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Monday, July 24, 2017

Grace: Finding Home

I grew up in a military family. I went to a military college. I joined the military. Then, I married into the military. My birth certificate was signed by my Daddy as a Second Lieutenant and a military doctor who later became my doctor in college. The military is indeed a small world. But it's MY world; it always has been, and I've grown accustomed to its many nuances. I start getting the "itch" to move around the two-year mark and I absolutely love researching the next place. House hunting has become somewhat of a hobby. I love moving, making new friends, exploring new places, finding those hole-in-the-wall places that become a regular family haunt. I even secretly enjoy the packing and unpacking processes. The only aspect of moving I've always secretly and ashamedly hated is church hunting (perhaps I'll share more on that in a future post). I mean it! I. LOVE. MOVING.

 But I will admit that I dread the inevitable question of home. "Where are you from?" Well, can you quantify that? Do you mean where did I live longest? England. No, I don't think of myself as "basically British." Where did I graduate high school? Georgia. Nope, I have no sentimental ties to either of my two high schools other than some of the friendships I maintained over the years. At this point they usually ask, "OK, well where were you born?" California. To most people it would seem like I have no home. In fact, I honestly usually just say I'm from Georgia, where my parents retired, in order to keep things simple. Every once in a while the particularly curious (nosy?) people press anyway because I "don't sound like [I'm] from Georgia." But you get the picture. My life has been fairly nomadic. And yet, I've never felt cheated or as though I've missed out on having a home. Everywhere we went, God provided family and fellowship. I have friends and adopted family all over the world. God has blessed and enriched my life beyond measure.

Now, we are facing leaving the military life behind. It's really happening. We are seriously planning to move to one place and hope to stay there (or very close) for the rest of our lives. And I'm TERRIFIED. Why? Because I will have to reevaluate and perhaps redefine my concept of home. In her book Keeping Place, Jen Pollock Michel discusses the concepts of home and housekeeping, and how they effect our spiritual lives. In the first chapter - which is a fascinating look at nostalgia and homesickness - she says, "words not only describe how we feel; they distinctly shape how we understand our feelings...as complex emotional beings, we need nomenclature for fear and self-doubt, longing and desire. In short, we must be taught to explain ourselves to ourselves as well as to others." I love the idea that our words shape our perception of our lives and the world around us. In searching my heart during this time of transition, I was surprised to find that I am a little bit apprehensive about staying in one place, but mostly at peace with the thought of finally settling into a new life.

There will be so many changes. In fact, it seems to me that these first few years of my marriage have been nothing but huge, life-altering changes. But as I look back, I see God's hand in every one of those situations, quietly but forcefully moving to make our lives better and draw us closer to Him. I know that every year will continue to bring new changes. But I also know a God who is never surprised and, in fact, has an amazing plan in store for me and my family. There's nothing new under the sun, and I can have peace knowing that the God of the universe is quietly working behind the scenes of my chaotic, lovely, messy life.

Will you pray with me as we go through this transition? And I beg your patience in the coming months as I'm sure this change and the many stages involved will feature regularly on the blog. I've also decided to finish my Masters degree, in addition to everything else! Please bear with me and I promise to keep you updated with all the craziness.

I remain hapless but hopeful,
Cassie

Review: From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon

From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon From Holmes to Sherlock: The Story of the Men and Women Who Created an Icon by Mattias Boström
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Introduction
Have you ever wondered about the extended history of Sherlock Holmes? He is one of the most enduring and oddly endearing literary characters of all time. But how did he come to life? What was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's inspiration? What magic endears him to centuries of young and old alike? These questions (and much, MUCH more) are all answered in this book. Read on and get to know Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as you never have before!

