Sex, drugs, the blues, and a Hollywood career: The
Famous Oneby Nicole
Petrino-Salter has it all. It’s a coming-of-age story about Joey Parr and his
reluctant rise to fame. Joey’s a troubled boy from a dysfunctional family. Life
isn’t easy and Joey only finds solace in novels about the detective Joe
Pavarone. There is an emptiness in Joey’s life that he just can’t seem to fill.
Make no doubt about it: this book is the story of
Joey Parr. It begins with his childhood and progress throughout his life and
career, oftentimes reading like the most intense, gripping, and intriguing biography
I had ever read. Joey’s sense of emptiness and aloneness is evident from his
childhood, and we watch as he grows up and tries to fill his emptiness. Sex.
Drugs. The blues. It’s his ability to sing the blues that jump-starts his
Hollywood career. And that takes us from a story about Joey Parr, the kid, to
Joey Parr, Hollywood superstar.
Reluctantly thrust into the spotlight, Joey embraces
his acting with a passion, trying to make it fill the emptiness in his soul.
Finally, it appears he has it all together. He’s found love, has a family, and is
America’s most critically acclaimed and beloved actor. But there’s still that
emptiness. And as Joey Parr comes to find out, there is only One that can fill
the void in his soul.
As I was reading The Famous One, the thought
kept running through my head. This is the
best coming-of-age story I’ve ever read. I wept when Joey wept. My heart
was broken when he made the wrong choices. I felt the despair of his loneliness
and emptiness. But the story has a turning point. When despair leads to prayer,
Joey finds his life completely and utterly changed by Jesus Christ.
It was then that I realized that this was not a
coming-of-age story. It wasn’t about a boy overcoming the struggles of his
life, pulling himself up by his bootstraps and making himself The
Famous One. It is a coming-to-lifestory, and tells the compelling
journey of Joey Parr’s journey into the hands of God.
Nicole Petrino-Salter has crafted an exquisite story
of redemption, with well-written true to life characters that will inevitably
remind you of somebody you know. The book is written so viscerally, it seems so
real, that oftentimes I had to remind myself that it was a work of fiction. Without shying away from subject matter such as sex or drugs, Petrino-Salter handles the topics with subtlety and dignity, and gets the story across without diving into explicitness. The
dialogue is crisp and precise; the plotting is tight and controlled. Though the
book covers a series of circumstances that ultimately leads to the climax, not
one scene can be seen as extraneous or out of place.
The
Famous One is absolutely outstanding. You will not
be able to read this book and not be touched by it.
Every
breath you take and every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take, I'll be watching you…
Every
Breath You Take – The Police
The father holds his daughter daintily in his strong
arms. Love swells in his heart and he thinks he is going to cry just by looking
at her adorable face. He sings to her softly, trying to put his love into words
for her. He thinks he’ll always be there. But he can’t be.
In a powerful and gripping love story with a
supernatural twist, Travis Thrasher takes an overdone, hackneyed, and sappy
theme and turns it into a vibrant demonstration of the nature of love. Let’s be
honest. “Love” stories are everywhere. Whether it be harlequin or Amish, a soap
opera or a chick flick, the basic premise of this novel is way, way, way
overdone. In short: a girl must decide between two guys.
But despite the thousands of variations this theme
has received, Thrasher puts himself a notch or two (or three) above your
run-of-the-mill love story not only through his memorable characters or
supernatural twist, but through his honest and raw depiction of true love.
Kayla was only two years old when her father died.
Now she’s 26 and engaged to a wonderful man named Ryan. But while out with
Ryan, she runs into Billy – a man she shares a lot of history with, and a man
she seems destined to keep running into.
Such a fate may be certain, because the heavens
themselves have decided to join in to help Kayla decide who she loves. Her
father Thomas is sent back to earth with the mission to help Kayla see the
situation more clearly, under the orders that she cannot know who he is.
Every
Breath You Take is not just a love story between a girl
and a boy – though certainly it is. It’s more the story of a father’s love for
his daughter, who gets a second chance to be a part of her life, if only for a
while. And the ending…well, it makes the book. It completes Thrasher’s theme of
finding true love and takes the novel to a whole other level. It breaks the
mold that love stories are often forced into and makes for an astounding read.
There are only 2,676 copies of Every Breath You Take in
existence. I know not how many remain to be sold. I strongly suggest you pick
up a copy before you miss out on this unique and soul-filled story entirely.
