In Robert Whitlow's book The Living Room, he detours away from his usual legal fiction. Well, the main character is employed in a law office, but it's not his typical lawyer-based novel. The protagonist here is Amy Clarke, a writer of inspirational romance who has just completed her second novel. All her life, she has had vivid dreams when, in her sleep, she visits "the living room," an "empty, windowless room with shimmering walls." Here she found "a presence that permeated her being." As a child she cherished these dream times, and as an adult, she draws inspiration for her writing from these dreams.
After that second novel, though, she began seeing things in these dreams that had connections to real life. A brief vision directed her to alter her morning commute and led her to discover an elderly man who had gotten lost. She correctly encouraged a woman who had been infertile about her not-yet-discovered pregnancy. She gave other encouraging words that turned out to be prophetic, all based on her dreams.
When Amy returned to work at the law office, to cover for an employee on maternity leave, her dreams began to infiltrate her daily work. She is faced with decisions about what to reveal and when, and whether she can trust her dreams to guide her. After some apparent misses, she learns that the real truth of what is revealed in her dreams can touch very close to home.
Whitlow keeps this story moving, and, while it's not as suspenseful as some of his other books, he does work in a few mysteries. I enjoyed Amy and her writing process. I wish I had stories to tell the way Amy (and Whitlow) do. I suspect her habits and methods for writing reflect Whitlow's. I wonder if he gets inspiration for his stories in dreams. . . .
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Monday, May 21, 2018
When Running Made History, by Roger Robinson
Ever since 8-year-old Roger Robinson cheered for Emil Zatopek at the 1948 Olympics, he has managed to be present at many highlights of running history. As a child, as a runner, as a journalist, and as a race official or race announcer, Robinson has had a front row seat at many significant events and milestones in the world of running. In When Running Made History, Robinson not only tells his stories and first-hand accounts, but weaves them into a wide-ranging historical look at the evolution of the sport.
Zatopek's wins at the 1948 Olympics inspired Robinson because "he gave hope to runners like me, who had little natural talent or seed, showing us that sheer hard work can make you a better runner and that all the hard work can still be fun." With that foundation, Robinson went on to become a competitive runner, winning his share of races and setting a few records along the way. As an academic, he got to do his share of writing as well, and, given his speaking experience, was recruited as a stadium announcer and television commentator at races and meets.
He was there when Bikila ran by, barefoot, on his way to win the marathon at the 1960 Olympics, marking the rise of African dominance in the marathon. He traveled through the U.S. and a runner and writer to witness the rise of the running boom. He was the television announcer at the 1988 World Cross-Country Championships in Aukland when Kenyans took 8 of the top 9 spots. He calls it "the greatest display of team running in history." But more than just a great win, it marked the confirmation of Kenya as a dominant force in running.
Because Robinson is a runner himself, he gains perspectives that other sports writers don't get. He's fast enough to run with elite runners in workouts and even compete with them, as when he won the master's division at the Boston Marathon. As a participant or observer, he has great insights. He also benefits from being married to a running legend, Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an official entrant. Switzer became a promoter of women's races and advocate for women in racing, so Robinson naturally includes that historical perspective as well.
Any runner, whether a casual weekend 5K runner or a long-time competitor, will enjoy Robinson's insider stories and historical accounts. He does a great job of putting his experiences into context and celebrating the rise of running as a popular sport. I've said before that a measure of a book about running is whether, after reading it, I am eager to go for a run. When Running Made History not only does that, but it also inspires me to pay closer attention to records and record-breakers. Running is such a simple human action, but it continues to be the source of great fun, drama, and inspiration.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Zatopek's wins at the 1948 Olympics inspired Robinson because "he gave hope to runners like me, who had little natural talent or seed, showing us that sheer hard work can make you a better runner and that all the hard work can still be fun." With that foundation, Robinson went on to become a competitive runner, winning his share of races and setting a few records along the way. As an academic, he got to do his share of writing as well, and, given his speaking experience, was recruited as a stadium announcer and television commentator at races and meets.
