HAVE A LITTLE FAITH

Title: Have A Little Faith
Author: Mitch Albom
Publisher: Hyperion
Place and year of publication: New York, 2009
Number of pages:  249
Where I found the book: At home

Faith, the foundation of every belief and the center of every day life is the theme of the book " Have A Little Faith". The true story begins with the journey of the author, Mitch Albom, to write the eulogy of his Jewish rabbi, when he discovers the true meaning of religion. The title "Have A Little Faith" is a calling to people of all nations, tongues and races to see beyond everyday life and believe in the power of faith.

" Will you do my eulogy?" was how it all began. To Mitch Albom, a sports reporter, it was a big surprise. To go back to his New Jersey temple and speak about the "Man of God"  that he barely knew was a huge task. But one that he can't refuse either. So, he decides that it is time for him to know Albert Lewis [ his rabbi ] as a friend and not as the figure of Judaism that he long abandoned. To Mitch, Judaism was a religion of long rituals and conservative life that he did't need. He was fine and healthy, rising the social ladder with a thriving career and making money. What else did he need? God?

Yet eight years later it's 2008, and he is still meeting with the rabbi. He had become his friend. Albert Lewis no longer reminded him of his childhood memories in the synagoge. Mitch saw the man in a new light. No longer as a man of religious authority that he saw on Saturdays. The meetings with Albert changed his life and perspective on Jewish faith and opened his eyes to other faiths too. In fact, he even met another man of faith like Albert Lewis called Pastor Covington. Henry Covington wasn't your average church leader. He accepted Christ behind a garbage can in a New York alley begging for God's mercy from the drug dealers who were out to kill him. But when Mitch saw the peace and love in Albert's and Henry's hearts something deep down changed in his life, something that he never had experienced before.

A year later, as he stood in the synagoge in memory of Albert Lewis, he realized what this journey had taught him. The value of his life isn't tied to his materialistic accomplishments, but to making this world a better place. After seeing Albert Lewis and meeting Henry Covington he regretted all the times that he didn't appreciate his own faith. The times when he walked away from his culture, his heritage, and most of all when he walked away from God. But this time he learned his lesson well, he wasn't going to leave God again. Both of these men had left the world a better place than it was before them, and for that their legacy of love and faith will live on.

Christian Perspective:

In my opinion, this book is not written from a Christian perspective, but from a Jewish perspective. Mitch Albom uses his Jewish background throughout the book to convey his ideas. Most of the conversations with Albert Lewis recorded in the book included a lot of Jewish morals and ideas. But, Mitch Albom himself acted in a Christ-like manner by trying to help Pastor Covington's church and by being at Albert's side until the end.

My Thoughts:

 This book is incredible. I enjoyed reading every chapter and connecting with the author's thoughts and ideas very much. I was amazed to discover that some of the Jewish ideas conveyed in the book are similar in a way to Christian beliefs. I was also impressed to see that the author talked about the way Christ had changed the life of Henry Covington eventhough he personally did not believe in Jesus. Even more, I  like the fact that Mitch Albom wrote this book from an open-minded perspective, and  did not judge the beliefs of others. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in faith and religion, since it provides a great variety of ideas and perspectives that really are worth looking at no matter what you believe in.

HARD TIMES

Title: Hard Times

Author: Charles Dickens

Publisher: Peter Haddock Publishing

Place and Year of publication: United Kingdom, 1854

Where I found the book: At home

Number of Pages: 196 pages

In this book, the unforgettable Charles Dickens paints a timeless picture of a classical English town with the themes of facts, honesty and betrayal. He creates two parallel storylines in nineteenth century England, using the title " Hard Times" to illustrate the lives of rich and poor through the harshness and injustices of life. Dickens then begins the story with introducing the main character Thomas Gradgrind with selfish authority as he sees himself through a mirror of pride. Teaching children not to dream but to delete their imagination in return for facts.

Later on, his daughter Louisa marries a rich man to protect her brother Tom. Tom becomes an alcoholic who wastes his every penny on being drunk behind his father's back. But, when a politician named James Harthouse falls in love with Louisa and steals her heart, Tom realizes that everything that he once depended on had turned to dust. He feels so betrayed by his sister to the point that he decides to solve his problems by stealing the money that he needs from the bank and framing an innocent poor man named Stephen Blackpool.

Nevertheless, his plan fails miserably when Stephen Blackpool dies in an accident claiming to be innocent. Tom then pays for his crime by spending the rest of his life in exile while leaving his divorced sister and miserable father to live in the shame of his actions. In exile, he regrets what he did but never gets to get in touch with his family and apologize to his father before his death.

