Fear to Freedom by Rosemary Trible

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Rosemary Trible's book about Fear to Freedom is a book about a courageous woman blessed with a heart of forgiveness. Rosemary Trible experienced a brutal rape by a man totally unknown to her. Although this experience is one of the most dreaded of all women,  Rosemary Trible did not give up and hide in a personal shell. Ultimately, she went on with her life. After the rape her life was led like a new person. She became centered on forgiving the most hardest to forgive of people. Unbelievably, through the help of Christ she forgave the man who had raped her.

Rosemary Trible also began to give and give of herself. Her good deeds began to become the most important part of her life along with her husband and children. I remember especially her time spent with Mother Theresa. There was no diseased person Rosemary's hand would not reach out to touch or to hug. One very bad experience led her to blossom like a rose.

Unfortunately, the rape wasn't the only horrible experience that would happen in her life. She would also become trapped in her vehicle during a snow storm. Days spent in a hospital would become a time of miraculous visitations from people whom she loved. These people including her godson and the rapist would lead her into a light she called a near life experience. These people would hold her close, surround her with a spiritual love while she made her way back to family and friends here on earth.

There are many scriptures in the book mixed with her story. These scriptures made me feel like I was having the chance to learn more about Christ's love for me. She mentioned the scripture about our name being written in his hand. She also mentioned His not remembering our sins throwing them as far as the East is from the West.

I enjoyed meeting her family. I think Rosemary Trible was a supermom. For years her husband worked in the House of Representatives. Then, he became senator. Then, he would become headmaster of a college. Rosemary mentioned that it seemed like every six years there seemed to be a major change in their life. Without a doubt she geared up for new experiences and gave her all.

I learned from this book that forgiveness is more than just a word. Forgiveness also includes action. Now, the word "forgiveness" is a word I take very seriously. Sometimes I say a word so often it kind of loses it's power. The light or the neon glow of the word is drained of God's Spirit. It becomes another ordinary word from a dictionary. This one act "forgiveness" allows a fearful person to become whole and brave again. This is a truly inspired book. Rosemary Trible travels the world helping those in need. At the same she traveled to my side and made me see there is more comfort and love free to me than I could ever realize.  I also do not have to live my days in fear. All I have to do is accept the invitation.

The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar

About Author

Sheena Iyengar's groundbreaking research on choice has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Security Education Program. She holds degrees from UPenn, The Wharton School of Business, and Stanford University. She is a professor at Columbia University, and a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award. Her work is regularly cited in periodicals as diverse as Fortune and Time magazines, the NYT and the WSJ, in books such as Blink and The Paradox of Choice.

The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar is a book that fascinated me. As Sheena Iyengar points out in every moment I make a choice. Knowing this fact made me hope this book would give me a secret formula to making future personal choices. I loved the beginning because here is Sheena Iyengar's autobiography. I think her life is tremendously fascinating. I wanted to learn all about choice by looking through the window of her life. Learning about her parents' marriage in India was truly like a movie scene.

I was not ready to move away from the author's life. The rest of the book is the comparison and contrast of case studies. Really, the book came a little difficult for me to follow as a layperson. I do admit some of the studies are interesting. Always, I loved the personal anecdotes more than the seemingly cold case studies. I am sure many people will enjoy this book. I would advise keeping it on your list if you are a scientific person.

MY OWN Personal SOAP OPERA BY Libby Malin

My Own Personal Soap Opera by Libby Malin is one review I've put off writing. First of all, I adore the title. It made me laugh before I ever opened the book. I have experienced times when I was going so fast, running in to unexpected situations that I needed to write a book about my experiences or at least, write this author for help.

The book is about Frankie. She is a head writer. The person who comes up with the wonderful and exciting beginnings, middles and endings of Soap Operas. All day whether dating, drinking coffee or talking to her mom Frankie is thinking about serious plots for daytime tv.  I loved the premise of the story. I did chuckle at times too. I loved Frankie's mom. She should have been paid as a writer for soap operas who worked at home.

I felt as though at times the story was moving ahead very fast without any one focus. I really enjoyed the "real" mysterious burglar who leaves roses behind after doing a crime. In other words, I liked the crime element.  On the front of the book these words were written "Looking for reality in all the wrong places." I think that's a secret side of myself.

I think this statement is the heart of the book. Am I after years of experience still looking for happy endings and pearl droplets on roses in my life? Have I made peace with the fact that reality does not always come in the way I would wish? My father use to say to my nephew "you've made your bed now lie in it." I've heard other older people say this cliche too. It seems like a cruel statement. The statement is not cruel as much as a way of shocking the other person to come back down to earth and deal with the "real" stuff of life.  I do know that Libby Malin's book, "My Own Personal Soap Opera" is not only humorous but truthful as well.  I do like the Frankie the book ends with "She typed and typed until two in the morning, excited by her ideas, on fire to share them with the world." Oh, if you choose to look at the soap opera on tv, the title of it is Lust of Life.