Friday, November 27, 2015

The Dive From Clausen's PierThe Dive From Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reviewers were really varied on this book, from 1 star hated it to 5 stars. Most all like the first part of the book, but then were disappointed with the character development choices at the end. For me, I was interested all the way through. I didn't want to give this 3 stars, I thought that was too low, but a 4 seems a little high. So know that this book fell between those choices for me.

Carrie's boyfriend, Mike, dives off Clausen's Pier and becomes paralyzed. Carrie was conflicted about their relationship before the dive,and now she is placed in the unenviable position of being a "lifeline" for Mike. The choices she now makes will affect Mike, Mike's family, herself, the friends that she and Mike hung out--that's a lot of pressure for a 23 year old. We follow Carrie's journey as she tries to figure out who she is, and what role she will play in Mike's life.

Do I agree with the folks who were disappointed in what they perceived as shallowness in the character development as the book moved forward? Well, yes, in some ways--but then again, the 23 year olds of today are not exactly mature. They do make debatable choices, and some of the choices they make are based on how they think other's will make judgments about them. And some of their choices are selfish. I think so many young people are so confused about life, themselves, and how they work together.

One of the things I liked about this book, is how Carrie used sewing as an escape. I love to sew, so her descriptions of fabric, and fashion, and how she used those as an escape were interesting to me.

In the end, Carrie makes a sort of peace with her life and choices. I'm not sure it would have been quite that neat in real life, but it fit Carrie's life, and so it was a just right ending.


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Saturday, November 7, 2015

What Story is Your Life Telling?

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My LifeA Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy Donald Miller's writing, and I like this book even better than Blue Like Jazz.

Basically this book encourages us to think of our lives as story. Don't like the story you're in? Then why don't you look at changing it into a better story? That's what Don did, and along the way he made new friends, went on some adventures, and made a difference in the lives of boys that don't have fathers through a mentoring program. There were portions of the book where I was just chuckling out loud, particularly the chapter featuring snow and kayaks. Don't think the book is all humor though, he also covers hard subjects like losing people you love to cancer.

There are so many great things to quote from this book, but I'll have to restrain myself. Here's a few of my favorites:
"I wonder if that's what we'll do with God when we are through with all this, if he'll show us around heaven, all the light coming in through the windows a thousand miles away, all the fields sweeping down to a couple of chairs under a tree, in a field outside the city. And we'll sit and tell him our stories, and he'll smile and tell us what they mean."
When Miller tries to comfort his cousin about the loss of her father, his Uncle Art, who was like a father to him. He can't find the words, but:
"later that night I pictured Uncle Art, and I could see him in heaven, and he was sitting at a table and there was a celebration. There was dancing and bottles of wine, and there was music. I could see him at a wedding, and I realized that's what I should have told Carol, that her dad was at a wedding."
Miller's friend Kathy is struggling with God and the events he allowed to happen in her life and the life of others. She goes to visit Ntarama in Africa, to visit the church which is the memorial to the people who died because of the terrible atrocities that occurred in the war between the Hutus and the Tutsis people. It's there she heard God's voice
"This is what happens when people walk away from me, Kathy. I have brought you to this place to show you something important.This is what happens when my compassion and love leave a place."
Such a good reminder that we are responsible to be God's hand and feet in this world.

This book is full of stories that will make you think of your life differently. I guarantee you will enjoy it!


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