Sunday, September 12, 2010

Review/Giveaway: Choosing to SEE

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and HopeA WINNING READINGS GIVEAWAY!

Title: Choosing to SEE:  A Journey of Struggle and Hope
Author: Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn
Genre: Christian memoir/inspirational
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: September 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.
---------------

Publisher:  Revell
Physical Description: 288-page jacketed hardcover
List Price: $21.99
ISBN: 978-0-8007-1991-3
For More Info: http://www.marybethchapman.com/

Synopsis:
"Every now and then a book comes along that is not only great--it's a gift. An extravagant gift. This is one of those books."--Beth Moore


From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. Most difficult of all, God's plans for her also included tragedy.

In Choosing to SEE, Mary Beth unveils her struggle to allow God to write the story of her life, both the happy chapters and the tragic ones. And as the story unfolds, she's been forced to wrestle with some of life's biggest questions: Where is God when things fall apart? Why does God allow terrible things to happen? How can I survive hard times?

No matter where you find yourself in your own life story, you will treasure the way Mary Beth shows that even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE.
About the Author(s):
Mary Beth Chapman is the wife of Grammy and Dove Award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. Together they began Show Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to caring for the world's most vulnerable children by providing financial assistance to families wishing to adopt, as well as increasing awareness of the orphan crisis and funneling resources to orphans domestically and internationally. Mary Beth serves as president of Show Hope and is a speaker for Women of Faith 2010 with her husband. She is also coauthor with Steven of the Shaoey and Dot series of children's picture books. Mary Beth and Steven have six children: Emily, Caleb, Will Franklin, and adopted daughters Shaohannah Hope, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue, who is now with Jesus. The Chapmans live in Tennessee.
Ellen Vaughn is a bestselling author and inspirational speaker. Her recent books include It's All About Him with Denise Jackson (wife of Alan Jackson), which debuted at #1 on the New York Times nonfiction list. She is also coauthor with Chuck Colson of Being the Body. In addition to her nonfiction work, Vaughn is an award-winning novelist. She lives in the Washington, D.C., area with her husband, Lee.
What I Liked:  I've been a fan of Steven Curtis Chapman forever - I Will Be Here was the main song at our wedding in 1994, and I've thoroughly enjoyed the concerts I've had opportunity to attend - during which we were introduced to Shaohannah and experienced a life-changing interview with Steve Saint.  I've danced with my daughter to Cinderella.

So I mourned with so many others at the death of Steven's daughter, Maria, and was expecting to feel like I was meeting a family friend with this book written by his wife, Mary Beth.  I was expecting to cry - which I did.  I wasn't expecting to meet a kindred spirit in Mary Beth - how much could I have in common with a celebrity?!  Her honesty and transparency in this book are so inspiring.  I recently commiserated with a friend about how much of our lives goes unsaid, unspoken, happens behind closed doors.  We often feel as if we are the only ones suffering, because everyone else seems to be doing just fine.  Yet we have so much in common with each other - if we'd only open our eyes and SEE.

This isn't a book of rote answers.  It's the story of a woman and her struggles, a family and its challenges, and how God's interventions changed them forever.  It's one of those rare page-turning memoirs that is hard to put down.  It includes a photo album.  And for those of us familiar with Steven's music, the background and inclusion of some of his lyrics makes that music all the more powerful.

The story's not over when this book ends.  In fact, it will go on for eternity.  I'm looking forward to reading more!

What I Didn't Like:  I'll be honest here and say that, while the understanding of death conveyed in this book - the state of the dead - is a conventional Christian understanding, it differs from what I believe to be the biblical depiction of death.  As such, I felt a little uncomfortable with some interpretation of events in the book.  However, I wholeheartedly join in the hope we have of being part of Christ's eternal family and found this to be a very uplifting book.

Thanks to Baker Publishing Group for the review copy of this book

37 comments:

Shonda said...

I would love to win this book. shondaet@gmail.com

Shonda said...

I'm a subscriber. shondaet@gmail.com

Linda said...

I think the whole Christian world was grieving with the Chapmans. I know it was reported with prayer here in the Twin Cities on KTIS. I would love to read this memoir. Please enter me.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Kathy Habel said...

Please enter me
bkhabel-at-gmail-dot-com

Kathy Habel said...

I am a subscriber
bkhabel-at-gmail-dot-com

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

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

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I am also a follower.
ludeluh(at)yahoo(dot)com

Jennifer said...

I would love to win this book!!
JDb8420@aol.com

Jennifer said...

I'm a follower
Jdb8420@aol.com

fredamans said...

This looks like a beautiful book, thank you for the chance!

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

fredamans said...

I follow via GFC

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

Simply Stacie said...

Please count me in.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

apple blossom said...

please include me in this giveaway. thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

email subscriber

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Annette W. said...

I just heard Mary Beth speak at a conference. OH MY! Though she was out of her comfort zone, I really appreciated what she had to say and would like to have this book now.

Annette W. said...

I follow you too!!

Unknown said...

Wow, I didnt realize the Chapman's went through so much, I'd love a chance to read this book thanks.

unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower thanks.

unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

wmmahaney said...

I would love to be entered to win this. It is on my list of books that I want to read.
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

wmmahaney said...

I subscribe to your feed in Google Reader
wmmahaney(at)att(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win this! Thanks for the giveaway.

hismercysurrounding(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

Email subscriber /GFC Follower.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Merry said...

Please include me in the drawing for Choosing to See. Thanks!
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Merry said...

I'm a subscriber.
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

I adore this couple, and would love to read this story in print... thank you!

karenk said...

wouldl love to read mary beth's story...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

email subscriber :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Mary Beth shows tremendous courage and faith in sharing the struggles and comforts of her life with Steven Curtis Chapman. I see she is obedient to God's speaking that to help others in their struggles, we are examples of how God uses our lives hurts and joys for his glory. This will be an emotional experience for me to read this book, one I look forward to doing. Thanks for giving a copy and for the chance to win it. I hope I do.

Sharing Christ's Love,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

misskallie2000 said...

Read great reviews and would love to win this book. I know I will enjoy reading.
Thanks for the chance to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

Old email subscriber

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Katie said...

Please enter me! I would LOVE to read this!

Thanks!

~Katie G.

katiegalyean (at) yahoo (dot) com

Katie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Katie said...

I am a follower.


katiegalyean (at) yahoo (dot) com

God bless!

Jennifer said...

I would love to read this book.

Jennifer said...

I am also a follower.

jenmmcclure(at)yahoo(dot)com