Northfield – Johnny D. Boggs

“Seven minutes…seems like seven lifetimes. Maybe it was, too. Seven lifetimes. Seven lives.”

Rating:



Summary:
Northfield tells the story of the James-Younger Gang and their final robbery at the Northfield bank. The story begins with a train robbery and Bill Stiles idea to go north and rob a bank in Minnesota. After some persuasion, Jesse and Frank James; Jim, Cole, and Bob Younger; Bill Stiles; Clell Miller; and Charlie Pitts go north. They separate and stake out surrounding towns to find the best bank to rob. Against their better judgment, they ride into Northfield and attempt to rob the bank. The robbery goes wrong, and they flee from the chasing posse.

Analysis:
Northfield is told from the multiple perspectives of the people involved with the Northfield robbery. Each chapter is written from a different persons’ point of view. Boggs marvelously created each character and personality. The only downside was the use of foul language. Overall, it was a great book and very enlightening.

Impact:
The outlaws have always been popularized from the stories of Robin Hood and his Merry Men to Jesse James and all the other famous western outlaws. I always thought of Jesse James and the gang as a noble gang fighting for the rights of the poor. But I realized it was the result of the media. In all actuality, the James-Younger Gang was full of thieves and killers.

“Society remains intolerant. That’s why Christ was put to death on the cross. That’s why Lee may have surrendered, but the war is not over. Intolerance. Power. Religion. Wait a few years, and we shall be fighting again, probably for the same reasons, but maybe using some other words.” ( Northfield 57 )

“I guess greed and love had brought me here. Brought me here to die.” (Northfield 153 )

“You know the difference between us…You rob the poor, and I rob the rich.” (Northfield 163 )

“There is no heroism in outlawry…and the fate of each outlaw in his turn should be an everlasting lesson to the young of the land.” (Northfield 188 )

7/9/10 – 7/15/10

Last Mango in Texas - Ray Blackston

"When Kyle Mango meets Gretchen, he has no idea that he'll be forced to choose between love and money, er, OIL."

Rating:



Summary:
Kyle Mango had it rough. His father left the family while he was still in high school. Kyle soon had to help take care of his mother and two younger siblings. Choosing a college nearby, he attends Texas Tech University where he meets the lovely, environmental friendly Gretchen. She quickly helps him escape the Greek oppression, and they become friends. Unfortunately, she decides to pursue other matters and wishes to avoid having a boyfriend until after graduation. Finally receiving his Bachelor’s, Kyle wishes to pursue Gretchen. Sadly, his uncle passes and leaves Kyle four oil wells and over 800 acres of land. Overnight, Kyle had a job and a means to help his mother. Going with a Radical Regina, Gretchen volunteers to clean oily birds in Alaska. Kyle then has to decide whether to tell Gretchen about his new occupation or keep his secret and pursue someone else.

Analysis:
Ray Blackston continues to write in his witty and zany style in Last Mango in Texas . His characters are memorable, and his plot is remarkable. This book is definitely a page-turner. I loved the chapter titles. They were interesting and intriguing. My one regret is that it didn’t have the ending words of wisdom that many of his books had.

Impact:
The main thing that has impacted me the most from Last Mango in Texas is the same thing that puzzled Kyle. What am I doing with my life? Since graduating from college, what have a done for the good of society? It’s a depressing thought as I look back and observe this past year. I hope this year is more full of accomplishments and activities that are helpful to everyone.

“I looked at God kind of like I looked at the rpm gauge on my Toyota—if I felt I’d pushed God too far into the red zone, I feared the consequences, backed off the accelerator, and made an attempt at apology. Sorry God. Didn’t mean to do that. Just having a bad day.” ( Last Mango in Texas 77 )

“…I took a moment to fold her card into a tiny airplane. I even adjusted its little wings. On its maiden voyage – a short domestic route with no meals or drinks or even a free pack of peanuts – that plane flew directly into a trash basket. No survivors.” ( Last Mango in Texas 163 )

7/4/10 – 7/8/10

The Secret Adversary – Agatha Christie

Rating:



Summary:
Making their first appearance in an Agatha Christie novel, Tommy and Tuppence form a joint venture bent on adventure. In seeking money, The Young Adventurers take up the case of the missing Jane Finn. Miss Jane Finn had gone missing five years earlier with some important paperwork regarding a draft treaty from WWI, which now if it were revealed, would be damaging to England. Tommy and Tuppence soon befriend Jane’s cousin, Julius, and an attorney, Sir James Peel Edgerton, who help them with their search. They find themselves in life threatening situations several times over while on the hunt. They realize that it Jane’s disappearance is related to the mysterious criminal mastermind Mr. Brown. No one knows who he is or what he looks like…until now. After much deception, deduction, and deciphering, Tommy and Tuppence find both Jane and Mr. Brown, as well as romance.

