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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Happens When North Korea Puts You in Time Out?

by Chautona Havig · 15 Comments

The cursor winked at me. Mocked me. I’ll admit it, my head connected with the trackpad on my laptop. The cursor skittered across the page leaving spaces and a choppy mess of Bs and Vs in its wake.

She stepped into my room and stood there. “What are you doing?”

“Writing a book review.”

Silence. Then it came. “Bad book?”

“Great one.”

I guess that threw her. “So what’s the problem?”

I sat up and stared at the bizarre mess of a screen. “Reviewer’s block?”

My ever-helpful daughter just stared at me before turning to go. “Have fun with that.”

Traitor.

Writing in that mess wouldn’t work, so I deleted all those spaces, Bs, and Vs.

It was the most productive thing I’d done all afternoon.

There were so many things to try to process—to understand—to share. By the time I’d made a list of them, I realized that I’d be rewriting the book if I tried to explain half of it.

But one line caught my eye.

Toddlers think time out is torture, so the North Koreans employ it for American captives.

That’d do it.

What Happens When North Korea Puts You in Time Out? Out of North Korea Review

Note: links may be affiliate links that cost you nothing extra but give me a small commission. I also requested a review copy of the book and received one with no expectations of the content of that review.

What Happens When North Korea Puts You in Time Out?

Look, I didn’t know what to expect from Out of North Korea. I didn’t. But I knew what to expect from Alana Terry. I’ve not read a book from her that didn’t cause me to pause, to think, to consider.

But this book…

There are so many things about Out of North Korea that I want to address. Ian’s character voice. While it didn’t take long to notice the first-person narrative, it didn’t annoy me.  Instead, I really enjoyed the personality that came through each word. But it unnerved me. I actually left this book and went to find another book written in first-person to see if I’d just gotten numb to my least-favorite perspective in writing.

Nope. Alana Terry is just that good with it. In fact, not only is this book in the dreaded first person, about a third to half the way through it, I realized it is written in first-person present tense.

I despise present tense. But it was a rare spot here and there that she made me notice it.  For the most part, you’d never know, because she does it that well.

Impressive.

Add to it supporting characters who aren’t what you expect—and then are—things just turn upside down. One thing I really appreciated was that Terry didn’t mince words about where the American church’s thinking gets skewed.

Still, she doesn’t just bash on Americans or attack people for something they can’t help (ethnic origins, for example). She shows what can and should be done about it. Loved that—and not just because she agrees with what I’ve always said.  Ahem.

Who should read this book?  Well, anyone who appreciates good fiction that is well written and makes you think.  If you enjoy characters with snarky, sarcastic humor who can laugh at themselves as much as anything, you won’t go wrong with this book.  And if reading a book without a romantic element is a blessed relief, then look no further. I seriously loved that this wasn’t about guy meets girl at all.  Such a nice change.

Because you get quotes like this.


So, what does happen when North Korea puts you in time out?  Well, your life changes in ways you couldn’t have predicted—kind of like when you read about it. I definitely won’t be the same after reading Out of North Korea.

Out of North KoreaAbout the Book

Book Title: Out of North Korea

Author: Alana Terry

Genre: Christian Thriller/Suspense

Release date: June 25, 2018

A single photograph could cost his life …

Ian McAllister has searched the world over, hunting for that all-elusive perfect photograph.

He finds it on a tourist trip to North Korea when he stumbles upon a young street kid foraging for roots.

Unaware that this single act will brand him a spy and cost his freedom, Ian takes the shot.

Now he must pay the penalty.

A true-to-life novel about an American imprisoned behind North Korea’s closed borders.

A gripping tale of courage, faith, and hope from award-winning Christian novelist Alana Terry.

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Comments

  1. Alana Terry says

    December 22, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    haha, I love the quote you used about the good little agent 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      December 23, 2018 at 6:18 am

      I LOVED that. So much.

      Reply
  2. Arletta Boulton says

    August 20, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    Because my daughter is fascinated with all things Korean, this book also caught my attention. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 24, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      I strongly recommend it for an honest look at how things are. I suspect Alana has some inside info that I’d love to know more about.

      Reply
  3. margaretkazmierczak.com says

    August 20, 2018 at 9:59 am

    I love this book too, my review is tomorrow and yes people should read it Chautona. Great review as usual.

    Reply
  4. James Robert says

    August 20, 2018 at 5:04 am

    Congrats on the tour and thank you for the opportunity to read about another great book. With so many readers in my family, always great to hear about more choices I think they’d enjoy reading.

    Reply
  5. thebeccafiles says

    August 19, 2018 at 10:10 pm

    Looks intense! It’s scary how serious things we consider “minor” are taken in other countries!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 19, 2018 at 10:31 pm

      It is intense, but not like you’d expect. I don’t know how to explain it.

      Reply
  6. Michelle says

    August 19, 2018 at 6:38 pm

    I am intrigued. I will be checking out this book. Thanks

    Reply
  7. Dianna says

    August 19, 2018 at 5:30 pm

    This is a story I probably wouldn’t read on my own, so I appreciate your review.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 19, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      I think it’s one that today’s church should read. It shows a nice balance of Biblical thought with seeing why people react and think they way they do about things and gives great perspective. Beautifully done.

      Reply
  8. NZ Filbruns says

    August 19, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Ok, I need to bump this one up on my tbr list. It sounds like one I would appreciate.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 19, 2018 at 5:38 pm

      I think you’d really like it.

      Reply
  9. Elissa Bishop says

    August 19, 2018 at 6:26 am

    I enjoyed her story in the Crossroads Collection (actually, I enjoyed all of them very much). This one will have to go in my to-read list, which is much too long already!!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      August 19, 2018 at 5:39 pm

      I’d move it up. That’s how much I loved it. It’s THAT good.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

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

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
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Episode 262: Chatting about The Legacy of Longdale Manor with Carrie Turansky
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Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
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Episode 260: A Chat with Rachel Hauck
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