REVIEW "Sweet Mercy"

In my last book review (Revealing Jesus: a 365 Day Devotional) I mentioned that there were two types of books that I don’t like very much. The first was the “tie-in” book and the second was what my mother always called the “name exchange” book. That’s when an author, usually of romance novels, tells basically the same story, but simply changes the names of the lead characters.  When I picked up “Sweet Mercy” by Ann Tatlock to read and review from Graf-Martin, I suspected it might be another “name exchange” book. I am rarely so happy to be so wrong.

In the Prologue this story creates it’s foundation. An elderly lady entering an abandoned old country lodge with her young grandson, goes rummaging through the attic in search of a mysterious box. It appears like their task will take quite some time, so Eve’s grandson talks her into telling the story of the last time she was in the old lodge and why it’s so important for her to come back to retrieve an old box. That’s our cue to settle in for a trip to the past via the small town of Mercy, where Eve first came to live as a 17 year old in the early 1930’s.

Suddenly the cobwebs melt, the dust disappears, a breeze stirs her memories and all is fresh and new again as Eve remembers the summer she first came with her parents to live at  the “Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge” owned by her father’s brother, Cyrus Marryat.

Eve’s father, in the midst of the depression and laid off work, accepts his brother’s offer of a job at the Marryat Lodge on the outskirts of the town of Mercy. For Eve it is a safe haven to escape the gangsters and corruption that had taken over the streets of St. Paul Minnesota which were also responsible for Eve having witnessed a brutal murder that continued to haunt her. Thinking she has found the next best thing to the garden of Eden, Eve settles in to her job and new life in paradise unaware that her past, her fears, first love and adulthood are all just around the corner and completely inescapable.

With the scene set, Ann Tatlock breathes life into a period of history that few of us know much about by making it as familiar as our own neighbourhood and as current as our own teen years. And Tatlock doesn’t hesitate for a moment from inundating us with words and references that went out of use and style decades ago, but jump off the page with potency at the merest touch of her story telling talents.

A time when men wore pomade on their hair, fedoras on their heads, lived in Podunk towns, rowed punts, drove a jitney, shantytowns prevalent, the poor were willing to do a days labour for a plate of food, Rudolph Valentino was the big movie heart throb and people were fox trotting to “Keep a Song in Your Soul” by Duke Ellington with "some kind of dynamism"(*1).

The plot moves along at a steady clip, we get to know characters both interesting and recognizable and are educated about a time in history where prohibition was the law, the Volstead act was enforced and politicians’ pockets were lined with money from gangsters and rum runners.

But the best thing about Ann Tatlock is the way she seamlessly weaves history and fiction together, describes scenery so vividly that you know you’ve been there and does it without wasting a single word. She doesn’t subject us to long descriptive paragraphs when she can simply interject, “ a small steel bridge humped like the back of a frightened cat”(*2) to instantly draw a mental picture. Or a quick reference like, “ that life seemed far away like the torn edges of an early morning dream”(*3) to allow us immediate access into the heart of our heroine.

But Ann Tatlock’s techniques and talent aside, at it’s core “Sweet Mercy” is the quintessential coming-of-age story told at it’s best. We meet Eve when she is  vulnerable yet passionate and about to cross the line from carefree childhood to the adult life of difficult choices and joyous sorrows. 

But what Ann Tatlock truly excels at is all the feelings we have when we are first in love. The feelings of inadequacy, worry about never seeing the object of our affection again, a attraction so electric you can barely speak, floating instead of merely walking, those happy sighs and "this sense of connectedness, however fragile and brief, a blessed reprieve from solitude."(*4) and to be "lovelier than I might have imagined."(*5)
 
But if I could describe “Sweet Mercy” with one word it would be “infectious”. (Infectious as Eve's new friend, Marlene). But this is the kind of infection you will want to catch. It is the perfect book for a summer read. You will relate to the hot days by the water, the warm tender evenings, games, laughter, family vacations, barbecues and new summertime friends. But you’ll want to keep this book handy, because right about the time the cold winds come, when the snow is piled high, you have to dig out your car and you keep checking your furnace to see if it’s still working, the town of Mercy will be a wonderful place to visit again for your winter holiday.

A solidly written; thoroughly enjoyable read. I happily give it an 8 out of 10 Golden Christian Fishes.



