Exaggerated, Funny, Mostly-True Stories: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XIII

 

THE CALL OF THE MILD: Misadventures in Africa, Hollywood, and Other Wild Places
Torry Martin & Doug Peterson

Whether he's dealing with pythons in South Africa, pickpockets in Ireland, or grizzlies in Alaska, Torry shares his blunders and the life lessons they've taught him along the way. Through each true story, he shares what he has learned about overcoming any obstacle that might hold us back from following God's will  -  wherever He might lead.

Torry Martin was a keynote speaker at a conference Beloved and I attended in April. He gave each conferee a copy of this book and begged us to write reviews on Amazon. Feel free to take a look for mine, because I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you like David Sedaris but love Jesus, this is the book for you. It's full of exaggerated, funny, mostly-true stories with nuggets of True Truth attached.

First Line: KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Page 56 / Line 5: It was late October as Rob and I chugged up the twisty, treacherous roads leading to my family's cabin for one last gold-mining expedition before the snow fell.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: I spent much of my life suffering from a severe case of comparative-worthitis  -  wanting to be anybody but me.

Last Line: "I'm good, right?"

My Final Rat Pack Read: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XII

 

I'M A FOOL TO KILL YOU: A Rat Pack Mystery
Robert J. Randisi

When a rumor spreads that Frank Sinatra's ex-wife, Hollywood Goddess Ava Gardner, was seen in the Sands Hotel & Casino in a state of distress, Vegas pit boss/fixer/amateur sleuth Eddie G. is asked to check it out. Eddie tracks her down to LA, where he finds out that Ava’s afraid she did something horrible . . . and it falls to Eddie to find out exactly what went down. But someone’s after Ava who means her harm, and soon he’s dodging bullets in Vegas in an attempt to keep Ava – and himself – alive.

This is the fifth book in the series, which I have enjoyed, but because Randisi seems to be amping up the foul language and sexuality, I think this is going to be my last. Besides, this and the remaining six titles are only available from the library as digital downloads, and I prefer having an actual book in my hands instead of having to sit at my computer or stare at my phone's screen. That said, these books are actually kind of light on "mystery" and rely on a fondness for Frank Sinatra and friends to engage the reader. They are enjoyable reads with the bite-sized chapters I like, but not enough to keep me from switching over to Alex Cross.

First Line: Jenny Phillips was a looker

Page 56 / Line 5: "Try the Beverly Hills Hotel," Frank said.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: "Almost the truth," I said.

Last Line: "Maybe two days?"

A Quick & Practical Resource: Books I Read in 2024, Vol. XI

 

ONE-TO-ONE BIBLE READING: A Simple Guide for Every Christian
David Helm

Two people with open Bibles  -  simple and yet powerfully effective in growing disciples of Jesus. David Helm explains why, and gives you practical tips for getting started. "Helm's book encourages relational evangelism and discipleship based on the living and active word of God, offering practical tools for one-on-one Bible reading and envisioning a mobilization of God's people that would complement church programs. Helm calls us to invite people not only to an event, but into our lives and into the life of faith in Jesus Christ offered in his word." (Kathleen Nielson - Author and conference speaker)

This is another book I've read because of being an elder at Valley Christian Church. It is a quick read with a lot of practical resources for putting the concept of reading and talking about the Bible with one or two other people into practice. I wish I would have had this back when I was a youth minister. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this resource for ANY Christian...even as a tool for making your personal Bible reading effective and life-changing.

First Line: You probably know someone, perhaps a co-worker, who is not really a church person.

Page 56 / Line 5: If we try to read them all as if they are one type of literature (such as one of the letters of Paul), we'll quickly get off track.

A Good Line from Somewhere in the Middle: No longer was he worried about whether or not he could remain a scientist if he were to become a Christian.

Last Line: Are you ready to follow Jesus?