When Helping Hurts, by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett

We have been hosting a weekly book study for missionaries and interns the past couple of months, based on the book When Helping Hurts:Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.  From the book's webpage:

Pastors, deacon boards, mercy ministry teams, home and foreign missions committees, missionaries, and donors will all benefit from reading "When Helping Hurts." It is also appropriate for an individual or for a group such as a Sunday school class, a ministry team, and a small group Bible study.  This is a must read book for those ministering to the poor! 

This one is definitely sure to spark some discussions and changes in the way we consider and deal with missions locally and worldwide.  WARNING:  You will get your toes stepped on in this one.  I don't know anyone on earth who can read this and not recognize some error in how you've thought about or responded to poverty, but don't let that stop you.  We need to learn more about this and really change some things, and change isn't always easy.

The first part of the book deals with how we view the poor.  If you thought about your assumptions and came up with a list of what a poor person looks like and deals with, you may be surprised to compare with the actual poor person's description of himself.  As North Americans, we tend to look at poverty as a lack of material goods, and we visualize someone with ratty clothes, maybe a bit of bad hygiene, hungry, homeless--you get the idea.  But in interviewing very poor people in the US and abroad, what stood out in their descriptions of themselves was a broader picture, that of shame, isolation, fear, hopelessness, loneliness.

The authors then explain that being poor is not just lack of material possessions or resources, but is a poverty of the four relationships God ordained--with Him, with others, with self, and with one's environment.  Anyone who is out of whack in those areas is going to be lacking in material goods as well, and anyone lacking in material goods is out of whack in one or more of those areas.  The key to helping is to determine which area(s) and help reconcile the person.  Now, I'm oversimplifying this in a HUGE way, but keep in mind that this is just my personal take on the book.

Another very important point the authors make is in the type of relief we offer to folks.  There are several levels of help, starting with basic relief (think natural disaster and people displaced from their homes in an emergency situation) and progressing to rehabilitating and then developing.  The book is full of practical ways to properly help people based on the type of help they need.  For example, the single mom who can't pay her bills because she can't afford childcare during working hours.  She doesn't need someone to keep paying her bills, she needs someone to help her find childcare or a job where she can bring her child.  The community that suffered from a hurricane two years ago doesn't still need donations and building teams as much as they need their economy restored and their businesses functioning again.  The family who just lost their home to fire doesn't need career counseling, but they do need immediate relief.  Most times, we tend to respond very well in relief situations, especially after natural disasters, but we don't know when or how to move past this and help those affected get back to the level they were before the disaster, and then if needed, progress even further.

This has been a huge topic of conversation between Ken and me since arriving full-time on the mission field.  Our views of what people need and what we give them have changed so much over the past few years.  We've learned a lot about enabling poverty, and about contributing to people staying in poverty, all in the name of doing good.  We've looked back at many of the things we ourselves have done in our lives, thinking we were helping someone out, but probably doing more harm than good.  Missions is the perfect place to make this mistake, whether it's with the family who visits the church to ask for help with their electric bill, the community you'll visit as a youth group, or the village across the world where you'll send a short-term team.

Unfortunately, short-term mission trips are notorious for bringing relief to an area that needs the next step.  There are a million reasons for this.  It makes us feel good to give.  It seems like the right thing to do.  The rewards are immediate and the process is quick.  It's easy to prepare for this.  On and on and on.  There are times when this is appropriate, but not nearly as many times as it happens.  Recognizing those times and responding differently when needed, is where most tend to drop the ball.  There is a lot of buzz about short-term trips these days, and I'm thrilled about it.  I was involved in two-week to one-month-long trips to foreign countries before we came here, and there is a lot of good that can come from a mission trip.  However, there are lots of ways to hurt those we think we're ministering to, as well, and often without ever realizing it.  I think that honestly looking at these issues and being open to talk about them, changing what we need to change, is extremely important.

Let me reiterate that anyone interested in missions of any sort really should read this book.  It will revolutionize your short-term trips, your charitable giving, and your reactions to the guy on the corner with the "Need Work" sign.  I have to warn you that there are a few theological assumptions I don't particularly agree with, and it gets hard to follow and drawn out at times, but stick with this one anyway.  If we really want to make a dent in poverty around the block or around the world, I can agree 100% that we have to change some things.  We have to shift the way we view the poor, rethink our goals in helping them, and really understand the right way to alleviate their poverty.  This book is a great place to start.

