March 2007

Thinking Spring Thoughts

Here at FaithfulReader.com, we are eager for spring to arrive. The weather here has been all over the place, and I don’t know about you, but I am ready for winter to be over.  Friday we had a "wintry mix" that wreaked havoc on most plans. Hard to believe that just a few nights before that I had dinner with a friend and we contemplated eating outdoors! I am hoping the calendar matches the weather on Wednesday.

With the Lenten season in mind we bring you our 2007 roundup of Easter titles. They are full of inspiring devotionals, enlightening historical perspectives, thrilling and thought-provoking fiction and nonfiction, and even heartwarming tales and hymns for younger readers. With these titles, we invite you to explore the origins of your convictions, evaluate your current relationships with both God and those around you, and lay the groundwork for a hopeful future in faith.

We also have two wonderful interviews --- with Mark Andrew Olsen, author of THE WATCHERS, and Thelma Wells, author of GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET. Both authors explore themes of racial and gender struggle in their works, and in their respective interviews they open up about their writing process, reveal what inspires them and hint at what is to come.

In the mood for a movie this weekend? The Ultimate Gift is the newest release from FoxFaith, and it’s a charming, soulful and compelling tale of a very different kind of inheritance. Based on the book by Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift is appropriate for, and will enchant, film-goers of (almost) any age.

Along with our regular Christian Fiction, Christian Living and Marriage and Family Life reviews, we are spotlighting OASIS by Eva Marie Everson, HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: The Secret of More by Mark Buchanan, and THE BISHOP OF RWANDA: Finding Forgiveness Amid a Pile of Bones by John Rucyahana with James Riordan. And if you’re in a Christian book group, be sure to check out our discussion questions for SUNCATCHERS by Jamie Langston Turner.

Wishing you a happy and healthy March. Enjoy your Easter celebrations and the chance it offers you to embrace your loved ones and reconnect with your faith. And if in your corner of the world this strange and erratic winter has you feeling low, take heart --- spring is just around the corner.

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])
 

FaithfulReader.com's Easter Roundup

Easter, the most significant period of the liturgical year, represents a time of rebirth and redemption for the Christian faith. We at FaithfulReader.com have compiled a list of books perfect for the Lenten and Easter seasons, full of inspiring devotionals, enlightening historical perspectives, thrilling and thought-provoking fiction and nonfiction, and even heartwarming tales and hymns for younger readers. With these titles, we invite you to explore the origins of your convictions, evaluate your current relationships with both God and those around you, and lay the groundwork for a hopeful future in faith.

Click here to read our roundup of Easter titles.

Author Talk: Mark Andrew Olsen, Author of THE WATCHERS

Novelist and screenwriter Mark Andrew Olsen is the author of THE ASSIGNMENT (a Christy Award finalist) and has co-written RESCUED with John Bevere, and both HADASSAH and THE HADASSAH COVENANT with Tommy Tenney. In this interview, Olsen talks about why he chose to set his latest novel, THE WATCHERS, in Nigeria; further explains "spiritual genealogy," one of the concepts explored in the book; and shares a few thoughts on what readers can look forward to in future works.

-Click here to read more about THE WATCHERS.
-Click here to read an excerpt from THE WATCHERS.
-Click here to read Mark Andrew Olsen's bio.

Click here to read an interview with Mark Andrew Olsen and more about THE WATCHERS.

Author Talk: Thelma Wells, Author of GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET

International speaker, professor and writer Thelma Wells is the author of GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET, a collection of life lessons about hope and faith based on her own personal experiences as a Christ follower. In this interview, Wells describes some of the fears and hardships she has endured in her life and details how she was able to overcome them through her spirituality. She also shares her thoughts on the power of music and offers suggestions on how to pray from the heart, as well as build and strengthen one's relationship with God.

Click here to read an interview with Thelma Wells and more about GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH ME YET.

Now in Stores: OASIS by Eva Marie Everson

It’s so easy to let the busyness of life distract you from taking good care of yourself. Your body and your soul need daily care. OASIS helps you restore order, beauty, and vitality with fresh ideas that regenerate and replenish your outward appearance as well as your inner being. It goes beyond beauty tips to help you nourish your spirit. God designed you to be beautiful, and OASIS will help you understand and enhance that God-given beauty --- inside and out.

-Click here to read an excerpt from OASIS.

Now in Stores: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT by Mark Buchanan

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: The Secret of More by Mark Buchanan (Christian Living)
Diane Ackerman once wrote that for too many people, "Life is something that happens to them while they wait for death." In HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, Mark Buchanan explores seven ancient virtues that are found in the writings of the apostle Peter. In doing so, he invites us to pay attention to our lives. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

Now in Stores: THE BISHOP OF RWANDA by John Rucyahana

THE BISHOP OF RWANDA: Finding Forgiveness Amid a Pile of Bones by John Rucyahana with James Riordan (Memoir)
In 1994, as his country descended into the madness of genocide, Anglican Bishop John Rucyahana underwent the mind-numbing pain of having members of his church and family butchered. John, who refused to become a part of the systemic hatred, founded an orphanage and school for children orphaned in the genocide. His remarkable story is one that demands to be told. Reviewed by Marcia Ford.

