The One, by RJ Smith

Born in the segregated South, into poverty, nothing came easy to James Brown.  Everything he got, he got through hard work and industry.  The son of a turpentine man, Brown started out as a shoe shine boy, ended up in a juvenile correction facility, was a skilled athlete, and full of soul.  Brown drew musical influence from the performers on the chitlin circuit, only to go on to dominate the music industry for years.  He influenced numerous musical genres and continues to serve as inspiration to performers today.

Let me start by saying that I personally have never been a fan of funk or soul music.  I think that had I grown up in the era of their inception, I actually would love the music.  So, in all honesty, I knew very little about James Brown going into this book.  Many of the songs mentioned were unfamiliar to me.  So, this book was really an introduction to the Godfather of Soul.  And what a comprehensive introduction it was.

I felt like the book did a great job of establishing Brown's humble upbringings.  I was pulled in at the very start, learning about his childhood.  Being unfamiliar with the musical history of the South, I was fascinated to read about the wealth of talent to come from Georgia.  I loved hearing how James Brown met Little Richard.

Similarly, I was really enthralled to read about the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on Brown.  It was fascinating to learn the impact of the ever chancing sociopolitical situation, and how Brown both affected it and was affected by it.  However, the middle section of the book was very heavy handed with details about the music, changes in band line up, and the ever elusive "One".  To a music aficionado, or a huge Brown fan, I am sure this section of the book is interesting, but to me, I was a little lost.  It really slowed down my reading during the middle portion of the book.

The last portion of the book covered the only part of Brown's life with which I was familiar, from the 1980's on.  I remembered a lot of the stories discussed, so again this part was really fascinating to me.  The book overall paints a truly fascinating portrait of James Brown, not all of which is positive.  It made me deeply respect James Brown and all his musical contributions.

I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and TLC Book Tours.

Jewel of Persia, by Roseanna M. White

When Xerxes, King of Persia, calls you to be his wife, you do not say no.  Not even if you are a Jew.  Kasia is just a teenager when she weds Xerxes, but she quickly wins his heart and devotion, much to the chagrin of the Queen and Haman.  Kasia accompanies him to war, but their love may be his downfall.  After years of prayer to Jehovah for the protection of her husband as well as her people, Kasia finds the Jews' salvation in her childhood friend, Esther.  Esther is chosen to be the Queen of Persia, and her role in history will never be forgotten, thanks to the love that Kasia has for her friend, as well as the love she has for her husband.

Knowing what a phenomenal writer Roseanna is, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to read this book.  And once I started, I just could not stop.  Once again, Roseanna has made history come alive, and awakened a Biblical story in ways I would never have imagined.

I would have thought that reading a romance about a man with so many wives would feel contradictory, but it really did not.  The characters were developed so clearly, you knew each woman's place in Xerxes' life.  And the story was no less romantic than had Kasia been his only bride.  I know that Xerxes is a bloody ruler, but somehow, Roseanna has made him somewhat endearing.  She does not sugar coat the fierceness of his personality, nor the often cruel and violent things he did, but through his love of Kasia, we see a softer side of him. 

The book is highly spiritual, as many members of its cast of characters rely on blind faith, even when it makes no sense.  The story stands as a lesson for Christian readers to have that same kind of faith.  However, because this is a story of the salvation of the Jews in the Persian kingdom, it will likely appeal to Jewish readers as well.  The historical aspect will also appeal to fans of historical fiction.  And it would be perfect reading for a book club as well, since it will appeal to so many different kinds of readers.

The book is beautiful, and flows like a piece of music.  The setting is so rich, I almost envisioned a lavish Broadway production in my mind as I read it.  This is certain to be yet another success for Roseanna.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author.

The Goodness of God, by Randy Alcorn

Among Christians, it is common to ask "why me Lord" when going through tough times.  Many who suffer blame God, or resent Him, or in some cases, cease believing in Him.  But what if we were to look deeper, to try to find not only the root cause of much suffering (the fall in the Garden of Eden), but to try to find God's purpose in the suffering we experience.  What if we were to instead, view suffering as a blessing, allowing us to rely for heavily on God?

I thought this book was really really lovely.  I will warn you now, it definitely challenges you to change your way of thinking.  We are very much in the midst of a culture of ME, and this book try to steer our thoughts into a culture of HIM.  It is hard to swallow, that mankind is often at the root of their own suffering, whether it is because of the actions of the one suffering, or because of the actions of the original ones, Adam and Eve, and their decision to sin.

At the heart of this book is that God loves you, and wants great things for you, but because we have the power of choice, we must suffer the consequences.  And while sins are forgiven, their consequences remain; that is a key point that I think many Christians tend to forget.

While the book is not terribly long, nor are the language and concepts difficult to master, this is a book you want to take your time with.  I read it slowly over the course of a couple of weeks, to allow the concepts to really sink in, and to allow me time to process my own reactions to the chapters.  I think this would be an excellent book for a small group study, and I know that many will be as blessed by this book as I was.


