This Thing of Ours

I just finished reading This Thing of Ours, How Faith Saved my Mafia Marriage, by Cammy Franzes wherein she shares the details in a fascinating memoir about her marriage to a former mobster, Michael Franzese whom she met while dancing professionally in a movie he was producing, fell in love and married.  When she married him, she was young and naive and not really aware of the fact that he was involved in a Mafia family. She writes of the struggles and triumphs of enduring over eight years of Michael's incarceration and his parting of ways with the Mafia while raising their four children.

What Cammy Franzes has faced and lived to narrate would definitely have broken many a person. It shows her strength of character and the intensity of her faith. She is an inspiration for all. I enjoyed the book greatly and it at times brought tears to my eyes.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Billy Graham in Quotes

I have just finished reading "Billy Graham in Quotes" by Franklin Graham with Donna Lee Toney .Billy Graham, a worldwide known and respected preacher, has been a powerful voice for decades now. This book is a lovely compilation of some of his teachings compiled by his own son, Franklin Graham .”Billy Graham In Quotes”, true to its title is an unique  collection of both personal and published works of Billy Graham. The quotes are organized by topic, making it an easy read and an easy find when you are looking for something specific or to cheer you up in a certain way. .I feel that ”Billy Graham In Quotes” is best used , as a reference tool. The book gives over 100 topics in alphabetical order and each topic contains several quotes from Graham viz, what the great man has to say with regard to Sin? Christianity? Angels? War? and a host of other topics.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Tyndale: The Man Who Gave God an English Voice

William Tyndale: The Man who Gave God an English Voice,  by David Teems chronicles the life of William Tyndale who was a graduate of Oxford University and possessed a love for the scriptures which became his driving motivation for his most important life mission – translating the scriptures from the Latin, Greek, and original Hebrew. Tyndale is the man who possibly more than any other, is responsible for the Bible being made available to the English speaking people of the world. Except Tyndale did not undertake this work in a time favorable to translating the Bible into English. Instead, he was convicted of heresy and handed over to the King of England for execution.

I found the book an excellent read with interwoven humour. This book will enlighten those who desire to know the story of how the Bible as we know it came to be.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Pershing: Commander of the Great War

I have always been fascinated by great generals and their monumentous achievements in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Hence I found the book “Pershing: Commander of the Great War by John Perry” to be an excellent treat.

In this biography of John J. "Black Jack" Pershing, the author paints a portrait of Pershing, not only as the brilliant yet demanding and difficult-to-please military leader in action-“nothing imperfect escaped his notice or criticism”-but also chronicles Pershing’s role as a loving husband and father, an excellent dancer, and a true friend to those fortunate enough to know him well off the battlefield. There's not much about his childhood, but his life at West Point and in the military before World War I is thoroughly explained, and really interesting to read. Pershing served in the West, learning to get along with Native Americans and Mexicans; apparently he was quite good at peacemaking and helping everyone live with each other. This experience served him very well when he was posted to the Philippines and expected to quell the Muslim Moro minority, which was inclined to fight the Americans as much as they had fought the Spanish. Pershing did his best to make friends with the Moros and calm the tensions in the area, and he was very successful.  Such excerpts from the life of this great man really makes this a must read for biography fans.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Surprised By Oxford

“Surprised By Oxford” is a memoir by Carolyn Weber telling us her own journey of graduate studies at Oxford University. The narration is broken down into the three terms established by the liturgical calendar.

Carolyn Weber received a scholarship to study at Oxford for graduate school. She arrived there in the mid-90's as a fairly typical agnostic student somewhat allergic to the world "Christian" (since as we all know, Christians are rigidly judgmental and irrational). But Weber also feels a great lack in her life, and as she gets to know some truly wonderful Christians are and reads the Bible, she unwillingly feels the hounds of heaven stalking her. This is the best that I can sum up the narrative.

I feel that it is a tad too long. Actually at the end I really got bored and somehow trudged my way along. Apart from this it is a good book especially for those who have been to Oxford or feel a special connection with it.

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com blogger book reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. (Disclosed in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)