Leota's Garden

Title: Leota's Garden
Author: Francine Rivers
Genre: Fiction

Corbin is a college student writing a paper trying to pass his sociology class. Annie is a recent high school graduate faced with monumental decisions. Should she abide by her mothers prodding and attend one of the handful of exclusive universities she's been accepted to, or pursue her passion at a community college and study art until she figures out what God's will is for her life. Nora Gaines, Annies mother, is a classy but distraught middle aged women struggling to keep her third marriage together. Sam, brother of Susan Carter who is Annies best friend, has recently accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior after a spotted past.

All of these characters are brought together by Leota Reinhardt. Leota is a women in her 80's who is very lonely. Because she doesn't have company much, she becomes used to solitude and her manner is conceived by some as curt. But when a handful of college students cross paths with Leota, she is able to share that there is so much more to life than what the things of the world has to offer.

The story is quaint and easy to read with an unexpected twist at the end. A good read to look forward to at the end of the day.

A Man of Faith

Title: A Man of Faith
Author: David Aikman
Genre: Inspirational

Well, I finally got around to reading this inspirational biography on one of my most favorite people. David Aikman, former senior correspondent for Time Magazine did a well rounded, documentary style study on the the spiritual journey of our President, George W. Bush.

Mr. Aikman also does a thorough study on the spiritual lives of past presidents as well.

While the book was a very interesting read, I was disappointed to find that there was no statement made by President Bush himself regarding his faith. However, Mr. Aikman did interview those who were extremely close to the President, including Karen Hughes ( former Counselor and Communication Director), Don Evans (Secretary of Commerce) and his own mother, and all of them gave testimony on the deep faith of the President. Now that is just a testimony in it of itself. I was encouraged to find that the last chapter of the book was a sermon preached by President Bush when he was then governor of Texas. Ithink this last chaptor was my personal favorite.

I was also disappointed that there was so much talk of "faith", but there was no instruction of how to obtain this "faith" that everyone seemed to talk so fondly of.

Man of Faith did reference the Presidents memoirs, A Charge to Keep several times and perhaps that may have a more personal view of the Presidents faith.

In conclusion, I'm assuming that since President Bush takes a wise stand in that he is everyone's president, and not just the president to the Christians in our country, that may have been the reason that no personal interview was published for this book. Perhaps after his term, he will grant more leverage in interviewing in this area. I'm glad this book was written and I'm proud and encouraged in the stand President Bush has taken.