Progress Continues

I've been out of town, so I am a couple of weeks out of the loop. However, I am still making progress. Here's from my original listing:

Leading from Your Strengths by John Trent, Rodney Cox, & Eric Tooker completed but not reviewed--I'm still struggling with how to review this book on leadership that didn't lead.
Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel completed & reviewed
The Kingdom Focused Church by Gene Mims currently reading (about halfway done)
True Grit by Charles Portis completed & reviewed
Skin by Ted Dekker currently reading (about 1/3 finished)
The Great Giveaway by David Fitch this one was recommended by a friend. I haven't found it in the bookstores yet.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson completed, reviewed, and watched the movie--a pleasant surprise (see the movie review here)

I've also had the opportunity to read and review a bonus book. So I'm happy with the progress so far.

Benjie's Bonus Book

As promised, I've finished a bonus book--Bill Engvall's Just a Guy. I've reviewed it here, and would recommend it for a good laugh especially to those "guys" out there.



Up next: Skin.

Benjie's Week Five

I've finished Katherine Paterson's award-winning Bridge to Terabithia. Read the review here. Now I'm ready to watch the video of the recent adaptation. I'm expecting to be disappointed because of the great writing in the book. I've also been disappointed in the previews of the movie which depict more of a fantasy picture made from a book that is more of a coming of age story.

Coming up, a review of the bonus book my children gave me for Father's Day and Ted Dekker's Skin falls into the queue.

Benjie - Week 4

I'm this close to finishing Bridge to Terabithia. It is better than I remember it. I plan to rent the new movie as soon as I'm finished reading (the review to follow will probably lambast the movie in favor of the book). I've also completed my reading of Leading from Your Strengths. It is a small volume based on a leadership seminar. I can see how the seminar might be helpful, but without it the book lacks some luster. I'm still debating on whether or not to post a review.

In other news, I'm also approaching completion of a bonus book (a gift for father's day). More on that when the review is done.

More to come.

Benjie -- Week 3 Update!

I must confess that I completed Confessions of a Pastor. I read this one because I'm a minister. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to live life genuinely. I've now finished two of my list and am ready to begin more (more, more, more reading for the summer). To read my review of this book click here.

More to come

Benjie -- Week 3

I've finished True Grit. It was refreshing to read a book that the movie had not destroyed, especially since the movie was part of my memory long before I read the book. To see my review click here.

In other news I'm almost finished with Confessions of a Pastor and should be starting more books in the next day or two.

More to come,
Benjie

Week 2 Update (from Texas)

I've nearly completed Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel. It is a thought-provoking book about being genuine in a world where we usually want to play games for acceptance. I can't wait to get home from this business trip so I can finish True Grit. Having been gone ten days (and leaving the paperback on a table somewhere in the house), I feel almost like I've been on a cliff-hanger season ending at the beginning of summer, waiting for the fall season to pick up to catch the resolution.

On this trip I picked up several new books that are work related. Some of them may make an updated list.

AAAAAAAAAGH!

We left for a business trip (leaving early for a family emergency) and our packing got side-tracked. So here I am in Texas and True Grit is sitting somewhere in Illinois. I'll have to wait a week to finish and see how true the movie stayed to the book! And I only have a third left!

On the bright side--Confessions of a Pastor (also on my list) made it into the suitcase and I'm halfway through already. I'm looking forward to reviewing it on Book 'em Benj-O next week. So far it's been funny, engaging, challenging, and enraging, all at one time.

More to come,
Benjie

Books Added to My List

I found three other books I hope to complete by the deadline:

• Leading from Your Strengths by John Trent, Rodney Cox, & Eric Tooker
• Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel
• The Kingdom Focused Church by Gene Mims

In way of report for week 1, I'm about halfway through with True Grit. It seems that the movie industry tried to stay pretty close to this one. In that respect it's difficult to see the characters as described because Rooster Cogburn just looks like John Wayne.

More to come

Benjie

Hello, and I'm Starting

My name is Benjie. I blog at Loom & Wheel, and review at Book 'em Benj-O. I have a tumbling to be read pile, but here are the first picks for the summer:

• (currently reading) True Grit by Charles Portis (recommended at The Rap Sheet)
• Skin by Ted Dekker
• The Great Giveaway by David Fitch
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (this is a re-read, before renting the new movie)

More to come as I dig into the pile.