Under the Overpass

Title:  Under the Overpass (A journey of faith on the streets of America)

Author:  Mike Yankoski

(This book was given to me in exchange for a fair, unbiased review)

Ever wonder what it would be like to live homeless?  Mike Yankoski did more than just wonder. By his own choice, Mike's life went from upper-middle class plush to scum-of-the-earth repulsive overnight.  With only a backpack, a sleeping bag, & a guitar, Mike & his traveling companion, Sam, set out to experience life on the streets in six different cities:  Denver, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix & San Diego.

For more then 5 months, the pair experience firsthand the extreme pains of hunger, the constant danger of living on the streets, exhaustion, depression & social rejection - all by their own choice.  They wanted to find out if their faith was real, if they could actually be the Christians they said they were apart from the comforts they'd always known... to discover what it feels like to be homeless in America.

Mike & Sam's story is gritty, challenging, & utterly captivating.  What you encounter in these pages will radicially alter how you see your world - & may even change your life.
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First Line:  Real punches arent as sharp & clean as Hollywood makes them out to be.

I have to say - I think EVERY PERSON - EVERY CHRISTIAN - EVERY CHURCH GOER needs to read this book!!!!!  This book has totally changed the way I look at the world, the homeless, the way the church handles people - so many things... this book has opened my eyes & my heart...

The journey of these two men is so powerful...to see the people that they meet along the way, from people who are struggling to survive, to people who are drug addicts & have mental disorders, to the experiences they have to go through - it will move you... it SHOULD move you... because its the real world.  A world that we dont like to think about & a world we try to ignore....

The most earth shaking moments for me were when they would encounter churches that would turn them away because they were "dirty" or "smelly"... CHURCHES!!!!!!!!!  A Pastor of a church told them they werent "that kind of church" to offer any food to them... wow... the reactions of Christians just made me look in a mirror at myself - how would I react? 

And then, yes, there were some amazing Christians who live their faith!  My favorite story was about a young man the homeless called "The Jesus Guy" - he said he never once preached Jesus - just came down & offered pizzas & conversations once a week... He said, "Isnt it amazing that when we live as we're called & do what we're commanded, the gospel still gets preached" ... Amen

I have a journal of 7 pages of nothing but quotes from this book that rocked me...

From stories of Christians preaching "Fire & Brimstone" to people who are already suffering: "... it seemed they were accusing these broken people of being broken...."

From people kicking out these men out of churches while drug dealers on the street could preach a mighty word of God: "Why do we kick drug users out of the church while quietly over looking those who are ignoring their own different but equally destructive sins?  Why do we reject the loving, self-sacrificing, giving, encouraging Jesus-pursuing drug addict, but recruit the clean, self-interested, gossiping, loveless church goer?"

From youth groups coming  & serving the homeless:  "Something critical is missing in places that care for the broken & needy if the only people there are also broken & needy"

I could go on & on... I'm telling you... if you want a powerful read - that is easy to take in - READ THIS BOOK!!!!!

Last year, for Christmas, I got everyone "The Noticer" .... if I can find this book in time, I will be purchasing this for everyone I know... that's how good it is!!!

If you want to see more about it and/or sample a chapter of the book, go here:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/2010/09/14/sneak-peek-under-the-overpass-5th-anniversary-edition/

My rating:  5 Skeins (no doubts!!!!)
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Last Line:  Walk off the Edge with Him

Beastly

Book:  Beastly

Author:  Alex Flinn

A beast.  Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature who walks upright - a creature with fangs & claws & hair springing from every pore.  I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales?  No way.  The place is New York City.  The time is now.  It's no deformity, no disease.  And I'll stay this way forever - ruined - unless I can break this spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me.  Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day & prowls by night?  I'll tell you.  I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, & the perfect life.  And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly.... beastly.

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First Line:  I could feel everyone looking at me, but I was used to it.

I have been blogging about the movie that is coming out & I am so excited about it... so when a friend told me the book was out, I had to read it. 

First, the book doesnt look like the previews of the movie - so dont know how "much" of the book is in the movie... but its still the story of the classic Beauty & the Beast... & if you know me, that steals my heart everytime.

