Letters to Ethan

Letters to Ethan: A Grandfather's Legacy of Life & Love

About the book:  

Like the rest of us, you didn't come with an owner's manual. You'll probably wonder – more than once – why you're here. What is your life's purpose? How will you face the adversity your life will surely bring?
Despite appearances, no one's life is ever simple. We have our parents and our friends to learn from; they have much to teach us. And you'll hear a lot from, and about, public figures – athletes, newscasters, actors, politicians, artists…celebrities of every kind.

But making sense of the world we live in is something each one of us struggles with. The truth is, life is complicated. It's wonderful; it's awful; it's a thrill; it's a bore. And it can feel almost unbearable at times. Almost.

Fortunately, you're blessed with a family that loves you. Your grandfather, Tom McQueen, wrote you this book. No one has all the answers, but he's already faced many of the challenges you'll encounter.

Even those of us who've been around awhile can learn a thing or twelve from your grandpa. He's helped a lot of folks as a therapist; he's inspired audiences with his seminars; and he's shared his thoughts in several other books.

In these letters to you, Ethan, your grandpa reveals the mistakes and miracles that have shaped his life. Anyone can give advice, but true wisdom is hard-won. And the book you're holding contains plenty of it

My Comments:  

I enjoyed this short book of advice from one generation to another.  Each letter is about four pages long and focuses on one topic.  The topics include faith, heroism, will, integrity, conflict, prayer, fear and miracles.  There is often a short anecdote from the author's life, some advice for his grandson and then a poem, story or other writing from popular culture.  There is the story of the boy born a premie who described the smell of rain as the smell of God when you laid on his chest.  "Footprints" made the book, along with "The Man in the Glass" and Psalm 23.  

The author is Catholic and writes about his faith, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a religious book, though Ethan is urged to love God and practice his faith. 

I think Letters to Ethan: A Grandfather's Legacy of Life & Love would make a nice graduation or confirmation gift for a teen.  I read the whole book in a couple of hours but the way it is written makes it ideal for someone to read a letter a day.  Grade:  B.

I'd like to thank the folks at Phenix & Phenix for sending me a complimentary review copy.  You can read the first chapter here, and learn about the author, Tom McQueen, here

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

Hi, and welcome to Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival. This is Catholic blogger's weekly chance to share our best posts with each other.  To participate, go to your blog and create a post titled Sunday Snippets.  In it highlight and link to one or more of your posts from this week.  Also include a link to this post.  Then come back here and sign Mr Linky giving a link to your post.  Finally, visit the blogs of other participants and leave comments!

This week I read two books I'd recommend.  The first is Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry which is a about a man who had a lot of tragedy in his life but maintained his faith in God.  The second is Emily's Chance, which is a basic Christian romance, but a fun one.

Have a great week!

Tapestry Shop

The Tapestry Shop

About the Book (from Amazon):  The Tapestry Shop is the story of the trouvère, Adam de la Halle, a thirteenth-century poet/musician who entertained in France's royal courts. Adam's secular play, Robin et Marion, led to the birth of the comic opera form and the first penning of the Robin Hood legend.

The book draws the reader into the Middle Ages, where women joined the crusades and students held discourse on the Street of Straw, but the overriding appeal of The Tapestry Shop is Adam's connection to the legend of Robin Hood.

After enduring political exile, Adam returns to the city of his birth to confront the reality of his failed marriage, but first, he must find the hangmen who stole his purse and his dignity.

As protégé of King Louis's nephew, Adam attends the university in Paris. When he meets Catherine, a shopkeeper's daughter, his life takes an unexpected turn.

Catherine is bound to another by a secret she cannot reveal. Her deep religious convictions and guilt for her past bring danger to her and to those she loves. When she decides to join the king's latest crusade, Adam must confront his disdain for what he considers an intolerant Church, based on his knowledge of its treatment of Cathars and Jews.

Torn by conflicting ideals, they move toward their destiny, each determined to prevail, but the choices they make bring them both to heights and depths neither could ever imagine.

My Comments:  I'm a history buff, but after 100 pages I just didn't connect with the characters or the plot.  The book is filled with descriptions that put you in the middle ages, but I didn't care one bit about the characters or what was happening to them.  I will say though that detailed descriptions are not always my thing.  I don't think it is a bad book; it just isn't for me.

I'd like to thank Carol Fass Publicity & Public Relations for providing a review copy.

Monday Memes

Hi! Mailbox Monday is hosted this month at She Reads and Reads.  It is where book bloggers brag about what the mail brought this week.

 It has been a busy week here, not much reading or blogging I'm afraid.  However, the mailman did drop by. I got:
Shotgun Grooms (Harlequin Historical, Westerns) (Lucas's Convenient Bride, by Mallery)(Jackson's Mail-Order Bride, by Child)   It was exactly what you'd  expect and almost funny, though it wasn't written to be.  It was one of those impulse grabs on Bookmooch from someone I was already mooching from--and I was in a real veg-out mood the day I got it.
Sisters, Ink (Scrapbooker's Series #1)  I've reviewed the others in the series but missed this one.  Now at least it is in my possession, via Bookmooch.

The House came to me from the author, Anjuelle Floyd and deals with a divorced couple--and now he is dying.  It is for review.

Keeper of Secrets: Translations of an Incident was in the same package as The House. It deals with different witnesses perception of the same incident.  

Almost Heaven is from the Tyndale Blog Network.  My Review.  In short, I love it.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Journey and in it, book bloggers tell you what they read last week and what they plan this week.

I read and reviewed Almost Heaven.

Emily's Chance: A Novel (The Callahans of Texas)  I posted my review.

Dismissed with Prejudice  Another review posted.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball: A Novella Review posted

Catching Moondrops  Review posted.

As far as my plans for this week, well, we'll see.  Probably at least one of the new books from above.