Book Review: Mark of the Lion Trilogy

I recently read A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn all by Francine Rivers. I really enjoyed these books, staying up into the wee small hours to finish them. The books are much to complex to go into much, but I'll try to give a small preview. The chapters rotate between characters, so that makes it a little more difficult to review too. However, here are the individual reviews of each book:

(Spoiler Alert!)

• A Voice in the Wind: The touching story of a young Jewess and Christian named Haddassah. All of her family is either killed by the Romans or die of exhaustion and starvation. Haddassah alone is left alive, and even she is taken as a slave. She is bought by a Roman family as a maidservant for their young daughter, Julia, who is wild and ambitious. Haddassah ends up falling in love with Julia's brother Marcus. Near the end of the book, Julia agrees to release Haddassah and let her marry Marcus. But Haddassah refuses because Marcus isn't a Christian. Julia is furious and sets Haddassah up to be taken to the arena and eaten by lions. Marcus goes to the games that day and is sickened by what Julia is done, but he's too late to stop it. Thus ends Book 1.
• An Echo in the Darkness: As it turns out, a doctor waiting for the bodies when the lions are finished rescues Haddassah and treats her. Haddassah works with him, and God blesses her with healing power. She becomes know as Rapha, or healer. Through a twist, she becomes helper to Julia again without revealing her true identity! During Haddassah's ordeal, Marcus has gone to Judea to search out why Haddassah so steadfastly stuck to her faith. Marcus becomes a Christian on his journey. At the end of the book, Haddassah reveals herself, and after another twist, Marcus proposes again. Haddassah accepts.
• As Sure as the Dawn: This book is a follow-up of a sub-plot in A Voice in the Wind. A former gladiator named Atretes pursues his lost son and struggles to return to Germania, his homeland. But a young lady named Rizpah complicates matters...

These were among some of the most well-written books I've read in a long time. The faith of Haddassah and Rizpah is astounding. These books were so encouraging! There was a lot mature content, though, so just use wisdom and discernment when reading. What have you been reading lately?

Summer Reading

Our local Knox County library hosts a summer reading program every summer. The teen summer reading only requires five books. I've often participated and have some good books that I'm planning on reading that I thought I'd share with you!

My required school reading for next year is The Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway and Night by Elie Wiesel. I'm also in the process of rereading The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare. And I just put A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn (all by Francine Rivers) on hold at the library on the recommendation of a friend. I'll be posting reviews as I read them. I'm eager to hear your reading for this summer! Who has some good books?

P.S. I'm also in the process of writing a book! It's definitely a little kid book, a spoof on the forming of the United States of America. My brother likes it though (as a 13 year old), so I may post some snippets as I write...

New books to read!

As a very critical reader/writer, I am always on the lookout for good literature! With this mind set, I've decided to go through most, if not all, of Jane Austen's work, as well as Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, on the recommendation of a friend. (Thanks, Katus!) I just got Persuasion, Emma, and Jane Eyre out from the library, and I'm going to start reading one of them tonight. So don't be surprised if a few book reviews start popping up the next week or few! (Any good book recommendations from my readers? Let me know please!)

October Reading List

I have seen this done on another blog (link), and I thought it looked like a nifty idea. Every month, I'll post and give small reviews on books I have read during that specific month. Some months will obviously have more than others, since school keeps me pretty busy. So, I now present my reading list for the month of October (thus far).

• Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. An interesting remake of the traditional story, Cinderella. This book is well-written and fast-paced. Mrs. Levine does an excellent job of creating believable characters, while still including the small amount of magic necessary for any fairy tale.
• Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene. I've been reading various books in this series, both from the new and the old. Although not the best writing, reading Nancy Drew gives me a break from other more studious requirements.
• The Bible (NIV). In Spiritual Life I, we do three Bible readings a week. Right now, we're going through Philippians and Psalms.

Not much else, but then, it's only October 15! What are you reading?

My Reading Corner....

One of my favorite past times is reading. Being a writer as well, I'm always on the lookout for good books! Here are some books that I've read within the past month or two that I would recommend:

• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale. This story is wonderful! There's just enough reality to the book that you don't question the fantastical parts. :)
• Ranger's Apprentice: Siege of Macindaw by John Flanagan. Again, a fictitious book. The Ranger's Apprentice series are among some of the most well-written books I've ever read. Definitely a worthwhile read.
• Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan. Set in India, Homeless Bird is the story of a young girl who is married off at a very young age. I'm in the process of rereading this book, and I'm enjoying it tremendously.
• Ryan White: My Own Story by Ryan White. I've already written about this book, but it's worth posting again! This was my favorite summer reading book, and an inspiring story of a teenage boy with hemophilia and AIDS. *Please be warned that there is a little bit of rude language in it: bad names, etc.*
• Fair Weather by Richard Peck. Absolutely one of the most hilarious books ever written!! If you want a laugh, read this story! Other Richard Peck books that are good for laughter are A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.

That's what has been on my shelf recently! I'll try to post the books I'm reading every month for all to see!

Book Reviews: "Born Again" & "Ryan White: My Own Story"

Having read my required reading for this summer (A Separate Peace by John Knowles), I have now moved on to the rest of the list. Here are my reviews of the two books I have enjoyed the most so far:

• Born Again by Charles "Chuck" Colson. This book is an interesting narrative tale told by Chuck Colson, the "hatchet man" for former President Nixon. It starts out by showing him before his conversion to Christ. He was a man who would do anything (and I do mean anything) to help his president. But then a friend of his gave him a book, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. After reading it, Colson completely surrendered his life to God, and then he discovered how many Christians there were in the Capitol! Some of his political enemies, men Colson had embarrassed, shamed, and hurt, became wonderful brothers in Christ. (That's all for this review, as I haven't yet finished the book. I'll give a more complete review later.)
• Ryan White: My Own Story by Ryan White. This is a touching story of a boy who has suffered all his life from hemophilia, a disease that makes one bleed at even the slightest fall or injury. At thirteen, he contracted AIDS from a contaiminated blood transfusion. After he got AIDS, everyone except a few turned against him. His school, his community, even his church, wanted nothing to do with him. I would recommend this book as an inspiring read. Written in the first person, Ryan White: My Own Story is well worth the time.

All for now! I'll be reading more books, so I'll post more reviews at a later time! Have a great week.

Christy

I finished reading Christy by Catherine Marshall recently, and I would highly recommend it. The book is set in 1912 rugged Tennessee. Christy travels from her city home in Asheville, NC to be a school teacher in the Appalachian mountains. She is in a time of struggling to find out what she really believes in her heart, as well as who she really loves. The book portrays vivid characters and descriptive language, and if you like historical, biography type books, you would enjoy Christy. If you read it, please leave me a comment and tell me how you enjoyed it! It is a goal of mine to post ALL my favorite books on here to share with you and let you know about excellent literature! If you take the chance to read Christy, you won't regret it!