#87 - Jesus Today - Sarah Young

#87

Title:  Jesus Today

Author:   Sarah Young

Genre:  Spiritual

Category:  Non-Fiction

Rating:  B

Published:  2012

Dates:  1/1/15 – 12/30/15

Pages:  363

This daily devotional fit the bill for me this year.  Written during a critical three year period in the life of the author, Sarah Young, passes on her expertise in the area of reaching into our souls.  And my soul certainly needed to hear what she had to say.  I particularly paid attention to the action words so that I could try to practically apply what she had to say about hope, encouragement and what it takes to boost your day.  Each evening I would read the message and supporting Biblical verses and then journal what I’d read and what action I could take to implement an important element.  For example, one day I read her message based upon John 1:5, “I am the light that shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it and it never will!”  Some action words she offered that helped me, as though Jesus were speaking to me, were “stop everything and pour out your heart to Me.  Carve out some time and space to talk with Me about your problems and your feelings.  Let Me help you carry your burdens and show you the way forward.”  Not only were these words comforting to me, by actually doing what was asked helped me get through days and weeks of despair, tears and sorrow and actually learning to trust and give my concerns to Him.  This book is a keeper that I can use anytime.  Thank you Jesus for speaking so clearly to me through Sarah Young.

#86 - Peter and the Starcatchers - Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

#86

Title:  Peter and the Starcatchers

Author:  Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Read by:  Jim Dale

Genre:  Fiction

Rating:  B+

Published:  2004

Dates:   12/15/15 – 12/23/15

Cds/Hrs: 7/9

This prequel to Peter Pan is precious.  An adventure to say the least full of imagination, detail, humor and wonderfully developed characters.  Peter and his pals, also orphans, find themselves on a ship, the Never Land.  Along the way they meet Molly daughter of a Starcatcher who talks to porpoises.  As Peter becomes more immersed in learning what a Starcatcher is and the secret of a fantastical trunk, the winds pick up, a band of pirates and thieves invade their territory and before you can say Mollusk Island Peter and company find themselves right there.  Getting lost and found is fraught with danger.  If you ever loved Peter Pan as a kid, you’ll want to keep listening to learn the back story of the art of flying, a crocodile, and a pixie.    And Jim Dale narrates as only Jim Dale knows how.

#85 - Speaking from Among the Bones - Alan Bradley

#85

Title:  Speaking from Among the Bones

Author:  Alan Bradley

Read by:  Jayne Entwistle

Genre:  Fiction

Rating:  B

Published:  2013

Dates:   12/6/15 – 12/28/15

Cds/Hrs: 8/8

Fifth in the series we find eleven year old Flavia de Luce ensconced in a murder mystery.  This time she’s at St. Tancred’s during the week preceding Easter.  Upon the 500^th anniversary death of St. Tancred’s patron saint, the community is preparing to open his tomb.  Flavia is so excited at the anticipation of such an event.  Neither she nor anyone else is expecting to find Mr. Collicutt, the church organist, dead in the crypt   With chemistry, Flavia’s passion, she pulls the clues together and helps solve the mystery.  I think this is the best Bradley offers us so far in this fun English mystery series set in Bishop’s Lacey, a quaint village, of the mid-20^th century.