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In Me, Myself and Bob, VeggieTales creator Phil Visher has written “A True Story about Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables”.  He observes that living longer allows time for more disappointments, challenging hard lessons, and the sometimes painful consequences of earlier decisions. Growing older with God’s Grace requires developing more honesty, more transparency, and more humility in dealing with the losses and setbacks that will happen over time. This is not a shallow book about children’s entertainment, but a powerful and personal story about success, business failure, and a deepening walk with God. The author’s honesty offers practical hope and solid encouragement to those who have experienced major setbacks and disappointments.  Order here

Groundbreaking! This is the first word that pops into my head to describe Ender’s Game, which is part character study, part social commentary and all thought-provoking science fiction.

Written in 1977 by Orson Scott Card, the book gave its initial readers a sneak peak into the Internet, video games, laser guns, and other forms of technology that have become commonplace today. Well, maybe not so much laser guns … but you get the idea.

Whether you’re a sci-fi fan or not, we expect you’ll be engaged in Card’s exploration of such themes as the corrupting influence of power, human rights, and man’s capacity for both good and evil. Not to mention man’s capacity to fight alien hordes with laser guns.

These brief reviews are intended, not only to highlight new books but also to recommend ones that have been around a while that our customers may have missed. Several years ago this book had the whole staff laughing out loud.

Although punctuation could be considered a somewhat mundane or academic topic, Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss goes way beyond being a rulebook. Truss, an admitted stickler for accurate punctuation, looks at the decline of its proper use throughout our culture, remarking that, from the grocer to instant messenger, it appears the accepted rules for punctuation are either not learned or ignored by the general public. Truss takes a stand for written communication and the necessity of good punctuation, while demonstrating that the beauty and nuance of the English language are lost without those little marks that lead the reader to understand what the writer has intended. And in case you don’t get the humor, next time you’re in a restaurant beware of the panda that eats, shoots and leaves.

We are so proud of you!

• National Merit Finalist
• Free State Valedictorian
• State Honor Band Member
• Compassion International Sponsor
• Grace Children’s Ministry Volunteer

And she loves smoothies at Signs of Life! So in honor of Lydia, we’re running a special on smoothies from 5/26/09 through 5/30/09. Click her smiling face to get the coupon!

Stepping Heavenward is a fabulous book, written in the form of an old-fashioned journal full of dialogue, correspondence, and some excerpts of classic Christian literature. The author, Elizabeth Prentiss (1818 -1878) was the daughter of an early nineteenth-century revival preacher. Published in 1869 Stepping Heavenward carries a refreshing old-time flavor, while relaying the timeless truths of dependence on God, love for your neighbor, and the paradoxical joy found through sharing in Christ’s suffering. The book follows Katherine from age 16 through various stages of life as she grows in wisdom. Here are some words from a letter Katherine receives from an older woman, mentor, and friend, who has suffered much and is about to die. She writes of any mature Christian saying, “He is not only a creature in Jesus Christ, but has the habitual and blessed consciousness that this is so.” This book aims to help us in our path heavenward, and succeeds wonderfully.  order here

In Sod and Stubble, sometimes controversial Kansas University Professor John Ise uses the experiences of his own family as early homesteaders in Osborne County, from 1870 to the turn of the century, to let readers in on what it was like to live in such a world.   Fires, picnics, draughts, parties, insect infestations, bumper crops, poverty, prosperity, births, and deaths – all were part of the everyday lives of his family and their friends.

All who have read this expanded edition of the original 1936 novel, which includes detailed annotations and four recently discovered chapters, agree that it reveals the true nature of a Kansas pioneer family and their struggles in establishing themselves on the Great Plains.

Stunning! 300 years of Russian history in 90 minutes! An intense, beautiful, long, slow single fluid take—instead of a fast cut montage—pulls us in to experience Aleksandr Sokurov’s unique film, Russian Ark. Film as art doesn’t rise to a higher standard! Russian history is presented visually through the eye of one camera, in real time, in one take, with thousands of live actors and orchestral musicians in period costume on location in the historic Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. A visual feast unsurpassed! A technological marvel – the first feature shot in high definition, uncompressed video recorded entirely on hard drives powered by batteries. One continuous shot from beginning to end was all they had—there was no opportunity for a second take! And it worked!

Self-described “grump” Eric Weiner sets out on a worldwide journey to discover what experts consider to be the happiest places on earth. And, no, Disneyland isn’t on the list.

Taking a break from his day job as a correspondent for NPR, Weiner hops from Switzerland, to Thailand, and to the Netherlands, home to the World Database of Happiness.  He reports his observations in The Geography of Bliss, a witty and profound exploration of what ingredients make one group of people happier than another. Is it economic security? Freedom from responsibility? Spiritual enlightenment? An abundance of stray dogs, one of Weiner’s favorite theories? With a humorous and at times cynical approach, the author brings readers along his personal quest to map out the geography of that elusive country.

Ray Quinn was a tough, quick-witted homicide detective until a barrage of bullets ended his career . . . and his partner’s life. Now medically retired and handicapped, Ray numbs his pain with alcohol and attitude, working as a night watchman at a swanky Orlando condo.

But when a pastor and an exotic dancer are found dead in one of the condos in an apparent murder-suicide, Ray is coaxed out of retirement by the pastor’s sister who is convinced her brother was framed. The feisty sister’s faith in God deeply annoys Ray at first, but as the two work together to solve the case, he slowly develops a grudging admiration for her.

Author Mark Mynheir, himself a detective and veteran of narcotics units, SWAT teams, and other high-risk situations, offers a realistic glimpse into the gritty world of law enforcement. Rich characters, great twists. If you like this genre, you’ll love this book!

Having trouble getting that teenage boy in your life to read for enjoyment?  Get him a copy of The Last Thing I Remember, by Andrew Klavan.  I couldn’t put it down, despite being several decades beyond the target audience - it’s that well done.

Charlie West wakes up strapped to a chair in a torture chamber and overhears someone ordering his death.  The last thing he remembers was a day filled with normal high school stuff - homework, karate practice, and a pretty girl writing her phone number on his hand.  Now he has no idea where he is, why he’s there, or why somebody wants to kill him.  But before he can figure out how to put his memory back together, his first order of business is getting out of this room alive.

Klavan understands that teenagers grapple with some pretty profound issues - who am I really?  what is the nature of good and evil?  who can I trust?  When writing for this age group an author might be tempted to deal superficially with these issues.  But Klavan digs in.  Without talking down to his audience, he makes the heady stuff accessible and never in such a way as to interfere with the heart-pounding plot.  order here