Know I know why I keep hearing about the Maisie Dobbs series. The plot is wonderfully complex, the timeline is smooth and believable, and the charact Know I know why I keep hearing about the Maisie Dobbs series. The plot is wonderfully complex, the timeline is smooth and believable, and the characters are interesting. It didn’t move too quickly nor lag unbearably. It reads more like a novel than your typical cozy mystery does. The good number of characters kept it very interesting. I would say it’s a cozy mystery, except the language is not quite clean enough for that. So why didn’t I rate it higher? Personally, I struggled with the writing style. I don’t mind a little bit of the story line told in flashbacks, but there were so many flashbacks I got distracted from what was going on. I was also frustrated by the withholding of information. She gives you every detail of every scene, except the details that solve the crime, and it’s quite obvious that it’s being withheld. I guess it allowed for a big reveal at the climax, but it was frustrating. Then there was that rather weird bit of mental telepathy… and the constant harping on past griefs... and the common use of (British) foul language… and taking the name of the Lord in vain. I guess it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I received this book for free through a Goodreads Giveaway. It was an uncorrected proof. ...more
What does love look like? This book is a beautiful picture of a Mother’s love. The lengths the author’s mother went to ensuring the survival of not o What does love look like? This book is a beautiful picture of a Mother’s love. The lengths the author’s mother went to ensuring the survival of not only her family but any others she could help is amazing. Every page of this memoir gripped me. It’s an unvarnished memoir. Very little is told about the events that plunged the author’s family into the maelstrom. It’s the memories of a child struggling to make sense of a world dominated by absolute evil. How can she understand the action of adults who no longer control their own lives? How can she understand the love of parents forced to make impossible decisions? This is the story of a child beginning to understand that love. While it is a devastating read and the author has done her best to keep is as clean as possible, it is still for a mature audience. It won’t be an easy read for adults either. The level of violence, death, and disease is just horrific. There are also two or three mild curse words. For what it’s worth, I think this book has the most beautifully haunting cover I have seen in a long time. It suits the story. There is something incredibly sad about it. I have read several memoirs of this time, and this is one of the saddest; the saddest part being the absence of any eternal hope. How terrible to only be able to look forward to a reincarnation to this wicked world! It was just heartbreaking. I received this book for free through the Goodreads Giveaways. No review was required, but it was my pleasure to write it. ...more
There were bits and even chunks, here and there, which were really interesting. Mostly those bits were in the first six or seven chapters, and I’m gl There were bits and even chunks, here and there, which were really interesting. Mostly those bits were in the first six or seven chapters, and I’m glad I read it for those parts. They dealt with how we actually process and retain information. So why did I rate it so low? There were also large chunks that were extremely repetitive. For example, I get it; people don’t know a lot about science or politics, but a chapter is devoted to each of those topics. It wasn’t just those chapters. Much of the book seemed repetitive. They did an excellent job, however, of inserting humor throughout, and that helped it keep moving. Maybe I don’t understand the purpose of this book. I didn’t get much from it. Perhaps, because I was expecting something quite different. Maybe they were just trying to show that people are ignorant and don’t know it. To sum up what I was able to grasp at the conclusions of this book, “Individuals know too little to make good decisions. Groups of experts know more. Therefore, trust the biggest group of experts; unless, of course, the group is obviously wrong.” There were things I didn’t agree with. I was ready for some evolutionary theory. But the amount of time they spent theorizing about the evolution of humans surprised me, and I was certainly not expecting the Hindu idea of the Seven Chakras to show up. I think the thing I disagreed with the most, though, was something that wasn’t even spoken of. Nowhere do they allow for an ultimate authority one who knows all and can make absolute pronouncements. They can only appeal to a consensus of human opinion. After all, as they say, that can give us beneficial results such as the Moon Landing or disasters like Nazism. I received this book for free through a Goodreads Giveaway. ...more
It has lovely photography. It will make it a great help in identifying new plants. It’s more about each plant than it is an actual gardening book. E It has lovely photography. It will make it a great help in identifying new plants. It’s more about each plant than it is an actual gardening book. Each plant has its own entry that reads like an expanded seed packet. Then for each category, bulbs, trees, succulents, etc., there is an expanded section on planting and month by month care. There are a lot of plants that don’t grow well in my zone, but I think you’ll find that with most places as it covers a huge area. It’s fun to look through and plan with. I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway. ...more
I was really disappointed. I started the book last night and this morning I had to quit. I liked the authors style. The subject was really interestin I was really disappointed. I started the book last night and this morning I had to quit. I liked the authors style. The subject was really interesting. I may try to find other books about it. But- The language was too foul for me to continue reading. How disappointing! If it wasn't for that I think I would have really enjoyed it. It's not just a business how-to. It's a story and written in a wonderful first person narrative. Well, now you know the thoughts I had of the few pages I got through. I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway. No review was necessary. ...more
I was interested in this book more for the technique of cooking on a salt block than the recipes. That was really good. There were clear instructions I was interested in this book more for the technique of cooking on a salt block than the recipes. That was really good. There were clear instructions and good details. The recipes were rather different. Well not to my taste anyway.
