Lot's Wife: lessons and themes from her story

This month’s study is on Lot’s Wife. She is mentioned briefly in Genesis, but her story still resonates with people today. From Genesis, we learn that she was married to Lot, Abraham’s nephew and together, they had amassed a fortune in land and livestock. They settled in Sodom, a city so wicked that God would later send angels to investigate. Her life in Sodom, she was a prosperous woman who may have been more attached to the good life than what was good for her. There is no indication that she participated in the sin of Sodom, but her story implies she had tolerated it. Her heart was possibly divided. She hated the sin but loved the comfortable life she had in Sodom. What is the significance of salt in the story? What does her story tell us about God’s mercy?

The story of Lot’s wife opens as Lot encounters God’s angels at the city gates. He implored them to stay at his house for the night. Later that night, angry voices came to the house as an ugly clamor of men tried to push their way into the house. They demanded the guest to be released to them. The Bible does not reveal what Lot’s wife was doing, feeling or thinking at the situation. But I think we can safely assume she was terrified. After Lot tried to bargain and reason with the mob, the angels pulled him back in the house and told Lot, his wife and daughters, to leave Sodom immediately as God’s judgment was coming to Sodom. The angels warned the family not to look back on the city as it was being destroyed. Genesis 19:26 says “But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Why did she turn despite the angels’ warning? We don’t know but something caused her to stop, pause, turn and take one look.

As Lot’s wife is remembered less for who she was: a wife and mother, and more for what she became: a pillar of salt, there must be significance to her story. Salt is one of the world’s most common and most used chemicals. Salt is used to season, cleanse and purify. The Hebrews saw the value in salt and used it in many areas of life. They used it to season their food (Job 6:6). They also rubbed their babies with it (Ezekiel 16:4). Salt was also a required supplement to Old Testament grain sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13). Salt is also used six times in the New Testament. Believers are called the salt of the earth by Jesus in Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, and Luke 14:34. In Luke 17:32, Jesus calls us to remember Lot’s wife. In verse 33, he says, “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”  It is a warning against false security. Lot’s wife turned back because she wanted one last look at all she lost. The comfortable house and all the trappings she had in the city. Despite the danger to her life, she still wanted the physical things she left behind.

The tragedy of her story is she ultimately refused God’s mercy and attempts her save her. God’s mercy was available to her as Genesis 19:16 says “for the Lord was merciful to them” and his mercy is always available to all of us. Even during difficult times, like now as the world deals with the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting quarantine, even in the worst times, the most difficult situation and the hardest circumstances, he is there stretching out his hand to lead us to safety. We have become creatures of comfort. In our society, it is rare to find someone who isn’t attached to certain comforts. They may even be thought of as weird. Although, in my experience, when someone says they have no attachment to physical items or comforts, it is usually a lie as no one is completely with some form of attachment, whether it be to something or someone Test your level of attachment. By carving out time away from work, TV, the phone, the internet, anything that can distract you from God. Set aside time and a place in your home, even if its for a few minutes, for silent prayer.

In conclusion, Lot’s wife turned back to look at the smoldering city. Clinging to the past, she was unwilling to turn completely away and accept her new future. Are you looking back longingly at an old life while trying to move toward God? Is there anything in your past that God is urging you to let go? I know I do. It is a daily struggle and a daily prayer for the strength to finally let go. Sometimes I can and sometimes memories of good times pull me to that desire again. I know like a father with his child, God will continue to help me with this lesson. You can’t make progress with God and in your future, if you are holding onto pieces of your old life. Seek out God and his mercy. He will help you turn away from your old life and find a new life in him.

The Secrets Mothers Keep: a gripping tale of family, secrets and coming to terms with the past

The Secrets Mothers Keep by Jacquie Underdown is the story of three generations of women as deep secrets from the past are revealed and alter their futures. The story opens with the oldest sister, Mary Rivers, who lives in her late husband’s ancestral home, Viewtree House, in Tasmania, Australia. The house is in desperate need of repair. She calls on her sisters, June, who lives with her, and Grace, as well as her daughter, Lily Rose, and granddaughter, Pia, to come together, pool their resources and save the house. The request comes at a time when all the women need a break or escape from their lives. Grace is dealing with the aftermath of her husband’s death and discovers he had been hiding a terrible secret. Lily-Rose, a famous actress, is on the verge of divorce after an affair was exposed by the media. Pia, who broke up with her boyfriend, sees the request to put some distance between them. Told from the different perspectives of the five women, the story follows them as renovations on the house threatens to reveal deep secrets Mary and her sisters hold. Will their plans for the house bring them together or finally tear them part?

