Whats Next?

Angela and I, after much debate, have decided on Juliet by Anne Fortier as our next book endeavor.

This novel seems like a fantastic endeavor for us. Below, the summary from B&N:

Twenty-five-year-old Julie Jacobs is heartbroken over the death of her beloved aunt Rose. But the shock goes even deeper when she learns that the woman who has been like a mother to her has left her entire estate to Julie’s twin sister. The only thing Julie receives is a key—one carried by her mother on the day she herself died—to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy.
    
This key sends Julie on a journey that will change her life forever—a journey into the troubled past of her ancestor Giulietta Tolomei. In 1340, still reeling from the slaughter of her parents, Giulietta was smuggled into Siena, where she met a young man named Romeo. Their ill-fated love turned medieval Siena upside-down and went on to inspire generations of poets and artists, the story reaching its pinnacle in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. 
    
But six centuries have a way of catching up to the present, and Julie gradually begins to discover that here, in this ancient city, the past and present are hard to tell apart. The deeper she delves into the history of Romeo and Giulietta, and the closer she gets to the treasure they allegedly left behind, the greater the danger surrounding her—superstitions, ancient hostilities, and personal vendettas. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in the unforgettable blood feud, she begins to fear that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is destined to be its next target. Only someone like Romeo, it seems, could save her from this dreaded fate, but his story ended long ago. Or did it?
    
From Anne Fortier comes a sweeping, beautifully written novel of intrigue and identity, of love and legacy, as a young woman discovers that her own fate is irrevocably tied—for better or worse—to literature’s greatest star-crossed lovers.

We welcome you to join us on this newest adventure and we look forward to your questions and answers throughout this novel. We plan on starting it in about a week once Angela manages to get herself moved back home! Safe travels darling!

~Emily

The Shack -- In Summary

    What is there to knowing something with acute certainty? To be free within our lives in a way we've never before believed is a lovely thing. There is closure and awakening in The Shack, and I think that there is no way that two readers would come away feeling the same way about this novel.

     Yes, it explains our lives in relation to Christianity in a bunch of ways. But it also encapsulates the true meaning of a God being present anyway, whether you're a believer or not.

     A profound sense of calm emanates from me when I finish this book each time. I learn something else, read each passage a different way, and feel just a little closer to God each time. The book doesn't preach religion (if you're able to take it with an open mind). If anything, it centuries established religion on the way it tells our reader that personal religion doesn't have to be practiced anywhere but in our hearts. It is there, brick and mortar church or not.

     Our character loses his child and steps away from the world because of it. Through the healing power of knowledge and awareness of his life, he finds his way back to the world -- and back to his family.

     He does not miss his daughter less, nor does he stop trying to make certain that justice is received. He, instead, learns not to be angry at God for what has come to pass as the relationship to god is defined in a way which everyone understands. It reminds the reader that god does not pass judgment and he does not cause the things which happen. He merely set into action the world and watches it pass.

     The whole of the novel is up-lifting and everything about it speaks to a better understanding of the relationship between not only God and Jesus, but also the Holy ghost. It further explains the relationship between those three and the human element.

    I, personally, enjoy every page of this book and truly enjoy that the book is written from the point of view of such a normal and every-day character. Everything about this novel lends itself to be read and understood by everyone on their own terms, though it does take a clear and open minded point of view to be able to read and understand this novel for what it is. It will help many have the faith they are looking for, even when they haven't realized that they are searching for it.

     I really would recommend this novel to anyone who loves to think and to expand his/her awareness of the world. The novel makes short work of everyday questions about God and the ever present question of why?

   I truly enjoyed re-reading this book and will shelve it once more to re-read it again someday.

~Emily

Disscussion Questions: The Shack

(Angela)
I am really enjoying this book. I can't say enough good things about it. It is a different perspective on God and the idea that He has a plan for everything.  Emily was right when she decided that I would get the Inspiration that I was looking for (and didn't find in Eat.Pray.Love).
I was not sure how I wanted to blog about the book and my reading. Soooo I did a google search and found some great Discussion questions from other book clubs that have read this book. I figured it would be a start.

