Leisure and Spirituality

Heintzman, Paul. Leisure and Sprituality: Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Perspectives. (Engaging Culture). Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.

In this well-written book based upon his doctoral dissertation, Paul Heintzman explores the concept of leisure throughout history, particularly as viewed by the Judeo-Christian community. He begins by exploring the views of leisure in today's society. He then takes a look at its history. He then explores what the Bible teaches about the concept of leisure. He then explores the changing concepts of leisure and work and the Biblical view of work. He then takes a look at how Christians have approached leisure. Finally he looks at the importance of leisure in one's spiritual life. Heintzman has done his research, yet his volume remains accessible to both the seminarian and educated laymen in the church who are interested in the subject. The volume is well-documented and well-indexed.This book is likely to be the authoritative work in this field for some time to come. Highly recommended. This review is based on an electronic copy of the book received by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Father's Day & Church Camp

2015 is my first Father's Day without my father alive. As I began to reflect on Father's Days in the past, I realized that church camp played a big role in how these were celebrated.

For many years, our church camp was located about four miles from our home. Even before I was old enough to attend church camp, I was attending the Sunday evening service at the church camp because our church cancelled its evening services so we could attend. Our Wednesday evening services were also often cancelled so we could attend the Galilean service which was an evening chapel service by the lakeside.

When I was old enough to attend, my week of church camp often began on Father's Day. The family would pack me up after morning services and get me to the church camp so I could have a good choice of bunks. Mom and Dad would stay with me until after the evening vesper service and then they would head home.

Later the camp moved to the campus of a Bible college outside of Senatobia, Mississippi. By the time I was 15 and had my drivers license, I began working at the church camp. My official title was "Canteen Manager." I often performed other duties as well. Needless to say, I was still leaving for church camp after church on Father's Day even though senior high week had passed.

When I was in college, I traveled on one of the music teams that went to various church camps. At this point, I wasn't even home for Father's Day. I had to call instead. We usually traveled to camps in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, and Mississippi. We also attended a denominational convention each year wherever it was located.

After my undergraduate college years, I only worked in church camp a couple of times. I went as a counselor/dorm mom and teacher for my church one year, and I was the dean of a camp one year when I worked in children's ministry at a church. (I think that camp probably began on Father's Day too!)

Death in Salem

Kuhns, Eleanor. Death in Salem. New York: Minotaur Books, 2015.

Will Rees is called upon to investigate the stabbing of a Salem shipping magnate named Boothe in this work of historical fiction. Soon other murders follow. Rees follows leads that take him into Salem's tunnels, into the shady part of town called Black Cat, and to other areas. He must also determine if smuggling had a role in the deaths. The novel is a bit conversation-heavy and did not maintain my interest well. Sentences seemed choppy instead of well-constructed, adding to the problems. I suspect that some readers will enjoy this more than I did. Persons who have read the earlier installments in the series might also appreciate it more. The review is based on an advance reader's e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Second Street Station

Levy, Lawrence H. Second Street Station. New York: Crown, 2015.

Mary Handley, an out-of-work sweat shop employee, is hired as the first female detective by the New York Police department when Charles Goodrich is murdered. The plot includes a "who's who" of the 19th century with Thomas Edison, J. P. Morgan, Nikola Tesla, and George Westinghouse being important in the plot. Even the Pembertons of Atlanta Coca-Cola fame make appearances. Despite the implausibility of the plot, it was entertaining, at least after the opening few chapters, and kept me interested in the outcome. Many of the minor characters seemed to be a little more fully developed than the Mary herself was. Historical mystery fans who enjoy real-life characters inserted in the plot will enjoy this one. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

The Cherokee Struggle to Maintain Identity in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Reynolds, William R., Jr. The Cherokee Struggle to Maintain Identity in the 17th and 18th Centuries. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2015.

Author William Reynolds did a masterful job documenting the Cherokee in the 17th and 18th centuries. The book shows the Cherokee's interactions with the white men who came into their region. They lost land to settlers even before removal forced many of them to lands that became Oklahoma. The historical accounts are written from a perspective providing new insights into regional history for most Southeastern States. Readers will recognize names such as John Sevier, Anthony Bledsoe, James Robertson, and Andrew Pickens as they scan the pages. We also gain insight into key Native American leaders such as Piomingo. One minor error was noted in the description of Muscle Shoals' location.  Appendices include a listing without documentation of the author's Cherokee ancestry, biographical sketches, villages, and glimpses into Cherokee life. This book belongs in collections with a focus on the Cherokee or on the Southeastern Region of the United States, but it should be of interest to anyone interested in colonial American history or Native American history. The review is based on a complimentary copy received through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for reviewing purposes.

Biocode

Field, Dawn and Davies, Neil. Biocode: The New Age of Genomics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

As someone who has a very strong interest in genetic genealogy, I wanted to find a readable book that gave me a larger overview of the genomics field. This work by Field and Davies was an excellent, highly accessible book. It offered insights into how the field of genomics is being used in humans, animals, and even the environment. Those of us familiar with genetic genealogy will recognize mentions of the work of 23andMe, National Geographic's Genographic Project, and Family Tree DNA. The book also reports on a few other projects which primarily serve non-English speaking population groups. The authors also ventured into speculation of what may result in the future as a result of genomics research, even venturing to guess that there might be an online dating service based on matching compatible genomes. While the book may use a little more jargon than a person with absolutely no background in genetics might have, it was highly readable for those of us with a "hobbyist knowledge." It is well-researched, citing a number of genetics studies. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

The Invisible History of the Human Race

Kenneally, Christine. The Invisible History of the Human Race: How DNA and History Shape Our Identities and Our Futures. New York: Viking, 2014.

Kenneally, an Australian journalist, has written a good introduction to genetic genealogy.  She presents an overview of what can be learned through the study of DNA for genealogical purposes in an engaging manner. She talks about genealogical research in general as well in the course of her book. She talked to people such as CeCe Moore, Bennett Greenspan, Robert McLaren, David Allen Lambert, Rhonda McClure, Jay Verkler, Blaine Bettinger, and Ugo Perego in the course of her research -- names that those in the genealogical community will recognize. I was surprised that an Australian was familiar with the Melungeon community, and she seemed to have reached out to the leading historians engaged in that field of research as well. I did feel that the book was a little all over the place instead of completely focused on related objectives. I am, however, willing to forgive the author of my lack of understanding of her overall writing objective as it may encourage more persons to have their DNA tested when they see some of the studies that have been done and their results.

My Family Tree and Me

Petricic, Dusan. My Family Tree and Me. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 2015.

This nicely illustrated volume provides good explanations of family relationships, such as aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. in a format that younger children will enjoy. The family depicted is a mutli-ethnic family. It is a book which may create interest in family history. Parents may wish to pre-screen the book for their children if they have objections to some of the more complicated modern-day relationships. This review is based on an advance review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

The World Before Us

Hunter, Aislinn. The World Before Us. New York: Crown Publishing, 2015.

This is a story of 3 time periods. In the present, Jane Standen is an archivist working at a struggling museum. About 20 years previously, a girl in her care became lost in the woods, never to be found. About a hundred years earlier, the same land was home to an asylum where another girl went missing. There is connection between the parts, and I'm certain there are persons who will appreciate this book far more than I did. I found parts of the narrative to read more like non-fiction than the fictional account that they were. It simply did not flow well for the type of book that it was. The other problem with the book is the lack of resolution. It leaves the reader conflicted. There are readers who appreciate books that capture the fact that not everything in life is going to be settled. This is a book for that type of reader. This review is based on an advance review e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

The Cons of Online Genealogy

George, Peggy Sue. The Cons of Online Genealogy. s.l.: s.n., 2015. [Available for Amazon Kindle purchase]

The author who admits she has little personal interest in genealogy is simply disenchanted with a couple of sites which did not meet her expectations. In the case of Ancestry.com, she believes they want to charge her a fee to store her tree, photos, and grandmother's collected data. She completely ignores all the marvelous databases that provide access to records. In the case of WikiTree, she simply misunderstood or did not read the site's terms and conditions. The short rant disguised as a book is full of grammatical, proofreading, and spelling errors. Not recommended.

Romancing Your Better Half

Johnson, Rick. Romancing Your Better Half: Keeping Intimacy Alive in Your Marriage. Grand Rapids: Revell, 2015.

Johnson has written a book to help marriages, particularly newer ones, survive and thrive. When I first began reading the book, I had the impression that the book was pretty negative. Everything seemed to involve things "not to do" rather than focusing on what to do. As I got a few chapters into the book, this began to change. As the book became more optimistic, I began to enjoy it more. Johnson seems to quote heavily from other authors on the topic. I saw similarities to Willard Harley's His Needs, Her Needs and Gary Chapman's The Five Love Languages that I read in a graduate course for a unit on pre-marital counseling. He also quoted Gary Thomas, a well-known Christian marriage author, several times. While I don't think there is a lot of new material here, I do think it is presented in a practical way that many couples may appreciate. There are bullet-pointed tips at the end of each chapter to help couples apply the material in the chapter. There are also some practical lists at the end of the book following the end notes which may be overlooked by many readers who stop when they reach the references. This review is based on an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating

Stanley, Andy. The New Rules for Love, Sex, and Dating. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.

Stanley's work is a good introduction to dating and love for teens and young adults. He addresses these topics that seem to be neglected or perverted by today's culture from a Biblical perspective. The book is designed primarily to accompany a DVD series to which I did not have access. It would probably be very useful in church youth groups or small groups for the youth or young adult singles. While the book could be useful beyond church circles, it will probably not enjoy much popularity beyond them. This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Praying With Paul

Carson, D. A. Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.

D. A. Carson has updated his 1992 work A Call to Spiritual Reformation. He explores Paul's prayers and offers insights for modern readers and how they should be praying. The book should appeal to those in ministry as well as to many laypersons in the church. There are questions at the end of each chapter which lend themselves well to group discussions for small groups. The book is well-indexed. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

The Forgotten Girls

Blaedel, Sara. The Forgotten Girls. New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2015.

