Shannon Review - The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom

Title: The Time Keeper

Series: N/A

Author: Mitch Albom

Genre: Fiction, Religious Fiction

Publisher: Hyperion

Received: Bought

Release Date: October 2013

Pages: 240

Rating:

Author’s Websites:

Official Website

http://mitchalbom.com/

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/MitchAlbom

Twitter

https://twitter.com/mitchalbom

You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/officialmitchalbom

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Since the dawn of time man has been measuring what we do and don’t do. We are introduced to Dor and his family. Dor creates the first clock and pays dearly for being engrossed with measuring time instead of just living.  God banishes Dor to a cave with no way out.  There is where he hears the cries of those who ask for more or less time. Eventually he is released, gets reacquainted with humanity and finds a way to help some.

I find that all of Mitch Albom’s books are clever, moving and thought provoking.  I seem to always find at least one sentence that turns my way of thinking in a way I could not imagine.  He never uses to big of words or metaphors that you have to stop and take time to understand.  Albom’s writing just flows into something so natural you feel you have heard before.

I do not know about anyone else but the fact that God punished Dor for creating a the first clock is a little scary.  I mean if you think about it Dor was only doing what he was good at, what came natural to him.  Would you not say that was why God created him with that skill? If that is so then why punish for a way of thinking that was given as a gift from God?

Even though there is things I do not understand about God’s reasoning. I still enjoyed the book and still love learning about myself and others by reading what Mitch Albom writes.

Shannon's Review - For the Love of St. Nick by Garasamo Maccagnone

Title:  For The Love Of St. Nick
Series: N/A
Author: Garasamo Maccagnone
Genre: Holiday, Religious, Juvenile Fiction
Publisher: Booksurge Publications
Received: From author for review
Release Date: March 2009

Pages: 62
Rating:


What is it About?

A young boy and his sickly brother await their father return from war.


My Thoughts:

Two siblings pray to St. Nick for their father’s safe path home.   The youngest boy tend to become ill so often that the family fears for him.   

Most people know St. Nick as a big jolly fellow who brings present on Christmas but the real St. Nick was much more than a toy giver.   St. Nick was known to be the Saint of children.  Helping small children that prayed to him.

The book was not what I expected I feel like some of the story in the beginning was just filler.  I wish I could say that I had a heartwarming experience but I did not.  I did not have enough time to feel for these children as the book is only 44 pages.   I felt like a book with St.Nick in the title should have described more of why they pray for St. Nick especially since everything else was seeming fully depicted.


Website:

N/A

The Ark, The Reed And The Fire Cloud by Jenny L. Cote

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Ark, The Reed, And The Fire Cloud
Series: The Amazing Tales of Max and Liz
Author(s): Jenny L. Cote
Genre: Young Adult, Religious Fiction
Publisher: AMG Publishers
Received from: Author, will be given away for free.
Release Date: September 19, 2008
Finished: February 2010
Pages: 432
Challenges: None
Rating: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Max, the Scottish terrier. He is a brave dog led on an adventure by the Maker (God). He follows a cloud that looks like it is on fire and feels that the Maker is speaking through the cloud to him. Max finds on his journey that he is not the only animal who believes it is getting messages from the Maker. He meets another dog, birds, a whale, cats, cows and more. They are all being drawn to Noah's ark.

I really love stories that give you the idea that animals have a deep thought process, like humans. We have Max, who is brave and believes the Maker is bringing them all together for a reason. Then there is Liz, a black cat who is a library of knowledge. This is a very creative story of how things came together for Noah's Ark, and I am interested to see where Max and Liz end up next.

About the Author: Jenny L. Cote has written three books. This is the first book in the Max and Liz series; the second is called The Dreamer, The Schemer And The Robe.  Check out her website, http://www.maxandliz.com/.

The Hope Of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

Title: The Hope of Refuge
Series: An Ada's House Novel
Author(s): Cindy Woodsmall
Genre: Religious Fiction, Amish Fiction
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Finished: November 2009
Pages: 352
Challenges: None
Rating:










My Thoughts: Cara Moore and her daughter Lori have been running from a dangerous ex-boyfriend for most of Cara's adult life. They're running out of places to hide. Their last chance could be an Amish community that Cara remembers her mother taking her to when she was young. Not knowing anyone there, Cara and Lori hide in a barn and steal clothes and food from a nearby Amish family's house. What happens next could change their lives forever.

I couldn't get into the first chapter. The girl-runs-away-from-problems-and-joins-the-Amish story has been told often (like "Sanctuary," by Beverly and David Lewis). But as I got past the first chapter there were differences, and I became more drawn into the story and the details of the community they were touching. For example, if an unmarried male Amish man lets an outsider woman live in his house or barn, he could be shunned by the community. I did not know that kind of contact with outsiders was forbidden.

I have always found the Amish to be an interesting community. And even if Amish fiction romanticizes the culture, they are still fun to read.

About the Author: Cindy Woodsmall has written numerous novels and some of her books have hit The New York Times Bestsellers list. Visit her website, http://www.cindywoodsmall.com/.