Librarian: Karen Wambaugh
The Road Home by Tommy Tenny and Mark, Olsen is a modern day retelling of the ancient story of Ruth. It is entertaining and intriguing how authors weave this retelling even including cities with Biblical names—Moab, UT; Bethlehem and Ephratha, PA. The retelling is a lot longer than the book of Ruth in our Bible but brings home the universal themes of faith, commitment, redemption and longing for home and that this road can inevitably bring us back to God. Enjoyable.
Doing Life with Mandela My Prisoner, My Friend by Christo Brand is our final selection. It is the true account of a young ‘warder’ (CO/guard) Cristo who guarded Mandela for the last 13 years of his 27 years in prison. It tells of their budding friendship. How they bridged the gap between prisoner and guard and between black and white. This friendship forged in difficult circumstances continued until Mandela’s death. Instructional and inspirational read.
These new selections will be found on the cart.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
The Miracle and Power of Blessing by Maurice Barquist is our second offering. The author, of this little gem of a book, has been a pastor for 20 years and has another 14 books among many other of his endeavors. Our author speaks of aligning ourselves with God like being a copper wire parallel to an electric lines and how blessings which are powerful than flow from God to us, through us as we bless others. He looks at how the Bible looks at cursing and blessing and uses Psalm 103 as his outline for this book. It is interesting and intriguing. Wouldn’t it be nice if each of us focused on blessing others more?
Our final selection this month is The Bait of Satan by John Bevere. Really think that this is a book we all should read. Why? The subject is the offense trap and how when we let ourselves get offended and especially stay offended, it skew and colors all the rest of what/how we experience our relationships, our thinking, our reactions, etc. Bevere deals with some tough questions: Why am I compelled to tell “my side of the story?” “How can I fight thoughts of suspicion or distrust?” “What can I do to stop rehearsing past hurts?” I think we can all find ourselves as somewhere here, but we don’t have to stay here. This edition also has a devotional supplement.
May you find something that you feel worthwhile to read this month that educates, in-spires or entertains.
Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
life in India during and after WWII. It is colorful, humorous and inspiring. Good read.
Hope you will find a book to your liking this month from one of these or from the library or library cart.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JULY/AUGUST 2024 Our selections for these next two months should offer you some delightful choices for your reading pleasure. We will start out with our fiction choices.
What would be more summertime fun than to read about a bus tour of Ireland? The Tour by Jean Grainger is the first in a series about tours that take place in Ireland, our author’s home country. We have nine Americans under the care of Conner O’Shea their experienced driver and guide. It shows how each have changed and grown during this week because of events, personalities and new and old relationships. Enjoyable characters and story. We have the large print edition.
The Great Divide by T. Davis Bunn an author we have highlighted in the past. This novel features Marcus Glenwood a North Carolina lawyer trying to recover from a personal tragedy and divorce and taking on a most difficult court case. A young American woman investigating unfair labor practices in Factory 101 in China is kidnapped. Is New Horizons clothing company involved in it and the cover up? How to get the young local woman released? How to prevail against such a corporate giant and with China? As always Bunn is a master story teller and presents another page turner here. What is amazing in his work is that religion, church and people of faith are included here and bring a more balanced and inspiring reality.
Our nonfiction offering this month is So Long Insecurity...You Have Been a Bad Friend to Us by noted Bible study teacher Beth Moore. She believes that chronic insecurity is a cultural epidemic but not one that is addressed very much. That it is the root of many of our actions/reactions. She helps us to identify what insecurity looks like at street level and then shows how we can use Scripture to stand on and pray. Such as….. ‘We are clothed with strength and dignity. God gave it to us. It is ours. You cannot have it.” Although this book addresses mostly females in our culture, she also includes how the topic effects males and our relationships. Last few chapters about how to move into security God wants us to have, indeed gives us, are especially helpful.
So, find yourself a good book or two during the days ahead and relax and enjoy.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JUNE 2024 We have 3 informative and inspirational books to choose from this month.