He was there when Bikila ran by, barefoot, on his way to win the marathon at the 1960 Olympics, marking the rise of African dominance in the marathon. He traveled through the U.S. and a runner and writer to witness the rise of the running boom. He was the television announcer at the 1988 World Cross-Country Championships in Aukland when Kenyans took 8 of the top 9 spots. He calls it "the greatest display of team running in history." But more than just a great win, it marked the confirmation of Kenya as a dominant force in running.
Because Robinson is a runner himself, he gains perspectives that other sports writers don't get. He's fast enough to run with elite runners in workouts and even compete with them, as when he won the master's division at the Boston Marathon. As a participant or observer, he has great insights. He also benefits from being married to a running legend, Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an official entrant. Switzer became a promoter of women's races and advocate for women in racing, so Robinson naturally includes that historical perspective as well.
Any runner, whether a casual weekend 5K runner or a long-time competitor, will enjoy Robinson's insider stories and historical accounts. He does a great job of putting his experiences into context and celebrating the rise of running as a popular sport. I've said before that a measure of a book about running is whether, after reading it, I am eager to go for a run. When Running Made History not only does that, but it also inspires me to pay closer attention to records and record-breakers. Running is such a simple human action, but it continues to be the source of great fun, drama, and inspiration.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, May 18, 2018
The Very Worst Missionary, by Jamie Wright
Jamie Wright is not the very worst missionary, despite her self-effacing blog and book. In The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever, and the blog that inspired it, theveryworstmissionary.com, Wright writes about her faith and the Christian life, especially the five years her family spent in Costa Rica as missionaries. Her stories are funny and relatable throughout, and you can't help but love someone who is as comfortable mocking herself as she is. This is the kind of book that will make you feel good by affirming that someone else, even a published author and actual missionary, has some of the same struggles and quirks as you do.
One of Wright's major themes is criticism of the missions "industry," which keeps "sending the wrong people to the wrong places to do the wrong things." In her estimation, Costa Rica can do just fine without white, evangelical Americans moving there. She extrapolates her family's experiences to the whole of American missions. She calls out a "system that paves he way for any who feels like it to move to a foreign country, and then gives them permission to do virtually whatever they please under the loosely defined title 'missionary.'" She says that "if you raise your hand (and have enough cash), someone will send you out."
Wright's disparagement of missions and missionaries goes beyond the "whole bunch of . . . unqualified/ill-equipped missionaries" she was "surrounded" by in Costa Rica, but to the whole of American foreign missions. She says she has "tons of ideas about how to improve Christian missions (most involve gasoline and a match)." Her attitude and conclusions are ungracious and unhelpful. Sure she gets a good laugh out of her own foibles and the personal observations of some of her fellow missionaries. But I think of missionaries I know who are: opening coffee shops where Christians can befriend Muslims and share the love of Jesus; translating the Bible into languages and dialects that have no Bible; developing businesses that can provide alternatives to opium cultivation and export; rescuing women from sex trafficking; planting indigenous churches; training pastors and church leaders from rural African churches; teaching in seminaries; providing medical care in underserved regions of the world ; and other productive, loving, kingdom-building endeavors. It pains me to see their faithful, sacrificial, God-honoring, culture-honoring work being harshly criticized by this arrogant, foul-mouthed, judgmental former missionary.
(Yes, foul-mouthed. I don't want to make a big deal out of her language. She uses R-rated language for shock value and entertainment value. It doesn't help her case, except to build her "rebel Christian" persona.)
No church is perfect, no missions agency is perfect, no missionary is perfect. But Wright's critiques come off as flippant and mean-spirited. It carries into her overall critique of the church. As a young Christian, she talks about conforming to the conservative values of her fellow church members, including wearing a "gold-cross necklace," cutting her hair in a "mom bob" and talking in "cheap, cheesy platitudes." Now she has tattoos and piercings, showing that she rejects Christian mainstream culture. And she cusses to show she's not bound by language hang ups. The problem is, her judgmental message is that if you don't cuss, if you wear a cross necklace, if you wear your hair in a bob, you are clearly a cultural Christian who has a shallow, cultural faith. This is insulting to Christians whose fashion choices Wright rejects but whose faith is deep and sincere.
