All God's Creatures

Author:  Carolyn McSparren
Publisher:  Belle Books
Review written by Kimberly Ledsome


All God's Creatures chronicles the life of Maggie McClain, a female veterinarian whose mother wished for her a southern debutante life. She became a vet after rescuing a small puppy who was clinging to life.  The night she rescued this puppy changed her life forever.  From struggling through veterinarian school in the sixties and being one of only two female students, to marrying, opening her  own practice and dealing with the ups and downs of life in her practice, this book is so inspirational.  The stories about the animals are heartfelt as Maggie stuggles to be accepted by the famous horse breeders and the old toothless farmers.  The stories had me laughing and crying. After losing her husband she tries wholeheartedly to find herself and in the end finds out what she knew all along - who she really is.  A must read!

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality

Blue Like Jazz:  Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality
Author, Donald Miller
publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2003


Here is another book that I listened to rather than actually read.  Generally, I don't like listening to a philosophy type book as compared to actually reading one.  When I read I like to underline sentences and write notes in the margins.  This is one, though, flows very well. I never felt a need for a pen.  There are no footnotes - which helps with the listening-and the reader clearly announces the title of each section.
     In the book, Donald Miller uses his own formation from young adulthood to the present as a means of discussing various Christian topics such as evangelism, worship, caring for the poor and plenty of others that define who we are as individual people and as Christians.  
   Miller is judgmental, but only of himself.  He sees himself, like most of us probably should, as self-centered and weak, needing the guidance of others and God.  He has allowed this guidance to come from all over with some of his most enlightening sources to be non-Christian people.  Miller is quick to point out that sometimes it is non-Christians who show the most "Christian" characteristics  of aiding the needy and acceptance of all of God's people.  While he definitely doesn't see these people as having all the answers, he recognizes that many Christians and Christian groups can get caught up in being with each other rather than being open to experiences with people unlike themselves. 
       Much of the book focuses on Love.  We must love others unconditionally because all people are God's. God created us all, God loves us all; so to love God means we love all God's people.  he points out that this is often not easy. Miller says that when he is going to meet someone new he intentionally reminds himself to love that person, not just with his words and outward actions, but with his inward thoughts, as well. 
     For Miller, "spirituality" is how we react to God.  He believes that Love must be the guide for all aspects of our spirituality - how we worship, how we interact with others, how we think of ourselves.  This last is not the least important.  Referring to the scriptural commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, Miller understands that we must first love ourselves.  This means that we overcome our self-concern and love ourselves as God made us. That doesn't mean, according to Miller that we stop trying to be better, but that we do love ourselves right now as we are.  
    Spirituality is a journey.  It is at the end of the book that I finally caught on to the "jazz" analogy.   Like jazz, spirituality is fluid. 
     I, personally,  see the analogy in that we, like jazz musicians, follow a general theme or melody then go with it in a way that fits our own skills and creativity.  We mesh ourselves with God's plan. We work with others - the band-to accomplish the "song" not knowing for sure where the music will lead us or when it will end. We must be ready for anything.  We must be ready to play when asked. We hone our skills whether it be hitting the notes on a saxophone,  teaching others, or building a building, we must use these skills to make God's "music" happen
     I recommend this book for anyone, including non christians, particularly someone thinking about how they fit into the world outside themselves. 
     I have only touched on a few of the issues Don Miller discusses in Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality There is much more that will enlighten and entertain. The narrative flows easily. The reader does not need to look up anything or know any Biblical background to enjoy this book.  
   If you do read (or listen) to it, I would love some comments on what you thought of it.  Did it inspire you?  Did it sound like nonsense?  Were you bored or led on through the chapters?  I've linked, below, to copies in hardback, paperback and audio.  Enjoy!
     

Heaven Is For Real

Author: Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2010
Review written by: Brenda Sharp


I just finished HEAVEN IS FOR REAL by Todd Burpo and I highly recommend it. It is a very quick, easy read by the father of a not-yet-four year old who was temporarily dead on the operating table, came back, and over weeks, months, years, slowly divulged things about heaven and lost family members that he had no possible way of knowing about. Not a preachy, adult minister-speak book, but one out of the mouth of a babe.
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 (This second link is for the Kindle edition for those of you who would like to read it from your smart phone or kindle.  I love to have a book on my phone to read while I'm waiting in line, or otherwise needing to "kill" time.)
nellie

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Author: James Ford
Publisher: Ballantine Books, 2009

 Happily satisfied, I have just this moment finished Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.  The story easily lived up to its name for it is a mix of bitter and sweet well combined to produce a good literary meal.

We first meet Henry, our leading man, in the winter of his years, standing in front of the Panama Hotel in Seattle, Washington.  During renovation, the Panama reveals what it has been hiding since world War II. Workers have found, in the hotel's basement, hundreds of suitcases and boxes left by Japanese families that were relocated to internment camps. The people were only allowed two suitcases each.  That didn't leave room for photo albums, wedding dresses, family heirlooms and other items the American government deemed unnecessary.  After this discovery, we  travel back and forth with Henry between the present and an earlier time when, at age twelve, he a resident of Chinatown with a button attached to his coat that says, "I am Chinese."  Henry's father makes him wear the button so that people do not mistake him for Japanese.
    Henry's young life is not happy.  He is hated by his classmates at the all-white school he attends for being different.   Chinese children make fun of him for attending the "white" school rather than the neighborhood Chinese school.  He has become "uppity" in their eyes, not really Chinese anymore.  He doesn't fit in anywhere, not even at home where his father insists that he speak only "American" even though neither of Henry's parents understand much English.  He can only be himself with his adult friend, Sheldon.  Sheldon is a weathered musician, playing the jazz that Henry loves. On the street, Sheldon and his saxophone play the background music for Henry's life.
    Henry's life changes when he meets Keiko, a Japanese girl who comes to Henry's school. Like Henry Keiko is a scholarship student which means that she works in the kitchen with him at lunch and helps him clean up after school.
    If you know your history, then you know what happens to Keiko and her family. Even though her parents were born in America - her father is a Seattle lawyer- they are sent with all the other Japanese to the prison camps.
    Throughout the book, Henry searches for his life.  In his old age he feels lost like the jazz recording by the great musician, Oscar Holden for which Henry continually searches. It is a record that he knows exists, though many people doubt it.
    Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is about discovering who you are. It is about what defines each person? What leads our actions? Is it our culture, our parents, our geography, our place in history or is it something more?
     James Ford has told a good story, avoiding being overly sentimental or preachy. He hasn't forced any moral judgment on us, the readers, telling us both sides of the stories involved.  It is easy to see this story as a movie.  The musical score will have to be jazz, the Seattle jazz that had its own personality in the forties. Read the book first so that when the movie is made you will be ready.