Sisterchicks Down Under & His Excellency

Summer's starting to wind down. Doogie's up at the high school in rehearsals for Oklahoma!; he's Pat or Tom or some guy in the chorus. It seemed like school just got out, and already the stores are having their back to school sales. Sometimes it feels like the world is moving so quickly, it's hard to keep up.

Sisterchicks Down Under by Robin Jones Gunn is another fantastic entry in this Christian series. When Kathleen and her husband head to New Zealand for three months, he fills his time with work. Kathleen finds herself alone like never before until she meets Jill at the local coffee shop. The relationship between Kathleen and Jill is so natural as written by Gunn that it’s easy to suspend disbelief in the improbabilities. Together they explore the beauty of New Zealand and God, and both grow as people and friends. This book is everything good chick-lit should be: quick reading, extremely enjoyable, lovable characters, with just a sprinkle of Christianity. Can’t wait for the next book!

His Excellency by Joseph J. Ellis is the compelling and interesting biography of George Washington, the Father of Our Country. I’ve never really been interested in Washington; he’s always seemed like more of a figurehead than a real person. History classes did nothing to change my opinion. But Ellis really brings Washington alive through excerpts of his correspondence and by analysis of his actions. I was telling my husband about the book and his response was that it made the first president seem actually interesting. I agree; Ellis has put flesh and blood upon the statue and made him real. Myths about the cherry tree as well as current political thought that Washington was a patriarchal egomaniac are blown to bits. Washington was a man of his time, but he also created his time and was a necessary figure not only in the bid for America’s independence but also in her fight to become a nation. This book gave me new respect not just for Washington but for the other Founding Fathers as well.

I'm currently reading Divas of Damascus Road by Michelle Stimpson, so far it's a fabulous read!