Book Review: The Quotable Chesterton

The Quotable Chesterton The Wit and Wisdom of G.K. Chesterton

By Kevin Belmonte

Published by Thomas Nelson

Book Description

The Quotable Chesterton is a comprehensive, accessible survey of Chesterton’s greatest ideas and writings.

With more than 850 passages showcasing his brilliance and masterful writing style, it covers topics from Academia to Painting, Politics to Architecture, Jane Austen to John Bunyan, Jesus to Fairy Tales.

Fans and first-time readers of Chesterton will discover topics that dominated thought and life throughout the 20th century and have influenced our own time . . . all from the view of a man the New York Times hailed as a “brilliant English essayist” and who George Bernard Shaw called a “colossal genius.”

Chesterton created a bulwark in his own day to defend Christian faith and assert a Christian view throughout culture. As readers encounter the breadth of his genius, they will find compelling reasons to emulate his unceasing fight for truth and beauty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._K._Chesterton

My Review:

The Quotable Chesterton is an amazing compilation of articles (quotes) by G K Chesterton, an English writer and literary critic that were published in the early 1900’s. I am a first-time reader and have come away with a deep respect for an extremely intelligent man who was a brilliant word-crafter.

You’ll find his quotes, and many of my favorites, covering a vast amount of topics such as Charity, Eternity, Greatness, Marriage, and Music; just to name a few since Chesterton covers many passages from Politics to Fairy Tales.

What has impressed me the most in reading his book of quotes is understanding Chesterton’s stand on defending the Christian faith and sharing his perspective and take on so many things that were so relevant to the 20^th century.

I found Chesterton to be a great poet and a good one at that. Indeed, his writings are a blessing to mankind. He wrote, “ If seeds in the black earth can turn into such beautiful roses, what might not the heart of man become in its long journey towards the stars.”

I can see why Chesterton ‘s book The Everlasting Man contributed to C.S. Lewis’ conversion. Now I am a Chesterton fan. This is a great book, The Quotable Chesterton. ***** stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Quote It: Cupcake

Welcome to Quote It!
Please feel free to grab the button and create your own post.
Add as many quotes as you wish, from whomever you wish. It can even be lyrics to a song.
Just tell us who it is. Anonymous welcome too.
And please leave your link. The Hostess

"When you look at a cupcake, you've got to smile."
~ Anne Byrne

Cute and simple, don't you think? What's your quote?

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: How To Handle Adversity

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here

It's that simple.

Pg. 56 (5th sentence)

"The very fact Jesus would ask such a question lets us know how in tune with us He really is. " (Don't you just want to know what the question is?!)

From: How To Handle Adversity by Charles Stanley

My Aunt sent me this book because she knows I love Charles Stanley's writings. I laughed out loud when I opened the package because I had just finished a book on suffering and now I'm moving on to adversity. (deep waters). What I've learned just from reading some of the reviews is that "all adversity is not necessarily bad but in fact a life building and beneficial experience." (review credit: lycaminternational@msn.com)

Product Description

The loss of a job. A rebellious child. A loved one dies. A dear friend has been diagnosed with cancer. A struggling marriage. Financial hardships.
The list is endless. When hard times come, we need wisdom to navigate through the shoals of adversity into a safe harbor. And now, in How to Handle Adversity, Charles Stanley offers a practical, biblical approach to help us deal with the troubles common to us all.
Adversity is a reality that no one can avoid. Everyone asks why when adversity strikes. Yet Stanley contends, "As much as we all want to know the answer to the why question, it is really not the most significant question. The real question each of us needs to ask is, 'How should I respond?'

Biography

Dr. Charles Stanley is senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of numerous books, including The Blessings of Brokenness and other titles in the popular A Touch of His... devotional series. His popular radio and TV program In Touch is heard and seen worldwide.
How to Handle Adversity

What book did you grab today and have you found it to be an interesting one?

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

The Patchwork Quilt

Image via Wikipedia
The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy and so beautifully illustrated by Jerry Pinkey is a Reading Rainbow Book.

