During the month of February, I finished nine more book - making a total of 18 for the year so far. Three of the books were fiction, the other six were nonfiction. I gave five of the books 4/5 stars on Goodreads, two 3/5 stars and two books 5/5 stars. I don't often give 5/5 stars, but this month, I gave that rating to two books, one fiction and one nonfiction biography, because each of the stories were compelling and impactful. Here are brief reviews of each book.
All That Was Promised ****
By Vickie Hall
Prejudice based on race and ethnicity is often acknowledged, but intolerance, prejudice and persecution in the U.S. and other Western countries based on religious choice is all but pushed under the rug and forgotten. This book sheds light on terrible persecution that was leveled against those who followed their conscious to do what they felt God was telling them to do. Set in Cardiff, Wales in 1847, story centers around Methodist minister Richard Kenyon and his wife Leah. Richard is leading a life committed to serving God, when he encounters a missionary from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kenyon and later Leah become convinced of the truthfulness of the missionary's message and become members of this new American Christian Church. Little would Richard know of the terrible persecution, violence and even death that converts to the church would have to endure to stay true to their new faith. Author Vickie Hall tells a compelling fictionalized story is based on actual historical events. It is an uplifting and inspiring story. The story continues in a second book, Journey of Promise. I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. (Own paperback edition).
Loving People Who Are Hard to Love ****
by Joyce Meyer
This book is classic Joyce Meyers. She doesn't mince words and says it as she sees it, with regard to Christian teachings. I have always enjoyed Joyce Meyer's straight-forward, no-nonsense style. I have to wonder if this will be her last book, since she is now 78-years-old. This book is worth listening to for anyone who is already a believing Christian and wants to improve their Christian love walk and discipleship. I gave this book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. (Listened to audiobook from the library).
All Good People Here ****
By Ashley Flowers
Margot Davies is a reporter who goes back to her hometown in rural Indiana to help care for her uncle with early-onset dementia. Years before, when she was six, her playmate from across the street was taken from her home in the middle of the night and later found brutally murdered and dumped in a ditch. Now, the similar kidnapping of another little girl in a nearby town sounds and feels eerily familiar. The murder of Margot's little friend and playmate was never solved but Margot seems to be the only one who thinks that the murders of two little girls, 25 years apart, is related. This is a fast-paced and tightly written murder mystery with a compelling story, twisting plotline and believable, well-developed characters. Told in dual plot lines in 1994 and 2019, the reader follows the page-turning story with the main character, discovering each piece of the a tale that seems like it could be true. I first became familiar with the author, Ashley Flowers, through her true crime podcast, Crime Junkie. This is her debut novel and it is as creepy and twisted as any of the true cases Flowers recounts on her podcast. This book is excellent reading for anyone who likes mystery and suspense with a true-crime flavor. Be aware that book deals with the very difficult and triggering topic of child abuse and murder and there is a considerable amount of language which some readers may not like. There is no explicit sex described. I didn't like the language, but the story was so well told that I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads. (Library book).
Blackout ***
by Candace Owens
Conservative commentator and podcaster Candace Owens presents somewhat well-thought out and documented arguments for why African Americans should support Republicans and not Democrats when they go to the polls. I agreed with some of what she said, but strongly disagreed with other things, especially her support for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. I read this book because one of my students (I'm an English teacher) was reading it, and told me it was good. It's always important to read many different points of view, and many of Candace Owens' views are very much different than many in the African American community. The book seems to have been written as a conservative response to the Black Lives Matter movement. It was overall easy to read and Owens stated her arguments clearly with some supporting evidence. As I said, I didn't agree with everything in the book, but it was thought-provoking. I gave the book 3/5 stars on Goodreads. (I read the Kindle edition from the library, but also own hardbound copy).
An Ugly Truth ****
This is a very long and detailed history of Facebook from it's beginning through all of the ups and downs of its growth to be social media monolith. The book covers up to and including the January 6 insurrection and Facebook's role in it. Founder, Mark Zuckerburg and Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg do not come out looking good at in this book. It appears that Zuckerburg may know a lot about the internet and technology but next to nothing about human nature, society or democracy. After reading this book, I am glad that I stepped WAY BACK from Facebook when things got really ugly during the Covid pandemic, the 2020 election and its aftermath. I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads because it seemed to be well researched and documented with lots of information from current and former Facebook employees and developers. The way that Facebook was run and manipulated almost brought our society and democracy to its knees and this book does a good job of documenting that. This book contains important information. (I listened to the unabridged audiobook from the library).
