The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson

Fiction - 2 stars

Our April Book Club selection, The Yada Yada Prayer Group, redeemed itself in the end. However, for the first 1/3 of the book I wavered between disgust with the main character (Jodi) and her judgmental, uber-controlling ways and impatience with the lack of storyline. Once I got past the "introductions," the story was somewhat decent, and Jodi definitely grows as a result of her experiences. However, she was still controlling and annoying. This is definitely a book for readers who are interested in stories of "girl power" and not really for people who want an intellectual discussion. That being said, it sparked the best book club discussion we've had. I would only recommend it if you want a really light read about the power of women supporting each other.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Fiction - 3.5 stars

As part of my quest to read the classics assigned in high school with an adult perspective, I re-read this classic to see if I enjoyed it more than my 11th-grade self did. While I did understand the themes and context much more, I will say that I did not find it an enjoyable read. Hawthorne's language is unnecessarily complicated and flowery, and it tends to make the read very slow and dry. I am not a fan of over-description, and he is definitely guilty of that.  

That being said, the subject matter of the book is more modern than most of that time. It is set in 17th century Puritanical New England, and it tells the story of Hester Prynne who has a daughter through an adulterous affair and is forced to wear a scarlet "A" on her breast for all to see. The purpose of her penance is for her to create a new life of repentance and dignity, but it eventually becomes a part of her for which she is nearly unapologetic. I recommend the book as a reminder of how the founders of our country behaved and treated citizens. 

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Historical Fiction/Religious Fiction - 3.5 stars

Considered a modern classic, The Red Tent is the story of Dinah, only daughter of Jacob. In the Bible, her life is merely mentioned within the Book of Genesis.  Anita Diamant brings all of the biblical characters in the story of Jacob to life.

Told in Dinah’s voice, the book tells of ancient womanhood, the rituals and the difficulties in the red tent. It centers on Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah - the four wives of Jacob. They each love Dinah as her own, and they teach her skills and develop her gift for midwifery. The story moves on to when Dinah marries and tragedy befalls her new life, bringing a curse down on Jacob's house that cannot be reconciled.

While the characters may be familiar, the story of the women of Jacob and their propogation of pagan beliefs was a little too mystical for my taste. Diamant's writing was very reminiscent of The Song of Hannah, as was the abundance of sex and the license taken with the Biblical story. In the end, however, I enjoyed the fact that these people were real people, not just characters in a story. This book brought these people to life, and I did enjoy it. 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Fiction - 5 stars

Not for the faint of heart, this 1500+ page (in small print, I might add) tomme is a masterpiece of storytelling if ever there was one. The story of several characters and timelines, some seemingly insignificant, weaves through the book to culminate into a satisfying and epic conclusion. It only took me two years to read it!

By the way, the movie starring Jim Caviezel is a good adaptation, but nothing beats the book.

When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin

Fiction - 3.5 stars

This book is just plain good. Set in North Georgia, When Crickets Cry is the story of Reese, a mysterious man who lives on Lake Burton next to his brother-in-law, Charlie, and Annie, a young girl in need of a new heart. Filled with humor, heartbreaking tragedy, and hope, this book was a quick read and had a wonderful message.  Its a true Southern tale by a Jacksonville writer, and I really loved it.

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Non-fiction - 3 stars

This is a cute little book written by a pastor from Nebraska whose four-year-old son, after a hospital ordeal with a burst appendix, tells his dad that he met Jesus and other family members in Heaven. Definitely not for the cynic, or those who do not believe in God, this book's message is about the power of prayer and God's love for us. I enjoyed reading it (only took me about 3 hours), and its message definitely left me thinking about my life as a Christian parent. Nothing earth-shattering or mind-blowing, just a sweet story.   

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Fiction - 4 stars

I loved this book! It is the story of the Price family, a Georgia family who moves to the African Congo on a mission trip in the early 1960s on the brink of modern Zaire's "independence" from Belgian control. Told from the perspectives of the female Prices, each chapter gives a different perspective on the same historical events, and this makes for a fantstic read. You truly get to know the characters as they remain consistent throughout the book. Kingsolver describes life in rural Africa with raw, vivid, and heartbreaking detail.  It spans two + decades, and is a truly satisfying tale. I am so glad Zachary is reading this for school as it gave me the chance to borrow it for a little while.

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Fiction - 3 stars This was a provocative, interesting book whick sparked some really interesting conversation in the book club I recently joined. While I don't agree with all of the ideas that the author espouses, it is interesting to see a fresh perspective on why you should not give up your faith just because something bad happens. It's an easy and inspirational read.

The Song of Hannah by Eva Etzonia-Halevy

Fiction - 3.5 stars - This book is an old testament account of the problems with sex, the glories of sex, and the results of lots and lots of sex. You think I'm kidding. Some have joked that it is a "biblical bodice-ripper," but it is a decent account of the time of 11th century Jews. Hannah was the mother of Samuel, one of the Old Testament prophets, and her account is intertwined with that of Pninah, her childhood best friend and her husband's first wife. Their story is set in a time of peace, but as the Jewish people become less vigilant in obeying the Torah, the war with the Philistines comes, a very turbulent and sad time. Hannah and Pninah were female scribes who had many children. I guess the only thing they had to do other than read the Torah was to have lots of sex. :)

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Fiction - 5 stars - Not since Interview with the Vampire have I enjoyed Anne Rice's writing so much. This is the story of Jesus as a child when his family returns from Egypt to Nazareth. He learns who he is, but in the process learns about the evils of the world. The pain of this learning process is so vividly described by Anne Rice, the reader hurts with Him. I can't wait to read the next one.