The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5: Maomao's adventure continue as new threats lurk

The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5 by Natsu Hyuuga is a light novel based on the manga series of the same name. With the birth of Consort Gyokuyou’s son has elevated her to the status of Empress and Jinshi can no longer continue to pretend at the rear palace the political atmosphere has changed. Although life seems to be settling after the destruction of the Shi clan; however, new threats wait in the wings from a potential plague of insects to enemies from distant lands. And despite her best efforts, Maomao finds herself right in the middle. When Jinshi orders an expedition to Gyokuyou’s homeland, Maomao finds herself heading west. Something is lurking in the shadows of the glittering city and Maomao races against time to discover the truth before it is too late. 

As a fan of The Apothecary Diaries anime, I have been excited to read the light novels. So for my recent birthday, and the upcoming season 3, I received the fifth volume as a present. Season 3 will begin with the events of volume 5 and I immediately jumped and joined Maomao on her newest adventures. I enjoyed this story so much and I can’t wait to read the rest of the light novels as well as the newest seasons of the anime. There were moments that I literally dropped my jaw as Maomao reveals the how and why to the events, especially at the end and the clues and hints to certain relationships and future events. If you are a fan of The Apothecary Diaries, I highly recommend the light novels. 

The Apothecary Diaries Vol 5 is available in paperback and eBook

Love from Afar: a short but sweet Christian romance

Love from Afar is the first book in the Love Letters from Ellis Creek by Penny Zeller. In the frontier town of Ellis Creek in 1880s Montana Territory, Meredith Waller has quite the reputation as a wedding dress seamstress. However, she is never the bride and with the low number of suitable bachelors, she is resigned that she never will. Gabe Kleeman has returned to town after three. However, his administration for Meredith never wavered. However, he is unsure how to let his feelings known. Tillie and Lula are best friends. Best friends who are tired of watching their older siblings admire each other from afar. So they hatch a plan to bring their siblings together. It’s all for a good cause. Can they bring these two lonely hearts together? 

Love from Afar is a short but sweet Christian romance. With faith, humor and two pint sized matchmakers, I quickly read this story. I smiled at Tillie and Lula’s antics and their plan to bring their siblings together and later their bargaining skills when someone finds out. I loved how Gabe found the words to say what was in his heart. I sympathized with Meredith as she tried to keep the faith that God had someone for her and yet couldn’t see how that would happen in their small town. I loved the two of them together. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading more in this story. If you enjoy a quick story for a cozy afternoon of reading, I recommend Love from Afar. 

Love from Afar is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Light on Farallon Island: a woman flees to the islands with a secret and finds more danger

The Light on Farallon Island by Jen Wheeler is a story of one woman who flees to the Farallon Islands with a secret in 1859. Thirty miles off the coast from San Francisco, the Farallon Islands are known as the Devil’s Teeth, Lucy Riley seeks their remote location as she seeks a new start as a teacher to the children of the lighthouse keeper. However, Lucy carries a dangerous secret along with a name that isn’t hers and a past she is trying to run from. As she joins the island’s community, she discovers there is a reason for its nefarious name. Lucy must find the courage to confront her past as she seeks to protect her new life on the island. What is she trying to hide? Will she find the life she is looking for? 

This story was not what I expected. The descriptions of the seas and the island were amazing. I could feel the choppiness of the water and the precariousness of the island’s cliffs. However, other descriptions were too brutal and unnecessary, especially the scenes of animal abuse. I didn’t care for Lucy, her secret or why she is trying to hide out on the island. There were too many elements to the plot that it was frustrating trying to figure out how they are tied together. There were elements of the characters that I felt were totally unnecessary and didn’t add anything. I felt the characterization of a Christian man as abusive and overbearing to be tired and overdone. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. I do not recommend The Light on Farallon Island. 

The Light on Farallon Island is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

When The Day Comes: she lives two lives but must choose one. Which one will she choose?

