It has been an age since I did a book recommendation on here so for today's post, I thought I would do a recommendation for my top read of the year.
Wow. This book. . . it's hard to describe to you the emotions, the darkness, the search for hope, the fighting for the light that happens in this book. It is truly a life-changing, perspective-changing read. Amanda has done it once again, with this excellent book. It's a beautiful, heartfelt tribute to American soldiers who fought in the Great War and especially details the events around the dedication (and the choosing) of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (This year is the 100th anniversary.) As usual, the theme that weaves into all of Amanda's books is light in the darkness. I absolutely LOVED the aspect and the different ways she brought that out and symbolized it and it even made me ask myself, what does light do? What do we use light for? A simple answer: to dispel the darkness. One of the lines that stuck with me most since I finished reading it last week, was in an article one of the characters, Henry, writes concerning fireflies. "A flash of light skitters loose, circling the lantern once . . . twice . . . vanishing away into the night. A solitary firefly, leaving the safety of this place. This is what it was born for. To rend the darkness." ~~~ Yours is the Night follows the interwoven stories of a platoon sergeant, a chaplain, a captain, a journalist, and the girl they set out to rescue from this war-rutted land. From the back cover: A mysterious song in the forest. . . A discovery in war-torn France. . . A journey toward hope. The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds--carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it. One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve--even if only for a moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby too. "The Angel of Argonne," they call the voice: a mysterious presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves. Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at long last, spark light into the world. ~~ Thank you for writing this story, Amanda! It was five stars and beyond for me. ;)
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What did you learn this past Thanksgiving?
This year, I completed the challenge to write down seven things I was thankful for every day, for all of November. It really helped me to pause and think about the overwhelming, overflowing, bountiful blessings in my life. Now that November is behind us, we've since flipped our calendar pages to December. I was hesitant to do it, wanting to cling to the remainder of fall that is quickly slipping through the cracks. Clinging to the attitude of gratefulness this season stirred up in my soul. Thanksgiving doesn't have to be confined to one month of the year; I know this. I also realize that I want to have this thankfulness in my heart all year round. How about you? Lord willing, I aim to write down one thing I'm thankful for in the coming new year, maybe like an early New Year's resolution. ;) Something else from this season that has stuck with me is what the Bible says about thanksgiving. One verse in particular brought it into perspective: "Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms." (Psalm 95:2) How many times do we come before God with our hearts full of thanksgiving? I don't know about you, but for me, I know it's not as much as it should be. Anyhow, this is a way we can be thankful all year long, friends! Approaching God in prayer, with thanksgiving, will go a long way in stirring up our souls to rejoice and be grateful not only in November, but in every season. :) I pray this encourages you today! What is one thing you are grateful for today? Feel free to comment below! I'm grateful for the brave men and women who fought in all our historical wars. I've been reading through a book set in WWI and it's sobering, truthful, and yet full of hope and light, too, despite the darkness we associate with the Great War. If you're interested, it's called Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes. I highly recommend it! |
AuthorHi! I'm Carolyn, a writer seeking to glorify God with my words. Archives
February 2024
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