4 out of 4 stars
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King Here by Trish Porter Topmiller is an engaging, true story that was written about the author's father. It is a story about her remembrances of her life with her father. However, at the same time, it is a story of faith in God and how a person, through prayer and the mercy of God, can overcome the love of money and power. I enjoyed reading Ms. Topmiller's wonderful tribute to the man that she grew up with.
The first half of Topmiller's book reflects on the life of her father, Chuck King, and all of the memories that she has of him throughout her own life. She tells about how he became a successful businessman and all the knowledge that he passed down to her. She also tells of what an adventurous person he was and how he was always taking her and his family on exciting trips and amazing adventures. He was a man who had everything the world had to offer: money, power, a beautiful family, and all of the success that is so highly favored in our society. As remarkable and inspiring of a man that Chuck was all throughout her younger years, Trish came to a realization that he didn't have the most important thing that he needed in order to have a truly meaningful life. She dedicates the remainder of her book to telling of the transformation in her own life when she realizes how important faith and a love for Jesus are. As a result of her own transformation, she later begins to see the transformation and realizations happening in others she loves, including her father.
This was a very compelling story. It was one that I had trouble putting down, especially as I really got deep into the middle of the book. Trish gave so many inspiring memories of her dad. He was truly a man with a wealth of knowledge. He was someone that was inspiring to all of those around him. One of my favorite aspects of the book was that Trish started each chapter with what she called a "Chuckism." This was a quote that she had heard her dad say at some point in her life. Every one of these "Chuckisms" was extremely thought-provoking and true about life. A few in particular were "You have to get past blame before you can move toward solutions" and "Time is like land. There is only so much of it."
I also enjoyed the fact that Trish included many pictures of her dad and her family throughout the years. It is much easier to feel connected to what is happening when faces are shown. It almost felt like I was watching the movie of their life in my head as I saw the pictures accompanying each chapter and memory.
The hope, love, and faith that was felt when reading about her realizations of the need for Jesus was very inspiring. Trish used the Bible verse about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. She used this to portray how many people, her father included, find it hard to put trust in God when they already have everything that society puts so much emphasis on. While they may be very intellectual and remarkable people, their life doesn't hold the meaning that can only come from one source. The author did a wonderful job of laying out this journey that she faced with her father.
The book was very well-edited and easy to read. I don't have anything negative to say except that it seemed to jump around time periods a bit, especially in the beginning. Even with that, it was very easy to follow.
I am rating the book 4 out of 4 stars. This is a very inspirational book that I feel would appeal to several audiences of readers. It is definitely a Christian-themed book that focuses strongly on God's grace. However, I would also recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming, true story, regardless of their religious views. The book has a wide range of emotions, and it tells a wonderful story of an extremely wise man who loved his family.
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King Here
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