nonfiction

Book Review: The Diary of a Young Girl

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The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Memoir

It’s difficult to rate or review a book like this, which was written with no intention to become something read by others. Though partway through her time in hiding, Anne heard that diaries and other writings kept by people during this time would be of interest to the world later and started to make some edits to her diary, it’s still mostly raw introspection and secret thoughts. I think also that the translation left a bit to be desired at times, as there were sections that didn’t really make a lot of sense to me. But overall, I would say that, though the Franks and others in the Secret Annex were in hiding during the Holocaust and that fear and pain permeates the diary entries, it’s really more a study of being in hiding and living in close quarters with a group of people who have vastly different (or sometimes too similar) personalities. These people did not get along, even within their own family. Anne discovered that her family wasn’t as close as she thought they were and feels completely alone almost all the time. Anne herself is almost painfully naïve and immature at times, even while she talks about how much she thinks she’s matured and learned. 

My thirteen-year-old daughter decided she wanted to read this book, so I thought it was a good time to re-visit it myself. She was incredibly uncomfortable during one particular part that was understandably omitted from earlier publishings of the diary, and I would say that it’s a wholly unnecessary section (Anne describing in quite vivid detail what a female’s genitalia looks like). I really can’t imagine why Anne felt the need to write about that in her diary, but again, she didn’t expect it to be read by millions of people over the next several decades. In the end, would I say this is necessary reading for teenagers or for those interested in learning about the Holocaust? No. I’d actually recommend quite a few other books before this one (The Hiding Place and Night for starters). But it certainly does provide some insight into something that a lot of people went through during a very dark time.

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Book Review: Tasty

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Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments
by Victoria Grace Elliott

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Middle grade nonfiction, graphic novel

This history of certain foods told by “food sprites” in a colorful graphic novel is a fun, unique book for kids. It may work better for the age group it’s intended for than it did for me, not that I didn’t enjoy it overall. However, I had hoped for a little more of the science promised at the beginning of the book, especially at certain points when a statement is made that leaves me wanting to know more (like how does the wheel shape help cheese stay dry and avoid spoiling?). It makes sense that this wouldn’t be a comprehensive look at the foods chosen to be included—cheese, pickles, gelatin, etc., but some of the information goes by so fast, it’s hard to absorb it all.

Outside of the history told, there’s (sort of) a story going on with the sprites, but it’s really confusing to me. The main sprite, Peri, seems to have some kind of rivalry with a water sprite that pops in to talk about liquids sometimes, but why? I have no idea. I guess the author felt that giving the sprites a little of their own story would make it more engaging to kids, but I paid little attention to their little asides, other than the bizarre contention between Peri and Maia, which stuck out quite a bit. And there’s a place in the pickles section where the characters cry, “THE SAUCE” like a battle cry, like something we’re supposed to “get”…but I don’t. Maybe some of this connects back to the pervious book by this author, Yummy: A History of Desserts, but not having read that one, I can’t say for sure. While I do think that kids who are interested in food or cooking would probably enjoy this graphic novel, I don’t know that I’d recommend it for adults, unless they’re really into food history. Though in that case, they probably already know all of, or more than, what this book provides.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Children’s Books for providing me a copy of this book to review.

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Book Review: The Faithful Spy

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The Faithful Spy
by John Hendrix

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Middle grade nonfiction, graphic novel

I read this book after my 13-year-old daughter, who read it for book club at the library. It’s an impressive mixture of information about Bonhoeffer, who was part of the conspiracy to stop Hitler before and during WWII, and a concise picture of how Hitler came to power in Germany and then went on to conquer lands around it. Bonhoeffer’s struggle to accept what was happening in Germany and then figure out how he should act in response is well presented, and I can really appreciate his (and others’) difficulty trying to reconcile his faith and God’s commands with wanting to do what he/they can to stop Hitler’s reign of terror. It presents the reader with the question of what he/she would do in the same situation.