On a more theological note, she counseled a gay teen in her church's youth group to be "wholly herself" because "the Bible has been translated for us and taught to us mostly by straight white dudes, and I wasn't sure if I fully trusted those interpretations." These days, Wright is certainly not alone in affirming homosexuality as acceptable to God, but her shallow counsel to the teen be "wholly herself," because "she was exactly who God had made her to be" ignores a long biblical and historical tradition and reflects the self-centered, emotional response to temptation that we hear more and more of.
In spite of her entertaining writing, laugh-out loud, self-effacing humor, and legitimate challenges to genuine faith and foreign missions, Wright's weak theology and judgmentalism left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
One of Wright's major themes is criticism of the missions "industry," which keeps "sending the wrong people to the wrong places to do the wrong things." In her estimation, Costa Rica can do just fine without white, evangelical Americans moving there. She extrapolates her family's experiences to the whole of American missions. She calls out a "system that paves he way for any who feels like it to move to a foreign country, and then gives them permission to do virtually whatever they please under the loosely defined title 'missionary.'" She says that "if you raise your hand (and have enough cash), someone will send you out."
Wright's disparagement of missions and missionaries goes beyond the "whole bunch of . . . unqualified/ill-equipped missionaries" she was "surrounded" by in Costa Rica, but to the whole of American foreign missions. She says she has "tons of ideas about how to improve Christian missions (most involve gasoline and a match)." Her attitude and conclusions are ungracious and unhelpful. Sure she gets a good laugh out of her own foibles and the personal observations of some of her fellow missionaries. But I think of missionaries I know who are: opening coffee shops where Christians can befriend Muslims and share the love of Jesus; translating the Bible into languages and dialects that have no Bible; developing businesses that can provide alternatives to opium cultivation and export; rescuing women from sex trafficking; planting indigenous churches; training pastors and church leaders from rural African churches; teaching in seminaries; providing medical care in underserved regions of the world ; and other productive, loving, kingdom-building endeavors. It pains me to see their faithful, sacrificial, God-honoring, culture-honoring work being harshly criticized by this arrogant, foul-mouthed, judgmental former missionary.
(Yes, foul-mouthed. I don't want to make a big deal out of her language. She uses R-rated language for shock value and entertainment value. It doesn't help her case, except to build her "rebel Christian" persona.)
No church is perfect, no missions agency is perfect, no missionary is perfect. But Wright's critiques come off as flippant and mean-spirited. It carries into her overall critique of the church. As a young Christian, she talks about conforming to the conservative values of her fellow church members, including wearing a "gold-cross necklace," cutting her hair in a "mom bob" and talking in "cheap, cheesy platitudes." Now she has tattoos and piercings, showing that she rejects Christian mainstream culture. And she cusses to show she's not bound by language hang ups. The problem is, her judgmental message is that if you don't cuss, if you wear a cross necklace, if you wear your hair in a bob, you are clearly a cultural Christian who has a shallow, cultural faith. This is insulting to Christians whose fashion choices Wright rejects but whose faith is deep and sincere.
On a more theological note, she counseled a gay teen in her church's youth group to be "wholly herself" because "the Bible has been translated for us and taught to us mostly by straight white dudes, and I wasn't sure if I fully trusted those interpretations." These days, Wright is certainly not alone in affirming homosexuality as acceptable to God, but her shallow counsel to the teen be "wholly herself," because "she was exactly who God had made her to be" ignores a long biblical and historical tradition and reflects the self-centered, emotional response to temptation that we hear more and more of.
In spite of her entertaining writing, laugh-out loud, self-effacing humor, and legitimate challenges to genuine faith and foreign missions, Wright's weak theology and judgmentalism left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Mountain Top, by Robert Whitlow
Robert Whitlow writes legal fiction with engaging characters and a strong spiritual, Christian element. Mountain Top, like most of his books, traces the characters through spiritual revelations and development, against a backdrop of legal intrigue and suspense.