Fearless, by Max Lucado

I must admit that I don't always enjoy reading Max Lucado. My mother is die-hard, and probably owns every book he writes, but he just doesn't write in a style that holds my attention. HOWEVER, Thomas Nelson Publishers hooked me up again with an ebook, and I got a lot out of old Max's latest writings. This one is entitled, Fearless.

The author left out the flowery descriptions of our everyday life situations, and instead gave a matter-of-fact list of our biggest fears, with real, believable examples. Some of these are so common to humanity that we don't even realize we carry them around, but we do live out our reactions to the fears. Lucado provides practical advice for dealing with the fears, as well as the truth that can dispel each one. He makes it clear that the opposite of fear is faith. I would recommend this book to just about anyone who would like to shed some extra baggage and walk a little lighter.

The Noticer, by Andy Andrews

I love a good read, and I recently finished The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I'd not gotten to read his first book, The Traveler's Gift, so jumped at the chance for this one. I got this as a free e-book from Thomas Nelson Publishing (which makes it all the sweeter), and read it on my phone. (Have I mentioned lately how thankful I am to be able to do that?!)

It's technically a fictional story about a strange prophet-like old man who appears and disappears at various time periods in the author's life. However, the lessons taught by this mysterious man read more like a good self-help book, with practical advice that can be applied to many situations. The whole theme is that our experiences in life can be handled or mishandled, depending on PERSPECTIVE. There was a lot of food for thought, and the practical application of these theories through the little vignettes gave great examples of how a change in perspective can go a long way. So today, I applied that to my life and decided that instead of saying how hot it is, I'd point out how nice it was to not have to lug around a heavy coat. Thanks for the help, Mr. Andrews! ;)

In The Shadow of the Sun King, by Golden Keyes Parsons

February 5, 2009
0Thomas Nelson Publishers once again supplied me with a wonderful book to read in return for my review of it. This book had to pass through a lot of hands to finally make it to me, though. I agreed to read it thinking it would come BEFORE we left the States. It came, in fact, the day after we left for Paraguay. So my mom retrieved it from our mailbox 2 weeks later, she passed it to my mother-in-law, who gave it to my sister-in-law, who'd heard through a friend-of-a-friend that someone somebody knew was making a trip to Paraguay. So my sister-in-law (God bless her) tracked this nice lady down and asked her to bring a care package to us in her luggage, including the book and some much needed pop-tarts.

The lady with the book happened to come and go while we were in Argentina, so she left the book with the missionaries she was visiting. My friend in the city agreed to go by the home of these other missionaries to retrieve the book, and we met her husband later to pick it up. The afternoon after I got it, we lost power in a thunderstorm that lasted well into the night. What was there to do but read? I devoured this book in one pleasant evening. So three months and a lot of hands later, I finally got to read In the Shadow of the Sun King, by first-time fictional author Golden Keyes Parsons. Let me say right off the bat that it was worth the wait, and thanks to all those who got it into MY hands.

The book is historical fiction, based in seventeenth century France. The French Protestants (Huguenots) are being persecuted by the Catholics and forced to convert or suffer the violent consequences. The story follows one noble Huguenot family through their persecution, including a visit to the king's court at Versaille and eventual fleeing to Geneva. Madeleine, the lady of the home, must come to terms with her past romantic relationship with the king in the process.

The author was sensitive in her details of the torture inflicted on those refusing to convert, giving enough description to understand the magnitude of the situation, without making me grimace over the finer points of the bloody truth. I definitely appreciated that. I also was a big fan of how human the heroine turned out to be. She was no Super-Christian, blameless and pure, but instead was a real woman struggling with real thoughts and fighting for the safety of her household, including her mother, her three young children, her husband, and a host of servants. I was pleased at how much suspense and adrenaline there was, mixed with love plots and girlie drama. A perfect mix! The author maintained a Christian worldview without being sappy and totally predictable, and without loading the pages with mini-sermons. The sermon was in the lives of these people, fictional characters based on the author's own family tree.

Enough of the conflict was resolved by the end of the story to feel good about closing the back cover, but there's plenty hanging in the wings for the next book in the series, due out August, 2009. Maybe I can get that one in my hands by next Christmas!!

