In This Moment

by Karen Kingsbury
Scott County Library audiobook 8 discs
read by January Lavoy and Kirby Heyborne
genre: Christian fiction

I wasn't going to blog this book because I only listened to the first part of the first CD . . . but I want to make a note here. I usually love Karen Kingsbury's writing! The vocal work by the two performers was fine.

In the opening scene, the principal wants to start a Bible study in his public high school. None of the Christian students or teachers want to run it. He has a proposal that he's going to present, but he is seriously worried and his girlfriend is terrified.

What?! I was the advisor for a Bible study in a public school. It was amazing! An after-school, optional / choice program is just that - an option. I subbed yesterday (10.3.18) and there was a poster for a Christian group open to all students. Minnesota is a fairly liberal state, but I don't think it's that unusual for Bible studies to exist in public schools. (And what about Fellowship of Christian Athletes? There are many high schools that have a branch!)

Beyond the Christian perspective that public schools are evil (dramatic, I know, but there are people I know who definitely have that perspective) . . . where is your faith?! Believing in Jesus Christ means that you will be persecuted. It's part of the deal. So, this book might be excellent. I don't know. The opening scene was much too melodramatic for me! And I have friends who home school (I respect that choice) but talk about sending children to public schools as something akin to child abuse. I have worked with so many Christian teachers who live out their faith in their classrooms! The two are not antithetical!


Blurb from Amazon:
Hamilton High Principal Wendell Quinn is tired of the violence, drug abuse, teen pregnancies, and low expectations at his Indianapolis school. A single father of four, Quinn is a Christian and a family man. He wants to see change in his community, so he starts a voluntary after-school Bible Study and prayer program. He knows he is risking his job by leading the program, but the high turnout at every meeting encourages him.

A year later, violence and gang activity are down, test scores are up, and drug use and teen pregnancy have plummeted. The program is clearly working—until one parent calls the press. Now Quinn faces a lawsuit that could ruin everything.

With a storm of national attention and criticism, Quinn is at a crossroads—he must choose whether to cave in and shut down the program or stand up for himself and his students. The battle comes with a high cost, and Quinn wants just one attorney on his side for this fight: Luke Baxter. In This Moment is an inspiring, relevant story about the nuances of religious freedom and how a group of determined people just might restore the meaning of faith in today’s culture.

Shades of Blue

by Karen Kingsbury
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 discs
read by Roxanne Hernandez
genre: Christian realistic fiction

I read this over a month ago, but found notes on it by my computer area. Apparently, I never blogged it. I think the reader's voice was fine, but the story bugged me. It dragged on too long and had too much navel-gazing. Brad Cutler, the main character, is ready to marry the girl of his dreams (coincidentally the daughter of his boss) but he is stuck. Memories from his past are causing him to reflect on what it means to do the right thing. His first love, Emma, was deeply hurt by Brad and he never apologized. Laura, the fiancee', does most of the navel-gazing that bugged me, but both Brad and Emma chew up their tortured thoughts for many pages as well.

My notes:
- repetitive. THREE TIMES (at least), the author writes of Brad something to the tune of "He wanted to turn back time, but he couldn't." (Repeat.)
- text or reader? (I was trying to figure out which was bugging me most.)
- irritating
- Mega-anti-abortion / I can think of people who would love this book simply for that reason!
- Very positive on Scripture and the power of prayer. Emma's students and their situations were my favorite parts of this book.
- Excellent as an anti-abortion "manifesto" - I actually wrote that. Hmmm.
- WAY too introspective
- foot washing - I love this act of love, even though Laura and her attitude were bugging me.
- I love Gavin as a character (along with Frankie and Kristin)
- the author's "forever in fiction" program is neat. Love that!

Between Sundays

by Karen Kingsbury
audiobook, Carver County Library, 10 CDs

Oh. My. Word.

I've read a couple of other Kingsbury stories and have thoroughly enjoyed them. But this one? Not so much!

Smarmy. Trite. Predictable. Annoying. Cloying.

Part of it might have been the reader's voice. Kathy Garver read it in an overpronounced, kindergarten teacher voice. Yuk. I listened all the way to the end and guess what? I was right - the 49ers won the Superbowl, Aaron Hill got saved, he really was Cory's dad, Aaron & Megan got married, and everyone lived happily ever after. Yawn.

Okay, the two things I really did like about this story were the emphasis on foster children and the author's note at the end. It made me think about the kids, especially teenagers, who languish in the "system" and then are on their own when they turn 18. I wonder if Louie and I will get to the point in our lives where we start adopting children who need a family and some extra love.