Book Review: When God Breaks Your Heart by Ed Underwood

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• When God Breaks Your Heart: Choosing Hope in the Midst of Faith-Shattering Circumstances by Ed Underwood
• 244 pages, published by David C. Cook 
• Review by: Nancy Murillo, Library Director

From the publisher: Why is God letting this happen to me? If you have never asked this question, you someday will.

There is perhaps no greater challenge to our faith than personal suffering. For pastor Ed Underwood this challenge came in the form of chronic leukemia. Though he prayed for and believed in God's healing, as the days slipped by and his pain became unbearable, Ed's heart was broken by a simple realization: The God who could do anything was not helping him. Yet a revelation from God's Word changed his heart and life forever.

Nancy's Review:
This book appealed to me on a very personal level. Some titles just speak to you. Some journeys you must experience. It adjusts your perspective and makes you better.

What a book. What a life changing experience to read it. It's easy to believe in God when life is going well, when you're well-fed and well-rested and full of love; but what about when life is hard? What if you spend your life helping others, only to be turned down for healing for yourself. Ed Underwood had faith, real faith, not some ‘when things are okay’ kind of faith – real faith, deep abiding faith. Then the unthinkable happened, he was so sick and in such pain for so long that it changed him. We are talking ‘your skin is peeling off your body’ pain. The ‘out of your mind with hurt’ kind of pain. And you pray. And you keep the faith. And you wait. And wait. And wait.

Of all people, why in the world is God not answering your prayers for healing, help, and relief? Really, God? After all I’ve done, continued to do, as faithful as I have been? It is hard to believe when that is all you have ever known, all you have ever done is pray and keep the faith. But it is not about you.

What happens when you lose your faith? When do you make that decision? When you have hurt enough? Too much? What goes through your mind that day, that fateful day, when you say “I give up, God, I’m done”? That is when you have reached true acceptance of what is. And yes, it is depressing. You finally say, “I cannot do this anymore.” And if you are truly blessed, (and Ed was), that is when the person beside you, your spouse, your friend, your parent, or your child says, “You can’t give up. God is still good. And if you can’t go any farther, I can. I’ll carry this load; I’ll pray; I’ll do it for you.” And they carry us through it. Our faith returns. Sometimes we just need a break from the pain.

I’ve never suffered this kind of physical pain and I am thankful. But I have suffered this kind of emotional pain. And when I tried to say, “I’m done, He isn’t listening”, I was blessed by a husband who said, “You can’t give up. God is still good. And if you can’t go any farther, I can. I’ll carry this load; I’ll pray; I’ll do it for you.” And he did. My faith returned. I just needed a break from the pain, for someone else to carry it a while.

Ed’s story, written similarly to the story of Job, will challenge, encourage and light the way for countless other Christians who ask their own set of "whys" amidst tragedy and pain. Discover fresh hope through the story of Lazarus. Underwood closely examines the emotional components of this intimate relationship and how Jesus used His friend's death to glorify God and draw Mary and Martha closer to Him. It’s not about us. It’s about glorifying God and being drawn closer to Him.

About the Author : Ed Underwood is the pastor of Church of the Open Door, a ministry dedicated to helping people fulfill their purpose in life. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and has served as an officer in the United States Army and a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. Ed and his family reside in southern California.

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook  'Circle' us on Google+; or 'Follow' us on Pinterest.  
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Book Review: First Love by James Patterson

"First Love" by James Patterson and Emily Raymond

• 288 pages, published by Little, Brown and Company (January 13, 2014)

Review by: Shelli Harrel, Children's Librarian

From James Patterson website:
An extraordinary portrait of true love that will move anyone who has a first love story of their own. A remarkably moving tale very personal to James Patterson's own past, "First Love" is a testament to the power of first love - and how it can change the rest of your life.

Shelli's review:

Since February is a month celebrating love, and this book was on a best seller list, I thought that I would give it a try. While I have not read any of James Patterson’s mysteries, I have read one of his other books, entitled “Sundays at Tiffany's” and thoroughly enjoyed it. “First Love” is a relatively short book compared to other works by this author, but nonetheless, an interesting read.

The story centers around a young, teenage girl named Axi, who from all perspectives has always been a “good girl”. She keeps up with her studies and rarely goes against the rules. Everything changes one day when she misses school and invites her best friend and resident “bad boy”, Robinson to accompany her on a cross country trip. Things quickly take a turn for the unexpected as Robinson pushes Axi to “live dangerously” and starts off their trip by stealing their transportation instead of taking the bus. Axi is soon forced to shed her “good girl” persona as each turn in their road trip brings exciting new adventures and challenges.