Hendrix does a great job of presenting all of this in a way that is easy to follow, not just because of the artwork, but because of the clear, simple wording he uses. My daughter isn’t exactly a history buff, and frankly, neither am I, but we were both caught up in the book. I gained a lot of insight into the history around WWII, things that I either never knew or forgot from my school days. The artwork is stunning and poignant, with symbolism here and there like Hitler as a wolf or the Nazi party as rats invading the “cellar” of the German government. A few of the images are a little dark, not that the subject matter doesn’t lend itself to that, but it’s something to keep in mind for younger readers. While I’d recommend pre-reading for parents of younger kids or those prone to be sensitive, I highly recommend this book for teens and even adults.

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Book Review: Talking as Fast as I Can

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Talking as Fast as I Can
by Lauren Graham
Read by the author

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Published around the time that the Gilmore Girls mini-series, A Year in the Life, came out, Lauren Graham talks briefly about what it was like the first time around and in depth about what it was like the second time around, as well as touching on other major projects and influences in her life.

I enjoyed listening to this collection of various stories and essays in Graham’s own voice (since I listened to the audiobook). As a fan and frequent binge-watcher of Gilmore Girls, I appreciated learning a little about Graham’s life and her thoughts about her time on the original show as well as her return for the mini-series. I wish I had liked the mini-series more, but that didn’t dampen my appreciation of that section of the book. It was a little sad, though, to hear about her relationship with Peter Krause (whose last name I have mispronounced for years now), knowing that that relationship has ended in more recent years.

I will say (with some sadness) that this is the kind of celebrity memoir that many people probably read and say that the author didn’t give us the true picture, because it didn’t talk about people she’s worked with in a bad light or go into deep detail on most subjects. I prefer not to expect more from anyone’s memoirs (celebrity or otherwise) than they are willing and able to share. The only detraction from the book, for me, was the recurring joke where Graham says “Hi” to various talk show or news show personalities, assuming they will eventually read this book. It was kinda amusing at first, but it started to feel way too much like unnecessary name-dropping, especially when there were 4-5 all clumped together. But outside of that, I’m really glad I read this book and recommend it for fans of Gilmore Girls, Parenthood, or Lauren Graham in general.

(There are a few pictures throughout the book, so if you borrow a digital audiobook that doesn’t include the pictures, like I did, you’ll have to borrow the actual book if you want to see the pictures.)

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Book Review: What If Love Is the Point?

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What If Love Is the Point?
by Carlos PenaVega & Alexa PenaVega

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Carlos Pena of Big Time Rush fame and Alexa Vega of Spy Kids fame, now married with kids, share the story of how they met, what transpired in their lives before that, and how Christ became the most important thing in their lives. Full disclosure before I start—I had never heard of Big Time Rush (as a show or a band) before reading this book and have seen the first Spy Kids movie once; it didn’t make a major impression, but I was basically an adult when it came out, so not really the target audience. The PenaVegas have a following on social media as well, though I’m not part of that sphere either. I was simply interested in hearing what they had to say about Living for Jesus in a Self-Consumed World (the subtitle of the book).

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I anticipated fluff, but there really wasn’t much of that. While they don’t exactly go into the nitty gritty of sin, sacrifice, and redemption, it may not have been their intention to present the Gospel. On the other hand, they do seem to be addressing unbelievers, at least in part, and I’m not sure what is presented here is enough to really explain what one must to do have eternal life. This is the main reason I did not give the book 5 stars. As a memoir, though, it is pretty honest and vulnerable. Considering the fame that both of these two have had in their lives, it is no small feat to not be completely caught up in it, to see that there must be more to life than the emptiness that the world provides. I appreciated the way that Alexa, especially, pointed out the ways that she can look back and see God working in her life before she’d given it over to Him. It’s touching to me that she even admits that her first marriage might have been saved with a more full reliance on God, because even in the Christian culture today, many will justify their divorce as something that just couldn’t be avoided.

Carlos, on the other hand, is a really good example of someone who might be saved in the sense that they “said the words,” but the real relationship with God took years to develop to a point where he could trust Him more. These two have very different ways of responding to God, and I like how they view their marriage as complementary. My husband and I are much the same way, though in different ways. Though there will always be difficult times, a commitment to follow wherever God may be leading is important in a marriage, as well as in individual lives. That is one of the strongest messages that comes through in this book.

