Sunday, January 13, 2013

Made Me Enjoy LOTR All The More


Lion Publishing PlcNov 7, 2012 - 240 pages
Millions have read and watched the story of Middle Earth unfold and become one of the greatest epic adventures ever to be told, but how many know the story behind who wrote it? In J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making Of A Legend, Colin Duriez does a first class job of introducing and detailing the life of Tolkien.

As soon as I began reading I felt that Colin Duriez knew the life Tolkien better then anyone I’ve heard from before. Colin Duriez, in this book, not only knows the life of Tolkien very well but he also tells it as a skilled storyteller. I love the story of Lord of the Rings, I’ve watched the movies and read the books but I hardly knew much about Tolkien and now I see so much more the motivation behind Middle Earth and the characters within it. I was fascinated to read how some events from Tolkien’s life became events in the book.

Most lovers of LOTR know little of Tolkien’s life and hardships, but after reading this biography I now realize that I was missing a vital part of the story having not known of the person who wrote it.

To lovers of LOTR and all other of Tolkien’s works I would highly recommend reading about the this fascinating and incredible man, it will change how you see the story; furthermore I feel like there is no better author to tell you about the making of this legend as Colin Duriez. I loved it, enjoyed it, and recommend it to all LOTR lovers and those on the fence.
This book was provided to me for an honest review.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Awesome Production of an Awesome Story



Les Miserables, Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, a three hour audio drama presented by a Focus on the Family radio theater was truly a five star production. The same day I listened to this complete audio drama (I could not stop after disc 1 or 2, I had to know what happened!) I was curious to see how the movie (currently out in theaters) compared to this production. Put it simply I regret wasting money watching the movie when Focus on the Family radio theater did such an awesome job.

Although I would recommend reading the books first, if you aren't familiar with the story, I do know that most people don’t have the time to read a 1000+ page story so don’t worry the details are filled in and you are never lost within the drama. This audio drama was spectacular to listen to and kept my ears glued till the end. The actors voices were fantastic, the music was beautiful, and hands down I would recommend this audio drama instead of watching the movie.

I had a wonderful time listening to it, and it is something the whole family would enjoy. It’s safe, has a wonderful message, entertaining, and simply it’s a classic story that no matter what age you are or your level of education everyone can enjoy. Thanks to Tyndale for a copy for an honest review of the drama.

Unexpected



Random House Digital, Inc.Sep 15, 2009 - 240 pages

Unlike many of you I’ve never even hear of Bruce Wilkinson before I got this book yet with the title like You Were Born for This I still had some expectations of what this book might be about. Here is what I thought it would be about: a happy message describing how we are all special, made in the image of God to prosper, be blessed, and live a Godly life. Here is the total opposite: it was about how WE can be a blessing to other, how WE can be the miracle that we seek, how we can notice the small miracles all around us and how much of an impact we can have on the world around us. I do not like with how the title was printed on the cover, because the part about miracles is in small letters at the bottom of the page when it should be bolded front and center because this is what the book essentially was about.

The book was inspiring, made me want to do random miracles for others as Bruce describes through his stories. Made me laugh, made me think, most importantly it made a change within me. Wondering if this book is the same old stuff you keep reading about and hearing from Christian authors, speakers, and preachers, it’s not. It challenges the reader quite unlike anywhere or anything I have read before.

You’re wondering about miracles in your life, or how you can experience them? This is the book for you; don’t think you know what this book is about before you read it. The old saying holds true here, don’t judge a book by its cover because within its pages lies a blessing not only for you but for everyone you will come in contact with. Thank you WaterBrook Multnomah for giving me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Packs A Strong Punch In A Daily Devotion



Thomas Nelson IncDec 11, 2012 - 400 pages

Live Second: 365 Ways to Make Jesus First is a daily devotional that is a bit different then your typical devotional book you might be used to, it was very refreshing to read. The introduction basically spells out how exactly to use this devotional, as mentioned it’s not your typical devotional. It’s broken up into 12 sessions dealing with issues we Christians face, from growing to leading, following to committing, this book offers everyday short readings that are deep, inspiring, and even life changing to the reader.

I love that this devotional does not try to replace the bible. There are verses written within it, but it’s not enough to just have 2 or 3 verses on a page it also tells the reader to “Read the whole passage in Isaiah 53:1-12” (as an example). The passage is not written on the page, which I truly enjoy, because it eliminate a really dense and overwhelmingly filled page of the day’s devotional and instead leaves a clear short and to the point devotional on the page, it also makes the reader OPEN their own bible and read. Love it.

This is definitely the most interactive devotional I have ever read. It includes QR codes to watch videos, links, hashtags to share thoughts with other readers on daily devotionals, prayers, and questions for the reader to answer for themselves.

I love this devotional, if you’re strapped for time it will not take up too much of it, and if you have plenty of time you can use this book to its maximum advantage. It’s great for young and old and absolutely wonderfully organized. Thank you Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review of the book.