The Minimalist Home: A Room-By-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life by Joshua Becker

If you are new to the idea of decluttering your home, this would be a great book for you.  If you have already read other books or blogs about decluttering, then I'm not sure you'll find a lot new here.  I am in the latter category, so while this book was good and could be a definite help to anyone looking to pare down their belongings, I can't say really say that I would recommend The Minimalist Home over others like it.

Joshua Becker goes room-by-room instructing the reader how to minimize and declutter each space, including the closets and storage areas, even the furniture.  He includes a checklist in each chapter with questions to ask yourself about your belongings, so he is indeed thorough in his approach. There are also testimonies from people who have followed his methods and found freedom in minimalism.

There were two things I didn't like about the book: The first is that I thought he talked down to the reader a bit from his high horse.  He considers minimalism to be the best way to live and thinks everyone else should too.  The second is that I really didn't find it speak from a Christian perspective.  Mr. Becker does occasionally mention Christianity, but puts it on an equal plain with every other religion.  Actually, I wouldn't have known the book was written by a Christian unless I had read the last chapter in which he proclaims himself to be a Jesus follower.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Of Fire and Lions: A Novel by Mesu Andrews

I am a big fan of Mesu Andrew's Biblical fiction and very much enjoyed her newest, Of Fire and Lions. Mesu has a gift to make Bible characters come to life and leap off the page, and she certainly hit it out of the park with Daniel!  I loved learning more about Daniel and the time period in which he lived.  The background and history of what was going on in the Middle East politically, socially, economically, historically, was fascinating and really contributed to the story. 

The reader needs to understand that this is fiction.  Yes, it is based on what the Bible tells us about Daniel, but Mesu has also taken liberties to tell a full, rich story of his life.  As anyone who has ever read the Bible knows, we often only get a few details about a characters life (and often yearn for more).  Ms. Andrews gives us just what we are looking for. 

If you are interested in Old Testament history, Daniel in the lion's den, or just enjoy good historical fiction, you'll surely like this book!

I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.