experience and instilled a certain fear about continuing on our individual journeys. It is a hard thing (understatement) to be falsely accused and to have professionals examining your life to see if the accusations hold water. In both of our cases, we were found altogether 100%  innocent but the memory burns. It is not something that you forget. It affects your decisions and choices long after being declared innocent. There is a death of vision when a situation like this occurs and you feel very scared of what people will say and angry about what people have said. False accusations interject confusion. In these half dozen years since, I've not mention it publicly to people because when a person is put "in the know" they tend to speculate whether or not the thing was true. The phrase "grain of truth" is tossed out with raised eyebrows and these statements can be just as damaging as the original accusation. It feeds into doubt and discouragement like nobody's business and continues the hurt. Fear becomes the second weapon used against you and it is almost more effective than the accusation itself.

But here's the ultimate situation: both Carrie and myself are innocent of the accusations. We both understand the pile of ugly feelings. We both know the real source of the accusations and understand that there is one who stands opposed to the idea of adoption just as we know that there is One who models it for us. What matters most is not what people see and think, but what God has called us to. Is it an easy road? We both know the answer to that question is, "No!" It is not easy and yet it is God's good plan for our lives and the lives of the children in our home.

Carrie admits in her book to finding it hard at times to want to please people and have their good opinion. Despite whatever you might think, the same is true of me. It is hard to go against the tide and live a life that most people wouldn't choose because they think it too hard or too risky. It's life on the edge. But here's the thing: the edge is the most exciting place to be!! 'Living to the hilt' is the general idea of all of life!! Is adoption and foster care hard? Yes. On oh so many levels. Is it worth it? Beyond anything you could ask or imagine! Being content in the knowledge that you are walking in the will of God makes all of the hardships, bumps and hiccups ultimately appear as nothing. It's a death to self in some many ways, yes, but that's a good thing! Following hard after Christ is all I ever want to do. Even if and when it hurts.

There are no regrets (foolish to ask this of me) and no wishes for a "do over." There is a great contentment knowing that the children God has given to us were given and placed with a specific reason and purpose in mind. There is a joy in their presence and their company. Sharing family with one another is a blessing I really cannot describe with words. God has used them to change me and used me to change them and we are all on this journey together. The journey continues to improve and become sweeter. Yes, there will be the naysayers and the people who speak words of death but Christ has only words of life and so we focus on Him. If you feel led to pursuing foster care or adoption, educate yourself, seek out (good) advice and, above all, make sure that God has called you to it. If He has - prepare for one of the more wild, fantastic rides of your entire life. It's a good ride.

Christ is front and central of Carrie Dahlin's life and of What Led Me To You and I so appreciated that. If you are thinking about this topic at all, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this read.

If you are an adoptive mom or foster mom, I also can't recommend the annual Called to Love retreat more highly. My faith was strengthened, my soul encouraged and, remarkably to me, I dropped some baggage I had been carrying around unnecessarily. I don't know what the future holds but I do know that there are a great group of women out there engaging in the same battle as myself. Knowing that they exist adds fuel to my fire.

I'll end with a song that we sang at the conference which I cannot get out of my head. It ministered to me deeply as its messages spreads itself out over our entire family history and story.

You were reaching through the storm,
walking on the water
Even when I could not see.
In the middle of it all,
when I thought You were a thousand miles away
Not for a moment did You forsake me,
Not for a moment did You forsake me

Early Days, by Miss Read

There's a second hand bookstore in the north of England called Barter Books. It's listed as one of the largest second hand bookstores in the country. Happily we were able to visit while in England a few weeks ago. I was on the lookout for someone specific - D.E. Stevenson. (See here.) Many of her books are now out of print and I was hoping to find some when in England. With that goal in mind, I walked into the bookshop and was immediately met with several titles by Miss Read. Miss Read! I hadn't completely forgotten about her but, having not run into any of her books, I haven't read her in years. I first "met" Miss Read in 2008. I read Village School and Christmas at Fairacre (both linked to my reviews). I loved the books but didn't think I would necessarily re-read them, so I gave them away as a gift to someone. (Well it was a generous move but I might just regret it. A little. Heh.)

Early Days is a memoir, focusing on two particular time frames from Miss Read's younger days. The first section happens around the time when she was four and focuses on her relationship with her grandmothers. The second covers the time when she was in elementary school.

There's a great simplicity in Miss Read's writing style, a calm delight in life that I find so relaxing. I mentioned back in 2008 that Miss Read is likened to Jan Karon and I think that's true. Where Karon has small town America cornered, Miss Read writes of the places she knew and loved in the English countryside. Especially now that we've visited that area, it's an extra special delight to spend time with Miss Read.

As mentioned, this book is autobiographical in nature. Miss Read explains in the introduction that she wanted to write only about her childhood for a few particular reasons. The first reason is that she felt that moments in her childhood stood out to her more clearly than moments in her adulthood. Secondly, she recognized that to write about her adult life would only offer her perspective on certain events which transpired. This is not to say that she did not write down stories of her adult life at akkm because she suggests that she did exactly that, but not for publication. She acknowledged that her descendants might find her recollections amusing and informative but since they were her recollections, they didn't necessarily need to see a publisher. I found this to be a wise admission - to say that you are only you, with your own way of looking at the world. She understood that she had her own perspective on life, but that others might be inclined to see them differently. Not wishing to disrespect those in her life, or create unnecessary arguments, she stuck to discussing her childhood and even then submitted her manuscript first to her sister and others who could fact check and correct any misconceptions she had about her early years before publication. I so appreciated this. It's rare that you come across people who self-examine with enough regularity so as to understand that they only have their opinion. Miss Read displays a rare caution and that only made me love her more.