1.) Were you drawn in by the plot of The Shack?
(Ang): Yes, I found the writing and plot very catching. Once I started reading I wanted to know exactly what happened, and what would happen. There are so many elements in the book that make you think, and I wanted to see what new thought provoking situations were around every corner.


(Em): I did find myself strangely drawn into the plot of The Shack. I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading it, and I admit that I was quite skeptical about reading a book based heavily (or so I thought) on a religion I wasn't sure I believed in. This book was given to me by a friend I worked with who had quite strict views on religion. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get into it because it would push an agenda... I was wrong on that one. From the moment I started reading, I couldn't put the book down.

2.) Why do you think Mack's encounter with God took place at the shack?
(Ang): I think that Mack's encounter with God took place at the shack because that is truly the place were Mack lost faith in God. It is the core of his pain, anger, and distrust in God. It is only through confronting the shack and all that it represents that Mack can regain his relationship with God.


(Em): I think I have to agree with Angela here. His encounter took place at the shack because it was his absolute breaking point with his faith. He lost something he could never get back, and he truly couldn't rationalize why "God" would do such a thing to him. The shack was the site of the major loss and it follows that it should also be the site of the greatest of gifts. His faith.

3.) Did The Shack change any of your opinions about God or Christianity?
(Ang): I have been struggling with my faith for many years. I have been filled with distrust, confusion, and anger at some of the events that have happened in my life. I would say  that reading The Shack has definitely made me want to re-explore my relationship with God and have a renewed hope and faith that God has everything in His hands.

(Em): I have to say that I too have been struggling with my faith. I chose to re-read this book to feel again the enlightenment and lightness that I felt once I'd read this book the first time. I may not remember what every word said, but I plan on reading it until I do. My faith has changed, and I find myself looking at God in a very different and more personal way. I really enjoyed listening to the eye-opening explanations that this author wrote into this narrative. 


4.) Would you recommend The Shack to a friend?
(Ang): Yes. Definitely.  Even if you are not the most religious person, I believe that there are valuable lessons to be taken away from this book.


(Em): As we've already written -- I already have, and I will again. I'm sure.

5.) Rate The Shack on a scale of 1 to 5. (1 being the worst and 5 being the best)
(Ang): I would give this book a 4


(Em): This book gets a 4 from me as well. It takes a certain intellect and a certain dedication to be able to read this book. You need an open mind and a brain which can take things as they are and see them from many different angles. I certainly found that with this book. I really enjoyed reading it, and hope many more people do.

We lost the battle

(Emily)

     Angela and I are both well educated English major types who adore reading. In our lifetimes we have come across very very few books which we haven't been able to trudge our way through, even if we didn't absolutely love them at the time. We've managed to make it through some of the worst and dullest literary minds of the past centuries. Each time we were able to buckle down and plow through, somehow pulling enough from each of these trials to write the end of the year paper -- or whatever the assignment was.
     This book, "Eat Pray Love" has actually proved to be something we have no interest in reading. We have dedicated massive amounts of time to reading this book and we're getting nowhere. We cannot manage to figure things out and get through this book for the same reasons we've both written about. We cannot manage to figure out a way to feel for the character in this book. So, for one of the few times in our lives we've decided to say screw it and not finish this book.

     On to one we'll get through -- hopefully. I've read it before but have long been wanting to read it again. Angela has never read it, and I hope that she finds the inspiration and hope she longed to find in "Eat Pray Love."
     We have chosen to read.. drumroll please...

 "The Shack" by William P. Young

     This is a fantastically inspiring book, and if you haven't read it. I emplore you to come on this journey with us and delve into the meaning of God and God's enteraction withint us and our lives. It is utterly lovely and I've enjoyed reading it so much I'm ready to do it again. The shack is about a man, Mack, who spends an entire week in the shack where his daughter was murdered... he doesn't spend the time alone, he spends the time with God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost. It is absolutely lovely. It answers a lot of questions that normal people seeking their faith ask of God. 

     It doesn't push an agenda, which I really like. I find it answers good, very good questions. So... we are beginning this journey, and have actually begun it. I cannot wait to see what we'll feel reading this book as opposed to reading the last!