Book Review : English Lessons by Andrea Lucado @christianaudio

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audiobook, book review, christianaudio, memoir

 

The Book

The Questions Would Teach Her More Than the Answers

It wasn’t long after arriving in Oxford for graduate school that twenty-two-year-old Andrea Lucado – preacher’s daughter from Texas – faced not only culture shock, a severe lack of coffee, but also some unexpected hard questions: Who am I? Who is God? Why do I believe what I believe?
 
“So many nights in Oxford, I felt like the details of my faiths were getting fuzzier. Nights turned restless with the questions and the thoughts. I questioned God’s existence and the doubt, it was getting into my bones….”
 
In this engaging memoir, Andrea speaks to all of us who wrestle with faith, doubt, and spiritual identity. Join Andrea as she navigates the Thames River, the Oxford Atheist Society, romance in ancient pubs—and a new perspective on who God is. As Andrea learned, sometimes it takes letting go of old ideas to discover lasting truth.
The church wasn’t just a part of Andrea Lucado’s childhood. It was her childhood. It provided more than happy moments. It provided an invitation to know Jesus.

When Andrea arrived in England the year after she graduated from college, she expected to meet God there. What she didn’t expect was that God would be much bigger than she knew.
 
In English Lessons, Andrea takes us through the roads of England and the paths of the soul. Here she explores the journey of a changing faith and an unchanging God—and why growing up starts with realizing just how small we are.

My Thoughts

I’m a sucker for anything to do with Oxford, having had a family member live there for many years, so when I saw this audiobook available for review I jumped at the chance. It’s a lovely short memoir beautiful written in a poetic style making it a delightful listen. As I Brit listening to an American struggle with a new country, language and culture I cringed at times but also laughed as she got to grips with it all.

Sometimes when an author reads their own book it doesn’t always work for me, as they can seem unsure and rather mechanical. Fortunately Andrea Lucado read this perfectly, full of emotion as if she was reliving each moment as she was reading. I particularly enjoyed her recollections of giving up caffeine for Lent, going along to the Oxford Atheist Society, and getting used to living without a microwave.

I definitely recommend this for anyone going off to college or moving to a different country. I think it would work really well in a youth group setting and make the perfect  gift for a new student.

Thanks so much to christianaudio.com’s reviewers program for my free copy.

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR

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favourites, IMWAYR

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at BookDate. It’s a weekly post sharing what you’ve recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan to read this week. don’t forget to link up on BookDate’s blog and check out what everyone’s been reading.

What I read recently:

I listened to this short memoir on audiobook, it was very enjoyable and I’ll be writing up my review soon.

I devoured this over the weekend, a YA novel based on the BlackLivesMatter movement. Such a powerful read it’s one of my favourite’s so far this year. It’s also the first book I’ve read for the 20 Books of Summer Challenge.

What I’m currently reading/listening to:

This hasn’t grabbed me yet but I’m going to keep with it in the hope that it hooks me.

Up next:

I can’t decide what to read next

The Lighterman Simon Michael’s latest book in the Charles Holborne series

Nutshell by Ian McEwan

a smile in One Eye a Tear in the Other by Ralph Webster on audio

So what have you been reading lately?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR

Tags

Charton Minster Series, Germany, IMWAYR, italy, WW2

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at BookDate. It’s a weekly post sharing what you’ve recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan to read this week. don’t forget to link up on BookDate’s blog and check out what everyone’s been reading.

 

What I read recently:

I read this YA courtesy of Readers First. You can read my review here if you missed it the last week.

 

This was a DNF  and you can read my review here to find out why.

What I’m currently reading/listening to:

Another book (a lovely hardback copy) courtesy of Readers First. It a slow, thoughtful, fascinating read told from the perspective of  German women who lived through WW2.

 

I downloaded this from my library’s digital catalogue the other night. It’s such a lovely book with fantastic narration by Penelope Rawlins. A real feel good listen.

Up next:

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR

Tags

IMWAYR, italy, New Zealand, Norway, spain, travel

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at BookDate. It’s a weekly post sharing what you’ve recently finished reading, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan to read this week. don’t forget to link up on BookDate’s blog and check out what everyone’s been reading.