The Healing, by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Who doesn't love a good Amish romance novel? I wasn't disappointed when I picked up The Healing and got swept into the world of plain people. There is typically a level of predictability in these novels that makes them an easy read, without much guesswork involved. However, I was biting my nails and reading quickly through several parts to see how the characters would work out their dilemmas, and who would end up in love with whom.

A young father moves out of state just after the death of his wife, hoping he and his four children can make a new start and move past the suffocating grief. He is so caught up in his depression that he neglects his children. The community steps in to offer help, including a new, successful friend who offers this widower a job.

At the same time, a young lady who's recently lost her fiance to her best friend, finds herself living alone for the first time. She must find a way to make ends meet and navigate these important years of moving into a more independent state of adulthood.

An Englisher moves into town to renovate the home her grandmother left her, and tries to learn about the ways of her Amish neighbors. When she decides to permanently move into this house, she is faced with things to reconcile and new possibilites.

The widower's brother and his fiancee are put into a difficult position as they adapt to all the changes that are taking place. Their love is put to the test, and they begin to question whether they have what it takes to last as a married couple.

As we meet each of these characters and learn of the hurts they've all endured, we see God's hand working within the community to bring about healing. We also see various twists and turns in the romantic feelings, doubts, and declarations that come about in the daily life of these people in need of healing. This is a good book to add to your rainy day list.

Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers

When I got the opportunity to read Redeeming Love for review, I was sure that it could not live up to all the hype it's garnered over the years. No way could any Christian historical fiction be THAT good. Okay, it's that good. This retelling of the Biblical story of Hosea and his straying wife spoke of divine grace and redemption and that forever-kind-of-love that reaches out to all of us and never gives up.

Set in the California Gold Rush of the 1800's, we find our heroine working in a brothel as a prostitute, enslaved to the only life she's known since her mother's death. When a local farmer hears God's tell him to marry her, she must come to terms with a new lifestyle and the love this man is offering. Can she leave behind all that is familiar to take a chance on someone who promises something that seems impossible? Can she find the strength to hope again, after all her hopes have been crushed and destroyed already? Can she learn to let down her walls of defense in order to escape the horrible hell she has had to live in?

This beautiful allegory relates the agape love of God that causes Him to seek us out in our sin, draw us to Him, and be faithful to us no matter our shortcomings. The study guide included with this edition brings those lessons out, focusing on the practical applications of Michael and Angel's continuing struggles. This helps the reader to see herself in the characters, and to recognize how faithful God is even when we stray far from Him.

I would recommend this book to any of my adult friends, but especially to a ladies' book club or a Bible study group. And although the author was very careful about how she handled the sexual relations and abusive incidents that took place, they were very strong and should be previewed before offering this book to a teenaged reader.

The Power of Praying Wife Devotional

Author Stormie Omartian has done it again! Taking The Power of a Praying Wife a step further, this devotional captures all the feel of her former books, with a practical method for putting these prayers into regular daily use. The topics are divided into three categories--me, him, and us--which rotate throughout the 100 days. This takes the focus off of "God, fix him," types of prayers and invites the reader to look inward and see where God might be wanting to work in her own life, and then to look at her marriage as a partnership.

Each of the 100 days offers an easy-to-read explanation of that day's prayer topic, including supporting scriptures and specific instances when this prayer may be needed or particularly useful. The prayer then wraps this all together in a way that each woman can either read it as written or adapt for her individual circumstances.

The topics range from broad, such as number 31, "When I Long to Excel in All I Do," to very specific, as in number 80, "When He Must Make Peace with His Father". This book can be read straight through to get the maximum benefit of the "I, he, we" pattern, or can be taken out of order when a specific prayer need exists.

This is definitely a book every married Christian woman should read, and one that would make a very timely gift for a new bride. There is a lot to be learned within the pages of the devotional, and a lot to be gained from the prayers that will follow.

Havah, by Tosca Lee

Put aside the flannel-graph figures of the Adam and Eve, and the coloring pages of the Garden of Eden. This book fills in the details behind the well-known Sunday-school story, from the creation of Eve until almost a millennium later. Beginning at the moment that God ("the One") calls out "Wake!" to the woman he's just taken from Adam's side, Eve tells us the joys, pains, victories, and mistakes of her life.