Because of the unique journey this book had to
publication, I wanted to take some time with Travis Thrasher to learn a little
bit more about what went on to get to this finished product:
TCC: Alright,
Travis, you're the published author of almost a dozen novels, yet you made the
decision to self-publish Every Breath You Take. What first gave you
the idea to self-publish?
Travis: I've wanted to do something
like this for several years--a special book for my friends and fans. After
working hard on this story and getting close to selling it, I decided that I
would go ahead and publish it myself. My father helped with some of the upfront
costs--in a sense, we basically started a publishing company (complete with the
name of Lucas Lane and the logo that I had designed a few years ago). Having
said that, I am and always will be a writer, not a publisher.
TCC: You literally creating your own
publishing company? You definitely involved yourself in every step of the
process. How much work was that? And what, if anything, did you learn about the
publishing side of writing a book?
Travis: After working 13 years in
the publishing industry, I already knew a lot about publishing. But this was
such an educational experience! I didn't go through a subsidy publisher nor did
I work with a company that does the work for you. I did everything from working
with a freelance editor, proofreader, designer, and typesetter. I paid them
what a publisher would pay them. The freelance editor is one I've worked with
on six other novels, so I trust her. The designer who did this is also the
designer who worked on my second novel, The Watermark.
I was fortunate to have contacts to
work with. A few people helped me out tremendously with the use of their
resources and time.
The biggest thing I learned was
this: if something went wrong, the blame would land on me since I was the
publisher. Let's say there was a glaring typo in the book. I'd be the one
responsible for it. This made me appreciate publishers a lot more because there
are so many things that can go wrong with a traditional printing. And I didn't
just print one hundred copies. I did the lowest quantity I could for the best
price, which ended up giving me 2,676 copies.
TCC: If Every Breath You Take was so much a product of you, then where am I
supposed to buy it? Amazon? eBay? Are you selling them door-to-door?
Travis: It's been too cold to go
door-to-door. I'm waiting for springtime! No, seriously, the only place to get
it right now is my website. Ultimately, my hope is to sell through the print
run and then years down the road have those copies be worth something.
TCC: Website it is, then. Once again,
handling all aspects of it yourself. Now, if you knew before you started this
project what you know now about what it would take to pull this off, do you
think you'd have even considered it?
Travis: Yes, I still would have done
it. But at certain times I questioned the time and the money I spent on this
project. If I had those two things in abundance, it'd be a different story. I
still believe the story was worth publishing. I'm delighted to hear the
response so far.
TCC: Besides this project, you also have
some other irons in the fire. Mind illuminating us on those?
Travis: I have two books coming out
this year--Broken in May and Solitary in August. The story I'm
working on now is due to come out in 2011. There's some other exciting news
that I'm dying to share but I can't at the moment. All I'll say is this: it's
amazing to see which doors God opens and closes.
TCC:
That’s great! As one who has had the privilege of reading Broken already, let me just say wow. I’m looking forward to being
able to share that review with my readers! Moving on to the last question...Well,
more of a demand. You're a major LOST fan. I've not ever seen an episode, but
I'm an honest seeker, definitely intrigued by it all. In three sentences or
less, make me a fan of the show.
Travis: I love to see real, flawed
characters on journeys of redemption. I also love when things aren't always
explained or when stories don't always fit into a box. Lost is about
characters I've grown to love who are all on a surreal journey toward hope or
damnation.
TCC:
Well, I think that love is reflected in your own writing. Thanks for taking
time out of your schedule to allow my pestering you. Maybe if I can ever get my
nose out of a book, I’ll check out this phenomenon that is LOST. Readers,
remember – 2,676 copies total – once they’re gone, they’re gone. Don’t miss out
on this unique opportunity to get a great book. And you can only buy it here.
Angels. We certainly do have a fascination with
these ethereal messengers of God. Even those who do not believe in God may
ascribe to the belief of angels. We picture angels as transporting the dead to
heaven, fighting in heavenly battles, saving people from mysterious accidents,
or some other phenomena. Perhaps we remember the author of Hebrews, when he
mentioned that some had entertained angels unaware of the heavenly nature of
their guest.
But what does the Bible say about angels? Dr. David
Jeremiah takes us on an extensive study of angels, determining their Biblical
function and purpose, and what that means for us today. With clarity and
reason, Jeremiah cuts through the hype and warns us to be cautious in ascribing
any unexplainable phenomena as the doings of angels. Moreover, Jeremiah reminds
us that the angels are created beings, as we are, and not on the level of God.
