Review of "Love and Justice"

Fans of women's basketball or those who follow social justice issues may already know the story of Maya Moore leaving basketball in 2019 to work on freeing a man wrongly convicted of a crime.  They may even know that the two of them married after he was freed.  Even if this is the case, this book is one that must be read in order to truly appreciate their stories.  Here is my review of "Love and Justice."

Title/Author:

“Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts” written and narrated by Maya Moore Irons and Jonathan Irons

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review: In 2019, WNBA all-star Maya Moore shocked the sports world by announcing she would step away from basketball to concentrate on other part of her life that were important to her – her faith and justice for a man that was wrongly imprisoned.  That man, Jonathan Irons, was released from prison about a year later and the two of them were married.  Their remarkable journey to come together from two very different sets of circumstances is shared in this wonderful book written by the two of them

I listened to the audiobook and that was a fantastic experience.  Hearing their stories brought out many emotions – whether Maya’s road to becoming one of the greatest female basketball players of all time to the injustice of Jonathan’s conviction of a crime committed in an area where he was not located was time well spent. While a reader of the print or e-book may have the same experience, I felt that hearing their voices made their messages more powerful.  This was especially true for Jonathan’s story of his conviction on incorrect eyewitness testimony and his means of surviving in prison, especially at the start when he was still a minor incarcerated with grown men. 

Throughout the book, both Maya and Jonathan talk about their Christian faith and at times also quote Bible passages. They both give credit to the strength of their faith for helping achieve their goals, whether it is championships for Maya’s basketball teams or making it through another day in solitary confinement (“the hole”) for Jonathan. If nothing else, his strength and determination to prove his innocence should be an inspiration for all.  That is not to discount the importance of Maya’s work or her love for Jonathan in this journey.  But already knowing most of Maya’s story and learning about Jonathan’s brough me so much respect for that man that I believe he is a role model any man, of any race or creed, can look upon as a role model.

Many romance stories, especially those with a sports theme, tend to have a happily ever after ending.  This one, that happened in real life, is certainly more satisfying and any reader of any genre will enjoy this.  

Link: Amazon.com: Love and Justice: A Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts: 9781368081177: Moore Irons, Maya: Books

Review of "Paint the Black"

I received this item from the author with the expectation that it would be a book on the life of a spoiled kid who received a large signing bonus and would go on to a great life.  It didn't exactly turn out to be that kind of story, and I was glad that it was different than I expected.  Here is my review of the fictional baseball book "Paint the Black."

Title/Author:

“Paint the Black” by J. D. Dudycha

Tags:

Baseball, fiction, young adult, minor league, faith, Christianity

Publish date:

June 2, 2015

Length:

314 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Jack Burke was an eighteen-year-old high school pitching phenom who was selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.  He opted to sign a contract with a big signing bonus and what Jack encounters along the way are lessons that many young adults face when encountering difficult situations or even when hopes and dreams don’t work out the way they were planned.

J.D. Dudycha’s story of Jack is a very entertaining and compelling read because from the day that Jack is drafted, he has decisions to make.  However, a combination of immaturity, addiction and poor work ethics lead to some of those decisions having negative consequences.  While reading the book, I had a hard time connecting with Jack, something that is important to me while reading a fictional story, no matter what the topic.

He always seemed to make the wrong choice, even when he knew it would be wrong.  There is a teammate of his during his minor league baseball career who got him in trouble once, so when this same teammate was egging him on to participate in a prank that eventually cost Jack his career, I could not figure out why Jack followed this same person for a second time. 

Even when Jack realizes that chasing women is not his style and he has strong feelings for one particular woman, I had a hard time understanding why she kept taking his calls or kept trying to talk to him. While this can and does happen in real life, I still couldn’t relate to Jack’s constant self-destructive behavior, I had a hard time understanding why Sarah was still talking to him. By the end of the story when everything was coming together, it made sense but during the story, it felt a little far-fetched.  Not only the relationship between Sarah and Jack, but how so many bad things were happening at such a breakneck pace.

The baseball sections of the book are very good and any baseball fan will enjoy reading them.  Not only for the game action, but also the lifestyle of young minor league ballplayers who are chasing the dream. It helped put a proper perspective how why Jack acted like he did and also on how cruel the system can be on players who don’t make good on their dreams.

There are many aspects to Jack’s story that are good lessons for young people – how love of family is one of the strongest bonds that one has, how one’s faith (in Jack’s case, Christianity) can help guide a young person through trouble, the dangers of alcohol and drug addiction, and the grief of suffering the loss of a family member.