BOOK QUOTES PAGE REFERENCES:
(*1)- page 59
(*2)- page 24
(*3)- page 54
(*4)- page 102
(*5)- page 102

Laura-Lee's Special Treats LINKS:

CBD Link below - $9.99 - lots in stock

Sweet Mercy By Ann Tatlock

Sweet Mercy (First 28 pages) in PDF file

"Keep a Song in Your Soul" by Duke Ellington at YouTube


More Information LINKS:

ANN TATLOCK Official Website

SWEET MERCY Profile at Baker Publishing Website

Graf-Martin Communications (Promotion)

Ann Tatlock

    

Flukt: Film Review

For those of you who don’t know the word in the title, let me assure you that I am not swearing at you. It’s actually the name of a movie.
Let me tell you a little story (because I wouldn’t be me unless I told a “little story” in every situation).

Last weekend was a long one for Canada. We celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday by taking Monday off. (I don’t know why we celebrate her birthday, but a holiday is a holiday)
I had just finished a mostly crappy week, was feeling like I was coming down with a cold and was still grieving Mom’s death pretty heavily. I decided it would help to order a Dominos Pizza and watch a few good movies. I felt the need to escape for a few hours. I went to iTunes to see what I could rent. Since I haven’t been to a movie theatre in about 8 years, I’m not very “up” on current movies, so I went to the “Top Movies” page at iTunes to get some ideas. I downloaded a couple films I had heard of and then I saw the listing for movie called, “Escape” and since that’s exactly what I was looking for, an escape, I read the blurb about it. It said something like this:

“In 1363 Norway, after the Black Death has killed half the population, lawlessness runs rampant among the country, but there are still a few people who go wandering to find a new life. A teen age girl watches while her family is killed by a ruthless gang, before they take her captive. Facing a “fate worse than death” she makes her escape. But the gang won’t let her go that easy and the hunt is on.”

Sounds pretty cool, eh? Or at least, a bit of mindless escapism for a couple hours.



When the film began there was that Production Company logo thingey.  Disney has it’s Castle, Spielberg has that kid fishing while sitting on the moon and Pixar has a bouncing desk lamp. This particular film started with a polar bear. I’m a Canadian, so the polar bear was fine with me.
Then the film started with writing all over the screen. But whatever language it was, it certainly wasn’t English. Then the subtitles began and my hopes dropped. “Oh no. A Norwegian subtitled film! What did I get myself into? How do I get my $4 back?”
I began to look around for a crayon and a piece of loose leaf paper in order to write iTunes a nasty letter, but I never got to it. Because within the next 120 seconds (just 2 short minutes) I was hooked. Thoroughly.

I started watching TV and movies when I was still in diapers. So when I say “I’ve forgotten more movies than you’ll ever watch”, it is not an exaggeration. Rarely is there a film I watch that I am not dissecting and analysing. But every once in a while a film is done so well that I can simply give myself over to the story. “Flukt” is such a film.

The iTunes blurb gives a pretty accurate idea about the plot, but it’s the believability that makes this film worth watching. And it is far from mindless. I have watched “Flukt” 6 times and am still finding layers to it.
Also good about it, is that it’s audience can be found in every demographic. I can’t think of an age group or gender that will not find something in the movie for themselves. And there is not one scene in it that is a waste. Nothing that doesn’t need to be there. Each scene communicates something (even though you may not know it) and they all blend seamlessly into flawless story.
The director, Roar Uthaug (great name, right?), knows how to craft a film. How to build suspense. How to balance moments of intense action with moments of quiet tenderness. The actors competently portray their characters individually, yet work together selflessly to create relationships and group dynamics that are very recognizable to us in the here and now. And in doing so, we are transported to  another place and time that none of us have ever been. Isn’t that what good story telling should attain to? Whether it’s a book or a film or the past, when a travelling minstrel’s supper and bed for the night depended on how good a tale he told. A story should enlarge your perspective and add to your experience and ultimately change you in some way.

From the teenage heroine, who discovers she’s capable of much more than she ever imagined, to her younger side-kick who has lived an abused life and struggling with loyalties and choices, to the leader of the gang, a harsh, brutal woman both in control and not. Any way you approach this movie it is about women realizing their power and Roar Uthaug is smart enough to let his female leads run with that.

Don’t get me wrong though, this is not a film where a bunch of Vikings sit around and discuss their feelings or get in touch with their feminine side (my apologies to Ingmar Bergman). At it’s center is a nightmarish chase that is reminiscent of “The Terminator”. Roar Uthaug knows how to create suspense and tension. He grabs your attention at the beginning and won’t let it go until the credits roll.

