Vicki read and liked Ann's review of The Stoning of Soraya M.: A True Story:

" This is one Iranian woman's story of suffering under the supposed justice system of Sharia law in Iran ... it is even more heartbreaking when you consider that it took place relatively recently, and still occurs today. I discovered this book by way ...more This is one Iranian woman's story of suffering under the supposed justice system of Sharia law in Iran ... it is even more heartbreaking when you consider that it took place relatively recently, and still occurs today. I discovered this book by way of a tv interview of an Iranian actress that plays a role in the recent movie by the same name (as the book). She also confirmed that Sharia law still allows for the stoning of women in Iran.
This book is small ... but the author (a journalist) powerfully tells the story of Soraya M.who suffers in an arranged marriage. Her husband basically involves himself in a diabolical plot to "frame" his wife to make it look like she is unfaithful to him ... and then self-righteously demands the most extreme penalty under Sharia law, stoning. He does this out of lust for another woman whom he wants to marry. Soroya's aunt is the old woman who recounts the story of her niece's stoning to the journalist author and demands the story be told to the whole world. She is the hero in the book. Because she is an old woman, she gets away with confronting the village leaders and immam with their shameful injustice. It is to no avail however,because in the end, the whole village is whipped up into a terrible frenzy of blind hatred and violence, and Soroya is murdered in cold blood.
The saddest thing that I think is apparent in this story, is that "religion" and "God" are twisted and used by these wicked men to justify something that would never be considered lawful otherwise. I had to think of the woman brought to Christ after being caught in the "very act" of adultery. The religious leaders were CERTAIN that He would have to pronounce the death sentence on her, but instead, Jesus looked into their hearts and said those powerful words,"He who is without sin, cast the first stone." They were brought face to face with their OWN sin and had to depart. Her life was restored, and He sent her on her way with these words, "Go and sin no more." The God of Islam, does not know anything about mercy ... neither do its most radical followers. We would do well to remember this when faced with the fact that radical islamists are trying to make inroads into our own culture and country.(less) "

Vicki read and liked Rob's review of The Underground History of American Education: A School Teacher's Intimate Investigation of the Problem of Modern Schooling:

"six stars. where do i click to give six stars?

i don't even know how to convey the wonderfulness of this book. john taylor gatto taught 8th grade english for 30 years in NYC. in his final few years he was named NYC and NY State Teacher ...more six stars. where do i click to give six stars?

i don't even know how to convey the wonderfulness of this book. john taylor gatto taught 8th grade english for 30 years in NYC. in his final few years he was named NYC and NY State Teacher of the Year. then he quit in disgust, his resignation letter ending up published in the Wall Street Journal. he quit because he finally realised that universal compulsory schooling does ghastly harm to every human life it consumes. after he quit, he did 10 years of frantic research to find out how such a system could have come into existence. this book is so well researched, it blew me away.

yes, it's about the history of education, but it's also about the history of american business, about the meaning of life, about politics, bureaucracy, philosophy, psychology, good and evil, the genius of the western outlook, utopianism, progressivism, fabianism, eugenics, phrenology, and so much more.

maybe what best conveys my love of this book is the fact that i plan to write a letter to the author. i have never written a letter to an author in my life.

the book can actually be read free online, in its entirety, at http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/...(less) "

Vicki read and liked Ann's review of Heaven's Calling: A Memoir of One Soul's Steep Ascent:

" Well, I finished this autobiography last night. It was a wonderful glimps into the events in LeeAnne Payne's life (early life especially) that shaped her and uniquely prepared her for the wonderful healing ministry she founded and remains such a gi...more Well, I finished this autobiography last night. It was a wonderful glimps into the events in LeeAnne Payne's life (early life especially) that shaped her and uniquely prepared her for the wonderful healing ministry she founded and remains such a gifted part of. I was surprised to find that her childhood "church" experience closely resembled my own very conservative upbringing ... her reflections on all of that were a delight for me to read. She gives such insightful reflections also on the Holy Spirit renewal movement (charismatic movement) that was sweeping so many churches in the 60's and 70's and bringing all manner of changes to even mainline denominations. I also could relate to that as I was a "searching" teen in those years and was caught up in the renewal movement with some resultant pitfalls that could have been rather detrimental ... God was so faithful to protect me in those years!! I loved her reflections on the Midwest ... as I grew up in IL, the state where she and her daughter eventually moved. As is always her style, she cannot just "tell" her story, but goes off on little rabbit trails to expound on the lesson(s) learned at various stages of her life ... often incorporating information found in her other books ... so that the book at times seems a bit choppy.I loved her telling about her daughter and the relationship they had ... and would have loved to hear more about her daughter and how she related to her over the years in ministry. She sort of drops that subject after telling how her daughter got married and moved to England where she and her husband were a part of a Christian ministry there ... after that we hear NOTHING more about her daughter. I want to know more !
Overall, however, the book was a delight ... and a wonderful reminder to me again of all that the Lord set in motion in my own life as a result of reading LeeAnne Payne's books and having the privelege of attending a Wheaton, IL PCM conference in 1998. LeeAnne is a truly remarkable, gifted woman who God continues to use in remarkable ways.(less) "