A Walk Through the Dark by Eva Piper

A Walk Through the Dark by Eva Piper is an account of the author’s experience of being a caretaker for her husband after he had an accident, and was dead for a short time before being brought back to life.

Book Description

“One day Eva Piper was an elementary school teacher, the mother of three, the beloved wife of a strong, protective husband.

 The next day she stood at the bedside of a broken man who could do nothing but moan in agony and turn his head away from her.

 Later she would learn that he had died and actually experienced heaven before being prayed back to life—a true miracle. Don Piper’s testimony, told in the New York Times bestseller 90 Minutes in Heaven, would one day bring hope to thousands. But all that was in the future. Despite family and friends who kept vigil with her, Eva Piper found herself essentially alone. Walking in the dark. And she had always hated the dark.

 Though it parallels that of her husband, Eva Piper’s account is quite different from his. It takes readers not to heavenly places but through a very earthly maze of hospital corridors, insurance forms, tiring commutes from home to workplace and hospital, and lonely hours of waiting and worrying. This is the story of a woman learning, step by darkened step, to go places she never thought she could go and growing into a person she never thought she could be. Packed with hard-earned wisdom about what it means to be a caregiver, to open yourself to the care of others, and to rest in God’s provision, this book provides a dependable source of light to help you walk through the dark.” – A Walk Through the Dark

My Thoughts

A Walk Through the Dark is a detailed account about the author’s experience with her husband’s accident and (short) death. It details her life going through the experience and being a caretaker, but also how with the help of others, she got through this very difficult time in her life.

The author writes factually, and to the point. There isn’t as much emotion and expression as I thought there would have been for someone who went through such an experience. You can tell that this co-author (Cecil Murphey) had an influence over the book, and it isn’t really a good thing. I didn’t feel like it flowed very well and somewhere in the editing, the passion of the story was lost.

I thought that this book would have covered more about the author’s husband’s journey to heaven. He subtitle does say “How my husband’s 90 minutes in heaven deepended my faith for a lifetime.” However, not much is covered at all about this, maybe two pages, and it is detailed very plainly. I guess the story is more about the author’s personal journey through being a caretaker, but it was still a little bit misleading based on the subtitle.

Overall, this is an okay book. If you or someone you know is a caregiver, they may enjoy this book. However, someone going through a similar experience, probably wouldn’t have the time to read it.

* Thank you to the publisher of A Walk Through the Dark, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this book for review as part of their Book Sneeze program. All opinions expressed are my own.

Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal

Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal is the book to kick your motivation into gear to start that business you have always dreamed of. If you don’t know what you could do, this book can help focus your interests into something you could possibly turn into a business, if you are inspired enough to do so.

Book Description

“Have you ever wondered if it's possible to make a career out of something you love? Or how to march through life with a purpose and get the most out of every second? Miki Agrawal, entrepreneur, angel investor, and cool-sh*t-doer, has figured it out. Here Miki shares her own adventures in entrepreneurship and life, from learning to step out of her comfort zone in a foreign country to achieving her dream of playing soccer for the New York Magic to partnering with Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com to launch her dream business.

In Do Cool Sh*t, Miki shows you how to start your own business, fund it on a shoestring budget, convene the perfect group to brainstorm your business plan, test your product, get great (free) press coverage, and more—all while living a life you're proud of.

Miki pulls back the curtain to reveal how you can live out loud, honor your hunches, and leave nothing on the table. She reminds you that it's cool to care and be excited about ideas and to be proactive; it's cool to mess up; it's cool to work your ass off on something that is meaningful to you; and it's cool to keep trying when the odds are stacked against you. Whether you're about to graduate from college and are wondering what the heck you want to do with your life, or you are in a dead-end job, dreaming about starting your own business, Do Cool Sh*t will make you open your eyes, laugh out loud, and shout, "I can do that!"” – Do Cool Sh*t

My Thoughts

Do Cool Sh*t is a very good motivational tool for people who want to start a business of any type. Although the author’s experiences are detailed often throughout the book, she also does an excellent job of giving advice, tips, and more to help the readers learn how to do it for themselves too.

Miki Agrawal’s experience in the business world can teach us beginners a lot about it – without having to make the mistakes some people do. Learn how to talk to new people, and make real connections with people besides blindly networking with professionals. Find out how you can start your business on a small budget, and then expand it with investors who have a real interest in seeing you and your company succeed.

Consider this book your personal invitation to start the career you’ve always wanted. I highly recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Do Cool Sh*t, Harper, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Shoot the Dog by Brad Smith

Shoot the Dog by Brad Smith is a novel about the film industry, the people who work in it, and the people who accidentally become involved in it. This is more of a satirical novel than a mystery, but could definitely be enjoyed by people who like both styles of writing.