Product Description

Twenty years ago Valerie Flournoy and Jerry Pinkney created a warmhearted intergenerational story that became an award-winning perennial. Since then children from all sorts of family situations and configurations continue to be drawn to its portrait of those bonds that create the fabric of family life.
The Patchwork Quilt

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Dial; 1st edition (March 29, 1985)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0803700970
ISBN-13: 978-0803700970

"Tanya loved listening to her grandmother talk about the patchwork quilt as she cut and stitched together the pieces of colorful fabric. A scrap of blue from brother Jim's favorite old pants, a piece of gold left over from Mama's Christmas dress, a bright square from Tanya's Halloween costume-all fit together to make a quilt of memories.

But one day Tanya's grandmother becomes ill, and Tanya doesn't know how to help her. It's then she decides to finish Grandma's masterpiece herself, and with the help of Mama and the whole family, she sets to work.

All the trust and sharing between a young girl and her treasured grandmother is captured in Valerie Flournoy's story, lovingly illustrated in Jerry Pinkney's evocative paintings."

The Patchwork Quilt brings the family together, touches upon fabric pieces sewn together for a beautiful quilt with beautiful themes, good morals and deeper insights like heart-to-heart relationships with family. **** stars!

If you are a quilter or let's say you just love quilts, I found a very cool quilter blog that offers oodles of free patterns. Visit http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com

This site will take your breath away when you view so many lovely quilts! See, http://www.redpepperquilts.com

Finally, I absolutely adore this artist and all that she makes with her talented hands. Look for beautiful sewing items at http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Wordless Wednesday: Frogs and Toads

Wordful Wednesday

Have you read the 1971 Caldecott Honor Book, Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel? Keep an eye out for many well-written books by this author at local sales or visit your library for these. I love books about friendships, especially with animals.
For sure, with the above pictures you can see the difference between a frog and toad.

About The Book:

"One summer day Toad was unhappy. He had lost the white, four-holed, big, round, thick button from his jacket. Who helped him look for it? His best friend, Frog. Another day, frog was unhappy. He was sick in bed and looking green. Who gave him some tea and told him a story? his best friend, Toad.

From the first enchanting story to the last, these five adventures of two best friends are packed with excitement, gaiety, and tender affection. Children will find this book delightful to read and beautiful to look at, either story to story, or from cover to cover."

-- Lady D

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Book Review: The Goodness of God

Product Description

Through Pain and Tears…
Finding a Way to God’s Heart

For those times when we’re wounded by broken trust, assaulted by disease, or victimized by evil—or when we’re crushed to see such things happen to people we love—Randy Alcorn offers something solid to hold onto.

In this specially focused condensation of Alcorn’s If God Is Good…: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil, we’re continually guided into a deeper glimpse of God’s loving ways and higher purposes—the very things we’re often most blinded to whenever we battle pain and anguish.

Alcorn avoids superficial or sentimental responses, and instead presses forward boldly to explore all the troubling doubts and questions that agitate within us when we confront suffering and evil.

The issues are far from simple, the answers far from easy—but Alcorn shows how the way of suffering—a path that Jesus himself followed more than anyone else—can ultimately become a journey into wholeness and even logic-defying joy.

About the Author

Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries and a best-selling author. His novels include Deadline, Dominion, Deception, Edge of Eternity, Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, The Ishbane Conspiracy, and the Gold Medallion winner, Safely Home. He has written numerous nonfiction books as well, including Heaven, The Treasure Principle, The Purity Principle, and The Grace and Truth Paradox. Randy and his wife, Nanci, live in Oregon and have two married daughters.

My Review:

First off, this little hardcover book with 11 chapters will stir your emotions as you read about truths on suffering, a subject that we naturally seem to stay clear of. What impressed me the most about the author, Randy Alcorn, is his professional ability to take painful experiences and scenarios that all of us at one time have experienced and lead us to a safe place to rest upon like holding onto a buoy while the storm's of life crush all around us.