The Secrets Mothers Keep was a gripping story as the secrets are revealed, the women must decide who they are and who they will become as a family. At the heart of the story is a quote from June as she says, “Mothers in difficult circumstances, have had to life since forever in order to protect their child or themselves.” At the heart of the secrets is the desire to protect their family from scandal, pain and being torn apart. Another character reminds readers that “We can’t make judgments about decision made at different times and under conditions we don’t understand.” The Secrets Mothers Keep is a good story of family, secrets, and coming terms with the past. I enjoyed reading a story set in a different part of the world than is normally written about. I recommend The Secrets Mothers Keep.

The Secrets Mothers Keep

is available in paperback and eBook

Onward: a brother adventure in a magical land

Onward is the newest Pixar film directed by Dan Scanlon, written by Scanlon with Jason Headley and Keith Bunn. The film stars Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer. Set in a suburban fantasy world, the film follows two elf brothers who set out on a quest to find a rare artifact that well bring back their deceased father for one day. Released on March 6, 2020 in the US, the film received generally positive reviews and grossed $104 million worldwide before the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters. It was released on Disney+ and other screaming services on April 3.

In a world of mythical creatures, magic was once commonplace. After technological advances over the years, magic became obsolete and was largely discarded. It is now modern day, Ian Lightfoot (voiced by Tom Holland), an elf socially awkward high schooler who lacks self-confidence. His older brother, Barley (voiced by Chris Pratt), is a history and role-playing game fanatic. They live with their widowed mother, Laurel (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in New Mushroomton. Their father, Wilden Lightfoot, died shortly before Ian born. As the story opens, it is Ian’s 16^th birthday and Laurel gives the brothers a gift from Wilden: a magical staff, a rare gem, and a letter describing a visitation spell so the boys can resurrect their father for one day. When Ian accidently only resurrects their father’s lower half, the brothers are now in a race against time to fully resurrect their father. 

Onward is a funny and heartwarming adventure that audiences have come to expect from Pixar. Although, a few reviewers have pointed out that it has become a bit too cliched. For me, it was an emotional as it deals with death, loss and trying to capture experiences one never had a chance to have as Ian never had the memories of his father that Barley did. I also liked the musical score. I especially liked the song that Barley played plays in his van. It suggests Vikings and great battles. The end credit song, “Carried Me With You,” performed by Brandi Carlile, is an emotionally charged song about not taking love for granted and accepting love even when you don’t feel its deserved. One of my favorite lyrics is “To the darkness of the blue/I was just too blind to see/Like a lighthouse in a storm/You were always guiding me.” I like the lesson Ian learns along way as he gains confidence in himself, although it is a theme used quite often.

As no movie is without faults, there are a few things about the film I did not like. While I did enjoy the film, it felt like a Frozen II film for boys. A sibling adventure story for brothers rather than sisters. Also, the use of mythical creatures didn’t really add to the story. The filmmakers could have used human characters and the movie would have been just as good. It is also a film that I wasn’t overly excited to watch for the story concept didn’t grab my attention. I only watched it because my eight-year-old daughter wanted to when it was released on Disney+. She thoroughly enjoyed it and watched again the next day and watched it a third time with her dad. The animation is as expected from Pixar; however, it does not have the stunning beauty of Coco or the heart of Toy Story or Finding Nemo.

Overall, Onward is a good movie with magic, mythical creatures and a theme that we all could relate to. It may be hard to watch for individuals have lost a parent, especially early in life, as it may be too relatable. However, I wouldn’t say it was a reason not to see this film. While it had a few flaws and may be the adventure story we’ve all seen before, it is still an entertaining movie that I think families will enjoy. I recommend watching Onward as the heartwarming and funny adventure story that is expected from Disney and Pixar. 

Finding Jesus at the Border: a look at immigration and Christians

Finding Jesus at the Border: Opening Our Hearts to the Stories of Our Immigrants Neighbors by Julia Lambert Fogg, a pastor and New Testament scholar, is a personal observation of the immigrant situation in the United States. It is a book which seeks to show American Christians what they can do to help our immigrant neighbors. According to Fogg, it is not a book to explain the complicated US immigration law and policy but to help readers to understand how the experience of migration and border crossers reveals God’s work in exciting and transformative ways. Using real immigration stories, Fogg attempts to draw parallels with Jesus’s life and teachings and the immigrant’s stories and attempts to put a human face on the immigration stories and debate. Fogg argues that Christians need to step out of their comfort zones and learn to cross the social, ethnic, and religious borders and encourages them to become advocates in their own communities and be an example of Christ to the DACA dreamers, asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants.

Finding Jesus at the Border is not the book I was expecting. I am a little disappointed. I was excited and intrigued to read it, but it quickly faded to disappointment with each chapter. I excited to read stories from immigrants and while there were stories from a few immigrants, it felt very flat. Fogg quickly focuses on the immigration issues and her biblical interpretations are inconsistent, and at times, a stretch. Overall, this book did not add anything new and basically calls for Christians to care for the immigrants as individuals not just a number on the news. While she provides names of organizations to get involved with, Fogg does not provide any contact information for these groups such as websites. I appreciate Ms. Fogg’s passion and concern for the immigrants who are coming to the US simply for a better life and I agree that Christians need to be more involved because children of God are involved; however, I feel she fells short in her goals. I do not recommend Finding Jesus at the Border.