Book Description

“In upstate New York, Virgil Cain is drawing hay behind his team of massive Percherons when two movie scouts show up and offer $500 a day to use the horses in a film to be shot in the area. Virgil, in need of cash, reluctantly pockets the money, but he soon finds the chaotic set of Frontier Woman to be more trouble than it’s worth. Savvy producer Sam Sawchuk is in over her head; when she’s not propping up her talent-challenged husband-cum-director, she’s trying to keep tabs on a new inves­tor, the Native American casino owner Ronnie Red Hawk, a rambling egomaniac with designs on an infamous starlet. When the film’s leading lady turns up dead, Virgil discovers that more is at stake than the carnal interests of a casino magnate and the production of a major motion picture. And although he’d rather leave the whole bunch to stew in their own juices, he realizes he needs to step in before a charming ten-year-old actress named Georgia becomes the next victim.” – Shoot the Dog

My Thoughts

Shoot the Dog is the type of novel that is more character driven and satirical than most books I read. However, I did enjoy reading this one. It is smartly written and above all else, entertaining.

The characters are developed very well. I especially enjoyed reading about the horse Bob, who wasn’t camera shy at all. I would have loved to have seen more of this in the book. I also really liked the ten year old actress, Georgia who reminded me of Dakota Fanning at that age. There are other sleazy movie producer types in there, but I don’t really want to waste this review on them because I didn’t personally like any of them.

The movie being filmed in the book is a period piece set in the 1840s. It is very stereotypical and the actual experience of it all seemed a bit draining. It definitely wasn’t the highlight of the book for me like it should have been. I mean, I like movies, and I like books, so it should have been a sure thing. Somehow it just didn’t quite click like it could have for me. Although I did like the story, it could have been better.

Overall, this is a good novel. It is a nice slow read that really delves into the characters. It could have been more action packed and more to the point, but it is still worth reading.

* Thank you to the publisher of Shoot the Dog, Scribner, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Age of Ice by J.M. Sidorova

The Age of Ice by J.M. Sidorova is a novel that weaves in science, supernatural, history, and fantasy together brilliantly. It spans a long period of time, and includes memorable characters that could perhaps chill you to the core. If you are looking for a good novel to read by a debut author, be sure to read this book!

Book Description

“The Empress Anna Ioannovna has issued her latest eccentric order: construct a palace out of ice blocks. Inside its walls her slaves build a wedding chamber, a canopy bed on a dais, heavy drapes cascading to the floor—all made of ice. Sealed inside are a disgraced nobleman and a deformed female jester. On the empress’s command—for her entertainment—these two are to be married, the relationship consummated inside this frozen prison. In the morning, guards enter to find them half-dead. Nine months later, two boys are born.

Surrounded by servants and animals, Prince Alexander Velitzyn and his twin brother, Andrei, have an idyllic childhood on the family’s large country estate. But as they approach manhood, stark differences coalesce. Andrei is daring and ambitious; Alexander is tentative and adrift. One frigid winter night on the road between St. Petersburg and Moscow, as he flees his army post, Alexander comes to a horrifying revelation: his body is immune to cold.” – The Age of Ice

My Thoughts

The Age of Ice is a hauntingly beautiful novel. I am very surprised that such a good book is the debut novel by the author. I honestly cannot wait to read more from this author in the years to come. This is definitely one author to watch.

The main character, Alexander, has a condition with cold which makes him a very unique character to read about. His personality is icy, but so is he, literally. When his emotions are too much (for the good or bad), his body temperature drops so low that he won’t even melt snow. His relationships suffer from this, and his character’s journey is a long and icy one.

I really enjoyed how Sidorova was able to weave into this novel historical fact while still keeping the supernatural element very much alive throughout the story. This novel will consume you like a blizzard, so be prepared to have some time off when reading this novel. I definitely recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Age of Ice, Scribner, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Once Crowded Sky by Tom King

A Once Crowded Sky by Tom King is a novel about superheroes, very much like a comic book, but in novel form. This uniquely blended novel also features beautiful illustrations of the story throughout the book.

Book Description

“A tour de force debut novel from a former CIA counterterrorism officer, A Once Crowded Sky fuses bombastic, comic-book-style storytelling with modern literary fiction. Supermen stripped of their powers must wrestle danger in a world without heroes.” – A Once Crowded Sky

My Thoughts

A Once Crowded Sky is a novel mixed with the soul of a comic book. King has weaved the two together in a very unique way. He is able to capture the story as a novel, and also add in beautiful illustrations for the characters in the story. I would have liked more of the illustrations (and in color), but I’ll take what I can get.