Sam Miller, landscaper and itinerant preacher, hears from God in dreams. His dreams are vivid and accurate, and he habitually tells strangers about his dreams, revealing things in their lives. One of his dream revelations hits too close to home and he finds himself the target of a fabricated accusation of embezzlement. For his defense, he calls on a local pastor who left his law practice to enter into the ministry. Trying to keep Miller out of prison, keeping his church happy, and straddling the worlds of law and ministry keep this young pastor on his toes. Miller's dreams and a brewing land development scheme drift closer together.
One of the features I enjoy in Whitlow's books is the honest grappling of faith and life we see in his characters. He doesn't whitewash the issues that Christians deal with, nor does he gloss over the barriers that prevent people from following Jesus. He also realistically portrays the supernatural side of the Christian walk. In Mountain Top, it's Miller's dreams. He hears prophetically from God, and uses his gift to draw people to repentance and to follow God's will.
Above all, Whitlow tells a good story. He draws you in and doesn't tell too much too soon, making Mountain Top an entertaining and enjoyable novel.
Sam Miller, landscaper and itinerant preacher, hears from God in dreams. His dreams are vivid and accurate, and he habitually tells strangers about his dreams, revealing things in their lives. One of his dream revelations hits too close to home and he finds himself the target of a fabricated accusation of embezzlement. For his defense, he calls on a local pastor who left his law practice to enter into the ministry. Trying to keep Miller out of prison, keeping his church happy, and straddling the worlds of law and ministry keep this young pastor on his toes. Miller's dreams and a brewing land development scheme drift closer together.
One of the features I enjoy in Whitlow's books is the honest grappling of faith and life we see in his characters. He doesn't whitewash the issues that Christians deal with, nor does he gloss over the barriers that prevent people from following Jesus. He also realistically portrays the supernatural side of the Christian walk. In Mountain Top, it's Miller's dreams. He hears prophetically from God, and uses his gift to draw people to repentance and to follow God's will.
Above all, Whitlow tells a good story. He draws you in and doesn't tell too much too soon, making Mountain Top an entertaining and enjoyable novel.
Monday, May 14, 2018
Naked Marriage, by JoAnneh Nagler
In Naked Marriage: How to Have a Lifetime of Love, Sex, Joy, and Happiness, JoAnneh Nagler offers a few simple guidelines to preserve unity and intimacy in marriage. The keystone of marriage is, or can be, the Naked Date. Nagler proposes that couples choose and hour or two each week to get naked with each other. Be consistent, shut out any interruptions, and take time to connect. "We know that being close, touching, making love, having a good romp--and doing it regularly--is good for our marriage."
Nagler nails a fundamental, essential element to a healthy marriage: regular, focused time spent together. Despite the nakedness, sex is only one part of this time. As she says, "being 'naked' is about being transparent and honest and available to each other." This practice of openness and intimacy is crucial to an ongoing relationship.
As someone who has been married for a quarter of a century, I can affirm what she says. I welcome the challenge not to take a stable marriage for granted. In the time we have been married, there have been periods of regular alone time and periods in which those times are hard to come by. But it needs to be a priority.
While Nagler's words are encouraging, she does seem to take a long time to make her point and develop it. The basic ideas--get naked together, be affectionate to one another, communicate openly about money--can be grasped quickly and could be communicated more succinctly. But the book would be too short then. . . . Nevertheless, those basic ideas can be transformative in a marriage and, if her models are followed, can strengthen and sustain a marriage.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Nagler nails a fundamental, essential element to a healthy marriage: regular, focused time spent together. Despite the nakedness, sex is only one part of this time. As she says, "being 'naked' is about being transparent and honest and available to each other." This practice of openness and intimacy is crucial to an ongoing relationship.
As someone who has been married for a quarter of a century, I can affirm what she says. I welcome the challenge not to take a stable marriage for granted. In the time we have been married, there have been periods of regular alone time and periods in which those times are hard to come by. But it needs to be a priority.
