The Resurrection

debut novel by Mike Duran

Realms 2011
320 pages

Haunting and Redeeming

Ruby Case is an ordinary mom living a quiet life ... until her prayer and simple touch raise a boy from the dead.

Ian Clark is a disgruntled pastor, haunted by demons past and present--demons both figurative and literal. He no longer knows what he believes in. It certainly isn't the God who deserted him years ago. And Ian can't wait to remove himself from the church.

When Ruby's touch brings the boy back to life, both Ruby and Ian are thrust into a search for meaning behind this "resurrection" and uncover a spiritual darkness that's been gripping their town for years.

I've recently discovered Mike Duran's blog, deCompose, and found it to be extremely challenging and thought-provoking. I may not always agree with him, but he continuously encourages me to think beyond my typical box and that's definitely a good thing.

The Resurrection does the same by confronting our spiritual complacency and our acceptance of the status quo. It's not comfortable. And that's good.

As I was reading, questions kept invading my thoughts:

• How many of us have secrets, demons, lurking in the corners of our homes that we try to ignore or are too tired or afraid to expel?
• Miracles happen around us daily. An acorn grows into an oak tree. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Life is created when a man and a woman join together. All wondrous miracles, but ones that science can explain away. But how would we react to a Lazarus type of miracle? What would we think if our best friend's touch brought the dead back to life? Would we look to God for the answers? Or would we react with fear?
• And what about spiritual warfare? Do hordes of demons swarm around us, vying for our soul, or is that purely myth?

Those are just a few of the questions Duran raises. The Resurrection doesn't necessarily provide tidy answers. Yet, amidst the darkness, this book is filled with hope and redemption.

I don't typically read speculative fiction because it's often so far out I can't relate to the characters or the story. Duran eliminates that problem by creating very real characters. He introduces them in plausible situations, and then throws in the fantastic. By doing that, he makes this story believable and relatable.

He keeps the action moving so the book is impossible to put down, and he keeps the reader guessing. I had no clue how the story was going to play out.

While this  novel is targeted toward adults, I know teens would love it. It's one part This Present Darkness (Frank Peretti), another part The Visitation (also Peretti), another The Nightmare (Robin Parrish), yet the story is fresh and it's told with a unique voice. My teens love Peretti's The Veritas Project two-book series and have read those books numerous times. Now, they're trying Peretti's other works. Parrish's The Nightmare is one of their favorite reads and they've recommended it to their friends. And look at teens' most popular series' today: Harry Potter and Twilight. Kids are hungry to learn more about the spiritual realm. As a parent, I can't think of a better book to give them than The Resurrection.

With this debut novel, Mike Duran has proved his literary prowess and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

Learn more about Mike Duran at http://mikeduran.com/.

WORDS

debut novel by Ginny L. Yttrup

B&H Publishing Group 2011
352 pages

Haunting. Compelling. Beautiful.

Kaylee Wren is ten. And silent. She hasn't spoken a word since her drug-addicted mother deserted her, leaving Kaylee behind with an abusive man in a run down cabin hidden among redwoods. The only memento her mother left behind is a book filled with the words Kaylee can't say. A dictionary.

Twelve years ago, Sierra Dawn's horrible choices ended up robbing her daughter Annie's life. Living with the guilt steals any joy from Sierra's life.

On the twelfth anniversary of Annie's death, Sierra Dawn flees to the remote redwoods where she discovers the little girl with haunted eyes. Eyes very much like Sierra's.

The two begin a journey searching for truth and find love along the way.

Anything I could write would be inadequate in describing this novel, so I'll just leave you with a few emotions and thoughts I recorded as read this book.

Painful. Compelling. Tear-inducing. Beautiful. Sickening. Powerful. Heart breaking. Uplifting. Maddening. Inspiring. Heart wrenching. Frustrating. Redeeming. Haunting.

Grace. Mercy. Hope. Love. Beauty.

By far, this is the best book I've read in 2011 and I recommend it to anyone looking for books that dare to dig beneath the surface, that dare to get down in the dirt with the hurting and lift them up out of it.

Meet Ginny Yttrup

Ginny Yttrup is an author, freelance writer, and writing coach. She has two grown sons and lives near Sacramento, California. WORDS is her debut novel.

http://www.ginnyyttrup.com/

My Favorite Things ...

When it comes to what people enjoy in literature, readers' tastes are as eclectic as the people reading the books. What I might love, the next person probably hates. Another reader may be indifferent. I actually love it when a book has a variety of reactions; it makes for a for more interesting book discussion than when all readers agree.

So, what do I look for in a book? What are my favorite things when it comes to reading?

Musical prose:

I don't just read books, I hear them. Good prose has a tempo and meter. The tone crescendos & falls. Some books call for a staccato telling, while others require legato. Some books are written like a symphony with multi-dimensional characters and story lines, while others keep it as simple as a child's a Capella version of "Jesus Loves Me." Some books call for eight-part harmony (and dissonance), while others are best told solo. Neither is more beautiful than the other. When an author knows this about their prose, when their storyline matches the timbre and complexity of the words they choose, and their words sing from the pages, they've created a beautiful masterpiece that I will enjoy over and over again.

Complex Story Lines:

I've been a stay-at-home mom for nearly 19 years now, and that isn't necessarily conducive to deep thinking. Because of that, I crave books that proffer a challenge, books with multiple story lines weaving together, books with covert and overt symbolism, books with themes that challenge my status-quo way of thinking.

Male Protagonist:

Perhaps it's because I grew up in a household with four brothers (and two sisters), plus a male cousin who helped farm every summer, I tend to understand the male psyche better than female. I believe that women write too flowery at times, where men are typically more straight-forward. What I like the most, though, is hearing the male point-of-view. I want to know what they're thinking. I want to sympathize with their issues too, understand their problems, not just women's.

Well, that's a beginning anyway. I'm certain I'll have more Favorite Things to post as the week goes on.

I'm curious about you. What do you look for in a book? What makes you label a novel Favorite?