Book Review: The Scarlet Letter (A Guide to)

About Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

We’ve all heard about the classics and assume they’re great. Some of us have even read them on our own. But for those of us who remain a bit intimidated or simply want to get more out of our reading, Crossway’s Christian Guides to the Classics are here to help.
In these short guidebooks, popular professor, author, and literary expert Leland Ryken takes you through some of the greatest literature in history while answering your questions along the way.
Each book:

• Includes an introduction to the author and work
• Explains the cultural context
• Incorporates published criticism
• Contains discussion questions at the end of each unit of the text
• Defines key literary terms
• Lists resources for further study
• Evaluates the classic text from a Christian worldview

This guide opens up the signature book of American literature, Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter, and unpacks its universal themes of sin, guilt, and redemption.

My Reflections:

This little book holds a handy little guide to the original book of the Scarlet Letter. Since the hard copy book boasts 200 pages of action paced material this guide would be helpful for Christians to get more meaning out of the book as a study guide tool.

The study guide is just shy of 75 pages long, and starts with an introduction and then goes chapter by chapter. I thought the study or reflection questions were quite good.

As I have only watched the movie the scarlet letter and not read the book It was a little hard to get the most out of this study, but that being said I thought this book would make a handy reference for homeschooling moms and older teens who are wanting to delve a little deeper into this classic novel.

Other "Christian Guides to the classics" include: Homer's The Odyssey, Milton's Paradise Lost, and Shakespeare's MacBeth.
Others, Dicken's Great Expectations and Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress are coming Spring 2014.

This may be just what you are looking for in your classroom, simple, concise and compact.

I recommend you check it out at Crossway (www.crossway.org/blog) here:

http://static.crossway.org/excerpt/christian-guides-to-the-classics/hawthornes-the-scarlet-letter-download.pdf

I received this book free of charge from Crossway and Homeschool Book Review Program in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Crossway!

Book Review- Glimpses of Grace: Treasuring the Gospel in Your Home

 
ISBN 13: 9781433536052

Publisher's Description

Sometimes life feels a lot like a burden—day-in and day-out its the same chores and tasks, challenges and discouragements, anxieties and responsibilities. Dust bunnies show up on the stairwell, social commitments clutter the calendar, and our families demand daily attention and care. At times, just catching our breath seems like an impossible feat.

So where is God in all of this? Does he care about the way we unload the dishwasher or balance the budget? Do the little things like changing diapers or cooking meals make a difference? And how can we use our spheres of influence for God’s glory and our joy?

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working woman splitting time between the office and home, Gloria Furman—writer, pastor’s wife, cross-cultural worker, and mom—encourages us to see the reality of God’s grace in all of life, especially those areas that often appear to be boring and unimportant. Using personal examples and insightful stories, her richly theological reflections help us experience the gospel’s extraordinary power to transform our ordinary lives.
Includes a Foreword by Lauren Chandler

My Reflections:

We all long to wrap our heads and hearts around the concept of grace. We want to see it, to recognize it...in the remarkable. In the mundane day to day tasks that zap our energy and dim our wits, we long to feel the peace and contentment only Grace can provide. Grace is that untangible aspect of faith that seems to stump us all from time to time. Or in my case most of the time. 

I mean it is so easy to recognize grace in those times when we are desperate, and by grace we truly LIVE. But in the laundry, in the chicken poop...I was not so convinced. 

This book truly helped me to see where we can see glimpses of Gods grace in the ordinary, quiet times when life is just happening. 

Glimpses of Grace does a good job of pointing us toward the grace that is right in front of us. Offering beautifully simple examples from her life, the author does a good job of showing us what grace looks like when your living out your day to day routines. 

I would definitely recommend this book, to women in all stages of life. It is a wonderful reminder of how we can intentionally live a god centered life, joyfully!

I was provided this book free of charge through Crossway, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you so much Crossway!

About the Author

Gloria Furman is a wife, mother of three young children, doula, and blogger. In 2008 her family moved to the Middle East to plant Redeemer Church of Dubai where her husband, Dave, serves as the pastor. She blogs regularly at The Gospel Coalition, Domestic Kingdom, and Desiring God, and is author of the forthcoming book Treasuring Christ When Your Hands Are Full: Gospel Meditations for Busy Moms.
 

Book review: The Christian Mom's Idea Book

From the back:

You can make the most of motherhood with this newly revised, resourceful book. It’s jam packed with 500 ideas gathered from more than 80 mothers just like you: Mothers of preschoolers, high schoolers, and every age in between. 

Mothers with one child. Mothers with a houseful of children. Mothers with adopted children. But most of all, mothers with a great desire to raise godly kids- and have fun doing it too|!

My Reflections:

This reprint of the 2008 edition is a resourceful little book filled with ideas on all kinds of topics including:

how to throw a great birthday party, successfully

surviving car trips, discipline, handling doctor's visits, less

stressful grocery shopping, friends and hospitality, alone time and

getaways, spiritual nurturing, music lessons, dealing with

toddlers, clothing, keeping your marriage alive . . . and so much

more in 40 categories.

This is a handy little book that will give you general information on so many relevant topics, in our busy lives today. 

I found it to be easy to read and well presented. I was however a little disappointed that the book did not provide a clear Christian worldview throughout the book. It seemed to lack the spiritual depth I was hoping for.

However it is a great resource book for busy moms who don’t necessarily have the time to delve deeply into lengthy narratives.

I also quite enjoyed the fact that this book has guidance from over 80 parents from all walks of life. This made the book well rounded and relevant for moms of all ages and stages. Families are diverse, so it was refreshing to read a book that covered so many topics and give practical, straight forward advice!

I would recommend this book to those of you who are looking for an, illuminating reference book that is packed with quick fast ideas, on all manner of parenting and life issues. This book may very well give you the insight into being a fun mom who is able to handle the bumps of parenthood just a little easier.

I was given this book free of charge in return for my honest review from Crossway’s homeschool book review program. You can visit them at:

www.crossway.org/blog 

Thank you Crossway!

About the Author:
 

Ellen graduated from The American Conservatory of Music and Moody Bible Institute.  She has written 26 books that have collectively sold over 500,000 copies.  Some of her books have been translated into German, Afrikaans, Chinese, and Dutch.  Ellen works in International Publishing at Tyndale House Publishers.
Ellen has lived in Wheaton, IL, USA with her husband, Jim, ever since they married in 1974.  They have three grown sons, one daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.