How many times have I personally talked with mothers who lost their children too soon and haven't wanted to respond with a superficial response! After reading the book, I am encouraged with scriptural references that I can share confidently with others who are hurting or going through a difficult time that God is good and will be with us through the hurt and indeed has a greater purpose, yet to be revealed. In light of the recent tragedy in Arizona with unnecessary shootings, this little book of hope will grant wisdom and insights to the reader seeking answers to some of the life's most difficult questions in hurting with pain, tears, and suffering. **** stars!

Thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah publishers for providing a copy for review.

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Quote It: Ellen Goodman

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential."

~ Ellen Goodman

Who is Ellen Goodman?

1. Pulitzer Prize winning columnist

http://www.ellengoodman.com/

2. An American journalist

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Goodman

My Favorite Quote from Ellen Goodman:

"We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck... But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness."

But then you decide which one grabs you. If you have time visit more of Ellen Goodman Quotes

Here's a list of her abundant talent!

Goodman’s first book, “Turning Points” (Doubleday, 1979), detailed the effect of the changing roles of women on the family. Six collections of her columns have been published: “Paper Trail: Common Sense in Uncommon Times” (Simon & Schuster, 2004); “Close to Home” (Simon & Schuster, 1979); “At Large” (Summit Books, 1981); “Keeping in Touch” (Summit Books, 1985); “Making Sense” (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989); and “Value Judgments” (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1993). She is also co-author with Patricia O’Brien of “I Know Just What You Mean: The Power of Friendship in Women’s Lives” (Simon & Schuster, 2000).

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: What About Now?

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here. Fredas Voice

Gina Lake wrote "What About Now?" Reminders for Being in the Moment." On each page of What About Now? is a quote from one of Gina Lakes many books that will inspire you and help you to remember to be in the moment. These quotes are intended to wake you up out of your ordinary consciousness and bring you in touch with your true nature and help you live in the Now.

Here is an example found on Page 56:

"Notice what is arising now... and how... and now. Life is very interesting, very alive and very dynamic. Something is always happening, and often it happens through you. If you are being receptive, you will catch not only what wants to move through you but also what is moving through others."

What About Now?: Reminders for Being in the Moment

Enjoy this dance of life and Happy Reading!

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis

Wordless Wednesday: East Meets West

Wordful Wednesday

I have family who live on the East Coast and the West Coast. No, these photos are not where I live. In reflecting on Katrina, Haiti and now Australia, I am thankful that my home is still standing and pray for those who are now homeless from one of nature's catastrophes. I'm not sure which is worse; floods, fire or earthquakes. To leave you with food for thought, here are a few quotes about houses. (Yes, I participate in Sat Quote It over at Freda's blog on Saturday and yes, I know it's Wednesday, too.) lol

“His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or story-telling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking, best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.” J.R.R. Tolkien

“Houses are built to live in and not to look on.” Francis Bacon, Sr.

“I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any.” Mahatma Gandhi

“It always amazes me to think that every house on every street is full of so many stories; so many triumphs and tragedies, and all we see are yards and driveways.” Glenn Close

May you have joy and laughter around your table this evening. May the walls within your home be filled to overflowing with warm day-to-day memories of raising a family. Do enjoy it all. It goes by so quickly. From my home to yours, have a blessed day!

Love, LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Book Review: Fancy Nancy-The Dazzling Book Report

Cover of "Fancy Nancy: The Dazzling Book ...

Cover via Amazon
First off, I Can Read Books have introduced children to the joy of reading since 1957. Beginning Reading #1 has short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts for children eager to read on their own! For more information, visit www.icanread.com

About The Book: The Dazzling Book Report

Fancy Nancy books are always fun to read! This time, Nancy is working on her book report about Sacajawea. You know, a princess who lived two hundred years ago out West. What happens next is that Nancy only manages to write two sentences for her report before falling fast asleep. Yet, she produces a masterpiece of artwork by using beads, fringe and a fancy border for her cover. Her teacher is very kind to give Nancy a chance to share in class what the book is all about. Crestfallen and Biography are just a few of the big words children will learn!

