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Sisi: Empress on Her Own by Allison Pataki

07 Monday Mar 2016

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“I wander lonely in this world,
Delight and life long time averted,
No confidant to share my inner self,
A matching soul never revealed.”
Empress Elisabeth 

When I started reading this book, I knew nothing about Sisi, Empress of Austria-Hungary, but as I set it down to write this review, I feel as if I know her, deeply, intimately. Her hurt, frustration, sadness, and passion, followed by slanderous gossip, destined to live a life unfulfilled and alone. This novel begins in the late 1800’s, and takes you through important historical events, leading all the way up to the start of WWI and the collapse of the Hapsburg empire.

I love historical fiction because I feel like I am learning something while being immersed in a captivating story. This book took me through a whole realm of emotions. Sadness in the realization that she was in a loveless marriage, excitement in her joy of traveling and finding adventure, heartwarming in the way she loved her children, but couldn’t figure out how to be a mother to them, all the internal struggles and hardships of the young Empress.

Allison’s elegant writing style flows naturally making Sisi an immersive novel that is entertaining, and an easy read. However, in reading this the reader will come to view Sisi as a selfish, ignorant, immature, and irresponsible leader who disrespected her husband, the Emperor, and was clueless about how to be a mother. I found her character conflicting. At one point she returns to the court to rescue her son, the Prince, who was being mistreated, and she was firm and stood up to her husband and other advisors and did what she thought was best for her child, but then the next chapter she is off riding horses and neglecting her responsibilities. The ending felt rather anti-climactic, despite the traumatic events that were occurring.  I enjoyed the book for entertainment purposes. It was quite lengthy, but I had no trouble reading the 420 pages in 2 days.

In response to the many reviews saying that Allisons’s research wasn’t done well and had many historical inaccuracies… I guess I would just say keep in mind it is fiction and enjoy the story.

You can order the book from Amazon here. Enjoy!

 

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Overrated by Eugene Cho Book review & Giveaway

01 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Overrated
Are we more in love with the idea of changing the world
than actually changing the world?
by Eugene Cho
Foreword by Donald Miller

I never really think about justice. Sure I follow A21 and Bob Goff and other great organizations who are pursuing justice for the enslaved, sex trafficked, unfortunate, underfed and mistreated. They fill my news feed. I support a beautiful girl in Ethiopia and I am moved when I hear stories about people rescued and restored. But I never really think about justice.

This book is open and honest. Cho makes himself vulnerable. He shares his struggles, his doubt, his questions. He takes the reader on his journey that follows his desire to change the world. He shapes his passion and shares stories and lessons that helped him get to a point where he could pursue his dreams. Dreams of bringing justice to the world with the right motives, knowledge about the people he was helping, and in a way that clearly brings glory to God.

It was humbling. Compelling. Convicting. It made me pause and contemplate how I live my life. How I give, serve, act. Cho says “I believe you cannot credibly follow Christ unless you pursue justice.” Because Jesus was all about justice. In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus says: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus cared about justice. That’s why he was here. To set people free. To serve the poor. To heal the sick. If we want to be more like Christ, we need to care more about justice. We have to want justice and want to change the world because God loves justice. Justice reflects God’s character. Jesus never drew attention to himself. But beyond caring, we need to take action. We need to DO something. So many people blog and tweet and change their profile pictures to reflect that they care about justice. They are taking a stand. They are talking loud. But that’s where it stops.

What are you passionate about? Do you want wells for people without water, food for the homeless, freedom for the enslaved, medical care for the sick? What tugs at your heart? What are you doing about it? Actions speak louder than words. This book is about moving your words into action. About actually doing something to change the world instead of just talking about it.

“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” Mother Teresa

Stop talking

Listen

Pray

Show us

Do something

Live a better story

Giveaway: I’m giving away a copy of Overrated! For an opportunity to read this great book for yourself, post a comment answering this question: How do you want to “change the world” and what are you doing about it?

OverRated

Giveaway ends October 8, 2014

 
*Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”)
Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.” 

Bread & Wine: A love letter to life around the table with recipes by Shauna Niequist

09 Tuesday Apr 2013

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Bread & Wine: A love letter to life around the table with recipes

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” Luke 22:19-21

The last supper, the first communion. Every time we come together to break bread and drink wine, a remembrance of the gospel. A symbol of Christ’s sacrifice made on our behalf. Bread. Wine.

This book was enchanting.  Shauna accentuates the connection between bread and wine and communion and Jesus body and blood and the table and food in our everyday lives. Some of my favorite things in life are reading and cooking so imagine a book full of great life stories, and recipes! I am the type of person who will read a cookbook cover to cover and study each recipe and technique.

I loved all the elements of this book. I have read Shauna’s other two books and really enjoyed them. I love her energy, and the simplistic style of her writing. She writes so raw. So honest. So down to earth. She shares stories from her life without reservation. She’s not afraid to be vulnerable or to be human. Mistakes and all.

She shares: “What’s becoming clearer and clearer to me is that the most sacred moments, the ones in which I feel God’s presence most profoundly, when I feel the goodness of the world most arrestingly, take place at the table. The particular alchemy of celebration and food, of connecting people and service what I’ve made with my own hands, comes together as more than the sum of their parts. I love the sounds and smells and textures of life at the table, hands passing bowls and forks clinking against plates and bread being torn and the rhythm and energy of feeding and being fed.”

Most chapters ended with a recipe that tied it all together. It made me feel like I got to enjoy an amazing dish while hearing a great story. Visiting with a friend who was sharing her day with me while we ate steamy risotto, or mac and cheese, or mango chicken curry.

I also appreciated that most of the recipes in the book were healthy and included a gluten-free option.  As I try to eat gluten-free this is huge for me! There is not one recipe that I will not try. I am excited to dive into this book again and cook the recipes as I go along.  I hope you pick up a copy. Stop by the grocery store. Invite some friends over. Read these stories and cook some great food. Enjoy the bread, the wine, the fellowship, and the remembrance of what Christ has done in your life.