Friday, January 15, 2010

Review/Giveaway: The Last Day

A WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: The Last Day
Author: James Landis
Genre: Christian contemporary fiction
How to enter: Leave a comment on THIS post right here! If you're a subscriber or a follower, leave a second comment for a second entry.
Entry deadline: January 25, 2010
Restrictions: Open internationally!

That's right, enter right here for this giveaway. This is my review copy, so it has been gently read.
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This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Last Day

Steerforth; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)

by

James Landis



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


James Landis lives in New Hampshire.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Warren Harlan Pease, the young narrator of this spellbinding novel, returns to his native New Hampshire from the Iraq War and spends an entire day with Jesus visiting and contemplating hi own life with fresh eyes, and a willing heart. He examines his relationships to those he loves─his girlfriend, his best friend, his father, his dead mother, his daughter ─ and grapples with the pain he has been carrying since the death of his mother when he was still a boy.

While in Iraq, armed with his sniper’s rifle and his deeply held faith, Specialist Pease traveled across ideological borders and earned an appreciation for his enemy’s culture and for what connect us all as human beings. He also learned how to kill and taught others to do the same. “War doesn’t test your faith in Jesus,” Warren comes to realize. “It tests your faith in yourself.” The Last Day answers some questions and asks many more. It’s a powerful meditation on religion and war, love and loss.

This work of compassion and healing grace will resonate with skeptics and believers, be shared and discussed between friends and among families. It is a book for our time, and forever.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Chapter one of The Last Day, go HERE .

My Review

I admit, this wasn't a book I could relate very well to. I think someone with a military connection would probably have more in common. And the perspective on what happens after death is outside my comfort zone. I don't want to go into too much more detail, or it would give the book away.

That being said, the author has created some very likable characters. And I appreciate the Jesus he conveys - very down to earth, humorous, likable, and straightforward. The text itself is beautiful; descriptive; poetic. For instance, here's what one of my favorite characters - the father of Warren's girlfriend, has to say:

"Language is not life. It is the expression of life. And life is nowhere more beautifully expressed than in poetry... All words are beautiful, but not all words are used beautifully... In good poetry, all words are used beautifully... A great poem is not the expression of life. A great poem is life."

This book has me wanting to pull out all the great poems I remember from childhood and start reading them to my 2.5yo daughter now!

In spite of my discomfort with some aspects of this book, I CAN understand why it's received such a high rating from others. Its twists and turns are truly original and meaningful...

53 comments:

Mark said...

I'd like to enter - thanks
marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

409cope said...

This sounds like a great book! cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

409cope said...

I follow through google friend. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

please count me in...thanks

karenk
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sandy Jay said...

I'd love to read this. Please enter me in the drawing.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Sandy Jay said...

I'm a follower.

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mindy said...

this sounds like a great read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

Please enter me.
ludeluh(at)yahoo(dot)com

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I am also a follower.
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misskallie2000 said...

I enjoyed your review as it was straight forward and truthful. I have not read this book but would like to read. I know the war can and does change the men and women who defend us and they make honor a wonderful word. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.
I am a gogle friend
1 am a subscriber

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I would like to be entered into the draw please.

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Jonnie (JB) said...

I`m a follower

dftrew(at)gmail(dot)com

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

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Benita said...

This sounds like a book I'd very much like to read. Thanks for the possibility.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I'm a follower via GFC.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Another great looking book. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

Blog Follower

nickolay

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

electric island said...

I'd like to enter to possibly win this for my niece.
electricisland(at)gmail.com

David Johnson said...

Please count me in, thanks.

toughturtles said...

looks interesting

Anonymous said...

I love to read Christain fiction

mjmeeks5@netscape.net

Trish said...

I follow.
trishbazin@yahoo.com

Kristi said...

I'd love a chance to win.

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Kristi said...

I'm an email subscriber.

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Nickolay said...

Another great book. Thanks for the chance

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Nickolay said...

blog follower

nickolay

jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

Jan said...

I would love to read this book. Please count me in!

alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net

Jan said...

I follow your blog.

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Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good read.
shawnac68@hotmail.com

yellowlabs said...

Sounds like a fantastic read!

Heather Y said...

Thanks for hosting a great giveaway!
Heather
click4cash4me@gmail.com

cougar44 said...

This sounds very heartfelt/interesting.
I am a Follower.

Karrie said...

The Last Day sounds pretty good, add me to the giveaway please

demmi said...

sounds good please enter me
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Anonymous said...

I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

dispatcher_kristy said...

This sounds like a very heartfelt book. I would love to read it

dispatcher_kristy@hotmail.com

Sheila Hickmon said...

I'd like to read this. Thanks for the chance!
hawkgirl_16{at}hotmail{dot}com

Sheila Hickmon said...

I follow your blog as mom2anutball.


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dreamcleavers said...

dreamcleavers@yahoo.com
i can tell i would like this book

packerfantimmy said...

I come from a family of many generations of military members and we are also a religious family so this sounds very interesting to me.
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

DEBIJOT said...

I would love to read this. Thanks

dvice12 said...

This looks great

Unknown said...

It sounds like a great book. I would love to read it. garrettsambo@aol.com

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I would love to win a copy of The Last day!

zestywonderland@gmail.com

ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I follow!
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ZESTYWONDERLAND said...

I subscribe!
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Nancy S. said...

I'd like to read this.
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Nancy S. said...

I follow your blog with google friend.

cman said...

Please enter me :)

lilyk said...

Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

lilyk said...

I subscribed to your blog.