Analysis:
Being as I read The Secret Adversary on the Nook (my new favorite toy), it was somewhat difficult to read because of the typos. But that is not anything against Dame Christie, it is against googlebooks. The story was well-written and kept me guessing, but it was not one of her best novels. At times it was predictable, but witty characters made the book. She is an excellent crime writer, but her characters all different and well developed. She gave you all the facts that you needed to solve the crime, all you needed to do was put the pieces together. I would not call The Secret Adversary a must-read Christie novel, but it is good book and one that I enjoyed.

Impact:
Reading The Secret Adversary was a treat and made me realize how much I love a good mystery. I was right beside Tommy and Tuppence while they were trying to solve the case. I would definitely read another Christie novel, and I aim to read all of them.

“Marriage is called all sorts of things, a haven, and a refuge, and a crowning glory, and a state of bondage, and lots more. But do you know what I think it is…a sport!” (The Secret Adversary 331 )

6/25/10 – 6/30/10

Lost in Rooville - Ray Blackston

"Australia + Woman + Ring = ?"

Rating:



Summary:
Spending practically every penny that they own, Jay, Allie, Steve, and Darcy head to the great Outback for some adventure. The secret that both young men held was that they each brought a “rock” with them to Australia. With the prospect of romance and engagement on the horizon, they separate in the two four-by-fours, each taking a different route to their next destination. Under the rouse of a photo contest, they each set off with their girlfriends to the most romantic place that they can find. In the heat of the hunt, Jay and Allie veer off course -- Allie wanting to win the contest, Jay wanting to win Allie’s hand. They are distracted by a troop of kangaroos and break their truck. Unconcerned for the truck, Jay still pops the question at sunset. Sunrise reveals to them their dire circumstances—they are stranded in the middle of nowhere. With only seventeen water bottles between them, they wait for help to arrive. Days later, they are finally rescued after a desperate attempt to gain the attention of a bush pilot. They return back to the states, and Jay must leave his new fiancé in search of a job that pays. Needless to say, their engagement had a rough start, but ended up being unforgettable.

Analysis:
Lost in Rooville was as hilarious as the previous two books in Blackston’s series. Combining a lesson in trust and faith, Blackston shows that God always has everything under control and it is not our position to question His motives. He illustrates how far someone will go to survive and show that he cares. Still the same zany characters and writing style, Lost in Rooville is an amazing parable of God’s love for us.

Impact:
Lost in Rooville was a book that made me think. It showed me that no matter what may happen in my life, there is always a purpose behind it. God is in control, and God is completely original in his plan for us.

"Dawn came and dawn went, and breakfast came and breakfast went, then responsibility came and responsibility slapped me in the face with ethical aftershave.” ( Lost in Rooville 187 )

“In the waning minutes I realized that accepting the grace of another sometimes means not trying to pay them back in any kind of satisfactory manner.” ( Lost in Rooville 212 )

"But now I saw it all in a different light. I saw just enough of the past and just enough of the future to know that Jay Jarvis had control of neither. It was useless to predict anything. God has no signature moves. Everything he does is original.” ( Lost in Rooville 295 )

A Delirious Summer - Ray Blackston

"Would you travel thousands of miles just to get a date?"

Rating:



Summary:
After some voluntary advice from Jay Jarvis, Neil Rucker sets out from Ecuador for South Carolina. He arrives at the airport and Steve, his new roommate, was nowhere to be seen. Setting the standard for the rest of his furlough, Neil makes the most of it. He soon meets up with Steve, and they become instant friends. What Jay neglected to tell Neil was that all of the Greenville ladies had taken up the quest of church hop-scotching. Desperate for a date, he makes a goal to date every girl in Greenville. His three top choices, who are as different as the sun and grass, are blonde Darcy, redhead Lydia, and raven-haired Alexis. Soon he met all three and found the one who was right for him. Fourth of July found the five of them (Steve, Neil, Lydia, Darcy, and Alexis) at the beach and full of adventure. After day one, one of the girls left the Presbyterian group for the Pentecostals. As romance rekindled and bloomed, they received bad news that led them to leaving early and driving back in the middle of the night. North Hills Presbyterian church creates a mission team of eight who are sent to Ecuador to help Allie and Jay. There in Ecuador, Neil’s old mentor from Mexico bestows some relational advice on Neil, Steve, and Jay, which leads to some life changing choices.