Church of Cowards ****
By Matt Walsh
Conservative commentator and podcaster, Matt Walsh, who is also a traditional, conservative Catholic, critiques American Christianity and it's often unBiblical slide toward liberal thinking and practice. He also comes down hard on some evangelical mega-churches, TV pastors and preachers of the so-called "Prosperity Gospel". This book reminded me of Alisa Childer's book Another Gospel? in that Walsh takes issues with so-called Christians who have changed the Christian gospel to make it more "palatable" to those who many be "uncomfortable" with some teachings and practices. I have listened to Matt Walsh's daily podcast for a couple of years now, and I found the content of this book to be somewhat like the content of his podcasts. Walsh is strongly opinionated, but in this book he backs up his claims and arguments in with scriptures from the Bible and other traditional Christian authors like C.S. Lewis. I found myself interested in and agreeing with much of what he writes in the book. As with his podcasts, I strongly agree with some of the things Walsh says, and strongly disagree with other things, but I am always up for hearing differing points of view. I gave the book 4/5 stars on Goodreads because of the way Walsh presented his arguments and I happen to agree with most of what he says. (I listened to the unabridged audiobook from library on Hoopla).
The Stewardship Principle ***
by Ganel-Lyn Condie
Life's problems and challenges can be reframed as lessons and opportunities God gives us to learn. Author Ganel-Lyn Condie uses stories of challenges from her own life to teach how she learned that changing from an "ownership mindset" to a "stewardship mindset" helps us learn from and grow through challenges. I have read other books by this author which I really liked. For some reason, this little book did not resonate for me the way Condie's other books did. There are some gems of truth in this book, but it really read like a very churchy therapy session and I am not sure there is really a scriptural basis for some of Condie's ideas, although I am sure that reframing thoughts in a more positive context can help anyone deal with hard things. I gave this book 3/5 stars on Goodreads. (Listened to audiobook from Deseret Bookshelf Plus).
These Silent Woods *****
by Kimi Cunningham Grant
This is a book that is hard to describe, but by the same token, it is the best book I have read in quite a while.
For eight years, Cooper has lived in a remote cabin in an isolated forest with his daughter, Finch. They are there because Cooper is trying to hide his past, while keeping his beloved little girl sheltered from painful truth that brought them to and keeps them the woods. The only people who know where Cooper and Finch are and why they are there are Cooper's army buddy, Jake, who brings the supplies every year that keep them going, and a mysterious hermit named Scotland, who is their only neighbor. When Jake doesn't show up with supplies one year, his sister comes to the cabin a few days later with word of Jake's death. That, coupled with the appearance of a mysterious young woman in the forest, becomes the catalyst that will radically change the only world Cooper and Finch have known for eight years, and will ultimately force Cooper to confront the sins of his past. A disappearance and murder in the woods will bring crashing down Cooper's carefully built and maintained life with the child he loves more than life itself.
This book is not a murder mystery or a suspense thriller at all, although there is a murder as well as mystery and suspense. This book is a story of grace and love - the kind of love that motivates one person to give up his life for others.
Although the book was a little slow at the beginning, it never failed to hold my interest and keep me up too late reading "just one more chapter." By the end, I couldn't put it down, and by the last page, there was a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I am giving this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads, something that I rarely do. It is a powerful book and I highly recommend it. (Library book).
A Change of Affection *****
by Becket Cook
Becket Cook tells his own interesting and compelling story of being an openly gay man, successful Hollywood set designer and an atheist who suddenly and unexpectedly has a spiritual experience that completely changes his life. He becomes a committed Christian who leaves his gay lifestyle behind to follow Christ and spread the Christian Gospel. I started out reading this book on my Kindle, then mid-way through, I decided to listen to audiobook. I loved hearing Becket tell his own story. He seems sincere and honest and hearing his story helped me to strengthen my own testimony and commitment to follow Jesus Christ. I would recommend this book to anyone - gay or straight - who wants to know why someone in our modern society would leave all to follow Christ. I gave this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads and highly recommend it. (I began reading the book on the Kindle app on my phone, then changed and finished it with audiobook - both of which were library loans).
Thanks for stopping by to share my February reading. Now, it's on to March and more great books! I would love it if you would share what you are reading in the comments.
Until next time,
💖📚Deb📚💖