This book is tagged as a "YA" - Young Adult book ... I can see that when it talks about Kyle being 16 years old & in high school... but its still a fun little, quick read.

Its not the BEST book I've ever read... And if I wasnt such a Beauty & the Beast fan, I'm not sure how much I would have loved it...

It did have some great lines in it though... when Kyle, who becomes "Adrian" changes & his heart softens, its so sweet to see the words that pour out of him to Lindy.  The relationship between Adrian & the witch, Kendra is very interesting too.  I especially love the blind tutor that is hired to take care of Adrian, Will... which I see in the movie, Neil Patrick Harris plays (YIPEE!)

My rating:  3 skeins for everyone... (for me, being a B&B fan, 4 skeins)

Last Line:  I hold my hand out to her. "May I have this dance?"

Safe Haven

Book:  Safe Haven

Author:  Nicholas Sparks

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past.  Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two relucant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart & 2 younger children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo.  Despire her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community & becoming increasingly attached to Alex & his family.

But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts & terrifes her... a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathetic & stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety & one of riskier rewards... & that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

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First Sentence:  As Katie wound her way among the tables, a breeze from the Atlantic rippled through her hair.

I've always been a Nicholas Sparks fan.  So when I see he has a new book out, I have to check it out.
Reading the inside cover (see above) - I could already figure out how the story was going to go... honestly, most "love stories" are fairly predictable...

What I wasnt prepared for was the intensity of the story.  This story deals with physical abuse in a marriage Katie is running from.  (I dont feel that is giving away much of the story.... you could figure out this early in the story) ... but the story reminded me so much of the movie, "Sleeping with the Enemy" with Julia Roberts... it was all I could envision while reading it.

I dont do well with stories of physical abuse... it sickens me... it makes me angry... I dont understand it...so needless to say, I had a lot of emotion reading this book.

The story would flip back & forth to the story of Katie & then to her husband who was looking for her, Kevin.  Honestly, I had to skip parts of the story of Kevin, because it was so neurotic - crazed!!!!  The story was very straight on on reflecting the crazed mind this man had... & it made me a nervous wreck...

The book is a beautiful love story of a family, Alex with his children finding Katie & how they all love each other... the new relationships between the two of them & Katie & the children... that part was precious... but then it would flip into the madness of a mind of a psychopath... & then the meeting of the two.  I literally couldnt put down the book in the last 100 pages to see how it would end.

In the end, it wasnt Mr. Sparks best book...("A walk to remember" is still my favorite!!!) - it was a gripping read... but the end also had a unique twist that some might enjoy - I personally thought it was corny (I wont give any of that away) - but that along with the frantic mind of Kevin, I was anxious to just get to the ending...

My Rating:  3 skeins

Last Sentence:  She knew what she believed

Choosing to See

Book:  Choosing to See

Author:  Mary Beth Chapman

I’ve told my kids for years that God doesn’t make mistakes,” writes Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Grammy award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. “Would I believe it now, when my whole world as I knew it came to an end?” Covering her courtship and marriage to Steven Curtis Chapman, struggles for emotional balance, and living with grief, Mary Beth’s story is our story–wondering where God is when the worst happens. In Choosing to SEE, she shows how she wrestles with God even as she has allowed him to write her story–both during times of happiness and those of tragedy. Readers will hear firsthand about the loss of her daughter, the struggle to heal, and the unexpected path God has placed her on. Even as difficult as life can be, Mary Beth Chapman Chooses to SEE. Includes a 16-page full color photo insert.

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For those of you that know me - you know Steven Curtis Chapman is the one person in the world I would love to sit down & have dinner with - talk to & get to know more about.  This book was the next best thing - written by his wife - so I also adore (heck, I love the whole family!!!)

I loved that it had some background on Mary Beth & Steven meeting & their young marriage & the birth of their children.  Then the adventure into adoption that God led them on...

And then we go through the horrible accident that involved their precious Maria & the way this family that puts their faith in God, how they withstood the attack that satan threw at them....

But you really do get a glimpse into the Chapman household... which made me zoom through this book in 2 days time.  I sighed at the young love of these two young college kids... I laughed at the idea of Steven Curtis Chapman putting a fire out in his underwear... I cried at the personal letters everyone in the family wrote to Maria to include with her "shell" at the funeral. 

