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This Month on FaithfulReader.com |
June 2004 |
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Talking Book Clubs Here |
Summer means beaches, family reunions and we hope, more time for reading than usual!
This month our theme is all about book clubs. Are you in one? Would you like to be in one? What would you like to read with a group? All of these questions come up as we are working on a program where we will bring you reading group discussion questions for many of your favorite Christian fiction authors. We're also mulling a concept where a select group of authors would be available for phone chats with participating groups. We'd love to hear what you have to say about this so please answer our poll and question this month.
Also, if you are in a group, we invite you to visit our ReadingGroupGuides.com website to register your group. Registered groups will be eligible for monthly prizes! More than 475 groups have registered already!
Enjoy our reviews and interviews. We hope that you'll find a book you love here this month.
Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@faithfulreader.com) |
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An Opportunity to Win Books and Materials On How to Start and Run a Book Club |
Behind every great love is a great story. And behind every great movie is a great writer. So in celebration of their new film, The Notebook, New Line Cinema wants people get excited about reading, by helping you start a book club for free.
New Line is pleased to offer you 5 copies of the novel The Notebook, by Nicholas Sparks, as well as a how-to guide for starting your own book club.
If you are in a book club, you may want to think about reading this book --- and discussing it and the movie with your fellow club members. |
For details and more information about the movie, as well as an interview with Nicholas Sparks, please click here.
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Faithful Fiction |
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THE LAST ODD DAY by Lynne Hinton (Fiction)
Reviewed by Bethanne Kelly Patrick
Jean Clover Witherspoon has lived a hard life that threatens to become even more difficult after her husband's death brings to light a painful secret. How Jean deals with that secret's effect on her past and present forms this muted, spiritual first-person tale.
RED: The Heroic Rescue by Ted Dekker (Suspense)
Reviewed by Marcia Ford
This second book in Ted Dekker's mind-bending trilogy centers on the heroic attempts of Thomas Hunter to save two worlds. With the devastating realization that he has helped unleash death into both worlds, he must now discover how to defeat this evil --- while trying to save his true love.
CIRCLE OF GRACE by Penelope J. Stokes (Fiction)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
CIRCLE OF GRACE, with its lovely writing and themes of truth, loss, friendship and redemption, will provide an absorbing story for readers of faith fiction.
UNVEILING by Suzanne Wolfe (Contemporary Fiction)
Reviewed by Evelyn Bence
Rachel Piers is assigned to lead a demanding art restoration project in Rome. As she uncovers layers of grime on what could be a lost Flemish masterpiece, she unveils her own soul.
LIVING WATER by Obery Hendricks (Historical Fiction)
Reviewed by Evelyn Bence
This is an embellished and dramatic African American retelling of the story of the Samaritan Woman, abused and abandoned by five husbands, before Jesus transforms her life and her village. |
Our Faithful Fiction books may be found here.
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Angela Elwell Hunt, Deborah Raney and Lauraine Snelling Answer the Faithful Fifteen |
Angela Elwell Hunt, winner of the 2000 Christy Award for BY DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, has written more than eighty books, including her newest novel THE AWAKENING. In this interview Hunt explains her call to her faith and to writing, and discusses how a book she read as a child influenced her life.
Deborah Raney is the author of numerous novels, including the RITA award winner BENEATH A SOUTHERN SKY, AFTER THE RAINS, A VOW TO CHERISH, and her most recent work, A NEST OF SPARROWS. In this interview Raney explains how her faith is a constant influence in her life and work, and how she tries to practice the Scripture that says "pray without ceasing."
Award-winning author Lauraine Snelling has written over 50 books, including THE HEALING QUILT, A HAND TO HOLD, and the upcoming novel THE WAY OF WOMEN. Snelling discusses her incredible appetite for reading a variety of books --- Christian and secular --- and shares stories of some of the people who have been influenced by her work. |
Read these authors' replies to the Faithful Fifteen.
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Christy and Gold Medallion Award Winners |
It's Awards Time! The winners of the Christy Awards and the Gold Medallion were announced this past weekend.
On Friday, June 25th the Christy Advisory Board announced winners in seven categories for the 2004 Christy Awards honoring Christian fiction of exceptional quality and impact. Click on the link below to see the winners and the nominees.
