Christian Reader - Book lists, discussion, writing

Rachelle Dekker – The choosing 4/5
In a Dystopian American city, women have no value unless they are chosen to be a man's wife. Carrington Hale leaves her Choosing ceremony alone and has to resign herself to live the rest of her life as a servant, a Lint, the lowest level of society. But rumours of rebellion and a different truth reach her and resonate deep within her.

This was a very interesting an well-written dystopian novel. It's quite different from other dystopian novels (and movies): more introspective, less action-focused. The world-building is good, with some small chapters interspersed detailing the history of this world. They way the society where Carrington lives, works, can give rise to many thoughts and discussions. I always like it when a book makes you think and ponder. Carrington is a strong and relatable character. I did think the book was a little long and some parts repetitive. It ended up at the same doubts and thoughts for Carrington again and again. And, yes, I know this also happens in real life, but it just doesn't read very nicely ;-)

Mary McNear – Up at Butternut lake 3/5
Allie, a young widow and her five-year old son Wyatt move to a remote cabin in the small town of Butternut where Allie hopes to start her life again. Allie and Wyatt are soon taken up in the community, but Allie is still doubtful. Can she really live here? Did she do well brining her son so far away from all he's ever known? And what about their neighbour Walker Ford, who offers to teach Wyatt to fish. Is he just being neighbourly or does he want more from Allie?

A relatively run-of-the-mill romance, not really bad, but not too memorable either. I actually liked the side characters better than Allie or Walker, but though McNear tried to add some side stories into the novel, they didn't get enough space to be really fleshed out. I wasn't too fond of the romance, it felt a little too physical, if you get my meaning.

Rainbow Rowell - Landline 3/5
Georgie McCool is a succesfull tv writer. Two weeks before Christmas, just as the is about to leave for Omaha with her much neglected husband and two young daughters, Georgie gets the breakthrough of a lifetime. She lets her family go away without her, but falls apart herself. Especially when an old phone at her mother's house seems to connect her to the past.

A great idea for a story, still, this was the least favourite of the Rowell books I've read so far. The story seemed to drag a bit, maybe because too large a part was spend just describing the long phone conversations of Georgie and her husband Neill. For me that was just a bit too boring.