When The Day Comes is the first book in the Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer. Libby has a powerful gift. As she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other. She is the same person but leading very different lives. Libby lives one life in Colonial Williamsburg in 1774 amidst the early days of the American Revolution. She, along with her mother, is a public printer for the House of Burgesses and the Royal Governor. She works to provide for her family and support the Patriot cause. Henry Montgomery is the man she loves, a man with secrets of his own. She lives another life in the Gilded Age of 1914. A life filled with wealth, privilege and social standing. However, she is not destined to live the two lives forever. On her twenty-first birthday, she must choose one path. What was once a clear choice, as she nears her birthday, the choice becomes harder and harder to make.

I was intrigued by this premise. A faith based time crossing historical novel? Who would have thought of that combo? When The Day Comes is inventive and inspirational about our life’s decisions and the impact they have on the present and the future. The addition of faith and seeking God’s guidance in one’s decision was great to see. I could not put this book down and read well into the night to finish. I had to know what happened! There is so much that happens in this story that I cannot talk about due to spoilers! However, readers will not be disappointed. It is engaging with wonderful characters. I loved Libby and her fire and courage as she stands for what she believes in. I loved seeing various historical figures and hints at historical events we know that come. After I finished, I immediately added the other books to my wish list. I highly, highly recommend When the Day Comes. 

When the Day Comes is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

In the Company of Men: historical romance with a mystery

In the Company of Men by Carolyn Finch is the first book in the Lemon Sugar series. Miss Etta Lynne is desperate. The Great War is over but it's up to her to care for her sick mother and pregnant, widowed sister. She needs the high school teaching position that is open in Oakland, Manitoba. However, after two female teachers disappeared, Mayor Jackson Nash is reluctant to hire a female for the open teaching position. When the male teacher he requested is a no show, Nash is forced to hire Etta. Determined to keep her safe, Nash becomes a bit overprotective despite his open contempt. As the mystery of the missing teachers deepen, Etta realizes that she must be open to trust others if she has any hope of safety and maybe even love. 

In the Company of Men is described as a clean and wholesome historical women’s fiction. Etta is the type of woman who doesn’t shy away from challenges. While I enjoy a strong woman, I did not enjoy Etta. She was obnoxious. I didn’t enjoy Jackson Nash. While it was obvious that they would fall in love, it was painfully slow getting there. While the behaviors of the men and the ridiculous requirements of female teachers was typical of the time, it was off putting. The mystery of the missing teachers was mentioned throughout and the reveal was a disappointment. Overall, I was bored. I had no interest in the romance, the mystery or continuing the series.I did not enjoy In the Company of Men. 

In the Company of Men is available in paperback and eBook. 

Empire of Ice and Stone: the ill-fated arctic expedition and the two men who would define it.

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Journey of the Karluk by Buddy Levy is the true and harrowing story of the ill-fated 1913 Canadian Arctic Expedition and the two men who would define it. It was the summer of 1913 when Captain Bob Bartlett, the world’s greatest living ice navigator, took the wooden-hulled Karluk and its crew to the Arctic Ocean. The expedition was fueled by the flamboyant Vihjalmur Stefansson, a man who had vision, ambition and hunger for fame. After six weeks, giant ice formed about the ship, trapping her and her crew, Stefansson would leave for a hunting trip, only to never return. Twenty-two men and an Inuit woman with two small daughters were left on board. They would look to Captain Bartlett and his leadership for their survival. He would make a difficult and courageous decision. Would his plan work? Will they survive the harsh Polar environment? 

I don’t know much about the expeditions to the icy regions of Earth but I have heard of some of the men made famous from these adventures. The expedition of the Karluk and the men in charge was a story I hadn’t heard before. Set at a time of great expeditions and discoveries, as well as historical events like the Titanic disaster and World War I, Empire of Ice and Stone is the story of two men and their very different leadership ideas. One would be selfless, the other self-serving. One would be remembered as a hero and the other would be vilified. From bad decisions and hurried organization, in the search for fame and glory,  the journey of the Karluk and her crew were truly doomed from the start. Empire of Ice and Stone is a very interesting historical book filled with the words of the men who were there. I highly recommend Empire of Ice and Stone. 

Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Journey of the Karluk 

is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

The Library of Legends: a mix of history and supernatural

The Library of Legends by Janie Chang is a story of a convoy of student refugees who travel across China to escape the hostilities during a war with Japan while protecting ancient texts of legends and myths. In 1937, as Japenese bombs drop on the city of Nanking, nineteen-year-old Hu Lian and her classmates from the Minghua University are ordered to flee and seek safety in the western provinces. Not only do the students and staff need to worry about the constant threat of air raids, they are entrusted with the safety of the Library of Legends, a -year-old collection of myths and folklore. During the journey, she forms an unlikely friendship with Liu Shaoming, a handsome and wealthy classmate, and his maidservant, Sparrow. As their friendship grows, she learns the connection with her companions and the tale of The Willow Star and the Prince from the Library of Legends. Is there more truth to the myths than she realized? Will they make it to safety? 

A mix of history and mystical and supernatural characters, The Library of Legends is an engaging story of love, war and survival. Ms Chang was influenced by the historical evacuations of the Chinese universities in the 1930s and the political intrigue as the rise of Communism in China is fueled by a few students and the attempts to squash its uprising. I thoroughly enjoyed the intertwining of the historical and supernatural elements of the story. It reminded me of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods (2001) as the gods and creatures of the myths and legends were alive and well in our world, we just don’t notice them. But would they be there for long? As more and more humans forget them, what’s their reasoning to stay? I enjoyed the idea that once the guardian spirits of these areas left, the horrors of war followed. This book was my first by Ms. Chang and I look forward to reading her other works in the future. I enjoyed and recommend The Library of Legends. 

The Library of Legends is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

Dark Earth: historical fantasy about two sisters

Dark Earth by Rebecca Stott is a story that takes the discovery of an artifact found while building in London. An artifact that asks the question who left it? On an island in the Thames River in AD 500, two sisters, Isla and Blue, find themselves fighting for survival in the harshness of the Dark Ages Britain. Not far from them is the Ghost City, the abandoned ruins of Londinium, the glorious Roman settlement. The ruins are said to be haunted by vengeful spirits. Isla, Blue and their father, the Great Smith, were exiled to the island when he was accused of using dark magic to forge his swords. Osric, the local warlord, places the family under close guard and decrees that the magnificent swords are to be made only for him. When their father suddenly dies, Isla and Blue face enslavement by Osric and his cruel son, Vort. Their only option is to escape into the Ghost City, hoping the fear of the ruins would keep them safe. They discover that in order to survive, they must use their skills and ingenuity to fight back.

I was intrigued by the premise and the author’s note in the beginning of the story that explains the discovery of a brooch in the ruins of Londinium. I usually enjoy stories that are inspired by a piece of history. Unfortunately, the story did not satisfy my curiosity. Dark Earth was a very hard book to get into. I did enjoy the relationship between the two sisters. Isla was the level headed sister who secretly learned her father’s trade. Blue was the fanciful/weird one. Touted as a “heart-in-mouth adventure” that brings a female perspective to a historical period dominated by men, however, beyond the sister’s relationship, the story was dry and bland. The author certainly knows her history and the descriptions of the time are vivid; however, the story is a lot of “telling” instead of “showing” for example “Mother said …” or “Father said…” when I would have preferred to be shown the action as the sisters retell their stories. It was supposed to have a mystical feel, but it wasn’t coming across for me. If you enjoy fantasy with a historical time period, you may enjoy Dark Earth. 

Dark Earth is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Between Earth and Sky: friendship, betrayal and the sacrifices made in order to belong

Between Earth and Sky by Amanda Skenandore is a tragic story that intersects the white and Native American culture when a young girl learns about friendship, betrayal and the sacrifices made in order to belong. One morning in Philadelphia in 1906, Alma Mitchell reads a newspaper headline that shakes her to her core and brings to the surface a past she kept hidden. A federal agent was killed and Harry Muskrat, or Asku as Alma knew him, is the prime suspect. Asku was once the most promising student at the Stover School, a “savage-taming” boarding school that was run by her father. The school was created to assimilate the children of neighboring reservations. Assimilation at the cost of everything they've known: their language, customs, and their very names. Alma knows the boy she knew would never commit murder but doesn’t recognize the man he had become: an outcast in the white world and a ghost in his own. Stewart, her lawyer husband, reluctantly agrees to help defend Asku. Will they be able to successfully defend Asku? What will happen when Alma finally must reveal the secrets she hides? 