Gold Medallion Book Awards, established in 1978, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Gold Medallion Book Awards are among the most prestigious in the industry. Click on the link below to view winners and nominees for these awards. |
Read the winners for the Christy Awards and The Gold Medallion Awards here.
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Christian Living and Marriage/Family Life Titles |
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Christian Living
THE CALEB QUEST: What You Can Learn from the Boldest Dreamer in the Bible by Mark Atteberry (Christian Living)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Using the example of the biblical character Caleb, the boldest dreamer and achiever in all of Scripture, Mark Atteberry takes an interesting look at why we should dream big --- and why our dreams sometimes fail.
THE GOD I LOVE: A Lifetime of Walking with Jesus by Joni Eareckson Tada (Memoir)
Reviewed by Marcia Ford
Bestselling author Joni Eareckson Tada shares her own insights on life, love and spirituality. She tells of an accident that paralyzed her physically, and how that started her on a powerful, deeply personal journey of hope.
IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES by Gracia Burnham with Dean Merrill (Memoir)
Reviewed by Marcia Ford
In this riveting personal account, Gracia Burnham tells the real story behind the harrowing ordeal that she and her late husband faced as hostages in the Philippines shortly after September 11th.
EVERYDAY FAITH by Terry Pluto (Christian Living)
Reviewed by Diana Keough
Terry Pluto is a faith and sports columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal. Thousands of loyal readers turn to his column each week in the "Your Faith" section for a regular dose of down-to-earth spiritual inspiration. EVERYDAY FAITH collects the best from the first three years of this popular column.
GO FOR THE GREEN: Spiritual Lessons for Life From the Game of Golf by Jeff Hopper (Devotional)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
This charming, beautifully packaged gift book of 365 devotions is an accessible, light read for avid golfers of both genders. Each devotional is partnered with a solid golf tip to help the reader get to the green.
Marriage and Family Life
HEALING THE HURT IN YOUR MARRIAGE: Beyond Discouragement, Anger, and Resentment to Forgiveness by Dr. Gary and Barbara Rosberg (Relationships/Love and Marriage)
Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
Engaged couples will consider this practical book by husband-and-wife team Gary and Barbara Rosberg to be a great discussion-starter, while married couples could find it a marriage-saver. |
Our Christian Living and Marriage/Family Life books may be found here.
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Author Talks: Catherine Palmer, Author of WILD HEATHER and Jordan Rubin, Author of THE MAKER'S DIET |
Catherine Palmer explores a great rift and even greater restoration in her new novel, WILD HEATHER. In this interview Palmer discusses how a childhood trip influenced her book, why she picked its setting and how writing helped her work through a painful experience.
Chris Fabry, host of the radio program "First Edition," interviews Jordan Rubin, author of THE MAKER'S DIET. (This is the third installment of the interview; the previous two were available last month.) Rubin is a doctor of naturopathic medicine, a certified nutritional consultant and a member of the National Academy of Sports Medicine. After winning his battle with Crohn's colitis, a disease that initially was diagnosed as incurable for him, Jordan has devoted his life to developing solutions to help those who suffer as he did by educating on ways to naturally and nutritionally overcome challenges. In this conversation he describes the six key steps to living a happy and healthy life. |
Read an Author Talks with Catherine Palmer and Jordan Rubin here.
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Our Monthly Poll: About Book Clubs |
Are you in a book club?
Yes
No, but I would like to be.
No, I am not interested in this. |
Vote in the Poll here.
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Word of Mouth: Tell Us What You're Reading: Win THE SPLITTING STORM by Rene Gutteridge |
Tell us what books YOU are reading and loving --- or even those you don't. You could then be eligible to win THE SPLITTING STORM by Rene Gutteridge!
Please note that our next Word of Mouth update will be on July 27th. |
Tell us what you are reading here to be eligible to win!
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As always, here are a few housekeeping notes. If you are seeing this newsletter in a text version, and would prefer to see the graphics, you can either read it online (see the link on the upper right) or change your preferences below.
Those of you who wish to send mail to FaithfulReader.com, please see the form on the Write to Us page.
Thanks for reading....and don't forget to forward this newsletter to a friend.
--- Carol Fitzgerald (Carol@faithfulreader.com)
The Book Report Network
250 W. 57th Street - Suite 1228
New York, New York 10107 |
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