Therefore, we must be careful not to make angels an idol.
After this caution, Jeremiah proceeds to explain
what angels are, when they appear, and how they compare and contrast to humans.
Done in a straightforward manner, Jeremiah pulls together all the Scriptural
data regarding angels and draws his conclusions based upon the Biblical data.
Also included are chapters on named angels (Gabriel, Michael) and their
appearances in Scripture. Jeremiah also spends time discussing the Angel of the
LORD, his appearances, and the theological debate as to whether this is an angel
or the pre-incarnate Christ.
Altogether, Angels
is a solid theological read, yet is easily accessible to the layperson. It is
easily the most informative and helpful study of angels that I have read. It
shies away from the sensationalism that much discussion of the topic engenders,
and even cautions against it. For the Christian lost in the modern “spiritual”
concept of angels, this book is a must-read. It removes the modern stereotype of
an angel as a “nice feeling” and restores it to the Biblical sense as the
created spiritual messengers of God.
You can buy Angels here. Review copy provided by WaterBrook Press
Someone—or
something—is out to get Michael
Gedden. The 14 year old has had a weird day, and the church trip to St. Louis
City Museum will either be a break from the weirdness…or a continuation. From a
mysterious bus that nearly runs him over that nobody else notices to an IM from
a mysterious stranger, Michael isn’t quite sure what to make of what’s going
on.
He
meets up with his best friend Samantha and the two go off to explore this
unique and interactive museum. At first, the museum seemed too good to be true.
From caves, a circus, a gigantic ball pit…what kind of museum is this? As it turns
out, Bazow based this museum directly on the St. Louis City Museum, which makes
me want to visit this place if I ever get out to see the Gateway of the West.
But something that may make me stay away? Bazow’s depiction of demon-possessed
security guard Victor Boone.
Michael
and Sam find themselves unwitting players in Boone’s sadistic game. The rules
are simple: survive until dawn. Michael and Sam must do what they can to
survive, and use the only power they have—the power of prayer.
Gedden’s Armor
had a lot of potential. With a great location-based plot and interesting
characters, it will appeal to kids mostly under the age of 14. That’s just my opinion.
Probably my favorite part of the book was what turned out to be a brief aside
regarding an incident in Michael’s past. Nonetheless, there were a few things
about the book that I think made it fall short of its potential.
Some
of the book’s subplots seemed a bit underdeveloped. I would have liked to have
known more about the museum and what role it played in Stone’s possession. It
was implied that the museum was the cause of the possession, as well as the
source of other otherworldly things, but this is not explained. Overall, these
are probably not things that the target audience will pay much attention to,
but they are things that I felt could have been improved upon.
Gedden’s Armor
tells an interesting story set in a great-location and the plot, while weak at
points, is sold overall.
When I was given the opportunity by Waterbrook Press to review Tea With Hezbollah by Ted Dekker and Carl Medearis, I was excited. I'm a longtime fan of Dekker and am constantly amazed by his insightful and gripping fiction, which has propelled him all the way to the New York Times bestsellers list. I knew Ted would have a unique take on the issues in the Middle East, and I couldn't wait to read Ted's words as he recounted his adventure with Carl Medearis. But enough about what I thought about Tea With Hezbollah. You can read that review in full right here.
You want to know about the contest, the one where I was giving away a copy of Tea With Hezbollah to someone else. The publishers were nice enough to give me a copy to give away, and I thought "Hey, here's an idea...let's try to draw some people to my Facebook fan page." Just to incite some competition, I even added in a 2nd place prize. I thought if I got a couple people to refer 10 friends or a bit over that I could call the contest successful.
I. Was. Completely. AMAZED. at the sheer number of referrals that came in, and the many more fans that joined without being referred. All in all, The Christian Critic went from 106 fans at the beginning of the contest to 506 at the contest's end. What sort of arm-twisting, blackmailing techniques were used to get that many people to become a fan, I don't know. And hopefully even though you may have been a bit coerced to join, I can convince you that being a regular reader is worth it.
But enough introduction...let's announce our winners.
1st Place - Josh Hurst - 106
2nd Place - Katie Gaylean - 65
Josh will be receiving a copy of the just released Tea With Hezbollah while Katie will receive a copy of The Martyr's Song by Ted Dekker. If you two would please send me your information by contacting me here, I'll get your prizes out to you as soon as possible.
