Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom

I love HAVE A LITTLE FAITH!  

This book made me think about my own spirituality  and what faith means to me. The question Albom asks is: "what if faith wasn't what divided us, but what brought us together?"  In a world where so many wars are started in the name of religion and holier-than-thous attitudes prevail amongst so many different groups, it seems like all of our problems would be solved if only we could just say, "Hey, I have faith, you have faith, however we get there doesn't matter.  What matters is that we both BELIEVE."  Doing good for others is sometimes the greatest way to experience pure joy.  If we all gave a little more of ourselves, than maybe that peace would prevail.

HAVE A LITTLE FAITH is really a good read.  Beyond the story and the characters, the message is deep.  It's a book that will stay with you for quite awhile.  

Crossing Over by Irene Garrett with Rick Farrant

     Ruth Irene Garrett was the fifth of seven children raised in Kalona, Iowa, as a member of a strict Old Order Amish community.  She was brought up with rigid rules and intense secrecy in a world where the dress, buggies, codes of conduct, and the way of life differed from that of other Amish societies a mere one hundred miles away. Ruth's story is rooted in the ways of one particular Amish community and does not necessarily reflect the ways of all Amish.
     Ottie Garrett rolled into Kalona in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell.  He was among hundreds of English people across the country hired by the Amish as drivers for up to sixty-five cents a mile, and he was in town bringing relatives from Indiana and Illinois for Thanksgiving. Ruth was a naive fifteen-year-old who had recently graduated from the one-room Centerville School, which was a half-mile up the road from her father's farm. Ottie was a forty-year-old man of the world, married three times, about to get a another divorce, and more boisterous than anybody Ruth had ever encountered before or since. Ottie and Ruth form a bond and later they run away from the Amish community and marry.
     Ruth is ban from the Amish community and tries to rekindle relations with her Amish family.  She receives letters from her family trying to get her to change her mind and come home.  Ruth is content with the new life that she has found with Ottie and his family in Kentucky.  Crossing Over is a true story of one woman's extraordinary flight from the protected world of the Amish people to the chaos of contemporary life.
     This is a beautiful story of a young lady's struggle to be free.
   

Rocks: My Life In And Out of Aerosmith by Joe Perry

Always an avid reader and fan of biographies/autobiographies of musical artists, I selected Joe Perry's recent release for a number of reasons. I grew up in the 70s and it's my personal opinion that music from that decade was phenomenal ; I'd witnessed a record crowd sell-out performance by Aerosmith in the 90s ; and last but not least, the big question: What exactly happened between Joe Perry and Steven Tyler?

Born in 1950, the Italian/Portuguese Perry was raised in a small town in Massachusetts where he experienced a very normal childhood. His mother and father were very dedicated parents and encouraged his initial passion for nature and marine biology. However; at the age of nine, Joe's new neighbors (His parents owned a duplex at that particular time) introduced him to electric guitars and a different breed of music than what he was familiar with. The rest is history.

I found this to be an enjoyable book because of the subject matter which I find interesting. However; some may find it a bit repetitive in nature due to the fact that Perry and Tyler appeared to have a rather twisted routine: Album release, touring, drugs, fights, breakup, time apart, rehab, reunion. Repeat. Fortunately for them, this particular behavior fueled their creativity and surprisingly enough, kept them in hits and in the music business for over forty years.

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS!

Investigative journalist, Jenny Nordberg, shares what she uncovers (for us) in Afghanistan - that girls sometimes dress as boys, live as boys til puberty, and some even past puberty will still live as men. Afghanistan, we well know, is a culture ruled by men; here men are honored, women (and girls) definitely are not! In Afghanistan it is an advantage to have sons and a disgrace to not have a son. So what to do? Be creative of course and save face! Ask a daughter if she would be a boy!  Or just announce a just-born daughter is a son! It works. The deception is even acceptable to others who know the secret! Does this not surprise you?

As Nordberg investigates this phenomena (or is it a phenomena really?) she asks the very questions you and I would ask: How does this affect these girls psychologically? How do they make the transition back to "girl" from "boy"? How is it they are not caught and punished? What is it like for these "boys" to later be forced to become wives and eventually mothers? How often does this occur?

In The Underground Girls of Kabul, you will be introduced to Azita, Zahra and Mehran and others. You will read how some were born as the unwanted girl but lived as the favored son with freedom to go outside, to talk to anyone, to have an opinion, and even work, helping out the family financially. You will know the secrets of the girls and women of Kabul yourself!

