Book Review - Double Header

I managed two books this month - yes! And I almost had a third, but the month ran short and Hawaii is beckoning. This month's selection was a novel and a memoir. First, the novel:

A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell. A fictionalized account of a U.S. agent's dangerous journey through Soviet Russia. This was a pretty good book with an amazing story and it was a pretty quick read. Retelling or explaining the story is actually more interesting than the book itself was because the writing is a little slow and the author gave a lot of background info on himself that didn't necessarily need to be there. That being said, there were some truly amazing stories in his book, a wonderful message of hope and faith, and I really appreciated the shared insights and perspective on the workings of Soviet Russia and its people. I give it one thumb up - great reading material for a long car, plane, or train ride.

The Place of Knowing by Emma Lou Warner Thayne. I can't say enough of about the beauty of this book. I had the privilege of meeting Emma Lou last November and I was super excited to read her newest book (especially since my mom got it signed for me!!!) which she calls a "spiritual autobiography." She is a poet and though there are many beautiful poems included in this book, all of the prose has the grace and power of her poetry. It was the kind of prose that has to be read slowly and contemplatively, and now that I've finished, I feel like I need to read it again to absorb it even more fully.

Emma Lou writes about her spiritual progression and understanding, from having a death experience (she was hit in the face by a metal rod that came through the windshield while she and her son-in-law were driving on the freeway) to her childhood to the amazing experiences she's had as an adult as she's traveled the world. I was completely blown away by what she has done in her life and the way she's embraced every experience that's come to her. She has a unique way of looking at life and an incredibly articulate way of describing it. So much of what she wrote spoke to me in a way that felt True, with a capital T. And some of my favorite parts were stories that I recognized from my mom's history with Emma Lou and it was completely delightful to me to read them from another perspective.

At the end of the first chapter was what I consider one of the most beautiful sentences of the English language that I had to immediately share with Tim and I now share with you:

Without clamor or special effects, in some quiet traveling, I had been to the place of knowing and returned with a view as broad as the galaxies and comforting as my mother's hand. It was obvious again -- the pillars of my faith were still intact, but the roof had blown blessedly off the structure to reveal a whole sky full of stars.

It's such a simple image, but so breathtaking at the same time. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to peruse the beauty of a marvelous woman's life. Four stars, absolutely.