Susan

I am really loving these short novella length books- so much that I wonder what I'm missing.... Francine Rivers is a master (mistress?) at bringing out the characters in the Bible to get the message that God can use us all to His own purpose. I've done Bible Studies about Ruth but I've never contemplated what it would really be like to BE her. This book really gives you an understanding of the life and times of Ruth and why she would pledge to follow Naomi into an unknown culture- to be a beggar no less! Another wonderful story of God's Redeeming Love. Enjoyed the narrator, also.

I'm not an aural learner, so the technical explanations were harder for me to comprehend by listening the first time. Once I caught on to the pattern, I listened several more times to the explanations by the Doctor that followed each story. Either way it's an inspiring book!!

The kindergarten class who became therapists themselves!

Pretty good reading, clear and concise. I think I slowed down the book to get all of the good stuff.

I missed the subtitle before I started listening- HOPE is the word that's missing!!

Not just for students of the brain or social workers- All Policy makers and parents should hear this and learn!!

I wanted to have an edition of the Psalms for my daily devotional and this serves that purpose- barely. I find this reader to be flat and almost unemotional. Seems like he couldn't make a joyful noise if he tried. I also wish the bookmarks would line up with the Psalm numbers. For instance Chapter One is the first 7 Psalms, I think, but you don't know that until you go there and then you have to put a note on your Bookmark so you can find it again. Humpf.... frustration.

While very long (and addictive) this novel is wonderfully inspiring. Be prepared to spend lengths of your time with it. Francine Rivers does a great job developing her characters in the historical context of the early Christians in Rome and all of these stories are thought provoking. It's scary how the Roman society (as portrayed here) devolved into something similar to our society today! I'm not sure how historically accurate they might be, but I would like to think they are....
I wanted to particularly mention the narrator- he does a fabulous job differentiating the characters by voice, being consistent throughout which is very helpful considering the variety of males and females who hold conversations in the story.