If you’re looking for a presentation of the Gospel message, you won’t really find it here. But you will find an open discussion of what it looks like to follow God and what it looks like to ignore Him. Though I’m sure single people can still get some insight from this book, it’s pretty heavy on wisdom for people who are married or in an otherwise serious relationship. Whether you’re a fan of one or both of the PenaVegas or have never heard of either, if the topic interests you, I recommend giving it a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to review.

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Book Review: The Office BFFs

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The Office BFFs
by Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Read by the authors

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey—Pam and Angela, respectively, from the TV show The Office—talk about their time on the show (both on and off set), how they came to be on it, and life after the show. If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll probably enjoy the stories about their fellow cast members, the directors and other crew, and ways that working on this show was different than other acting jobs they’ve had. I liked the conversational style and the topics they hit.

I listened to the audiobook, which was great, because there were extras like a letter about the authors written and read by Rainn Wilson and a song written and sung by Creed Bratton. It also adds a lot to the conversational style, and you can hear their love for the subject at hand and for their friends. Some reviewers have mentioned that this book doesn’t cover much more than you can hear about on the Office Ladies podcast, and I can’t speak to that—I’ve only listened to a few episodes. But I did enjoy the book, and if you plan to read it, I highly recommend the audiobook. (On the other hand, there are pictures all throughout the book, so if you can get a copy of the book or e-book, even if from the library to look through, you might want to do that too.)

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Book Review: Keep Moving

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Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths about Aging
by Dick Van Dyke
Read by the author

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Part memoir, part book of advice, I chose to listen to the audiobook, which Dick Van Dyke reads himself. Though I’m a few years younger than the book’s primary audience, I still enjoyed the advice, humor, and sections about Van Dyke’s life. As can often happen when you don’t already know much (if anything) about an actor’s real self and tend to conflate his/her on-screen appearances with real life, it was a bit jarring to hear some of the things about his life. However, I’ve read reviews for the full memoir he wrote a few years before this, and it sounds like this is pretty tame in comparison. I had planned to read that too, but I think I’ll leave it at this.

Some of my favorite parts involved Van Dyke’s brother Jerry Van Dyke, who seems to have a considerably different (and quite humorous) outlook on getting older. I was particularly surprised to learn that Van Dyke has never had any formal dance training; I am one, apparently of many, who always assumed he had. I appreciate parts of his outlook on life, while some of his take on politics and religion left me shaking my head. When he basically says that no one can really know the truth about God, I think to myself, “Is that the truth?” It’s an age-old argument that probably never solves anything, though. In the end, I mostly enjoyed this book, and if you plan to read it, I highly recommend the audiobook.

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Book Review: Ready to Return

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Ready to Return
by Ken Ham with Jeff Kinley

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Christian living

After exploring the phenomenon whereby a high percentage of 20-somethings who grew up in the church have left by college age in Already Gone, in this follow-up book, Ken Ham delves more deeply into why this happens and what we can do to try and stop it.

Though some of this book seems to be a rehash of the first book, that doesn’t make it any less important as a standalone book. The danger of a child growing up and not finding church relevant (and possibly, by extension, God) is still very real. I still agree that while one’s individual salvation may not be dependent on whether or not they believe in a literal six days of creation, amongst other ways the the world is trying to undermine the Bible, the impact that an individual’s belief can have on young Christians (meaning young in age or simply new to the faith) can be devastating. Put simply: If, in attempting to influence someone toward God, you put across to them that certain parts of the Bible can’t be trusted, why should they think any of it can be trusted? Is it really more believable that a man could be born to a virgin and then rise from the dead than that a supernatural being could create the world in 6 days?

One of the larger ideas this book pushes forward is that there is no such thing as a neutral stance. Not believing in God doesn’t make someone un-religious. It only makes them a believer in a different god, even if they don’t think of it that way. Ham points to Neil deGrasse Tyson and other prominent atheists who go as far as to state (or at least imply) that we should consider stardust our creator and savior, rather than God or Jesus Christ. This is not a neutral stance at all! And this is the kind of thinking that goes into school textbooks, which kids spend more time reading, being taught from, and being tested on than the very Word of God. And here is where the main focus of the book seems to lie—the danger of public education all week counterbalanced against one or two short sessions at church. It’s not enough.

