Bookwi.se – Page 163 – A few thoughts about books, kindles and Christianity

Plastic Donuts: Giving That Delights the Hearts of the Father

June 17, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: Quick read about the things that are important to think about when we think about Christian giving. Giving is something that church staff fear talking about and most Christians have at least some guilt about. On the staff side, no one likes to fundraise or ask people for money (although some are good at … Read more

Guest Post: Marketing Tips for Self-Published eBook Authors

June 14, 2013 by Adam Shields

Welcome Jori Sams, author of several independent books with an article about ebook marketing. One night I was lying in bed some months after I returned from six months traveling in Europe. Some of the colorful people I had met were dancing across the recesses of my imagination. In a dream-like state I imagined a little girl … Read more

Catholic Spiritual Practices: A Treasury of Old and New

June 13, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: Short introductions to a variety of spiritual practices. This book is good for what it is, concise introductions to spiritual practices. But the problem is that I am not sure who should read it. When most people are interested in doing many of these spiritual practices, they want more than a cursory introduction. And … Read more

Volcanoes by Nicole Hamlett (A Grace Murphy Novel)

June 11, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: Third book in a fun adventure series where a single mom finds out she is the daughter of the Diana (of Greek God fame) and suddenly has a variety of powers (and enemies).

The Grace Murphy books are classic summer reads. They are fun, light reading. A good bit of action, a little bit of romance and something quite different from my standard fare.

The cover of this one is a bit more ‘provokative’ than the previous covers. But it does make sense. Grace Murphy is ‘a god’. Well not actually a god, but one of a race of alien that live a long time and after whom the Greek Gods were modeled. So her mother is Diana, and her father is Zachary (also known as Zeus).

Rifts by Nicole Hamlett (A Grace Murphy Novel)

June 8, 2013 by Adam Shields

I am on vacation this week, so only pre-written reviews will be posted. Everything will be back to normal next week.

Summary: Everyday single mom finds out she is ‘a god’ with lots of powers and even more responsibilities (and people trying to kill her.)

It is summer and for me that means at least some mindless fun books. On spring break I read Huntress, the first book in this series.

Grace Murphy is a romance writer, recently divorced single mom, a bit of a sci fi geek and quite recently found out that she is the daughter of Diana.

In this series the Greek god are not actually gods, but a race of people from another world that protect the Earth from cross-dimensional bad guys. Grace has been hidden for her own protection and in the previous book came to terms with her new life.

The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory

June 7, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: An ‘introductory’ look at superstring theory and the quest for a unified theory of physics.

Every once in a while I feel like I need to try to read something completely outside my comfort zone. Actual science is outside my comfort zone.

I enjoy social science and statistics. I have enjoyed biographies of scientists like Einstein and Bohrs and Oppenheimer. But the actual science always seems a bit above my head.

Brian Greene has a number of books about physics. He is a working physicist and is known for his popular level books about physics.

Offsite Review: Faith and Creeds by Alister McGrath

June 6, 2013 by Adam Shields

The older I get the more I think Christians need to pay attention to the traditional creeds of Christianity. And I think there is increasing interest in Christian history and the creeds among Evangelicals because of the need to ground our faith in something greater than our current theology and practice. Bob Corwall positively reviewed … Read more

The Great Gatsby (Movie and Audiobook Review)

June 3, 2013 by All Old Users

The Great Gatsby is simply a an excellent work of American fiction. I don’t many people who will argue otherwise so I will not review the book itself. While I had read the book back in high school, I chose to listen to the book recently in order to get ready for the new movie. … Read more

Most Read Book Reviews in May

June 2, 2013 by Adam Shields

The most read book review posts in May. Also you might want to check out the four part series on suggested books for Summer (

Absolute Truths by Susan Howatch (Church of England #6)

May 31, 2013 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Best of the series. God’s Truth matters more than our own presentation of God’s Truth.

This last book of the Church of England series has been the best of them all. And while it could be read by itself, you would be missing a lot of nuance that really shows what a spectacular author Howatch is.

The Absolute Truths again comes back to the beginning of the series and has Charles Ashworth as the narrator. Ashworth is telling his story from his old age. Things have changed since 1937 when the first book was set.

In the first book he meets a potential mentor, falls in love with the woman that becomes his second wife, deals with the death of his first wife (seven years prior), comes to terms with his father and a whole host of other issues.

Most of this book is concerned with 1965. Ashworth is the Bishop at Starbridge. (Book six goes back in time, because both books four and five start in 1963 and 1968, but then end in the 1980s.) He is at the peak of his career and things are going very well. Until his third life crisis hits and he is totally unprepared.