Book Review: Following Atticus by Tom Ryan

Posted on September 10, 2012 · 1 Comment

Following Atticus: Forty-eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship (P.S.)
by Tom Ryan
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Free copy for review from TLC Book Tours

After a close friend died of cancer, middle-aged, overweight, acrophobic newspaperman Tom Ryan decided to pay tribute to her in a most unorthodox manner. Ryan and his friend, miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch, would attempt to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s four thousand- foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity. It was an adventure of a lifetime, leading them across hundreds of miles and deep into an enchanting but dangerous winter wonderland. At the heart of the amazing journey was the extraordinary relationship they shared, one that blurred the line between man and dog.

Following Atticus is an unforgettable true saga of adventure, friendship, and the unlikeliest of family, as one remarkable animal opens the eyes and heart of a tough-as-nails newspaperman to the world’s beauty and its possibilities.


My Thoughts

As soon as I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it. I have two miniature schnauzers so I knew this would be a very special book.

And I was not disappointed.

Tom Ryan is a journalist who publishes his own newspaper, The Undertoad, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He uncovers all the secrets of Newburyport, naming names, getting to the heart of the politics behind every story and printing everything he discovers, despite enormous pressure not to do so. But, even while he says he is fulfilled in his work, he was not fulfilled in his life. Something was missing.

It took a little dog to help him find it.

Atticus Maxwell Finch.

Atticus and Tom

From the beginning, there is something special about Atticus. Tom’s trials through puppyhood are hilarious, and as Atticus grows up, he becomes his own unique being. When Tom’s brother invites him and Atticus on a hike, Tom accepts, hoping to draw closer to his family. That hike changes Tom and he sees something in Atticus  - “It was as if he were made for the mountains” (pg. 49). They begin climbing other peaks, embarking on a quest of self-discovery. Something changes in Tom and Atticus when they are climbing the mountains. Life changes. Spiritual realizations emerge. The busyness that consumes daily life goes away and it is just about a man and a little dog, who leads the way for Tom.

When Tom’s friend succumbs to cancer, Tom and Atticus attempt to do something that’s rarely been done – climb all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 foot peaks TWICE in one winter while raising money for charity. This is a feat that will test Tom to the limits of his physical health. And the mountains have much in store for Tom and Atticus.

This book captivated me. Each trek up the mountain, I could picture little Atticus marching proudly, showing Tom the way. It also made me think of my own schnauzers and the pretty mundane lives they have lived! :) This book is ultimately about a man who is looking for meaning and purpose in his life. And he discovered it in a most unusual place – through a relationship with Atticus M. Finch and by trekking the 4,000 foot mountains of New Hampshire.

Tom Ryan’s blog, Facebook page, and Twitter account

NOTE: Be sure to follow the Facebook page for videos and pictures of Atticus and of his brother Will!

And for your enjoyment, I leave you with some pictures of my miniature schnauzers!

Cody – Age 7

Tyson – Age 6

Tyson and Cody (my boys and brothers – from different litters)

*****

TLC Book Tour Schedule

Wednesday, August 8th: Peppermint PhD

Thursday, August 9th: Tiffany’s Bookshelf

Tuesday, August 14th: BookNAround

Thursday, August 16th: The Book Garden

Monday, August 20th: Wordsmithonia

Wednesday, August 22nd: Miss Remmers’ Review

Thursday, August 23rd: Book Dilettante

Thursday, August 23rd: A Musing Reviews

Monday, August 27th: 4 The Love of Animals

Tuesday, August 28th: Champion of My Heart

Thursday, August 30th: Something Wagging This Way Comes

Thursday, August 30th: StephTheBookworm

Monday, September 3rd: No Dog About It

Tuesday, September 4th: Book Club Classics

Monday, September 10th: Crazy For Books

TBD: My Tail Hurts From Wagging So Much

TBD: My Bookshelf

*****

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Book Review: Bridge of Scarlet Leaves by Kristina McMorris

Posted on April 2, 2012 · 4 Comments


Bridge of Scarlet Leaves
by Kristina McMorris
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Kensington

Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern’s life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother’s best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.