Being a big fan as well, I remember Steven Curtis Chapman changing his 'look" when the accident happened.  This book even explained what happened with that - why his head was shaved & where the beard came from... that small story just broke my heart... I even had to read it to Ricky to share... that's the kind of book this is.  Small parts that will reach out & grab your heart & you see a family that has struggled through so much...

But a family that has also been so extremely blessed - with each other & the ministry that they share.

Of course, being a SCC fan, you knew I was going to love it - but I think any mother will appreciate this story - anyone who has adopted will appreciate it - anyone who sadly has lost a child will appreciate the sharing of Mary Beth's grief & openness with it...

My rating:  5 skeins (was there ANY doubt?)

Sun Stand Still

Book:  Sun Stand Still

Author:  Steven Furtick

This book is not a Snuggie.  The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien.  I'm not writing to calm or coddle you.  With God's help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind.  Trip your breakers & turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity & fear.  Then flip the switch back on so that God's truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dorman inside you for years.

In short, I'm out to activiate your audacious faith.  To inspire you to ask God for the impossible.  And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose & potential.
-Steven Furtick

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First Line:  I can't lie - its a pretty cool feeling to have Bono as your opening act.

In the Bible - Joshua was in the midst of a battle... the sun was getting ready to set & Joshua knew he'd lose his advantage if it got dark... he prayed to God for help... & God answered... by making the SUN STAND STILL... the sun stayed in the same place ... causing Joshua to become the overcome... God being the VICTOR!

So the book is about having that same sort of prayer - an audacious kind of prayer...

I'm a fan of Steven Furtick anyways & his messages online.  I've always said I've GOT to get to Elevation church one day & experience it in person.  But this book is exactly how he talks - & its why I really soaked in every word.

From stories of what a "Page 23 Vision" is - to being a "Wave Jumper" & "Praying like a Juggernaut" - I loved every chapter.  My favorite was "Mistake into Miracle" - when you feel like God cant use you & your vision & listen to your audacious prayers because of your mistakes you've made... when its for those mistakes that usually God WILL use you!!!  The story of Norm & his mistakes & his journey had me in tears.

I loved how the chapters had personal stories - from Steven's life - or from others in his church - examples of today & of Biblical examples, that made the point hit home.

I dont think I've ever highlighted more of a book in my life!... Here are some of my favorite lines:

*If the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God.

*How radically different would modern American youth culture be if we stopped raising our kids to survive their world & started empowering them with a vision to change it?

*Biblical audacity is a mind-set that approaches God with confidence & believes him for the impossible.

*You might be thinking you're unimpressive & unqualified.  That's good.  God performs the most impressive feats through the most unimpressive people.

*Maybe you're afraid that if you pray a Sun Stand Still prayer & live by audacious faith, you'll end up letting God down.  But the reality is, you were never holding him up!

... I have TONS more... believe me...its just that full of good stuff!!!

I'm leaving this book thinking about MY Page 23 Vision & how I pray - how specific I am going to God in what I want for that Vision... I'm excited to see the change it makes.

So - My rating:  4 skeins ..

& its only 4 because I struggle with "non fiction" books... this is the BEST I've read out of that area... but still, this is a personal rating...

Last Line:  Welcome to the middle of a move of God.

Mockingjay

Book:  Mockingjay

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived even though her home has been destroyed.  Gale has escaped.  Katniss's family is safe.  Peeta has been captured by the Capitol.  District 13 really does exist.  There are rebels.  There are new leaders.  A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arema in the cruel & haunting Quarter Quell, & it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it.  District 13 has come out of the shadows & is plotting to overthroat the Capitol.  Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains - Except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, & to change the course of the future of Panem.  To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger & distrust.  She must become the rebels Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.
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First Line:  I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather.

After getting through the first two books, I was dying to get to this book to see how it would all end.  I even got home from work on Friday, pulled the book out & didnt put it down until I was finished - Saturday morning!

We continue watching the lives of Katniss & Peeta & the after effects of the war against the Capitol. 