Yet, to Mr. Thomas Gradgrind this is where it all ended. He realized that the philosophy he used to bring up his children was not right. He paid a very high price for his mistake and will continue to regret the way that he raised his children and destroyed their futures until he reaches his last breath. He realizes that even facts bow down to honesty and betrayal. That not even facts can be the only thing in the world. There are feelings and truths that are worth far more than all the world's facts combined. For a child to have his or her imagination and innocence is far more important than any science or knowledge that this world could offer them.

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE:

This book was written in a Christian perspective, since most of the characters displayed christ-like behaviour by either regretting things they have done or always trying to follow God. Throughout the book, the author used a lot of moral virtues from the Bible to convey his ideas. In addition to that, the story takes place in a time where Christianity was a wide spread religion and a place where most people tried to live a life devoted to God.

MY THOUGHTS:

In my opinion, this is a book that displays great moral virtues. The reason that I chose to read this story was because I was interested in learning more about the era that the book was written in. I also really enjoyed reading it because it opened my eyes to that time of history and made me realize how similar and different it is from our time. I would recommend this book to any reader who is a lover of history and great stories.

Brothers Far From Home

Title : Brothers Far From Home
Author: Jean Little
Publisher: Scholastic
Place and Year of publication : Canada 2003
Number of pages : 235
Where I found the book: School library


The themes of family and perseverance couldn't be more powerful than in the World War 1 diary of Eliza Bates. "Brother Far From Home" is only a glimpse of the tragedy that war creates and the people it destroys. The title itself hints at the pain it brings a family to have their sons leave the comfort of their home to die at the enemies' unmerciful hands. In this book, twelve-year old Eliza is very attached to her siblings, and especially to her older brother Hugo. She looks up to him for everything and means the world to her. Then the war begins in 1916, and Hugo and her other brother James go to war, leaving Eliza always wondering what will happen to her family's future, and if her brothers will come back home.

So, when the fateful war begins Eliza continues to live her life in Uxbridge,Ontario fearing that any piece of news that might come would shatter her life into pieces. She eventually starts to question everything she's learned from childhood as a preacher's daughter. She wonders how God would allow something like war to happen. As the war continued, Eliza's life dragged on until the most unexpected , most dreaded thing happens. Hugo dies at the hands of a Canadian soldier.The news shock everyone who hears them. Eliza's family drowns in grief over the loss of their beloved son Hugo; the piece of their family that will forever be gone. Eliza herself felt as if a knife was shoved straight into her heart. As they mourned their loss, only bad news came. James was seriously injured and may not survive.


Eventhough the Bates family struggles to handle the news of Hugo and James. Eliza persevred through it all just for the sake of her brother, knowing that he wanted her to be happy no matter what might happen to him. Even if that meant that life will never be the same again. Hugo's death was the price they paid to the war, and will keep paying for until they reach the doorstep of their graves. The pain and grief never goes away; but this is the ultimate sacrifice and the price of peace.


Christian Perspective
Yes, I do think this book is written in a Christian perspective. The author refers to God a lot in the book from a Christian point of view. As a Christian, I think that there is a lot that I could learn from Eliza Bates' perseverance that I should have in my own life. I think that if I was in her place I would have asked God the same questions. Her story reminds that eventhough there is pain in this world, God is still there with us holding our hands. And no matter what might happen God will never give us something we can't handle.


My Thoughts
I chose this book because I wanted to read a biography. As I read this great story, I was inspired by the events of our past. I enjoyed looking at World War 1 from the unique perspective, that is illustrated in every page. One of the things I enjoyed was the honest opinion of the author that lasted throughout the book. I would recommend this book to any reader who loves history and hungers to know the truth.

Survival Convincing Paragraph

Is food truly the most important aspect of surviving alone , or is there something more essential to the surviving of humans, like perseverance? Without perseverance you will simply loose your will of staying alive. If you don't decide to keep going even if everything is going against you, you will simply loose, and nothing will ever change that. Surviving is like a game, that's between you and nature, and you play by nature's rules. The only way you could win is by never giving up no matter what comes your way. If Brian didn't have perseverance he would have never went to the plane and spent hours piercing through stubborn steel, that eventually led to his rescue. If Chuck didn't have perseverance he would have never built the raft to sail in the unknown, dark and dangerous waters of the Pacific, that also led to his rescue. So, without perseverance they would have never been rescued. And therefore perseverance is the only true key to survival.

Monica's Book Review

Title: Loser

Author: Jerry Spinelli

Publisher: Scholastic

Place and year of publication: New York , NY 2002

Number of pages: 218

Where I found the book: School Library

This book takes place in a small American town around Cleveland, a few years ago. Its title "Loser" reflects the name that Donald Zinkoff was known as when he was in school. He was very unique and different from most students. He was full of energy and curiosity. All he ever wanted was to be a mailman,and follow in his Dad's footsteps.