This is an exciting superhero comic book style story. It features characters that are well formed, and a very readable storyline about humanity that fans of this genre will appreciate. Superheroes that gave up their powers for the good of humanity is the main reason that they made the sacrifice, but you’ll learn about them in inspiring and detailed ways throughout the novel.

I enjoyed reading this book, and imagine that it could be turned into a brilliant movie. If you are a fan of comic books or movies based off those stories, I think that you would enjoy this novel. I definitely recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of A Once Crowded Sky, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Revolution Was Televised by Alan Sepinwall

The Revolution Was Televised by Alan Sepinwall is a look at twelve of television dramas that changed the way we view TV and society as a whole. This is a great book for fans of these series, and a good guide for good TV series to catch up on.

Book Description

“In The Revolution Was Televised, celebrated TV critic Alan Sepinwall chronicles the remarkable transformation of the small screen over the past fifteen years. Focusing on twelve innovative television dramas that changed the medium and the culture at large forever, including The Sopranos, Oz, The Wire, Deadwood, The Shield, Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 24, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad, Sepinwall weaves his trademark incisive criticism with highly entertaining reporting about the real-life characters and conflicts behind the scenes. 

Drawing on interviews with writers David Chase, David Simon, David Milch, Joel Surnow and Howard Gordon, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, and Vince Gilligan, among others, along with the network executives responsible for green-lighting these groundbreaking shows, The Revolution Was Televised is the story of a new golden age in TV, one that’s as rich with drama and thrills as the very shows themselves.” – The Revolution Was Televised

My Thoughts

The Revolution Was Televised is a book about the important television shows that changed our culture. The author has the dream job for fans of TV – he gets to watch it and write about it for a living! I’m not gonna lie, I am jealous. I can only dream of having such an awesome job that would actually pay for everything I need.

The TV critic focuses down on his top picks of shows that changed TV and our culture forever. The top twelve include:  and Breaking Bad.

I am a big fan of quite a few listed, namely The Sopranos, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Lost. I even have those as a complete collection on DVD. As I said, I am a big fan of great television. I have seen the others, at least an episode here and there, and I had of course heard of them. You would have to be living under a rock to not have heard of at least one of these shows.

The sections on the shows capture the history of them, the people involved that made it so amazing, and why it meant so much for our culture. These shows really did change how we view TV and revolutionized what was accepted in our society as a whole.

There are many interesting facts and behind the scenes information that fans of these TV series will enjoy reading. If you haven’t seen the series that you are reading about, it may make you want to go watch it, too. For me though, it made me want to pull out my DVDs of my favorite shows and watch them all over again.

Fans of TV will definitely appreciate this book. I highly recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Revolution Was Televised, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Death By Living by N.D. Wilson

Death By Living by N.D. Wilson is a beautifully written book about life, death, and what is in-between. This is the type of book that gets us to look at our life right now and start cherishing the moments we are having right now.

Book Description

“A poetic portrait of faith, futility, and the joy of this mortal life.

In this astoundingly unique book, best-selling author N.D. Wilson reminds each of us that to truly live we must recognize that we are dying. Every second we create more of our past—more decisions, more breathing, more love, and more loathing. All of it slides by into the gone as we race to grab at more moments, at more memories made and already fading.

 We are all authors, creators of our own pasts, of the books that will be our lives. We stare at the future or obsess about the present, but only the past has been set in stone, and we are the ones setting it. When we race across the wet concrete of time without purpose, without goals, without laughter and love and sacrifice, then we fail in our mortal moment. We race toward our inevitable ends without artistry and without beauty.

 All of us must pause and breathe. See the past, see your life as the fruit of providence and thousands of personal narratives. What led to you? You did not choose where to set your feet in time. You choose where to set them next.

 Then we must see the future, not just to stare into the fog of distant years but to see the crystal choices as they race toward us in this sharp foreground we call the present. We stand in the now. God says create. Live. Choose. Shape the past. Etch your life in stone, and what you make will be forever.” – Death By Living

My Thoughts

Death By Living is a book with a deep vision that shows us that we are living and dying all at the same time. It is the one place we will all end up in the end, and something we cannot escape. What we do right now is what sets the pace for our life’s journey, and what happens in the future depends on right now.

The author excellently captures the past, present, and future in everyday situations and objects. He brings in humor to the book in unexpected ways that you will want to read out loud to others to share. It is an brilliant use of prose that is meant to be shared with others.

This book does reference the gospel, but not in the preachy annoying way that some books do. This one is able to be truly enjoyed, and I definitely recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Death By Living, Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this book for review as part of their Booksneeze program. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan

The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan is the real historical account of the women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee during World War II. It was a home to 75,000 people who worked secretly on the project, not even knowing what they were working on for the government. Read about this important and sadly forgotten part of American history in this book.