Finding Jesus at the Border:

Opening Our Hearts to the Stories of Our Immigrants Neighbors

is available hardcover, paperback, and eBook

Little Secrets: a great psychological thriller

Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier is a story of heartache, revenge, and betrayal. Marin Machado has a great life. A loving husband, a beautiful son, and a successful business, she could not ask for more. Until one dark December day, her son is taken from her side and her whole world shatters. Fast forward 18 months and there has been no sign of her son and Marin is barely living as she tries to find herself in her new world. Her life consists now of work, therapy sessions and a support group. She and her husband, Derek, seem to be hanging on by a thread. Her world is about to shatter again as a private investigator, she hired to find her, finds some startling news. As Marin fills with rage and seeks to find her revenge, she learns who she can trust and who has truly betrayed her. Will she find her revenge? Will Marin ever find out what happened with her son?

What a story! Little Secrets starts with every parent’s worst nightmare and launches the reader into the aftermath as Marin tries to find answers and closure. Throughout the book, I was not sure if I liked Marin or any of the characters as they all had their own secrets and ulterior motives behind their actions. However, Ms. Hillier takes the reader on a roller coaster of a journey as the twists and turns keeps one guessing. The characters feel very relatable with real emotions and flaws. This is the type of story that the reader will not figure out, so do not even try. Just go along for the ride and watch as little clues reveal big secrets. I highly recommend Little Secrets!

Little Secrets

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

A Million Little Things: a real to life drama show that takes an honest look at suicide, grief, and cancer

A Million Little Things is an American drama series which premiered on September 26, 2018 and currently finished its second season on Thursday nights on ABC. It has not been officially renewed for a third season, although it’s creator, DJ Nash, has hinted that an official renewal is coming. The show’s premise is “It has been said that friendship isn’t one big thing, it’s a million little things.” It has an ensemble cast: David Giuntoli (Eddie Saville), Grace Park (Katherine, Eddie’s wife), Romany Malco (Rome Howard), Christina Moses (Regina, Rome’s wife), Allison Miller (Maggie Bloom), James Roday (Gary Mendez) and Stephanie Szostak (Delilah Dixon). The show deals with suicide, depression, cancer, the grief process and the struggle to move on in a new light.

The show starts as just another day with this tight knit friends/family. Gary is at his doctor’s office, waiting on important test results. Rome is at home writing a suicide note before preparing to take a handful of pills. Eddie and Delilah are together on their weekly rendezvous. All seems normal until they all get the call. Jon Dixon (played by Ron Livingston), Delilah’s husband has just jumped off his office balcony to his death. His suicide is so out of the blue that the group of friends are left wondering what they didn’t see and so many questions that can never be answered. The four men, who became friends after getting stuck together in an elevator, bonded together by their love for the Boston Bruins and Jon, their de facto leader, their champion and cheerleader. Without him, the group struggles to find their center again. As they grieve and cope with the aftermath, secrets and drama are revealed as life goes on.

I started to watch the show because James Roday was in it. I love him in the USA show Psych (2006-2014) and I was curious to see him take on a dramatic role. From the beginning I enjoyed the show’s ability to tackle hard topics with honesty and heart. First, I appreciate the honest and openness about cancer especially male breast cancer. While rare, male breast cancer occurs in an estimated one in a thousand men will be diagnosed. I also appreciate the writers’ ability to show the truth about depression in men. Men are taught to be tough, to hide their emotions, and not to talk about their feelings. Depression occurs in about 9% of men while only 1 in 4 will seek profession help (American Psychological Association, 2015). I also liked the realistic portrayal of the grief process. The initial shock, the sadness and anger, especially the anger. The show is raw, it is real, and it is sometimes hard to watch.

There are a few things I don’t care for. At first, I didn’t care for Katherine, the high-powered attorney, and felt bad for Eddie, the hen-pecked stay at home dad. However, as season 2 opened, I started to like her take-no-prisoners approach and I saw how hurt and devasted she was by the situations. Actress Grace Park plays Katherine beautifully and I have enjoyed seeing her character evolve since episode 1. Second, I really don’t care for Katherine’s and Eddie’s son, Theo. I’m not sure if it how he is written or the young actor’s acting, but Theo comes off as annoying and sometimes a tad unbelievable as an 8-year-old. In season 2, Delilah gave birth to a daughter, Charlie, and every time the child is on screen, the baby is wearing a beanie. I understand that the show takes place in Boston so its cold, but a child doesn’t need her head covered all the time especially when inside.

