My Review of "The Drosten's Curse"

A.L. Kennedy's The Drosten's Curse is not a Doctor Who novel I expected to enjoy. I came to Doctor Who through the more recent regenerations, so returning to one of the classic Doctors -- in this case, the Fourth -- wasn't something I expected to enjoy. But A.L. Kennedy has really captured the Doctor at his best.

The Doctor is always whimsical, but the Fourth Doctor, especially at the tip of Kennedy's pen, is even more so. The Time Lord that I've come to love is eccentric and sometimes even disjointed in the most charming of ways -- and Kennedy has given us all that and more in The Drosten's Curse.

The story, as my husband informs me, is an expansion of an older short story written by Kennedy, about an ancient alien being that's causing all manner of disturbances on a golf course/spa hotel in Arbroath. It's stirring up enough of a ruckus to attract the attention of the TARDIS and the Doctor, and he recruits an employee of the spa/hotel -- Bryony -- to help him investigate. The Drosten's Curse may not quite an all-new adventure, but as far as I can tell, it does go into more detail than any short story might ever do.

I came to this book with a fresh perspective. All the Doctor Who novels I've read have been recent regenerations -- well, actually only the last two. And I've never read anything else written by Kennedy (who, my husband informs me, is well known in the sci-fi circles). I've only ever seen a handful of Fourth Doctor episodes -- and those only because my husband insisted we watch them. I'm a new Whovian by any measure. But this was a wonderful book, and any Whovian will love it.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.

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My Review of "Roadfood"

Jane & Michael Stern's Roadfood gives us another (this is the 10th edition!) gastro road trip across the US. Roadfood is like a road map through backroads and interstates for some of the best food in each state and region in the US.

Roadfood celebrates venues most travelers would never venture near, let alone enter. Most of the state-by-state listed restaurants are, however, for dining on the cheap. Like Litton's in Knoville, TN -- which really does have amazing burgers.

While one could hardly map a road trip by the Sterns' restaurant finds -- some cities, like Chicago, are overrepresented, while the rest of Illinois is all but ignored -- this fun and fanciful volume is pure pleasure.

I received a free copy of this book as part of the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review here.

My Review of "How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety"

The American Association of Patriots has collected a number of fabulous essays into its How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety and Abstinence, Drugs, Satanism, and Other Dangers that Threaten Their Nine Lives. Two of these essays -- evolution and gun safety -- are among some of the most important topics for feline safety these days.

Cats have many things on their minds, like where to sun themselves today, and cannot become bogged-down in science and theological discussions. How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety has some excellent advice for handling some of those difficult discussions.

But, without a doubt, "How to Talk to Your Cat about Gun Safety" is the best. Once a cat is taught how to handle a gun and the responsibilities that come with it, you will immediately reap the benefits. A cat packin' heat while you are away becomes a formidable adversary for any miscreant who wanders onto your property.

Frankly, and probably to the cat's chagrin, everyth…

My Review of "Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God"

Brian Zahnd's Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News is, in a word, breathtaking!

Zahnd is working toward a radical (getting-to-the-root) Christ-centered biblical hermeneutic. I was soaking up every word of this beautifully written, entirely accessible, utterly practical theology book that combines rich faith with practical living.

This really is a book of "Very Good News" and it points toward a sea-change that's happening among Christian evangelical preachers these days. I won't give away too much, but by the time you get to the second chapter ("Closing the Book on Vengeance"), be prepared to read slowly. I've dog-eared my copy at page 30 (once you read it, you'll find out why).

But Chapter 7 is my favorite. Honestly, if all you did was buy this book and read that chapter, you'd have your money's worth. I have honestly never read anything that so clearly and simply explained the right wa…

The Mrs. & the Minister

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