Thursday, September 15, 2011

Lioness Arising Book Review


Read Chapter 1 here
Listen to a portion of the book read by Lisa here

I recently finished Lisa Bevere's newest book. I had not read any of her books before, so didn't have any idea what to expect. The title was intriguing and I couldn't wait to start it!
I was a little disappointed. I have read lots of "get off the couch and change the world" books, because that's just who I am. I am totally the lioness Lisa describes in her book! Maybe I've just read a few too many and the message is getting a little redundant for me. It's another activist book with a pinch of modern church feminism thrown in for good measure. See chapters 5 and 6, especially the introduction quote for 6. The framework of the book is personal life application of the lioness, and I felt that saved the book for me. It was fascinating.
  I do like The Message paraphrase of the Bible, and she uses that throughout the book. However I felt it was unfortunate that she used a paprahrase to "back up scripturally" some of the ideas about women in the church. Sad face. I admit also to being annoyed by  her use of many "churchy" catch phrases,that's just a personal quirk of mine. I don't like that kind of thing in writing.
But I got alot out of the book and some things changed me.
 I was highly interested in her research and life application of the lioness. She made such an impression on me that I will never forget the visual of the lionesses and their community. The way they raise and train and protect all the young in the group, and the way they are stronger for building the sisterhood amongst themselves, even to feeding and nurturing not only the cubs and each other but their lion (s). The way they set up their community and it's application for us is what really struck me. I'll never forget it and plan to do a little more reading on it on my own.
 Lisa wrote words that I had always felt but didn't have. Her ability to articulate a strong need in our country I think, made me proud of her and that portion of the book. We are too isolated, and it makes us weak. I have said to friends for years how much healthier our families would be if we built a strong, supportive community and branched out of that to include others. Too many of us (certainly my family) live without the benefit of grandparents, aunts, uncles or even parents. Women are the makers of community, it's one of the chief ways we bless our families. We build it with food, talk around the table, family parties and get-togethers, marking special occassions, etc. Teaching family values and family loyalty from the cradle has always been important to me, and I think that helps the kids identify strongly as part of the family over their peers later on.
I didn't enjoy the book as much as I'd anticipated but I did take away the life-changing determination to get busy building that community for my family!
*Please take some time to rank my review*




 “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review”

2 comments:

  1. Your post alone convicted me, Dalyn! You have a gift for reviews~ I am too much of a people pleaser to clearly critique. Good job! I have failed the past couple of years at building community for various reasons. You've given me lot's of things to ponder today:))

    I think of you and your little ones and your farm often. Just an FYI~ I won first place on the goats milk feta at our little fair! Thanks for the inspiration!

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