As with the previous book (Already Gone), if you’re thinking about reading this book, understand that it makes the assumption that the reader believes the Bible 100%, including on matters like creation in 6 literal days, a young earth, the global flood, and…well, find out more about what the authors of this book believe at this link. If you do not believe the Bible is true, or to be taken literally, on all of these points, this may not be the book for you. If you do, and you’re concerned about diminishing Christianity in our time, this book is worth a read.

Find out more about Already Gone and Ken Ham’s ministry at Answers in Genesis

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Book Review: Trapped in Hitler’s Hell

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Trapped in Hitler’s Hell
by Anita Dittman with Jan Markell

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Anita Dittman was a child living with her family in Germany when Hitler and the Nazis started to make life increasingly difficult for Jewish people. Anita, her mother, and her sister were Jewish, while her father was not. He abandoned them to save himself, and though Anita’s sister managed to escape to England, Anita and her mother were moved into a ghetto, and later, work camps. As a Christian Jew, Anita found comfort in her relationship with Jesus, even before she really understood what it meant to have that relationship. Her story is told in Trapped in Hitler’s Hell.

I have read accounts of Jewish people and resistance workers in countries that were occupied by the Nazis, but I believe this is the first I’ve read of a Jewish family living right in Germany. Anita and her mother had some protection because of Anita’s non-Jewish father and because Anita and, eventually, her mother were Christians, but life was still difficult and dangerous, and much worse lay ahead.

While books like this can often make the reader question, “What would I do if this happened to me?” the question this most brought to my mind was, “How can I be as trusting and faithful with my witness in my life right now as she was during such hard times?” Though often told to stop talking about Jesus, Anita just couldn’t help herself, so great was her love for God. And no matter what bad thing happened, she would always be the first to express that God was still in charge. I do wonder about the wisdom of her tendency to always assume that God would keep her and everyone she was with safe and intact, since God does not promise earthly safety, especially during times of persecution. Not that he doesn’t ever keep someone protected, alive, even healthy, against all odds, but if we believe that will always be the case and it’s not, will our faith be shaken? Despite that concern, this book is worth reading for anyone interested in Holocaust accounts, especially those from a Christian worldview.

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Book Review: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers

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The Story of the Trapp Family Singers
by Maria Augusta von Trapp

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Memoir

Though many know the story told in the popular musical & movie The Sound of Music, most probably don’t know the true story behind it. This is the book that inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein to write the musical, and there are some similarities, but also some large differences. The book also goes on to cover the Trapp Family’s lives in America after they fled Europe, an event which takes place within the first 40% of the book.

Overall, I found it fascinating to read about the true story behind a movie I watched so very many times all through my childhood, and plenty since then, too, even leading my own daughter to fall in love with it. It is very easy to read and follow what is going on. I enjoyed the times the author tells about her halting English in a way that seems very real, even while the entire book is in English. I love the way the family works together in all things, not just their singing career, each one using their talents where they can be most useful. I also appreciate the author’s instinct to attribute everything to the will of God, doing quite a few things she didn’t really want to do, because she had good reason to believe God wanted her to. I should add that I don’t agree with, and at times even understand the need for, some of the theology the author believes in, but the foundational beliefs of trusting in God for every aspect of one’s life is important.

We can find a word of caution for our own lives in these pages, as the family watched Hitler come to power and take over their country years before WWII started. The children were told at school that their parents were “nice, old-fashioned people who don’t understand the new Party,” and that they shouldn’t tell their parents what they learned at school. This is beginning to happen to some degree today as well, with some areas wanting to cut parents completely out of the decision-making for what goes on at schools. Once they start trying to keep what the kids are learning at school secret from the parents, it should be a huge red flag!

The book did feel like it dragged a bit in the 2nd half, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. It may have simply been that the story of how the family’s concert career grew and they bought their farm wasn’t as interesting to me as the rest. Overall, though, I’m glad I read this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the movie and wants to know the true story or anyone interested in memoirs about life during and after WWII (especially from those who are from countries directly affected by the war).

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