Book Review: Kisses from Katie

Katie February 11, 2012 0 Comments

Kisses for Katie tells the story of Katie Davis, who decides to skip out on going to college and instead goes to Uganda.  First she goes for just a few weeks during her winter break with her mother. (Her parents said she could only go if someone else would go with her – figuring it would be impossible for her to find someone able to take that much time off of work to go with her.  Once they realized that this was really important to her and she really wanted to do this, her mother agreed to go with her.)

After that short trip to Uganda her world was completely changed and she believed that she had a calling from God to go back there and help out whoever she could.  By 19, Katie had adopted 6 children.  By 22, she ended up with 14!  At first she was not sure how she was going to do it, but she trusted in God and felt that she was being guided in the right direction.  She takes in children to help get them cleaned up and a bit more nourished.

She started a foundation to help make sure kids got an education.  The cost was relatively inexpensive by USA standards, but not by Uganda standards.  She went back to the US to do fundraising to help pay for students uniforms and school supplies.  The parents back in Uganda were forever thankful for her help.

Many in the community call her “mommy”, not just her children.  She even has a pet monkey. And a dog.  That had puppies, twice!  But somehow she seems to balance it all and is certainly an asset to the community.

If you’d like to find out more about what Katie is doing or donate to help her help others, you can find all that information on her blog, http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com

Also, to find out more about her ministries you can visit http://www.amazima.org/index.html and visit the store to buy items made by hard working mothers.   I have a few of these necklaces (though not bought through Katie’s site) and they are really nice and great conversation starters!

This book was incredibly inspiring, and I have already wanted to go to Africa but this book definitely made me want to go all the more to try and help out.  I am not sure  I will ever get the opportunity to do so, so I am definitely happy to see that there are others out there not only drawn to go but out there and doing it.

I received a review e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

About the Book

What would cause an eighteen-year-old old senior class president and homecoming queen from Nashville, Tennessee, to disobey and disappoint her parents by forgoing college, break her little brother’s heart, lose all but a handful of her friends (because the rest of them think she has gone off the deep end), and break up with the love of her life, all so she could move to Uganda, where she knew only one person but didn’t know any of the language? A passion to make a difference. Katie Davis left over Christmas break her senior year for a short mission trip to Uganda and her life was turned completely inside out. She found herself so moved by the people and children of Uganda that she knew her calling was to return and care for them. She has given up a relatively comfortable life-at a young age-to care for the less fortunate of this world. She was so moved by the need she witnessed, she’s centered her life around meeting that need. Katie, a charismatic and articulate young woman, is in the process of adopting 13 children in Uganda, and she completely trusts God for daily provision for her and her family.

Despite the rough conditions in which Katie lives, she has found a life of service to God to be one of great joy. Katie’s children bring constant delight and help her help others by welcoming whoever comes to their door. As the challenges grow, so does Katie’s faith and her certainty that what she’s doing in Uganda, one person at a time, will have far-reaching rewards. It isn’t the life she planned, but it is the life she loves.

To further her reach into the needs of Ugandans, Katie established Amazima Ministries. The ministry matches orphaned children with sponors worldwide. Each sponsor’s $300/year provides schooling, school supplies, three hot meals a day, minor medical care, and spiritual encouragement. Katie expected to have forty children in the program; she had signed up 150 by January 2008; today it sponsors over 400. Another aspect of the ministry is a feeding program created for the displaced Karamojong people-Uganda’s poorest citizens. The program feeds lunch to over 1200 children Monday-Friday and sends them home with a plate of food; it also offers basic medical care, Bible study, and general health training.

Katie Davis, now 22, is more than fascinating, she’s inspiring, as she has wholeheartedly answered the call to serve.

Book Review: Surprised By Laughter

Katie February 7, 2012 0 Comments

Surprised Laughter is by Terry Lindvall and is The Comic World of C.S. Lewis.  If you’re not familiar with C.S. Lewis, he is probably most known for writing the Narnia book series – The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, etc. As well as quite a few other books as well.  Once again, I dive into a biography of sorts about an author whos books I’ve never read. Although I have seen a movie version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and I did have the series on a “wish list” for my Nook.  That has to count for something 😉

The book tells about the life of C.S. Lewis and how he used laughter in his book and in his life. The book is split up in to 5 or 6 sections and has something like 33 chapters.  Mixed in are quotes from Lewis himself – either from things he had said or things he had written which I found to be a nice touch.  Rather than just citing “oh he talked about this in this book”, they actually have the excerpt there for you to read.

The book is pretty big – over 400 pages – so it took me about 3 days to make my way through it. (And totally killed the book a day average I had going on. Oh well!) But it is definitely an interesting read – Lewis was Christian (no surprise as this is a Thomas Nelson book) but he didn’t take his religion so seriously – there are chapters on his “vulgar” humor and his thoughts on laughter in relation to religion as well. Oh! and I will warn you. The beginning was a bit boring and tough to get in to – but do not let that deter you from reading the rest of the book.  Once things get going it becomes a worthwhile read!

About the Book

Surprised by Laughter looks at the career and writings of C. S. Lewis and discovers a man whose life and beliefs were sustained by joy and humor.

