The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Sheila's comments:

The Red Tent tells the story of Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob, who is briefly mentioned in the Old Testament. She narrates her own tragic history. The red tent is where women would go during their menses, childbirth, and illness. Dinah's mothers, which include her birth mother Leah and Jacob's three other wives, teach her about womanhood, her religion, sex, and childbearing. The red tent is a place of bonding and sisterhood. Dinah follows in one of her mother's footsteps and becomes a skilled midwife. She meets the love of her life, the prince Shalem, and she becomes a woman, but fate takes a tragic turn. While Dinah's story of love and loss is heartbreaking, it also portrays the true strength of women throughout history.

Check status at GPL (also available as an audiobook).

SisterChicks in Sombreros by Robin Jones Gunn

Sheila's comments:

This story is about two sisters in their 40's, Melanie and Joanne, who inherit beach front property in San Felipe, Mexico from their deceased uncle. They decide to take their first ever cruise to Mexico to take a look at the property. Between the hives caused by a special blend of guava paste during a spa treatment to fending off the "policia" with their coconut cake, these two laugh about the scrapes they endure. Both are surprised when the "beach front" property is a silver Airstream trailer parked on a slab of concrete, occupied by a lone figure "sitting" on the sofa and reading the newspaper. Surprise, it is only a stuffed Marlin to frighten off the locals. They are surprised to learn that the Airstream sits on 10 acres of prime beachfront and along the way Melanie quietly tells Joanne about her new exciting relationship-with Christ.

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The Wednesday letters by Jason F. Wright

Cheryl's Comments: Jack and Laurel Cooper were respected and beloved inn-keepers: dedicated to each other, kind and generous to their guests and friends. When Jack married Laurel, he made a promise that he would write her a letter every Wednesday... and he actually kept his promise for 39 years. The story begins heart-wrenchingly with the death of Jack and Laurel in each other’s arms. As family and friends gather at the Bed and Breakfast to mourn, their three adult children must work to come to terms with several unresolved family issues. They are surprised to find boxes and boxes of Wednesday letters that they had known nothing about. These provide the answers they need, along with the comfort of “hearing” their parent’s voices through the years.

This book is an easy and compelling read. It isn’t great literature, but there were several things I really liked. Jack and Laurel were imperfect people making a great marriage through dedication and commitment. I also really liked the letters Jack wrote. Some were written on napkins or scraps of paper. Sometimes they were written in the middle of a fight or while they were apart – but no matter what he kept the promise and kept up the stream of communication. It definitely made me take a closer look at the way I communicate and inspired me to be more intentional about it.

The downside of this book for me was somewhat poor character development and flawed dialogue at times. However, I could not put the book down and I found Jack and Laurel and their children to be compelling enough to keep reading. Be aware that even though this book is not generally considered Christian Fiction, there are mentions of their faith throughout the story. It is not heavy handed, and I think most readers would enjoy this book (check status at GPL).

Deadline by Randy Alcorn

Jennie’s Comments: I just finished reading Randy Alcorn’s fictional trilogy – “Deadline, Dominion, and Deception.” He is a Christian author and I really enjoyed these books. It was interesting to watch how different characters in the books came to grips with what they believed about God and His salvation. I enjoy reading different genres and these books were riveting for me. I highly recommend reading them. Check Status at GPL

The Shack by William Young

Cheryl's Comments: My mother-in-law reads a lot of books. I mean a LOT of books. Frequently she’ll tell me about what she’s reading. Fairly often she’ll recommend a book or series, and once in a while she’ll hand me a book and say “Read it!” A few weeks ago, she handed me The Shack.

The main character, Mack, is a man who has experienced a lot of suffering. He perseveres the way most of us would, putting one foot in front of the other and taking care of his family, and yet he finds himself weighted down with what he inwardly calls “The Great Sadness.” Anyone who has felt that sort of grief fogging up their life will understand how it can affect your relationships with others and often even with God.

Mack gets to experience a rare opportunity as he wrestles with his grief: He gets to speak to God about it face to face. This part of the book is not a strict allegory but is instead the author’s answer to his own “what if” question. What if we could spend a weekend physically in the presence of a touchable God? What would he look like? How would he answer our hurts and anger? Author William Young avoids the traditional answers and the church-speak you might expect for book that is a conversation with God. Those tired of simplistic answers to tough questions will find it refreshing, and some traditionalists will find it uncomfortable.

You may love this book, or you may hate it, but it will probably get you into some interesting conversations. One day as I read this book while waiting for my daughter, a 19 year old stranger walked up and asked how I liked it and couldn’t wait to talk about it with someone. I was referred to this book by a Grandmother and have discussed it with people of all ages. Whatever you think of the book, the questions it raises and the conversations you’ll have will be worthwhile. Check Status at GPL

The Visitation by Frank Peretti

Heather's Comments: In the small town of Antioch Washington, something unusual is going on. Jesus’ face suddenly appears in the clouds, a weeping crucifix starts to heal people, and angelic messengers are communicating with the residents. The whole town is filled with joy and excitement, and when a Stranger moves into town and starts performing miracles everyone thinks he is a reincarnated Jesus; everyone except for Travis Jordan. After his wife was struck by a car and killed, Jordan, a former pastor, has been struggling with faith and doubt and the fanaticism of the town’s people only further fuel his bitterness and cynicism towards God. But things are not all that they seem and when the Stranger’s miracles start harming people, it’s up to Travis Jordan to save the town from evil.

This fast paced story of the battle between good and evil is filled with suspense. I was so engrossed and engaged with the story that it was almost impossible to put it down. I have always been a fan of Frank Peretti’s books, but The Visitation has brought his writing to a new level and many of the themes he deals with can be compared to the novels of Stephen King, only with a more spiritual edge. If you are looking for a thrilling novel about the supernatural with plot twists, characters you can relate to, and a satisfying yet haunting ending be sure to check out The Visitation. Check Status at GPL