Our first selection is actually a book on CD. For the Glory—Eric Liddell’s Journey from Olympic Champion to Modern Martyr by Duncan Hamilton. Liddell was the son of Scottish missionary parents to China. Eric took part in the 1924 Olympics held in Paris and won a gold medal in the 400 meters not even his signature event because he refused to run on Sunday. After the Olympics he set off to China to take up missionary duties joining his parents, and brother and his wife. This book tells of both times in his life including his days in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. Fascinating account.
Our second non-fiction offering this month is The Prison Angel—Mother Antonia’s Journey From Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail. At the age of 50 this woman left her comfortable life to serve the people inside La Mesa prison in Tijuana and actually took up residence inside in a cell to minister to all—prisoners and guards alike. A remarkable account of what one woman of God can accomplish with the support of the Body of Christ.
Our last offering this month is So Much Owed—An Irish WWII Story by Jean Grainger. It is a lovely story that takes place in Ireland between WWI and WWII. The tale revolves around the Buckley family of Dunderring and a French widow Solange. Interesting to learn that a number of Irish sided with Germany during this time because they saw England as a common enemy. Once you have read this author you will look forward to reading more of her work and we have had a number of her books donated to us. This and a number of the others are in large print.
May you enjoy one of our highlighted books or another selection this month from our library shelves or cart. Happy reading!
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
MAY 2024 ~ This month we have 3 new authors to add to our Library!
Our first highlighted book is by Walt Larimore, MD, Bryson City Season. It is a memoir of Walt as a Christian doctor in a small North Carolina mountain town in the 1980’s. Reminiscent of James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small series. The situation and the people Dr. Larimore and his family meet are enlightening and enjoyable to read about.
Our second offering is Mrs. Jefferies and The Alms of the Angel by Emily Brightwell. This is a Victorian mystery that is not so much about the murder as about Inspector Witherspoon and his household staff. The entire staff set out with the help of others to form a network finding bits and pieces until they all fit together. Mrs. Jefferies, his housekeeper, unbeknownst to him, by asking questions and putting forth certain suggestions helps him solve the crime. Enjoy this read.
Our final offering this month is an audio book on CDs. The Giver by Lois Lowry is the story of 12 year old Jonah and his receiving his life assignment for his community. Some choices are Caretaker of the Old, Assistant to Director of Recreation, etc. Can he do what his assignment calls for? What is expected of him? Will his assignment help his community or not? This selection can get one thinking.
As always, enjoy one of our highlighted selections this month or something from our library shelves or the Library cart.
Karen Wambaugh—Librarian
APRIL 2024 ~ This month's reading highlights!
This month we highlight a third book by T. Davis Bunn, introduce an author, George MacDonald, writer and pastor from the late 1800’s new to our little library with one of a number of selections that have been donated and finally our non-fiction selection Falling to Pieces in a Crisis Was Not an Option For Me by Ellen Harbin.
Let’s begin with Falling to Pieces…The author speaks to you if you fall to pieces in a crisis there wasn’t much to you in the first place. But do not be misled to think she means you can’t cry, be frustrated, worn out, discouraged or irritated. She was all of these at times while dealing with her cancer diagnosis. She took Ps 16:5 “LORD, You assigned me my portion and my cup, You have made my lot secure.” Cancer was His assignment for her. This crisis was her assignment. And He allowed it. He allowed it so that His Son, Jesus Christ, could be glorified. He allowed it so that others might be led to Christ through her crisis. She had cancer, it did not have her. She asks us the reader to ponder this thought, she still does. This perspective made all the difference on how she walked through her crisis.
The Ultimatum by T. Davis Bunn is a follow up book to The Warning that was highlighted last month. It picks up the story of Buddy Korda, 18 months after the economic meltdown and God has another divine message for Buddy to deliver to the country. Some new character join us as well as some from the first novel. Again an engaging read. Once you start you don’t want to put it down.
