'It Happened in Italy' by Elizabeth Bettina

When an American woman of Italian ancestry tries to discover why a rabbi appears in a photograph taken on the steps of the Italian church where her grandparents were married, she learns of a story kept nearly secret for sixty years: there were Jewish internment camps in Italy in World War II.

The woman is Elizabeth Bettina, a native New Yorker who lived for a time in Campagna, Italy. She thought she knew a lot about the area and its people, her family. The new facts she discovered led her to meetings with Holocaust survivors, monsignors and more.

“It Happened in Italy” is a book of surprises, as we accompany Bettina on her journey of discovery. While the rule of investigation is often “follow the money,” Bettina learned to follow the photos. Her book is filled with confirming photos and documents, worthy of a research paper. She recounts the thrill of finding the pieces of information and joining them into a picture of the story of a nation that did not bow to the Nazi plan of a “final solution.”

Don’t begin this book looking for a taut war thriller. It is, instead, a warm blanket. As Bettina learns more about the role of the everyday Italian people in Jewish survival of World War II, she shares her delight with the reader. Her goal is to explain the difference between treatment of Jews in Italy and most of the rest of Europe. The book is much like a personal journal, opened for our knowledge. Her thoughts, as well as her research, are there for us.

Bettina has taken on the cause of telling the story to the world. It is a story of compassion, human dignity and the triumph of goodness over evil. As much as we should remember the horrors of the death camps, we should also remember that goodness can make a stand. Bettina provides a tool toward that remembrance.

I enjoyed reading this book and learning about the Italian perspective on “prison camps.” It is a gentle yet celebratory story. While there is sadness in some of the events, the overarching emotion is happiness. I recommend it for readers in search of a true story about real people caught in world events. No flashy super heroes here, but people made more heroic by actions without special effects or benefit of a script writer’s solution.

'It Happened in Italy' by Elizabeth Bettina
Published by Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-5955-5102-3

© Mary Beth Magee 2010

Book Review-One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber

Bestselling author Debbie Macomber is known for her romantic stories, weaving crafts such as cooking or needlework into moving tales of love lost and found. With “One Simple Act,” Macomber moves into the realm of touching lives as she has so often touched hearts.

Subtitled “Discovering the Power of Generosity,” the book looks at the meaning of generosity to all involved. It is filled with tips for discovering ways to be generous both in giving and receiving. Macomber has done her homework as well, offering scriptural background for her suggestions and a wide array of stories showing how a little generosity can make a big difference in a life.

Chapter Twelve, for example, is entitled “Bread Crumbs, Minnows and Submarines: The Gift of Caregiving.” The chapter offers not only stories of caregivers, but tips to help in caregiving and ways to deal with the pressures on the caregiver. There are action points in each chapter, ways to put the lessons contained in the earlier pages into practice.

I highly recommend this book to all who are looking for a way to make a difference in the world around them. You will learn ways to plant seeds of caring in many ways, in directions you may not have considered. An easy read, the book is deceptively simple. Like the colors in a fine painting, the levels of learning are woven together so skillfully you won’t feel as though you’ve been in school. It’s more like a visit with an old friend who happens to be very wise and is willing to share the wisdom.

Through Macomber’s words, you’ll get a fresh perspective on being open hearted and open handed. She has the advantage of a wide following through her earlier works-that means the potential for touching many lives with the importance of stepping up and performing deeds of generosity, one simple act at a time.




Published 2009
One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity
By Debbie Macomber
Howard Books
ISBN 978-1-4391-0893-2

Macomber's website: http://www.debbiemacomber.com/

Movie Review- "The Blind Side"

A great sports movie focuses on the sport and players. In that regard, “The Blind Side” is a good sports movie. There is a fair amount of football playing and football lore. In all honesty, I couldn’t call it a great sports movie.

For a movie to qualify as a blockbuster, it usually has big, big names and lots of special effects. Okay, Sandra Bullock and Kathy Bates are big names. Tim McGraw has done some acting but his fame is in other fields and most of the other players in the drama aren’t big names – yet. And there aren’t any razzle-dazzle special effects.