Early Days is a charming book of recollections. Miss Read begins by explaining her relationship to and with both of her grandmothers. She tells us of their appearance and personalities and how she felt when visiting their homes. She clearly had a great love for both of her grandmothers that is quite touching. The second half focuses on the time period in which her family moved to the countryside. Once in the country, Miss Read realized that she was, in fact, an introvert and really took to the calm, quiet of the area. She loved her country school house, the slow and steady pace of life, and the opportunity she had to revel in nature. She loved the country for the rest of her life. She knew she belonged in it. I can definitely identify with these sentiments!

If you are interested in learning more about Miss Read or her stories, this book is a great place to start. Village School was her first work of fiction and is also a fun starting place. If you like Jan Karon, you will like Read. Both have a smart sense of humor and love of peace which I am greatly attracted to. From the looks of things, it's fairly easy to snag books by Miss Read on Amazon. Next time you find yourself in a used bookstore, you might poke around and see if you can find some of her titles. Pure delight!

As an additional note, here's a historical fun fact about Barter Books which also includes some video snapshots of the store for you to see.

P.S. I also found some D.E. Stevenson.

The Drop Box, by Brian Ivie and Ted Kluck

Late last year the Drop Box Documentary Film was released in theaters through Focus on the Family. There were limited show times available but we made sure not to miss this story of Pastor Lee who built a safe drop box for babies who would be abandoned on the streets of Seoul. If you haven't yet seen the documentary or are unfamiliar with this story, I heartily encourage you to watch this trailer for the film before you continue on with this review.

Note: This film has since been released on DVD and I can only highly encourage you to watch it if at all possible. It will break your heart and make you cry - exactly what it should do - but don't be frightened away from it. Facing hard things is what God frequently uses to break our hearts and do great works in the world for His glory and for His name.




Pastor Lee's story is compelling and inspiring. It raises legitimate questions about the value and sanctity of life - no matter what condition that life is in. It makes some to wonder how they can reach out and love those who are considered to be the less desirable in society. It also inspires the person watching the movie to begin asking what they might to to make a difference in this world. Staying home and putting one's feet up, relaxing the time away almost seems egregious. (I'm not saying that it's bad to relax. I am saying though that if you spent the majority of your life relaxing you might want to rethink what life is all about. God didn't place you here simply to kick back, but to do a great work. So what's your work? Perhaps it is not raising orphans but you can rest assured there's something for you to be busy with.)

Brian Ivie is not necessarily called to care for orphans directly, but he did have a passion for making movies and, as it turns out, God had a plan in that. Interestingly, Ivie was not a Christian when he set out to tell this story. He was a film student who was looking to make a movie that would be compelling enough to be featured at Sundance Film Festival. Originally, Ivie went to S. Korea planning to show the contrast between S. Korea's preoccupation with plastic surgery and perfection and Dr. Lee's mission to save and provide shelter to disabled children. As he says, he went to Korea thinking that maybe he'd do a good deed by making a movie that would help save some babies or improve their lives. In the end though, he found that it was himself that needed to be save. Through this journey of making this film, Brian Ivie became a Christian. This book tells his story.

In The Drop Box: How 500 Abandoned Babies, an Act of Compassion, and a Movie Changed My Life Forever Brian details his growing up years wherein he enjoyed making home movies with his friends. When he was in high school he knew that he wanted to make movies, although his parents were rather skeptical of his ability to make a living out of such a career. Nevertheless, he applied to and attended USC to learn about film. During his tenure as a student there he ran across an article in the paper about the drop box which caught his attention. Traveling abroad was popular at USC at the time so he thought he'd give a go at contacting Paster Lee and seeing if he could come to South Korea and make this documentary. Pastor Lee wrote him back saying that he wasn't quite sure what all the movie business was about, but that Ivie was welcome to come and live with him for awhile if he liked. He liked.

I think it's important to note here that although Ivie was not a Gospel-believing person, he considered himself a Christian prior to his experience in S. Korea. He thought he was basically good but there were behaviors (which he shares about in minor detail) in which he was ensconced that were keeping him mired in sin. Being exposed to Pastor Lee, his life, and the children made Ivie to see that (basically) being a good person wasn't enough. His heart was full of sin that needed to be confessed and he was brought to a point of true repentance and belief. He writes:

"Even with nice parents and a nice house, I was an orphan in my heart. I was begging for people to love me, to approve of me, to want me. And what I learned is that when you're an orphan, even just in your own heart, you can love only those who will love you back. You can love only those people who have something to offer or who can reciprocate your feelings.
But as a child of God, you can be completely alone and still love people who have abandoned you. As a child of God, you can go to the people who have nothing to offer and give them all of you like Jesus did for all of us." (Chapter 14, He Could Just Give, page 169)

Upon realizing these things, Ivie realized that the movie that he planned to make needed to be remade into something different - something more. He says:

"Now knowing that life was more than movies, and knowing Jesus Christ for real, I refused to show the world a picture of Him that was anything less than the most authentic and beautiful picture I could create." (Chapter 14, He Could Just Give, page 162)

I have to say that I think he accomplished his new goal - that of bringing glory to Christ for the work that He has done for each one of us on the cross.

