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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

The Odd Things Books Make You Think of Sometimes

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Finding My Son got my brain thinking about a movie father who did everything possible to find his son, and as a result, lives were changed. via @chautonahavig

“I have to find my son!”

How many times have I heard that line from Finding Nemo?  At first, I was bugged by the idea that, once again, the parents are wrong and the kid is right.  That’s what I got out of it the first time I watched it.  But after a few more rounds, mostly skipping parts to see the ones we liked, I started seeing a deeper theme–multiple ones.

Let’s look at some of them.  Because it always amazes me that I first saw the negative–that one thing I didn’t like instead of all the richness of the rest.  Instead of the richness hidden in that one thing I didn’t like.

  1. Marlin was a fearful fish long before the barracuda stripped him of most of his family.
  2. Despite that, love gave him the courage to face fear after fear to rescue his wayward and disobedient son.
  3. His son was encouraged to be wayward and disobedient because of how Marlin exasperated said son.
  4. He never gave up on the child he loved so much.
  5. Sometimes, kids are right–even after they’ve been terribly wrong.  And acknowledging that rightness doesn’t mean that you’re condoning the wrong.  It just means you’re doing the right thing.

What does all this have to do with today’s book review?

Not much.  Not really. Still, the whole time I have looked at and read this book, I couldn’t get Marlin’s voice out of my head.  “I have to find my son!”

I wondered if that was the theme I’d find in this book, Finding My Son, on adoption.  There was only one way to find out, so I read.  And I was surprised by what I found.

The Odd Things Books Make You Think of Sometimes

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I requested and received a free review copy of this book and chose to write this review without compensation of any kind.

The Odd Things Books Make You Think of Sometimes

Joy. Pain. Rejection. Despair. Fulfillment. Peace.

I’ve heard people use those words and hundreds of others to describe their adoption process.  It’s a difficult, achingly personal road to walk, and Eric Odell-Hein does a good job showing us all the intersections, bumps, potholes, and smooth stretches.  He shows walking by faith and zooming down the highway of doubt. And all in a laid-back, conversational style.

This adoption memoir is a no-holds-barred look into how one man went from holding one position to being passionate about things he never would have dreamed of wanting much less seeking.  For those struggling with infertility, this book offers both hope and pain.  Hope that God does offer alternatives.  Pain in the wait, the uncertainty, the death of dreams, of so many things I can’t hope to understand.

The story engaged me and mostly held my attention. Some parts are oddly specific, but as a whole, it read exactly as one would expect.  While it wasn’t necessarily in my top books of 2019, I’m not sorry I requested and received the free review copy I read, and I did enjoy it well enough. I think the story would best recommended for folks dealing with infertility, considering adoption, or who love memoirs on either of those subjects.

Finding My Son 

Finding my sonAbout the Book

Book: Finding My Son

Author: Eric Odell-Hein

Genre:  Christian Memoir, Adoption

Release Date: February 21, 2018

Eric was perfectly happy being one half of a dual-income, no-kids family. Having the freedom to travel the world with his wife Christine, while indulging his hobbies and furthering his education and career, was a pretty sweet life.  

 Christine wanted to be a mom.  

 Though he was scared he didn’t have what it took to be a good dad, Eric wanted to fulfill his wife’s dream. After years of trying to conceive, however, the couple received a devastating diagnosis: infertility. 

For Christine, adoption was the obvious answer. Eric wasn’t so sure. 

 In Finding My Son: A Father’s Adoption Journey, author Eric Odell-Hein offers an unfiltered view into the heart and mind of a man who has experienced the sometimes messy and often awkward process of becoming a father through adoption. Encouraging men to acknowledge the fears they don’t want to admit while advocating a thoughtful, deliberate transparency as the best approach to even the most unnatural, uncomfortable aspects of the adoption process. Eric shares his misgivings and mistakes with an honesty that does not deny his insecurities. 

 A valuable resource for any man considering growing his family through adoption—or anyone seeking to understand the process—this engaging memoir is a testament to the beautiful gift of adoption and a touching account of a father’s love. 

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Comments

  1. Julie Waldron says

    November 10, 2019 at 11:13 am

    This sounds like a beautiful book about a wonderful topic.

    Reply
  2. Caryl Kane says

    November 9, 2019 at 3:21 pm

    Thank you for the great review and being part of the tour.

    Reply
  3. Dianna says

    November 9, 2019 at 3:10 pm

    I have a few friends who adopted their children. The pain and passion they feel for their kids is so tremendous.

    Reply
  4. Melissa Wenger says

    November 9, 2019 at 7:09 am

    I may add this to our church library. We have several families in the process of adoption.

    Reply
  5. Amelia says

    November 8, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    This book sounds great!

    Reply
  6. Debbie P says

    November 8, 2019 at 1:11 pm

    This sounds like a great read.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 164: A Chat with Christian Fantasy Author, Ernest Yip
byChautona Havig

When I talked to Ernest Yip last month, I was crazy excited to learn about his fantasy novel, The Shattered King, an allegory about the attributes of God. Ernest talks about his inspiration, how he got started, and what’s coming next for us. I loved hearing more about the story and my copy is on its way to me now. EEEP! Listen in to learn more.

Note: links are affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Experience the Attributes of God in a Whole New Way

In the tradition of Pilgrim’s Progress or the parables of Jesus, Ernest Yip brings us a story that introduces to a King like no other through the various attributes our main character meets through out the book. I love a good allegory, and listening to Ernest talk about his book had me choming at the bit to get started.

Though written for teens, The Shattered King is sure to appeal to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. I especially love how it is a great introduction to who God is without being a heavy or preachy tome of apologetics. Instead, we’re taken on an adventure to discover it all for ourselves.

I can’t wait to see what Yip does next!

The Shattered King by Ernest Yip

Finding his way home means finding something else first—someone else.

When a dark force shatters the benevolent and mighty king Eloa, the land of Astrea lies broken and dying. Though Eloa lives, he is a shadow of his true self, unable to restore his kingdom unless he is reunited with the living Fragments of his being and made whole again.

Catapulted into this unfamiliar world and gifted with a magical sword, teenager Jax faces the ultimate test—finding the lost Fragments of Eloa. Only by fulfilling this quest will he be able to return home. But there are new forces in power, forces that will do whatever it takes to thwart Jax’s efforts and defeat Eloa.

But Jax will soon find that Eloa is no ordinary king, and neither are his Fragments—

A creator of living stone beings A father of orphans in a storm-filled land A desert warrior of limitless power

And they aren’t the only ones out there…

Encounter the Fragments of The Shattered King, a tale of danger and discovery that explores timeless truths about the world we live in, where justice and mercy are sometimes the most powerful weapons.

You can find out more about Ernest from his WEBSITE.

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