Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - A Review

 

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Some books are so rich with atmosphere that you can almost begin to feel like you're in the story along with the characters. That's what "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier felt like to me. From the first page, I was captivated and drawn in by the haunting descriptions of Manderley. It was the perfect setting for the gothic story that was to come. It had secrets, suspense, and a woman who seemed to be on the verge. 

The story follows an unnamed young woman of "lower status", who falls in love with and marries the recently widowed Maxim de Winter, a wealthy older man. After their honeymoon they return to his estate, Manderley, and the new Mrs. de Winter quickly realizes that she is living in the shadow of Maxim's late wife, Rebecca. There are echoes of Rebecca all throughout the estate, and she is kept particularly alive by housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, whose devotion to her former mistress is downright chilling. Will Rebecca and the secrets of Manderley be the new Mrs. de Winter's undoing? 

This was a story that could have easily fallen into a trap of cliché and predictability, but du Maurier's masterful writing kept it safe from such pitfalls. Everything felt carefully crafted and was rich in detail. The tension in the book builds page after page, and the twists keep you guessing over and over again about what's really going on at Manderley. The characters she developed were real and raw and flawed. I found myself equally enamored with and horrified by them.

My one beef with the novel is that I didn't really love the ending. It wasn't bad, necessarily. It just seemed to fall flat for me. I guess it didn't match up with my expectations that were building up throughout the book. It certainly was a fitting ending for the characters, I only wish there could have been more of it.    

Overall, I absolutely loved "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. It's beautiful and haunting and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoy gothic fiction with real psychological depth. It will linger in your mind long after you've finished the last page, which to me is the true mark of a great book. 

Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin - A Review

 

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I picked up Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin with high expectations, but soon realized the story I was reading was not quite the one I was expecting. 

The premise sounded promising. One blurb about the book described it in this way 

"Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne, France. Traversing the grounds by unicycle, tending to her many gardens—and being present for the intimate, often humorous confidences of visitors—Violette’s life follows the predictable rhythms of mourning. But then Violette’s routine is disrupted by the arrival of Julien Sole, the local police chief."   

I suppose I was expecting a book that was quirky and funny and beautiful. But as I got further into the book I found myself struggling to understand what was supposed to be so spectacular about this story. 

First, let's talk about the writing. Some might call it poetic, but I found it to be meandering and a bit overindulgent. The plot was so disjointed and all over the place. And while I did like Violette, the main character, it was difficult to connect with any of the other characters in the book. None felt developed enough to be more than stage props. 

The story itself wasn't necessarily bad. Violette's story is one that is full of heartache, but also resilience. Some of the passages describing her journey through grief were indeed poignant. But as a whole it was bogged down with melodrama. It was as if the author tried so hard to be poetic and profound that instead of lifting the story up into something great, it merely dragged it down into the doldrums.

And while I certainly don't expect characters in the books I read to act like saints, it was often difficult to read this book with its blatant and unrepentant acceptance of infidelity. In most cases the act was glorified as romantic. In reality the characters engaged in the behavior seemed selfish, childish, and more concerned with physical attraction than love. 

In the end, this book just wasn't for me. It tried too hard to be deep and introspective, and the plot suffered for it. 

Have you read Fresh Water for Flowers? I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if your experience was different from mine!

Tactics by Gregory Koukl - A Review

 

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I don't know about you, but I express myself so much better when I can write my thoughts out. In the moment, when I'm talking to someone face-to-face, I often feel like I'm floundering trying to articulate what I want to say. If you're the same way, you know how hard it can be to try to have a conversation with someone about faith. When I read Tactics by Gregory Koukl it felt like it was a book written just for me. It gives such good, practical, insightful, and grace-filled advice on how to effectively speak to people about our Christian faith. 

Koukl's approach isn't really about winning arguments. It's about engaging in thoughtful, respectful dialogue with another person. He emphasizes being a good ambassador for Christ by showing kindness, humility, and genuine curiosity toward the person you're speaking to. It's so easy to forget that when we're trying prove a point. 

In the book you're given tools, such as the Columbo method (where you ask questions to draw out someone's perspective), that are simple, yet effective. Reading through the book felt like a series of light-bulb moments for me. Talking to people who don't agree with you doesn't have to be hard! And the tactics don't even have to be used exclusively when you're discussing faith or theology. They work for any scenario where you're speaking to someone you disagree with. 

Maybe the best part about Tactics is how incredibly approachable it is. Koukl's tone is warm and encouraging. This isn't a book written for scholars. It's a book written for anyone who desires to talk about God, but struggles to do so in an effective and God-honoring way. 

I love how Koukl emphasizes that our conversations don't have to "close the deal" so to speak. We're not going to convince everyone. We're not going to have all the answers to every question. It's okay to tell the person you aren't sure, and that you'll get more information to continue at a later time. It's okay for the conversation to end with no resolution and to never even see the person again. Because you've planted the seed, you got the person thinking, and your job is done. That realization lifted such a burden from me. 