The book The Drop Box was an interesting read because it is the "behind-the-scenes" of the movie. From the perspective of the storyteller, you hear his own journey of how this film ultimately came to be and his story is indeed compelling. The writing style isn't exactly my preference, many parts being laid out as if they are scripts to movies to help the reader understand Ivie's personality and emotions a little bit better. I understand why that method of storytelling was chosen but it's not my favorite. I was glad to hear Ivie's story but I have to say that Lee's is the one that nabs me. I would recommend the book to give a more complete picture of the film but if you were going to devote a few hours to something, I'd highly recommend the documentary over this book!

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, by Ruth Reichl

Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise is not a book that I can say I would have picked up in my own right. I read it along with my in-town book club this past month. This book proves what they say about the importance of a book club in that you read books that you might not otherwise pick up. I'm very glad to have had this title placed into my hands. It was tons of fun.

Ruth Reichl has served as a food critic for both the LA Times and the New York Times. She went on from there to work as Editor in Chief at Gourmet Magazine and has a smattering of cooking shows and television appearances on her resume as well. I think it's safe to say that she's made her way nicely around the world of food.

I like food. I like food a lot. I had never tried reading about it before so this was a new experience. If given the choice between eating food, or reading about it, I think I would just as soon eat it. However, there are fewer calories in a book which is its own appeal.

Reichl has written many books about food, Garlic and Sapphires being one of a series. This one picks up in 1993 when she was moving from Los Angeles with her husband and son, to New York to take the job as food critic for the Times. This book is a memoir, detailing her experiences at restaurants in NYC. It makes for more interesting reading than I would have originally suspected. (I'm kind, I know. But my "job" is to review and critic books and hers is to critic food so if she ever stumbles across this review I expect she'll understand some of my expressed skepticism.)

Reichl was not initially well-received in New York due to the fact that she deviated from the norm of highlighting and reviewing French restaurants. She liked all sorts of food (and happily all sorts of food like her) and featured different ethnic restaurants, not just French. By golly, she was daring enough to even feature area steak houses! This was previously unheard of for a Times' food critic! She also suffered some difficulties in being accepted for the simple fact that people knew that she was moving to NY from LA. Although she was born and raised in New York, coming back as an adult to make a name for herself in her chosen field proved difficult. People didn't always catch on to the fact that she was a native and, as anyone from any town can attest (if they are being honest), outsiders are looked at with some degree of suspicion. In order to do her job and do it well, Reichl had to try hard not to focus on the nay sayers but give her best effort in writing up honest reviews about the restaurants she chose to visit.

What is most fascinating about this particular book to me, is the fact that in order to review restaurants, Reichl had to disguise herself so as not to be noticed. Food critics were often given the best treatment, receiving better food and better service if they were identified. She tried to visit each restaurant she was reviewing somewhere between three to five times and she wanted to do so incognito so as to be able to best judge a restaurant based on the treatment received by a "normal" nobody. Reading about the different disguises and personas Reichl put on in order to avoid detection is most of the fun of this book. The other fun aspect is hearing how much these restaurant meals tended to cost! I think it's safe to say that your average person could not afford the meals that Reichl tends to enjoy. She has a nice expense account to help her out and that's something that the rest of us are lacking. I do not point this out because I resent her her spending account. Not at all! This book makes for fun reading because Reichl is clearly doing something that she passionately loves. Whenever anyone loves what they do, I find it hard to resent them their fun. Mostly I just enjoy hearing about how they pursue their goals in life. (Instead of resenting someone for pursuing their dreams, I find it better to be inspired. Reichl inspired me in this manner by being herself and enjoying her work! That's admirable.)

Garlic and Sapphires makes for a quick, entertaining read at roughly 352 pages. I read it in two easy sessions and enjoyed myself immensely. I'll never doubt the fun of reading about food again, although she made me quite hungry in the process. I highly recommend this title to others. You might be hungry at the end of it, but you'll be ok.

Hutterite Diaries, by Linda Maendel

I accepted a copy of Hutterite Diaries: Wisdom from My Prairie Community through the Litfuse Publicity. I was curious to learn more about the Hutterite community and their beliefs and this seemed as good a time as any to read up on such matters.

Author Linda Maendel was born to Hutterite parents and this way of life is all that she has ever known. Hutterite Diaries is a series of short essays on a variety of topics and stories all of which were born in her community. Maendel talks about Hutterite history and how her community came to be. She writes about harvesting potatoes, sharing community meals, what a typical wedding day looks like for the bride and groom, family heartache and life in her schoolroom where she teaches. This book acts as a sampler for Hutterite life and she wrote it to give people a more accurate pictures of what being a Hutterite really means.

Maendel explains:

"When people see photographs of Hutterites, they sometimes think we're Amish. We're not, but we are part of the same Christian faith family: the Anabaptists, who emerged in the 1500's in Europe. Like the Amish, we emphasize simplicity, nonconformity to the world, adult baptism, separation of church and state, and nonresistance. More than any other Anabaptist groups, however, we emphasize sharing of material goods, following the example of the believers in the early church, who "had everything in common" (Acts 2:44) and "shared everything they had" (Acts 4:32)." (A Day in the Life of the Author, page 18)

There is a uniform system of dress, with women wearing a sleeveless dress, blouse, apron and a head covering. The men wear casual dark jackets. As stated in the above quote, the Hutterities operate in communities where everything is shared. While each family (typically) would have its own house and would own the contents inside, should someone else in the community be in need of something, it would be shared. There seems to be a type of communal dining hall where all of the community food is stored and where everyone eats. Members of the community rotate turns cooking and cleaning. The children have their own separate dining hall where they eat together while they are young. At 18 years of age, the child becomes an adult and joins the adults in their own separate dining facility. Men and women sit on opposite sides of the dinner table and also on opposite sides of the church building during worship services.

