A Most English Princess

A Most English Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Daughter by Clare McHugh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you enjoyed Victoria on PBS Masterpiece, you want to read A Most English Princess by Clare McHugh. McHugh focuses on Queen Victoria oldest daughter, who is also named Victoria. This fictional biographic account of her life begins as a young girl and continues throughout her adult years. While focused on the life of Victoria, the lives of her siblings and parents are included. However, the most attention is given to Victoria's relationship with her husband's father and with her son, Kaiser Wilhelm II.

With the title A Most English Princess, one might think that the book is only for women. While women will definitely enjoy the book, the emphasis is not on romance but on history. Any history buff will enjoy the behind the scenes look at Prussia and the royal families. Reading this book provides much insight into the militarization of Germany and why conditions were set for World War I. McHugh provides just the right mix of an enjoyable story that is well-researched and historically accurate.

I received a complementary copy of A Most English Princess from William Morrow Paperbacks via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review and all opinions are my own.

Marriage in the Middle

When I requested a review copy of Marriage in the Middle, I had no idea the craziness my life would be when I was reading it. As many of you know recently, my oldest started college. In addition, over Labor Day weekend, my husband of 25 years had open heart surgery. So, during the week when I was reading this book. I was experiencing many of the exact same mid-life issues that Greco mentions. However, some of the mid-life items mentioned my husband and I had already encountered years ago such as dealing with the death of both his parents and numerous other major life changes.

The actual book review:

Many marriage books are geared to one of two audiences it seems: either newlyweds who are trying to start off on the right foot or those who are trying to keep a marriage from falling apart. Marriage in the Middle: Embracing Midlife Surprises, Challenges, and Joys, recently released by Dorothy Littell Greco, does not focus on either of these categories but instead focuses on the unique experiences of marriage at mid-life. As mid-life often brings about changes in responsibilities ranging from being in the sandwich generation to empty-nesters and possible changes in health as well as changes in sexuality as we embrace our own aging process, it only makes sense that our marriages need to grow and change as well. Greco incorporates her own experiences, the experiences of others, and well-documented research regarding marriage and mid-life.

I found Marriage in the Middle a good, solid book that will be referenced frequently. While I did not take lots of notes, I did find myself agreeing with items or thinking "that's a good point." While this book just came out, in many ways, I would have found this book very helpful several years ago and would encourage individuals to read it before they find themselves in the throes of mid-life issues. All in all, a very useful book that will be helpful to many and should be purchased by public and academic libraries and counselors. The discussion questions make it appropriate to be used in small groups or book discussion groups.

I received a complementary copy of Marriage in the Middle from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not obligated to provide a positive review.

Compassion (&) Conviction

For some time I have followed the And Campaign via Twitter, so I jumped at the opportunity to review the book Compassion (&) Conviction.

Throughout Compassion (&) Conviction, a key theme is that Christians have a responsibility to be engaged in politics and that political engagement is one way in which we can show love to our neighbors and live out Micah 6:8. While emphasizing that Christians should be politically engaged, the authors also emphasize that winning political points must not detract from our Christian witness which is our higher priority. The authors also remind Christians that working with others who might not share the same religious views is a good thing and an opportunity to be "salt and light."

One of the items readers will notice right away is that with their emphasis on and, the authors do an amazing job of treating multiple sides of issues equally. Instead of upholding one political party or side and demonizing the other, careful attention is given to treating each equally. After discussing the positives of a progressive viewpoint, the same attention is given to the positives of a conservative viewpoint before looking at negatives associated with each. Readers are also encouraged that it is important to critique your own political party and reminded that political party must never be placed higher than our allegiance to Christ.

While particularly timely given the current election season, Compassion (&) Conviction is highly recommended for Christians who want to know more about how to be politically engaged in a Christ-honoring way. I particularly enjoy the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and the calls to not just read about politics but to actively engage in the topic with others. These resources make Compassion (&) Conviction an excellent resource for a small group study or as a supplemental text in a college level U.S. Government class.

I received a complementary copy from InterVarsity Press via NetGalley. I was not required to provide a positive review.

A New Look at Elisabeth Elliot

While many people are familiar with the name Elisabeth Elliot, her story is not as familiar among a younger generation of Christians. The new biography Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn intends to change that.

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is the first of a two volume biography. This work stands out as Vaughn has made extensive use of Elliot's own journals which she began keeping as a teenager and her husband Jim Elliot's journals. Vaughn also uses interviews with numerous others who worked with Elisabeth or are related to those who did and photographs. These journals had not been published before and offer a new, personal, unfiltered look at Elliot and her life. Vaughn deftly uses excerpts from the journals, interviews, and other materials to create an immensely readable and enjoyable glimpse into the human behind the legend that Elisabeth Elliot became.

Starting as a child, Elliot focused fully on obeying God's word. Going into all the world to preach the Gospel was not a suggestion but God's command. Although Elliot is often seen as a spiritual giant, Vaughn's use of her journals indicates that Elliot struggled with many normal young adult issues and provides an unique look at her experiences dating and her courtship with husband Jim as well as other relationships. A particularly intriguing aspect of Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is the up close and personal look at the interaction between various missionaries and mission agencies as they worked to carry out their desire to carry the Gospel to unreached people groups. While working towards the same goal, readers are reminded that the missionaries and mission agencies mentioned are indeed humans who wrestled with a variety of human traits and foibles.

Becoming Elisabeth Elliot is highly recommended to anyone who is interested in world missions or missionaries. Reading this will inspire many to follow God more closely. I look forward to reading the second volume and learning more about this missionary giant.

I received a complementary copy from Broadman & Holman via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I am not required to provide a positive review.