A Kiss of Adventure

By:                    Catherine Palmer

Publisher:          Tyndale House 

Publish Date:     April 2008

     This book, about a young woman and her adventures in Africa, was quite captivating. The reader follows Tillie Thornton (short for Matilda) as she pursues a treasure that a Scottish explorer, Mungo Park, is said to have left near Timbuktu two hundred years ago. A particularly fierce tribe of nomads, the Tuarag, repeatedly attempt to kidnap Tillie and force her to take them to the treasure, but Tillie has no idea what the treasure is, or where it might be hiding. An American writer, Graeme McLeod, joins forces with Tillie, and they go from one adventure to another running from the Tuarag, and trying to determine where the treasure is. Somewhat predictably, a romance blossoms between them, and the reader silently observes each character as they cautiously peel back the 'onion layers' of their lives, unsure if they are able, or even are willing, to overcome their pasts in order to have a future together.

     This book appears to be written to the Christian reader. There are a lot of bible verses strewn about the pages; Tillie remembers these being taught to her by an African housekeeper. They are appropriately utilized in the book and help Tillie to make difficult choices as she faces various challenges. The subject of faith is significantly explored in A Kiss of Adventure. Tillie realized how easy it was for her to keep her faith in God when life was easier.   However, when she doesn't understand why difficult things keep happening, she consciously reminds herself of the truths she has been taught so that she does not become overwhelmed by her circumstances. I would recommend this book to all readers.

Veiled Freedom

By:                      Jeanette Windle

Publisher:           Tyndale House

Publish Date:      April 2009

     Veiled Freedom is an amazing book! The reader learns about the people and politics of Afghanistan through a riveting story line. The author breathed life into characters that lived and dreamed and despaired their very existences.

     The three main characters, Steve Wilson, Amy Mallory, and Jamil come together from different realities and worldviews. Steve, a private security expert, is working in Afghanistan. He is jaded and disgusted with life, especially with "freed" Afghanistan post-911. Amy is a young Christian humanitarian worker whose desire is to meet the physical and emotional needs of Afghan women and children. Jamil is an Afghan with too many life experiences, a young man with no hope for a brighter future for his country. The lives of these three people intersect in Kabul, and are forever intertwined. 

My knowledge about the difficult lives of the Afghan people has been very limited. I didn't realize the depths that greed, corruption, and misused power had wrought in this country. I didn't understand how poorly women are treated, and how little has changed within the culture as a result of Western military operations. Although a novel, Ms. Windle's well-written book is based on truth. The details she brings to each page adds significantly to the reading experience. I could smell the dusty smog of Kabul, I could hear the merchants and customers of the marketplace. 

The author also contrasted Christianity and Islam through the book. The character, Amy, believes that people should have the right to choose what belief system they adopt, and struggles as she is not allowed to share her own faith to the Afghan people. Jamil, on the other hand, vacillates between his devout adherence to the Muslim faith, and what he has read in a bible he has been given. Is love more powerful than vengeance? Does God want us to love our enemies or to find revenge for the wrongs that have befallen us? Is forgiveness attainable? As he wrestles with these questions, the reader is also confronted with their own belief system? Do we live by a system of beliefs, and let them guide our choices and decisions, or do we go about our daily lives giving lip service to a higher power yet not allow our beliefs to impact our lives?

     I would recommend this book to all readers. It is impactful and has an interesting story as well.