Books into Movies: The Ultimate Gift

The Ultimate Gift
Cast: Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, Bill Cobbs, Mircea Monroe
Director: Michael O. Sajbel
Distributor: FoxFaith
Release Date: March 9th
MPAA Rating: PG
Based on: THE ULTIMATE GIFT by Jim Stovall

When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with 12 tasks --- or "gifts" --- designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.

New Guide for Christian Book Groups

The following new guide for Christian Book Groups is now available on FaithfulReader.com:

SUNCATCHERS by Jamie Langston Turner
People have always fascinated sociologist Perry Warren, yet his most personal relationship--that with his wife and young son--is in shambles. Will his son be raised fatherless just as he was? Hoping distance will offer answers, Perry embraces a writing project in the town of Derby, South Carolina, and there discovers a wealth of research--and a reason to hope--in the strangers next door. His neighbor, Eldeen Rafferty, seems completely unfettered by the sorrows she has known. Perry is baffled by her unending joy, and her boundless gratitude, and wonders what she might offer a life haunted by troubles...a life he is at a loss to repair. Suncatchers presents a promise of hope and healing for three broken lives.

Faithful Fiction Reviews

THE SPIRIT OF SWEETGRASS by Nicole Seitz (Fiction)
In her engaging debut novel, Nicole Seitz introduces readers to the rich and diverse world of South Carolina's Lowcountry Gullah culture --- and to a 78-year-old sweetgrass basket weaver --- interspersing themes of faith, forgiveness and the importance of family throughout. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

NO LEGAL GROUNDS by James Scott Bell (Legal Thriller)
Successful attorney Sam Trask is stunned when a voice from the past threatens to use secrets from Sam's youth to destroy him. The law offers Sam no protection, leaving him one way to save his family and the heart of his life and faith: take the law into his own hands. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

MISS INVISIBLE by Laura Jensen Walker (Fiction)
Freddie Heinz is a single, 29-year-old plus-size wedding cake baker/decorator who feels invisible most of the time due to her weight and her still-single status. Fans of Jennifer Weiner's novels will enjoy this tale about a woman who longs for love and acceptance. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

PRINTS CHARMING by Rebeca Seitz (Fiction)
If you're a Christian fiction fan who has enjoyed The Yada Yada Prayer Group series, novels about women and crafts, or chick-lit, then Rebeca Seitz's debut work of fiction is for you. Numerous Christian novels have developed plot narratives around quilting, but this may be the first to use scrapbooking as its motif. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

Christian Living Reviews

LAUGHING IN THE DARK: A Comedian's Journey through Depression by Chonda Pierce (Memoir)
What happens when you're supposed to be funny and you're suffering from deep depression? It was no joke for comedian Chonda Pierce, who in this heartfelt memoir tells of her 18-month journey through depression and offers hope to fellow sufferers. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN: A True Story of Death & Life by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey (Memoir)
With more than 34 printings and a million copies sold, 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN follows the unforgettable story of Don Piper, whose car was crushed by a semi-truck on the way home from a conference. When the medical personnel examined his body, they pronounced him dead, but an hour and a half later he was discovered to be very much alive. What happened in between? Reviewed by Margaret Oines.

LIVING THE SABBATH: Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and Delight
Norman Wirzba (Christian Living)
Sabbath is one day a week when we should rest from our otherwise busy lives, right? In LIVING THE SABBATH, Norman Wirzba leads us to a much more holistic and rewarding understanding of Sabbath-keeping. He shows how Sabbath is ultimately about delight in the goodness that God has made --- in everything we do, every day of the week. Reviewed by Evelyn Bence.

AMAZING GRACE: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery by Eric Metaxas (Biography)
AMAZING GRACE tells the story of the remarkable life of the British abolitionist William Wilberforce. This accessible biography chronicles his extraordinary role as a human rights activist, cultural reformer and member of Parliament. Reviewed by Cindy Crosby.

CROSS PURPOSES: Discovering the Great Love of God for You by D. James Kennedy, Ph.D. & Jerry Newcombe (Christian Living)
Written by bestselling author and speaker Dr. D. James Kennedy, with co-author Jerry Newcombe, CROSS PURPOSES serves up daily meditation on the passion of Christ and the relevant, life-giving implications Jesus's death on the cross holds for modern-day believers. Reviewed by Michele Howe.

MAY I WALK YOU HOME? Sharing Christ's Love with the Dying by Melody Rossi (Christian Living)
Melody Rossi saw God work in the hearts of three close family members who died within 28 months of each other. When she had nearly given up hope that they might believe, she was amazed to find their hearts softened to the gospel message. This practical book lovingly prepares believers to talk to family and friends about Jesus. Reviewed by Marcia Ford.

Marriage and Family Life Review

THE MAN YOU ALWAYS WANTED IS THE ONE YOU ALREADY HAVE by Paula Friedrichsen (Love & Marriage)
Paula Friedrichsen's honesty about how her own marriage survived an inappropriate extramarital relationship that she had sets the stage for a no-holds-barred, honest and candid look at a common struggle for many Christian wives today. Reviewed by Maggie Harding.

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