In conclusion, I recommend A Million Little Things as a dramatic show which takes an honest look at grief, depression, cancer and the human ability or inability to deal with it all. It takes an honest look at suicide, its aftermath and its prevention. For fans of Psych, if you haven’t already, I recommend checking out the show to see James Roday in a dramatic role. He is just as talented in this role as he was in a comedic role. Every actor in this show fits his or her role perfectly and as you watch, you will grow to love the characters as you watch them in grief, struggle with unanswerable questions and find a way to move forward. If A Million Little Things open the conversation which saves lives from suicide, then it’s worth watching.

References

American Psychological Association (December 2015). By the Numbers. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2015/12/numbers. Retrieved March 7, 2020. 

The New Husband: a thrilling psychological roller coaster!

The New Husband by DJ Palmer is a psychological thriller which leads the reader on road of twists and turns as the story unravels to reveal the truth. Seventeen months prior, Nina Garrity’s husband, Glen, mysteriously disappeared while fishing. Presuming her husband to be dead, Nina has moved on. A new house and a new “husband.” Although she and Simon Fitch are married, they aren’t even engaged yet, they seemed to be on that path. While her 16-year-old son, Connor, welcomes the new relationship and the new changes, her 13-year-old daughter, Maggie, doesn’t. Still believing her father is alive, Maggie fights Simon’s intrusion at every turn and tries to get Nina to see what she sees but Nina just thinks Maggie is being a dramatic teenager. But soon things begin to happen that leads Nina to question everything she thought she knew about her husband’s disappearance and Simon’s past. What really happened to Glen? Was Simon involved? Will Nina find out the truth before it’s too late?

The New Husband is an exciting book which will keep you guessing. At first, I didn’t like the fact that the narrator would occasionally change as a new chapter begins; however, it soon became apparent why the author doesn’t give a warning. My suggestion is when you read the book, as a chapter opens, pay close attention to who is speaking. It is a very suspenseful and fast-moving book. Despite having 63 chapters, I was able to finish the book in a day. It held my attention that I did not want to put it down unless I absolutely had to! I didn’t care for Nina, first, because I felt she was moving on too quickly into a new relationship despite what she thought she knew about her husband’s disappearance. She should have waited a bit more before moving in with Simon. As I read, I wanted Nina to open her eyes and really listen to Maggie. I enjoyed Maggie’s side of the story more. Maggie was more than just a teenager who didn’t like the man who replaced her father in her mother’s life, he was a man she didn’t trust. I really enjoyed The New Husband and I recommend it to everyone who enjoys a thriller that will keep you guessing and on your toes until the end.

The New Husband

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Rise of Skywalker: a odd ending to a disjointed sequel trilogy

The final episode of the sequel trilogy was released on December 20, 2019. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker was an anticipated movie as fans hoped that the questions left open in The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017) would be answered and bring a satisfying ending to the sequel trilogy. Unfortunately, there is very little about Rise of Skywalker I enjoyed. After watching the film, not once, not twice but three times. I can see why so many fans were disgusted with this film. The sequel trilogy was too rushed. All three films were released in four years when the original and prequel trilogies were released in six years. So, for this review, I will discuss the problems I saw with Rise of Skywalker and the sequel trilogy. I also have a few thoughts about what it is to be a Star Wars fan now.

There is no cohesiveness in the sequel trilogy. From The Force Awakens (2015), to The Last Jedi (2017) to Rise of Skywalker (2019), there is no real center to the trilogy. There is no central villain as The Last Jedi saw Snoke killed off and Rise of Skywalker brought back Emperor Palpatine who was not mentioned in the first two films. The only connectedness to this trilogy is the reappearance of the main characters: Rey, Finn, Poe and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The original trilogy, Episodes IV-VI, had the fight against Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. The prequel trilogy, Episodes I-III, had the rise of Palpatine to emperor as well as the development of Darth Vader from Anakin Skywalker. There was an overall arc that connected the actions and events in the trilogies that are missing the sequel trilogy. The overall story of the sequel trilogy feels like they brainstormed ideas and decided to just add it all. There were too many writers with too many ideas, and they didn’t know how, or wanted to, to edit it down. Between the three movies, there are seven different writers with the only overlap with JJ Abrams co-writing The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker.

Second, there are just too many questions left unanswered. There are questions about Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. How does Kylo Ren become a good guy so quickly and so completely? From my reading on fan theories and comments, the sequel trilogy could be about Ben Solo’s internal struggle between his heroic and villainous natures which is a good idea but the movie doesn't do the idea justice. His return to the Light Side is so sudden and left unexplained in Rise of Skywalker. What does he do to redeem himself? Darth Vader saved Luke from Palpatine, what did Ben do? There are questions about the Emperor. How did Emperor come back to life? How and when did Palpatine have a son? As his personal life is left unmentioned in the prequel trilogy, this revelation seems to come out of left field. Other questions include: Who were the Knights of Ren? They are mentioned throughout the trilogy; however, they aren’t really seen until Rise of Skywalker and even that sequence was a let down to some fans. Also, what exactly is a Force dyad? Who was Snoke and how did he become Supreme Leader? One question I was most interested in learning was how did Maz Kanata get Luke’s original lightsaber? How was it retrieved from Cloud City? It would have been an interesting story to hear. It was raised in The Force Awakens as Maz says “A good question - for another time.” However, we may never hear it now. These are just some of the questions fans have asked. A quick search on the internet would find so much more.