I was about to tell you to take note of the lead actress, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, but there is no need to. There is no way you CAN'T take note of her. Her character is the foundation of this film and she carries it effortlessly. She is definitely a talent to keep your eyes on. After watching “Flukt” I was so impressed that I spent the remainder of the weekend exploring Norwegian cinema by watching 6 more films from Norway. All of them very different and extremely impressive. Four of those films also had Ingrid Bolso Berdal in them, but she is such a chameleon that I watched a movie for 10 minutes before I even recognized her. And since she just signed to do to the “Hercules” movie with Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, I predict she is about to become known to the American public in a huge way.

I think I’ve raved and blabbed on about this movie long enough. But keep in mind what a rare thing it is to find a movie so enthralling. For all the movies that are bad, boring or just give you some cheap thrills, “Flukt” redeems them. Watching movies like this makes me grateful for the invention of film.

So as the American long weekend arrives, do yourself a favour and watch “Flukt”. And no matter where you find it or whether you buy it or rent it, make sure you do NOT get interrupted the first time you watch it. There is a very good reason that “Flukt” was found on the “Top Movies” page. It is the little Norwegian film that could. People continue to watch it, are impressed and recommend it to people they know. I just can’t stand the idea of you not knowing too. So consider this my “random act of kindness” for the week.

NOTE: “Flukt” is also know as “Escape” in English. At iTunes, you have to search for “Escape” to find it.

There is some scenes of graphic violence, but it is actually mild in comparison to what is seen on regular network television. However, younger children would probably find several scenes disturbing so “Parental Guidance is Suggested” (which usually applies to every situation anyway).

~ Laura-Lee

"Flukt" (aka. "Escape") IMDB webpage

UPDATE❗

I LOVE it! My favorite action film dubbed into SPANISH from it's original NORWEGIAN and not an English subtitle anywhere. It  is currently at YouTube in it's entirety.

If this version appeals to you and you don't  need English (I don't because I've seen it so many times,) GO FOR IT! 

However, if you haven't seen it yet and speak ENGLISH, view the English SUBTITLED version so you don't mess up your first time viewing this wonderful movie. LLR

LINK Flukt Spanish Dubbed Version Free at YouTube

"Revealing Jesus" Book Review

 Darlene Zschech

 

 

Once again that lovely publishing company “Graf-Martin” has asked me to review a book, which I am always happy to do.

As you know by now, I am an avid reader. Going way beyond the “Bookenitus Wormochious” classification. I love to get a new book with it’s clean, smooth white pages (which I will immediately change when my pencil and highlighters come out). Then I get the joy of finding out how another human being thinks. Feels. Processes their world. [sigh] It makes me feel so privileged.

However, … there are a few exceptions. And one of them is the “tie-in”. You know what that is. When one thing makes money and everyone at Corporate Headquarters gets together in a big board room and tries to figure out how to milk more money out of the first idea that already made a bunch of money. In most cases it works for them. They make a bunch more money. But the next item they “crank out” is merely a pale image of the original.

Being a Christian for many (many) years, I already know about Darlene Zschech. The Australian singer who brought us one of the most famous worship songs ever: “Shout to the Lord”. (I’ve sung and worshipped by it very often).

But for those of you not “in the know”, as I am, let me give you a quick idea who Darlene Zschech is.
She is an Australian singer/song writer/ worship leader who has been involved with the Hillsong Church in Sydney for many years. She has travelled all over the world singing many songs, giving many concerts, winning many awards, making many Cd's, meeting and helping many people and now lives in lovely New South Wales with her handsome husband, Mark, as they minister as Senior Pastors at the Hope Unlimited Church and live out their happy life together.

And since her in-concert CD/DVD called “Revealing Jesus” did so well, the 'Corporates' got together and said, “how do we make more money from this?” The Darlene Zschech T-Shirt? Handbag? Paperweight? I know. Darlene Zschech action figure. Then some Board Member got the brilliant idea that Darlene could maybe ‘whip off’ a 365 Day Devotional. That way people would think about Darlene Zschech every day of the year. Who ever had that bright idea … [pause], I think I will owe a lot some day.

Now you know the attitude I have for tie-ins and the of frame of mind I had when I cracked open my copy of “Revealing Jesus: A 365 Day Devotional” by Darlene Zschech.

This is my first time reviewing a daily devotional and it presented me with a problem. I didn’t have 365 days to review it and a devotional is not meant to be “crammed” into my brain as fast as possible. You take it a little at a time and let it sit with you for the whole day. So what I decided to do was not worry if I got through the entire thing. I reached for it 3 times per day, reading from different times of the year. Then, even if I didn’t have an entire day, at least I would have several hours to mull things over. I didn’t make it all the way through, but I think I know enough to give you an adequate review.