Between Earth and Sky is told between alternating timelines between Alma’s childhood and the present. It is a beautifully complex story that tells a haunting and yet true period of American History. While there were some motives that were altruistic, others were determined to kill the Indian in the man. It is a story that will break your heart as you read the harsh treatment that was done to ensure the Indian cultures were erased. In some cases, they have succeeded as many Indian languages have been lost to time while others are seeing a resurgence due to the careful preservations. It is a story about love, loss, justice and the journey toward understanding and atonement. The growth that Alma goes through from the beginning to the end of the book is difficult. At some points, I thought she would never truly see what her Native friends were trying to show her. I have read about the Indian boarding schools before and this book does an excellent job depicting the cruelty and harshness toward the native students. I enjoyed Between Earth and Sky and highly recommend it. 

Between Earth and Sky is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

 

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Noble Traitor: a historical novel featuring the Scottish War of Independence

Noble Traitor is the first book in the Son of Scotland series by JR Tomlin. In 1306 Scotland, Thomas Randolph is a young squire on the verge of knighthood when he joins Robert the Bruce, his uncle, in the fight for Scotland’s freedom. After a disastrous loss in the Battle of Methven, he is taken prisoner and Robert the Bruce goes into hiding. While other prisoners were executed under the dragon banner, Thomas’s life was saved by a friend. Now he must tread carefully as he is asked to swear his loyalty to King Edward I and England. With no choice, he serves England but his heart is still with Scotland. Caught between duty and his heart, he is now a noble traitor. 

I thoroughly enjoy books on Scottish history, especially featuring Scottish heroes that don’t get much attention when compared to figures like Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. I read JR Tomlin’s A Kingdom’s Cost (2016) about the Black Douglas and enjoyed it so much that when Noble Traitor was brought to my attention, I got it. It was interesting to see the different sides of the War of Scottish Independence. Noble Traitor shows the English and their Scottish allies as they hunt down Robert the Bruce and the Black Douglas. It covers the time period of February 1306 to December 1307.  Noble Traitor is a fast read. I was able to finish it in a few hours. I recommend Noble Traitor for anyone who is interested in Scottish history and military history. 

Noble Traitor is available in paperback and eBook

The House: one family estate and the secret it keeps

The House by A O’Connor is a story about one house in the Irish countryside and the secrets it keeps within its walls. Originally built in the 1840s by Lord Edward Armstrong for his bride, Anna, the house is a testament to the power and prestige of the Armstrong family. But their legacy is threatened when no heir is born and the Great Famine grips the country. Fast forwards to the 1910s and finds Clara lady of the manor as she married Pierce Armstrong. But life on the manor is not what she expected. When the War of Independence erupts in 1919, Clara is caught between two men, between duty and happiness. In 2007, Kate Fallon fell in love with the house. She and her tycoon husband, Tony, buy it and hire architect and last Armstrong owner Nico Collins to restore it to its former beauty. As her fascination with the house and its history grows, she begins to uncover an unknown history and the fates of its occupants from centuries past. 

When I first opened The House, the sheer amount of chapters, 108 with prologue and epilogue, was intimidating! I put off reading this book until I had time to accommodate such a long book. But I didn’t need to do that because once the story starts, the drama and the intrigue flowed from the page that you don’t really notice the number of chapters. I loved the stories as the author weaves in the historical events with the manor. I enjoyed parts of the book which feature the historical events. I recognized the hints to the major historical event before the characters knew what was going on. The schemes, the plots against the occupants of the house was suspenseful. The present day part of the book was more irritating and fell flat compared to the drama of the other parts. The drama here seemed a little far-fetched with an odd ending. Overall, I enjoyed The House and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series. I recommend The House. 

The House is available in paperback and eBook. 

Tribalism: what is it and is it good, bad or toxic?