Before Disney acquired the Star Wars, fans were ridiculed and mocked for being fans. Suddenly, now that it’s a Disney brand, its cool and hip to be a Star Wars fan. According to these new fans, a true fan cannot dislike a Star Wars film or have any criticisms about it. To be a fan now means you must like everything about the franchise. Since when can’t a fan be critical of a franchise he or she likes? Why can’t he or she point something out that doesn’t fit? Unfortunately, it is a trend I am seeing in more and more fandoms than just Star Wars. I have seen some fans hate something simply because it didn’t follow what they had thought should happen. Disliking something without evidence is just being spiteful. However, when legitimate arguments are made, the only counterargument I’ve heard is “well, they aren’t true fans then.” That’s not an argument, that’s being childish. I do want to acknowledge the toxic “fans” who openly threatened and bullied some of the actors from the films on social media, especially actress Kelly Marie Tran who played Rose Tico. That behavior is completely uncalled for and equally childish. While the character was not my favorite, it is not the actress’s fault that she was given horrible dialogue in a horrible story. Even if she did a horrible job acting, that is no reason to threaten or bully someone.

In conclusion, the sequel trilogy is like a great start to a new book which leaves you disappointed. The opening chapter set the scene to an exciting adventure. But as you read, doubt and confusion sets in. Rise of Skywalker is the last chapter of a very confusing and disjointed story. There were too many holes left in the plot. Too many questions left unanswered. Everything, including the kitchen sink, was thrown in as fan service, or just plain because they wanted to, which left a laughable and cringeworthy movie. If you have seen The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, I recommend you check out Rise of Skywalker. If you happen to like it, that’s fine. The sequel trilogy, unfortunately, is not a trilogy I will be watching again and again like I do with the original and prequel trilogies. It is unfortunate since the trilogy started strong.

Just the Way You Are: a fun read for a lazy afternoon

Just the Way You Are by Ann Roth is the first book in the Dunlin Shores series. It is a story of finding love and a home in the most unlikely of places. The story opens with Cinnamon Brown still reeling from recent events. She left her job at a consulting firm after a bad breakup with the boss. She is heading to her friend’s bed and breakfast on the Oregon coast for a two-week rest and reorganization as she looks for a new job. There she meets Nick Mahoney, the handsome handyman. The two start off on the wrong foot as Cinnamon makes a wrong assumption and keeps her distance. Nick finds Cinnamon attractive but with a secret he doesn’t want to share, Nick also keeps his distance as he feels he isn’t good enough for the smart and talented Cinnamon. Eventually, the attraction becomes too much to hide or even bear, but something keeps both Cinnamon and Nick at arm’s length. As she visits around town and begins to fall in love with the people, the town and even Nick, Cinnamon must decide: does she wants a job in the big city or is the small Oregon town her new future? Will Nick tell Cinnamon his secret?

Just the Way You Are was a fast and easy read. A fun romance with all the charm of a small town and its common cast of eccentric characters. I didn’t care for Cinnamon as she kept making assumptions about Nick and even after being proved wrong, time and time again she makes herself the fool with her assumptions. I really liked Nick and his struggles which made him more sympathetic than Cinnamon and her troubles. I also liked the small town characters. If the opportunity comes to read the rest of the series, I think I will. The book was a fun read for a lazy afternoon. I recommend Just the Way You Are.

Just the Way You Are

is available in paperback and eBook

Cobra Kai: a reexamination of The Karate Kid narrative

Cobra Kai is the YouTube action comedy-drama series which takes place 34 years after the events of The Karate Kid (1984). Created by Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg, and Josh Heald, it stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka who reprise their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence and serve as co-executive producers. Cobra Kai also stars Xolo Mariduena as Miguel Diaz, Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso, Daniel’s wife, Tanner Buchanan as Robbie Kenne as Johnny’s estranged son, and Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso as Daniel and Amanda’s teenage daughter. The series sets to reexamine The Karate Kid narrative from Johnny Lawrence’s point of view and the aftermath of his defeat in the first film. Season One was released on May 2, 2018 and season 2 was released on April 24, 2019. A third season is expected to release sometime in 2020.