The Hutterites are striving to live according to Biblical commands, of course, although I think they miss the mark quite well in spots. Their desire is to live simply, sharing with other believers and to not be conformed to this world. I do not think that their desires are bad, but that their understanding of scripture is unbalanced. We are not to be conformed to the behaviors and customs in the way that the world thinks but are to be renewed in thought to think more as Christ would have us think. There is a distinction to be made. We are in the world but our thought patterns should not follow those which are generally held to by the world. It's important to note that Jesus sent us into this world to live in it. (See John 17:18 for convincing. Actually, see all of John 17. ) We Christians are sent into the world to share the Gospel with others. This is hard to do when you seclude yourselves into little sects. This is also an argument worthy of another post but I absolutely cannot write up a review of this book without stating the ways in which I disagree with the author and these communities in general.

I love the idea of simplicity and I think the hospitality is not practiced nearly so often as it should be. I am a firm believer in the idea that when one member of the body is suffering and in need, all of the members suffer in some form or fashion alongside and should be quick to make provision for those wanting. Tending to and caring for each other is a part of the Christian faith. Extending hospitality to one another in a variety of ways isn't just a suggestion; it is a command! (1 Peter 4:9) If the church was quick to meet the needs of others, we would see far less people in want these days. Of this I am convinced in any variety of directions. The church is called to serve those within the Body, yes, and also in the world. (Again with that whole John 17 bit.)

I can't agree with the idea that we must sequester ourselves and share only with those who are like us. I think the verse Maendel references (Acts 4:32) shows the heart attitude we are all to have and should be practically applied whenever we see opportunity. At the same time, you can't just look at that one verse in scripture while ignoring others. There are plenty of verses in Proverbs which suggest that those who like to eat (and have clothes and drive cars) are called to work. Laziness isn't something to tolerate. From the way Maendel describes life in the Hutterite community, everyone pitches in and helps out, but she does not go in to how the community reacts to laziness. And I have to think but that laziness exists. I just didn't feel like she explained very well how this whole "everyone works for everyone and shares in everything" thing plays out. If you want me to "buy" the idea that this is a good system, I would need to be convinced with the whole of scripture and not just one or two selected verses.

Least I give off the wrong impression here, I don't really have a huge problem with sharing your possessions in a community setting or dressing to hide your ankles. I do think that that is overly legalistic and that scriptures in no way requires this of us. I have never been nor ever will be a fan of people cloistering themselves into small communities, fellowshipping only with those inside of this same pre-arranged/pre-approved group. I suppose it does give an illusion of safety in certain respects and that is what makes the idea tempting to we humans. We naturally want to be with people who agree with us and whom we find agreeable. However, I think great caution should be applied to any group or system which requires more of you than the Scriptures themselves. I think the Hutterites mean well but cross the line into legalism and that gives me pause. Christ didn't tell us to go forth into all of the world and establish communities of our choosing. He himself mixed with a great many different and sinful people when He came to earth; He is our example in how we are also to live in this world.

To put it another way: it's sort of easy to love people who are exactly like you. It's very difficult to love those who are not. A Hutterite community seems an easy one to share life with if you feel as they do. However, I think the better challenge and more correct challenge is to be in the world and not to ask for and/or to scheme to be taken out of it (John 17:15). Our prayers instead should be for strength and grace and to be kept safe from the evil one who seeks to destroy.

I can say of this book that I appreciated understanding the Hutterite belief system a little bit better. I can say that Maendel seems like a very pleasant gal whom I would delight in being friends with, were we to ever meet. I must also say though that this book did nothing to persuade me that the Hutterite's apply the whole of scripture to their daily life. I think they've picked and chosen some favorite verses and are trying to live those out. While it is always good to strive to obey Scriptures, it is equally important that you look at the whole and not just a part when doing so. To look at only a snippet and base a life around it is a road often fraught with danger.

I am thankful to Litfuse Publicity for allowing me to participate on this blog tour. To check out others' opinions of this book, visit the Litfuse Hutterite Diaries landing page.

An Uncomplicated Life, by Paul Daugherty

I accepted An Uncomplicated Life: A Father's Memoir of His Exceptional Daughter for review because I love titles which show the beauty of a life given. This book tells the story of Paul and Kerry Daugherty's daughter, Jillian, who was born with Down Syndrome. It is a book described by others as being "an inspiring love letter" from father to daughter. It is a very sweet and touching story.

It will come as no surprise around here that I liked the concept of this book because it supports the argument that all life is valuable. Modern society is very obsessed with each of us looking a certain way and being able to all do certain things. We cringe at handicaps of any sort and wish them away with laws that would deny humans the right to live before they have ever been born. My position is that life begins from the moment of conception and that all life ought to be protected. This is my opinion.

As clear as I am on that point, let me be as clear on Daugherty opinion: he is not writing his daughter's story with an agenda over the concept of what makes a life. To be more specific, while he is incredibly glad that he and Kerry have had Jillian in their lives and he wouldn't trade his daughter for the world, he also does not mean to place blame or criticism on "the moral choices" of others. Towards the end of the book he raises obvious questions about what the world might look like if we chose to wipe out an entire race of people who are different than ourselves and these are certainly questions worth pondering. I think Daugherty and I would form different answers to the question but I still enjoyed reading his thought processes.