Tribalism is a term that I have been hearing a lot in recent months, particularly in the media and podcasts. I had no idea what it was or what it meant. I had a general idea but in my inquisitive nature, I had to find out more. The basic definition is the state or fact of being organized in a tribe or tribes. It is the behaviors and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one’s own tribe in terms of ethnic groups, religious groups, regional or other social groups or political groups. In general, tribalism is seen in a positive light and a needed construct in our society. However, it has a negative connotation in a political context. While I researched this topic, I came across many who argued against political tribalism and others who argued the problem isn’t tribalism but something else entirely. 

Human survival relies on groups. Tribes, clans, nations, have been organized in all societies for the protection, strength, and growth of its members. Today, tribes or groups can be for connections and support with a specific common thread. Whether it is a diet (i.e. vegetarianism) or labor unions or nationality, we all need one or multiple ones (Taylor, 2020). We are drawn to a group or groups based on our identities and tribal identities can and will fluctuate through our lives (Segal, 2019). Tribes can be any group with a deep connection. As the English poet, John Donne writes, “no man’s an island.” When most people argue against tribalism is when it becomes toxic. When a group joins people together out of fear, anger, jealousy and spite and aligns to destroy other groups and fosters bullying and scapegoating of non-members (Segal, 2019). Fear often will bypass logic as the instinct is to fight and ask questions later. The less you know, the easier it is to fear (Javanbakht, 2019). Extreme forms of toxic tribalism is ethnic cleansing and genocide. Every day toxic tribalism is more along the lines of cyberbullying and finger pointing. Good tribalism is what we need, bad tribalism is what we need to avoid. According to Elizabeth Segal (2019), good tribalism is difficult to build but is healthier to maintain with bad tribalism is easy to build but unhealthy to maintain as the constant negative emotions can take its toll on one’s health. 

Tribalism becomes bad when it blinds its members to reason. Michael Adams says when the tribe tells you, “Don’t step outside the bounds. Don’t draw outside the lines. Don’t do anything that your tribe wouldn’t do” (Taylor, 2020). I’ve seen this in certain groups, For example, if someone is gay, they must be progressive because no gay individual would possibly be conservative. This thinking fosters the “us versus them” mentality with a “if you aren’t for us, then you are against us” battle lines. There is a social pressure to go along with the group despite what they see with their own eyes (Taylor, 2020). How often have we been told to hate a group due to a trait that has been deemed “undesirable”? How often do we encounter members of the hated group that don’t fit the portrayal at all? The social pressure as well as fear can blur human logic and the motivations behind their behaviors (Javanbakht, 2019). The most extreme example of this tribal thinking (Taylor, 2020) is Adolf Hitler. Hitler was able to convince an entire population to turn on their neighbors simply because they were Jewish or associated with Jews. It led to the extermination of millions who didn’t fit into the group as described by Hitler. There are countless other examples throughout history and since World War II of atrocities caused by tribal thinking. They all have a common thread. A leader who was able to convert the people’s tribalism and devotion into the fear of others (Taylor, 2020). 

In her article, The Problem Today is Not Tribalism but its Absence, Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili argues that the problem is not tribalism but factionalism (2020). In her argument, tribalism is the only way to fix what factionalism has broken. The focus on the smaller group rather than the nation as a whole has caused the conflicts. Tribalism is the only way to work toward meaning, community and connection and the sense of belonging (Murtzashvili, 2020). Alan Finlayson from The Guardian argues that only in politics is tribalism viewed as negative. The idea of tribalism has come to be “unhealthily excessive” and leads to irrational outlooks and hindering our thinking (Finlayson, 2019). I have dealt with this accusation as I have encountered individuals who automatically think that my Christian faith has closed my mind to all other ideas. Rather than let me consider the ideas, use my faith as a part of my decision making process to accept or reject an idea, I am automatically told I will reject it. According to John Patrick Leary, tribalism wasn’t an issue until Trump’s election when political commentators started to complain about how polarized American politics have become, how angry, how uncivil and how tribal (2020). It is nothing new but it is misleading as he continues. Attributing conflicts to ‘tribalism’ allows for the appearance of objectivity, but “it makes it easy to sidestep questions of facts and history and treat everything as an unsolvable matter of interpretation” (Leary, 2020). 

