Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Emerson Hancock

I am reposting this review because I am going to get another copy to give away. Just post a comment to be entered. (If you have already commented, you don't have to do it again. You are already entered.) This second drawing will end on July 31st. Good luck.

Rating: 1.1.1

Recommended audience: Teen and up

Category: Memoir, Christian, Inspirational

Review: 4.5/5

It's finally here--the giveaway post for this gem of a book! I really enjoyed this "Unordained Memoir of a Preacher's Daughter". Hancock writes the stories of her childhood in a vivid, funny, and touching way. She tells what it was like growing up in Kentucky as the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher. Her perspective on the world and her role in it as a PK (preacher's kid) made me laugh out loud at times and made me pause to think at other times. One of my favorite lines is in the first chapter when Hancock's father tells her, "The Southern Baptist philosophy rests largely on the principle that all God's glorious, perfect children are also dumb as dirt." That might make it sound like this book really bashes Southern Baptists, but it doesn't. It is just a look at life as a Southern Baptist through the eyes of a very bright, inquisitive child. I definitely recommend it.

Unveiled, Unshaken, Unafraid by Francine Rivers

Rating: 2.2.1 (PG - This rating does not necessarily apply to all three but a 2 is the highest degree of content for any of them.

Recommended audience: Teen to adult

Category: Christian, historical, inspirational

Unveiled -

This novella tells the story of Tamar. I didn't like this one as well as the others but it was still interesting. The culture was so different in the Old Testament and the laws and customs are so foreign to me. One of the best things about these little novellas is that it has made me stop and re-read these storis in the Bible and think about the real people who lived these lives. I'm not sure I agree with Rivers take on this one but it was very interesting.

Unshaken -

I liked this one. The story of Ruth is inspiring and this book helps put the culture of the time into better perspective. I learned more about what it is to be a gleaner and I also learned more about the different ethnicities of the time and the people's feelings regarding them. (Of course I do realize that the feelings part is speculation but I get the impression that Rivers did some good research on it, too.)

Unafraid -

I liked it but I've never been one to feel completely comfortable with Christ being portrayed in a book like this. On one hand it seems to be a little blasphemous to speculate on what He may have said that is not recorded in the scriptures but on the other hand it can help me feel a little closer to knowing Him as a person who lived and walked on the earth. I struggle with this issue. At least I can sense that Francine Rivers wrote this with the intent to show His pure love, mercy, forgiveness, and other wonderful qualities from the perspective of His mother. There is a lot of speculation here because there is so little told about Mary in the scriptures beyond the birth and a few things here and there. There were things I liked and disliked about the way she was portrayed. I'd be interested to hear what others think if you decide to read this book

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Rating: 1.3.2
Recommended audience: Teen to adult
Category: Adventure, survival




This book has two parts. The first is about Pi Patel, a teenager living in India who accepts and practices three religions--Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam. The second part is the story of his survival at sea. You've probably heard at least a little about this if you haven't already read it. I loved this book. I loved it even more the second time I read it. For some people the first part is a little boring but please just keep going. It is so different from other books out there. Make sure you know someone else who has read it or will read it because I can guarantee, you'll want to talk about it with someone.