Kate

Waterstones synopsis: Wendy offers studies of key women in the New Testament as a starting point for a series of reflections on women's roles in the church today. Some of these women were saints, full of good works; some were frankly poisonous and did considerable harm. From her long experience within New frontiers, Wendy offers a good deal of shrewd advice and writes candidly about her own struggles to fit into church structures. 'Women can be powerful in a church and can be influential in changing it from a sick community to a healthy one. They can be a tremendous asset or a huge liability. They can influence the whole ambiance of a church...The pages of the New Testament contain a surprising number of references to women to whom we can relate as we seek to build good healthy churches in the twenty first century'. In this book Wendy studies the women in the New Testament and shows how even though women are not meant to lead the church, they can still influence it, either in a good way or bad. I liked the way Wendy did this - she expands on Biblical story, adding fiction to make the stories substantial and for the point to be explained. There are explanations and examples to help us understand how we can function well in the church. Wendy also uses real life examples, from her own life and friend's stories, so we can see the impact women can have. I found this book really useful and will be holding onto it. I think this is an important read for women in church, so they know how they can help the men and wait to watch out for so that they do not cause problems. I for one know I don't want to be a jezebel and now have an idea of what to be aware of. This book is for women and does have some strong opinions, such as how women should not lead the church. I think this should be pointed out so people are prepared in case they might be offended/have a different view. I agreed with what Wendy wrote however and found this book incredibly well written, easy to read and very helpful. I have nothing bad to say about this book and highly recommend it. 10/10

I started that yesterday!

We booked tickets to see it on Friday - cannot wait!!

I've started Dear Fatty by Dawn French and also God Stories by Andrew Wilson - the latter a book to dip in and out of I think

I finished Old Boyfriends by Debbie Macomber earlier. Going to listen to Terry Pratchett's Jingo now while sewing

I've just started The Blotting Book by E. F. Benson, but it is an e-book so I feel it may take a while to read

It has a been a great few days for me book wise. I have got: Harlan Coben: Just One Look & The Final Detail Elizabeth Chadwick: A Place Beyond Courage John Hart: Down River Tami Hoeg: Lucky's Lady Alan Titchmarsh: Animal Instincts and The Last Lighthouse Keeper Sharon Owens: Revenge of the Wedding Planner Lauren Weisberger: Chasing Harry Winston Some were given to me, others purchased at a very cheap price. My favourite buy however was a very old (probably 1920s) version of Little Women for

I finished Influential Women by Wendy Virgo today

I've been reading Influential Women by Wendy Virgo - really good book, I'm racing through it

Ooo which ones? I liked Burning Bright by Chevalier as well as The Girl With the Pearl Earring. Haha I find that too - although I get through quite a few anyway! I'm also interested in how you find The Lost Symbol - I find his work very similar, will be interesting to see if this stands out more

Yeah I pick up a magazine periodically and use their patterns. I have a ring binder full of patterns I've taken from the magazines. I just buy the thread and fabric. I love it! I loved stitching them, bit gutted to give them away!

And the Discworld books just get better and better... Haha I remember that from this book. I really enjoyed it

I have just finished my third and final naughty cat cross stitch. They were a present for my mother-in-law. Already given her two, going to give her the final one tomorrow:

121. By The Time You Read This by Lola Jaye 8/10

Waterstones Synopsis: This is my (Kevin Bates) manual for my daughter Lois. The love of my life. Rules of the manual: 1.You must only read each new entry on your birthday 2.This is a private manual between you and me. 3.No peeping at the next entry unless it's your birthday! When Lois Bates is handed the manual, she can barely bring herself to read it as the pain of her dad's death is still so raw.Yet soon Kevin's advice is guiding her through every stage of her life -- from jobs to first loves and relationships. The manual can never be a substitute for having her dad back, but through his words Lois learns to start living again, and finds that happiness is waiting round the corner ! I was attracted to this book by the cover - green with a pretty pattern and the title. The title reminded me of Elizabeth Noble's Things I Want My Daughter's to Know - and in fact this book sports a similar theme: it is communication left from a dead parent for the children. When Lois is five her Dad dies. Up until the age of twelve Lois knows nothing about The Manual her Dad has left. This Manual is a hand written book with an entry on every birthday up until her thirtieth birthday. Although not a particularly original idea, it was a good read. What was different was the fact the Manual was written by the Dad not the Mum, which highlights a special bond between father and daughter. I think Jaye's writing of the Manual was very good and I didn't for one moment think that this was a woman writing as a man - she wrote the part of the father well. She encompassed all the things a Dad would say to his little girl as she grows up - such as hoping she hasn't discovered men! I think the advice given was helpful to Lois, and the reader. It was fresh and wise. The Manual consisted of many sections, and of course the note on every birthday. However, not all of the Manual was in the book. Jaye skipped out years and didn't include all the Miscellaneous section. Although I can understand why she did this, I do think it is a shame as a lot of emphasis is placed on how she can only read the next year's message on her birthday. It is only a 320 page book too, which meant a lot of her life was missed out/rushed too. We follow Lois from the age of twelve to the age of thirty in not very many pages - some of which are full of the Manual. I sometimes found myself a bit lost and wondering how old she is now. I also found that this meant the only people in the book I felt connected too were the Dad and Lois. There were some important other characters who featured throughout the entire book but I didn't seem to know them as intimately as I would have liked. I found I had several questions too, such as what happened between her Dad and his sister? Why was the Manual started at the age of twelve? I found some things unclear. The ending was a bit predictable, but it was a happy ending. Having listed my complaints, I must say that I found this very readable. I read it in two sittings - the story flew off the page. I amcriticising the book like I am because I enjoyed the book and felt there could have been more in it to make it excellent. Although we didn't know all the characters well I liked them, and I found myself cheering Lois on. This is chick-lit, and it is an easy read. To be honest I probablypreferred Things I Want My Daughters To Know, but I did enjoy this book and would recommend it. 8/10

There are currently 67 in my TBR pile, which does include some library books. It doesn't include all the Christian books I have waiting for me to read though!

I finished By the Time You Read This by Lola Jaye - never read her work before but enjoyed it found myself comparing this book to Things I Want My Daughters to Know and think I preferred the latter. Now I'm going to read Influential Women by Wendy Virgo

I hadn't when I read it and still enjoyed it I started reading By the Time You Read This by Lola Jaye yesterday and have nearly finished it!

YES! So pleased with last night's result I loved Alesha's comment to him: "I had to see Zoe go for that...!" awesomeness!

Here is my wishlist in no particular order: Elizabeth Noble: The Girl Next Door Sophie Kinsella: Twenties Girl Debbie Macomber: Christmas in Seattle Harlan Coben: Deal Breaker Joyce Meyer: I Dare You I'm in the UK and only post in the UK

I hope he goes too, he isn't good enough to be in any more. I will be cross if someone good goes so he can stay like last week

I'll be interested to see what you think of this, I have it on my shelf. I keep looking at it, but its a bit big...!

It has been a good day for me book wise. Mum had a Waterstones voucher so I got Julie Walters's That's Another Story and picked The Associate by Grisham for my hubby, but I'll probably read it. Then I went and signed up at Hove library as I now live in Brighton and Hove, and then took out: Macomber: 311 Pelican Court Macomber: 204 Rose Lane Tropper: Everything Changes O'Flanagan: Destinations Cleage: I Wish I Had A Red Dress Jaye: By The Time You Read This

I read this book for A-Level and loved it! We saw the play in London and it was so scary! Made re-reading the book very creepy! This is the only book by Hill I've read but I did enjoy it