An Uncomplicated Life takes us from the point in time shortly before Jillian's birth all the way through her graduation in college and life with her current boyfriend/fiancee (at the time of this post). Reading this story gives you a nice, big overview of the life which Jillian has lived to date. When Jillian was born, Paul and Kerry decided that they weren't going to focus on the limitations placed upon their daughter but, instead, they would look for the possibilities. Choosing the positive approach over a negative one certainly served Jillian well.

Daugherty relates the way he and his wife (literally) fought with school administrators over the entire course of Jillian's educational career to allow her to be included in regular classes, have her homework modified,  and receive special assistance while not being excluded, etc. He explains in some detail the frustrations of trying to keep Jillian in with her peers and educated at the same time. Their deep desire for their daughter was that she would learn how to hold her own socially, and be the most educated person that she could possibly be.

Again, most of the book talks about their struggles with school administration. If I were to list the main reason Daugherty wrote this book, I would say that he is writing Jillian's story to fight for the right of those with Down Syndrome to be treated equally. That is most certainly a worthy and important goal. Secondly, I would say that he wants the world to know that his Jillian is a masterpiece in and of herself. She is beautiful, fun, loving, enthusiastic and kind. He wants us to know that people with Down Syndrome have much to offer to society. I agree.

An Uncomplicated Life really is an inspiration to read. It's nice to hear of the Daugherty's passion to integrate Jillian into society. It's delightful to read about her cheery personality who, quite simply, loves her life. I'm so glad that Jillians exist in this world. People with Down Sydrome certainly do have unique qualities to share with us all. They give us perspective and we need that. I'm glad to have read this book for more of such a thing.

I do have some quibbles with it as well, although most of which are so minor as to not be worth mentioning. There is one that I will mention because it tickled my funny bone and caused me to burst out laughing.

As stated, a great deal of this book is about the Daugherty's struggle with the school system. They had/have very strong opinions about how teachers should have been treating Jillian and what they should be doing on her behalf. There is a lot of talk about teachers, some that they liked and some which they did not. Daugherty shares about one teacher, Nancy, whom the family really liked and grew quite close to. Nancy relayed the following story to Paul and he included in the book:

"One day, Nancy decoded the class would bake a cake together. It combined cooking skills with match know-how as well as the important of reading and understanding the directions. One of Jillian's friends, a boy named Layton, had never cooked. He had been homeschooled, Nancy said. "He'd never so much as cracked an egg." (Chapter 9, Nancy, page 116)

Oh dear, dear me, Mr. Daugherty. We poor uneducated home schoolers who can't even crack eggs. Heavens to Betsy! Sometimes I think it's a miracle that I survived to adulthood. It may have come to me late in life but eventually I did learn to crack an egg and now I crack them with abandon. Sometimes I'm like a crazy egg-cracking machine. And now I can be all, like, "Oh yeah, I was home schooled....watch me crack this egg." Booyah!

Astoundingly I even learned how to read! I am a wonder to behold.

It really gets my goat in an amusing sort of way when non-home schoolers question home schoolers. Can we be an insane breed perhaps? Anti-social? A bit dippy? Perhaps just . . . different? And if the argument that we're all making is that we need to embrace each others differences then shouldn't be back peddle on the whole "home schoolers are questionable people" spiel? A little give, a little take? I don't think home schooling is for everyone, but by golly I think it's super funny that you would make a negative-sounding comment because some kid had never cracked an egg before. (But I suppose if that's the worst you can come up with then you have to work with it.) I have actually known real people who purchase those frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pack them into their kids public school lunch boxes. No egg cracking involved. Serious.

Anyway, this is just one little instance where the book tickled my funny bone in a rather sarcastic way. I certainly don't agree on a great many of Daugherty's moral stances or personal preferences but that in no way detracted from my ability to enjoy his book. He has a positive message to share about and for individuals with Down Syndrome and it's good to read. All egg-cracking jokes aside.

Many thanks to William Morrow Publishing who sent a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. I received no additional compensation for this post and you can entirely bet on the fact that 100% of the opinions expressed above are my very own.

Other posts and books of interest:

• She is Mine, by Stephanie Fast
• Bloom, by Kelle Hampton
• Speech by Gianna Jessen
• Adopted for Life, by Russel D. Moore

Misc.

I kept waiting and waiting (and waiting and waiting) for The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book IV: The Interrupted Tale to be released in paperback so that I could buy it and it would match the rest of my set. Alas, my impatience won out and now I have to repurchase books 1-3 in hardback so that everything will match. I sigh but you understand, don't you? Also, I don't mind because it's such a great series that I anticipate it running through the family over the years. We'll want those hardback copies to hold up to the many hands which will touch it.

Like all of the others in the series, I enjoyed this one equally well. I was happy to find some of the answers to the questions which are raised in the prior books. (Book 4 also has me wondering if Maryrose Wood is getting near to drawing this series to a close. Hmm?) This series is part adventure, part mystery, part drama, and part comedy. It's all fun though and I've enjoyed the time spent with it. (See prior thoughts here and here.) One thing that these books DON'T make me want to do though is write up full reviews on each title. I'm not sure exactly why that is, but that it is. If you decide to pick up this series (and I do recommend it for your consideration) then you won't want to know a whole lot about it before diving in because if you did that would somewhat ruin the mystery.

