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Maeve Johnson

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  • 1
  • helpful vote
  • 9
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Life: The soul's sojourn in living and dying

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 11-08-22

Death is inevitable, but it doesn't have to end there or does it?

I'm not sure what tugged at my heart more, the loss of the young adopted daughter or the loss of a parent at any age? I am certain that heaven is more blessed each day because they received loved ones who were treasured, appreciated and received into a place where their worries, burdens and troubles have all been lifted.

I found the witnessing real and insightful with teachings and life exlerience that resonates with the losses everyone experiences irrespective of where they originate from, status, gender, creed or other. Pain, loss, grief and bereavement has no boundaries. it has a time for healing that is authentic for the loss of beloved.



I think the profound statement for me and there were many, was the fact that death is not the failure of medical science, but a victory of the soul. I have xome into a place of recognising in the xircle of life at a very youbg age that beibg a death dooker is very much part of living a successful life.

While death is part of the believers way of life, the experience of higher learning in respect of spirituaL deliverance, redemption, etc is part of living well and in turn part of dying well. God places us in this world to fulfill and to serve. It appears that sometimes we use death as escapism for obvious reasons. Wanting to live and serve is living well because of the will to serve born out of thanks and praise ... appreciation and in awe of creation and havibg the firtutyde of wisdom and support to be present in this life. Perhpas the soul's sojourn has victory in life and freedom in death.

These theological aspects could be explored. I'll leave my commentaries in the veil by saying John 10 vs 10 speaks of stealing life. A believers way of life has daily appointments with heaven in life and death(dry bones) for our experieces are interwoven in the strughle of life that draws us nearer to God, our father's heavenly presence through knowing His son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and transfigurating in his presence always.

Blessings always.

Amen.

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A Book of Two Ways

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 10-10-22

Loved it. The interviewee was at ease and pleasant. The interviewer did well in creating a very relaxed environment and providing a space for an organic flowing interview. Very interesting drawing you into the conversation as if you are in studio with both Holly Newson and Jodi Piccoult. Perhaps forthxoming attractions. It is very encouraging; more so because inspiration was found during the darkest of days during lockdown. Ut's in large print and accommodates learning challenges/ literary challe ges etc. I look forward to reading "A Book of Two Ways" and or listening to the audio version. Thank you from down in South Africa.

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A review Lauren Blakely’s, Lucky Suit

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-23-22

Short and sweet and to the point, with lovely descriptions of kisses, romance, and delightful twists in conversations. This is either the flirting of true minds or too much television, naughty conversations and a search for true love through the straw of a shared Milky Way in separate states.

For its deliciously sweet rendition of a sweet valley high type of kiss and courtship rooted in innocence for all ages and the youthful outlook that keeps us forever young, a passionate three for performance and a disappointing three for story that could have given our imaginations more innocence and creative texture to entice from generation to generation. A solid three for the generational naughtiness, although the thoughtful intentions at play and the extravagant "payback" seem a bit cruel and unnecessary.

As for having the winning hand, it appears that Lucky Suit has just the right poker hand: Fun.

An interesting take on dating and a naughty, innocent flirtation that expresses what many will hide.

As for online dating through poker matches ending in marriage, I have never heard of it nor of the science of stars and constellations being part of dating outside of the romantic version of eagerly awaiting, through a telescopic lens, a shooting star amidst the Milky Way constellation.

A lovely voiced performance that communicates the lightheartedness, excitement, anxiousness, and fear of never finding that perfect match or at least the lucky suit - a winning hand.

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You have a Choice - A Review ofJodi Piccoult’s short book, Choice

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-23-22

The story invokes controversy at its best and is fraught with concerns that evolve over twenty minutes of run time.

This is too little time for the listener to comprehend the loaded subject matter of unwanted pregnancy and as an alternative sex pregnancy. Pregnancy in itself is a loaded subject matter; let alone when pregnancy is fraught with concerns, adjustments, and loaded subject matter. Deciding on pro life and the right to choose and hoping that the right to choose results in prolife is presented as a matter of circumstance that may sway decisions superficially.