After his defeat in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament, Johnny Lawrence had fallen hard from his wealthy lifestyle in Encino. Now in his 50s, Johnny works construction and lives in an apartment in Reseda. After losing his job, the down and out Johnny rescues his teenage neighbor, Miguel, from a gang of bullies by using karate, in similar fashion that Mr. Miyagi had rescued Daniel. As first reluctant, he ultimately agrees to teach Miguel karate and decides to reopen the Cobra Kai. Unfortunately, this decision rekindles his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who is now the owner of a highly successful car dealership. Finally living the wealthy lifestyle, he envied as a teen, he struggles to connect with his children and keep his life in balance. The newly open Cobra Kai dojo attracts a group of bullied social outcasts. While the Cobra Kai philosophy of “Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy” remains the same, Johnny also adds a sense of honor. As a means of revenge against his estranged father, Robbie begins to work for Daniel and develops a close friendship with Daniel and his family. Daniel begins to teach Robbie karate in the style of Mr. Miyagi. The events revolve around the primary characters which lead to conflicts between Johnny and Daniel and their students.

A few ago, someone did an analysis of The Karate Kid in which he states that Johnny was the real victim and Daniel was the bully. I remember the explosion of discussion afterwards. Years of watching the movie and rooting for Daniel, I saw with new eyes and yes, I can see how Johnny was the real victim (the ultimate bully was his mentor and sense John Kreese). Cobra Kai takes that idea and runs with it. In this show, the audience roots for Johnny as he has struggles to overcome his past while Daniel is riding his laurels and fame into the wealth and fortune. I also liked that despite Daniel’s good life, he still has issues. He has lost his connection with his children while his wife and his mother have a tenuous relationship. Daniel also struggles to past on Mr. Miyagi’s teachings and even ignores the first rule of Miyagi Karate: “Karate for defense only” and often takes an attack stance when he confronts Johnny.  Daniel is still a whiny baby, which is one reason I disliked Daniel in The Karate Kid franchise, as he focuses on what doesn’t go his way rather than focuses on what he can do to make it better.

While there wasn’t much I didn’t like about the show, the main aspect of the show I didn’t care for was that by the end of the second season, the stories were more about the teens and their love triangles than about the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel. Although, the animosity between the teens is, in part, fueled by the rivalry and devotion to their respective dojos. Second, there were scenes that were very unbelievable. In one scene, two teens are fighting at the school and there no adults in sight. The fight even grows and covers a lot of ground and still no adults. At one point, a student does bring a teacher, who then cowardly says “I don’t get paid enough” and runs in the other direction. At my high school, the minute someone even whispered “fight,” the administrators and teachers were all over the situation. The extended fight sequences were too farfetched to be believable especially in today’s school atmosphere. However, I will admit that the fight scenes were cool to watch.

In conclusion, Cobra Kai received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both critics and fans. After watching both seasons, I can see why. It is the only recent show in which my husband actually watched all the episodes. The third season is being eagerly awaited as fans want to see the fallout from the season two finale. It is a great mix of nostalgia, drama and action. It shouts out to the fans who helped make The Karate Kid the enduring franchise that it is as well as deals with a few fan theories that have developed over the years. If you get the opportunity to watch Cobra Kai, I highly recommend it.

A Hundred Suns: an unexpected thriller

A Hundred Suns by Karin Tanabe is a story of suspense, revenge and power. The story opens in November 1933 as American Jessie Lesage is heading to the train station in Hanoi, Indochina with her husband, Victor Lesage, heir to the Michelin fortune, and their daughter, Lucie. Events quickly led to Jessie to doubt her own memories, but she knew “I wasn’t unwell. I wasn’t forgetting anything. My family had disappeared.” Rewind to September 1933 as the Lesages arrive in Hanoi from Paris as Victor is taking over management of the Michelin families rubber plantations in the French colony. Their first night in Hanoi, they take the customary trip to a club where she meets Marcelle de Fabry, the wife of the president of the chamber of commerce, Arnaud de Fabry. The two women quickly strike up a friendship. As Jessie begins to learn the area and adjust to life in the colony, strange things begin to happen, events that Jessie remembers but others claim never did. What is going on? Is Jessie slowly losing her mind? Or is someone playing a cruel trick on her?

A Hundred Suns is the type of book that you think you have figured out and with a turn of a page, you discover you had it all wrong. Ms. Tanabe slowly sets the scene and goes into great deal for the description of the locations as well as the political and social attitudes of the time. And just as you get a feel for the type of story it will be, the real action starts and once you’re on that train, its nonstop until the last page and you let out a breath! What a story! It was very intense with no clear character to cheer for or who to vilify as everyone has their reasons and arguments to justify their actions. There is so much more I wish I could discuss about book, but it would give away too many plot points. I highly recommend A Hundred Suns!

