The Drought is Over!

Several weeks ago, I wrote a post about the difficulty I termed “reader’s block.”  I am happy to report that I was able to find time to return to reading and am once again enjoying the world of fiction.  What book marked my re-entry into reading?  American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Sittenfeld makes it clear that his novel is loosely based on the life of First Lady Laura Bush.  Beginning with her childhood, Alice, Sittenfeld’s fictional representation of Bush, is seen as a demure girl in a middle-class family.  Tragedy strikes and Alice’s world begins to topple.  In the midst of her uncertainty, Alice meets Charlie Blackwell, the son of a wealthy former governor.

American Wife traces Alice’s response to her husband’s bid for the Governor’s Office as well as the Presidency, but these story lines pale in comparison to the examinations of Alice’s feelings at the death of her grandmother, her search for acceptance from her in-laws, and her attempts to save her marriage from ruin due to her husband’s alcoholism.  Filled with humor, wit, and intelligent writing, Sittenfeld’s novel is a charming read for all Americans — regardless of your political leanings.  The novel does slow a bit in the final segment as political issues relevant to the Bush administration are addressed; by this point in the novel, however, the reader has become invested in Alice’s story and plows through the rhetoric.  A worthy read!  My rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Home Safe: A Review

Recently, I finished reading Home Safe, a novel by Elizabeth Berg. This fairly easy read told the story of Helen, a recently widowed author, who is slowly coming to terms with her new life without her precious husband. Helen learns that her trusted husband had withdrawn large sums of money from the couple’s retirement account prior to his unexpected death; Helen experiences doubt and faces her fears until she finally discovers the unexpected gift left to her by her husband. All in all, the novel is a moving story of family, eternal love, and hope. I highly recommend this wonderful work as part of your summer reading plan.

The aspect of the novel to which I was immediately drawn was the emphasis placed on writing. In order to earn some extra money, Helen teaches a class of novice writers that come for diverse social and economic backgrounds. What begins as a means to an end ultimately becomes a valued part of Helen’s own healing process. Writing becomes therapeutic. Through the creative process and the power of words, Helen and her students find themselves tearing down walls of self-preservation that they have erected to keep the world out of their most intimate thoughts.

I am beginning to experience some of the same value of writing. While not actively pursuing professional acclaim for my writing, I am re-discovering the power of the written word and the freedom that comes from committing my thoughts — both intimate and professional — to paper. By writing, I not only organize my thoughts and concisely present them for public consumption, but I also encounter unexplored intellectual arenas to which my newly organized ideas lead. In the few short months that I have been writing regularly in the blogosphere, I have learned much about myself while regaining confidence in myself and my role in my chosen career.

We are all looking for a place to be Home Safe. My treasured place of rest and acceptance is not currently a physical location, but rather the home that I have created for myself through the expression of the written word.

Book Review: The Unlikely Disciple

Slowly but surely, I am returning to my normal schedule of activities now that life is becoming less hectic. Even though I have been extremely busy for the past few weeks, I refused to give up my reading time. With the purchase of my Nook (which I am STILL loving, by the way), I stumbled upon a book I had been overlooking for some time: Kevin Roose’s The Unlikely Disciple.

Roose is a student at Brown University who takes a sabbatical and transfers to Liberty University, what Roose himself refers to as “America’s Holiest University.” While at Liberty, Roose encounters educators and students who practice various “levels” of Christianity. Toward the end of his semester, Roose manages to schedule an interview with Liberty’s president, Dr. Jerry Falwell. The interview will prove to be Falwell’s final print interview before his death. The Unlikely Disciple provides a look into the premises of the Christian faith from a non-believer’s perspective.

Many issues are examined by Roose while at Liberty, but three seem to dominate his time: creationism, homosexuality, and prayer. While Roose’s discussions are sometimes quite frank (especially those of a sexual nature), it was interesting to hear the arguments against the Christian stance on these issues. Throughout the book, Roose finds himself at points of decision where it appears he may convert (much to the dismay of his parents). Sadly, Roose does not come to faith in Christ; however, some of his writing over the course of the semester are encouraging to the Christian reader.

After a intense discussion with one of Liberty’s pastors about the effectiveness of prayer, Roose determines to commit himself to an extended period of daily prayer to see what will happen in his life. Roose explains the outcome:

By the time I’ve spent my day like this [in prayer], dredging up every person in my life who could possibly be undergoing any amount of hardship or strife and praying for their needs, a few things happen.

First, all my problems snap into perspective. Compared to a girl whose stepfather was in a mine accident or an old lady having her hip replaced, nothing in my life seems all that pressing. Instead of obsessing over the … quiz I bombed or the parking ticket I got, I’m focusing more and more on people with real hardships. . . Eventually, I go back to worrying about my tiny problems – I can’t help it – but for those thirty minutes, I’m at least going through the motions of compassion. (Roose, p. 218)

What an insight for a person who finally comes to the conclusion that “I’m still not totally settled on prayer…but for now, it doesn’t seem to be hurting anyone, so I guess I’ll keep at it. When I think of the benefits I’m reaping, a little cognitive dissonance seems like a small price to pay.” (p. 219) When Christians begin to intercede for the needs of others, circumstances come sharply into focus and our lives are pulled into a proper perspective.