 

What I read recently:

I finished listening to the audiobook of The Penny Bangle by Margaret James.  It’s the third book in the Charton Minster series and my favourite so far. I loved the main character Cassie, a city girl from Birmingham who comes down to Dorset to be a land girl on a farm. The narration by Patricia Gallimore was absolutely superb and really made the book come alive for me.

 

 

 

I’m  thoroughly enjoyed The Bird Tribunal by Agnes Ravatn a thriller set in Norway, my paperback was courtesy of TripFiction.

You can read my review here if you missed it the other day.

 

See You In September by Charity Norman, courtesy of Readers First, was a fantastic book about a girl who goes back packing and ends up in a cult in New Zealand. My review is  here if you missed it yesterday.

 

What I’m currently reading:

I’ve just started a YA courtesy of Readers First. I don’t normally read this genre so it’ll be an interesting experience.

 

I’m just about to listen to an audiobook for review from christianaudio.com. I haven’t listened to the first two books in the series so I’m hoping I won’t miss much starting at number three.

 

Up next:

Standalone Sunday

Tags

audiobook, christianaudio, Easter Sunday, meme, Resurrection Story, Standalone Sunday

Standalone Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by  Megan@bookslayerreads. Standalone Sunday was created to let others know about all the standalone books you have loved, but maybe don’t get the attention they need. Megan created the banner as well and anyone joining in can use it too. Why not check out her blog too

Happy Easter for those of you who celebrate it.

The book I’ve chosen for this week is Easter themed with Risen by Angela Hunt. It’s the book of the film or novelization of the movie.

Here’s the blurb from Goodreads:

“Epic in scope, yet deeply personal, this novelization offers a unique perspective on the story of the resurrection. Roman Tribune Clavius is assigned by Pilate to keep the radical followers of the recently executed Yeshua from stealing the body and inciting revolution. When the body goes missing despite his precautions, Clavius must hunt it down.
His investigation leads him from the halls of Herod Antipas to the Garden of Gethsemane and brings him in touch with believer and doubter alike. But as the body still remains missing, Clavius commits to a quest for the truth–and answers that will not only shake his life but echo throughout all of history.”

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook of the film Risen. Although I’m very familiar with the resurrection story from the bible, this novel brought out lots of extra historical and cultural facts for me. I liked the way the story was told from the Roman and Jewish viewpoints, making it far more human than the accounts in the bible. The characters were well developed and their storylines kept my interest throughout.

I highly recommend this if you’re looking to for a fresh look at the resurrection story.

 

 

 

 

 

Standalone Sunday

Tags

audiobook, AustismAwarenessMonth, christianaudio, crime, fairytale, fantasy, favourites, German, historical fiction, Ireland, library book, meme, Standalone Sunday, thriller, translation

Standalone Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by  Megan@bookslayerreads. Standalone Sunday was created to let others know about all the standalone books you have loved, but maybe don’t get the attention they need. Megan created the banner as well and anyone joining in can use it too. Why not check out her blog too

 

 As April is Autism Awareness Month I thought I’d pick The Unbreakable Boy by Scott LeRete for my choice this week.

Like any other teenage boy, Austin loves pizza, movies, dancing, and girls. But unlike most other eighteen year olds, he has a rare brittle-bone disease, was locked in a mental ward as a child, and is autistic. Yet Austin doesn’t let any of that stop him. His is a world where suffering a broken back is a minor inconvenience and the quest for the ultimate strawberry shake just might be the best day of his life.
Written with remarkable candour by Austin’s father, Scott, and New York Times best-selling author Susy Flory, The Unbreakable Boy weaves the beautiful and often humorous tale of how Austin teaches his father—and everyone else he encounters—to have faith in God and trust that one day life’s messes will all make sense.

Austin’s journey dares us all to believe that miracles are possible, that hope does spring eternal, and that we can find joyous moments to celebrate every day.