All of his life, C. S. Lewis possessed a spirit of individuality. An atheist from childhood, he became a Christian as an adult and eventually knew international acclaim as a respected theologian. He was known worldwide for his works of fiction, especially the Chronicles of Narnia; and for his books on life and faith, including Mere Christianity, A Grief Observed, and Surprised by Joy. But perhaps the most visible difference in his life was his abiding sense of humor. It was through this humor that he often reached his readers and listeners, allowing him to effectively touch so many lives.

Terry Lindvall takes an in-depth look at Lewis’s joyful approach toward living, dividing his study of C. S. Lewis’s wit into the four origins of laughter in Uncle Screwtape’s eleventh letter to a junior devil in Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters: joy, fun, the joke proper, and flippancy. Lindvall writes, “One bright and compelling feature we can see, sparking in his sunlight and dancing in his moonlight, is laughter. Yet it is not too large to see at once because it inhabited all Lewis was and did.”

Surprised by Laughter reveals a Lewis who enjoyed the gift of laughter, and who willingly shared that gift with others in order to spread his faith.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Book Review: 101 Things You Thought You Knew About The Titanic

Katie February 3, 2012 0 Comments

 To be honest, I don’t really think I know anything about The Titanic, but I certainly enjoy reading about the ship because for some reason it fascinates me.  101 Things You Thought You Knew About The Titanic, But Didn’t is by Tim Maltin with Eloise Aston and breaks down some myths that surround the sinking of the unsinkable Titanic.

The books is broken down into several parts, so if there is specific area you are looking for more information on, it is easy to find.  The Ship, Omens, Maiden Voyage, Passengers, ‘Iceberg, Right Ahead’, Collision, SOS, The Californian Incident, Women and Children First, Final Moments, Rescue, Statistics and Aftermath.

The book contains text from The US Inquiry which interviewed witnesses and survivors about what they saw during and after the sinking.  I didn’t realize that this information was out there and it is pretty neat to read what different players had to say about the situation.  There is also information from The British Inquiry.  You can tell which is which throughout the text based on how they are numbered (more details on this is included in the book.)

A lot of the misconceptions seem to come from different films which have been made about the sinking of the Titanic.  It seems many find them to be historically accurate, when a lot of it was probably either made up for drama in the movies or assumed from information that the film makers gathered.

Overall, I learned a lot about the Titanic from this book – but like I said, I didn’t know all that much going in to it.  For those who are real Titanic and History buffs, perhaps this information isn’t all that new or interesting to you, but it was to me.

About the Book

Ever since that night, fact has merged with fiction about what really happened. Now, for the first time, Titanic expert and author Tim Maltin gathers together all the key elements surrounding the disaster and presents a fascinating, compulsive and accurate account of what really happened. Taking as his lead one hundred and one oft-quoted theories about the fateful night, Maltin uses eyewitness testimony to rigorously examine each one in chronological order, and in so doing tells the true story of the Titanic and the night she sank with the loss of 1,500 lives.

I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in order to write this review.

Book Review: Titanic Disaster at Sea by Philip Wilkinson

Katie February 2, 2012 0 Comments

Titanic Disaster at Sea is a really nice book.  It even has a fold out poster!  All the pages are in color and it is almost like a scrapbook of the Titanic, including some models showing how it is built and a break down of all the luxuries that are on board.  Also featured are some small bios on some of the big names that were on board and involved in the voyage.  This was my favorite Titanic book that I have read recently, probably due to the fact that it was kind of designed like a scrapbook.

Although I’d probably have much rathered holding the book in my hands rather than trying to read it on the computer!  (It even made me think that my Nook was haunted because pages were flipping on it’s own and then the download just completely didn’t work.  Probably because it was too image heavy to actually be converted to my old Nook that doesn’t have color or anything fancy!)

The end of the book even shows some photos of the Titanic under water and some of the artifacts that were discovered. (Similar to what I saw when I went to the Titanic exhibit a couple of years back)

The book does a great job of mixing modern day animations and photos with the snapshots from the Titanic as well.  Definitely a great book for any child who shows some interest in learning about the Titanic.  It is packed full of information, but presents it in a fun way that most won’t even realize they are learning!

About the Book

Experience all the drama and tragedy of Titanic inside the pages of this richly illustrated narrative. With a pull-out poster and double gatefold diagram, Titanic: Disaster at Sea is brimming with facts, stories, and fascinating people. From the technological creativity of Titanic’s construction to unselfish sacrifice in the face of disaster, this comprehensive book will satisfy readers with its exciting, up-close look at this amazing true story of triumph and tragedy. For ages 8-14.

Features include:

-Double gatefold diagram of the ship’s interior

-Pull-out poster

-Cutaway illustrations

-Detailed, graphical timeline

-Minute-by-minute countdown from the moment of the iceberg’s impact to the arrival of the rescue boats

-Explanatory diagrams and drawings

-Illustrated recreations of events

-Profiles of key participants

-Richly illustrated original art with historical photographs

About the Author

Author Philip Wilkinson has written more than 60 books for adults and children, mainly in the fields of history, architecture and the arts. His titles include the award-winning Amazing Buildings, a Celebration of the Customs and Rituals of the World, which was endorsed by the United Nations, and the bestselling What the Romans Did for Us, the book of the BBC TV series of the same name.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes from NetGalley.