57. Nicki Defago - Child Free and Loving It

Title:
Child Free and Loving It
Author:
Defago, Nicki
Publisher:
Fusion Press
Format:
Paperback
BCID:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5682846
No. of pages:
248
First sentence:
A while ago I met an old friend who I hadn't seen for 20 years.

Thanks to PussInBooks for sending this book out on a Ring. I saw it advertised and, as I'm child free, was immediately interested.

I'm no really sure what I was expecting. What I found was an easy, comfortable read with lots of quotations from the author's conversations and correspondence with parents and the child free alike. She is child free herself and, as the title suggests, there is a strong bias in favour of this choice but it is offered in the spirit of 'I don't want kids but it's cool if you do.'

My only criticism is that the quotations were sometimes inadequately signposted. Reading through I sometimes felt rather lost and would have welcomed some direction.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is considering having (or not having) children.

Incoming Books!

Cristina Garcia - Dreaming in Cuban
John Berendt - The City of Falling Angels

56. Eric & Leslie Ludy - When God Writes Your Love Story

Title:
When God Writes Your Love Story
Author:
Ludy, Eric & Leslie
Publisher:
Loyal
Format:
Paperback
BCID:
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6051600
No. of pages:
224
First sentence:
"I think we should break up," he softly said

I Mooched a copy of this book after reading Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy.

I enjoyed this volume for its honesty. The ideas are not all easy to carry out and the Ludys don't flinch from telling of their own stumbles as they learned to let God write their love story. I really enjoyed hearing more of the details of their romance. The book is written for men and women with Eric and Leslie each identified as the author of specific chapters. It was interesting to hear Eric's insights - I'm more used to the female perspective - although his humour didn't sit particularly well with me. Perhaps it would have if I were a young man?

The main theme of this book is that our relationship culture is a long way from what God intended and people are being hurt by it. But there is another way which the Ludys have lived and now share with their readers.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is single (of any age). I'm sure there are also nuggets of goodness for people in relationships if you are creative enough to take the ideas and make them your own. The book cover is attractive showing a tender moment between a man and woman. The title is very apt and the book does exactly what it 'says on the tin.'

I have all the Ludy book on my wishlist and am looking forward to reading them. Authentic Beauty is my current study book.

Overall: 8/10

Incoming Books!

Debbi Macomber - A Good Yarn
Nicki Defago - Child Free and Loving It!
M C Beaton - Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
Henry James - The Aspern Papers and The Turn of the Screw
Sue Monk Kidd - The Secret Life of Bees
Tatiana de Rosnay - Sarah's Key
Muriel Spark - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The Classics Challenge 2008

Hmmm. When are enough challenges too many challenges? I can't resist The Classics Challenge 2008. Here are my picks:

Willa Cather - My Antonia
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
George Eliot - Silas Marner
Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice
Henry James - The Turn of the Screw (book not yet received)
Khaled Hosseini - A Thousand Splendid Suns

Reading is a Blessing

This article contains the following quote:

Be careful of the books you choose, consider them as company you keep. For they will influence your family's habits and character.

Do you ever read something that really resonates within you? I don't have family to worry about when I choose what to read (the cats aren't big readers) but I do need to look to myself. I've noticed that I'm very susceptible to the atmosphere of my reading. If I'm reading secular chicklit about a girl's racy life I want that life too. Little House on the Prairie has me reaching for the broom to sweep the kitchen. I guess I have too much imagination but that's the way I am and I'm deeply affected by what I read. Impressionable. That's the word, I think. I am very impressionable.

I already avoid chicklit and also most fantasy and magical realism as these all send me in directions I don't want to go. But I don't read exclusively Christian titles although I try and avoid anything glorifying attitudes and actions that are contrary to Christian belief. Is this enough? Because you can't always tell where a story is going to take you from the blurb on the back.

I need to think more and listen. If God wants me to change my reading habits then he won't be silent.

Incoming Books!

Debbie Macomber - Morning Comes Softly
Kate Collins - Mum's the Word
Azar Nafisi - Reading Lolita in Tehran
Anchee Min - Katherine