What can we do? How do we change bad tribalism into good tribalism? Elizabeth Segal (2020) has two suggestions. First, recognize that groups built on the foundation of hate, disdain, and anger build those traits in their members. At the constant urging of bad tribalism, members stay angry. I see this all the time on social media. I am supposed to be outraged at X because I am a member of a certain group. And when I’m not? My loyalty is questioned. If a group is demanding you stay outraged, angry or in a state of fear, it is best to take a step back and ask why and possibly find a new group. Second, Empathy is another powerful tool. It can broaden our sense of connections to others and diminishes the connection between bad tribalism (Segal, 2020). As Harper Lee wrote in To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” When we listen to understand, rather to respond, we can learn a great deal about people. 

In conclusion, tribalism, at its core, is not a bad thing. We all belong to one or multiple tribes throughout our lifetimes. We need to help and support our tribes, our communities when they are in trouble. Tribalism becomes bad when the behaviors of group members become toxic and fuel their hate toward others. We need to ask ourselves why do I fear a certain group, why am I angry at this situation? Is it because I am truly afraid or truly angry? Or am I afraid or angry because I have been influenced? It has been stated that we fear what we do not know. If we fear something, we need to learn more about it. We need to make sure our fear is justified or simply because we’ve been influenced to fear. We cannot let others in our tribes tell us how to think, feel and act. 

References

Finlayson, Alan. (December 12, 2019). Stop worrying about 'tribalism' – politics is supposed to be passionate. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/12/political-tribes-passion-politics-voters-involved. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 

Javanbakht, Arash (July 19, 2019). The politics of fear: How it manipulates us to tribalism. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-politics-of-fear-how-it-manipulates-us-to-tribalism-113815. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 

Leary, John Patrick (February 21, 2020). The Troubling Obsession With Political “Tribalism”. The New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/156448/troubling-obsession-political-tribalism. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 

Murtazashvili, Jennifer Brick (May 20, 2020). The Problem Today is Not Tribalism but its Absence. Discourse Magazine. www.https://www.discoursemagazine.com/culture-and-society/2020/05/20/the-problem-today-is-not-tribalism-but-its-absence/. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 

Segal, Elizabeth A. (March 30, 2019) When Tribalism Goes Bad. Psychology Today. www.https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-empathy/201903/when-tribalism-goes-bad. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 

Taylor, Rupert (November 19, 2020). The Good and Bad of Tribalism. Soapboxie. https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/The-Good-and-Bad-of-Tribalism. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 

Meet Me in Bombay: a beautiful love story set in WWI era India

Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft is the story of love, war and the promise to see each other again. The story opens on New Year’s Eve, 1913 and Madeline “Maddy” Bright has returned to colonial India after years in England. While at a stifling party, she heads outside for fresh air and sees a man who takes her breath away. She is unable to meet him but a surprising package arrives, introducing her to Luke Devereaux. Through his letter and his guidebook, Maddy begins to explore Bombay in ways she has never seen before. Soon they meet face to face and fall in love so easily. While the bold and charismatic is new and refreshing among the British elite that she’s used to, Maddy captives his heart with her beauty and vivacity. Everyone around Maddy enjoys seeing the two together, everyone except her mother, who prefers the devoted Guy Bowen for her daughter. Only the outbreak of World War I could bring to a halt their lives together, Luke has no choice but to join the fight and while they are continents apart, separated by the horrors of war, they find themselves bound by Luke’s promise that they will meet again in Bombay. 

Meet Me in Bombay is beautifully written and breathtakingly romantic. Ms. Ashcroft’s descriptions of India are so vivid that you can almost hear the sounds of the bazaar and smell the spices from the local cuisine. The encounters between Luke and Maddy are so touching and romantic, you can’t help but smile and sigh as they fall in love. The horrors of war are devastating and heartbreaking. You will cry with Maddy and her family and friends as they learn of their loved ones who are injured and will never be the same or won’t be coming home at all. The story has a The Notebook feel but oh so better. I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up late into the night and read a good three-quarters of it before I forced myself to go to sleep. But first thing in the morning, I grabbed the book to finish. From the opening paragraph to the closing epilogue, Meet Me in Bombay will pull you in and you will not want to put it down. It is full of love, family expectations, and hope against all hope, set in the beautiful country of India.  I highly recommend Meet Me in Bombay. 