Whether you're new to sharing your faith or you've been doing it for decades, I think there's something for everyone with the pages of Tactics. There is so much amazing advice, and it's just generally a wonderful encouragement for us as Christians. 

Have you read Tactics? I’d love to hear how you’ve applied some of the ideas in your own conversations!

Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard - A Review

 

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Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard is one of those special books that you only come across once in a while. The kind that feels like a gift to your soul. I picked this one up after seeing it recommended in a Facebook group. I remember having heard the title before but didn't know anything about the book. I had no idea that this sweet little allegory would end up being so deeply profound. I feel like no matter where you are at in life or your walk with God, this book will meet you right there. It certainly did that for me, and nudged me ever so much closer to my Savior. 

The story follows Much-afraid, a timid, crippled woman, as she sets off on a journey to the High Places. The Shepherd whom she so adores has promised her that in the High Places she will be different. She will no longer be held back by her physical disabilities or her fear and doubt. Along the way she faces detours, dangers, injury, and attacks from her family who hate that she's trying to get away to the High Places. But the Shepherd didn't send Much-Afraid on her own. He sent Sorrow and Suffering to journey with her. Along the way Much-Afraid learns to embrace Sorrow and Suffering, and finds that through the trials they face together she's able to more readily sacrifice her own will and desires in order to follow the Shepherd. 

To me what makes this story so impactful is how personal it feels. This isn't just Much-Afraid's story of sanctification and transformation, it's all of ours. Hurnard's writing is simple, but poetic and profound. She weaves scripture and truth into every passage and it seemed to work as a balm on my weary heart. 

By far the most uplifting thing I took away from this allegory is how the Shepherd never gave up on Much-Afraid. Sometimes he was stern, but no matter how many times she stumbled or clung to her fear and doubt, he always had loving compassion and sympathy for her. It was such a beautiful reminder of God's patience and faithfulness toward us. As someone who tends to overthink and worry and doubt, this book encouraged me to trust more in God's plan and to follow his path even if it might seem impossible to my human brain. 

I heartily recommend that all Christians read Hinds' Feet on High Places. No matter where you are at in your Christian walk, this book has something for you. It will challenge and encourage you. 

Have you read Hinds’ Feet on High Places? Let me know your favorite parts in the comments. I’d love to hear how this story inspired you!

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle - A Review

 

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Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle seemed like it had all the makings of a book I could get into. The premise was unique. There was the promise of emotional depth and not just surface-level romance. Unfortunately, while the concept was intriguing, the execution of the story fell flat for me in the end. 

The story revolves around Daphne, a woman living in LA who receives a mysterious note before every romantic relationship she enters into. The note is simple. It contains the name of the guy, and how long their relationship will last. Then one day she gets a note with just a name. No expiration date. So is this it, the guy she's going to be with forever? It's a clever premise that raises some big questions. How much control do we really have in our lives? Can we trust our own hearts? What happens if we work against the "destiny" set out for us. I was hoping the story would dive deeper into those waters, but I found that it really only skimmed the surface of those themes. 

One of my biggest challenges with the story was the relationship between Daphne and Hugo, her one time boyfriend turned best friend. It's obvious they are very much still in love with each other. But they won't act on it because the paper had already given them their expiration date, and that was that. This could have been an incredible source of tension and conflict in the story, reading about their challenges trying to overcome that pesky destiny. Instead Daphne and Hugo just throw their hands up, like oh well, it was never meant to be. It was unbelievable enough to be just the tiniest bit infuriating.   

As far as the rest of the romance goes in the book, it was fine. Nothing so special it made you long for what the couple had. There were a couple of mildly "spicy" scenes that weren't overly graphic, but graphic enough I wished they hadn't been included. 

In the end I found that 'Expiration Dates' just meandered, until it finally ended the way most people will probably expect it to. But it didn't really feel satisfying. It felt shallow and predictable. I wanted more depth, substance, and tension. 

If you've read this one, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Maybe you picked up on something interesting in the story that I missed?

The Cross of Christ by John Stott - A Review

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If I could recommend just one book to any Christian looking to explore the depths of their faith, or who simply want a reminder of what we believe and why, it would be The Cross of Christ by John Stott. I read this book when I was still quite new to my faith, and for me it was like a masterclass on theology. It laid the gospel bare, and invited me to dive deep into why, without the cross, Christianity would mean nothing.  

Stott doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, for sure. In the book he wrestles with deep questions about why Jesus had to die, what the cross means to us as Christians, and how it literally transforms lives. This is definitely not a leisurely read, but don't let that scare you off. While the theology might be weighty, Stott writes in a way that feels approachable. 

Perhaps what struck me the most about this book is that it's not just about understanding doctrine. What you read will speak to your heart. It will draw you closer to Jesus as you begin to more fully understand the work that was done on the cross. Each chapter seemed to leave me more in awe of the depth of God's love for us. 

If you're ready for a book that will challenge and encourage you, while deepening your understanding of the gospel, please pick this one up. Reading it bolstered by faith in what left like a like-changing way, and I hope it can be that for many others. 

Have you read The Cross of Christ? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! What passages spoke to you the most?