I have managed to tuck away a few reads recently so thought I’d share my thoughts on four books that have come my way. The first two are a couple of novels but with plenty of historical insight so you feel you have learnt something as well as enjoying a good fictional story.

The first is ‘The Glass Palace’ by Amitav Ghosh. It’s taken me a while to get through it but it is a very absorbing saga - an epic which takes place in Burma, Malaysia and India, starting in the early 20th century and taking us through the wars and across 3 generations. It is quite harrowing in parts, grappling with the ‘Empire’ and those who were loyal to the British, some Indians eventually finding themselves across enemy lines from their countrymen in the Indian National Army. Fascinating with memorable characters.

The other novel is ‘The Island’ by Victoria Hislop (married to that chap from ‘Who’s line is it anyway?’) and I thoroughly recommend it as an easy read that is both moving and informative. It takes place in Crete and revolves around Spinalonga - Greece’s leper colony. The Observer describes it as ‘a beach book with a heart’ - and I totally agree, definitely one to get hold of for the summer hols!

The other two books ‘Redeeming Love‘ by Francine Rivers, and ‘Notes to Working Woman‘ by Luci Swindoll, are both spiritually challenging but in completely different ways.

‘Redeeming love’ is a novel which brings to life the book of Hosea and gives us a deeper understanding God’s love and compassion. It’s a page-turner with a happy ending so it got my vote, but quite traumatic in parts. Do read it if you can.

‘Notes to a working woman’ is very apt at present because we are looking at ‘women in the workplace‘ on Monday with our women’s ministry ‘Ignite’, and Luci Swindoll has been an accomplished businesswoman for over 30 years. What amazed me was all the different jobs she has done - she listed about 27 of them ranging from door-to-door salesperson to waitress to department manager for an oil company. She chose to remain single and now as an author and speaker for ‘Women of Faith’ offers helpful advice on how to integrate Christian principles into your life at work, while finding passion and fulfillment in your job. Let me quote her last paragraph:

“The Christian professional woman is a woman of peace. She is a woman who believes in miracles. From her first days of wandering and wondering to the arrival at her desired destination, she is one who pursues excellence. She may fall, she may be side tracked, she may be blocked in for a time, but she never gives up. With heart, courage, brains and faith, she continually progresses, recognizing her abilities and strengths come from God. And when her deepest joy becomes giving her life away to others, she will have truly found her place of greatest contribution.”

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