It - Stephen King

Title: It
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror
Rating: 8/10
# pages: 1022
Date read: May, 2007

Summary: Moving back and forth between 1958 and 1985, the story tells of seven children in a small Maine town who discover the source of a series of horrifying murders. Having conquered the evil force once, they are summoned together 27 years later when the cycle begins again.

Review: A couple of years ago I asked for recommendations of horror books, as I hadn't read many, but the ones I had, I rather liked (as long as the 'horror' part is psychological and the book doesn't depend on blood and gore to make it scary - same with movies really). This was one of the books recommended to me, and as I haven't been too thrilled by what I've read of Stephen King so far, I was actually really surprised to enjoy it as much as I do. Stephen King writes youngsters very believably, and writes fear very believably. The book is long, but riveting, so it never felt too long. It was scary and at times gross, but not so descriptive as to leave me disgusted. Definitely one of King's better books.

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A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray

Title: A Great and Terrible Beauty
Author: Libba Bray
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 8/10
# pages: 397
Date read: May, 2007

Summary: Gemma, 16, has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother’s death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls’ academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

Review: I think this is the first time I've ever gotten a book from the library simply because it was on my list of recommendations at Amazon. It sounded really interesting though, so I thought I'd give it a shot. The book starts slowly, but as it's a quick read, it soon builds momentum and throws the reader into a fascinating battle between good and evil both in this and other worlds. I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I'd expected too, and will try to find the sequels at the library as well, to see if they live up to the first one.

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Spiritually Single Moms - Nancy Sebastian Meyer

Title: Spiritually Single Moms
Author: Nancy Sebastian Meyer
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 10/10
# pages: 175
Date read: May, 2007

Review: I am not a spiritually single mom yet (no kids), but I will be in a couple of years, and when that happens I will be sure to take "Spiritually Single Moms" down from the bookshelf for another read-through.

"Spiritually Single Moms" is an extremely personal book. By sharing her own experiences raising Becky without a Christian husband to help her, Nancy teaches mothers everywhere how to raise children the Godly way while still teaching them to respect and look up to their father, despite him being an unbeliever. We’re reminded that even though our husband is not a believer, he’s still the head of the household and should be respected and treated as such. It is important to find a way to teach your kids to believe in God, without putting their father in a bad light, because he doesn’t.

Finally Nancy reminds us that just as it isn’t our fault or responsibility that our husband doesn’t believe, ultimately nobody can force our kids to believe either. All we can do is plant and water the seed, and pray that God will help it grow into a strong and healthy tree.

Each chapter addresses a separate point of raising godly kids – answering tough questions, teaching them to serve others, teaching them (and you) to respect and love their father, helping them set healthy boundaries etc. – and is concluded with four sections:

Strength, which gives a key verse that confirms the focus of the chapter.

Strategies, which offers practical help of how to implement the teachings of the chapter.

Self-assessment, which provides a list of questions that will lead the reader to a more obedient walk with God through the parenting years.

Speaking with God, which contains a prayer based on Praising, Repenting, Asking and Yielding.

Even though the book is called "Spiritually Single Moms" it is just as relevant for Spiritually Single Dads. Nancy addresses moms as she is one herself, but dads can easily change the pronouns around and still apply the book to their situation. (Written for Armchair Interview)

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