Thursday, November 29, 2012

More Than A Bucket List


More Than A Bucket List

By Toni Birdsong

 

This is a cozy sized hardback book that includes short one page devotionals or positive writings among the many lists that inhabit its pages.  List lovers will probably go crazy over this one.

My favorite parts were the devotionals that focused on God and the Real Life Challenges scattered throughout the book. 

For those unfamiliar with the term “bucket list”, it is intended to be a list of things you hope to do before you “kick the bucket”. 

To me, many of the writings and the lists of things to do were directed towards people who have been financially blessed.  It seemed to be written without consideration for the fact that some people may never have the means to enjoy traveling the world and fulfilling their every wish.  Not to say that all the lists were unrealistic.  But most focused on travel, expensive visits, expensive foods, expensive hobbies.

I still liked the book because it is full of lists …and I love lists.  My favorite part out of the whole book was the suggestion to make an “unbucket” list.   The author describes this as a list of things you have already done in life.  To me, this would bring more contentment than focusing on all I have NOT been able to do in life. 

I was given this book to review for free in exchange for an honest review, which I have provided here.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Another Great Collection by Cindy Woodsmall

Christmas in Apple Ridge is a collection of three books in one by beloved author Cindy Woodsmall. Each novel is connected by characters who show up in the other novels but you can read one alone and not be lost at all :) Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite authors. Her settings in the Amish country amid Amish people are a glimpse into the lifestyles of a fascinating people. I enjoyed all of these stories, but I think my favorite was The Sound of Sleigh Bells. In this story an Amish girl who has decided that she does not want to ever marry because of a bad experience with her previous fiance finds herself caught up in the life of a young Amish man due to some matchmaking meddling by a friend. I liked this story because of the humor in it as well as the characters. This book would make a great Christmas gift for the reader in your life, or someone who is interested in the Amish community. I give it 5 stars!!!

Friday, November 9, 2012

American Idol Fans Will Like This One...

By Faith Not By Sight is the autobiography of Scott MacIntyre who was an American Idol contestant. This is his story of the role music played in his life as a blind prodigy. Scott’s story is interesting because of all he has been through. If you are an American Idol fan, you will particularly love this book because it gives a lot of the “behind the scenes” information that TV viewers never realize. I think my favorite part of this book was when he talks about his kidney failure and having to go on dialysis and then eventually go through a kidney transplant. I know many people who have gone through this but I got a different insight into what is involved and how it affects someone than I had ever realized before I read the book. Much of the book, of course, covered his rise to success. This was interesting but I was left with more questions by the end of the book. I wanted to know more about his family, his father’s role, his sister that was also born blind and had kidney troubles. Although it was not one of my favorites personally, I do think the book was well-written and an inspirational read. There was not as much about Scott’s faith as I thought there would be based on the title. It is not a deeply spiritual book but it is inspirational.
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