A very interesting read!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future by Michael J. Fox

   Michael J. Fox's new book ,"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future," is a perfect gift for graduates.  In his new book he inspires and motivates graduates to recognize opportunities, maximize their abilities, and roll with the punches.
   Michael J. Fox abandoned high school to pursue an acting career.  He writes of coming to Los Angeles from Canada at age eighteen and attempting to make his way as an actor. Fox offers up a comically skewed take on how, in his own way, he fulfilled the requirements of a college syllabus. Michael learned Economics as a starving artist; an unexpected turn as a neophyte activist schooled him in Political Science; and his approach to Comparative Literature involved stacking books up against their movie versions.
  Michael J. Fox's acting career has been a non-stop success story. At thirty years old Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease: twitching, mild tremors, pain in his left shoulder, some rigidity.
This sent his life skidding horribly sideways.  At first there was denial, he refused to disclose his medical situation to anyone but family, and covering up the symptoms with medication. Wary of placing a burden on his family, he pulled in and started to isolate himself.  Michael self medicated with alcohol until he was forced to resort to acceptance.  By choosing to learn more about the disease, he made better choices about how to treat it.  Because Parkinson's demanded of Michael that he be a better man, a better husband, father, and citizen, Michael, often refers to it as a gift.
  A story of a young man with a great future along with twists and turns and lessons learned.  A must read for recent graduates.


 
 

Captive in Iran

This is a remarkable true story of two Iranian Christian women, Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh, who were imprisoned for their faith in Jesus Christ, charged as apostates and enemies of the State of Iran, and placed in the notorious Evin Prison where they suffered malnutrition and insufficient medical help, but were sustained by the presence of God.

 Maryam and Mariziyeh, real as can be, persevered in their faith and witnessing, (illegal in Iran), when imprisoned. They not only rebuked offers to renounce their faith and take up Islam, but were very bold with their interrogators (who could have them executed), speaking truth to them, not only The Truth, but also faults of Islam.  I was impressed by their manner with fellow prisoners who they always befriended, even the ones others would tend to withdraw from, and they offered prayer constantly to anyone who wanted it. By doing this, they transformed the atmosphere of the prison with their prayers! Their story greatly inspired me to pray more for others.  Definitely a must read!

This is the Delphi Public Library's Faith Book Club selection for September 2014!

A True Story of Undaunted Courage and Ultimate Sacrifice

Fearless, by Eric Blehm, is an excellent and must-read book! It is about Adam Brown, U.S. Navy Seal, a fearless man who did pay the ultimate sacrifice for his country.  Adam was "fearless" from birth; he was wired from the get-go to do what Navy Seals do.  But there is more to the story than being wired for the courageous or being a Seal; Adam had his demons to contend with and struggled to conquer them! It's an honest book and it will grip your heart!  Adam Brown - a man of character and an example to many - lives on in this book. Check it out!

Joni & Ken

Marriage has its challenges, but imagine marriage where one of you is a quadriplegic!  In Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story, Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada are amazingly honest and open about the struggles of keeping love in a marriage.

You might remember Joni Eareckson. When 16 she had a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic. She now is a cheerleader and an encourager to the disabled. She speaks around the world doing so.

So why did this couple write this book?  Because they want to show that to the weakest couple, Jesus Christ is the answer. They know well that dreams don't usually work out; that life is hard on high expectations; and that things hardly ever fall together as we hoped.  But their message has hope! We are not to give up on dreams but to realize that there is a God who has bigger dreams for us, though obstacles will be faced causing us to rely on a big God.

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 This book is full of reality and hope and proves God is the answer for all of us.

This book is the June 2014 selection for the Faith Inspired Book Club at the Delphi Public Library. We meet the 4th Thursday of the month, 9:00 a.m. on the mezzanine. 

THE ZOOKEEPERS WIFE

By Diane Ackerman.  This book is excellent. Though it does start off slow, I felt, and was at first weighed down with in-depth description of things other than the meat of the story, but by the end, I loved it.

Jan and Antonina Zabinski run a reputable zoo in the Polish capital of Warsaw pre-WW II. Their lives are good and their career of zookeeper fulfilling.  Home is happy where they share their dwelling with a variety of healing zoo animals or zoo animals that have become pets.  I laughed out loud many times with the tales of these typically wild animals living with human beings. It is a unique home, for sure.