For the rest of you, keep watching for future contests! We average around one a month here at The Christian Critic, and next time it just might be you in the winner's circle. Thanks to everybody that played. It was a blast. If you haven't ordered Tea With Hezbollah already, do so soon!
What would you do if you knew the fate of the world
depended on your action or inaction? The Kings’ battle with Taksidian is raised
to new heights when the Kings step into a portal that takes them to the future
and they realize the end goal of Taksidian’s plans. It isn’t just about Mom
anymore. It’s about everybody everywhere. And the Kings are beginning to wear
down.
In return, Taksidian has stepped up his game,
determined to get rid of Jesse, the one man who might know enough about the
house to stop him. The journey continues with more suspenseful scenes and more
dramatic turns. Questions are answered, but more are raised.
The Kings, tired of defending their home decide to
turn the tables on their formidable enemy. And as the last pages close, one
question remains: Was that the right decision? Timescape launches
readers into the second half of the Dreamhouse Kings saga, which culminates
with the already released Whirlwindand the to-be-released conclusion, Frenzy.
Liparulo continues to raise the stakes and heighten
the suspense as the series progresses. Unforgettable characters are combined
with excellent storytelling that leaves the reader begging for more. If you
haven’t read the Dreamhouse Kings
saga, Timescape isn’t the place to start. Each book in the series
builds upon the previous, so you must be begin with book one, House of Dark Shadows. But I warn you,
just like the mysterious portals in the King mansion, these stories are sure to
suck you in and drop you in the middle of adventure.
You have heard that it was said, 'Love your
neighborand hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies. – Jesus of
Nazareth
In the West everyone speaks about love, love, we all
gotta love, but when it comes to showing the kind of love that got the prophet
killed, few seem much interested. – Ted Dekker
Let me set the scene for you if I may. The elevator
takes you quietly to your floor. Your mind still reels as you consider that the
city you are in is not a warzone now, but could be at any minute. You’re taken
to a room where you will meet with the second-in-command of a political
organization recognized by the United States as a terrorist organization. Tea
is brought before you. You’ve come to talk about the ethic of Love, and the
prophet of Love who died for His message. But you can’t help but be nervous.
After all, it is not often one has Tea With Hezbollah.
Join New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker
and Middle East relations expert Carl Medearis as they chronicle their journey
through the Middle East on a quest to ask our perceived enemies some personal
questions. What makes you laugh? When did
you cry last? What do you think about Jesus’ statement that one should love his
enemies? From a taxi driver to the Hezbollah to a couple of Osama Bin Laden’s
brothers, Dekker and Medearis strip away the stereotype of the nameless,
faceless identity all too easily called an enemy to reveal real people who
laugh and cry, have hopes and dreams, and tuck their children into bed at
night.
With transcripts taken directly from Dekker’s tape
recorder, Tea With Hezbollah recounts word for word their interviews with
figures nearly impossible to interview. And what they have to say will surprise
you. This is a groundbreaking book that explores the issues in the Middle East with
a unique take that could not have been conceived, let alone achieved, by any
others. Hearts and minds will be changed as through the story, the point is
made very clear. When it comes to loving one’s enemy, nobody does it awfully
well, be they Christians, Jews, or Muslims. To really love one’s enemy we have
to understand their perspective, think from their view, and walk in their shoes…We
must make ourselves more like Jesus, who not only preached a gospel of Love,
but while we were yet his enemies, loved us enough to die in order to save us.
Tea
With Hezbollah, is, in two words, absolutely
outstanding. I have no doubts that many will hate this book because of the
message it is trying to share. Love terrorists? But the message doesn’t come
from these two authors. They’ve just picked up on it from the one named Jesus.
I could go on about the concepts discussed in this
book for a long time. Theme aside, Dekker’s writing in top-notch and the book
is infused with a parable that drives the point straight home. There are many
tidbits that I would love to share, but I shall leave that for you, the reader,
to discover on your own. If you’d like to know more about Tea With Hezbollah and
the concepts it discussing, register for the live web event Why Do You Fear Me?which will take place January 28 at 8pm EST. Dekker and Medearis
will be joined by former South Carolina governor David Beasley in an honest and
unscripted conversation about the Middle East.
Dekker and Medearis have gone where few men would
dare go, and yet come back preaching a message of Love. Get this book. You will
not disappointed.
