THE VIOLETS OF MARCH by Sarah Jio (© Sarah Jio 2011, published by Plume, a member of the Penguin Group) (A Book Review)

Remember the last book you picked up and then couldn't put down?  For me, that book is The Violets of March, by Sarah Jio.  As Jio's debut novel, it is an amazingly well written and captivating tale of a young New York woman who has ties to Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound near Seattle, WA.  Living close to the area, the setting was a principal draw for me but also the hints on the cover intrigued me . . . "discovers a red velvet diary," "startling connections to her own life," "intriguing dual story line." 

Any author who can write a dual story line and keep the reader's interest without the necessity of flipping back 10 or so pages is a stellar plot artist and writer.  Jio does just that.  Her main character, Emily, also an author, comes to Bainbridge Island to regroup following a divorce.  Emily, however, is also curious about some perceived family secrets and she hopes that perhaps her next book is waiting for her on the island.

It is difficult to review The Violets of March without giving too much of the story away and thereby robbing you of the enjoyment of the read.  Just trust my instinct that if you love a story from the past woven by tiny threads to the present, you are going to love The Violets of March. 

Serving Is a Two-Sided Gift

When I first think or hear the word "serving," I immediately think of my own service in Mothers of Preschoolers ("MOPS") and in the children's ministries program of our church.  Then my mind begins to wander, and a conversation at my Bible study a few days ago came to mind.  There were only four of us there, and we were sharing from our hearts.  One of them asked what my parents were like and did they teach me to be the servant that my friends see.  I had to answer that it had not been watching my parents or hearing them talk about serving.  In fact, it was a surprise to my brothers and me to learn during our mother's early 80s that she had been a volunteer for 40 years.  It wasn't something that had been made known to us.  We knew she had taught Sunday School, but this volunteering was with a state agency for those who were mentally challenged.  She was even up for Volunteer of the Year for the State of Tennessee!  I will never know why she didn't share that part of the Good News with us.  I was saddened that it had been hidden all that time.

Perhaps knowing that and reading God's Word worked together to bring me to this passionate need to reach out and touch others.  One of the tenets of the MOPS program is intentional relationship building and as mentor moms, we are asked to reach out a hand to the young moms in our group.  A touch on the back or shoulder can be the simplest of acts, but it really does let that mom know she is loved.  And isn't loving all about who God is?  How simple it is to pass along the message of love.

I'm dating myself now.  In the 1970s and 1980s, Diana Ross had a popular song on the charts, and the refrain goes:

"Reach out and touch

Somebody's hand

Make this world a better place

If you can

Reach out and touch

Somebody's hand

Make this world a better place

If you can."



Songwriters: Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.

Those words have always resonated with me because it doesn't take much to "make this world a better place."  Why don't we all try to do that today, tomorrow, and the next day, and on and on . . . . .

MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND by Helen Simonson (© 2010 by Helen Simonson, published by Random House) (A Book Review)

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was recommended to me by a dear friend as we sat waiting in a jury room to see if we would be seated later that day on a jury trial.  After her brief description of the story line, I couldn't wait to put it on hold at my library.  Finally, I received the notice that I could pick the book up.

The moment I read the first page I was drawn into the character of Major Ernest Pettigrew, who has developed disdain for today's mode of dress, the improper brewing of a cup of tea, and language.  Further to his list of dislikes are the "proper" things of life that are fading away:  decorum, honor, duty. 

The Major is an immediately lovable character, and the reader begins to champion his ups and mostly his downs.  Early on a loss devastates the Major and an unlikely neighbor comes to his aid. 

Not long after this encounter, the Major and his neighbor, Mrs. Jasmina Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper in the village of Edgecombe St. Mary where the Major resides, develop a friendship which is frowned upon by many in the village as well as in their families.  Risks must be taken in one's life sometimes, but the question remains can those risks be survived. 

Major Pettigrew and Mrs. Ali solve this ever-present mystery of life for the reader with the help of author Helen Simonson's lyrical and loving writing style.  A debut novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, will likely be on bookshelves for decades to come.  Can you tell I really enjoyed this read?

Counting One Thousand Gifts - #3 (129-146)

"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34 (NIV)

My list grows longer, and each day giving thanks is becoming an important, unforgettable part of my day.  My eyes see things they've never seen before, my ears hear things differently.  Love grows in abundance in my heart, my home, my marriage in ways I never imagined possible.  The Lord is good; He loves and that's all I need to now to give Him thanks.

129.  Sun breaks on rainy days.
130.  Constant and faithful friends.
131.  Baby Nyeli's new home.
132.  Enjoying the gift of water.
133.  Day trip to the coast to visit our son and DIL's recent cottage purchase.
134.  Beautiful weather at the coast -- sun shining, brilliant blue sky, mid 60's.
135.  Beautiful drive through the Coast Mountain Range with lovely pastoral views and changing colors.
136.  Seeing Craig and Gigi's happiness.
137.  Productive days.
138.  Friend Joanne's amazing progress after heart surgery.
139.  Gift of prayer.
140.  The Book of Psalms.
141.  Laughter with my husband.
142.  My dad's Christian walk.
143.  Sound of music on a lovely fall afternoon.
144.  Walking with my husband.
145.  News of Josie's birth.
146.  Fall mornings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.aholyexperience.com/

Linking up with Ann Voskamp today giving thanks for the many gifts God has given us.  Won't you join us?



Radical Living in a Comfortable World

I subscribe to a writing blog called The Write Practice.  Today its author, Joe Bunging, posted a blog entitled "Will You Help?"  Being a servant-oriented personality, I immediately read on and was disheartened and saddened to learn of the criminality being flaunted in a Haitian orphanage and the number of children gone missing from it.  Joe included a link to Radical Living in a Comfortable World written by Seth Barnes of Adventures in Missions, one of the agencies supporting this orphanage.

I challenge to read Seth's article at Radical Living's link above, and then turn and walk away to your well-stocked kitchen for a snack and a cold drink without blinking an eye.  How can people mistreat the innocent and young?  How can they take advantage of an orphanage situation?  I have no answers, and I'm sure you don't either but perhaps there's something we can do.  If nothing else, we can pray for these children and those who have gone missing.