Despite the issues I had with Jack’s character, by the end of the book a reader will walk away feeling inspired and like he or she learned some valuable lessons. These lessons are aimed at young adults but some of the points made are good for people of all ages.  As a former baseball coach of players of Jack’s age, it is clear that Dudycha is drawing on experience in this story and the result is a good story of a young man coming of age and realizing what is important to him. 

I wish to thank Mr. Dudycha for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Pace of the book:

I found this be a very fast paced book as Jack never seemed to have any calm moments, going from one crisis to the next.  While it certainly wasn’t easy on him, it seemed to make it easier for the reader to follow along.

Do I recommend? 

Yes on several fronts.  It is a great book for young adults, male or female, athlete or non-athlete, to illustrate how love and faith can help guide them.  It is a good sports book for a glimpse into the life of players in the lower minor leagues.  Finally, it is a good book to pick up if a reader just wants to escape for a brief time and see how much trouble a young man can get into, and how he pulls himself out.

Book Format Read:

E-Book (PDF)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Paint-Black-J-D-Dudycha-ebook/dp/B00YT6WOIW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436716260&sr=1-1&keywords=paint+the+black

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paint-the-black-jd-dudycha/1122154059?ean=9781514184479

Review of "Faith In the Fast Lane"

As part of my resolution to reduce the number of books on my pile to be read, I also resolved to read those books provided by authors or publisher faster after receiving them.  This was the first book read to fulfill that part of the resolution, as I picked up this weekend after receiving it this past week.  It was a quick read and a much better book than I first believed it would be. Here is my review of "Faith In the Fast Lane."

Title/Author:

“Faith In the Fast Lane: How NASCAR Found Jesus” by Chad Bonham

Tags:

Auto Racing, NASCAR, faith, Christianity

Publish date:

January 15, 2014

Length:

192 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

While many sports tend to not intertwine faith and Christianity into the games or events, NASCAR takes a completely different approach to Christianity and welcomes faith into its “family.”   How this came to be is documented in this well-written book by Chad Bonham. Along with some history of the sport itself and many stories of the various ways NASCAR drivers have shown their faith, Bonham takes the reader on a journey of many different aspects of the life of not only the drivers, but their families, crews and fans and how their Christian faith is part of their lives.

On the back cover of the book, one of the points made is that the book will make the reader “recognize, embrace and answer God’s call on your life.” Aside from the afterword by the President of Motor Racing Outreach (MRO), I didn’t find that to be the case while reading this book.  By that, I mean that the book concentrated on telling the history of the relationship between faith and NASCAR along with personal stories from many people, mostly drivers.  The book did not come across as preaching or pleading with the reader to explore his or her relationship with God.  Instead, by telling these stories, it is up to the reader to determine if these stories will inspire him or her.

That is the tone of the stories as well. From all time greats such as Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip to young drivers like Trevor Bayne, their stories of faith and how that helps them on and off the race track are very interesting. However, drivers are not the only people featured in this book.  Bonham interviews people from all aspects of the racing experience – crew members, spouses of drivers, people who serve as ministers and workers who help spread the message are included as well. This produces a book that is not only diverse in how faith is a part of the NASCAR atmosphere, but also a book that readers of nearly all levels of faith and also any denomination can read and enjoy.

This is a book that I believe can be enjoyed by anyone who is a NASCAR fan, wants to learn about the sport’s history, or wants to learn more how the Christian faith can impact people’s lives. This book does that in a manner that does not preach nor condemn those who may not have the same level of faith as others, but still tells the way that Christianity can make a difference in one’s life. 

I wish to thank Judson Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Pace of the book: 

Because the stories and interviews are compact and woven together well, this was a very quick read for me, finishing it in less than two hours.

Do I recommend? 

Fans of NASCAR will enjoy this book, especially with the stories and background information on the early days of the sport.  Readers who enjoy faith-based or Christian-based books will also enjoy this, no matter what level of belief or faith they may feel.

Book Format Read:

Paperback

Publisher link:

http://www.judsonpress.com/

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Fast-Lane-NASCAR-Found-ebook/dp/B00GB7UKS8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421610718&sr=1-1&keywords=faith+in+the+fast+lane&pebp=1421610732475&peasin=B00GB7UKS8

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faith-in-the-fast-lane-chad-bonham/1116914184?ean=9780817017347

Review of "Double Play"

In previous reviews and posts, I have mentioned that I have been looking to add sport romance books to my reading lists, as long as they include the sport prominently.  This memoir by Ben Zobrist and his wife Julianna is one of the best - because it is a real life romance, not fictional. A book I thoroughly enjoyed, here is my review of "Double Play." 

Title/Author:

“Double Play” by Ben and Julianna Zobrist with Mike Yorkey

Tags:

Baseball, Rays, faith, Christianity romance, marriage

Publish date:

April 1, 2014

Length:

261 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

When I saw this biography of current Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist, I wasn’t sure what to take away from this book.  Knowing that he was a man of faith and that his wife was a popular Christian singer, I was expecting to read a biography about his success that was completely due to his faith in God. Ben Zobrist did talk about that, but this book was so much more than just a message of inspiration.