What “The Blind Side” does accomplish is to tell a wonderful story of people touching each other’s lives, and it happens to include football. Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw are Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, well-to-do people with two children. They have it all – the big house, the cars, their kids in private school, successful businesses.

An impulsive act by Leigh Anne takes a homeless black student into their upper class home and world. Their story of connecting as human beings beyond boundaries of background, color and means is an extraordinary adventure. This is the tale of making a difference when you didn’t have anything to gain by taking action. Her “just for one night” helping hand changes all of their lives.

“The Blind Side” is the story of real-life football player Michael Oher of the Baltimore Ravens and is based on “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis. I haven’t read the book yet so I can’t address how accurately or inaccurately the movie follows the book. I can tell you that this is a movie about moving from lip service Christianity to Christianity in action.

While it hasn’t been touted as an overtly faith-based movie to my knowledge, faith is a big part of the characters and their motivations. I am particularly drawn to the scenes where Bullock’s character is interacting with her social peers. Her evolution from society maven to outspoken champion is a delight to watch.

I am a fan of most of Sandra Bullock’s work. She is a gifted lady who makes a role come to life in a way that I appreciate as a viewer. This film only cements my opinion of her.

McGraw is likable as the slightly bemused husband to steamroller-Bullock. I look forward to seeing him in other roles. Bates is quirky and delightful as the tutor hired to help Michael (played with great finesse by Quinton Aaron) get his grades up enough to qualify to play football. Don’t overlook Jae Head and Lilly Collins as the Tuohy children. They are great.

John Lee Hancock is the director and screenwriter. The film is rated PG-13; there are some drug references and one violent scene. None is gratuitous. I’m sorry to say that I don’t think this movie will win many Oscars. It isn’t bloody enough or spectacular enough to attract Oscar attention. That is the Academy’s loss.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The relationships, the personal growth and the courage of the people are inspirational. If you haven’t seen it yet, I strongly encourage you to see it soon. If you want to come out of a movie feeling good, this is the one.

You can learn more about this film at the website: http://www.theblindsidemovie.com/.

© 2009 Mary Beth Magee

Update: Well, the entertainment world has surprised me. "The Blind Side" and the cast have received a number of awards and accolades, including Academy Award nominations!  I am so happy to be proven wrong! Best wishes as you go into the Oscar presentations...I'll be rooting for you!

Book Review - "Breach of Trust" by DiAnn Mills

When DiAnn Mills takes on the CIA as a subject, her promise to “Expect an Adventure” takes on a completely new dimension.

In “Breach of Trust,” Mills recounts the story of Mikaela Olsson, survivor of a failed CIA mission. She has left the CIA, her old identity and the world she knew. Now a small town librarian known as Paige Rogers, she is trying to build a new life and protect those she left behind.

When the man responsible for the betrayal of that last mission inserts himself back into her life, Paige faces danger and decisions. Can she stay out of his clutches long enough to reveal the truth about the mission and free all concerned from the past?

Mills is a skilled storyteller. Her attention to detail and descriptive artistry make her stories rich and elegant. In “Breach of Trust,” she pulls us into a world of fear and deceit and allows us to follow Paige as she struggles for redemption.

This is a gritty story, and Mills does not shy from the ugly things humans can do to each other. Her story is not vulgar or bawdy, but is ruggedly honest. Paige acknowledges her mistakes and faces the consequences with dignity and concern for others.

Some may find it unlikely that a novel by an acknowledged Christian writer could subjects like out-of-wedlock birth and political intrigue. Once you’ve read “Breach of Trust,” you will understand how beautifully it can be done.

Mills indicates that "Breach of Trust" is the first novel in a new series - "Call of Duty." Keep your eyes open for the next episode.


“Breach of Trust”
by DiAnn Mills
Published by Tyndale House
ISBN: 978-1-4143-2047-2

Book review - "Dogwood" by Chris Fabry

From the author of “77 Habits of Ineffective Christians,” “Spiritually Correct Bedtime Stories” and co-author (with Jerry Jenkins) of juvenile adventure fiction comes an intensely adult novel set in the hills of West Virginia. Christian radio host Chris Fabry steps up to a new level with his writing in “Dogwood.”

