Archive | September 2023

The Midwife Of Berlin by Anna Stuart

Sep13

A Desperate Hope

The Midwife Of Berlin by Anna Stuart is a powerful historical novel that consumed me.

Much of the action is set in 1961 Berlin, at the height of the Cold War. It is a time of division as east separates from west.

The Nazi reign of terror has gone, only to be replaced with a Soviet one.

As the Berlin Wall is erected, lives and families are torn apart. ‘Lists’ begin to appear, making defection necessary.

The East is living under communism. It is a nice idea in theory but doesn’t work in practice.

Similarly, lives were ripped apart in World War II by the Nazis. Babies born in Auschwitz were torn from their mother’s arms. Secretly, these babies were tattooed in their armpits with their mother’s number, in the hope that after the war, women could find their babies. “Hope is the greatest pain but also the greatest strength.”

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Refuge Of Grace by Tracy Smoak

Sep12

Faith Walk

Refuge Of Grace by Tracy Smoak is a powerful book that will enhance your journey with God. It can be read as a whole or break it down into a chapter a day as part of your daily devotions and let the words sink into your soul.

Tracy Smoak draws us near to the heart of God as she studies His word. She looks at the lives of familiar Biblical characters – David, Jeremiah, Ruth, Mary, Paul, Jonah and more – and applies their lessons to our lives today.

Each chapter has a passage connected to our contemporary lives as well as the Biblical characters. There are many Bible quotes. There are also reflections such as questions and a prayer. Each chapter invites us to look inwards and examine our lives.

As we journey through the book, there are lessons to be learnt or to remind ourselves of.

We observe that God sees us. We cannot hide any part of our lives from Him. He sees our darkest secrets and He loves us anyway. We cannot earn His love. We cannot lose His love because His love is part of His character. God is love.

We can trust God. He longs to bless us, not because we deserve it but because it pleases Him. “The Canaanite woman sought blessing, not because she ‘deserved’ it, but because she trusted God’s goodness.”

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If I Were Invisible by Lily Lawson

Sep12

Easily Relatable

If I Were Invisible by Lily Lawson is a charming book for the under fives.

The whole book is simply constructed in rhyme, making it easy for our children to join in. Each page prompts a discussion with our children – would you like to be invisible? Why? Or why not?

We see the importance of family and friends.

The whole book is simply illustrated by Gustyawan. There is so much detail within each page. It is easy to relate to the main character.

This is a really fun book that would enhance any child’s personal library. I think every early years classroom should have a copy too.

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Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown

Sep12

The Bulldog Spirit

Nineteen Steps by Millie Bobby Brown is a truly inspiring, powerful historical tale that is based on fact.

The novel opens in the autumn of 1942 in Bethnal Green in London. We ‘travel’ through the remainder of the war with the community, focusing in on two families who are next door neighbours.

As we journey, we learn about events on one fateful night in early 1943 in Bethnal Green tube station. We see the repercussions across the community. The reader is educated about what was kept secret for thirty five years after the event.

We witness the indomitable bulldog spirit. As a community pulls together. “Nothing would lessen [her] pain… But these kindnesses, from people who had so little themselves, touched her.” Though the people have little in the form of material goods, they have huge hearts that love, care and support.

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