Showing posts with label book review by Lorilyn Roberts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review by Lorilyn Roberts. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: “Remembering Christmas,” edited by by Yvonne Lehman

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Book Review by Contributor Lorilyn Roberts

When I finished reading Remembering Christmas, so many tears filled my eyes it was hard to see. From sweet stories to special moments, funny anecdotes to heart-wrenching tales, soft poetic lyrics to bold eschatology, there is a story for everyone in this book.

I tried to decide which one was my favorite, but couldn’t. They were all beautifully written. Still, one memoir unexpectedly touched my heart.

In “The Return of the King” by Bob Blundell, he shares a trip he took to Israel, where he stood at the edge of the Valley of Armageddon. This incident was particularly memorable to him because when he was in college, he had read Hal Lindsey’s best-selling book, The Late Great Planet Earth.

Forty-five years earlier, I attended an event at which Hal Lindsey spoke when I was a student at the University of Georgia. What an impact hearing him speak had on my life. Many years earlier, I had also read The Late Great Planet Earth and seen the movie by the same name.

By coincidence, I had listened to a Hal Lindsey YouTube video in my car only a few hours earlier. I was returning home with an old treasured lamp someone had fixed for me for free as a Christmas gift.

“I can tell how much that lamp means to you,” the man said. “Merry Christmas.”

I felt so blessed by the store owner because it took him a while to fix the lamp, and the store rate for repairs was $90 per hour.

Wonderful books tug at your heartstrings. They stir your emotions and cause you to ponder, to remember, to hope, to laugh, to weep. They take you down roads less traveled and quench a longing you might not even know you have.

Remembering Christmas is one of those books. In this season of giving, I’ve enjoyed a quiet moment to read and reflect on the profound meaning of Christmas, not only historically and spiritually, but personally. I will put this poignant book on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again next Christmas and beyond.


Saturday, December 5, 2015

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: If You Only Read One Christian Nonfiction Book This Year, This Should Be It – “Living Backward,” by Angelique Cooper McGlotten



If you only read one Christian nonfiction book this year, this should be it. "Living Backward" is inspiring and God-breathed. In my almost fifty years of being a Christian, I have dealt with almost everything Angelique talks about, but so quickly I forget some of these lessons and how much I need to be reminded.

Thank you, Angelique, for sharing these wonderful Biblical truths and encouraging me that even when I fail, not to give up, but to keep my eyes on Jesus, and to remember that we are just passing through this world on our way to the next. I loved the analogy of the airport and the quote, "Every person alive is on a spiritual layover." 

I was convicted more than once of things I need to change in my own life, and as I prayed for God to make me more holy, the evil one took notice. What a battle we face!


"Living Backward" will make you think about things that are eternal and draw you closer to God as His Holy Spirit speaks to your heart. I wish every Christian would read this book. Thank you for writing "Living Backward" and helping me in my walk with God. What a blessing!


*~*~*~*

Angelique's bio from Amazon: "If you asked me what I do, I'd tell you that I teach, mentor, and volunteer in a variety of capacities. I also write poetry and prose. If you said, Angelique what do you most enjoy doing?, I'd respond that whether it's lending a helping hand, sending a greeting card out of the blue, or picking up thoughtful gifts for others, I love to give. I also love, love, love being used as a channel of God's grace to bless people. Because I absolutely enjoy encouraging others, my husband and children affectionately call me "Triple E" (Encourager, Edifier, and Exhorter). In fact, my latest book, Living Backward, is birthed from my desire to inspire others to live out God's plan for their lives and in so doing experience contentment, genuine success, and lasting significance."

I (Lorilyn Roberts) chuckled when I read Angelique's bio. Angelique is a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network. Many times when I have needed a word of encouragement, Angelique has emailed me to let me know she was praying for me. Her kindness has inspired me to try to be a blessing to others in the same way she has been to me. The right word at just the right moment is the most wonderful gift this side of eternity. Once you have received it, you want to "pass it on."

Friday, December 4, 2015

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: The Gopher & The Erstwhile Wizard, by J.L. Rallios

The Gopher and The Erstwhile Wizard is a delightful story I highly recommend for ages 5 to 14. 