I'm happy to note that The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book V: The Unmapped Sea will be coming out at the end of April. Now that I don't have to wait for a paperback edition, I'll snatch it right up.

I'll be looking forward to it, for sure!

*****
Remember my review of A Fine Romance, by Susan Branch? (If you don't, hop over and read the review and then pick up the book. It's so fun!)

I mentioned then that I had meant to post a picture of my book in keeping with the personal journal them - complete with my mug of tea! -  but that I hadn't yet downloaded it off the camera yet. It's not like it's all that exciting or anything, but here it is:

*****
After reading (and feeling inspired by) The Nesting Place (linked to review/thoughts) I wanted to add a little spring-like something to our sitting area which is off the kitchen. I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but I did purchase some new candle stick holders that were bright and cheery. (I don't do so well when the weather is forever gray and overcast like it is much of the winter in Oregon so I've been looking for lighter/brighter decor to help out.) you can see in the far left hand side of the page my little corner on the counter with lit candles, and a bright red tea pot. It makes me happy to look at.

Bookworm4's bear is also nestled on the glider because Smith encourages using children's toys in decorating and making the place feel more like home for everyone. (Tree branch supplied by a dying tree we were going to cut down in our yard anyway. And twinkle lights are not just for Christmas!)

*****
For the record, I'm hating reading The Canterbury Tales. Just so you know. I've been "cheating" by watching this video on Youtube which carries with it all the flair of the story without making me wallow through it miserably. (It's almost miserable enough just watching it.)

*****
But we don't want to end on a sour note, do we? So let's not. I thought this was funny:

Enjoy your Wednesday, folks!

She is Mine, by Stephanie Fast (Giveaway x 5!!)

I received a copy of She Is Mine: A War Orphan's Incredible Journey of Survival back in November but had told the author that I wouldn't be able to read it until January, due to the impending holidays. Holidays being over, I settled down Monday afternoon with this book and did not stand back up again until I had read it all the way through. I offer you this warning that once you begin the story, you will not find yourself able to set it down. Life became consumed with this book. Upon finishing it I handed it to Jonathan with the idea of him being able to read it the same day. He did!!! (It's not hard to do, I'm tellin' you!) We were both blown away by Stephanie Fast's story.

Stephanie was not her first name. She can't remember what her mother called her. There was too much trauma involved between the life she lived with her mother (prior to age 4) and the time she spent alone, abandoned. Born in South Korea, Stephanie was of mixed blood. Her father was an American serviceman who never knew of her existence. Her mother's family wanted nothing to do with an illegitimate child who was also of mixed blood.

"In Korea, having a fatherless child of mixed blood brought impurities to the ancestral bloodlines. It was culturally unacceptable - a disgrace. And children who were not given a family name literally had no birthright and lived unacknowledged. They were rejected. Worthless. Nothings." (Chapter 4, Alone, page 34)

Stephanie remembers bits and pieces from her childhood in Korea. She remembers overhearing the argument in which her mother was told by her family that she must rid herself of her daughter. She remembers being placed on a train and left to fend for herself. She remembers her journey in trying to find her mother again and all of the painful circumstances involved in the process. She recounts many horrifying stories from her childhood (which can hardly be called a "childhood") in which she simply worked hard to merely survive. Alone in the world, rejected by her family and her society she was eventually adopted into a family from the United States. This is a fact she is grateful for.

I don't want to spent much more time describing her story to you because it would take away from the effect of you reading her story for yourself. It is a powerful tale and deeply moving. Fast is now a grandmother and spends her time writing and speaking to others about the plight of the orphan. This book is dedicated to the estimated 143,000,000 orphans living in this world today. She is quick to say that although her story might be unique, it is also a general tale of woe which orphans from around the globe can identify with in some form or fashion. She and her husband now work tirelessly to make others aware of the need to care for orphans.

She writes:

"It has taken many, many years of healing, but now I know the truth of who I am. I walk with patience, doing my part to improve orphan care. Embracing life day by day, I live with the belief that great things lie ahead.
Although this written account ends when I was twelve years old, I have now come to a place in my life where I can say with all conviction: There is nothing that has happened to me that I would have been better off without." (An Open Letter From the Author)

Let me note, for reference sake, that Mrs. Fast is a Christian. Her life is defined by Christ and she makes a point of saying so. Her life could not be considered "easy" by anyone who has heard her story but her story is filled with hope for the future. I think that is most of what makes her story so compelling. You get a very clear picture in the reading of this book of what her life is like. The story will fill you with horror and dread. But on each page is the heartbeat of hope. She wishes to share that hope with others who are lonely, abandoned, and abused. After reading her story, I was left with nothing but deep respect and also excitement for the message.

Now, the first reason I was drawn to this book is, of course, because our family has adopted from South Korea twice. We therefore talk a lot about adoption in our household. We speak of it as being God's good plan for all of our lives. I am not some sad victim to be pitied because my children weren't born to me biologically and my children are not victims to be pitied because they are part of a family. We are a family, same is as if we all looked like one another. Before we adopted people who had already done so would tell me that there would come a point that I would forget these children were adopted. I confess that I questioned sometimes how this could be so. Wouldn't their faces remind me? What about their temperaments? Their personalities? Wouldn't everything suggest in some form or fashion that we weren't blood related? Ultimately, we made a conscious choice to believe that this was the right thing to do and to step out in faith, even despite some fierce winds of opposition. And you know what? Everything I was told was true! You do forget that you have "adopted children". They become a part of you and you of them, even though they might be slightly different. Family is born and we all belong to each other, wholly and completely. It is a mystery and it is a beautiful thing.