 But, WWII comes and the Germans invade Poland. Life at home and at the zoo change drastically for the Zabinskis and their son Rys.  I learned  so much about what the Polish suffered in this war and because of this story, admire and respect them as a beautiful and courageous people.

This is a book about a woman and her bravery. It is a book about her husband and his conviction to duty and helping a people, the Jews, who he loved. As to duty, I like to quote Jan Zabinski's words, "I only did my duty. If you can save someones life, it's your duty to try. We did it because it was the right thing to do." The right thing to do!

If you like animals and history and true stories of the Holocaust, you will like The Zookeeper's Wife. Good read!

Mixed Media Masterpieces with Jenny & Aaron by Jenny Heid and Aaron Nieradka

Mixed media is becoming a household phrase amongst art amateurs;  especially with the emergence of scrap booking and art journals. And I found that Heid and Nieradka's book, Mixed Media Masterpieces, didn't disappoint in regards to various techniques and supply listings in which to create these art pieces.

As you peruse each chapter, you'll soon find yourself delving into each of the twelve projects that this book contains; complete with photo aids and step-by-step, easily understandable instructions. From clay sculptures to heirloom vintage photo collages. Beautiful creations for the budding artist.

THE FOUR DOORS by Richard Paul Evans

 

   Richard Paul Evans has written a guide to joy, freedom, and a meaningful life.  The book was inspired by a talk he gave on the spur of the moment, and over the course of ten years, it had evolved into a message he has shared with successful business people, students, and even addicts and prisoners.
    His book includes stories his readers have told him, stories about great achievers who overcame hardships, and stories about his own struggle growing up in a large family with financial difficulties and a suicidal mother, and about Richard's diagnosis of Tourette's Syndrome later in life.
    Evans believes that we all want to know the meaning of our lives.  In The Four Doors, he shows how even the most quiet life can be full of purpose and joy, if we choose to take the first step over the threshold.
     Evans inspiring stories are woven through his identification and careful explanation of the four doors to a more fulfilling life:

                                                 1. Believe there's a reason you were born
                                                 2. Free yourself from limitation
                                                 3. Magnify your life
                                                 4. Develop a love-centered map

     Most people are hungry for inspiration; they love his novels because his characters are also searching for meaning and understanding.

LIFE CODE by Dr. Phil McGraw

     Life Code written by Dr. Phil McGraw is a very informative view of the new rules for winning in the real world because the world we live in has changed.  Dr. McGraw tells you about the ugly truth about the users, abusers, and overall "bad guys" we all have in our lives.  You'll gain incredible insight into these negative people, which he refers to as Baiters (Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters, Reckless), and you'll gain tools to protect yourself from their assaults.

    Dr. Phil discusses the "Evil Eight", "Secret Playbook," and the "Nefarious 15" tactics used to exploit you and take what is yours mentally, physically, socially and professionally. Life Code then focuses on you and your playbook, which contains the “Sweet 16” tactics for winning in the real world.
   Definitely a good, easy read and an eye opener!

ETCHED IN SAND by Regina Calcaterra

Regina Calcaterra's emotionally powerful memoir reveals how she endured a series of foster homes and intermittent homelessness in the shadow of the Hamptons, and how she rose above her past while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together.

 Regina and her four siblings survived extreme abuse and neglect at the hands of their mentally ill mother. Cookie was a woman who "left behind scorched earth" wherever she went. Unstable, promiscuous and violently abusive, she had five children by five different men. Chaos and instability reigned throughout Calcaterra's childhood. Early on, Cookie left the children with relatives or took them to live with new boyfriends. But as her alcoholism and mental illness worsened, she left them in homeless shelters, trailers, parking lots, run-down apartments or houses and then vanished, often for weeks or months at a time.

To survive, they stole food and clothes. They lied about their mother's whereabouts, as well as the burns, bruises and scratches that appeared on their bodies when she was home. Calcaterra emancipated herself at age 14 and reluctantly went to live with foster parents.  Woven into the narrative is Calcaterra’s search to discover the identity of her birth father, a man who resisted acknowledging that he is her parent; this conflict led to a landmark court decision in the state of Washington over an adult child’s right to an accurate determination of paternity; it also led to a touching reunion with other members of her birth father’s family.

Beautifully written and heartbreakingly honest, Etched in Sand is an unforgettable reminder that regardless of social status, the American dream is still within reach for those who have the desire and the determination to succeed.

