Book Review: Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen

This book is creatively mysterious!

It was supposed to be just another flight, another escape into a foreign place where she could forget her past, forget her attachments. Until Clara found herself seated next to an alluring boy named Elias Phinn—a boy who seems to know secrets she has barely been able to admit to herself for years.

When her carry-on bag is accidentally switched with Elias’s identical pack, Clara uses the luggage tag to track down her things. At that address she discovers there is not one Elias Phinn, but two: the odd, paranoid, artistic, and often angry Elias she met on the plane, who lives in an imaginary world of his own making called Salem; and the kind, sweet, and soon irresistible Elias who greets her at the door, and who has no recollection of ever meeting Clara at all. As she learns of Elias’s dissociative identity disorder, and finds herself quickly entangled in both of Elias’s lives, Clara makes a decision that could change all of them forever. She is going to find out what the Salem Elias knows about her past, and how, even if it means playing along with his otherworldly quest. And she is going to find a way to keep the gentle Elias she’s beginning to love from ever disappearing again.

My Personal Review

Both Of Me by Jonathan Friesen is a creatively mysterious and engaging book.  The characters are believable and the story-line brings an extremely realistic look at the very heartbreaking mental disorder tagged as a Dissociative Identity Disorder.  

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen is my first book review that is classified in the Young Adult Fiction category.  I must confess that I have not read his previous books, but after reading this one, I certainly plan to in the very near future. Friesen's writing is so detailed and skillfully crafted, that I wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to enjoy more of his work.  I chose to review this particular book, because I am a parent of YA's and would really like to know what's out there for them to read.  

So, here's my take on Both Of Me.  I loved it!  It has everything.  From an entertainment standpoint, it is very satisfying.  The characters are authentic and illicit the appropriate emotions within the reader as the story line progresses.  I literally laughed out loud several times with some of the fantastic imagery developed at various spots in the book. Izzy's character and her "guitar" combined with her reckless behavior conjured up all sorts of pictures in my head.  Clara's sensitivity is undeniable.  The depth of her thinking and constant analysis were endearing to me.  There is a chapter where Clara stands at the foot of the cross and empties her heart before God.  It was such a tender description as she poured out her guilt and shame.  It will have you searching your own heart for hidden hurts.  The main character, Elias, is anything but boring.  His dual personality had me confused and perplexed after a few pages of "The Other One".  It allowed me to feel as though I were actually inside of his chaotic mind.  Only a gifted writer can create such an experience for the reader.

Both of Me by Jonathan Friesen also has the "informative factor", as I like to call it.  That means that the reader learns something effortlessly and without intention.  In this particular case, the information being fed to the reader comes from the experiences of the character's lives.  Friesen does an amazing job to portray through the character of Elias, the disorganized thinking, tumultuous relationships, delusions, and challenges that a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder may face on a daily basis.  The inability to find a treatment for those suffering from this life altering mental illness is also concisely communicated within the book.  This is not the only lesson learned from reading Both of Me; there are plenty more.  There are also insights into family dynamics, the freedom of honesty, first love, and the importance of forgiveness. 

Both Of Me is a captivating read.  The subject matter is a little heavy, so I would suggest it for the over sixteen year old population.  I also think this book would make a fantastic suspense filled movie!  Perhaps because I am a "OA" (Older Adult) and not a "YA" (Younger Adult), I find the statement of Atticus to be profoundly true when he says, "It's a round world.  You live long enough, you see it, the coming round of things."  Great read!!

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for this review copy of Both Of Me by Jonathan Friesen given to me through the BookLook Bloggers program.  I was not required to give a favorable review of this work, but only asked to read it in it's entirety and give my honest opinion. 

Book Review: THE PROMISE, OR THE PROS AND CONS OF TALKING WITH GOD by Sean Paul Murphy

The Memoir is transparent, captivating, tender, and profoundly human. 

THE PROMISE, OR THE PROS AND CONS OF TALKING WITH GOD, by Sean Paul Murphy

A story of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined. The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking with God is Sean’s inspirational, coming-of-age tale of first faith and first love and how the two became almost fatally intertwined in his life. It is a poignant and insightful meditation on surviving in the gray area between God’s sovereignty and our individual free will.