Book Description

“At the height of World War II, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was home to 75,000 residents, consuming more electricity than New York City. But to most of the world, the town did not exist. Thousands of civilians—many of them young women from small towns across the South—were recruited to this secret city, enticed by solid wages and the promise of war-ending work. Kept very much in the dark, few would ever guess the true nature of the tasks they performed each day in the hulking factories in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains. That is, until the end of the war—when Oak Ridge’s secret was revealed.

Drawing on the voices of the women who lived it—women who are now in their eighties and nineties—The Girls of Atomic City rescues a remarkable, forgotten chapter of American history from obscurity. Denise Kiernan captures the spirit of the times through these women: their pluck, their desire to contribute, and their enduring courage.” – The Girls of Atomic City

My Thoughts

The Girls of Atomic City is a history lesson that is interesting, memorable, and shows a part of America’s past that I never knew happened until I read this book. It is extremely well researched and executed to make this a fascinating book that I couldn’t put down.

I really enjoyed how this story was told through the memories of the women who worked in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during the time it was in use during World War II. This made it more readable and personal. The nine women featured in the book represent the thousands that worked there, but their stories are the ones heard, and helped to bring this part of history back to life.

This is a book that all women should read. It represents what some women were doing during World War II, but shows how women were strong leaders and helped to fight the war, too. I enjoyed reading this very much, and will probably read it again in the future. I highly recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Girls of Atomic City, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble

Stargazey Point by Shelley Noble is a good beach read perfect to read this summer. This novel is perfect for fans of Southern style chic-lit and those who enjoy a good romance.

Book Description

“Devastated by tragedy during her last project, documentarian Abbie Sinclair seeks refuge with three octogenarian siblings, who live in a looming plantation house at the edge of the world.

South Carolina’s Stargazey Point used to be a popular family beach resort, but the beaches have eroded, most of the businesses have closed, and the crowds have gone. It's the perfect place to hide from the rest of world.

But hiding is harder than she thought it would be. There's a wise Gullah woman who seems to see into Abbie's soul, and an intriguing man on a quest to bring Stargazey Point back to life.” – Stargazey Point

My Thoughts

Stargazey Point is a feel good summer read about a woman who rediscovers friendship, love, and herself. Abbie’s journey from tragedy to a sleepy seaside town is not that original. However, the story is written very well and of course, unique to the characters that live in it.

The characters were all well written and interesting pieces of the novel. However, they were a bit predictable. I did appreciate Abbie’s character starting over and gaining a new perspective in life to get it right this time. Although it wasn’t anything too dramatic or unexpected, I liked it.  

The setting is also a beautiful backdrop to the story, which is detailed beautifully and should not be overlooked. The author does a very good job at making you feel like you are there watching everything unfold in the story.

This is a great beach read that can easily be enjoyed in a weekend. If you enjoy good Southern chic-lit, this would be a great book for you to read. I recommend it.

* Thank you to the publisher of Stargazey Point, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan

The Curiosity by Stephen P. Kiernan is a thought provoking novel about a man frozen in ice that wakes up a century later. The world has completely changed, but many things have still remained the same. Can society accept him as he is, or just treat him like a science experiment?

Book Description

“Dr. Kate Philo and her scientific exploration team make a breathtaking discovery in the Arctic: the body of a man buried deep in the ice. Remarkably, the frozen man is brought back to the lab and successfully reanimated. As the man begins to regain his memories, the team learns that he was—is—a judge, Jeremiah Rice, and the last thing he remembers is falling overboard into the Arctic Ocean in 1906.
 
Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, Kate and Jeremiah grow closer. But the clock is ticking and Jeremiah’s new life is slipping away...and all too soon, Kate must decide how far she is willing to go to protect the man she has come to love.” – The Curiosity

My Thoughts

Although there is a love story in this novel, it is also a very satirical look at our times. I really enjoyed reading this story because it is so unique, and incredibly well written. The characters, plot, and overall story is excellent.

This novel is told from the perspective of many different characters. While that does a good job of getting to know the story from different points of view, it didn’t help me to really connect with the characters as much as I would have liked. Sometimes the multiple point of views works, and sometimes it falls flat. This novel’s use of it fell somewhere in the middle for me.

I liked the mesh of real science and science fiction in the novel in regards to the reanimation plot. It makes for a good story, and something similar could very well happen for real in the future. The author’s use of religious protests against it, is also a very real concern with the science behind it as well.

This is a book that I definitely recommend. It is a good read for fans of science fiction, love stories, and anyone who likes to push the boundaries a little bit.

* Thank you to the publisher of The Curiosity, William Morrow, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.