A Hundred Suns

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

The Book of Lost Friends: rediscovering lost family histories

The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate is a story of recovering history when time and people have long buried it. The story opens with a young girl, as she prepares to make an important speech, and her teacher who encourages her to be a voice for those lost. Rewind to Louisiana, 1875 as Hannie Gossett, 18, wakes from a vivid and recurring dream of when her family was torn apart. She lives on an old plantation which used to see grander days. She soon finds herself on a journey that takes her far from her home and on a path to a new beginning. The next chapter opens with Benedetta “Benny” Silva in Augustine, Louisiana, 1987. She is having a horrible beginning to her first day as a teacher. She tries to teach her students; but they aren’t interested in the symbolism of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Switching between Hannie in 1875 and Benny in 1987, the two timelines emerge as Hannie searches for a missing person, she begins to collect the names of lost family members for people she meets on her journey, in hopes to reunite families as well as finding her own. Benny struggles to find a way to reach her students when a chance discovering of an old family Bible and leather ledger sends Benny and her students on a history lesson that threatens to shake the status quo.

The Book of Lost Friends is inspired by the real letters from the “Lost Friends” column of the Southwestern Christian Advocate which published letters from freed slaves looking for their families. It was a piece of history that I wasn’t not aware of and was interested to read as Ms. Wingate uses the actual letters from the column. The book is essentially about remembering those who came before us as the main theme can be found in this quote: “We die once when the last breath leaves our bodies. We die a second time when the last person speaks our name.” This theme reminded me of the second death seen in Disney’s Coco (2017). The book is very slow moving as it switches between timelines. It isn’t clear how the two are connected until about three-quarters into the story. It truly didn’t become interesting until the connection is made between the timelines and the action speeds up. It was hard to connect with the characters. I found Hannie to be the most interesting and a bit surprising as she finds herself in situations that she must learn to adapt on the fly. I found Benny to be a bit naïve and dim. She was the stereotypical first year teacher who was going to have an impact on her students. She seems at a loss when her first attempts fail miserably. Some of the conflict which I thought would boil over and cause a big “battle” fizzled and the “villains” of the story essentially would just be feared from afar. Overall, I enjoyed the book as a piece of history is used to tell the lost family history of many black families. And if readers are willing to stick with it, I think they will find that they will enjoy it too. I recommend The Book of Lost Friends.

The Book of Lost Friends

is available in hardcover, paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Please Forgive Me: a chick lit style romance story

Please Forgive Me by Melissa Hill is the story of Leonie Hayes, a woman running from her life in Dublin, Ireland. She arrives in San Francisco, California looking for a fresh start. She begins by finding a new apartment which looks out over the Golden Gate Bridge and finds a job at a local florist shop. While settling into her new apartment, she discovers a box of old, unopened letters. They are addressed to a Helena Abbott at that address. When a letter arrives on Valentine’s Day, Leonie unwittingly opens it and reads the heartfelt message from a Nathan to Helena, It ends with “Please forgive me.” Leonie then meets her neighbor, Alex Fletcher, who has trouble of her own, as she has been searching for her estranged husband in order to serve him divorce papers. As the two become intrigued by the mystery of the letters, they set out on a mission to find Helena and Nathan. Will they be able to find Helena and Nathan? What is Leonie running from? Will Alex be able to settle the situation with her ex-husband?

I was intrigued by the premise of Please Forgive Me. It reminded me of Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the comparison. As I read through the story, I realized that I didn’t care for any of the characters or wished to see them work through their problems. The ending was happy and not what I was expecting. Plus, the whole situation with the divorce doesn’t ring true with actual California law. According to my research, Alex could have received a divorce decree without her husband’s response if she could prove she did everything she could to find him which she does for a year. It shows a lack of research on the author’s part or that she ignored it in order to have the ending she wanted to play out. The mystery of the letters was a letdown too. By the time Leonie and Alex discover the truth behind the letters and why Nathan was seeking Helena’s forgiveness was anticlimactic. Please Forgive Me is a basic chick-lit, Hallmark movie type story with a happy ending that feels forced. If you enjoy chick-lit, you may enjoy Please Forgive Me.

Please Forgive Me

is available in paperback and eBook

The Road She Left Behind: sometimes the only way to heal is to go home

The Road She Left Behind by Christine Nolfi is a story of going home, confronting the past and finding forgiveness for others as well as oneself. Darcy Goodridge has been on the run. For the last eight years, she has moved from town to town, from job to job, She left her home in Ohio, vowing never to return. She was crushed by guilt over the accidental deaths of her father and younger sister and the constant battling with her mother, Darcy left, never looking back. Until one fateful phone call finds her fighting the urge to return. With the urge of her young friend, 18-year old Samson Dray, she finds herself on the road back home. Once she’s there, she learns that her 8-year-old nephew, Emerson, is missing and her mother, Honorable Rosalind Goodridge, is as imposing as ever. After Emerson returns home, Darcy becomes a part of her nephew’s life, she begins to piece together the events which led to Emerson to “run away.” Darcy begins to tear down the walls her mother so expertly put up around her and discovers her secrets as deep family secrets that led to the horrible accident. Determined to find closure and healing, Darcy may even find love and a place to belong.