I have to say, I'm not a big "battle" kind of girl so the idea of planning attacks & the battles with the different Districts was lost on me.  The "battles" in the games were different - it was more personal.  This was moreof a news report on CNN & that didnt appeal to me.  But when the story turned personal again, I loved it.

I dont want to give anything away (I will in the botton section though!) but I was surprised at some of the turns ... who lives, who died...

While Katniss still is a fighter, I think this book showed more of her weakness & fraility. 

I did enjoy the character of Finnick & the friendship he & Katniss had... as well as Boggs...Haymitch made me style in his "drunken" character that you think is so strict, but you see if really just a lonely man who's looking out for Katniss & Peeta.

I was also surprised at how in this book, the end of each chapter usually made me gasp, but the beginning of the next chapter would be a big jump in time & the story didnt instantly continue... you'd have to read as they would have "flashbacks"... that was different from the other books... took me a bit to get used to.

This definitely wasnt my favorite of the series... I am glad to know how the story ends though.  Feel like I can breath... because I did hold my breath through most of this book...

My rating:  4 skeins
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Final Line:  But there are much worse games to play.

WARNING: Spoilers below!!!

OK - I have to talk about some stuff that I question and/or that bothered me....

*What happened to Gale?  I was waiting for some big try from him for Katniss to love him - but he just sort of got lost in the "battle" & war of the last book... that disappointed me
*I was expecting more of a way for Katniss to bring Peeta back from his "insanity" ... disappointing
*It got on my nerves how it was mentioned over & over about Katniss not being able to "repay" when someone helped them...
*I was but wasnt surprised that Katniss killed Coin... got a chuckle out of it...
*Still am not sure who did the attack on the kids in front of the Capitol - which side
*Was so sad that Finnick died...
*had to read it a few times to understand that Prim died... that surprised me... I was expecting Gale or Peeta to die - not her! ... after everything Katniss did to protect her, she died in the end... that was a sad turn of events.
*Couldnt believe ANY of the tributes would agree to the vote of having another "Hunger Games" with the Capitol's children...
*Was happy to see the ending with Peeta & Katniss though... definitely thought they were destined for each other...

Now, I'm just dying for the movie version!!!!!

Catching Fire

Book:  Catching Fire

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games.  She & fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even.  After all, she has returned to her family & her longtime friend, Gale.  Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be.  Gale holds her at an icy distance.  Peeta has turned his back on her completely.  And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capital - a rebellion that Katniss & Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueld an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop.  And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try.  As time draws near for Katniss & Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Vicotry Tour, the stakes are higher then ever.  If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for one another, the consequences will be horrifying.
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First Line:  I clasp the flash between my hands even though the warmed from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air.

I have never been so into a series of books since Twilight.

We are back with Katniss as her & Peeta go back to the life of Victors... only to find out nothing can ever be the same.  Between the relationship between the two of them - the relationship between her & Gale...their lives in general

I dont want to say too much because the summary doesnt give away the heart of the book - which really made me gasp... & say things like "WHAT?" - "How can that happen?" - "That's not fair!" ... like its a real story ... that's how much I've gotten into this book!

(I swear, if I didnt have Mockingjay to go right into, I'd be in hysterics!!!)

What can I say without given too much away .... Katniss is still a fighter - someone who loves her family & is torn between two loves.  I do think we see more vulnerability from her this time.  Peeta, this book, is still the most amazing person with words - still so in love with Katniss. 

I particurly loved Cinna this book...gotta love a designer with an attitude!!!

This book truly leaves you hanging for the next book... so you can bet I'll be starting Mockingbird in just a few hours.  I've got to take a breath before I dive right back in.... On a good 90% of the end of each chapter, I had to cover my mouth while I gasped... yes, it was that good & surprising...

I have to say, I'm afraid to go into the final book...afraid to see how it all ends... because one thing I've learn about these books - they're not afraid of surprises... & death...

My Rating:  5 skeins... exciting, drawn me completely in, I honestly couldnt stop reading...
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SPOILER:  LAST LINE....(Dont read if you dont want to see the final line... gives away part of the story)
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"Katness, there is no District Twelve."