 Is adoption an easy thing to do? No. Is it a natural thing to do? I would argue, from the perspective of Christianity, that it is. It seems to go against nature but in all actuality, it doesn't. People who are uniquely different are placed together and learn to belong and take on one another's traits. You become family, much like we Christians have become a part of God's family. He is wholly other than us, holy and set-apart. And yet He has adopted us and made us part of His family with all rights and privileges thereof. We belong. We are loved.

Is this to say that sorrow and sadness are not woven in and out of the process? I would be lying if I suggested that was not the case. There have been occasional tears, both on our part and that of our children. We talk a lot about their birth mothers. We wonder where they are, what they are like, what their lives are like, and if we will ever meet them. (We will try to meet them someday.)  But at the end of these questions we always bring ourselves back to the position that God works all things together for our good and for His glory and this answer satisfies exactly as it should. That is perhaps why I feel so strongly about sharing Stephanie Fast's story with you. It is the story of pain and anguish, yes, but concludes with glorious joy. Does she still struggle from time to time with her past? Undeniably. However, she submits her pain to the Lord and that is what I hope to teach and encourage my children to do also. It is what I do for myself. It is what we Christians ought to do. He is sovereign and in His goodness, He matched people from different continents and societies and put them together to belong, to be loved, and to bring glory to His name.

Remember how I said that I used to wonder what I would think of my children when I looked into their very different faces and wonder how this whole adoption thing would work? I do stop sometimes just to look at my kids but I am not asking myself questions about whether or not a good choice was made. I am convinced all is as it should be and it is good. Rather, most often when I look at my kids I think to myself, "I see the Gospel message in their faces." Just the way that we each look as a family sends a message to others. The world would say to us sometimes, "You do not belong to each other." I would answer with a hearty, "Yes, hallelujah! We DO!" It is true that we encounter people and arguments (both inside and outside of the church) that says one ought to hesitate greatly over the matter of adoption if it is to be pursued at all. Is there corruption in the process in places? Certainly. But just because some foods have been genetically altered doesn't mean that I should stop eating. Do your homework on organizations and agencies and keep your eyes and ears open but do not ignore our call to look after orphans in their distress (James 1:27) just because it makes you uncomfortable. Lots of good things will make you uncomfortable. Lots of good things require hard work to bring about. There is glory even in this hard work.

I do feel quite strongly and passionately about Fast's story in part because it is encouragement to my soul. When I hear Christians, in particular, question adoption (international has the most suspicion attached to it) it makes my heart ache. Adoption is a glorious thing! It is a hard thing and perhaps an uncomfortable one, but a glorious thing! I cannot look to the world to find out what God has called me to. I must look to Him and to His Word and I so appreciate that Fast is here to encourage the downhearted and downtrodden - adopter and adoptee alike! She is being faithful to tell her story of hope, redemption and peace. She is enthusiastic about making a difference in this world and it is hard not to feel her enthusiasm. Indeed it is hard not to marvel at it, considering her experiences. I so admire people who have gone through hard times and stand up shouting that the Lord, He is good! Blessed indeed are the men and women who trust in Him.

If all I can do to be a part of this "orphan awareness" campaign is write this blog post, then I must write it. But I will also live it within the four walls of my own home and would love to encourage you to consider how you might also live it. Perhaps you are not called to bring an orphan into your home (although it begs the question, "Why not?") but simply to support (with prayer or finances) a well researched organization, agency or family as they do this beautiful, hard thing.

If you have made it to the end of this post then I must thank you for your time. Next I would encourage you to pick up this book, read it for yourself and see what you think.

I am delighted to say that I have FIVE copies of She Is Mine to five of you. This contest is opened to U.S. Residents only and will run through Wednesday, January 21st.

Please, please, please!!! Leave a valid e-mail address along with your comment entry.

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS (as selected by Random.org) ARE:

#6 - Alicia
#18 - Annette
#9 - Amy (Hope is the Word)
#11 - Elisha C.
#7 - Barbara

I will ship your books out shortly! Thank you for caring to read this book! I can't wait to hear what you think!

I also want you to know that I care so much about this message that I arranged to purchase these giveaway copies from the author. I'm putting my money where my mouth is on this one. I love her story and I want you to read it.

You can find out more about Stephanie Fast and her ministry on her website.

Many thanks to author Stephanie Fast who sent me a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. I have received no additional compensation and all opinions are 100% my very own.

A Fine Romance, by Susan Branch

A friend of my mother-in-law's told me about
A Fine Romance: Falling in Love With the English Countryside, by Susan Branch and recommended that I check it out. I looked it up, thought it looked very exciting, and stuck it on my Amazon wishlist (where books remain until I can no longer resist them). Christmas came along and a dear friend of mine kindly gave me a gift bag which I opened except for one thing which I knew was a book. I stuck that under the tree to open on Christmas morning. I didn't allow myself to make guesses. I just told myself to wait.

Christmas morning came and - as you have likely ascertained by now - I opened the packaging and discovered A Fine Romance. Sharp inhale. Joy! I couldn't put off the read any longer and I had no wish to! I dove right on it and found myself delighted with each and every page. Have you not heard of this book? Let me tell you about it.

