Currently Reading

The Secret of Excalibur

By Andy McDermott

Bantam Books 2010

ISBN 978-0-553-59295

Watch for my coming review!

Jane Austen

From the Christian Encounters series
Jane Austen
by Peter Leithart
Thomas Nelson, Pub. 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59555-302-7

This is another great book from the Christian Encounters series.

Peter Leithart takes us from the very, very young "Jenny" Austen, through the sad embrace of her death in July of 1817.

Her literary sense and style are carefully inspected through disection and microscopic scrutiny. We learn that "Jenny" had a sense of humor above all else; this ranged  from the price of a pair of carriage horses to the macabre death of others.

Her poetic side waxed often, as she wrote of her nephew's birth and again at the death of an old friend, and even regarding her own illness and impending end.

Jane Austen had a writing style, and storytelling abilities that preceded the feminist movements that came after her death. She was truly ahead of her time! Young and old, male and female enjoyed her many, though limited, books.

I think it is truly Austen's humor that seems to grab Leithart above all else. He writes, "At her best, Jane Austen wrote out of laughter. Her art came from the impish glee of a precocious teenager amused by the follies of the world around her, wanting to get us in on the joke. Her final voice is modulated, deepened, matured by life and its losses; but it is still the voice of the Juvenalia, the joyous voice of Pride and Prejudice, the voice of the narrator of Emma and of the comic passage in the unfinished Sanditon. It is the playful voice whose resonance is enriched by the piety that is always in, with, and under it. It is the voice of the supremely talented, supremely meticulous writer who lived and died as Jenny, whose greatness as a woman and as an artist is the greatness of one who became, and remained, a little child."

There is no doubt that Jane Austen as written by Peter Leithart, will become a mandatory read for those who are studying Austen; or for those who love her works purely for the art itself.

I highly recommend this read, and give it a five star rating!

***DISCLOSURE NOTICE: A free copy of this book was supplied to me for the purpose of review by Thomas Nelson Publishing. No monetary exchange was given. All comments and wording in this review are purely my own.  - Cyndi Beane Henry

The Book Blogger Hop

I am participating in "The Book Blogger Hop", as hosted by Crazy-for-Books

Plan to "Hop" on over to the site, and check out the links for all of the others who are participating in this Hop as well!

I am especially enjoying Review From Here Be sure to check out their reviews!!!

Hope you're having a great Friday!!!

Jane Austen

Currently Reading!

Jane Austen

By Peter Leithart

2009

Thomas Nelson Publishing

ISBN 978-1-59555-302-7

Watch for my coming review!

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

“Who Do Think You Are?” The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History, A companion To The NBC Series

By Megan Smolenyak [2], Chief Genealogical Consultant

Viking Penguin

2009

ISBN 978-0-670-02163-5

When my preordered book arrived, it was probably one of the most anticipated books I had ordered in quite some time!

Having been a fan of Megan’s for a long time, I already knew it was going to be good.

Megan takes us on a journey, in plain, simple language, and easy understanding, to find our ancestors.

She fully explains the “tools of the trade” for someone who knows absolutely not one thing about genealogy, other than having a desire to trace their family history. But she does it in such a way that those of us who have been doing just such research for many years, finds it a pleasant recall and entertaining! Never is it boring, stuffy or redundant.

She touches on each of the NBC series participants, without giving so much away that we are let down when we actually watch the appropriate episode. Instead, we find ourselves saying, “I’m so glad she didn’t give too much away! What a great show!”

In nine, easy-to-read chapters, Megan takes us through preparing for the search; using the Internet to assist us in our search; how to utilize the census records; using vital records [birth, marriage and death]; military records; performing research in other countries; and passing on our research through sharing.

If you haven’t purchased your copy of “Who Do You Think You Are?” yet, I highly encourage you to get one now. Even if you’ve been researching for a long time, you’re going to find some great vital information that you either didn’t know about, or you have forgotten about! And if you are new to the “genie” bug, then I can’t think of a better book to help you get started!

Now Reading

Who Do You Think You Are?

The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History

A Companion To The NBC Series

Megan Smolenyak(2)

Chief Genealogical Consultant

Viking - Penguin Books - 2009

ISBN 978-0-670-02163-5

I have nearly finished reading this fantastic companion to the new hit NBC Friday evening show! Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, a world reknown genealogist, makes this guide and companion a read you don't want to put down!

Watch for my review soon!

Beautiful Things Happen

Beautiful Things Happen

When A Woman Trusts God -

Sheila Walsh

Thomas Nelson Publishing

2009

ISBN 978-1-4002-0243-0

This book took me a while to read. Why?

Because I went back and read it a SECOND time!

Yes, I really did.

Thomas Nelson publishing provided me with this book for review. I expected it to be a short read, and one that might have some meaning for me, but I was totally unprepared for how this book spoke to my heart. And to my soul.

Sheila Walsh takes us on a journey meeting various characters from the scriptures, each learning how to trust God completely. All while telling us her story, of learning to let go, and just let God!

Twelve wonderful, enlightening chapters take us on a journey with the likes of the prophetess Anna; Martha - the sister of Mary and Lazarus; the apostle Paul - formerly known as Saul; the widow Tabitha; Gideon; Joseph - son of Jacob; Samson; Nicodemua and Joseph of Arimathea; and Abraham.

Sheila Walsh opens up about her past, and the time she spent in a psychiatric hospital, and how she had to learn to trust God to move beyond the pain in her life.

Beautiful Things Happen When A Woman Trusts God is a read that will change lives. Forever.

I highly recommend this read for women, and men, who have ever encountered a doubting and confronting time in their lives. It will assist you in making that step closer to trusting completely and wholly in our Abba God.

**Disclosure: Thomas Nelson Publishing provided me with this book for review. No compensation for review was made. All opinions of this text are entirely and wholly my own.

Our Computer System Down

We ask that you bear with us this week while our computer system is down.
We hope to be back up and running by next Monday. We will be checking our email daily, but will not be writing during this time.
Thank you for your patience.
Texicanwife
Cyndi Beane Henry
The Books on My Shelf