Our last highlighted selection this month is The Baronet’s Song by George MacDonald. This book was originally published in 1879 and republished in 1983 that one translated from its original Scottish dialect into modern English. MacDonald once said, “I do not write for children, but for the childlike, whether five, or fifty or seventy-five.” “ This offering is a simple yet profound story of Sir Gibbie—the myth, the poetry, the fantasy, the love of Scotland, and the wonder of childhood.” Both C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton were taken with MacDonald’s writing and I believe you will as well. A delightful offering. A second book is also included in this volume. Enjoy.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
MARCH 2024 ~ We have three more highlighted books this month two of which are new to our shelves:\\
The first up is Hope Runs—An American Tourist, a Kenyon Boy, a Journey of Redemption by Claire Diaze-Ortiz and Samuel Ikua Gachagua. This is the true story of two twenty-something’s who ‘happen’ to stay at a Kenyan guest house at Imani Orphanage for a night on their around the world in a year trip. This one encounter stretches to a month, then a return for a year of volunteering and setting up a non-profit running program for the children. One child stands out and takes their hearts in particular, Sammy. With their help Sammy comes to the U.S. to complete his high school years and become part of their families. The account is written in chapters with some written from Claire and some from Sammy. The Sammy ones are especially enlightening—to see all of this unfold through his eyes.
Our second non-fiction selection is The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. Many might remember the author of this book for writing The Prayer of Jabez. This selection is in two parts, the first being a modern day parable of a Nobody named Ordinary who lives in the Land of Familiar. Ordinary has a dream though which causes him to start a journey. Sound familiar? A bit of an abbreviated Pilgrim’s Progress follows in the next 50 pages. The second part of the book is the author acting as a dream coach to explain the joys and setbacks on this journey as it would apply in our own lives. Whimsical, interesting and helpful read.
Our final selection this month is The Warning by T. Davis Bunn. This novel is fast moving story of an ordinary man, bank manager Buddy Korda in a small town when he starts experiencing a reoccurring nightmare. As days go by, he starts to think it might be a warning from God of impending financial collapse for the country. What is he to do? For this quiet man to speak, to put himself out there for ridicule? Is this truly from God? What if it isn’t ? Are we open to the idea of prophets today? Would we recognize one if there were? Would we listen? Would we step out if we were in Buddy’s shoes? Bunn is an excellent storyteller. You will enjoy this book. We have other books by this author that will be added to our shelves in the next few months.
Check out one of these selections or one of our other many choices on the cart or in the Library.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
FEBRUARY 2024 ~ Three good reads!
It is hard to believe that the Lenten season is upon us already. Ash Wednesday is the 14th of this month! Our highlighted books this month are ones that offer us words and themes that focus on God in His word and in our lives. A good thing to do and especially during Lent.
Our first offering is Paul and the World’s Most Famous Letters by Rosemary Houghton. As part of the review of this book reads: “the author writes as though she were chatting with a friend, she describes the times and the problems Paul faced, the responses he made.” The author discussed each letter Paul wrote and gives some background that can add additional information that helps when reading Paul’s letters. It is concise, only a little over 100 pages, and something you might consider to read as a secondary resource to Paul’s letters.
Our second book is My Soul Thirsts for God Reflections on the Psalms from Our Daily Bread. There are 92 meditations on 92 Psalms or parts of Psalms. One page has the Scripture and the next the meditation on that Scripture. I know that there are only 47 days in Lent, if you count the Sundays, but one can easily double up now and then. This offering gets us into God’s Word and another chance to ponder it.
Our last book this month is The Touch—A Contemporary Story of a Life Changed by Patricia Hickman based on the painting by Ron DiCianni. This is a story of a young wounded and running woman getting to the point of desperation and willingness to reach out to touch Jesus for wholeness and healing. The painting and the story is taken from Luke 8:43-48. Her pastor father is also changed through a series of events to be able to represent God in a more complete light. Well worth the time to read.
~Karen Wambaugh, Librarian
JANUARY 2024 ~ No library news this month.
