KMM

Practical, powerful, and poignant

Revisado: 04-13-21

Practical, powerful, and poignant.

I could talk at length about this book, but I will try to keep it concise. Written thoughtfully, the chapters are easy to break down, and offer discussion questions. The author not only draws on her own experiences of living neurodivergent, she includes quotes and experiences from individuals who have a wide variety of differences or disabilities.

The narrator, Kristina Wenger, has read several audio Orthodox books I have listened to. She is easy to understand, warm, and handles even the numerous endnotes smoothly, a feat often made clunky by other narrators.

As a mother to a son who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Sensory Disorder, we have been on quite the hunt for resources and support that are neither militant nor totally submissive to the whims of my child. This book time and again reminds us to see everyone who whole people, made in the image of God, and gives innumerable practical tips and ideas for how to welcome and include everyone in our churches. I cannot recommend it enough!

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Engaging storyline, but a wee issue with accents

Revisado: 03-11-21

I read the Kindle and enjoyed it SO MUCH (Binged the first and second in the series in a week!) I just had to get the audiobook too. The world building Erica has done, the authentic struggle of healing from tauma, and steamy slow burn is FANTASTIC.

The voice actors do a great job of bringing the emotion to the scenes, and giving each character their own voice. But, having been to Scotland, I felt like the accent for Ruarc was a bit... off. It took me a few days to put my finger on it, but they both make him sound more Russian, than Scottish. Which is hilariously impressive as I feel Russian accents are significantly more challenging than Scottish ones. 🤣 However, it's still great.

Do yourself a favor and get this now (and read the Kindle version of the second book since it hasn't been made into an audiobook yet) and just pretend Ruarc is from Russia and you'll be fine!

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Couldn't get past the condescension

Revisado: 02-16-21

I stuck it out through several chapters because this came so highly recommended. But the way the author continually mocks parents who don't do what she recommends is just gross. My son is almost 5 and has sensory issues that has made potty training unsuccesful. And yet she insists over and over that if kids aren't potty trained at the age of 2, it's the parent's fault and shames us.

It's good to be confident in your research and your approach, but if you could convey that without being so condesending maybe I would have made it through the entire book. But then again, she may not have had anything helpful for a non-neurotypical child anyway. 🙄

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Like a conversation with your kind, wise Grandpa.

Revisado: 10-27-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Lovely little book, that was a quick listen. BUT - don't just zoom through it! Read a little and then sit with it for a bit. This is the kind of book I know I will listen to multiple times, and each time glean something new from it. Such wonderful, gentle Orthodox wisdom and advice. At first I struggled with the author's measured narration, until I realized that this was one more place that our hurried GoGoGo culture was impacting me. The audiobook gave me the opportunity to slow down and be really intentional and present. I no longer have a living grandfather, and so it became such a nice time when I would sit and listen to a voice that epitomizes Grandfathers.

Download this, then snuggle up with a cozzy blanket and hot tea, and imagine sitting and conversing with Albert Rossi.

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Poignantly Written

Revisado: 08-07-20

I had quite the journey with this book. It is evident throughout that the author has a great love for Princess Ileana who became Mother Alexandra, and has clearly gone through innumerable research sources of interviews, letters, and autobiography. The narrator, too, had clearly put much thought into her performance, using Eastern European pronunciation of names and places. This was greatly appreciated by me, as I likely would have otherwise butchered many beautiful names otherwise! The narrator is also incredibly engaging, and even the parts of the book I struggled with, she had a way of drawing me forward.

I will admit there were some difficult moments for me. Perhaps it is because I am a mother, but the way Princess Ileana is described as a child is, well, hard to believe as real. Even the best, sweetest, most generous children will have times of being tired, cranky, mischievous, and downright disobedient. The idea that Princess Ileana was ALWAYS good, selfless, polite, etc just felt like a work of fiction. The other part I struggled with was the way it appeared she was praised for suppressing her own grief or struggle as she "did her duty" as a princess. As someone who has spent many years in therapy this set off many alarm bells, I don't believe the degree to which Princess Ileana had to bottle herself up and compartmentalize at such a young age is healthy. HOWEVER, once I got beyond those parts I was fascinated by what she experienced, and endured, as she survived World War I, World War II, and the Soviet invasion. For better or worse, the training she had as a child to hide her feelings allowed her to feign compliance with political tyrants so that she could protect her people as best she could. There is no doubt that reading the conditions of those times; food shortages, medical shortages, heating shortages so that they consumed rotten food, had 3 men to a hospital bed, and other horrors put the pains of our current pandemic into a different light. It does not seem quite so hard to stay home, eat boring food, or wear a mask compared to all that!

Most of all though, I had this incredible realization of how close history can seem. When it begins at her birth in 1909 that feels impossibly long ago. The world described feels so foreign it may as well be 1509 or set in a fantasy novel in another realm. And yet, as the dates continued along I realized she was actually alive at the same time as myself, as I was born in 1985 and she reposed in 1991! To think of all the inventions and change she saw, and then for her to bring Orthodox faith with her into America, through all she had seen and been through. To build the first Orthodox women's monastery, and what an immeasurable impact that has had! I finished the book with such a sense of awe and gratitude for Mother Alexandra, which I think is truly the best way to end.

I was supplied a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

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Excellent, engaging and practical!

Revisado: 04-24-20

Having had the opportunity to meet the Elissa previously at a women's retreat, so hearing her voice made me feel transported back to that special day!

It was so easy to get caught up in all that she was sharing. What Elissa and Caleb have done so fluidly is weave Orthodox theology, with a variety of traditions and advice on how to apply it in your home, while acknowledging that every home will be a little different and find it's own unique application. Therefore her advice is neither too rigid that it feels unattainable, nor too vague that you are left uncertain where to begin. As a busy parent I really appreciate feeling like every bit of time listening to this audiobook was time well spent. She also intersperses with humorous anecdotes so that even if my kids overhear the recording they find themselves charmed into listening too!

As an adult convert, I often feel like there is just SO MUCH that I don't know, about our rich theology and traditions, it is daunting to know how to begin instructing my kids when I still have so very much to learn. This book has really helped give me so many ideas and tools for ensuring that I not only live my faith on a daily basis for my own spiritual growth, but so that I am doing all I can to raise my children to have a deep faith and personal relationship with God.

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Boring man and weirdly accented woman get together

Revisado: 06-13-14

What did you like best about City of Heavenly Fire? What did you like least?

I found Jason's tone dry and boring for such an active story. He's better off suited for non-fiction. Sophie's jump from American to British accents had me constantly confused. I didn't understand the choice at all. I couldn't finish it, I'll have to buy it and read it myself.

What didn’t you like about Jason Dohring and Sophie Turner ’s performance?

I found Jason's tone dry and boring for such an active story. He's better off suited for non-fiction. Sophie's jump from American to British accents had me constantly confused. I didn't understand the choice at all.

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