The Captive Heart by W. Dale CramerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I don't read a lot of amish fiction, and have to admit that when I started this one, I had more stereotypes in my head than I thought. I grew up and live in an area with lots of Amish, and despite not knowing any personally, thought I had a good idea of them. As I was reading this book, I thought several times,"this is so unrealistic!" It wasn't til I finished the book and read the note from the author that I realized he probably knew what he was talking about! So, that said, I did enjoy the book; i thought the premise of Amish moving to Mexico was interesting (it is based on actual historical happenings) and enjoyed it as a quick, enjoyable read that opened my eyes to my stereotypes of those I see around me every day. I am Mennonite and agree with Mennonite views of Pacifism which is another subject broached in the book; it brought up the same debate I have with myself at times though- if I choose not to do actions of violence, someone else has to or I would not survive. Though I would not choose to be a soldier and go to war, I am thankful for those that do so and protect us as a country. And in the story, if Domingo did not take action, the settlement would most likely not have survived. No answers are offered but it always gets me thinking! I would recommend this book to those that enjoy Amish fiction or romance; there is some action in the book but most likely not enough for a die-hard action reader! Despite not reading a lot of this genre, I am interested in reading the first in the series as well as seeing what happens in the lives of these characters!
I recieved a copy of this book for the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
View all my reviews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
While I've not finished the book completely or attempted the fast, I feel I've read enough for an honest review. I am enjoying this book; I had not heard of the Daniel fast before but as soon as I read the title and brief synopsis, I felt it really made sense! Daniel and his friends proved to their jailers that it works and looked healthier than ever, so why wouldn't it be a good option for us today? I see it as a wonderful alternative to a complete fast which may not always be realistic in our busy lives today, and especially not to me as a mother of young children and a nursing baby. The daniel fast focuses on restricting your diet as Daniel did which also causes one to be disciplined, and encourages similar focus on Bible Study, Prayer and spiritual growth. I appreciate that the author takes the time to discuss why and how one goes about it and includes a great many scripture passages to back up her thoughts. She includes 5 helpful tips to a successful fast and expounds on them. The book also includes enough recipes to complete a successful fast. She discusses the spiritual side but also is specific on how to go about it. I think these would be a great book for someone who is not very familiar with fasting but has interest in pursuing it, but of course would be excellent for a Christian at any level in their faith. I'm looking forward to finishing it and planning a Daniel fast of my own!
I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher for review.
No comments:
Post a Comment