My children are past this age now, but I wish they were young enough that I could read it to them. And yes, I read to my daughters into their teens—family togetherness at its best. This book is also a wonderful story for readers of all ages who love allegories and enjoy Narnia-type books with talking animals and unusual creatures.

I worried about the gopher relentlessly, who always seemed to go from bad to worse in his journey of life, but rest assured, the ending is full of redemption and fulfillment in a way you do not expect.


If you are a Christian, you will see a lot of subtle symbolism. If you are not a Christian, the story will resonate with you because Rallios is a great story-teller. The Gopher & the Erstwhile Wizard is well written, has characters you will love, and a classical feel. I hope readers will pick up The Gopher and The Erstwhile Wizard and add it to their Kindle library. Don't miss out on this one!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: “Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense” by J. Steve Miller and Cherie K. Miller


When I began reading Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense, I was surprised to discover people who I thought were brilliant—like Steve Jobs and Albert Einstein—sometimes believed nonsense. They might have been brilliant, but their thinking was also flawed at times in significant ways. The number of examples J. Miller gives showing how successful people succumb to fallacious thinking surprised me.

Dozens of illustrations of fallacious thinking are cited, including misinterpreting data, drawing erroneous conclusions, asking incorrect questions, exuding overconfidence, being under-confident, married to brands, blinded by prejudices, and on and on. I had a few "ouch" moments myself. I have fallen into some of these ridiculous ways of thinking without even being aware of it.

As an author, I found many parts of the book enlightening. For example, how to ask deeper questions when developing the plot, taking the time to reflect and not make quick assumptions.  I write historical fiction—know my sources, if they are authentic. Are they accurate? (As I work on "The City in the Seventh Dimension Series," I found this especially convicting as I've come across many conspiracy series dealing with the last days).

J. Miller used the example of author Dan Brown and “The Da Vinci Code.” Mr. Brown relied too heavily on conspiracy theories and not enough on solid historical facts. Thus, his book lacked the authenticity it needed to be true, and too many people "bought" into the idea of it being accurate without a thorough examination of the sources.  This is just one example of many that Mr. Miller expounded on to show why brilliant people believe nonsense.

If the smartest people in history have made some of these common mistakes, how many more have the rest of us made? And can we become better thinkers? "Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense" can make us aware of these fallacies and challenge us to think more creatively and intuitively.

Hopefully, the insights I've gleaned will allow me to write more thought-provoking books and be aware of the pitfalls of erroneous thinking. “Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense” is a great read for anyone who enjoys learning how to be a better thinker, and the fascinating stories woven through the pages about people we all know and respect makes this book a delightfully entertaining read.



Friday, January 9, 2015

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: “The Equation: Book 1,” by Malcolm Isted: Most Remarkable Nonfiction Book I’ve Read in a While

I have been doing tons of research for my third book in the Seventh Dimension Series, The Castle: A Young Adult Fantasy, and I stumbled across a very unique book. It’s not for everyone, but it will make you think. It will make you think the guy is a fanatic, but once you start reading it, you will find it very hard to dispute his findings. I venture to say this book is one of those “sleepers” that hasn’t been discovered yet.


Book Description:

Six days after 9/11, on the last day of the Hebrew year 5761 (in 2001), Wall Street’s Dow Jones Industrial Index crashed by a world-record 684 points. Exactly seven years later, on the last day of the Hebrew year 5768 (in 2008), a new one-day record was set when the Dow plunged 777 points. In both instances, the global economy was on the brink of financial Armageddon. 

This is now history, but what happens after this is prophecy – a prophecy of what will happen seven years later on the last day of the Hebrew year 5775 (in 2015). 

When I speak about history and prophecy, I mean that what happened and what will happen on these dates was, and is, an unavoidable certainty. If some are speculating about the outcome and the meaning of this strange, repetitive phenomenon, it is because they do not know that these precise dates on the Hebrew calendar are encoded in the Bible. 

I do not mean that through some obscure, private methodology, we can find codes in the Bible that point to these dates. Those who read THE EQUATION will see that they appear in every verse of the Bible, whether it is the Old or New Testament, and whether it is the original Hebrew, Greek, or the numerous English versions! 