When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.

Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss–an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit.

My Thoughts:

Maddie Kern is a budding violinist with dreams of attending Julliard. Her brother, TJ, has his own dreams of playing baseball. At the opening of the novel, they are both still reeling from the loss of their mother in a car accident and the subsequent catatonic state of their father. TJ is very angry at his father as he feels he is to blame for the accident; however, Maddie continues to visit her dad in the nursing home, playing the violin for him with little to no reaction.

When she secretly marries her brother’s best friend, Lane, the son of Japanese immigrants, life is changed forever. The morning after their wedding ceremony, Maddie and Lane wake to the news that Pearl Harbor has been bombed – and everyone of Japanese descent, including Lane and his family are now suspect. Forced to move into an internment camp, Lane, his mother, and his sister leave the American life they have grown accustomed to and begin a new life full of suspicion, fear, anger, and hate directed at them.

Maddie chooses to follow her husband, joining him and his family inside the camp. Maddie struggles to connect with her mother-in-law as Lane tries to cope with being ostracized from the country he was born into. He ends up joining the Army on the American side, willing to do anything to prove his allegiance to his country. TJ also steps up and joins the military, willing to risk his own life to serve and protect his country.

No words I can write could do adequate justice to the work of literary gold within the pages of Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. This book captivated me from page one and did not let go until the final word, some 400 pages later. McMorris exquisitely captures the raw emotions – the angst, the pain, and the love – of each character in such a way that truly mesmerized me. The story is told from multiple viewpoints (Maddie, TJ, Lane), but the story never gets confusing or jumbled. The reader can feel each of the emotions that the characters are feeling, the sorrow and the joy, during their journeys. I was transported into another time and place and became so immersed with these characters that I did not want to leave them! I recommend this book without any reservation. McMorris is phenomenal – don’t miss her first book, Letters from Home!

 

***

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Review: 7 by Jen Hatmaker

Posted on January 14, 2012 · Leave a Comment

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess
by Jen Hatmaker
B&H Publishing Group
Publication Date: January 2012
Genre: Christian Living

My Thoughts:

Let me preface this review by admitting my bias.

I am a huge fan of Jen Hatmaker. I devoured her book Modern Girl’s Guide to Bible Study in my very first small group about a year and a half ago, I stalk follow her on Facebook and Twitter, and genuinely enjoy her writing and humor even though I do not know her in real life.

So, when I saw her latest offering, 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess on Netgalley, I squealed like a little girl and immediately requested it from B&H Publishing Group.

“7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.” (Amazon.com)

This description may invoke various responses in you – and I’d like to suggest that it should.  This book is the story of the Hatmaker family – Jen, her husband, Brandon, and their three children to various degrees, going on a 7 month long fast in 7 different areas of their life - Food, Clothes, Spending, Media, Possessions, Waste, and Stress.  A book that may initially seem very preachy and over-the-top ended up being nothing of the sort. Jen is honest and hysterically funny in telling of her family’s struggles with each month’s fast from each identified area. When they make a mistake, she admits it. They are human just like the rest of us. This book isn’t about looking down on the rest of us and telling us what we all should be doing. It’s about taking a hard look at our lives and asking ourselves the important questions – are we actually living the Christian lives that we claim to be living?

In each chapter, Jen offers statistics and facts about the area her family is working on (i.e. food, consumerism). I found some of these passages to be a bit tedious and slowed down my reading of the book.  It could just be that I’m not that into statistics.  But they did make me think, which was probably the point (um..yeah!). Overall, there was much, much more good stuff in this book than not and I found myself saying “Yes! Yes!” and making notes in my e-reader often. Jen will make you think. And rethink. And want to begin making immediate changes in your own life and community.