Jodi Picoult is known for her exploration and inspection of fraught lives that tug at the heart strings and examine the trauma of events as impactful on life with everlasting meaning. She writes about matters that revive compassion through exploration of the human conditions.

A always, human conditions are often a consequence of choice and awareness of decision making power that we have in our daily lives that we are seldom aware of. In this storytelling performance, explore the humanity of compassion in choice.

Short and to the point, this story dramatized needs more time and more time for the listener who is not ingrained in the life experience. It does, however, encourage the listener to learn more about the subject matter and the modern approach to family that is embraced by this unique experience, which is placed under the microscope in the pro life and right to choose debate: You have a Choice.

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Review of Forgiving what you cannot forget •A journey through what the Bible actually teaches us about grief

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-19-22

If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything at all. As the author, Lysa Terkeurst, reminds the listener in her opening statement, opening your Bible before opening your mouth equates to the same thing.



We are all guilty of grieving secretly and almost ashamed of the experience because it is considered to be a weakness and a place of brokenness that doesn’t reflect what the bible teaches us and our rich inheritance. This is a common mistake.



The author tells a story about loss through her experience of divorce. However, the process of grief and loss resonates true to most people, as she reminds us and takes us through her grieving.

As the performer clearly expresses the author’s intent and views, I found myself tearfully grieving alongside her. The aloneness that grief visits in the quiet moments when no one is around finds fellowship with others experiencing the same depth of loss, vulnerabilities, heart on their sleeves and others jumping in on the grief process and reopening a can of worms too late in the day and the grief begins again.Lysa



story tells us that it’s never too late to move forward, for the sorrow is sufficient for the day; a biblical teaching that guides us not to seek trouble, but to contend and focus on the task at hand. There will be a moment for all listeners that will invoke tears of both great relief and joy, sorrow and turmoil, strife and struggle, confusion, hope, compassion... as it all relates to loss, letting go, and letting God through Jesus’s final moments on the cross. After telling his father that if it is in thy will, remove this cup from me, "he says," "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."



Lysa Terkeurst in her courage and acceptance of the biblical teaching that grows faith in God through letting go and letting God, ends with her final message of "Forgiving what you cannot forget" for it is finished.

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1 person found this helpful

A Review of Second Skin

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-19-22

Second Skin by Christian White and performed by Ellen Archer is a book of second chances, love, forgiveness and acceptance as the protagonist faces his inner turmoil through the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance tugs at the reader’s heart strings and life experiences where loss has been suffered. It is through the eyes of a slightly manical young teenage named Erin, who is guilty of identity, theft that Stan is forced to reckon with his grief and loss of his own life, and identity and privacy.

Interesting and exciting twists keep us listening as the plot unravels the story. We sojourn along with the writer experiencing the five stages of grief into a place of bearable acceptance. If the science behind the story doesn’t interest you, the reader will love the mystery that is interwoven with the death of his wife, Jojo. Stan is challenged in his agnostic beliefs since he must come to terms with his grief and face the pains of his loss yet again.

As if moving on isn’t difficult enough, he must venture into unknown territory, a belief in the Life after death to set himself and his wife free from the deceits that blanketed their lives and the life after death.

However, this loaded task means that he would not only need to have courage for the truth, but would need to look beyond reason to step into a world where faith and love is all the justice that they will need to find each other again in a life after death.

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Strong Heart Review written in South African - UK English

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-12-22

History, heritage and culture storytelling mirrored through the coming of age experience of a teenager / grand daughter, Sarah who is an unknown place of compassion much like the story of Strong Heart. The possibilities of a reconstructed history and heritage is presented in Strong Heart by author Charlie Sheldon

The visualisation and context of the book is well informed through the maps. While, you may not necessarily know what the author intends to do initially, his use of maps and sound personifies bringing us immediately into an experience that feels real for the reader. He introduces culture, some history and heritage and ideas of red indian spirituality influenced through fiction realism. Whether or not the elements introduced in the manner that it is introduced, is true, it knocks on the dirt to our senses from the very beginning: Knocking, winds and the maps with water surrounding locations sets the physical location and atmosphere well and in turn influences the mood, pace and consequently the experience of the readers. Carl Jung, T S Elliot helps to date and makes us aware that, the writer is aware of the mental state of the reader. He knows the pleasure found in curling up with a blanket on a rainy day and feeling safe and secure from the strangely inviting, calming and yet threatening winds on wintry days along the coast as he imagines travel in land and water and through the thickets of the forests.