While Nagler's words are encouraging, she does seem to take a long time to make her point and develop it. The basic ideas--get naked together, be affectionate to one another, communicate openly about money--can be grasped quickly and could be communicated more succinctly. But the book would be too short then. . . . Nevertheless, those basic ideas can be transformative in a marriage and, if her models are followed, can strengthen and sustain a marriage.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Sunday, May 13, 2018
How to Appear Normal at Social Events, by Lord Birthday
If you like useless advice and absurd humor, you will enjoy Lord Birthday's How to Appear Normal at Social Events and Other Essential Wisdom. Who is Lord Birthday? And what compelled him to come up with this wacky lists? I have no idea.
About this book, I don't know what to say. There are topics. There are lists. When there is advice, you probably don't want to follow it. Or you could follow the advice, but it's probably not advice you need. Like: Don't carry two shotguns under your arms while jogging. Or: Don't bring a salad dotted with smoke bombs to a potluck supper. But if you read the lists, you'll probably laugh.
You should buy this book. But guess what? You can also read Lord Birthday's comics here: https://www.gocomics.com/dumbwich-castle/ But don't come crying to me if you don't enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
About this book, I don't know what to say. There are topics. There are lists. When there is advice, you probably don't want to follow it. Or you could follow the advice, but it's probably not advice you need. Like: Don't carry two shotguns under your arms while jogging. Or: Don't bring a salad dotted with smoke bombs to a potluck supper. But if you read the lists, you'll probably laugh.
You should buy this book. But guess what? You can also read Lord Birthday's comics here: https://www.gocomics.com/dumbwich-castle/ But don't come crying to me if you don't enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, May 11, 2018
Water's Edge, by Robert Whitlow
Tom Crane is not having a good year. His father has died in a boating accident. His law firm, where he thought he was about to be made partner, has shown him the door. And his girlfriend has abruptly left him--taking his cat with her. In Robert Whitlow's Water's Edge, Crane heads back home to nurse his wounds and clean up some loose ends at his father's small-town law practice and his estate.
Tom thought this would be a simple trip. Once he closed his father's office and the estate, he would head back to Atlanta to find another job. But things got complicated. . . . Whitlow is in his element with small-town culture, Southern sensibilities, and the everyday implications of the practice of law. In this setting, Tom is faced with making decisions about his career, come-ons from his high school girl friend (who is now married to a good friend), a budding relationship with a lovely Brit, and, most of all, what to do about this trust account with nearly $2 million in it and no client's name attached to it.
Whitlow navigates the small-town mystery and Tom's personal life with ease, making a readable, suspenseful story with likable, relatable characters. As a practicing lawyer, Whitlow has strong legal themes in his novels, but doesn't let the law overwhelm the story or the characters. And as a Christian, he includes Christian themes and the honest, heartfelt struggles, questions, and growth of the characters, in this case Tom's claiming the faith of his late father.
Water's Edge is a dramatic story with a mellow, small-town feel, sure to please fans of legal fiction with a personal touch.
Tom thought this would be a simple trip. Once he closed his father's office and the estate, he would head back to Atlanta to find another job. But things got complicated. . . . Whitlow is in his element with small-town culture, Southern sensibilities, and the everyday implications of the practice of law. In this setting, Tom is faced with making decisions about his career, come-ons from his high school girl friend (who is now married to a good friend), a budding relationship with a lovely Brit, and, most of all, what to do about this trust account with nearly $2 million in it and no client's name attached to it.
Whitlow navigates the small-town mystery and Tom's personal life with ease, making a readable, suspenseful story with likable, relatable characters. As a practicing lawyer, Whitlow has strong legal themes in his novels, but doesn't let the law overwhelm the story or the characters. And as a Christian, he includes Christian themes and the honest, heartfelt struggles, questions, and growth of the characters, in this case Tom's claiming the faith of his late father.
Water's Edge is a dramatic story with a mellow, small-town feel, sure to please fans of legal fiction with a personal touch.
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