Alton Gansky combines scriptural perspectives from biblical characters in order to answer the common questions of believers and nonbelievers alike. Even though the answers are written in first person, the scriptural context and reference endnotes provides credence for responses from God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. As with all Christian resources, however, it is important for the reader to use discernment and confirm scriptural context through personal study. This book could be used for personal inquiry and as a discussion tool with nonbelievers.

I finished! Although I found this book easier to read and better written than its predecessor Crime and Punishment, I think Dostoevsky could have used fewer words. My slowly moving bookmark was a downside. But, the storyline and characters were engaging. The social and psychological aspects of the book made for an interesting discussion with my book club.

Resolve: v. cause to go into a solution; bring to an end

Resolution: n. a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner

I could already be discouraged. How many years have I stayed up to watch the ball drop in New York only to drop the ball on my New Year’s resolutions by sleeping through my alarm on January 1? But, I have decided not to be discouraged. I have decided to encourage myself instead.

1. I will continue to do what has worked for me.

I accomplished my goal of reading 75 books in 2010. In fact, I read 76. I will continue this goal for 2011. Maybe I will surpass it by two. Maybe I will just be satisfied to read!

2. I will ignore the calendar and the scale.

One of the reasons I accomplished my reading goal is because I ignored the calendar. I counted books completed after January 1. Therefore, I counted the books already started in December. I focused on my progress rather than the start date.

I think the same applies to ignoring the scale. Why not be thrilled each morning I can button my jeans and gradually feel them loosen when I eat moderately and stay active?

3. I have begun to throw out what hasn’t been working for me.

I realized mid-summer ordering mochas with whole milk and whipped cream was not helping my jean-buttoning goal. So, I ordered them with skim and no whip. A small change, but my jeans suddenly fit better.

The week before Christmas, I organized my bathrooms. According to the expiration dates on several medications, this hadn’t been done in five years. It took two days and several trash bags, but the job got done. I discarded what didn’t help me because I didn’t use it. The same goes for the well-intentioned resolutions from 2010 now expired.

4. I will start.

I am beginning the year with organized bathrooms. There is no need to worry about this task for another year. Done!

I completed my reading goal, but I haven’t stopped reading. I would like to abandon The Idiot by Dostoevsky, but what an accomplishment (and relief) it will be to list it among my first completed books of 2011!

I haven’t written on this blog for a year and a half. I could wait for my husband to complete the website revision. I could abandon this editorial; the first time I wrote it, the site crashed and lost the content. Or I could do what I am doing now…begin again.



When my kids feel overwhelmed by a task, I tell them what my mother told me, “Just get started.” I dropped the ball this morning. Tonight, I picked it up…twice.

Happy New Year!

This is the second book in Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series. It's a very readable, informative historical fiction series about the kings of Judah. I've already started book three!

I have to agree with Paul Maraiani's statement that this is Shaw's "strongest book of poems yet."

It is books like this one, which expose the confusion and tragedy of life, that reveal the beauty and fragility of sharing one's story with the world regardless of the end result. Even though Plath's life ended in hopelessness, I call Sylvia courageous for abandoning fear long enough to write her literary legacy.

I'm more than glad to live a fictional, vicarious experience of being trapped in an elevator during a hurricane!

I did enjoy this book--Olsson's second after Astrid and Veronika--but it wasn't as structurally sound. The book starts in New Zealand then goes to Krakow, Poland and finally to an island in Sweden. It was somewhat difficult to follow the geographical jumps earlier in the book. Another challenge was point of view. A female author writing from a male perspective is very difficult. Olsson does do an excellent job. However, in the latter part of the book, Olsson shifts to first person point of view of the primary character's former lover and the mother of his daughter. While her point of view is relevant, it made for a complicated shift. Olsson makes an effective bridge because the book is separated into sections. But, it is a somewhat tenuous one. What I loved about the book was the historical significance and the journeys the main characters take to find identity and peace with their pasts. It is obvious that Olsson worked painstakingly on her research. Personally, I found it interesting that I recently finished reading Silence by Shusaku Endo, and this book's working title was The Consequence of Silence. This made the book all the more relevant to me even though the books do not share similar plots or time periods. Yet, both do show how silence plays a part in our lives. I do recommend reading Sonata for Miriam.

This was a challenging read. Mostly because I was trying to read it while on vacation with kids running around me. (As the curator of the resort pointed out, a mother reading a book titled "Silence" is quite the oxymoron!) Because my reading was rather stop and go, I don't think I experienced the full essence of this one. But, it is a very powerful, though-provoking fictional (albeit realistic) account of Catholic missionaries in Japan in the 1600s. Even though it takes time to read, it is time well spent!

This is the first book in the A-Z Mysteries. I read it with my youngest. Really fun mysteries for kids. I'm sure we'll read all the way to Z!

The second book in the Caroline Ingalls Quiner series. Just as good as the first!