Even though the book is called, “Revealing Jesus” it also reveals a great deal about Darlene (which is why I call her by her first name now). As most of you know, my mother died at the end of March, so I am still deep in the grieving process. Plus my mother lived a life of excessive suffering for which I had a front row seat. So the first things I realized about “Revealing Jesus” and what Darlene had to say is that she is familiar with suffering. The ‘up close and personal’ type of familiar. But also she is familiar with Jesus. The ‘up close and personal’ type of familiar.

The Devotional is designed that each day equals a page. And each page begins with a small portion of the Bible. One or two verses at most. Then Darlene tells us her thoughts and revelations about that portion of Scripture and at the bottom of the page you will find a prayer. These elements are meshed together to lead you to the Bible, to prayer time and ultimately, to Jesus.

This book is a bit of a misnomer because, although Darlene does reveal much about Jesus, what she does most is lead you to Jesus, where he reveals himself. It almost felt as if each day Darlene would show up, encourage me herself and then take my hand and lead me to the only person who can truly heal my wounds and guide my future. I suspect that was her intention all along.

I’m not sure if it’s her Australian heritage, but I’ve also noticed she approaches the Bible in a unique and interesting way. She uses Scripture verses that not many people talk about (who spends days delving into the book of Philemon?!) and she brings my attention to things I’ve never thought of before. When she quotes from the Scripture, she has deeply considered the frame of mind and circumstances the person writing was experiencing. It not only demonstrated her extensive knowledge of the Bible, but also added dimensions to the verses. It encouraged me to think beyond the page and outside the box. Which is usually when you begin to know the real Jesus. We can only begin to know him when we except that we will never know ALL of him while still on this earth in our limited state. But by “revealing Jesus” Darlene gives us the sense of how all encompassing Jesus is. A taste of the “splendor of his majesty”. People usually discover this truth through music and worship mostly, so it doesn’t surprise me that Darlene knows all about God’s ‘bigness’.

This book was not ‘whipped off’. It is the culmination of a lifetime. A life spent meditating on God's Word, living out her faith, learning through experience (much of it painful) and simply and deeply loving Jesus through it all. I’m grateful to Darlene for  sharing what she knows and sharing intimate parts of herself with the rest of us. She will indeed be with me throughout the year. Daily nudging me to go to Jesus, learn from his humble and loving ways and allowing him to be revealed through me as well. I believe that with the launch of this devotional, a crop will be planted that will see Jesus revealed in all sorts of places and circumstances. Wonderful things will happen when we take our faith “out of the box” and reveal Jesus to a desperate world that’s hungry, lonely and afraid.

And if all that isn’t enough for you, let me tell you this. Even though I also love Jesus dearly, this season of grief has left me much of the time in a lonely place where it feels like the oxygen has been sucked out of the room. But Jesus used this devotional to refresh me, comfort me and to speak to me. If He has given this book a “good review”, how can I do less?

It receives my highest. 10 out of 10 Golden Christian Fishes.

And by the way, if someone could get me the name and address of the person who suggested this book to Darlene, I owe him/her at least a “Thank You” card.

Keep scrolling down to get the LINKS you’ll need to discover more for yourself.

Love Laura-Lee



P.S. FYI. If you wish to purchase either the book or the CD/DVD combo, click on these Christian Book Distributors (CBD)  Links below to get a wonderful bargain (just because you came to "Laura-Lee Was Here"). But I've also added the Links to the "Revealing Jesus" pages at Amazon (Canada) and Amazon (USA).

Revealing Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional By Darlene Zschech

Revealing Jesus (CD-DVD Combo) By Darlene Zschech From the original songwriter of dozens of today's most performed songs comes a live worship project that seeks to make Christ known to all! Featuring guest appearances from Michael W. Smith, Kari Jobe, Israel Houghton and others, Revealing Jesus includes "God Is Here," "All That We Are," "Best for Me," "Victor's Crown," and more. CD/DVD edition includes audio and video of the performance, captured at the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. DARLENE ZSCHECH Website Homepage DARLENE ZSCHECH at YouTube Baker Publishing: Info on Revealing Jesus Devotional Graf Martin Communications (Promotions) Revealing Jesus from Amazon Canada Revealing Jesus from Amazon (USA) "My Jesus, I Love Thee" from Darlene Zschech (featuring Michael W. Smith on keyboards)