The first part of the book describes life in the garden, showing us how the perfection of that world really looked. The animals and humans communicated with each other without the need of spoken words. Beautiful sights and sounds made up the paradise that housed these first inhabitants, and the author's descriptions were both detailed and poetic. (At this point let me caution future readers that some content is a bit mature. The marital relationship was handled delicately but with more candor than would be appropriate for teenagers.)

Hearing the story from Eve's perspective made so many points come alive, such as the first sin. I felt as if I was there with her as she neared the tree and fell into the serpent's trap. And even though I knew what she'd do, I was begging her not to. I felt the emotions along with Eve throughout the exile, in the adjustments she and Adam had to make in living outside of paradise, and the stages of life and death that she learned about. The child-like innocence she possessed and the fact that she'd lived in a perfect state, gave her a unique perspective.

As the story and the years go on, sin and its effects on the world are more and more prevalent. I was reminded of how truly sad this life is, in comparison to what the Creator intended.

Even knowing the important details in the Biblical account, I never became bored. I loved the way the author delved into the interesting extra things that the Bible doesn't mention. For example, how did the exile play out? How did Adam and Eve learn to survive after the exile? What did the mark on Cain look like? The story showed things such as the beginnings of idol worship, the evolution of arts, how the Fall affected Adam and Eve's relationship. And none of these elaborations took away from the facts I know from the Bible. If anything, I finished this book with a greater understanding of God's love, the effects of sin in our lives, and how beautiful the second Adam's sacrifice was in reconciling us to the One.

Through the Storm, by Lynne Spears

Okay, let me say from the start that I've never been a Britney-fan. I love cutesy pop music (I was an original New Kids on the Block fanatic, and don't get me started on Milli Vanilli!!), but the fact that I am extremely picky about who my daughters are exposed to meant that I never got into the bare-midriff, questionable lyrics, and overly flirtacious music of Ms. Spears. So I never bothered to keep up with all the drama surrounding her life and fame over the years. However, I am a book freak, and Britney's mom just wrote one.

Lynne Spears just finished a book entitled, Through the Storm, A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World. The publishers, Thomas Nelson, offered a free copy of the book to the first 200 folks who agreed to blog about what they read, so here I am. You just can't beat a free book. (Ask the librarians of the three local branches, who know us all by name...)

If you read a lot, you may be disappointed in the style of her writing. Lynne jumps around quite a bit, with her story going from her own childhood to her adult life back to her parents' childhoods and so on, so much so that I was dizzy keeping up at times. Not a real sequential story-line. And if you're looking for the dirt on her now famous daughters, there's none of that, thankfully. (Britney's little sister Jamie Lynn, starred on Disney's Zoey 101, and is now infamous for her teen pregnancy.)

What you'll find is a really honest story of a small-town Southern family that got caught up in the hoopla of sudden fame, and had already gotten into quite a few messes before they knew what hit them. This mother readily admits that she made lots of mistakes along the way, some of which her children paid for in the long run. From the perspective of a parent, I can look back already at some times I've trusted the "professionals" rather than my instinct (I'm still so sorry that I held Camille down to have blood drawn by a quack doctor instead of going with my gut feeling that something wasn't right there). Lynne left some pretty important situations to be decided by "the pros" as well, costing some of her daughters' innocence and lots of heartache.

It's evident that she loves her children, though, and that she has a relationship with the Lord that has held her through some pretty tough times. It is refreshing in this day and age to find someone who is truthful about her shortcomings, and who is still praying and believing that her children will return to their Christian roots.

One thing I really like about this book is that the author said she wrote it for her children, to give them a look into her heritage and her life as a woman, and not just as their mom. She wanted them to understand who she was in an effort to understand some of the decisions she made. While the general feel of the book is that Lynne is defending her motherhood and trying to set the record straight on her own behalf, she repeats throughout that she wishes she had been more proactive in her children's lives. I don't feel so bad now for being called overprotective. Thanks, Lynne, and keep praying. ;)

A Reluctant Queen, by Joan Wolf

How many historical fiction retellings of Queen Esther can we have? Well, make room for one more that definitely earned its place on my bookshelf. The author makes it clear that she skews a little from the Biblical version for the sake of turning a short story into a novel, but she in no way takes away from the bravery of so many people in the incredible journey of this young queen.