The Road She Left Behind is a non-stop dramatic story of family secrets, misplaced guilt, teenage rebellion and lost love. While the family secrets revealed weren’t too shocking, I would say almost common, however, I was gripped by the interaction between Darcy and Rosalind. A mother and daughter who have been at odds from day one and Darcy never really knew why and, now as an adult, Darcy demands answers and “no” is not acceptable. It was a hard book to put down as I was eager to discover the family secrets and see everyone come together as a true family in ways they hadn’t before. Throughout the book, I wasn’t sure if I liked Darcy, Rosalind or any of the major characters. Each had their flaws, made their mistakes and said some hurtful statements in their anger or hurt. It’s what made the characters relatable as I could imagine knowing and interacting with these individuals. However, by the end, I smiled as they began to interact like a normal family and cried as they began their healing. I recommend The Road She Left Behind as a story of forgiveness, redemption and finding your home.

The Road She Left Behind

is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

The Weddings and Scandals collection: Regency Romances

The Weddings and Scandals collection by Joyce Alec is a series of four books set in 19^th century. Regency England. Advertised as heartwarming romances filled with mystery, suspense, and surprising twists and described as “clean and wholesome” with “rakish lords, strong heroines, mystery, and love,” I was intrigued by the series and was set to be taken on a journey of romance and shocking societal scandals. Did the series live up to it’s advertisements?

The Viscount’s Promise opens as Thomas, Viscount Sharpe is at the trial of a friend, Francis Newton. Newton is found guilty of murder but spared the gallows. As he proclaims his innocence, he pleads with Thomas to watch over his younger sister, Julianna. As Thomas agrees, Francis takes a vital of poison and kills himself. Fast forward, one year later, Julianna is preparing for another season in London after being in the country estate of her older brother, Baron Hollard, for mourning. She is terrified of the gossip and fears society will turn their backs on her. Soon her fears are put aside as Julianna and Thomas are put on the trail to discover Francis’s innocence after a strange, bearded man hands them a note. A warning that Julianna and her oldest brother are in danger. Can they find out the truth before its too late?

The Viscount’s Wife is book 2 and opens as Henrietta Reapson marries the Viscount Chaucer. It is a marriage of duty rather than love. She longed to be free from her father’s strict control and hoped her marriage was that breath of freedom. Soon after the wedding, she finds that she has exchanged a strict father for an even stricter husband. But she is determined to make the most of it and hopes her new husband will soften in time. Unfortunately, she finds herself in the middle of a mystery as her husband is missing and she was drugged. With the help of Lord Wickton and his sister, Charlotte, Henrietta finds the strength and courage to stand up for herself and fight for the freedom she desperate craves. Was there more to her marriage than just societal duty? Was there a deeper plot afoot? Can she solve the mystery in time?

The Viscount’s Mystery is book 3 as the Viscount Arthur Wickton is eager for his sister Charlotte to marry and when she is safely married, he would possibly consider his own marriage. Charlotte is having none of that, they make a wager that would satisfy them both. One day, Charlotte and her close friend, Emily Hornsby, come to the rescue of a man being beating in the park. She takes him home to nurse him back to health. The man refuses to give her his name for fear it would put her in danger. Soon the mystery man and Charlotte find themselves in a race against time as he has something in his possession, a journal, that another man desperately wants and would stop at nothing to get it back. What is in that journal that must be kept secret? Can the web be untangled before it is too late?

The Viscount’s Heart is the final book as Wickton begins to enjoy peace and quiet as his sister is now safety married and on her honeymoon. Her friend, Emily, is a now a sought after lady as Wickton helped her gain the attention of various eligible bachelors. Her father, Lord Hornsby, tells Emily she must marry before the end of the season or be shipped off to Scotland to live her life as a spinster. Wickton defends her honor when a possible suitor slights Emily at a ball. Emily puts her concerns for her future are put aside when Wickton goes missing and Emily is determined to discover his whereabouts. She reaches out to Wickton’s friend, Viscount Matthews, for help and together they track down his movements. Can she find Wickton before it’s too late? Who is behind his disappearance?

The Weddings and Scandals series was an easy read. I was able to read all four books in two days. The mysteries were easy to solve. There was not a lot of “scandals” at least I didn’t see the characters really suffering from the events. For instance, the scandal of Francis’s trial and suicide in barely mentioned by characters other than Thomas and Julianna. If these events were so shocking that Julianna would fear returning to London for the season, why is no one else talking about it? And, while each couple is engaged by the end of each story, there are very few weddings too. The only wedding seen in each book is the wedding of Henrietta in the second books. The series is not bad but its not great. If you enjoy Regency romance and want quick and easy reads, I recommend The Wedding and Scandals series.

The Wedding and Scandals series

is available in paperback and eBook