Pondering the Scriptures Sunday #21

Good morning!  It being my birthday today I'd like to ponder about eternal life.  :)  So here goes:

• Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  1 Corinthians 15: 51-54
• Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.  Believest thou this?  John 11: 25,26
• And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.  1 John 2:25
• Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.  John 6:47

Looking forward to family coming over soon to celebrate my special day ... especially my brother and his family who are here on vacation from the Philippines.  Whoohoo!!! 

P.S.  Happy General Conference weekend!!  Go HERE for details.

WHAT ARE YOU PONDERING ABOUT?

"Pippi Longstocking"

by Astrid Lindgren, YR, 1950, 160p, rating=3.5

"Pippi is an irrepressible, irreverent, and irrefutably delightful girl who lives alone (with a monkey) in her wacky house, Villa Villekulla. When she's not dancing with the burglars who were just trying to rob her house, she's attempting to learn the "pluttification" tables at school; fighting Adolf, the strongest man in the world at the circus; or playing tag with police officers. Pippi's high-spirited, good-natured hijinks cause as much trouble as fun, but a more generous child you won't find anywhere." (Goodreads)

I wanted to read a fun book and out of the blue Pippi came to mind.  I recall what joy it was to watch her on TV, so I figured I'd read the book for nostalgia.  Sure enough, the read brought me back to the wacky adventures of Pippi and her friends.  Fun times.

Yes, Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Efraim's Daughter Longstocking's not the best role model ...being unruly and such, but that's part of her charm and not the point (to glorify unruliness).  To me, she represents the adventurous kid inside of us.  It's no wonder Tommy and Annika enjoys spending time with her; there's just no dull moment around Pippi.  A fantasy full of fun and experience awaits when you're with her.  Just for those moments, one gets to fly, seek, laugh, smile, and have fun!  Pippi, the classic supernatural kid. 

Though the read brought me back to the fun feelings, the writing did not vividly capture the glee that I found and treasured in the TV series.  Nonetheless, a fun read for novelty.

Tommy, Pippi, and Annika

(sidenote:  I saw myself as Annika)

Song:  "I am Pippi Longstocking, how I love my funny naaaame.  I am Pippi Longstocking, if you say it fast it's fuuunny! ..."  Now this song is stuck in my head! LOL.

"Safe Haven"

by Nicholas Sparks, AF, 2010, 340p, rating=3
**SPOILER ALERT**

"When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draws her into two reluctant relationships: one with Alex, a widowed store owner with a kind heart and two young children; and another with her plainspoken single neighbor, Jo. Despite her reservations, Katie slowly begins to let down her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.  But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her . . . a past that set her on a fearful, shattering journey across the country, to the sheltered oasis of Southport. With Jo's empathic and stubborn support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards . . . and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven." (book's synopsis)

This was J. Lo's Enough meets Bruce Willis's The Sixth Sense.  A weird combination but the suspense factor (last 80 pages or so) got you through it.  At that point I wanted the ending to be a happy one or I'd go nuts!!  Let's just say that the ending involved saving the taxpayers some money.

Stories involving battered women is a hard topic for me.  It ruffles my feathers!  So this was a book that I had to read slowly.  That said, I felt for Erin (aka Katie).  I loathed Kevin, the abusive husband.  I cheered Erin's courage to escape Kevin.  I was glad Katie met Alex and the kids.  I was happy that there was an end to the nightmare.  Everything in between was unrefined but the account of a woman making it through such a horrendous ordeal was a defining moment.

It breaks my heart to know that women go through such torment.  It breaks my heart ...

Pondering the Scriptures Sunday #20

My three kids have been sick for the past couple of days ...yes, all three!  Usually, it gets passed around one at a time but that's not the case this time.  My two oldest is pretty much close to full recovery.  My youngest though is still suffering ... poor little guy.  I'm guessing it's some sort of the stomach flu.  That said, I've got sickness on my mind and so it shall be our topic of the day.