What made this book different than the rest was the personal take on the characters. Esther wasn't depicted as the infallible, totally-submissive-to-the-will-of-God, perfect beauty we sometimes imagine. Instead, her conflicts and struggles are real, and she is a person we can identify with. She wrestles with her decisions, often very unsure of which way she should go and doubting her choices once she makes them. We feel her sense of being betrayed, of abandonment, of culture shock, and her fear and confusion in how to deal with circumstances that go from bad to worse before resolving.

Esther finds herself in the king's harem, earns the good graces of those working there and later of the king himself, and moves into the position of queen. She uses her position to affect change at various levels, from the castle to the harem. She eventually learns of a plot to annihilate her people, the very people she has neglected to claim as part of her identity. She must decide if losing the love and trust of the king she has fallen in love with is worth the risk she could take to possibly help her kinsmen. Her decision changed history.

I enjoyed this book on so many levels. Knowing the actual account in the book of Esther, I was touched by the challenges this real life hero had to overcome. I was engrossed in the fictional plots because they were well-developed. I found inspiration by realizing the source of Esther's--and my--strength. I look forward to reading more by Joan Wolf.

**I read this book courtesy of www.booksneeze.com, a division of Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Vicious Cycle, by Terri Blackstock

Amidst the happiness of his older sister's graduation from a drug rehab program, fifteen-year-old Lance Covington finds himself twisted up in dangerous crime. The classmate he befriended, Jordan, chose not to finish her time in rehab but returned home to give birth to a meth-addicted baby. When Lance tries to intervene, his good deeds get twisted around into suspected criminal acts, and he goes from being a straight-laced kid to an accused felon in a matter of hours. His family, along with the policeman who helped save his sister's life a year ago, must come together to clear Lance's name, help the mother and newborn baby, and solve the dilemmas that come up along the way.

Although some of the situations resolved in a predictable way, the book kept me interested because it had several key subplots formed around Lance's main story. When Lance's sister comes home, she struggles with those things that a recovering addict must face upon re-entering her former world. Lance's widowed mother is coping with the romantic interest she has in this helpful policeman, and we see how this affects each member of the family. Jordan must decide if the future of her baby has more value than what Jordan wants today. We enter into the world of baby trafficking, witnessing the reality of something we'd rather not think about.

Throughout each of the situations, the family is strengthened as they support each other and look out for the others' interests. This is a stark contrast to the family of Jordan, the new mother, but the Covingtons reach out to her rather than shunning her. I found this book inspiring, following each person as they overcame the personal and familial obstacles they faced. This is a great rainy day book, that has an element of suspense and adrenaline, but makes you feel all warm and fuzzy by the time you put it down.

Masters & Slayers, by Bryan Davis

Masters & Slayers is the first book in the Tales of Starlight series for adults by Bryan Davis. This series is the slightly more ramped up version of the Dragons of Starlight series, written for teens. My daughters had recently read the first of their series and were excited about the plot, so I dove into my corresponding book.

At first, it seemed I’d entered in the middle of a book, or picking up where a previous one had left off. I was a little lost in the first few chapters, and had a hard time grabbing the characters. The rest of the book was worth the confusion, however. I followed the young hero and heroine from their world, an odd mix of modern and medieval, into the realm ruled by cruel dragons who’d enslaved humans generations ago. The two fight to free these captives, starting the series with exciting rescues and hints of a future relationship. They were assisted by various spirit beings, and a dragon who was difficult to judge, at times helping the heroes, and at times siding with his fellow dragons. Do these additional characters turn out to be helpers or hindrances to the cause?

I particularly enjoyed the similarities between the physical situations of the captives, and spiritual implications that apply in our own world today. Some slaves had given up their hope for salvation, choosing to accept their enslavement and live under the burden of their taskmasters. When the hero appeared, his way to freedom seemed too risky to some, too different from what they’d always known. At no part of the book, however, was there a preachy feel or direct mention of Christianity.

Several things made this book one I won’t be sharing with my early teen daughters. A few violent depictions of murder and/or maiming, at times involving children, put this out of range for their bookshelf. Also, several explanations of the breeding rooms were a bit too suggestive, although there was still much left to the imagination. I would definitely recommend this to any adult friends who enjoy the fantasy genre.

