Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell 5 stars out of 5 I sometimes quip that I read nonfiction because it makes me think and fiction because it makes me feel. This book made me think and feel, with several factors contributing to its excellence: an unusual and interesting premise, well-developed and complex characters, a […]
Books and Reading
Learn To Set Healthy Boundaries
Giving is good…until it’s too much. Let’s talk about setting boundaries. This is updated from an earlier post, but the message is even more important than ever for those striving to live the Heartspoken life. It’s important to remember that while generosity and giving of ourselves is essential, if we don’t set healthy boundaries, we […]
Book Review: Grief Works by Julia Samuel (a helpful primer)
We cannot escape death and grief, so we must learn how to deal with them. Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving by Julia Samuel Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell 4 stars out of 5 [NOTE: this is a more detailed review than the one I posted on Amazon and Goodreads.] Grief Works was highly recommended […]
Interview With Christian Author Shelley Jarl
Who knew the story of Noah had so much to teach us about surrendering to God during our most trying times? Shelley Jarl, author, blogger, and Christian writer, is the administrator of the Faithful Bloggers Facebook group I’ve belonged to for a while. When she reached out to group members to help her promote her […]
10 Great Reasons To Keep A Reading Journal
Reading unlocks ideas and worlds Reading is my ticket to access wisdom, insights, experiences, and cultures I could never acquire otherwise. It thrills me to immerse myself in another time, another country, or another world without ever leaving my chair. My heart swells with hope and inspiration when I read motivational literature or when the […]
Book Review: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell My rating: 5 of 5 stars I was so impressed with this author’s book Everything I Never Told You and was anxious to read this one too. Some reviewers felt it was not as good as her first, but I found it even better. […]
Book Review: Prairie Fires
Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder Written by Caroline Fraser Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell Published in 2017 and winner of 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Biography 4 stars When my daughter Sarah was a young girl, she and I both loved the Little House on the Prairie books, and while I […]
7 Great Books For Winter Reading
Surely one of life’s most satisfying pleasures is to cuddle up on a sofa or favorite reading chair with a good book. It nourishes both body and soul! There are all kinds of reasons to read, and my tastes and reading moods vary widely. Sometimes I want to be educated and inspired, but other times, […]