Fabry is a son of West Virginia and his roots show clearly, as he describes a small town beset by tragedy. Dogwood lost two of its youngsters in an automobile accident years ago. The event has shaped the town and its people.

The man who served prison time for the accident has returned to town, seeking his lost love. Although Karin has married someone else and has a family, Will Hatfield has never stopped loving her.

With smooth narration and clean shifts in perspective, Fabry introduces a wounded town and its anguished inhabitants. Young Danny Boyd, who lost his sisters in the accident, helps to lead the characters through the maze of memories and emotions. Elderly Ruthie Bowles helps to ask the questions necessary to solve the puzzles of the past.

For those familiar with Fabry’s lighthearted books on Christian living, “Dogwood” will be a bit of a shock at first. Don’t be afraid to dive in. Although the tone is different, the skills Fabry brought to his previous works shine through in “Dogwood.” He has a gift for description and an insight into the human psyche that serves him well as a storyteller.

“Dogwood” is touching and uplifting. For those interested in a study subject, Fabry has included reader group and study questions. Check out “Dogwood” if you want a good read with an underlying spiritual message.


“Dogwood”
By Chris Fabry
Published by Tyndale Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1-4143-1955-1

Book Review - "Blood Bayou" by Karen Young

Calling all lovers of tense mystery – “Blood Bayou” is a wonderful way to get your adventure fix while immersing yourself in the atmosphere of Louisiana’s bayou country. Author Karen Young has crafted a story of old wounds and new beginnings, with enough close calls to satisfy the biggest literary thrill seeker.

Camille Vermillion has sought redemption for her troubled past by working as the head of the Truth Project, a legal team investigating the cases of wrongfully convicted death row prisoners. Her ex-husband Jack has traded his briefcase for a pulpit, pastoring a small church in the town of Blood Bayou. Both are scarred by their mutual past and tiptoeing around their still simmering desire for each other.

When murder claims Jack’s sister , the evidence seems to point to a man recently released from prison by Camille’s work. Can Camille clear the man a second time? Can she and Jack escape the pain of the past to build a future? Will the two of them survive the investigation of Jack’s sister’s death?

Young, a bestselling secular author, makes her first attempt into Christian fiction with “Blood Bayou.” She succeeds admirably with a tight story of human frailty and the renewal of forgiveness. Although Jack Vermillion is a pastor, there is no preaching in the way of the action.

Buckle in for a high-speed ride through the Louisiana countryside when you open “Blood Bayou.” You will find enough suspects to fill a cellblock and enough drama to set your heart racing. “Blood Bayou” is a powerful story, well told.

“Blood Bayou”
By Karen Young
Published by Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster
ISBN-13: 978-1-4165-8750-7


© 2009 Mary Beth Magee

"Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon" by Debbie Fuller Thomas

Mother love is a powerful force, even when misdirected. For Marty Winslow, the death of her beloved middle daughter is a severe blow. The cause of death, a genetic disease, is the catalyst for a second blow – the child was not hers.

Two baby girls, switched at birth, are the seeds from which “Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon” sprouts. The relationship between Marty and Andie, the child she actually bore, is the bud on the vine.

Debbie Fuller Thomas switches between the perspectives of mother and daughter with deceptive ease, true to each persona yet neatly meshing the story. Against the backdrop of the Blue Moon Drive In, we see the heartache and angst of strangers trying to get to know each other. The relationship between mother and thirteen-year-old daughter is a difficult one at best. Without the foundation of familiarity and love, it takes on new dimensions.

Tuesday night is Family Night at the Blue Moon. Marty’s father owns the aging drive in. The theater is as much a character in the story as the family members who operate it. Andie learns about her new family as she joins them on the ticket line and behind the snack counter.

“Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon” is not a high-powered adventure novel. Instead, it is a thoughtful exploration of emotions and what makes a family, an identity. As Thomas’ debut novel, it sets a high standard for her next offering.

Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon
By Debbie Fuller Thomas
Published by Moody Publishers
ISBN – 13: 978-0-8024-8733-9

© 2009 Mary Beth Magee