If any book can do that, it’s a worthwhile read. I’d even suggest, it’s a must read.

***

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Review: The Reluctant Prophet by Nancy Rue

Posted on December 16, 2011 · 4 Comments


The Reluctant Prophet
by Nancy Rue
Genre: Christian Fiction
Publication Date: October 2010
Publisher: David C. Cook
ISBN: 978-1434764966
496 pages
Source:  I got this book from paperbackswap.com because it sounded like a really awesome story.

Allison Chamberlain is a 42-year-old Christian woman who is wondering what more there is to this life with Jesus.  Since becoming a Christian seven years prior, she hasn’t known what to do with it and has relentlessly asked God, “Now what?”  During a church service, she hears a distinct voice.  It says:

Go out and buy a Harley.

I don’t know about you, but if I heard a voice in my head telling me to go buy a Harley, I would probably think the same things Allison thought; that it was her imagination, or that it was acid reflux.  Allison doesn’t ride motorcycles (she doesn’t even know how) and has absolutely zero desire to do so.  She is a tour guide in the scenic town of St. Augustine, Florida, driving a horse-driven carriage and showing tourists all the sites.

But, the message will not go away.

So, Allison obeys that voice and buys the Harley.  This 500 page book outlines what God does through her when she takes that step of faith.  But it isn’t only about that one step.  Allison continues to rely on God every step of her journey, seeking His wisdom and guidance, even when things don’t turn out anything like she thought they would.

You see… Once Allison buys that Harley, she is led to rescue drug-addicted prostitutes in a bad section of St. Augustine.  Despite her church’s misgivings and her church friends who turn their backs on her, Allison continues doing what God has called her to do.  Even when things become unbelievably hard.  Allison faithfully follows what God has laid before her.

This is what Christian Fiction should be about.  Life is messy and hard.  People have gone through unimaginable things, but everyone should know that they are loved by the One who created them in the first place.  It doesn’t matter who they are, where they are, or what they’ve done.  We ALL are loved by our God.  I applaud Nancy Rue for tacking such a tough subject in the Christian Fiction market.

This book tells us what can happen when ONE PERSON follows God’s instructions.  When ONE PERSON obeyed God, bought a Harley and God took her on the ride of her life.  We should all aspire to be like Allison.  The world would be a much better place.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.  It will change you.

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Review: The Midwife’s Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Posted on September 30, 2011 · 9 Comments

Title: The Midwife’s Confession
Author:  Diane Chamberlain
Genre:  Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date:  April 26, 2011
Publisher:  Mira

Dear Anna,

What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I’m so sorry. . .

The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle’s suicide.  Everything they knew about Noelle-her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family-described a woman who embraced life.

Yet there was so much they didn’t know.

With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle’s friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives–and the life of a desperate stranger–with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

Mini-Review:

Tara, Emerson, and Noelle have been friends since their college days at UNC.  Now adults, Tara and Emerson are the mothers of teenage girls and Noelle is a well-respected midwife.  When Noelle unexpectedly commits suicide, Tara and Emerson are left picking up the pieces and wondering. . . why?  Did they truly ever know their best friend?

So begins a journey of discovery; of long-revealed secrets finally coming to light; and of painful revelations about a friend both women felt they knew so well.  Told in alternating viewpoints between the three women and shifting from past to present, Chamberlain expertly tells a dynamic and fully developed story with so many twists and turns, you won’t know what to expect at the turn of another page!

I cannot express to you how much I loved this book.  The characters are phenomenally written, the plot is so well-developed and intricately woven together that you will not be able to piece it all together until the final pages are revealed.  I have only read two other books by Diane Chamberlain, but she has put herself in my list of top five authors.  In fact, I gave this book to my mom and she couldn’t stop talking about it!  If you haven’t read anything by this author before, read this book.  You will not be disappointed.  I recommend this book without reservation and give it my highest rating!

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