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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Is There Anything Better Than a Good Life’s Story?

by Chautona Havig · 3 Comments

Full Circle by Athena Dean Holtz wasn't what I expected, but no one can deny that God has redeemed His daughter for Himself after reading this book. via @chautonahavig

The Crime of Innocence.

It was an assignment. I can’t remember if it was youth group in high school or the first weeks of Bible school afterward, but the instructor/leader told everyone to come up with a title for their life’s story.

That was mine. The Crime of Innocence. I thought it told the messed up story of my life quite well.

A few people have suggested I write a fictionalized version of my life. I always refuse. The reason I give most often is that some truths in my life would hurt people still living, and I won’t do that to people who love me.

People are more important than my “right” to “tell all” so to speak.

Just for clarity, there’s so much more beautiful than ugly in my past. And the ugly… well, that’s par for the course in a world at odds with Jesus.

There’s another reason, though. As I usually tell people who press me, any book I wrote based on my life would be considered too “implausible.” It’s just not common for someone to have such a bizarre and totally normal upbringing all at once.

Instead, I tell the stories that won’t hurt others… one at a time, disjointed sometimes, but it’s what I have to do to show love.

However, I do love to read redemption stories of what amazing ways God has shown Himself faithful in the lives of those He calls His own.

Is There Anything Better Than a Good Life’s Story? Full Circle review

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

Is There Anything Better Than a Good Life’s Story?

Yep. There sure can—a good redemption story. The recipe only requires one sin-filled, messed up person set in this bowl of life to stew for a bit. Stir in Jesus and bam! Instant redemption.

Seeing that play out, on the other hand, takes time as Athena Dean Holtz’s book demonstrates.

Written in a conversational tone, Full Circle seems to be inspired by a quote from author Beth Moore:

We know we’re coming full circle with God when we stand at a very similar crossroad where we made such a fine mess of life before, but this time we take a different road.”

Because of this circular emphasis, the book reads a little like a spirograph, each loop of her story overlapping the last, but always meeting at the same point in the center eventually.

This seems to be used to show the author’s repeated cycles of mistakes—same song, different verse.

While I understood the reason she chose that style, it did become difficult to follow.

I was most intrigued by the book because the synopsis mentioned her past in “Scientology, forays into mysticism, and twelve years in a restrictive and legalistic cult.” My mind combined all of that into “Scientology” and so I was surprised and disappointed to find just a couple of pages dedicated to her Scientology life. Seeing someone come out from something so destructive and oppressive promised to be exciting and different from anything I’d read.

It was only a small portion of the book, and while it was not fair of me, I felt for a bit like I got a bait and switch when the book shifted to her years with a cult (that was not Scientology). Once I got through that, I reread the synopsis and saw that my expectation was not what they’d promised. It was my mistake. I’d lumped together what they had separated.

The bulk of the book chronicles her time in an abusive cult—one that was responsible of stripping her personality, her marriage, her business, and even, to a certain extent her faith from her.

Here’s the thing.

The book was interesting enough. It was. If I knew Athena Holtz, I’d be much more invested in it, I think. My problem with it mostly is that I don’t know her or anything about her. I expected something completely different (my fault), but despite not getting that, I still am left with a book full of information that I’m not sure what to do with.

Praise the Lord, she’s redeemed and rescued from her self-destructive decisions. Hallelujah that God drew her safely out of that path and closer to Himself. I mean both of those will all my heart.

It’s just that I read a lot of very personal information about someone I don’t know to get a vague picture of God’s hand in her life. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve no doubt that Athena Dean Holtz’s story blesses people whenever she shares it. Not only that, I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy a nice long chat over coffee (Coke for me, please!). Alas, I suspect that I’m not her target reader.

I’m not sorry I received a free review copy, but I am sorry I can’t say I just loved every bit of it.

Full Circle 

Full Circle by Athena Dean HoltzAbout the Book

Book: Full Circle

Author: Athena Dean Holtz

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: February 11, 2017

Athena’s driving desire for affirmation and attention pulled her away from her family, husband, and children into what she thought would bring happiness. Deceived by Scientology, forays into mysticism, and twelve years in a restrictive and legalistic cult, she lost everything—her marriage, relationships, home, business, money, and reputation.

This is the candid and inspirational story of how her eyes were opened, how God restored what had been lost, and gave her the desires of her heart, including a new love.

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Comments

  1. patty-anne Lea says

    August 23, 2019 at 12:45 am

    I wonder why we say” Fact is Stranger than Fiction”, and then not believe it. You spoke of your unconventional life and upbringing and choose some facts to dramatise into fiction in most books you write. I plan books, make rough drafs and then thing Naaaaaaa … no one would believe a single person could do all that and have that many misadventures.
    I think I told you once ,we had won a $50,000 grant for a TV special called “No bucket list, we ain’t finished “yet ( tittle under review) About how we are not burdens to be endured, soaking up medical and pensions.
    We shot several parts off it and then my best friend got an agressive form of cancer and died 1 week before we were going to sky dive.
    I watched a documentary tonight done by an 81 year old lady who attained her masters in Education. Her thesis was the fact that as Seniors, we are not a burden. But, occasionally we need a workaround on a physical plane to manage on our own.
    Looking for your next Jenny Wren,
    love patty-anne,
    ps. Thanks for mentioning the dryer balls again. Hope yours are doing their job.

    Reply
  2. Amelia says

    August 19, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Andrea Stoeckel says

    August 19, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    Interesting interview and review

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
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