The Kind of Life It's Been

by Lloyd Robertson

2012

 

Lloyd Robertson is the long time TV news anchor for CTV, and previous to that, CBC. He's now retired and The Kind of Life It’s Been is his memoirs.  

His story.

And Mr. Robertson certainly had dozens of stories to tell.

After all, he’s reported on many key points in history these last fifty odd years.

 

The JFK assassination, the moon landing, the Montreal Massacre, 9/11.

Multiple elections, Olympics, Royal Visits.

The list goes on and on.  

 

I’m not going to say anything else about this book, other than that I found it to be really fascinating.

And, for someone like me who knows very little about the broadcasting business, it was also quite informative and eye-opening.

 I highly recommend it. 

 

Reading on…

Playing Catch-Up 2

 

Once again, I am in the position of reading faster than I write.

 

And, once again, I find myself thankful.

Year of Wonders  

by Geraldine Brooks

2001

 

A historical novel borrowed from real-life events of plague-ridden 17^th century England: a village quarantines itself to stop the spread of disease.

 

I have really enjoyed Geraldine Brooks’ writing in the past (see Caleb's Crossing) and, initially, I loved this book too.

Historical detail, interesting characters, fascinating plot.

 

Then my opinion changed.

 

The characters I thought I knew turned a 180 and, instead of wrapping up as the book began, the book ended like an episode of Days of Our Lives.

 

It seemed to come out of nowhere and I felt blind-sided.

Let down.

 

Did I miss something?

Somehow I wish I did.

What this book really speaks to, however, is grace. Or the lack of it. 

 

 Wings of Dawn

by Sigmund Brouwer 

1995

 

Having only known Sigmund Brouwer as the writer of middle-grade hockey novels, I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

 

Wings of Dawn takes place in 14th-century England and is full of action, intrigue and wonderment. While I can’t really say that I love Mr. Brouwer’s writing style, what I can say is that he provided good, clean, adventuresome fun.

 

Exactly the kind of books I want to read.

 

Exactly the kind of books I want to write.

 

 

Winning Balance

by Shawn Johnson

2012

 

If you’ve read my post entitled, The Art of Pushing Too Hard, you’ll know I have a soft spot in my heart for gymnastics, so when I saw Winning Balance, I grabbed it.

 

I wasn’t let down. It was truly an engaging read.

 

Winning Balance is the autobiography of gymnast, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Shawn Johnson. As expected, Shawn talks about her life before, during and after gymnastics. The book ends as she attempts to make a comeback into the world of competitive gymnastics with the 2012 Olympic Trials.

 

Of course we know from the 2012 Summer Olympics, that Shawn withdrew from competition as a result of injury.

 

As interesting as it is, what sets Winning Balance apart from all the myriads of other gymnastics books on the market is the “Lesson I’ve Learned” section at the end of each chapter. These little nuggets give insight into the inner workings of the author and are truly wisdom to share.

 

Things like, “You need relationships as part of your life.” “Be humble…” “Stepping out of your comfort zone may be scary at first. But it’s worth the risk to see how far you can go.”

 

Shawn is also very open about her faith and she writes many things that would identify her as a Christian. I really appreciated that aspect of the book.

With a world full of fallen superstars, I am so thankful for those very few who can be considered healthy role models.

 

 

Reading on…

My Enemy's Cradle

by Sara Young
2008

 

My Enemy's Cradle has been on my “must read” list for almost five years now.

Why?  

I attended a writer’s conference in Los Angeles and listened to a session given by author, Sara Young (aka Sara Pennypacker). I thought the book, as she described it, sounded interesting.


Interesting it was.

Set in the early 1940’s, this novel explores the Nazi Lebensborn program.

The main character is sent to a Lebensborn maternity home under false pretence and things heat up when someone from her past shows up.

Someone that knows her secret.

 

 

My Enemy's Cradle opened my eyes to a little known part of history.

 

I had never heard of Lebensborn.

 

Have you?

 

Lebensborn, translated “wellspring of life” or “fountain of life”, was a program established by Heinrich Himmler - head of the SS and one of Hitler`s closest confidantes - in 1935 under the Nazi SS Race and Resettlement Office.

 

The official goal was to increase the population of the “Master Race”.

In brief,

Lebensborn consisted of three phases.

 

The first...
Incentives were given to German women to bear many children.  

With or without the benefit of marriage.

Maternity homes were set up all over Germany where "racially pure" women and

girls could spend their pregnancies in comfort, safety and secrecy. 

 

The second...
Lebensborn expanded into occupied territories and maternity homes for "suitably Aryan” girls, pregnant by occupying German forces, were established.

 

Children born in these homes were considered Nazi at birth and taken away

from their mothers to be raised in Nazi homes or institutions.

 

The third...

The kidnapping of “suitably Aryan” children from eastern occupied countries,
most never to be returned to their families after the war.

Those that did return were often ostracized.

 

Apparently, even today as adults, many Lebensborn children suffer from elevated rates of depression, alcoholism and suicide. 

 

To say Lebensborn is devastating is an understatement, but I remember God's

promises...

Jeremiah 29:11

            “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

Even the children born out of Lebensborn,  

God was,

and is,

still in control.

 

He knew each of these children intimately.

 

He loved them.

 

He had great plans for their lives.


He still does.

 

 

Reading on...

God's Smuggler

Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Sherrill

1967, (updated) 2001

I was a kid when I first heard about Brother Andrew and the work that God had called him to.

In fact, I read his story as a comic book when I should have been listening in church.

My life was certainly not changed by a cartoon Brother Andrew!  

Fast forward a few years...

Now, having just read the "real" book, I see things differently.

God’s Smuggler.

It's a "must-read" on every reader's list.

While Brother Andrew’s salvation story is fascinating in itself, what is even more incredible, is how God has used him since.