Analysis:
Once again Ray Blackston brings his best in A Delirious Summer. His zany writing style makes the book every so much more enjoyable. He can paint the most interesting picture in the most peculiar manner. He portrays Christian guys and girls, not as snooty religious fanatics, but as normal people that they are. Everyone is tempted into depression by loneliness even those who are not truly alone. The story is a refreshing take on the adventures of life telling the world that there is a purpose behind everything in life.

Impact:
A Delirious Summer impacted me in many ways. As soon as I closed the book, I wanted to climb out onto the roof to have a chat with God. It showed me that guys struggled with living alone as much as girls do. The main lesson that I learned was that you are never on a break. You may take time off from work or school or church, but you are always working, always learning, and always working with God. Just because it isn’t Sunday doesn’t mean that God isn’t there. He has a plan, and it is the best for us.

“We spend vast amounts of time and energy crafting a thesis in our heads of how life should play out, then the almighty God spends an incredibly brief amount of time blowing our thesis to bits.” ( A Delirious Summer 9 )

“After I’d sat up there awhile and the night air had taken of a dewy complexion, it occurred to me that I had no business being on a roof and asking questions of God. God had already spoken—Team Looney Tune was headed for the jungle.” ( A Delirious Summer 268 )

“The God of all rooftops would not let me be hasty and miss my way. Instead, it was only within the way—this delirious furlough and it many tangents—that I’d discovered that what I was looking for was more than simply a mate. I wanted to belong, to feel a part of that ever-flowing whole. The ultimate key of G, the key of grace, had proven all-sufficient, music to live by.” ( A Delirious Summer 330-331 )

Flabbergasted – Ray Blackston

"Jay Jarvis just moved east. His dating life's gone south. What else is a guy to do but go fishing?"

Rating:



Summary:
Flabbergasted follows Jay Jarvis and his adventures in Greenville, South Carolina. Shortly after moving there, Jay is dumped by his girlfriend and left to fend for himself in the world of singleness and stocks. Receiving advice from his real estate lady, Jay attends North Hill Presbyterian Church in the hopes of meeting a single lady. His eye is caught by a tan skinned lady in the second row, but he was unable to speak with her. He volunteers to help coordinate the Memorial Day beach trip just to have a chance to talk with her, but he was unable to attend the planning meeting. Lucky for him, Allie (the girl) has an amazing throwing arm and makes Jay the target of shrimp, marshmallows, and other various food items. They spend the entire weekend at the beach together doing one crazy thing after another. Unlucky for Jay, Allie is a missionary and spends the rest of the summer traveling from church to church to get money to return to Ecuador. She returns to Ecuador, and Jay tries to return to the stock market. Secretly, Jay plans a trip to visit Allie in South America, and God’s perfect planning leads Jay to a whole new world of possibilities.

Impact:
Flabbergasted was an entertaining book. I initially read it this year because I needed something light and funny to read. Instead, I was left with a deep thought: Why not let God be God? If He is in control, then I have nothing to worry about and no need to fret. The relationship between Jay and Allie was something that I would love to have and it was planned by God. Their theology and philosophical questions are sure to make you laugh. I know I did. I found myself reading aloud the funnier bits to my family because I would laugh so. All in all, this book was exactly what I needed.

“There are potholes on the road less traveled. Some deep, some not so deep, some you dig yourself. Most are filled with mud. Many contain rocks. Once in a while, however, you’ll be walking along and step in one a bit more accommodating…shabby, green, and pulsing with life. It’ll tickle your feet, like clover.” ( Flabbergasted 8 )

“Because outside of God’s shadow I was just a gaudy plastic float filled with stubborn air, drifting like a blind Jonah in search of Plan B, manipulating circumstances and wondering why I kept waking up in my very own Tarshish. But in God’s shadow I had been dazzled by the detour, amazed at the fraternity, and flabbergasted by the depth that comes from simplicity…” ( Flabbergasted 326 )

6/6/10 - 6/10/10