Intense! The True Story of 33 Men Trapped in a Chilean Copper Mine

33 Men: Inside the miraculous survival and dramatic rescue of the Chilean miners by Jonathan Franklin

You might remember this in the news a few years back. On August 5, 2010, the San Jose copper mine in Chile collapsed with thirty-three men still inside. For the next seventeen days, Chilean government members, families, and rescue workers hoped and prayed that they'd be able to reach the miners who were buried at a depth of 2300 feet.  Down in the mine, where it was 98 degrees F and almost 100% humidity….the men were struggling to survive on contaminated water and minimal food.  They had to deal with issues of human waste, dampness, heat, food, the mountains crying and was there going to be another eruption and cave in.  When a borehole was finally drilled and reached the trapped miners, everyone was thrilled to find that all the men were alive, but they still had to figure out a way to get them out. It was to be sixty-nine days before the miners were finally rescued through a hole 28” wide!

This is an amazing recount of this true story. Franklin, a journalist who was on site for much of this experience, conducted 110 interviews with the miners, their families, and the rescue team, to write his narrative. The details of this real-life drama are enthralling. Franklin did a great job. A real page turner! 

This book is an electronic book available through the Delphi Public Library catalog.

KILLING KENNEDY by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

The End of Camelot

  This is a story of an American tragedy that changed the course of history.  John F. Kennedy in the midst of his 1963 campaign trip to Texas, is gunned down, resulting in national chaos. 
  In January 1961, as the cold war escalates, John F. Kennedy struggles to contain the growth of communism while he learns the hardships, solitude, and temptations of what it means to be president of the United States.  His beautiful young wife, Jackie, must also adjust to a life of constant scrutiny.  Despite personal and political trails, Kennedy's rating soar.

  At the same time, JFK acquires a number of formidable enemies, among them Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and Allen Dulles, director of the Central Intelligence Agency.  When his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, cracks down on powerful elements of organized crime, the list of those who have it in for the president grows.
  Killing Kennedy explores the events leading up to the most notorious crime of the twentieth century and these events are almost as shocking as the assassination itself.  A page-turner from beginning to end, Killing Kennedy, chronicles both the heroism and deceit of Camelot. 

Along the Way: the journey of a father and son

Along the way: the journey of a father and son by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, with Hope Edelman

This double-memoir,  written by actors Martin Sheen and his son, Emilio Estevez takes us a journey which shares stories of their lives, careers and their relationships.

Alternating chapters between one another, I found Sheen's life very intriguing. The son of a Spanish immigrant father and an Irish immigrant mother, Martin was raised in Dayton, Ohio and offered an insight on what it was like to be a member of a large, Catholic family, focusing on the trials and tribulations of how a young man takes on the challenge of following his dream of becoming an actor while also raising his family of four.

His son Emilio recounts his experiences on various movie locations with his father and as we soon begin to notice similarities between father and son regarding their personal and professional lives and successes.

A good read for those who enjoy biographies.

Life by Keith Richards and James Fox

Life

by Keith Richards and James Fox

In the simplest terms, Keith Richard is a rock 'n roll icon and after reading his autobiography, I'm even more convinced.

A story of life... his life... touching upon such topics as how he handled fame, personal relationships including love interests and those he created with the members of the Stones, and his struggle to overcome his addiction to heroin.

Growing Up Amish

This story, by Ira Wagler, is a page turner from start to finish. Not only is it insightful into the Amish lifestyle, but it is a worthy and true account of a young man on a pursuit to finding himself and finding God. The story begins with 17 year old Ira Wagler, stealing out of the house at 2 a.m., leaving behind his family, and the Amish way of life. Ira eventually returns, but again leaves only to return again, and again and again. His experiences with the English and his turmoil and guilt with the Amish reveal a restless spirit and inner tug-of-war.

An honest account of a life reaching for that peace that puts a heart at rest. You'll grow to love Ira Wagler and want to know more about him!

Little Princes

I can't rave enough about this true story of a man going to Nepal for a 3 month stint working with orphans and making it his lifetime mission to rescue trafficked children from evil people. Connor Grennan tells his story in Little Princes, a story that will pull your heartstrings. You will learn about the country of Nepal, it's inner wars, it's poverty, it's people, and it's children! You will love the children. This book is special and lets you see how one ordinary young man, who had no clue his heart would be captured and used to make a difference in so many young lives, can be used for extraordiany things. It gives us hope.