When offered the chance to review "Buried Alive" by Roy Hallums, I immediately accepted. This looked like a very interesting book. Buried Alive is the true account of an American contractor who was kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents in November of 2004. He was then held hostage for 10 months, spending most of that time in a concrete pit, blindfolded and tied. A single pipe in the ceiling provided oxygen to the room. Buried Alive recounts how Roy Hallums survived the terror, as well as his family's (ex-wife and 2 daughters) dealt with the nightmare of knowing he was held prisoner....or possibly dead. And, finally, the book covers his amazing rescue by the U.S. Military 10 months after his kidnapping!
I honestly was looking forward to reading Buried Alive. I love to read true-story books, and this sounded great. This book is very well-written, and I really enjoyed it. I did like the book, and it is amazing to me that Roy Hallums survived 10 months in the "living" conditions he was put in. As well, the rescue by the U.S. Military was thrilling, and Hallums' consequent journey home to be reunited with his family was great. However, due to a couple statements (that were unnecessary for a Christian book), as well as 1 or 2 swear words, this is not a book I could recommend to anyone. If I had started reading it as just a true story about an American's capture and rescue, it would have been better. But, since it is supposed to be Christian, and written by a Christian, I find this a little contradictory.
I recently had the chance to review the book "The Lightkeeper's Daughter" by Colleen Coble. The book is based around the turn-of-the-century, and starts out with the heroine, Addie Sullivan, living on a remote island with her mother, as caretakers of the lighthouse. One day a man shows up with startling news-the people Addie thought were her parents aren't! This begins Addie's trek to find her real heritage, and she soon gains employment far from home as a governess at a wealthy estate. Not long after arriving, danger threatens Addie, and she is forced to turn to her employer for help in solving a decades-old mystery.
I was thrilled when I first knew I would be able to review this book, as I have read quite a few of Colleen Coble's books and really liked them. While this didn't quite live up to my expectations, it was still an enjoyable read. Personally I prefer a mystery where you don't figure out who "the bad guy" is until quite near the end, but I was able to guess this one pretty quickly. The writing in the first third of the book or so seemed a little disjointed, but got much better as it went on. The main theme of the story is about not needing approval from anyone but God. At one point Addie starts to look for approval from other people, but soon realizes that this is wrong. Overall, I did really like the book, and would recommend it to others.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated in any way. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Noticer: by Andy Andrews. Thomas Nelson Publishing. Based on A True Story.
Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective.
The town of Orange Beach, Alabama is an average small town on the surface. Unseen by others, though, everyone has their own problems. One day an older man, Jones, comes by. Jones has been given a gift: the gift of helping people get the right perspective. Whether it is a marriage that is falling apart, a person who feels they just can't take it anymore, someone who feels they are too old to be any good anymore-Jones can make things look brighter, and life is worth living again. It's all in the person's perspective.
I started reading this book unsure of how I would like it. I was pleasantly surprised, though, and found it very enjoyable. The story deals with different people in a small town who each find themselves caught up in the problems of life. An older gentleman comes along one day (who somehow knows things about their lives they'd thought were hidden), and starts showing them how to get the right perspective, and the changes it will make in their lives. The one thing I was disappointed in is that at one point a character uses a swear word, which really surprised me in a Christian book. Otherwise, although the idea of the book -it's all in your perspective- is very simple, the story brings out some profound and challenging points.
(Disclaimer: As a reviewer I received a free e-copy of this book. Thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for offering this opportunity!)