2018 Summer Reads ~ Part 1

I have read a lot of books since the 2018 Winter Book Reviews post, so as last year, I will take two articles review the books I have read since then. You are reading the first article and the second article will be published in August.

Books Read
 

 

 Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
 



The Summary

 

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

 

The must-have Pevear and Volokhonsky translation of one of the greatest Russian novels ever written Described by William Faulkner as the best novel ever written and by Fyodor Dostoevsky as “flawless,” Anna Karenina tells of the doomed love affair between the sensuous and rebellious Anna and the dashing officer, Count Vronsky. Tragedy unfolds as Anna rejects her passionless marriage and thereby exposes herself to the hypocrisies of society. Set against a vast and richly textured canvas of nineteenth-century Russia, the novel's seven major characters create a dynamic imbalance, playing out the contrasts of city and country life and all the variations on love and family happiness.

While previous versions have softened the robust and sometimes shocking qualities of Tolstoy's writing, Pevear and Volokhonsky have produced a translation true to his powerful voice. This authoritative edition, which received the PEN Translation Prize and was an Oprah Book Club™ selection, also includes an illuminating introduction and explanatory notes. Beautiful, vigorous, and eminently readable, this Anna Karenina will be the definitive text for fans of the film and generations to come. This Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition also features French flaps and deckle-edged paper.

 

Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies by Janet and Geoff Benge

 

Three thousand feet above China, it was Jake's turn to jump. He slid his pistol, knife, and ration packets into the pockets of his leather jacket and edged toward the open hatch of the B-25 bomber. He checked the tension on the harness of his parachute, made sure the handle of the ripcord was free, and then began lowering himself out of the hatch and into the darkness.One of the famous Doolittle Raiders who first attacked Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jacob DeShazer knew his one-way mission was dangerous. Indeed, it led to his capture as a prisoner of war. Beaten, malnourished, and alone in his cell, Jacob was given a Bible - and far away from home, this American soldier became a Christian.

After the war, Jacob returned to Japan and served his former enemy for thirty years as a missionary. His testimony of forgiveness and reconciliation - of love over hate - inspires a powerful gospel message for our lives today.

 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

 

It is no surprise that Little Women, the adored classic of four devoted sisters, was loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s own life. In fact, Alcott drew from her own personality to create a heroine unlike any seen before: Jo, willful, headstrong, and undoubtedly the backbone of the March family. Follow the sisters from innocent adolescence to sage adulthood, with all the joy and sorrow of life in between, and fall in love with them and this endearing story. Praised by Madeleine Stern as “a book on the American home, and hence universal in its appeal,” Little Women has been an avidly read tale for generations.

Think Biblically by John MacArthur and the Master's College Faculty

 

Now in paperback, this helpful volume by pastor and best-selling author John MacArthur guides readers in cultivating a biblical worldview on a wide range of issues.

What we think shapes who we are. That's why the Bible tells us, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Romans 12:2a). In a world of differing voices competing for our allegiance, we must learn to "think biblically" so we can distinguish good from evil. God is the Creator of this world; his voice-his Word-must guide our thoughts and our lives.

With the Bible in their hands, John MacArthur and other scholars and teachers from the Master's College confront the false worldviews that dominate our postmodern world. The authors provide models for cultivating a biblical mind-set on worship, psychology, gender, science, education, history, government, economics, and literature. This book will help anyone who is striving to think biblically in today's culture.

 

Reagan's Path to Victory by Ronald Reagan

 

A collection of radio addresses by the late fortieth president is arranged chronologically from 1975 to 1980 and follows his strategic campaign tactics and victory speeches, in a volume complemented by a CD of original recordings and essays that offer insight into his ability to inspire confidence and loyalty in others. 75,000 first printing.

A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent

 

God did not give us His gospel just so we could embrace it and be converted. He offers it to us every day as a gift that keeps on giving us everything we need for life and godliness. Here is a valuable tool to preach the gospel to yourself daily to strengthen your faith and define what you believe and why.

 

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

 

A romantic fairy tale Peter Pan is a favourite story of many generations of children all over the world. The main character is a boy who never grows up, can fly, lives in Neverland and fairies are his friends. He gives a flying ability to three children from London – Wendy, John and Michael Darling and takes them to a mysterious land where they have exciting and sometimes rather scary adventures.

 



Things I Liked

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

 

I liked how this book portrayed sin as sin. The plot does not only revolve around an affair but also the consequences of that. There is also a good contrast between Anna and Vronsky's affair with Kitty and Levin's marriage. Also, at the end of the novel, Levin finds peace when he commits to believing in God although he attends the Orthodox Church which is a counterpart of the Roman Catholic Church. Despite the affair, the book focuses on the consequences of the character's choices thus keeping the book clean.

Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies by Janet and Geoff Benge

This is another inspiring biography about forgiveness and how the Lord can change the hardest and most wicked of hearts. I also learned a lot about some of the particulars in living in a Japanese concentration camp.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This is another great classic about four girls with different personalities and character traits. I found myself relating to Jo the most because we have quite a few things in common. Biblical truths are weaved into the story, yet the novel is an extremely realistic depiction of life. Overall, there is a good balance between description, narration, and dialogue. This is a great read for teenage girls especially because of the topics the novel deals with.

Think Biblically by John MacArthur and the Master's College Faculty

 

I love how this book focuses on biblical thinking in quite a few different topics of study including history, politics, science, philosophy, etc. The first section of the book is dedicated to the inerrancy of Scripture and explaining the gospel. From reading this book, I was able to pick up a lot of biblical knowledge that can be used in so many different fields of study.

Reagan's Path to Victory by Ronald Reagan

Most people probably won't find this interesting, but Reagan's radio addresses showed a great diversity in topic. He covered everything from politics to environmentalism to controversial issues of the day (such as abortion). Most of the radio addresses are about economics.

A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent

 

This is a nice short pamphlet (almost) that summarizes the gospel as well as using Bible verses in the footnotes to explain how each part of the summarization correlates with the Bible. It is a really easy and fast read which contributes to the goal of the book: preaching the gospel to yourself everyday. It will definitely only take about 10 minutes to read.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

I enjoyed reading this classic as well. I won't say anything about how the Disney movie and the book lines up because its been years since I've watched the movie. It is a great story and has an interesting plot.

Things I Disliked

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

 

The book doesn't fully address the subject of another character's continuous affairs. Nobody agrees with his actions, but nobody condemns his actions either; it's usually ignored. Also, the novel spends a lot of time nitpicking details (like farming and philosophy), so I found myself bored in more than one part of the book.
 

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Peter Pan is basically an unruly boy, so it would be a bad thing for children to view him as a "favorite character." Also, Tinker Bell is very profane and unruly as well. She tried to poison someone and repeats a bad word throughout the book.

Rating

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: PR (Partially Recommend)
Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies by Janet and Geoff Benge: R (Recommend)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: R (Recommend)

Think Biblically by John MacArthur and the Master's College Faculty: R (Recommend)

Reagan's Path to Victory by Ronald Reagan: R (Recommend)
A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent: R (Recommend)
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie: PR (Recommend)