**** stars!

Fancy Nancy books are a magnet for little girls because the stories are delightful. The main character, Nancy (modern diva) is full of frills and so colorfully illustrated in bright details. Each story has a straight forward lesson, while the books are educational, too. So, teachers will love these cute books as well. I recommend these books to you and can't wait to read them along with my new granddaughter when she grows up. Buy it!
Fancy Nancy: The Dazzling Book Report (I Can Read Book 1)

Product Details

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (March 31, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061703680
ISBN-13: 978-0061703683

Biography

Jane O'Connor is the author of more than thirty books for children, including the New York Times bestselling Fancy Nancy series, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, and the Nina, Nina Ballerina stories, illustrated by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan. Fancy Nancy was nominated for the Quill Award for Best Picture Book in 2007. The Emperor's Silent Army: Terra Cotta Warriors of Ancient China won Booklist's Best Nonfiction Book for Young Readers in 2000. Jane has two grown sons. She was born, bred and still lives in New York City with her husband and their canine companion, Arrow.

About the Illustrator:

Robin Preiss Glasser actually wore tiaras and tutus when she danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet for eleven years. Now she happily spends her days in jeans and glasses, drawing such bestsellers as Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor and America: A Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney. Robin lives in Southern California with her husband, Bob, children Sasha and Benjamin, and their puppy, Boo, whom they still love even after she ate the living room sofa.

Quote It: Shoes and Giveaway

Welcome to Quote It!
Please feel free to grab the button and create your own post.
Add as many quotes as you wish, from whom ever you wish. It can even be lyrics to a song.
Just tell us who it is. Anonymous welcome too.
And please leave your link.

"Age shouldn't affect you. It's just like the size of your shoes - they don't determine how you live your life! You're either marvelous or you're boring, regardless of your age. "

Steven Morrissey

"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."

Charles Spurgeon

"Creativity often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were thought up only a little more than a century ago?"

Bernice Fitz-Gibbon

Did you ever get the feeling that the world was a tuxedo and you were a pair of brown shoes?

George Gobel

Shoe-la-la! by Karen Beaumont: Book Giveaway

Scholastic has graciously offered to giveaway (2) copies of Shoe-la-la! Two (2) winners will each get a sparkly book about some fancy shoes!

To enter this contest, leave a comment relevant to this post at http://www.brimfulcuriosities.com. Or, let Brimful Curiosities know if you have a favorite children's book about shoes. They're in shoe mode and would love your suggestions.

Here are the details for Brimful Curiosities giveaway:

• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.
• Contest is open to US
• Contest ends on Monday, January 31st, 2010 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random and sent an email notification.

Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4; please leave a separate comment for each entry):
1st extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
2nd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.
3rd extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
So, head on over to the Shoe-la-la! Giveaway

Good luck to all!

Best,
-- LadyD Books

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

Friday 56: The Goodness of God

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

It's that simple.

Presently, I'm reading a book about the "Assurance of Purpose in the Midst of Suffering." This beautiful hardcover book is written by Randy Alcorn, who is the best-selling author of Heaven. I am finding good answers to some of the life's difficult questions, especially reflecting on the past events the world witnessed with the loss of a young girl born on 9/11, dies in Arizona shootings, Christina Taylor-Green... while the world mourns.

Book Title: The Goodness of God

Page 56: "Freedom to do good, which can bring enjoyable consequences, cannot exist without the corresponding freedom to do evil, which brings suffering... The reality of evil and suffering in this world points to a God, who despises evil but values freedom. He desires meaningful relationships with his creatures - and that requires a degree of freedom on our part."

"An interesting read for those times when we're wounded by broken trust, assaulted by disease, or victimized by evil - or when we're crushed to see such things happen to people we love..."

The Goodness of God: Assurance of Purpose in the Midst of Suffering

Indeed, I find this perspective challenging with deeper glimpses of God's higher purposes.
How about you? Sometimes the suffering just doesn't make sense but through surrender, we find comfort and peace. What's your take on this?

Best,
-- LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis