Nov
01
I’ve got another couple of books that I finished for my fall reading challenge.
First up is 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. As he is driving home from a conference, Baptist minister Don Piper has a head on collision with a semi-truck that crosses into his lane. He is pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel but another minister coming upon the accident feels led by God to pray for the dead man in the car. 90 minutes later Piper miraculously comes to life and his life is forever changed. He describes in the beginning of the book what he experienced in heaven in that time he was dead but the majority of the book deals with his long road to recovery and the pain he dealt with constantly.
I think a lot of people haven’t liked that this book deals so much with his recovery but I think he learned lessons during that time that can speak to many people. His descriptions of heaven and other things he experienced brought tears to my eyes. I cannot imagine the pain he went through for his recovery and pain that he still lives with today. While he admits that he isn’t a writer, and the book might not be the best well written one that many people prefer, I found this book to be very interesting, inspiring, & touching. He is an ordinary man who experienced some very extraordinary things and shares his story in his own way.
Like Dandelion Dust is by Christian author Karen Kingsbury. Jack & Molly Campbell live a picture perfect life in Florida with their 4 year old adopted son Joey. Her sister Beth and family have just recently moved close by and they hope the 2 families can become close and loving. Beth’s family are strong devoted Christians while Jack and Molly don’t want to have anything to do with God. Then Jack and Molly receive news that shatters their world; Joey’s biological father has been released from prison and wants to claim his son. When a judge rules that he will go back to his real parents, they struggle with the dilemma of following the law or their hearts, and just disappearing with their son.
I have read and like most everything Kingsbury has written but she does write rather predictable stories sometimes. I like to put these kind into my reading because I know it will be a clean book with a story of people trusting in God to help them in their lives. This was a good story although it could be a little sad at times because of the subject matter of adoption. I feel sure she must write from her heart on this since her family has adopted 3 children.
I thought the little boy in this book talked too grown up for his age and there might be some things that are hard to picture happening but that might be because I don’t always have a huge imagination! Overall it’s a pretty good book if you like the christian fiction genre.
Fall Reading Challenge Update #2 and #1.
November 1st, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Those books sound like they deal with some tough issues.
I, too, have changed my reading list all around!
Oh, and I just “tagged” you…;)
November 1st, 2006 at 4:02 pm
Good reviews Gail! I’m glad you guys liked “90 Minutes in Heaven”. I thought it was an awesome book. I will see about getting Dandelion Dust from the library, the last time I checked, it wasn’t available. But I have also enjoyed, for the most part, every Kingsbury book I have ever read. Some more than others, but they always leave me with an uplifting feeling at the end. You should read Divine, it was really good!