What does this mean? Why is there a secret timeline in the words of the Bible that has been deliberately designed to track the systematic destruction of the global financial system as we know it – and what will replace it? 

Whether we believe in the Bible or not, the immutable laws of probability invested in this timeline are telling us what many already know, that our fiat monetary system is in the final stages of a catastrophic collapse. What they do not know is when this is going to happen and what will follow. 

But THE EQUATION does know because it is based upon every word of the only book that knows the future. It is also based on the actual words that Jesus spoke concerning the day and hour of His coming, and not the mistranslated Greek words found in every Bible (a blatant and easily provable error using Strong’s Concordance). But for this great error that has become a foundational tenet of Christian eschatology (that no one knows this time), many would be prepared for what is to come. 

Whatever you may think about the content of this book, it would be wise to remember that two of its predictions have already been fulfilled to the day in the greatest stock market crashes in history. And because an infinite number of complex codes from the same source have proclaimed that the end of 5775 (in 2015) will also be fulfilled in the same manner (but for a different reason), there is no logical reason to doubt its message. 

Therefore do not say, “We have seen all these predictions before, and they never come to pass.” These codes have never been seen before, and they will be fulfilled because the timeline they have created is being fulfilled. This is what the prophet Daniel was referring to when he was told to “shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end” (12:4). The sealed words refer to codes, and the codes are the dates of the end formed by the words. 

My Review:
(Lorilyn Roberts)

This review is from: THE EQUATION: “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the Book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” - Daniel 12:4 (Codes of the Bible) (Kindle Edition)

I COULDN’T FIND ANYTHING in this book that deviated from my personal understanding of the Bible and tons of information I will spend some time PONDERING. I would recommend to anyone who is not closed-minded or insecure in his or her Christian faith or understanding. At the very least, it will make you stop and think: Am I ready to meet my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

*~*~*~*

I believe God put this book in my path to help me with a scene in The Castle and to develop the plot for the final book in the Seventh Dimension Series, Book 4, tentatively named The City. 

If you like books that make you think, consider buying this one! Purchase here.



Friday, February 7, 2014

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: “Tales of Faeraven – DawnSinger,” by Janalyn Voigt



I reviewed the first book in the Tales of Faeraven Series: DawnSinger, and found it to be a masterpiece that will someday no doubt become a classic. I look forward to reading Wayfarer.













Lorilyn Roberts’ Review from Amazon

DawnSinger is poetry in motion, woven into a classical story that penetrates the soul. Sometimes I found myself stopping to re-read a sentence where I just wanted to soak in the way Janalyn Voigt had penned it. 

As an author, I wanted to admire the craftsmanship. Where did she learn to write like that? You can’t teach this kind of artistry. Janalyn has a gift. 

If you love books by JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, you must read DawnSinger as well as the second book in the series, WayFarer, just published. Otherwise, you will deny yourself the enjoyment of some of the best literature written in the last 20 years.

THE LATEST IN THE 

Tales of Faeraven Series 

WAYFARER 




* * * * * *


Janalyn Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Tales of Faeraven, her epic fantasy series beginning with DawnSinger, carries the reader into a land only imagined in dreams.
Janalyn is represented by Sarah Joy Freese of Wordserve Literary. Her memberships include ACFW and NCWA.

When she’s not writing, Janalyn loves to discover worlds of adventure in the great outdoors.
Author Site for Janalyn Voigt: (author journals, travel journals, guest journals, and book news)

Site for Writers: Live Write Breathe (teaching articles plus free How to Edit PDF)

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

LORILYN ROBERTS BOOK REVIEW: “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte




This is the first year (10th grade) that my younger daughter has been in public school. We homeschooled most of elementary and middle school with a stint in private school. I had no idea what to expect, except that I sincerely hoped she would get a good education that would prepare her for college. 

I have to admit, I am surprised that Wuthering Heights is one of the books she's had to read for English. I reviewed it a while back and believe it to be one of the most perfect books I've read. I praise the school system of Alachua County, Florida, for exposing my daughter to some of the best classics ever written. 