God called Andrew to be a smuggler.

A Bible Smuggler.

Brother Andrew has smuggled Bibles, and other Christian literature, into Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, East Germany, and Bulgaria.

Communist countries behind The Iron Curtain.

And when the Iron Curtain collapsed, Andrew’s organization, Open Doors, moved into China, Vietnam, Africa, Cuba, and the tightly controlled land of Islam.

To quote from the Open Doors Canada website,

In 2008, Open Doors delivered almost 3.9 million Bibles, children's Bibles, Study Bibles and other scriptural books and literature to persecuted Christians worldwide, and trained 114,400 pastors and church leaders...

Isn't God good?

What touched me personally about God’s Smuggler, however, is how involved God was and is in this work. 

God didn’t just call Brother Andrew to smuggle Bibles then let him go at this impossible task alone.

Brother Andrew sought God.

Impossibly.
Constantly.

And,

God worked.

God acted.

God answered.

Why does this touch me so deeply?
Because I have often felt overwhelmed by the task God has called me to.

But, just like Brother Andrew, God doesn’t just call me to something then let me go at it alone. 
He gives me the tools I need for completion.

When God calls, and I prayerfully follow,

God works.

God acts.

God answers.

Even to the seemingly impossible.

What faith-building, encouragement for me. 

Especially in this season of motherhood and church leadership.

1 Peter 4:11, "...If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

Reading on...

NERDS

by Michael Buckley

2009

As a parent, I want to know what my kids are being fed.

And I’m not referring to food.

Rather, what are their sources of influence?

As a result, my hubby and I keep a close watch on content.

What’s in the TV shows and movies they watch?

What’s in the computer games they play?

What’s in the books and magazines they read?

As attentive parents, we want to be sure that all their choices are age appropriate. What might work for Son #1, who’s 10, might not work for Son #2, who’s 6.

And we hold the right to veto.

(Veto decisions are not always popular, but age is always a worthy scapegoat.)

As Christian parents, however, we take this screening process, and our right to veto, a step further:

We also watch for “Light Content”.

Light Content?

Basically,

Does the movie, computer game, book, etc. honour God’s Word, and thus influence my children for light?

Or, does it shun His Word, and thus influence my children for darkness?

Jesus says in John 8:12,

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

And in Matthew 12:30,

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

As you can imagine, our desire for Light Content doesn’t always make us very popular on the homefront.

However, God has given us the gift of raising our kids and we want to do it in a way that glorifies Him. 

Even if our popularity goes down in the polls.

All of that to say this:

When Son #1 discovered a new series of books that he couldn’t put down, couldn’t stop talking about, and used successfully to reduce Son #2 to tears, I figured I’d better read at least one.

NERDS.

National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society.

A series of books about unlikely pre-teen super spies sent out to save the world from an even more unlikely bunch of evil genius super villains.

And my son loves them. 

Sigh.

So, I read book #1.

There’s truly not much about this book that a ten year old boy wouldn’t like.

School lockers leading to spy headquarters.

Braces spewing out of mouths as the ultimate weaponry.

Nerds saving the world from complete and utter destruction.

A feast for boyhood imagination.

I am quite certain I will only be reading the first of the series, but my son has devoured all the others:

Book #2: M is for Mama’s Boy

Book #3: The Cheerleaders of Doom

Book #4: The Villain Virus

Imagine his delight when I told him Hollywood is making a NERDS movie. Let’s just hope it’s high in Light Content.

Reading on...

The Shakespeare Stealer

by Gary Blackwood
1998

Drawn by the name "Shakespeare" in the title, I grabbed this book off the shelf at our local library.

I knew I'd read it.
I hoped he'd read it.

I have.
He hasn't.

What can I do to get Boy 1 to read a book with Shakespeare filling its pages?


The Shakespeare Stealer is basically about an orphan charged with the job of stealing a copy of William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. He joins a troupe of actors at the Globe Theatre and tries to carry out his task...

Sound familiar?

The Shakespeare Stealer was a great book. I thought the characters were interesting and well-developed. I thought the writing smooth and the research (to my non-expert eye) seamless.

The only downside, in my opinion, is that it has all been done before.

The Shakespeare Stealer has different characters with different names and different circumstances, but I feel like every time I pick up a middle grade novel involving Shakespeare, there is always a script to be stolen or a plot to be foiled or a boy who is really a girl...

Is there any other story to be told?


Even so, it was a good book and I did enjoy my time in its pages.
I just wish my boy had read it. Sigh.

On that note, what he is reading will be the topic of my next post.



Reading on...

Adventures with Knives: Surviving 1,000 Hours of Culinary School

by Bob Foulkes

2011

The only TV show my hubby and I regularly watch is MasterChef.

Haven't heard of it? 

In short, it’s a bunch of amateur cooks facing off for the grand prize of money, a cookbook contract and, of course, a trophy.

The fact that I watch that kind of TV should give reason enough as to why I would pick up and read a book called, Adventures with Knives, 

And loved it!

Basically, Adventures with Knives is the account of author, Bob Foulkes, experience in culinary school. 

And his reason for going to culinary school?

In his early sixties at the time, Mr. Foulkes decided to rebel against the cultural norm of retirement, ie sitting on the couch and doing nothing all day, and go to culinary school in a “restless, self-absorbed search for meaning in [his] life.”

Adventures with Knives was a terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and totally recommend it.

Bob Foulkes has a relaxed and easy writing style full of understated humour and quirky stories, all with a bunch of really useful cooking tips thrown in.

For instance,
I learned how to keep green beans green, how to intentionally under cook scallops and that all vegetable stocks start with sweating onions.

What does it mean to “sweat onions”?

For all aspiring chefs, and all watchers of MasterChef, this book is a keeper.

Reading on...