I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.

Fall to Grace, by Jay Bakker with Martin Edlund

The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Jay knows all about the harshness that Christians can exhibit toward fellow believers.  Whether is is different denominations fighting each other, or a church ousting a member they believe to be too sinful, Christian organizations have forgotten the main theme of Jesus' teaching: love.  But through the freedom offered by grace, we can love each other, and accept that Jesus loves all people, without any stipulations.

I rarely read the introductions to books, typically I want to get to the "meat and potatoes" of the text.  However, something drew me to read the introduction to Jay Bakker's book, and I thought instantly I was about to fall in love.  I read an excerpt of the introduction to my husband, and remarked how I liked the book already, and hoped it would not disappoint me in the long run.  I am pleased to say, this book does not disappoint at all.

For a long time, I have felt that Christianity has actually become Churchianity, nothing more than groups fighting among themselves about who better knows that Jesus would say about all kinds of topics, both theological and social.  But I think this book really gets back to the heart of Christianity, and what Jesus' mission was all about.  It also reminds us that we need to put scripture into proper historical context instead of just using it to further our own selfish agendas.

I love this book because Jay is so frank and honest.  He admits he had a bad drinking problem, he swears periodically in the text, he talks about going to a drag show, only to have the drag queens talk about Jesus on stage.  This is the kind of Christianity I long for.  I know for some it may seem scandalous (as it did when Jesus ate with prostitutes and tax collectors) but to me, it is refreshing.  I love that I do not have to compromise any beliefs or sacrifice professions of love for any people (like the GLBT community) to fit in to this type of Christianity.  And I feel like this book will appeal well to non-believers, who may be put off with how so much of the church treats marginalized social groups.

Grace is such a beautiful topic, one we hear far too little of in our American pulpits.  I was incredibly blessed by this book, and I will recommend it to any and every Christian or non Christian who wants to learn more about how to better love ourselves and each other.

The publisher provides a sample of the text online, which you can access here.


I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.

A Stray Drop of Blood, by Roseanna M. White

The highest praise I can give a book is that it makes me forget I am reading. If a book is well written, I see it play out in movie form in my head. If a book is extremely well written, I feel myself living the story. The latter most definitely describes Roseanna White’s A Stray Drop of Blood. As I count Roseanna among my newly made friends, it gives me great pride to review her book, which has completely captivated me.

From the minute I picked the book up, I was enveloped in the story. I smelled the smells of the marketplace, I felt the breezes, I heard the singing of Hosanna. A Stray Drop of Blood is one of those rare stories that provides such thorough and intricate details as to weave the story around the reader like a tapestry, yet it is not overly detailed to the point where the reader gets bogged down.

The story is set in Jerusalem, in the days just before Christ’s teaching began, and as the story progresses, through Christ’s teaching, trial, death, resurrection, and the birth of His church. Yet that is only a small part of the story at first. The story is primarily about a woman named Abigail, the journey her life takes, and what happens when her path quite literally crosses that of Jesus.

Roseanna does a phenomenal job of developing her characters. They are not just characters, actually, they are us. There are qualities in these people that we recognize in ourselves. I find it refreshing that Roseanna touched upon the theme of the female role in biblical times. So many biblical stories revolve around strong male central figures, their struggles, their triumphs, that we as Christian women sometimes struggle to find relatable role models for Christian life. I liked the fact that Abigail struggled with her faith, struggled with be sin and redemption, fell only to be lifted again into the arms of God. These are all struggles I too have had, and as a result of which felt unworthy. It is amazing how a work of Christian fiction can bring peace when partnered with biblical teachings.

In the past, I have not always been a huge fan of Christian fiction, having found it to be a bit heavy handed. However, Roseanna’s book is more than a work of Christian fiction. The amount of historically accurate detail would appeal to secular readers as well, and the Christian lessons in the story, while powerful, are subtle, something you must be open to in order to let them swell your heart.

In this Lenten season, this book is a fantastic tool for Christian reflection on how we let God guide our lives, and the very real impact of Christ’s sacrifice. I would highly recommend this book for book clubs, Christian fellowship groups, and particularly youth and young adult groups, as the female protagonists is a young woman herself, dealing with adult situations not that different (at the root of the matter) than what today’s youth face.

For those who like biblical and historical fiction, I would also recommend that you check out The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant. Focusing on figures from the Old Testament, this would be considered more Jewish fiction than Christian fiction, but it remains one of my favorite fictional works involving real biblical figures. It also focuses on the lives of biblical women.

I cannot say enough positive things about A Stray Drop of Blood. Its beauty made me weep, and as I neared the end of the book, I felt myself saddened that my time with its characters was coming to an end. Perhaps this will become a part of my annual Easter reflection.