I really enjoyed this heart-warming memoir by Scott Michael LeRette. I don’t have any personal experience of autism, so it was a real eye opener listening to his journey and his family’s. It thought it might be a struggle to listen to, but actually it is very funny in places and it filled me with admiration for anyone who has a special needs person in their lives. I listened to the audio version in which Lloyd James narrates this book perfectly and drew me into the adventures and stories the author took me on. There were a lot of life lessons in this audio but not cringey or embarrassing, but profound and definitely worth another listen sometime. I definitely recommend this audio to anyone who wants to listen to a really uplifting book, it’ll make you appreciate the simple things in life as extraordinary, especially when you see them through Austin’s eyes!

Audiobook Review: Fraying at the Edge by Cindy Woodsmall

Tags

Amish, book review, christian, christianaudio, Cindy Woodsmall

“Family, community, faith, and love.
These quilt blocks sewn together made Ariana s beautiful life.
When they are pulled to pieces, will anything familiar remain?
The Old Order Amish life Ariana Brenneman loved vanished virtually overnight with the discovery that she was switched at birth twenty years ago. Now she is immersed in the”Englischer”world, getting to know her mother, and under the authority of her biological father, an atheist intellectual with resolute plans to expand Ariana s worldview. Only Quill Schlabach, a childhood friend living”Englisch,” can help steady Ariana s tilting ground between the two worlds, but can she trust him after so many betrayals?
At the same time, Skylar Nash is forced to choose rehab or spend several months with her true relatives, the large Brenneman family and their seemingly backward life no electricity, no technology, no fun. What the young woman can t leave behind is her addiction to illegal prescription drugs and deep emptiness from the belief that she doesn’t belong in either family.
New ties are binding Ariana and Skylar to the lives they were meant to have. Can they pray for the wisdom and strength they ll need to follow God s threads into unexpected futures?””
“Fraying at the”Edge is the second novel in The Amish of Summer Grove series.”

I really enjoyed this lovely audiobook by Cindy Woodsmall.

Even though it’s part two of a trilogy there was enough back story to fill me in on the first book without getting confused or feeling like I’d missed out.

I loved getting acquainted with the situation that found both Arianna and Skylar living in completely different worlds since being switched at birth twenty years earlier. I felt their emotions as they struggled to adjust to their new families and lifestyles and wondered how I would’ve coped in a similar situation. I was fascinated by  the glimpses into the Old Order Amish community and enjoyed the comparisons with the modern “Englisch” life. I particularly enjoyed conversations Arianna had with her English father about blindly accepting beliefs and authority.

The narration by Stina Nielsen was perfect as she brought all the characters, male and female, young and old to life. I really hope she narrates the next audiobook in the series as I definitely want to find out what happens to Arianna and Skylar.

I think all ages would enjoy this audiobook and I can imagine this series would be a great for groups to discuss the different themes throughout.

Thanks so much to christianaudio.com Reviewer’s Program for my free copy.

 

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR

Tags

IMWAYR

This gallery contains 5 photos.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at BookDate. It’s a weekly post sharing what you’ve recently finished …

Continue reading →

Risen

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook of the film Risen.

Although I’m very familiar with the resurrection story from the bible, this novel brought out lots of extra historical and cultural facts for me. I liked the way the story was told from the Roman and Jewish viewpoints, making it far more human than the accounts in the bible. The characters were well developed and their story lines kept my interest throughout.
The narrators Alana Kerr and P.J. Ochlan were very easy to listen to, although some of the male accents did niggle me a bit.

I would definitely recommend this audio to anyone who feels they’ve become over familiar with the Easter story, as it really helped to think about it with fresh insight.

Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer’s Program for this copy.

The Unbreakable Boy

Tags

audiobook, autism, christianaudio, favourites, memoir

I really did enjoy this heart-warming memoir by Scott Michael LeRette.

I don’t have any personal experience of autism, so it was a real eye opener listening to his journey and his family’s. It thought it might be a struggle to listen to, but actually it is very funny in places and it filled me with admiration for anyone who has a special needs person in their lives.

Lloyd James narrates this book perfectly and drew me into the adventures and stories the author took me on. There were a lot of life lessons in this audio but not cringey or embarrassing, but profound and definitely worth another listen sometime.

I definitely recommend this audio to anyone who wants to listen to a really uplifting book, it’ll make you appreciate the simple things in life as extraordinary, especially when you see them through Austin’s eyes!

Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer’s Program for this copy.