A bit more distressing is Roose’s comments on Christian education as he prepares to leave Liberty. After asking some of his friends about things they wish they could change about their college experience, students repeatedly say that they would have liked to have been exposed to more worldviews rather than being sheltered from the “opposing views of the left.” Roose comments

I’ve always known that I’ll be leaving Liberty after this semester, which is why I think I’ve been so forgiving of Liberty’s academic flaws. But Stubbs doesn’t get to leave. Max Carter doesn’t, either. For both of them – and the rest of my friends here – Liberty’s institutional shortcomings are no minor business. This is their college education, and for their sakes, I can’t help wishing that Liberty would purge itself of the attitude that education is an enemy of faith. (Roose, p. 242)

I was fortunate to attend Pepperdine University, a Christian institution that allowed and encouraged exploration of the world’s many ideas. Sadly, many Christians find such academic pursuits ungodly and undesirable for Christian youth. Rather than viewing education as an enemy of faith, see the possibility that knowledge can become an ENHANCEMENT to faith. A person’s faith grows as they can explain what they believe and WHY they believe. In order to fully explore what absolute Truth is, one must encounter non-Truth to some degree; only when we are able to identify what is a lie can we firmly declare with conviction that we have found Truth!

The Unlikely Disciple is certainly not a Christian work and should not be approached as such. I do recommend it for those interested in Christian higher education as well as those who have ever found themselves at a crisis of faith.

"The Hiding Place"

For several years now, The Hiding Place has been on my “to read” list. I had heard so many good things about the book from others, but could never find a time to sit down to read it. Now I realize what a treasure has escaped me for so long!

The Hiding Place is the story of Corrie Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who was involved with the underground movement during the Nazi occupation of Holland. As a result of transporting Jews to safety, Corrie and members of her family are jailed. Ultimately, Corrie and her sister, Betsie, find themselves serving time in Ravensbruck–one of Germany’s most notorious concentration camps. In the midst of their immense suffering, Corrie and Betsie found strength in their personal faith and ministered to countless women.

Nuggets of truth are contained throughout the book. Discussions on love, suffering, and forgiveness abound. These lessons have come at a very pertinent time for me. In a season where I have experienced more offense and hurt than in any other time of my life, I am learning lessons from Corrie Ten Boom. I was especially touched by one particular passage at the end of the book.

After Corrie’s release from Ravensbruck (which she later learns was the result of a clerical error!), she begins to speak throughout Europe. At one of her speaking engagements, Corrie encounters one of the soldiers who had been present when she was first brought to the camp. Corrie recounts this meeting:

His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendaal the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him.

I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on His. When he tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself. (The Hiding Place, 238)

Have I forgiven those who have hurt me so deeply? Intellectually, yes. But deep in my heart, no. Every time I see them or hear their name, I still remember the pain. What an insight and a refreshing thought it is that I don’t have to produce the forgiveness myself–because I never could–but rather, I have to allow His forgiveness to flow through me. Will it be easy? Certainly not because I’m human and the pain is deep. But “the world’s healing” that Ten Boom mentions includes my healing. As my emotions are healed, forgiveness will be extended to others. I’ve got a long way to go, but it’s comforting to know that I’m not trying to get there all by myself.

Review of Look Again

Today, I finished reading Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. The novel tells the story of a young reporter, Ellen, who adopted her son, Will, when he was abandoned by his parents in the hospital due to his severe health issues. While Ellen sorts through a stack of junk mail, she glimpses a photo of a child that strangely resembles Will. The photo is a flyer asking for help in locating a child that had been abducted several years before; the image on the flyer has been altered in order to show what the missing child might look like and could easily pass as a portrait of Ellen’s son.

As the story continues, Ellen finds herself at a crisis of morality. Her instincts as a reporter want to find the truth of Will’s identity at any cost. Her maternal nature wants to ignore the situation, knowing that if the unthinkable is true, the world as she and Will currently know it will cease to exist. Scottoline weaves a suspenseful tale of moral ambiguity while exploring the legal and emotional ramifications the scenerio would have upon all the adults involved in the child’s life.

Chosen as one of the best books of the year (2009) by The Washington Post and a New York Times bestseller, Scottoline’s narrative is a quick read while raising emotions at each turn. Just when you think you have figured out where things are going, Scottoline takes her characters into new territory, adding to the unfolding drama.

One of my favorite passages comes fairly late in the novel. While writing a newspaper piece on the love between a mother and her child, Ellen says of her son, Will:

I fell in love with Will the moment I saw him in a hospital ward, with tubes taped under his nose to hold them in place, fighting for his life. From that day forward, he was mine.

And though, as his mother, I certainly felt tired at times, I never tired of looking at him. I never tired of watching him eat. I never tired of hearing the sound of his voice or the words he made up, like the name of our cat. I never tired of seeing him play with Legos.

I did tire of stepping on them in bare feet.

It’s hard to compare loves, and it may silly to try, but I have learned something. . . .

You may fall out of love with a man. But you will never fall out of love with your child. (Look Again, Scottoline, 333)

If you have a chance, I recommend picking up this riveting novel. On
the Freeman Scale of Quality Literature, I give Look Again a 7
out of 10. Those odds sound pretty good to me!

Happy reading!