Meet Me in Bombay is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

El Cinco de Mayo: a look into its surprising origins

El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition by David E. Hayes-Bautista is a historical, societal and political look into the origins of the popular holiday, Cinco de Mayo, as an American invention and not one transplanted from Mexico. Knowledge about the history and origins of the holiday had been lost in time as many celebrated with no real understanding why it was celebrated in the first place. Maybe people incorrectly assume Cinco de Mayo came to America with the immigrants after WWII. Mr. Hayes-Bautista witnessed spectacular celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the US in 1960s at the height of the Chicano movement and almost no celebrations in Mexico during the same decade. He set out to find out way and focused his book on the development of Cinco de Mayo in the US. What he discovered was a socially and deliberately constructed holiday in response to the events and changes around Latinos living in California during the Civil War.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration commemorating the First Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The United States had been at civil war since April 1861. Napoleon III, the Emperor of France, took advantage of the US’s inability to enforce the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and began an invasion of Mexico. The French lost the First Battle of Puebla but continued to occupy Mexico for another five years. So why is the First Battle of Puebla still commemorated by Latinos in California and the US as whole today? Because a network of Latino groups in California known as the juntas patrióticas mejicanas (Mexican Patriotic Assemblies) helped create and maintain a public memory of the day. The juntas used the Cinco de Mayo to encourage support defense of freedom and democracy for the US and Mexico. The juntas eventually ended after WWII but their influenced continued as the Latino communities grew and Cinco de Mayo became a day to help highlight trends and problems in their communities. By 1986, the true meaning and origins behind the holiday was truly lost in public memory. “One of the great traditions that has come to the United States from Mexico is the celebration of the Cinco de Mayo” (William Davila, then president of Vons grocery stories, 1994).

Growing up in California and having the Latino influence in my life, I was aware Cinco de Mayo referred to the Battle of Puebla; however, I was not aware of the depth of the holiday or its true origins. As Mr. Hayes-Bautista states, “It did not seem to occur to anyone that the commemoration of the first battle of Puebla might have originated in California.” Cinco de Mayo is a genuine American holiday. Created in California and echoed in Oregon, Nevada and eventually across the nation. It originated in devotion to basic American values of freedom and democracy. El Cinco de Mayo is a great and detailed book as it explores the origins and growth of the Cinco de Mayo. I now have a new understanding and greater appreciation for the holiday. Cinco de Mayo is as American as Thanksgiving and should be celebrated by all. I highly recommend El Cinco de Mayo for anyone who is curious and wishes to learn more about Cinco de Mayo.

El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition

is available in paperback and eBook

The End of Protestantism: one man's plan to unite a divided church

The End of Protestantism Pursuing Unity in a Fragmented Church by Peter Leithart is a deep look into the history and origins of Protestantism in the world and in America. Mr. Leithart lays out a plan to reunite all churches and Christians in one church as Jesus prayed for in John 17:21. He suggests church reforms which are more biblically based than in tradition. His plan, Reformational Catholicism, had four movements or points. First, a vision for a reformational catholic church which expresses a biblical and a reformational paradigm for evangelical unity. Second, he argues the pros and cons of denominational Christianity. Third, he presents evidence that the divided church is dissolving. Finally, his plan for a united church and the demolishment of denominational identity. 

The End of Protestantism is an interesting historical and modern evaluation of the function of the Church. While I didn’t agree with all of Mr. Leithart’s assertions, he does present great insights into the church and how Christians can move forward in an ever-changing world. If you are interested in a brief history of the church, how it has functioned and a plan for its survival, I recommend The End of Protestantism.

The End of Protestantism

Will be available October 18, 2016

In hardcover at Amazon and Barnes and Noble