"Is any sick among you?  let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  James 5:14-16

I kid you not ... my son just threw up again!!  So I gotta go ..more baths, clean ups, and laundry!  ~Keep this scripture in mind ... it goes beyond physical sickness ...

What scripture verse(s) are you pondering about?

"Mermaid"

by Carolyn Turgeon, AF, 2011, 240p, rating=2.5

"Princess Margrethe has been hidden away while her kingdom is at war. One gloomy, windswept morning as she stands in a convent garden overlooking the icy sea, she witnesses a miracle: a glittering mermaid emerging from the waves, a nearly drowned man in her arms. By the time Margrethe reaches the shore, the mermaid has disappeared into the sea. As Margrethe nurses the handsome stranger back to health, she learns that not only is he a prince, he is also the son of her father's greatest rival. Sure that the mermaid brought this man to her for a reason, Margrethe devises a plan to bring peace to her kingdom.  Meanwhile, the mermaid princess Lenia longs to return to the human man she carried to safety. She is willing to trade her home, her voice, and even her health for legs and the chance to win his heart…" (book's blurb)

The beginning was interesting, the middle sensual with a little bit of darkness, and the end was a sappy twist!  I like this kind of fantasy/supernatural character oppose to demons, werewolves, vampires and such... for now.  Mermaids are softer and I could use a bit of fluffy read right now. 

I understand that this is a modern twist on Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.  I haven't read that book yet but from Googling, I see the twists.  Generally, Turgeon's mermaid is older (18yo, oppose to 15yo) so she did adult things, hence this book has adult content.  In movie talk, I'd say a rated PG13 as written but with imagination it could be rated R.  I guess I do have some imagination so this read got pretty edgy for me!  And oh, of course this version is a far cry from Disney's animation adaptation.

The fairy tale story was interesting but I can't help but feel that this was like a film adaptation of the original Andersen book and the book version of course was much better. 

"Demon Glass"

by Rachel Hawkins, YA, 2011, 359p, rating=2.5

"That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers. But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?" (book's blurb)

Okay guys, don't throw things at me.  I didn't find this book fascinating.  The pacing was slow and so was the action scenes.  I also wasn't crazy about the love triangle angle.  This just felt like another twist on Twilight ... poorly done.

Something was lacking ... perhaps a better storyline or villain.  I don't know.  It was overall just an okay read.  I was somewhat entertained but not fulfilled.  On a side note, I love the cover!  Gorgeous.  :)

I must confess that I didn't realize that this was a sequel.  I have not read the first book, Hex Hall.  I'm not sure that would have made much of a difference.  As a stand alone book, I felt that there was too much emphasis on Sophia's sauciness instead of surrounding her with characters that didn't make her have to use so much sarcasm.  Again, I don't know ... this one just didn't captivate me. :(

I have Chime by Franny Billingsley on my reading list but I think I'm going to take a short break on my YA kick and read an adult fiction next.

Starstruck!

I feel like a teenager again!  I had an author visit me on Facebook, "like" my page there, read my review of her book here and became a follower here too.  I'm stoked!  I seriously feel giddy.  :)

So who is this author?  Ms. C. Lee McKenzie!!!  The author of Princes of Las Pulgas.  A meaningful YA book that I recently reviewed and enjoyed.  AAAHHHHHH!!!!  ~I know, she's not Mark Harmon or Jason Bateman ...but I'm starstruck nonetheless! :D

Thank you Ms. McKenzie for stoppin' by.

Nativate Californian C. Lee McKenzie has always been a writer.  But she's also been a university professor and administrator, and for five years, she wrote a newsletter for university professors.  Her fiction and nonfiction for young readers has appeared in the award-winning e-zine, Stories for Children, and Crow Toes Quarterly has published her ghostly tales.  When she isn't writing, Lee enjoys hiking in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Los Gatos, California.  Her first young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, was also published by WestSide Books.

*Check out the author's website HERE.
*Read my review of her book Princess of Las Pulgas HERE.