MY PERSONAL REVIEW:

THE PROMISE, OR THE PROS AND CONS OF TALKING WITH GOD by Sean Paul Murphy takes a candid stroll through the very heart and soul of this widely acclaimed screenplay writer and author’s life.  The memoir is transparent, captivating, tender and profoundly human.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.  The fact that the author, Sean Paul Murphy is a product of the 1960’s was just one of the alluring features.  The narration is so descriptive that I found myself drifting back into those youthful days gone by.  The drive-in movies, stretched phone cords in an unsuccessful attempt at privacy, and warm summer nights swinging on the porch under the stars conjured up all sorts of wonderful memories for me. 

However, the most endearing quality of this book is simply the author’s voice.  Murphy’s attention to detail and humorous delivery are exceptional.  He exposes a depth of emotion and permeability that is unique.  As the author unveils years of life experiences, some glorious and others tragic, the reader is forced to ponder their own life in a way that requires a studious look at the issue of mortality.  Further still, the relationship between God and man is brought to the forefront of our minds as we read of the author’s interactions with the Lord throughout the pages of the book.  Sean Paul Murphy’s description of his time with God and his interpretations of those meetings are priceless.  Murphy manages to integrate Biblical truths throughout the course of the reading and seamlessly maintains a reverent posture towards the Son of God and the reality of our “spiritual immortality.”

Like a large ball of yarn that has been unraveled and shuffled from one end of the room to the other, so to this book: The Promise, or the Pros and Cons of Talking With God by Sean Paul Murphy.  The winding words twist and turn through the years of Murphy’s life and lead the reader down a gentle path towards self actualization.  This book is a catalyst into some serious soul searching. 

One of my favorite conclusions drawn by the author is that there is no value of enduring and surviving pain and heartache if we are not willing to share our experiences to help others.  This concept is just one of several empowering and equipping revelations that Murphy shares.  Imagine the change in our world on a global scale if we all had this perspective on life and love. 

This book touched me in the 1970's.

Throughout the reading of this book, Sean Paul Murphy's communication of a persistent love and hope reminded me of the writings of  Leo Buscaglia.  Dr. Buscaglia was a world renown author and speaker who delivered a strong message of gracious love that profoundly impacted my own life after reading his work in the 1970's.  In this same way, Murphy's intention to live his life on a “love note" and to clearly communicate the source of that love in a nonthreatening manner is infectious.  It is an interesting side note, that the two have an uncanny similar physical appearance as well.  Perhaps in the long lineage of Italian heritage there lies some genetic connection between the two, but without a shadow of a doubt, their passion for reaching out to a hurting world is very similar.    

I appreciated, especially after learning of his normally guarded personality, Murphy’s candor throughout this work.  Not only is The Promise, The Pros and Cons of Talking with God, entertaining and insightful, but it more importantly provides fuel for a great deal of thoughtful reflection and, if you dare, conversations with God.   

Growing Older & Deeper

Psalm 119:86-88(MSG)
Everything You command is a sure thing, but they harass me with lies.  Help!!  They've pushed and pushed--they never let up-
but I haven't relaxed my grip on Your counsel.  In Your great love revive me so I can alertly obey Your every Word.

Deep roots have allowed this tree to remain standing.
(We came across this on one of our kayaking trips this past summer.)

I have been blessed the past thirteen years to live next door to an incredibly beautiful woman who has shared her strength and love for the Lord with me through her quiet and consistent life.  She had grown deep roots into the Word of God.  She has recently passed through this world and moved on to the kingdom of heaven, but she left her wisdom, courage, and generous spirit behind.  On the day after her passing, I was thumbing through her cherished and tattered Bible, and out fell a worn piece of paper with a prayer on it.  The title:  "Seventeenth Century Nun's Prayer" immediately piqued my interest, especially sense I knew she was indeed not a Nun nor did she practice Catholicism.  The author is Anonymous.  I have provided a copy for you below. 

This is my sister and I on one of our many kayaking
expeditions.  She, too is a woman with a contagious faith
  and an overflowing will to live the full life God has
designed for her.  

The prayer is simple yet deep; it is humorous without disrespect and undeniably human.  As I researched it's authenticity to the Seventeenth Century, what I found is that there is no proof that it was truly written in this era, but due to the shear simplicity and uncluttered focus of the wording, in my opinion, it certainly could have been.  Either way, whether authentic or not, I was deeply moved by it, because I feel like my sweet friend lived out these very words on a daily basis.  Despite her suffering from a very debilitating neurological disease and deteriorating health, I never once heard her complain.  She was a mother and grandmother and had years of experience to draw from and yet she never gave me unsolicited advice; she was very open in sharing her life knowledge, but only after my questioning her and even then she was a humble soul that always pointed to a glorious God and His son for any successes brought her way.  