As the story progresses, we learn more about what has drawn these two characters together. Although they come from different backgrounds, they have shared a common experience and both battled challenges that forever altered their childhood. By the middle of the story, Axi and Robinson’s relationship begins to shift from friendship to something more. Throughout their crazy, challenging, and sometimes “law breaking” experiences, they learn lessons about life and each other that truly give meaning to their journey.

“First Love” is a good story that reminds the reader to live each day with purpose and passion. In spite of the fact that it is written for young adults, this book is an interesting read for adults as well. I enjoyed reading it and would encourage other readers to give it a try. It takes you on a journey and reminds us how the experiences we share and the connections we make, can impact our lives.

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook or 'Circle' us on Google+.  

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Book Review: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
reviewed by: Lily Marshall, Library Bookkeeper and Cataloger

Description: 
The newest novel by Jojo Moyes shares its title with a fictional painting that serves as a catalyst in linking two loves stories, one set in occupied France during World War I, the other in 21st-century London.

Lily's Review:
The first book I read by Jojo Moyes was Me Before You. Although it was an interesting story on a sensitive subject, I wasn't too fond of the ending and swore I would never read another book by her. When I saw the book The Girl You Left Behind, I thought it was a sequel to Me Before You, but I was wrong. As I was cataloging the book, I was thinking to myself that I needed to give this book a try.

The story is split into two parts that will intercept through time. In France, 1916, Artist Edouard Lefevre leaves his young wife, Sophie, to fight at the front. Their small town falls to the Germans in the middle of World War I . Edouard painted a portrait of Sophie that attracts the new Kommandant.

In an act of desperation Sophie sacrifices her family, her reputation, and her life to see her husband again. I was so caught up in Sophie, that I have to admit I was a little disappointed that the story shifted away from her character. The second part of the story takes place 100 years later. Sophie’s portrait is given to Liv Halston by her husband before he died suddenly. Liv draws strength from the painting day by day and becomes emotionally attached to the girl in the painting. Some of Edouard's family is looking for the same painting.

There is a long-drawn out battle in court, as the two parties fight over who should be the owner of the painting called The Girl You Left Behind.  This book absolutely captivated me. I couldn't put it down. I read it during breaks and lunchtime. I just had to find out what happened next. I recommend this book to everyone who likes historical fiction and Jojo Moyes has become my new  favorite author.


For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook or 'Circle' us on Google+.  

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Book Review: Stitches by Anne Lamott

Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair
By Lamott, Anne
2013-10 - Hardcover, Riverhead Books, ISBN: 9781594632587
Reviewed by: Nancy Murillo, Library Director

A wise and compassionate exploration of how we can make sense of life's chaos. What do we do when life lurches out of balance? How can we reconnect to one other and to what's sustaining, when evil and catastrophe seem inescapable? These questions lie at the heart of Stitches.

Publisher Comments:
In this book, Lamott explores how we find meaning and peace in these loud and frantic times; where we start again after personal and public devastation; how we recapture wholeness after loss; and how we locate our true identities in this frazzled age. We begin, Lamott says, by collecting the ripped shreds of our emotional and spiritual fabric and sewing them back together, one stitch at a time.
It's in these stitches that the quilt of life begins, and embedded in them are strength, warmth, humor, and humanity.

Nancy’s review:
This book appealed to me for several reasons. First, it was about faith. Second, it had a title and cover that related to quilting, which holds many positive memories for me. Last, it was only 112 pages, as I was spread thin on several projects and needed some short quiet moments. Even at 112 pages, it took me a week because I wanted to soak it all in, read, then reread, then tag it with a sticky note for later. By the time I finished, I had nearly as many sticky notes as there were pages.
Ms. Lamott pulls you in with everyday things, life, the killings at Newtown, illness, divorce, Sunday School. I laughed, I cried, and at times stared at the page wide-eyed because of her irreverence. It was wonderful. Hope, faith, grace, and spirituality are needed as you stitch your life back together after tragedy, divorce, death, loss, addiction, illness, aging, etc. Life is messy and we live stitch by stitch.
You start where you can, where you are. Ms. Lamott helps soothe the sore places in your heart and soul, so you can take the next stitch, and then the next, repairing what have become ‘the rags of your life'. We all struggle to keep the fabric of our lives together. If you have ever had to piece your life back together and just keep going, you will relate. As you already know, ‘the rags of life’ can be stitched into a beautiful new quilt.

For renewals, reserves, or to submit memorials, please contact the Public Library at 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, 903-856-3302 or email us. 'Follow' our twitter feed, 'Like' us on Facebook or 'Circle' us on Google+.  

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