An unidentified female body is discovered in a forest in Denmark. There is another crime that appears to be similar. The investigation leads to a connection with a home for the mentally handicapped. most of whom have been abandoned by their families. Louise Rick is the investigator. The girl had been declared dead more than 30 years ago. What was going on there? Where is the girl's twin sister who was also declared dead? Where had the girls been living all these years? Who is responsible for the girl's death? With that dark edge popular in Scandinavian crime novels, this story is certain to please many fans of the genre. The author has created an interesting puzzle with enough questions to keep the reader motivated to continue. The crimes associated with this case just keep mounting. This review is based on an advance reader's copy in e-galley format provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Who's Picking Me Up from the Airport?

Johnson, Cindy. Who's Picking Me Up from the Airport? : And Other Questions Single Girls Ask. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.

Cindy Johnson offers advice for single women in their late twenties and early thirties through a series of letters and commentary based on experiences of her single friends. I suspect that I might have enjoyed the book a bit more if I had been twenty years younger. The title was catchy for me, and I really expected the book to be more of humorous look at singleness. Instead the book was more focused on dating experiences. The format just didn't work well for me, and to be honest, I am probably about twenty years over the anticipated target audience. It probably would work better for those in that generation. This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

A Lifelong Love

Thomas, Gary. A Lifelong Love. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2014.

This book is more or less a book for couples who are already married and having difficulties. There are some questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter. Its tone is quite a bit different--more practical and less philosophical--than his seminal work Sacred Marriage. Persons who are just beginning the marriage journey will be better served by his earlier work. This one is recommended for Christian couples who are unhappy in their marriage as it may assist in resolving some of the issues that are keeping you from love. This review is based on an e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review.

Prepare: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture

Nyquist, J. Paul. Prepare: Living Your Faith in an Increasingly Hostile Culture. Chicago: Moody, 2015.

Nyquist writes about some of the cultural trends that are increasingly hostile toward Christians. He shows how Christians in other parts of the world have been facing persecution for centuries and warns American Christians that we may begin to face this same type of persecution as we stand up for our beliefs. He cites several recent events as evidence of the beginnings of such persecution and believes that it will grow worse. However, he also offers advice to Christians in dealing with these attacks on our faith and also offers hope, showing how revival and a return to God has turned the tide in American church history previously and can do so again. I found this to be a very timely book and was quite astonished to find references to the recent situation in Houston where the mayor made demands on area pastors included. It's a topic that will likely appeal to a lot of Christians and would probably provide good material for small group studies as most of the advice in dealing with the cultural threats is rooted in the Word of God. This review is based on an advance reading e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley with the expectation that a review would be written.

Twisted Threads

Wait, Lea. Twisted Threads. (Mainely Needlepoint Series ; #1) New York: Kensington, 2015.

Angie Curtis returns to Maine when her Mom's corpse is discovered in a neighbor's storage freezer. She discoverers that her grandmother and others in her Haven Harbor needlepoint business have been ripped off by a man they had trusted to get them more work. Angie uses skills learned while working for a private investigator in Arizona to locate the man. It's not long until there is a murder and the needlepointers all become suspects. Angie uses her skills to help the state police investigate. I really enjoyed the setting, the characters, and the needlepoint themes in this book; however, I was very much put off by the use of Ouija boards, particularly when it involved the town's minister. There was really nothing that they added to the plot. Even though I loved most of the book, I am concerned that the Occultic element will be present in future installments. If it is, I do not wish to read them. This review is based on an advance e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Vanishing Grace

Yancey, Philip. Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2014.

In this book, Yancey takes a look at the way Christianity interacts with culture, specifically Evangelical Christianity. He makes a number of good points that will make Evangelicals consider the way they have been reacting to moral issues. He draws from the Bible and from church history to show how some of the greatest moments of the church were in times when Christians were not in political authority. The book will make a great discussion starter for small group discussions, Christian university courses dealing with society, and for Christian book clubs. While I may not agree with every point the author made, his work will make me consider why I think the way I do. I am not a fan of the hidden end note style which appears to be what this book will have, but since this was an advance e-galley provided by the publisher for review through NetGalley, that may have changed before it reached the final printing.

The Boston Girl

Diamont, Anita. The Boston Girl: A Novel. New York: Scribner, 2014.

Addie Baum was born to immigrant Russian Jews. She grew up in Boston. The book is a chronicle of her growing up years, her early adulthood, and her courtship. It offers a glimpse of what life was like for Jews in Boston in the early 20th century. Addie is a likeable character, and readers can empathize with her and enjoy the way that she always seems to land her feet when adversity occurs. I enjoyed the book tremendously, but it did not hold me completely captive. The story is written from the perspective of Addie as grandmother relating the story to her granddaughter. I received an advance reader's copy through NetGalley for review purposes.