This is both unnerving and inviting because as a reader, you feel uneasily known by a complete stranger and yet comforted by the fact that someone is able to relate as strongly to the immediate sentiments of the heart. You either want to take the journey with the writer as his audience, reader or to close the book and leave it for some other person willing to have Walleye keep them company on the journey. Walleye alluding to an eye in the wall or a fly in the wall who spies on you and sees it all. He becomes a lot more approachable as we journey together.

Good pace. Immediate emotional connection although Tom is disconnected to the passing of Becky, the news of her death, the incorrect information about her being childless and the sudden appearance of his grandchild, Sarah Cooley dripping with blood as she stands before him, staring, starving and disgusted by his pot of elk stew brewing on the stove top.

Excited at this point, Sarah is an opportunity to redeem his relationship with his daughter or so it appears. He is Dumbstruck because she is the spitting image of Becky.

The cat (Ruth) drags in a fish.
Charles Sheldon goes fishing and doesn’t go home empty handed as he casts a net on family, the buoyant theme of providence and timeless epic theme of parenthood throughout the ages. Tom however, never for a moment thought that he would be bringing home Sarah. Ruth does that presenting a an interesting catalyst for family relations. The connectivity to water, fishing, vessels of change and providence, fishing communities is established and a theme well kept throughout the tale.

There is nothing more moving than water as a central presence in Life and health and preservation.

Charlie Sheldon knows this and moves us from the beginning with his vivid imagery inviting us to keep our distance while drawing nearer to the themes and sub themes introduced to us, the readers: family, providence, support, spirituality, belief and believability, culture, dark, light, nature, hot, cold...revealed through cathartic experiences as the characters develop abs share their lives reflecting and stepping together towards the future.

The story is rich with a variety of elements of nature, emotions and cultural aspects. Imagining what Life may have been like abs what is it is for the reader, is both challenging, interesting and culturally fascinating.


Performance
I have partially read the book and then had to switch over to audible for no other reason than pressure from daily activities and these emails requesting an update. I prefer reading and in my imagination, hearing the various voices of all the characters. Audible has one person doing it all. I appreciated the performance; however, I kept on wondering why there wasn’t a male narrator. Strong Heart would perform well as a Radio Drama with each character represented by a characterised voice. After listening to the afterword and interview, Charlie Sheldon could perform one of the voices himself and do so successfully fir who knows the character te as better than the writer - author.

In my imagination, I visualised the detail of the forest, The mountains and the magnitude of the natural features, storm and bear. It made survival, all that more rewarding. The performance of Strong Heart as a drama performed by a number of characters will enhance this experience of the book: its cultural aspects personifying the aforementioned features.


One quote suggests that we need to travel into a realisation of self, other and experiences, only to journey full circle returning to where it all began. The characters journey full circle and do physically return to where it all began, however, there is a depth to the experience and change for the reader, Tom like the reader and everyone else, now have a grandchild and a Strong Heart through Sarah and friends in the characters, a watchful wall eye and someone who appreciates land and water and raises a voice of social justice in the author. When we read and support social justice initiatives, storytelling, we reflect more than just a literary ability to use words, we in our silence, reading and reflecting begin the inner revolution and in sharing raise a voice of social justice for all.

It is for this reason that I have given Strong Heart a rating of four stars.

In his interview, Charlie Sheldon laughingly states that he had nothing better to do with his time...if only we could all have spent our time this well. Well done. Thank you for sharing Strong Heart with us.

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