A Bounty of Books

Dancing on the Head of Pen: The Practice of a Writing Life by Robert Benson is a short collection of stories, wisdom, and advice about the art of writing. Benson has written close to twenty books in varying genres and about different subjects. In this book, he passes along some of what he's learned in his forty years living the life of  a writer.

From the beginning, Benson makes it clear that there are no right or wrong ways to approach being a writer. Every piece of advice he offers is just that - advice. He shares what works for him, and some general guidelines about finding what works best for each individual as a writer. He goes through the entire process of writing a book, from the initial capturing of an idea through all of the editing and trying to get it published. He offers just enough advice about each phase to get the reader started. He offers guidance while affirming that there is no right or wrong to get started; the point is to get started. 

As one who has always enjoyed writing, and often toyed around with the thought that there was a story inside of me worth sharing, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dancing on the Head of Pen. It was witty, practical, and full of helpful information. It is broken down into easy to digest sections that can be referred back to if one is seeking guidance in a particular area. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has ever entertained the thought of being a writer of any kind. Whether that leads to a book, a blog, a journal, or even nothing tangible that no one else ever sees, this book is good for a writer's soul.

Blogging for Books provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Ex-Muslim: How One Daring Prayer to Jesus Changed A Life Forever by Naeem Fazal is the personal story of how a young Pakistani Muslim raised in Kuwait moved to America and became a Christian. Naeem Fazal followed his older brother America to attend college. At first extremely resistant to his brother's new found faith, three weeks into his stay he had what most Western Christians would consider a radical encounter with Christ that forever changed him.

It's always interesting to learn about other people's experiences, especially people from other cultures. Fazal's perspective on things that I don't even think about because they are so common to me are refreshing. It's not for me to comment on another person's story, but as far as the story in book form goes, it seems as though the content was stretched a bit; there is a lot of repetition. Also, the narrative is non-linear, which is sometimes confusing.

Overall, this was a good read, but not a great one. It will be of interest to anyone interested in personal conversion stories and or Muslim culture.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

No Place to Hide: A Brain Surgeon's Long Journey Home from the Iraq War by W. Lee Warren, M.D. is a firsthand account of about four months of the Iraq war from the perspective of an Air Force trauma neurosurgeon. Stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Warren treated members of the U.S. military, members of the Iraqi National Guard and police force, and Iraqi civilians. Their problems varied from brain tumors to bullet wounds in the brain and varying degrees of destruction from IEDs.

 When We Were on Fire: A Memoir of Consuming Faith, Tangled Love, and Starting Over by Addie Zierman could be the story of the life of any number of Millennials one would meet on the street. While the story is a common one, the intensely personal and eloquent way it is communicated sets it apart as something special. Mrs. Zierman shares her journey from a 14 year old "Super Christian" to a thirty something recovering cynic, struggling to consistently engage the Evangelical culture she has alternately embraced and rejected.

I found several parts of Mrs. Zierman's journey that resonated with me. While our paths have not been exactly the same, we were a part of the same culture at around the same time, and the imprints it left on our life are similar. I applaud the brutal honesty with which Zierman shares her journey. I appreciate that she didn't try to tie anything in a nice neat bow or whitewash the ugly parts of her story. She understands the complexity of life in all of its ups and downs. Her retelling of her story is powerful because of that complexity.

When We Were on Fire comes with an author's note, a discussion guide, and an interview with the author. This book would be excellent to read individually or as a small group. While it's told from a distinctly female perspective, Zierman's story carries meaning for both men and women. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys personal narratives, is struggling with Evangelical Christian culture, or anyone open to the subject of faith and it how can shape one's life.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Passion: The Bright Light of Glory by Louie Giglio is a collection of sermons based on "some of the most impactful messages ever delivered to Passion-goes over the years" (page 9). Along with Louie Giglio, there are chapters written by Francis Chan, Beth Moore, John Piper, Judah Smith, and Christine Caine. While each chapter has its own theme, the overarching theme is the same of that of the Passion movement as a whole: for Christians to live for His renown.

Anyone familiar with the Passion movement will find familiar content within these pages. This is truly a highlight reel of the movements last several years. It is a testament to the effectiveness of the Passion movement that though I have never been to a Passion event, I was in college when Passion started gaining traction and am thus very familiar with their overall aim. It was nice to read some of the sermons that have influenced my generation. Each chapter bears the style of its author, therefore some were easier to read than others. However, overall each chapter flows really well with the next as well as contributes to the main theme of the book. This isn't always easy to do with more than one author, but Passion: The Bright Light of Glory accomplishes it well. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Passion movement, Christian living, or taking the pulse of the current young leaders in the of the Christian movement.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God's Voice Above All Others by Steve Furtick is a fantastic look at strategies Christians can use to drown out the voice of the enemy and listen solely to God, the Voice of Truth. Using scripture and many personal examples, Furtick explores four main areas Christians most face the incessant nagging of the enemy: insecurity, fear, condemnation, and discouragement.

I found many gems scattered throughout Crash the Chatterbox. It may be that I appreciated it more at this point in my life than I would have in others, because the topic is something I've been actively dealing with over the last year. However, there are plenty of helpful truths and strategies for anyone in this book, because we all face one of the big four in various areas of our lives. Furtick's writing is extremely accessible and relatable, as he is quite honest about his own struggles and victories in this arena. This is one of the best books I've read on the topic of controlling the thoughts we allow to influence our life. The truths are simple, yet profoundly life changing if applied.

Furtick includes a section by section discussion guide at the end that the reader can use to dig deeper into the subject in his/her own life, or that can be used in a group setting. The overall appearance of the book is aesthetically pleasing. Also, it is broken into very manageable sections which helps if one only has a few minutes at a time to read. The key thought of each chapter is displayed at the end in a giant, eye grabbing chat bubble. I'd recommend this book to every Christian, and even non-Christians who are interested in seeing the difference the power of Christ in one's life can make.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of their Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

Christian Faith in the Old Testament: The Bible of the Apostles by Gareth Lee Cockerill is a good book for what it is, but how it labels itself is somewhat misleading. The publisher's blurb and back of the book description both make it seem as though this book will help understand how certain events in the New testament have roots in the Old Testament. Or maybe how Old Testament prophecies or events are fulfilled in the New Testament. Instead, Christian Faith in the Old Testament is pretty much just a survey of the Old Testament.

Though I was disappointed that it wasn't quite what I expected, Christian Faith in the Old Testament is a very comprehensive and easy to understand. It contains many charts and figures that help solidify themes in the reader's mind. There are two appendices in the back - one contains historical evidence supporting the closed cannon of the 39 books in the Old Testament. The other appendix includes all of the charts and figures from throughout the book combine into one. Scripture references are all throughout the book, so the reader is always sure at what point in scripture the author is discussing. The overall themes of scripture are stated as well.

Overall, I'd recommend Christian Faith in the Old Testament by Gareth Lee Cockerill to anyone studying the Old Testament. This book would have been a huge help in my Old Testament survey class in college.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookLook book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255