Growing up is a theme that I see in the book,as Donald went through grades one to three. He became very fond of school , even though he was an average student. He never was popular,or had many friends . But , as Donald started grades four and five things went down hill. His peers started to call him " Loser" because of how clumsy and different he was from everybody else. Things continued that way until he started grade six. Bullying and being unwanted just became part of Donald's life. They became a part of him,and he refused to tell his parents or change anything about it. In his classmates eyes,he was just another kid on the playground. He was just there,but no one really knew him,or noticed him. Worst of all, no one tried to see him for who he was. An outrageous kid that never lost hope. A kid that never let humiliation or anything destroy him for good.

When Donald starts sixth grade,everything changes. He becomes more of a grown up. He outgrows a lot of beliefs and adjusts to starting a new chapter in his life. But then comes an event that changes the eyes that see Donald. One night , Donald's friend Claudia disappears. He looks for the little girl during a snowstorm for seven hours. Does he find Claudia?To know the answer you must read the book. If you don't then you are a loser !

Christian Perspective

In my opinion,this book is written in a Christian perspective. The book displays examples of good character. As a Christian,I would say that in the book the concept of laying down your life for others is evident when Donald endangers his own life for Claudia. I think that what Donald did symbolizes what Christ did for us. It also shows how we can bless others around us no matter what happens.

My Thoughts

In my perspective,this is a great book. It deals with a lot of daily life problems. I really enjoy reading about how Donald interacted with others around him, and how his character developed throughout the book. I chose this book because a friend recommended it to me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about everyday life and growing up in a new perspective.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Lightening Thief

AUTHOR - Rick Riordan

PUBLISHER- Scholastic

PLACE AND YEAR OF PUBLICATION- New York , NY 2006

NUMBER OF PAGES- 375

WHERE I FOUND THE BOOK- Christian Heritage School Library

The title of the book is important because it highlights one of the main labels that the main character Percy is seen as by the gods. It also highlights Percy's relation to the Olympians and their influence on the story.Perseus Jackson is a demigod , his mother is a mortal and his father is Poseidon the god of the sea. He lives in New York with his mother. He has a lot of academic and social problems.He doesn't know who his father is , until one summer when his mother had to take him to Camp Half-blood which is for demigods.There they are attacked and his mother is captured by Hades.There he meets Annabeth and Luke , learns sword fighting , and Poseidon declares him as his son.

At Camp Half-blood , Percy accepts a quest to find Zeus' stolen Lightening bolt, because Zeus is accusing Poseidon's son of stealing the bolt. But he didn't steal it and everyone assumes that Hades stole it for revenge. So Percy and his friends Annabeth and Grover journey to the Underworld, to return the master bolt to Olympus before the Summer Solstice or else a war between the gods would start. On their way , they are attacked by various monsters sent by various gods. When he reaches the Underworld and discovers that Hades didn't steal the Bolt. But the Helm of Darkness which belongs to Hades was stolen from him , but he kept it a secret. Hades accuses Percy of stealing both objects . Then Percy realizes he was tricked by the god Ares into carrying the Master Bolt to the Underworld. Percy makes a deal with Hades , that he would find the Helm of Darkness in exchange of keeping the Master Bolt.

Ares challenges Percy to a fight and Percy conquers and gets the Helm of Darkness back from him. Then he gives it back to Hades , and Hades returns Percy's mother. Next, Percy goes to Manhattan Empire State Building , where Mount Olympus is located on the highest floor invisible to all mortals. Over there Zeus receives his Lightening Bolt and Percy meets his father Poseidon for the first time.

Percy returns to spend the rest of the summer in Camp Half-blood, where he discovers who the true thief of the Master Bolt and the Helm of Darkness are. It is his friend who stole them on orders from Kronos , who is trying to regain his power. After he stole Ares caught him , and decided to frame Percy as thief instead. Then deceive Percy into carrying it to Tartarus where Kronos could destroy all the gods. He then attempts to kill Percy. But Percy survives. What he does after that to stop the true thief and the battle between gods and titans remains a mystery for you to discover.

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE:

As a Christian , I would say that the book was not written in a Christian perspective. This is because the book is centred around Greek mythology , wars and battles. Perseus Jackson the main character , displays some Christ-like values by endangering his own life to protect his companions. As well as , bringing peace to the Olympians and stopping a war from destroying the world. In my opinion , a more Christian way to deal with Percy's step dad was to send him away , instead of turning him to stone.

MY THOUGHTS:

In my perspective , this book is great. It has a lot of action and a mythological theme , that make the book extremely exciting . It shows the power of friendship and the importance of family no matter who or what they are. I had so much fun reading the book. One of the things I enjoyed reading the most about is the connection the characters have to each other , to the theme of the book and the world around them. I would recommend this book to any reader who is interested in reading about Greek mythology , fiction or monsters.