Mindful of Him by Hollis Hughes | Blog Tour
Welcome to the blog tour for Hollis Hughes' Mindful of Him.
Existentialism, humanism, chance. These have defined Rob McLain’s worldview. As he watches his parents’ caskets descend into their graves, he wonders about his decision to discard God for “enlightenment.” Without God, whom can he blame? Suddenly, Rob is stripped of everything he holds dear: marriage, friendship, school. Embittered and empty, he embarks on a wilderness journey to the beginnings of the Canoba River. At the end of his quest, Rob discovers the source of the river and something unexpected—the Source of truth.
About the Author
On a cold February day in 1928, Hollis Hughes was born in a ramshackle house with no insulation, plumbing, or electricity. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression, Hollis spent his youth chopping wood, tending the family farm, milking cows, and tending to livestock. Following college graduation, Hollis worked as a high school teacher and counselor for 38 years, and operated a successful rhododendron nursery. |
When Hollis’ wife developed Alzheimer’s disease in 1988, he spent the next twelve years taking care of her. Today, Hollis is retired from education. He is a fly fisherman, hiker, and gardener. He is a member of the American Camellia Society, and a lifetime member of the Birmingham Botanical Society. Hollis and his wife, Lera, make their home in Alabama. Click here for more about Hollis.
About the Book
Mindful of Him is a tale of heartbreak and triumph set in the 1950s. Separated from his young wife, and with both of his parents recently deceased, Rob McLain sets off on an adventure for which he has longed since childhood. Travel with Rob as his journey not only takes him to beautiful places, but also crosses his path with influential men who help him through his loneliness. Five months into the trip, Rob has a moonlight encounter that changes his life forever and overwhelmingly convinces this young skeptic that God is indeed mindful of him! Through it all, he receives answers to life's deepest questions. What does he learn? What happens to his wife? Do they get back together? Does he make it back safely? |
Find the answers to these questions and others dealing with faith, creation, nature, and more in Mindful of Him, which will keep you reading long after you had planned to turn out the lights. Mindful of Him was inspired by the writings of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, the giant of 20th Century Christian philosophers.
Mindful of Him by Hollis Hughes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
First of all, I am going to be honest. This was definitely not my style of book, and there were a few things that disturbed me that I will address in the review. However, on the flip side, there were some good insights and some positive points about this book that I will also share. In short, while I know this book is not everyone's cup of tea, it just may be a book that resonates with you.
On the positive side, I enjoyed Beth's story and perspective quite a bit. The harrowing experience that opens the first few pages is certainly gripping, and Rob's doubting of God is something with which many can identify. This book is very realistic on many levels. It is not a fairy-tale story by any means.
I found Rob a very bland sort of fellow who was not very likable. It was interesting at times to read about his thought process concerning humanism and Christianity, but I often grew tired of being inside of his head. Beth was a much more engaging person, in my opinion.
A couple of things disturbed me about the book. I do not think profanity should ever find its place in a Christian book. While the profanity was mild, it was upsetting. I read a Christian book so I don't have to read profanity of any kind. I also felt that divorce was something put forth as very common, even amongst so-called Christians. I am not going to judge those that are divorced. I am a Christian divorcee myself. But it seemed a little too easy a solution for a couple of people in the story. I grew tired of the endless stories people were telling Rob also. But again, this is only my opinion.
I wish that the Christian gospel had been a little bit stronger in this story. It seemed that Rob did come back to God, but I saw "Christian" people talking about fate and/or God rather than giving the credit solely to God. I believe that the author missed an opportunity to give a strong, clear Christian message.
While I would not openly recommend this to everyone, for some of you, this will be an ideal book. If you enjoy being regaled with "country" stories and thwarted love, check this book out.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100 percent mine, and I was not financially compensated.
View all my reviews
Follow the entire tour here.
Mindful of Him by Hollis HughesMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
First of all, I am going to be honest. This was definitely not my style of book, and there were a few things that disturbed me that I will address in the review. However, on the flip side, there were some good insights and some positive points about this book that I will also share. In short, while I know this book is not everyone's cup of tea, it just may be a book that resonates with you.
On the positive side, I enjoyed Beth's story and perspective quite a bit. The harrowing experience that opens the first few pages is certainly gripping, and Rob's doubting of God is something with which many can identify. This book is very realistic on many levels. It is not a fairy-tale story by any means.
I found Rob a very bland sort of fellow who was not very likable. It was interesting at times to read about his thought process concerning humanism and Christianity, but I often grew tired of being inside of his head. Beth was a much more engaging person, in my opinion.
A couple of things disturbed me about the book. I do not think profanity should ever find its place in a Christian book. While the profanity was mild, it was upsetting. I read a Christian book so I don't have to read profanity of any kind. I also felt that divorce was something put forth as very common, even amongst so-called Christians. I am not going to judge those that are divorced. I am a Christian divorcee myself. But it seemed a little too easy a solution for a couple of people in the story. I grew tired of the endless stories people were telling Rob also. But again, this is only my opinion.
I wish that the Christian gospel had been a little bit stronger in this story. It seemed that Rob did come back to God, but I saw "Christian" people talking about fate and/or God rather than giving the credit solely to God. I believe that the author missed an opportunity to give a strong, clear Christian message.
While I would not openly recommend this to everyone, for some of you, this will be an ideal book. If you enjoy being regaled with "country" stories and thwarted love, check this book out.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are 100 percent mine, and I was not financially compensated.
View all my reviews
Follow the entire tour here.
He sounds like he has had such a rich and wonderful life. Sounds like a great read. Thanks for sharing. I'm visiting from Mother Daughter Book Reviews and I'm now following via GFC, Pinterest, Linky, and email (I already follow you on FB and Twitter). Looking forward to your posts. Cheers, Renee
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