This couple was brought together, in both of their minds, because of their faith.  Both wanted to pursue their dreams – Ben in baseball, Julianna in music – and wanted to make sure that the path they took toward those goals was the one that they felt God would lead them to.  They are good stories; especially Ben’s when he paid $50 for a tryout that led to a baseball scholarship and eventually a professional contract.   

However, I felt what was the best part of this book was the budding romance between the two of them and how both of them never wavered from their principles just to be together.  It had to be right and within their beliefs and they made it happen.  I have noted before that I was looking for good sports romance books – that this one happened in real life made it of the best sports romances a reader could ask for.

The book alternates narratives throughout, although some of Ben’s passages about baseball are longer.  He covers every part of his career – his college days, his minor league career when he was a newlywed and the struggles he first had with Tampa and what he did to improve enough to be named to the All-Star game in 2008. There is enough baseball talk to satisfy sports fans and yet it is basic enough that readers who do not follow the game can understand.

Julianna talks about her past issues, including a harrowing experience in her youth, her struggles with relationships and her love of music that eventually led to a recording contract.  Her story also includes her relationship with God, her trials and tribulations as a baseball wife and her joy of not only doing something she loves but also her joy of being a mother.

This book was an uplifting, refreshing sports biography.  Instead of the stories of hardship, drinking, womanizing and later regret, the reader is treated to learning about two people who through the love of their God, they discovered their love for each other. 

I wish to thank NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I skim?

No

Pace of the book: 

This was an extremely quick read as I completed the book in one sitting in less than two hours.  The switching between Ben’s and Julianna’s stories was a big reason for this.

Do I recommend? 

This is a book that readers of many different genres will enjoy. There is enough baseball talk for a fan to enjoy.  Readers who like inspiring stories, especially those based around the Christian faith, will want to read this book. Romance novel readers will think one of their fictional reads will have come to real life when reading this book.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying links:

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Play-Ben-Zobrist-ebook/dp/B00IX69ISI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1416275822&sr=1-1&keywords=double+play+ben

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-play-ben-zobrist/1115951194?ean=9781433683312

Review of "The Race"

I was very happy to see this book offered on NetGalley as Darrell Waltrip was not only a great NASCAR driver during his time, but he has become a great commentator and makes NASCAR telecasts fun to watch.   Here is my review of "The Race."

Title/Author:

“The Race: Living Life On the Track” by Kyle Froman, Billy Maudlin, and Darrell Waltrip

 

Tags:

Auto racing, NASCAR, spirituality, Christianity

Published:

May 15, 2014

Length:

224 pages

Rating: 

3 of 5 stars (good)

Review:

I picked up this book hoping to be able to read more about Darrell Waltrip and gain some insight from him on his NASCAR career as both a driver and a commentator.   While there is some of that in this book, that is not the focus.  Instead, the role that God and the Christian faith has on Waltrip and the rest of the NASCAR community is the focus of this book that is co-written by Waltrip and two Motor Racing Outreach leaders. 

This isn’t to say that there isn’t any commentary on racing.  Indeed, Waltrip shares both knowledge and anecdotes about racing.  As a casual NASCAR fan, I appreciated some of his insight into some of the technical aspects of the sport, such as his explanation of how clean air helps the driver in front.  He mixes that with how his spirituality has helped him in his NASCAR life and does so without sounding too preachy – he simply shares how it has shaped him.

Similarly, the passages by Froman and Maudlin were also told in a manner not to preach but to share and possibly teach.  I especially liked the conversations they had with either fans or citizens about their spirituality.  Both men also told of how they felt that God was calling them to not only share their spirit with NASCAR drivers and crew members, but also to learn lessons from the interactions with these men and their families on their faith as well.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book once I got used to the format and the topics.  I would recommend it to NASCAR fans who want to learn more about the connection between the sport and Christianity.  If religion is a topic a sports fan wishes to avoid, then this would not be a book I would recommend.

I wish to thank Net Galley for providing an advance review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Did I skim?

I did skim some of the stories by the ministers when they seemed to be saying the same thing several times by simply quoting a different Scripture passage.  Otherwise, no 

Pace of the book: 

Good for the most part.  Aside from the aforementioned repeats of a message, both the spiritual messages and the racing stories were good.

Do I recommend? 

NASCAR fans will enjoy Waltrip’s stories and his humor, although people who are not strong followers of the Christian faith may want to skip this one and find other NASCAR books without this aspect.

Book Format Read:

e-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

None at the time of this review.