The Talens' Tales

M(om): Gideon, where do you think you are going? G(ideon): I am going up the stairs. Can't I go up the stairs, mom? M: I would feel better if you knew how to get back down. Why don't you come here and tell me what  is new with you? G: Well, I have my first tooth just starting to poke through. M: It is pretty excited. And it looks like a few more are on their way as well. You will soon have a mouth full of teeth. G: Well, that may mean I can eat even more things. There are so many things that I like to eat and so many that look really good and wish I could. M: I am pretty impressed with what you eat each day. A whole piece of pizza, any vegetables and any fruit. It is great. What else is new? G: I am getting really fast at crawling on my hands and knees. M: You are. And sometimes your body goes faster then you hands and knees and you end up with a bump on the head. G: That happens most often when I am trying to get to the window to see the tractors. M: Wh...

Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story is a the story of the life of Steven Curtis Chapman, the well know Christian singer/songwriter. From childhood, music has been both a refuge and a release for Steven. With humor and humility, he offers a backstage look at his early days on the road and his wild ride to the top of the charts. Discover the stories behind some of his best-loved songs. Walk with him as he and his wife, Mary Beth, navigate the joys and trials of marriage and family. Cheer for his return to the stage after doubting he could ever sing again. And SEE God in the aftermath of the tragic death of their five-year-old daughter Maria.  Having grown up with Steven's music and knowing just a tiny bit about the tragic death of his daughter made me excited and interested to read this book. And I was not disappointed. It was so interesting to learn not only more about the little bit I knew, but also to learn about what led him to be a musician in the first place. ...

Recruits by Thomas Locke is about twins Sean and Dillon Kirrel who have dreamed about a world beyond their own since they were children, but it has always been a fantasy. Not long before their eighteenth birthday, however, the arrival of a mysterious new neighbor and the revelations he shares bring that far-off world within reach.  When Sean and Dillon learn they share a unique gift--the ability to transfer instantly between worlds--they are offered an opportunity to prove themselves as recruits to the planetary Assembly. But unlocking their abilities awakens an enemy beyond anything they ever imagined, thrusting them into an interplanetary conflict that could consume the entire human race. This was a great book! It grabbed me by the first page and didn't let go until the end. It was a face paced, fantastical adventure in other world. I am not sure if this book is being marketed to geared for the Young Adult age, but I could see it certainly fitting in that category. I kn...

I had a few books to review this month, but I did have a chance to read a few more titles that I had waiting for me on my Kindle. Here are a few highlights. The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri Starts in India and moves to the United States. A fantastic look at Indian culture and family relationships. Different from my typical read, but one I did like and I thought about after I finished it. Life  After Life by Kate Atkinson This one was a stretch of imagination, but so interesting a worth it. It is about a woman named Ursula who lives her same life over and over again until she gets it right. Sound strange, but it really works. Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver I have been a fan of Kingsolver for a while, but I haven't read much by her lately. But reading this one reminded me why I enjoy her works so much. It is the story of a woman named Dellarobia, a stay at home mom of two who thinks there must be more to life than what she is living. And then something totally unexpecte...