The story
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a struggling doctor with a penchant for writing. One day he put pen to paper and - voila! - Sherlock Holmes was born. The many adventures of Sherlock Holmes would eventually become Conan Doyle's primary source of income, spanning decades and bringing millions in royalties. Generations of men and women worldwide were captivated by this character and his unique ability to solve crimes through observation and deduction. Despite Conan Doyle's repeated attempts to leave Holmes behind him and move on to more "serious" writing, Holmes endured, even after his creator's death. The silhouette of Sherlock Holmes - that hat and pipe and pointed features - have been featured in every type of media and in countless advertisements in every country in the world. Conan Doyle's legacy even helped his children live in luxury, despite their completely incompetent efforts to manage the estate. Actors and Holmes enthusiasts have helped to shape his character throughout the years, keeping him relevant and much beloved. Each generation has seen efforts to modernize Holmes and Watson, some with great success. And so it is that the title of this book (and obviously the content itself) takes the reader from Holmes, the stoic but brilliantly eccentric Victorian detective, to Sherlock, the modern "consultant" that helped launch Benedict Cumberbatch to international stardom.

Literary analysis
This book is extremely well researched. By the end of the book, the reader cannot help but believe that the author has literally left no page unturned! From personal letters and early manuscripts to interviews, photos, and much more - the author was incredibly thorough. It must be said that this is likely now THE definitive history of Sherlock Holmes.

It is worth noting, and perhaps this is the only minor criticism I have, that the book is a translation. There are often times where transitions from page to page, or even paragraph to paragraph, seem to jump around awkwardly. It is clear that the writer is trying to employ literary devices to keep the reader engaged. But sometimes the transitions are jolting, awkward, or on a few occasions even seem confusingly juxtapositional. Otherwise, the diction, vocabulary, and grammar are an absolute pleasure to read!

Conclusion
This book is very long and certainly requires time and dedication to get through. However, if you are at all a fan of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, you will enjoy this journey through their historical presence. The intricacies of all the behind-the-scenes work that has gone into keeping this beloved partnership relevant is astounding and nothing short of miraculous. Do I recommend this book? "Elementary, my dear Watson!" Of course I do!

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Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Review: The Little French Bistro

The Little French Bistro The Little French Bistro by Nina George
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Introduction
The Little French Bistro is a novel about a woman named Marianne and her journey to redefine herself after a dramatic suicide attempt. She finds romance, passion, and a new lease on life in the small Breton town of Kerdruc, France.

The story
Marianne Lanz (or Messman) was stuck in a loveless marriage for almost 40 years. After attempting suicide in Paris and being fished out of the Seine by a homeless man, she runs to the northern Breton region of France. She winds up in a small coastal village called Kerdruc where she becomes a chef in a local hotel restaurant. There she makes new friends, finds romance, and discovers a new passion for life and beauty. Marianne determines to permanently leave her old life (and husband) behind and start a new life in Kerdruc, thus milking as much joy and passion as possible out of the rest of her life.

Literary analysis
Nina George is one of the few writers of our time who has a unique ability to seamlessly go from being conversational to lyrical. This book is beautifully written, and even more wonderfully edited. There were no grammatical errors, at least not that I noticed.

The story flows smoothly and the characters, although not too deeply developed, are diverse and eccentric enough to be endearing. There were a few times I thought the diction a bit too flowery, and a few of the characters' stories are perhaps a bit too stereotypically European. The overall storyline itself is entirely predictable, but so well written that you still enjoy the journey. I will say that I appreciated that Ms. George did not feel the need to throw in graphic sex scenes; the romance, is sweet and just spicy enough to hold your interest without resorting to trashy play-by-play. I don't often read romance for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is I just don't enjoy it. But this was a sweet little coming-of-age story (despite the character being well past middle-age), with just the right amount of romance as to be a redeeming plot tool instead of a sales ploy.

My only criticisms of this book all have to do with it's predictability. The storyline, although sweet, is entirely predictable. I felt that I knew the ending before I got there; I did, however, still enjoy getting there alongside the main character.

One extra praise for this book: any time Ms. George uses foreign language quotes, especially in the unique Breton language, she actually provides the translation! So many writers don't do that and it can be infuriating. So brava, Ms. George, for not leaving your readers in the dark!

Conclusion
This is a well-written, sweet, easy read that I recommend as a fun poolside/summer option!


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