All That We Carried by Erin Bartels

-

 


I will read any book that Erin Bartels writes; I have enjoyed everyone of them. 

Two sisters, estranged for a decade decide to go hiking in the Porcupine Mountains. One sister is hoping for reconciliation, one is simply trying to get the other one to stop bugging her. One is a micro-manager, bossy big sister, one is just trying to gain approval and have a good time. One believes in nothing and one believes in everything. How is this hike going to go? And all-encompassing is the question, what happened ten years ago that cause the estrangement between the sisters?

I'm not going to tell you the answer to that question. In fact, I'm not going to tell you much more about the book, except this--it all went wrong. The hike was a disaster and the looming question is: if there is a God why did He let everything go wrong? And yet? There is an answer to that question by the end of the book-a life-saving answer.

How do I describe the book? I think it was life-changing for each sister as they came face-to-face with some of their fears and ideas and found them challenged and wanting. They were forced to confront the fact that God is good and that He does care. That is my take-away from the book. The one thing that I didn't like about the book is there wasn't an obvious salvation--there was just a mindset shift in both sisters. I would have enjoyed knowing that the sisters found God to be a personal Savior and that they pursued a life walking with Him. The book doesn't definitively answer that question, but it does give clues, it does point in the right direction. 

The question for me as I finish this book is this: are there things in my life that I am foolishly holding on to - grudges, unforgiveness, bitterness, revenge, false beliefs, etc. - that are holding me back from experiencing fullness of life? Are they making me need to micro-manage and control? What do I need to let go of to find true freedom? Thought-provoking and sobering questions, but so needed if we each wish to gain freedom. 

I received this book from Revell and was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own. And now I eagerly wait for the next book that Erin is writing. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fragrant Whiffs of Joy by Dorcas Smucker (It's Giveaway time)

-
Image
Ah yes, this was just what the doctor ordered. I've wanted to review Dorcas' last book or two and was always too chicken to ask, but this time I threw caution to the wind and said, "Yes, I want to review your book." And I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect book for this stage in my life. Short, easy to read chapters that can be picked up and read whenever and wherever. They are guaranteed to either make you laugh, smile, cry, or or just give you that ah-ha feeling that someone else experiences life like that too.  I could quote from pretty much every chapter something that struck me in one of those ways, but I really want you to go buy the book so I won't do that many spoilers. I only want to give you a hint of what is to come in the book. First off, isn't the cover beautiful? I can dream of a kitchen table like that with the apple pie still steaming and the tea pot, or coffee pot more likely, full to the brim and a beautiful arrangement of flowers
Read more

PRECIOUS CHILD

-
In my dreams, you are alive and well Precious child, precious child In my mind, I see you clear as a bell Precious child, precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be filled But in my heart, there is hope 'Cause you are with me still In my heart, you live on Always there never gone Precious child, you left too soon Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart In my plans, I was the first to leave Precious child, precious child But in this world, I was left here to grieve Precious child, my precious child In my soul, there is a hole That can never be  filled But in my heart there is hope And you are with me still In my heart you live on Always there, never gone Precious child, you left too soon,  Tho' it may be true that we're apart You will live forever... in my heart God knows I want to hold you,  See you, touch you And maybe there's a heaven And someday I will again Please know yo
Read more

With Every Memory by Janine Rosche

-
Image
  The story opens with Lori returning home after a year in rehab following a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury and missing memories. She works hard to regain her former life, but as her memories return, things seem confusing and hard. What happened in those years she is missing in her memory? I'm not going to say more about the story; I don't want to give anything away, but you start to wonder pretty early on in the book, what actually happened. The story flips back and forth between Lori and her daughter, Avery.  This is a story of redemption, hope and healing. It is a story of grief and loss, a bit of rebellion, but a lot of love too. It's a story about faithfulness in the midst of unfaithfulness. All in all, it's a good book, and one that had me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out how everything came together in the end.  I really enjoyed this book and would be interested in reading more by Janine in the future. I received this boo
Read more