This 21st Century Matriarch certainly was a walking testimony to the revival of "God's great love".  I had the privilege to witness His grace and mercy through her.  Yes....I am blessed to have had the privilege of sharing a portion of her life.  I look forward to the day when we will meet again, but until then, she will live on in my heart and a copy of the "17th Century Nun's Prayer" will be neatly tucked away inside of my own Bible as a reminder to me of a life that was truly lived by faith. 

17th Century Nun’s Prayer

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself, that I am growing
older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of
thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With
my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou
knowest Lord that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me
wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They
are increasing, and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as
the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of
others' pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility
and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with
the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally
I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint - some of
them are so hard to live with - but a sour old person is one of the
crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things
in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And, give
me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

Amen
-Anonymous Author

Book Review: Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey

Thought provoking and challenging!

“Why does the church stir up such negative feelings?” Philip Yancey has been asking this all his life as a journalist. His perennial question is more relevant now than ever: in a twenty-year span starting in the mid-nineties, research shows that favorable opinions of Christianity have plummeted drastically—and opinions of Evangelicals have taken even deeper dives.

The end of the politics-oriented Evangelicalism that was so dominant in the second half of the 20th century is a strong example that we are living in a post-Christian culture.

Yet while the opinions about Christianity are dropping, interest in spirituality is rising. Why the disconnect? Why are so many asking, “What’s so good about the “Good News?”

Yancey’s writing has focused on the search for honest faith that makes a difference for a world in pain. In his landmark book What’s So Amazing about Grace he issued a call for Christians to be as grace-filled in their behavior as they are in declaring their beliefs.

But people inside and outside the church are still thirsty for grace. What the church lacked in its heyday is now exactly what it needs to recover to thrive. Grace can bring together Christianity and our post-Christian culture, inviting outsiders as well as insiders to take a deep second look at why our faith matters and about what could reignite its appeal to future generations.

How can Christians offer grace in a way that is compelling to a jaded society? And how can they make a difference in a world that cries out in need?

Yancey aims this book at Christian readers, showing  them how Christians have lost respect, influence, and reputation in a newly post-Christian culture. “Why do they hate us so much?” mystified Americans ask about the rest of the world.  A similar question applies to evangelicals in America.

Yancey explores what may have contributed to hostility toward Evangelicals, especially in their mixing of faith and politics instead of embracing more grace-filled ways of presenting the gospel.  He offers illuminating stories of how faith can be expressed in ways that disarm even the most cynical critics.  Then he explores what is Good News and what is worth preserving in a culture that thinks it has rejected Christian faith.

My Review

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey is a thought provoking work that dives deep into the heart of grace and questions whether Christians are accurately communicating the message of the cross to a hungry and hurting world.  As with his previous work:  What’s So Amazing About Grace  published in 1997, the reader should be prepared to have their toes stepped on…ouch!! 

Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey takes a purposeful look at the way the gospel is being presented in churches today.  After reading this book, I have a greater awareness and appreciation for how I communicate the message of Christ.  Philip Yancey presents the idea that a large percentage of churches in America have steered away from grace and veered toward a harsh and often judgmental presentation of the gospel.  The question submitted is one for careful consideration.  Has the church, as a whole, whether purposefully or inadvertently, turned our pews into more of an arena of arrogance and condemnation rather than a place of acceptance and healing?  This question forms the foundation for the entire book.  Yancey does a magnificent job of exploring the possibility that far too many churches are missing the one thing that matters most to effectively share the love of Christ.  That “one thing” is simple the word- grace.  

Vanishing Grace challenges the reader (especially the Christian reader) to consider the possibility that we have in many cases handled the message of Christ with an extreme amount of forceful theology and too little mercy and grace.  Yancey identifies that there are a large number of people he labels “post Christians” (those who have at one time chosen Christianity and then chosen to leave it) in the population that have had a negative experience with the church setting due to an environment of critical perfectionism and useless pious attitudes. 

Philip Yancey does not leave the reader with hopelessness, however.  He does a phenomenal job of drafting ideas for how to live out grace in a more effective manner.  He throws down the challenge that we MUST press on in the fight against injustice.  He references early Christian movements that were paramount in ending human atrocities, such as the Roman time period when gladiatorial games and infanticide were rampant and including recent campaigns against abuses of slavery and sexual trafficking. 

