Book Briefs – September 3

Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson

Heather Curridge leads an idyllic life, or so it seems. With a successful husband, a sweet, only child and a beautiful home in the “right” neighborhood, all seems well, externally. However, Heather is having an internal struggle with her affluent life. Skillfully illuminating the dichotomy between the consumerism so typical today and the Christian notion of sacrifice, this novel also explores ideas of guilt for past mistakes and inner city issues. More dependent on characterization than story causes the plot to drag a bit in the middle, but this is still an effective study of wealth and poverty, internal and external.

“So here’s the bottom line. Do I want to stand before God’s throne and say I kept a clean house, I made sure my child was athletic, musical, artistic, and got good grades, I was present at all the important church activities, and I changed the oil in my car every three thousand miles because I was such a good steward of my blessings? Is that all I will have to show for the gift of life? Dear God, I hope not.”

“I’ve become so judgmental inside. I see all these women who have everything in life, and not only do they not reach out past the gates of the country club, but they act so miserable and wounded all the time. Like they’re victims or something when God is blessing their socks off. Believe me, I’m one of them and I’m trying to change, but it’s so easy to fall back into the habit….We were never safe here [in the right neighborhood], hon. Our souls were in greater danger than any bullet could extend.”

“…in the Junior High Breakout Jam (yes, they actually called it that) where the kids learned all about the issues they were facing these days, not about being like Jesus, being wise, being loving, or, gasp, being meek.”

Safe at Home by Richard Doster

Jack Hall is supremely satisfied with his life of sportswriter for a small town newspaper in the 1950’s. He has no idea, however, that as minor league baseball season approaches his values and ideas will be tested in ways he never imagined. Social history, as well as sports novel, the author effectively portrays a tumultuous period of American history using characters that inspire, with their faith and courage; and others that offend, with their abhorrent racial ideas and racial language. At times painful to read, at times inspiring, this is well worth a read as a reminder of our past struggles in America.

“While neither old nor especially wise, one thing I’ve learned is this. None of us knows what the next minute holds…We can’t know the ultimate end of tragedy, or fathom how a casual encounter will change our course forever. Looking back, we more clearly see that we are always where we are intended to be…as we look back at how the events of our lives are seamed together, it is, as I’ve said before, hard to have faith in chance…all things, even those we don’t understand, those that have no hint of redemptive purpose, must ultimately work for good.”

From an interview with the author in the book: “In this story we get a glimpse, I hope, that it is our relationships, our mundane interactions, our conduct – with teachers, repairmen, checkout cashiers – that are the means by which the world is transformed, renewed, and redeemed.”

Apples of Gold: A Parable of Purity by Lisa Samson

The idea of purity is often a hard one to visualize in a society saturated in "impossible to avoid" sexuality. Making a, sometimes, abstract concept a concrete reality is the strength of this book. A parable is meant to highlight one important truth so you can’t focus on the details, and thus make it allegorical, but the details do work pretty well here. My only “quibble” is in one of the author’s notes at the end of the book summarizing her thoughts on pre-marital sex, “The bottom line, my friend, is if you’re not ready to have a baby, you’re not ready to have sex.” That is true, as far as it goes. However, there are those that really want a baby as a teenager and use that as an excuse. Sex before marriage is wrong because it breaks God’s law – no other reason is necessary. With a minor theme of the importance of modesty (and the need to be proactive in this area) running throughout, this is a great book for teenagers and parents to read together.

“She kept the apple tucked away in the basket and removed it each morning only to shine it. [Kate] even accused Liza of selfishness for keeping hers hidden away. But Liza knew in her heart she was doing the right thing. The governor had not given her the apple for others to enjoy, not even for her own delight. He had entrusted it to her care for Claude on that special day when he would set up his fine new household.”

“But Stuart caressed her cheek and complimented her on her eyes, hair and feet. Before Kate could gather her senses, his bite mark marred the precious skin…And Stuart, having gotten what he wanted, left.”

“Kate”, asked Claude, “why did they have to see the apple in the first place?...There were moments, when I saw all the attention given to Kate, that I wondered whether guarding the fruit was worth my trouble.”