Wuthering Heights
By Emily Bronte
Critique by Lorilyn Roberts




Wuthering Heights is one of the most perfect novels I have read.  Here are my thoughts on what makes Wuthering Heights an outstanding read and why it’s considered a classic:

Characterization:

There are no extraneous characters introduced into the story. Each person serves a purpose and is often complementary to another character in the book, like a mirrored reflection or a duality, sometimes the same, sometimes opposing; i.e., Catherine and Heathcliff, Edgar and Isabella Linton, Hindley and Heathcliff, the younger Catherine and Hareton,  Mr. Lockwood and Nelly, Nelly and Joseph,  the two families at Wuthering Heights and the Grange, the mother Catherine and the younger Catherine,  and Isabella and Heathcliff. The relationships among the characters are complicated and evolving. If you were to take one of the characters out of this story, the plot development would be negatively altered. The plot is character-driven and tightly woven throughout the story.
Tone:

The tone of the story is brooding and dark. The sensuous feeling is foreboding, first exhibited in the setting that Emily Bronte describes in detail. There is an element of overarching suspense and aversion to the characters:  The morose Heathcliff; mother Catherine who dies of a brain disorder; the drink of Hindley; the tragic life of Isabella following her marriage to Heathcliff; the delightful younger Catherine who succumbs to depression after coming under the control of Heathcliff. The depressing scene and dysfunctional characters that greet Lockwood’s arrival prompt him to ask Nelly to explain the history behind Wuthering Heights.


Societal:

I was struck by how Emily Bronte weaves the social status of the characters into the story: Joseph and his barely intelligible English; Nelly, the servant, and principal narrator, and her portrayal of others from an inferior social position; the many differences between the upper-class Lintons and the middle-class Earnshaws; the emphasis on social structure with less opportunity for upward mobility, which impacted the “heart” of the story - mother Catherine sacrifices her desire for Heathcliff  to achieve a higher social status by marrying Edgar. The characters’ traits, flaws, and attributes within the structure of society make for believable people that the reader both loves and hates.


Multi-generational:

The differences between the generations were striking: Heathcliff and mother Catherine seemed unable to change with the passage of time or grow as individuals. They were locked into extremisms that became dead-end roads. Eventually, their flawed natures doomed them to early deaths, providing an opportunity for the next generation in Catherine and Hareton to overcome the past. In contrast to their parents, they were able to adapt and redeem the past, and through their transformation, the reader is filled with hope for the future. The multigenerational aspect of time adds to the completeness of the story—this is a family with a history, a past that threatens to destroy the future.


Spiritual/Psychological:

Emily Bronte probes deeply the psychological aspects of people’s behavior and the ramifications of the dark side of human nature. The story touches on the spiritual nature of the individuals, with references to the small church, the recurring battle with death, the repeated references to ghosts, and Joseph’s incessant recitation of Scripture.  

Themes:

The many themes are timeless—love that is forbidden, prejudices that hurt people,  the meaninglessness of life without hope, hate that destroys, the vindictiveness of human nature, and the darkness of the soul without God.

Setting:

Established in the first paragraph, a “perfect misanthropist’s heaven.” Right away, I am told a lot about this story in a unique way which encourages me to keep reading.

Classic Author Similarities:

I am struck by the fact that many classics, like this one, have been written by individuals who have experienced tremendous suffering. I wonder if there is a relationship between the giftedness to write great stories and the degree to which one has endured hardship. Perhaps the strong emotions that are pent up in a tortured soul find solace in the pen as a healing balm.

Risky:

Creative, original stories take risks. For instance, there isn’t one protagonist versus one antagonist in Wuthering Heights. Ninety-five percent of the story is dark and unsettling; the story reinforces negative stereotypical issues and characters. The orphan is the troublemaker and destroyer of the family, perpetuating a common “myth” among adoptees. 

Joseph uses the Bible in a beguiling way to demean people, contrary to the Good Book’s ultimate purpose. The submissive role of women and their inability to escape from abusive husbands or families is also perpetuated in Wuthering Heights, reinforcing the long-held notion that women are inferior to men.  Despite these risks, Emile Bronte creates a masterpiece.

Fictional Dream:

Emily Bronte immerses the reader into a world that is vivid and dream-like, with colorful characters and a complex plot. She uses literary techniques that make this is a compelling read, one worth pondering after the last page is finished. It’s a shame she died so young—what other books might she have written?