Archive | February 2023

The Journey: Big Panda And Tiny Dragon by James Norbury

Feb14

Serenely Beautiful And Very Wise

The Journey Big Panda And Tiny Dragon by James Norton is a serenely beautiful book and full of wisdom to help us lead lives of contentment.

Big Panda is very wise. He helps to calm Tiny Dragon by imparting knowledge as the pair travel from their home across the river. Tiny Dragon wonders why Big Panda is so wise. Big Panda tells him that he has lived longer and experienced more.

We learn that our past does not have to be our future. “Where it’s been doesn’t have to determine where it’s going.” We learn from the past as we move forwards.

Life is a journey. Life is better in the company of friends. “Together we can do anything.” Together we are stronger.

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The Stolen Twins by Shari J Ryan

Feb14

Hold On To Hope

The Stolen Twins by Shari Ryan is a most heart breaking and powerful historical tale that consumed me from the start.

The story is set 1944-1947 in Europe and the United States. It is told from the alternating points of view of Hungarian twins Arina and Nora, in both the first and the third person. The tale swings between 1944 and 1946 until the earlier time catches up.

As we hear the girls stories, the reader is horrified at the cruelty and of man’s inhumanity to man.

The main body of the tale is set in Auschwitz as we witness the horrific actions of Dr Mengele. As Shari Ryan describes the scenes, we recoil in horror, knowing that the reality is far more horrific.

Even in Auschwitz there were pockets of kindness as fellow prisoners risked their own lives to show kindness.

To survive, one needed a lot of luck and also hope, hope that one day it would all end and hope that loved ones would be re-united. Without hope, the people perish.

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The Rescue by S L Rosewarne

Feb12

Most Delightful

The Rescue by S L Rosewarne is a most delightful contemporary novel that I adored.

It is a unique tale that is told in the first person from the point of view of the dog. Normally we think we rescue our pets but just sometimes they rescue us.

S L Rosewarne has perfectly captured the essence of Moll with her words – we really do see the world through doggy eyes.

This is a book about grief and love. Both are entwined. There is a love that is wrenched apart by death. We also see the concept of death through Moll’s eyes as she still ‘talks’ to her owner in their special part of the beach.

There is a beautiful bond between Moll and her owners. When one is left behind, Moll sees it as her mission to make her smile again and to fulfill her owners dying wish. Moll interprets this as needing to find another love interest – but where her owner pours her heart out is not always where we expect it to be.

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One Sycamore Sunday by Stacey Weeks

Feb11

The Good, Good Father

One Sycamore Sunday by Stacey Weeks is the most delightful contemporary Christian novella and continues the Sycamore Hill series. It is book four but can be read as a stand-alone.

Here we see the importance of prayer and trust. “Trusting what she did not understand.” There are times in life that make no sense. It is then that we must put our hand into God’s and trust that He is our good, good Father. “God is bigger than the storm.” Whatever storm we pass through, we know that Jesus is in our boat.

Sycamore Hill pulls together and prays together. Sometimes we need others to pray for us when we don’t know how to pray. “Praying over and over the only words she could think. Please Jesus.” God hears the groans of our heart. When we pray, the darkness will flee. “God’s kingdom forced back the darkness.”

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