Of course, you might recognize the name Susan Branch from her country-style, pastel-colored artwork. In this book she describes and illustrates for us her two-month trip to England. She tells us of the food, the gardens, the people, and the beauty that is England. As I've mentioned a few times, we are currently planning a family trip to England this year which is why this book was brought to my attention in the first place. Reading this book made me not want to visit it any longer. No. Instead it made me think we ought to move to England for a good while and soak it all in slowly. Warning: reading this book makes your heart ache for the beauty and the history of England. I'm absolutely enamored!

"Now I realize an Anglophile is not made, she is born - in the gardens of rural England, in a tearoom on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, and she can't be held responsible. It's like falling in love, she has to go with it. She sees an English Meadow in the middle of a stadium in London during the opening ceremony for the Olympics with real sheep and shepherds and geese and wildflowers and she realizes she's madly in love with the people that would DO that. She hangs up her bunting, turns on Downton Abbey and says, sign me up." (p. 242)

It's true that I can't seem to help it. I love a land that is so rich in history and that has let it stand. I love that they haven't torn down every brick and stone and replaced it with ugly cement. I love that they plant huge gardens and small ones and have kept random cobblestone streets. I love the narrow lanes and smaller cars and the idea of walking paths that criss-cross around the country. I love tea and green landscapes (made so bit a "bit of" rain) and, of course, their accents. It seems like a place where they respect that the past has happened and are consciously aware of the fact that they are not the first society ever to have been in existence. They build from the past, rally round each other in times of trouble, take firm(er) stands against country adversaries and still sit down for tea. To me it just sounds glorious (whereas to them it probably just sounds like life). I can't wait to get there.

Branch lays this book out like a journal. Each page is a colorful picture of what her trip looked like. She includes sketches of the places she and her husband stayed and things they saw, as well as many full-colored photographs. We read the book in her own artistic handwriting which is also quite fun. She and her husband traveled to England by boat, aboard the Queen Mary 2. I think that sounds like a lot of fun in some respects but the fact of the matter is, I'll never be able to get onboard a cruise ship and not think about the Titanic. I thought it was amusing that she noted the following in her journal:

"Then the Captain came on the intercom to tell us how things are going, in English, German and French (our longitude and latitude; how many miles we've gone, how deep the ocean is after we cross the Continental Shelf; and he mentioned that at 4 a.m. we passed the site of the Titanic sinking . . . which he really didn't need to bring up)." (p. 54)

Despite my hesitations regarding boat travel, I truly hate to fly. But all things considered, I'd like to get the trip over with as soon as possible and seven nights at sea seems impractical and possibly more horrifying than an airplane ride. We shall fly our way there.

Our families of origin have not traveled very widely at all but Jonathan and I would like to attempt to be more adventurous in raising our own family. We'd like to create a family culture that is excited about and willing to go new places and try new things. I think it's fair to say that we've been your typical Americans who really only think about what life is like from our current perspective. Within just these past few years we've found that leaving home and traveling around broadens our understanding of not just the world but also of ourselves. You see things differently when you travel. You encounter new arguments and practices and become a more flexible (almost useful) human being by leaving the home and exposing yourself to new things. Now, obviously, there are a whole lot of arguments wrapped up in that last sentence and this post is not going to provide answers and responses for each argument but, suffice it to say, we've noted a great value to the idea of traveling "outside of one's self" so to speak. That said, it's also incredibly hard and frequently a very scary thing to think of packing up and heading off to see the world (especially with four small children in tow!). Travel to me is scary but I think I'd wither and die without the possibility of it. I liked the fact that as Susan and her husband embarked on their adventures she realized (as we so often do) that travel is good for the soul. To see the world which God created is an incredibly amazing thing. His creation is astounding, each part so unique and beautiful in its own way. Truthfully, I am always tense before traveling but once "on the road" it is a rather exhilarating feeling. I'm not quite sure I'm describing it very well, but there it is. I have found it a happy thing to travel.

Branch wrote down some new rules for life during her trip, a few of which were:

• Be spontaneous: go places where something pleasantly unexpected can happen to you.
• Don't complain about the weather.
• Fill heart with beauty.

(p. 70)

I remind myself of these very things before embarking on any sort of trip.

I don't know that I can consider A Fine Romance a useful guide book of any sort, (although her driving tips, I believe, will come in handy!), but rather a dreamer's book which is useful in making other heart's dream about the possibilities which exist in this world for them also.  Will everyone be able to manage a trip to England? Likely no. But I think that you can always work to create situations and go places where unexpected, pleasant things can happen. Being inspired to meet new people and share the beauty which is life is not a bad thing, travel or no. Learning to take time out to create and/or make uniquely special moments with the people you love is something that is worth focusing on regardless of your travel possibilities. I would love this book even if I were not planning to go to England. Naturally, I find my heart less achy because I know it's around the corner but regardless, this book is charming in every way and I'm so very, very glad to have read it.

Exceeding my gratefulness to have read this book is my gratefulness for the friend who gave it to me. She inspires me to look for new opportunities to enjoy life with my family every day. And I know of no other person who loves to create beauty as much as she. That she thought to give me this book warms me heart and soul and I thank her for the gift.

P.S. I took a picture of my copy of this book with my cup of tea because I thought it would be fitting to post a "journal-style" photo of the book. However, I have yet to download that picture off of the camera so I'll have to share it later.