Dry As Rain, by Gina Holmes

This book was definitely not dry. I can’t remember the last time I read a romantic fiction that was so easy to get into and so quick to hook me. The book begins with Eric’s thoughts about being separated from his wife, Kyra, and crossing the line of betrayal. He soon learns that an automobile accident has left Kyra with amnesia, and she’ll need a caregiver. Since she doesn’t remember the marital problems that have come about over the last few years, her husband is given a new shot at repairing the breach. How far can he go without sharing the full truth with the woman he still loves and wants to win back?

I enjoy a good love story, but I do find the men in most stories a bit angelic at times. They delve into their emotions and say things no normal man would say, getting much more “warm and fuzzy” than any men I know. This is NOT a book full of fluffy words and feminine men. Although we hear the whole story from Eric’s point-of-view and this is clearly a love story, there’s no doubt that this guy is a man’s man. The hero is real. He is struggling with real issues, and he must face the real consequences of his actions. He speaks in everyday language, is sometimes a bad father, a bad friend, a bad husband.

There were so many themes touched on throughout the book, including forgiveness, misunderstandings, empty nest, marital infidelity, addictions, divorce, grace, and prejudice. I would recommend this to anyone of the age to be considering marriage, as there are some great life lessons, but the content is questionable for anyone younger than that. Don't expect something from a cheap date movie where Cupid prevails in ways that make no sense. Instead, the characters and situations are believable, but never predictable. The story is inspiring and touching, but above all, real. I felt like I was on the other end of a phone, listening to a friend fill me in on his life. I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it.

Girls Gone Wise, by Mary Kassian

I recently had the privilege of reading an e-copy of Mary Kassian’s book, Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild, thanks to the folks over at NetGalley. Targeted at women of all ages, this book would benefit any female from 12 to 112 who wants to be sure she is following God’s plan for Biblical femininity. Using Solomon’s descriptions of a woman of wisdom (Proverbs 31) and a wild woman (Proverbs 7), Kassian highlights twenty areas of life that are measuring points for where each of us fall on the scale. She delved into these areas, such as possessions, attitudes, and roles, and shined enough light for the reader to examine herself clearly.

Not only were the chapters very informative, but they were packed with examples and stories that made the reading easy and interesting. It was easy while reading to tell where I fell on the scale between wise and wild. The author didn’t only inform the reader about the difference, but she also explained the cultural dynamics that turn us toward the wild side, and the Biblical truths that call us to live a life of wisdom.

I enjoyed reading this book alone but plan to use it with our daughters and perhaps as a small-group study with other young ladies. The study questions and webpage full of further resources make this a must-have for women of all ages, as well as those who work with girls and women.

Wolf of Tebron, by CS Lakin

At times I review books provided to me free of charge from their publishers. With all the down time I've had lately, I've really enjoyed the opportunity to get caught up on a few of these. I just finished Wolf of Tebron, by CS Lakin, that could be described as a cross between Pilgrim's Progress and The Chronicles of Narnia.

What a spectacular book! I got caught up in this epic struggle in the very first chapter, and didn’t put the book down until I’d read it through. In this allegory, Joran, a simple young man, finds himself leaving the world he’s always known in search of his wife, who was captured by some force of magic. He is joined by a wolf who accompanies and guides him on his quest. Their adventures force Joran to confront his inner demons and embrace who he was meant to be.

This is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. Parents who read this to young children will find them hanging on every word as Joran journeys around the world to free his captive wife, having interesting conversations with animals as he goes. Older children will understand that the struggle goes beyond his fight to liberate her, and is actually a battle within his own self. Teens and adults will recognize themselves in the classic war between flesh and spirit.

Sprinkled on every page are pertinent proverbs from various sources, making this not only a wonderful work of fiction, but practically a manual for wise living. The characters are cleverly named, causing a bit of foreshadowing throughout the developing story. For example, the wife who is kind and forgiving despite her husband’s failures, is named Charris, almost the Greek word charis, which means grace—unmerited favor. The South Wind is named Noommah, which is pronounced like its Greek counterpart, pneuma, meaning breath or spirit.

At the end are study questions, making this a perfect book club read or high school literature assignment. It would also make a wonderful family read-aloud, worth the effort to expound on the themes and discuss the practical applications. I've already passed this one to Caroline, who also gave it two thumbs up. A must read!