Book Review: Bob Hostetler's Life Stinks... And Then You Die

Bob Hostetler is perhaps my favorite non-fiction author. He writes beautifully and harsh books that convey the Christian faith in a real and honest way. After reading Quit Going to Church I felt that I had read one of the few Christian books that impacted me, so when I saw that he had another book available to read, Life Stinks...And Then You Die, I wanted to read it more than most other books I've seen available to review. After reading this book, it's the first book I went through the Group Study on my own and began filling out the questions to.

Summary: Some people seem to pass by in the world as if they are carefree and without fear. While most of us can say that isn't how we are, we still avoid books of the Bible that seems to be truest to some of the realities we face. Hostetler takes a look at the book of Ecclesiastes, and looks over what we can learn from the author despite the fact he seems to have a negative outlook on the world. What instead we find is the direction back to God among the materials and worry that the world has to offer.

Bookshelf: Stephen King's Joyland

I'm a bigger Stephen King fan with each read. Even the weaker novels have something to offer. Even the dialogue is always superb, and King has a talent for capturing dialect. I will admit I was expecting a lot more out of Joyland though, and perhaps it proves these sorts of novels are best read in the fall when fair season is hopping. A lot of the novel though felt it was garnering some direction, and well to be honest enjoying the characters a lot more than any plot, but isn't bad, but the novel cover implies a lot of something more.

Summary: Devin Jones is reeling from a tough breakup from his girlfriend, Wendy. She's moved away to college and found a new boyfriend, and all but forgotten him. Devin has not forgotten her though, and believes the best way to recover is to take up a job at Joyland, a carnival that runs throughout the summer and some of the fall.  Once arriving there though he finds the place has plenty of mystery, including a ghost story revolving around one of the park's most popular rides, Horror House, where the ghost of Linda Grey still haunts. In this tale, Devin is coming of age upon a frightful time.

Book Review: Heather C. King's Ask Me Anything, Lord

So Heather C. King blogs, and essentially takes her blog and places it in a book with her book, Ask Me Anything, Lord. She easily meshes in Biblical messages to help mainly women, though men might find something here too, find a way to relate the Bible to their lives. Now I found this to very smooth reading that is encouraging for the everyday person, but I couldn't help but feel there was danger in making so many assumptions about them either. Like Sarah who was told by God she would carry a child at 90? The author says she would have hit menopause by that point, and maybe she did, but people also lived longer in those times, and perhaps aged slower. Maybe she wasn't quite going through or over with menopause just yet?

Summary: Many of us wonder how God could love us or even accept us? Some of us go through doubts, or just feel lost in general even after we've accepted God's word. King though provides an array of some of the most popular Biblical characters, and their own struggles to give us an idea that our struggles are an old thing that God has always led people through.King also meshes in some of her life to help bring the message to life as well.

Book Review: Andrew L. Hoy's Eat Like Jesus

So the argument that Hoy presents in this book I don't really disagree with, but there is a lot to talk about that the book doesn't. Most of us have heard of a Kosher diet. It's most popular dietary restriction is no pork, which makes sense when you look at the basis for why it was banned from eating. It has a lot of unhealthy attributes that are garnered from what a pig eats. That basically is the basis of why animals are kosher or not. It depends on what they consume, which negates the health of eating that animal. Now here is where my problem is. How meat is prepared and even raised is a whole lot different than in Biblical times. We have mass factories that feed animals that are cows, chickens, pigs, and more hormones in order to speed up their growth, which has proven to be unhealthy for the consumer. Also if you have watched Food Inc., then you also know that cows are fed corn instead of grass, and corn actually has caused much beef to now be contaminated with E.Coli, since a cow's stomach can't digest anything but grass properly, that has left consumers dead. So if the basis of the Biblical commandment to be kosher is because of the unhealthy things those animals have consumed and the health risk of eating their meat because of that then aren't a whole lot more meats unsafe and perhaps considered banned by a kosher diet?

Book Review: Katherine Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley

The premise and the tile seemed interesting, so naturally I picked up this book to review. I would it's more driven toward fans who like the classics like Jane Austen though, or romances. It's a more sophisticated chick novel. I thought there were some good twists though, and the background of the character keeps you interested in her life, and how long she will continue to let the past affect. Also, the novel is Christian based, and I believe they balance the faith aspects very well, but sometimes it felt like it was just there when it felt needed.

Summary: Samantha Moore grew up without a family to create a world in, so instead she has relied on literary characters to give her some grounding in the world. She has been in and out of the foster care system, but now she is given the chance to succeed when she is given a scholarship by a person who goes by the name Mr. Knightley. She can now get her graduate degree, but she must write Mr. Knightley of her progress in exchange. Her letters grow more personal though and closer to the person she is writing, but she also finds her life is growing for the better.