Letters to My Students: Volume 1: On Preaching by Jason K. Allen1.75 stars
“To be a preacher is to be a pleader, a persuader, a beggar.”
Allen’s newest novel is an ode to Charles Spurgeon’s letter to his students and Allen (a seminary professor and Baptist pastor) embarks in writing a series of letters on the subject of preaching. It is important to preface that this is Allen’s own personal preferences and go-to tricks of preaching. Allen makes a wide variety of points from the importance of sermons being exegetical to sermons being predominantly focused on teaching a book or letter of the Bible as a series instead of a series of topics. Allen has some good points. Particularly towards the end when I was beginning to continuously regret opening this book up daily because I was over the drawn out inconsistency of his writing on the page. Allen delivered some key points that I could stand behind and even applaud instead of questioning. Of course it was very simple stuff like avoiding the word “things”, staying away from timid “just my opinion” preaching, and not allowing hearers to be comfortable with sin while not condemning them to the point of them hating you. All good points that I found to be important and necessary.
I don’t have anything personal against this novel. I just don’t think it’s something I would personally use a resource. However, I do think there are a handful of people that can benefit greatly from this novel and if you are in the category and feel like this is the novel for you, then pick it up.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 1.5
Plotastic Scale: 2
Cover Thoughts: *shrugs*
Thank you, B & H Books, for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
We Are All Good People Here by Susan Rebecca White3.75 stars
This is a historical fiction novel following the two prolific lives of two white women when they meet in college as they become participants in the Civil Rights Movement. Their paths become very different when one is accepted to rally peacefully in an organization. When the other friend is rejected, she seeks out other means to take down the establishment and ends up joining a revolutionary cult. Things don’t go well and they wind up back together. Their daughters' lives are entangled in the secrets of their mothers from the time when one saved the other. I would rather not tell you which character is which because I think it makes it a little bit more fun to go in and see how the characters progress blindly. This is a character-based story, so to know too much about the characters upfront could ruin your enjoyment of the novel. White hits all the marks of an interesting historical fiction novel by building drama with the backdrop of women as the central piece. Unlike most historical fiction today romance is not at the center of the story, but race and changing the world takes the forefront. I guess the easiest novel to compare this to would be The Help, but I refuse to do that because I think this novel has some weird Charles Manson stuff that completely throws this novel into left field. If you are squeamish, then stay away from this novel because there is a scene when one of the main protagonists has to skin a cat to prove herself to the cult. It’s some weird and nasty stuff. Listening to it on audiobook was not how I expected my folding clothes session to go. The writing in this novel is gripping enough to keep you intrigued about the characters. It doesn’t steal the show and it is probably the weakest part of the whole story, but I think that most readers will enjoy the quick and rapid pace of some scenes and the slow-burn of others.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.25
The two main female characters are Eve and Daniella. I personally ended up not liking either of them at certain times, but also rooting for both of them. They both suck as people, but as characters your heart really breaks for them because they make some horrible choices. However, Eve was just absolutely horrendous and I spent a large part of the novel trying to keep my eyes from falling out of my head. I personally preferred Daniella’s storyline, but she was pushed into the background and not given much light.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: Eve-4 Daniella-4.25
The daughters were so much fun to follow in the second half of the book. Eve’s daughter has the most tragic story, but I wished that we had gotten to know her mind. Daniella’s daughter steals the show in this part and she really gives a different edge and dynamic to the novel that shows the severity and stupidity of keeping giant and life-altering secrets from family members.
Character Scale: 4
The Villain- It’s not a mystery. If you were shocked, then congrats because I saw that “shocking” twist a mile away.
Villain Scale: 3
My biggest qualm with this book is the ending. It’s depressing and unsatisfying. I love depressing endings, but this one is sad for the sake of being sad to make it a good book club book. That’s just not my cup of tea. Overall, I think that most readers in the historical fiction genre will love this or if you are interested in female friendships, generational plots, or the Civil Rights Movement.
Plotastic Scale: 3.5
Cover Thoughts: I love the cover and how you can see two faces when you move the cover. It’s a brilliant design.