Vanishing Grace cautions that the Christian should choose battles wisely.  He writes, “The more Christians focus on tangential issues, the less we will be heard on matters of true moral significance.”  He asserts that we should keep priorities of the Bible as our focus.  He encourages that a Christian should fight our battles carefully and with an abundance of grace.  Yancey reminds us that the terms “illegal and immoral” are not the same and that our morality cannot be forced on a society.  He warns Christians to keep church and state separate.

This is a very deeply moving book and requires time to fully absorb each of the ideas and challenges that Yancey proposes.  It is not a quick read, as it engages a level of pondering that will bathe you in reflection.  Vanishing Grace will encourage you to be a “grace dispenser” through that of a “pilgrim, activist, or artist” as identified by your calling to Christ.

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for this Review Copy of Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey through the BookLook Bloggers program.  I was not required to write a favorable review of this work.  The opinions within the review are strictly my own.

Book Review: Spiritually Strong~The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola

This book is loaded with tangible nuggets of applicable counsel.

Spiritually Strong is a six-week program designed to help you get in better shape spiritually and physically. As Timothy says, “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (4:8). This book teaches you how to train yourself in godliness through the implementation of six disciplines—Bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving others.

By exercising your spiritual core on a daily basis, you will learn to:

• Study the Bible and understand what God is saying to you.
• Pray with power.
• Incorporate periodic fasting into your life.
• Honor God with your body through nutritious eating and exercise.
• Practice good stewardship of the resources God has given you.
• Serve others in humility as an outward demonstration of God’s love.

As you learn to submit to God in each of these areas of your life, you’ll discover the joy that accompanies self-discipline. Your daily steps of obedience will translate into giant strides in your walk with the Lord.

My Review:

Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building  Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola is loaded with tangible nuggets of applicable counsel to enhance your walk with the Lord.  This book is definitely worth your attention as the author pairs her passion for the Lord together with her Personal Training expertise in a winning combination to bring about positive transformation in the life of the reader!   

Spiritually Strong:  The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul by Kristen Feola is a straightforward no nonsense look at how to directly apply the truths of God’s word to nearly every area of the reader’s life.  The book’s main theme is the fundamental principle that to gain an increased spiritual awareness in one’s life, it is essential that we develop our heart, soul, and body through structured daily disciplines.  The ideology that “you cannot be a disciple without discipline” is a repetitive message consistently conveyed throughout the reading of this work. 

Utilizing an abundant amount of scripture references coupled with many quotes from renowned theologians for confirmation, Feola’s stand on an active pursuance of Christ through aggressive self management is clear.  She is candid and authentic throughout the book, as she shares struggles and challenges that she has encountered at various junctures in her life.  She is very encouraging and assures the reader that persistence and submission will translate into a more meaningful and joyous relationship with the Lord. 

Feola provides a beautiful picture of what a strong relationship with the Lord should look like as she reflects upon her own walk with God.  She asserts that the key to obtaining such closeness to Christ is through a consistent disciplined plan.  She breaks down the significant areas of focus into six divisions: bible study, prayer, fasting, healthy living, financial stewardship, and serving. 

The final portion of the book lays out a six week program designed to help the reader become a more spiritually and physically strong person.  Each day of the week is methodically organized into six a fore mentioned categories with a specific action plan provided under each heading.  Feola provides a detailed blueprint of the day beginning with the study of God’s word conjoined with a responsive prayer and progressing with ideas for meals, exercise, money, and service projects.

This is book is a great resource.

I was very excited to read Spiritually Strong: The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul, because of my previous and continued experience with the book: The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast Diet by Kristen Feola.  I found this maiden voyage book to be filled with a plethora of wonderful devotions and delicious healthful recipes to feed my heart and tummy.  I have utilized (and continue to use) her first book throughout the years, as you can see from the dog eared pages and highlighted recipes.  After reading this latest book, I am certain that within a year or two, it too will have a worn look from much page turning and referencing.

Kristen’s desire to see people grow closer to the Lord through daily discipline is clearly perceptible in this soon to be released book: Spiritually Strong~The Ultimate 6-Week Guide to Building Your Body and Soul.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.  You will be enriched and enlightened after reading this book!  Pre-order here.  This book will be released January 6, 2015.

Thank you to Zondervan Publishing for this Review Copy of Spiritually Strong by Kristen Feola.  I was not required to write a favorable review, only to read this work in its entirety.  The opinions within the review are strictly my own.