Well, It's about time I wrote something about this book. Just so everyone knows... I received this book free in a giveaway through Goodreads. I've hadWell, It's about time I wrote something about this book. Just so everyone knows... I received this book free in a giveaway through Goodreads. I've had it for a while now but just couldn't bring myself to finish it, I haven't finished it yet, and I won't.
From the very start the author undermines the authority and in the process the inspiration of the Bible. Which is a very odd thing to do if you're trying to find out what God says. Perhaps the title should have been God Speaks: What I & Others Think God Should Have Said.
Actually it's terribly sad. Without the firm foundation of the inspired Word of God how can they hope to find the Truth. Jesus said it was in the Scriptures, with particular reference to the Old Testament, that we have knowledge of Him. If He trusted the Scriptures accuracy, I can do no less.
I wish I could give this a better review. At first I thought it would be good. The way he referenced each Bible verse was very nice. They were footn I wish I could give this a better review. At first I thought it would be good. The way he referenced each Bible verse was very nice. They were footnoted to a list in the back. That way they didn’t interrupt the readers train of thought. The first section was right on the money. John E. Hartman identifies with amazing accuracy the glaring failures of modern Evangelical Christendom. He does not dodge responsibility when it lands on teachers, such as himself, nor does he shy away from speaking plainly about touchy issues. For those first few chapters it sounded as if he was advocating a return to a Biblical model for personal holiness, relationships, work, life, church, worship, praise, preaching, teaching, discipleship, really for every aspect of our lives. I was very heartened to read a book by an author that has concerns similar to mine. Chapter 5 was very good. The answer to the problems pointed out in section one is prayer and Bible reading. Unless the Church returns to our first love of Jesus, His Word, and hatred of sin, we will never grow or influence anyone for Christ. Chapter 6 was disappointing. It started out fine, we must repent of our sins, prayer must be central in our lives, worship must focus on God, pride must be defeated, and ignorance must be fought in every Christian’s life. Then came the disappointing part. He turns away from the Bible and instead turns to modern day divination in the form of ‘spiritual formation’ (with all the included ‘silence’ and ‘meditation’). At the very end of the chapter he even speaks favorably o the Catholic tradition of monasticism. While he sees the failures of Evangelicals, he accepts to some extent the Emergent’s method for spiritual growth. Another thought he does point out the damage done by treating the church as a business. The way that model weakens Christians, and puts off the unsaved. I do agree with that. I was just very disappointed in the turn from Scripture in the last chapters. For a more in-depth discussion of the concerns raised by ‘spiritual formation’ please read Faith Undone, by Roger Oakland; Another Jesus Calling, by Warren B. Smith; A Time of Departing, by Ray Yungen; this tract by Lighthouse Publishers http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.c... , or watch the movie Wide is the Gate, by Caryl Matrisciana. I received this book as a winner in a Goodreads First Reads drawing. ...more
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