Thank you, Netgalley & Atria Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
3.5 stars
Libby Jones has finally found out who her parents are and it was a shock to know that she is the baby who was left behind in a mansion. A mansion that housed three dead bodies and was reported as being a cult. Along with two missing children who were never heard from again. The question is who left Libby behind and where did the children go? This was a nice thriller. It wasn’t my favorite and I will probably forget it in a few years, but I enjoyed the moment of reading it. The plot was redeemable enough the inconsistencies I had with the storyline and the reveals. I personally hated the reveals and plot twists Jewell provided. I was in this story for the creepy house that slowly branched into a cult that was ruled by a con artist. That was the storyline I ate up. Everything else was irrelevant and not gripping enough. Jewell is a decent enough thriller writer that I would check out something by her in the future.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.5
Libby was a horrible heroine without any real substance. I thought she was the most cardboard thriller heroine I have ever come across. No memory of her past, no real hope for anything but to belong, mystery shrouding her upbringing, and family drama. PUH-LEASE. Libby was a snoozefest.
I did love following our other unnamed heroine. Her storyline was wild and when chapter 28 happened I wanted to inwardly turn away while cheering for her victory over her abuser. What a twist, but also way to not address the fact that a main character is now a murder with dire consequences because it’s easier to just sweep it all under the rug and that explanation was way too convenient.
Henry was a mess to follow. It was like following Joe from You. You know he is evil and it’s obvious from the beginning that he is evil. Jewell tries to make him not seem creepy after she clearly mentions early on that he is a psychopath, but that’s a writer’s issue on her part.
Character Scale: 3
The Villain- This is where I get a little fuzzy. Honestly, there were so many “twists” that this story kind of lost it’s flair for me and I wasn’t fulfilled. I did like the reveals of how things went down, but the baby drama was just too much. I was invested in the cult murders and that part definitely delivered.
Villain Scale: 4
Overall, I suggest checking this one out if you are a thriller fan and have to read everything in the genre. However, if you aren’t huge into the genre then maybe consider picking something else up.
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: Not horrible, but I’m not really a fan.
Thank you, Netgalley & Atria Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Libby Jones has finally found out who her parents are and it was a shock to know that she is the baby who was left behind in a mansion. A mansion that housed three dead bodies and was reported as being a cult. Along with two missing children who were never heard from again. The question is who left Libby behind and where did the children go? This was a nice thriller. It wasn’t my favorite and I will probably forget it in a few years, but I enjoyed the moment of reading it. The plot was redeemable enough the inconsistencies I had with the storyline and the reveals. I personally hated the reveals and plot twists Jewell provided. I was in this story for the creepy house that slowly branched into a cult that was ruled by a con artist. That was the storyline I ate up. Everything else was irrelevant and not gripping enough. Jewell is a decent enough thriller writer that I would check out something by her in the future.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.5
Libby was a horrible heroine without any real substance. I thought she was the most cardboard thriller heroine I have ever come across. No memory of her past, no real hope for anything but to belong, mystery shrouding her upbringing, and family drama. PUH-LEASE. Libby was a snoozefest.
I did love following our other unnamed heroine. Her storyline was wild and when chapter 28 happened I wanted to inwardly turn away while cheering for her victory over her abuser. What a twist, but also way to not address the fact that a main character is now a murder with dire consequences because it’s easier to just sweep it all under the rug and that explanation was way too convenient.
Henry was a mess to follow. It was like following Joe from You. You know he is evil and it’s obvious from the beginning that he is evil. Jewell tries to make him not seem creepy after she clearly mentions early on that he is a psychopath, but that’s a writer’s issue on her part.
Character Scale: 3
The Villain- This is where I get a little fuzzy. Honestly, there were so many “twists” that this story kind of lost it’s flair for me and I wasn’t fulfilled. I did like the reveals of how things went down, but the baby drama was just too much. I was invested in the cult murders and that part definitely delivered.
Villain Scale: 4
Overall, I suggest checking this one out if you are a thriller fan and have to read everything in the genre. However, if you aren’t huge into the genre then maybe consider picking something else up.
Plotastic Scale: 3.75
Cover Thoughts: Not horrible, but I’m not really a fan.
Thank you, Netgalley & Atria Books, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Have you read any of these novels? Are you a nonfiction, historical fiction, or thriller reader? Which genre do you prefer? Let me know down below in the comments!
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