Rating: 
Summary: Praise for Passing By Sumaria
Review: This is an excellent Christian novel. Ewell-Foster combines an engaging story, which keeps you on the egde of your seat at times, with many Christian lessons. I loved the infusion of scripture and hymns in the plot! This is a must read!
Rating: 
Summary: Nice inspiration story
Review: This was a nicely written book that many Christians and non practing will find inspirational. The power of God is exorted throughout the book. Forgiveness, faith, redemption is weaved throughout. I admit some parts were very hard to read and take in because of the issues of lynching, segregations, and racism. But this was 1919 and these things did in fact exist.Alena's parents kept her from the ugliness of the Jim Crow south. She was happy living her everyday life until that day she found out just how cruel the world could be. Shipped off to Chicago to her aunt against her will caused her to rebel. She felt as if she was being treated like she was the culprit. She even wants to give up writing, something that she loves. Along her way to finding herself she meets a pullman porter that tries to sweep her off her feet, a young white sister and brother fighting for civil rights, and the man, a journalist, that she eventually fall in love with. But she does have to go back to Mississippi and make peace with her parents and the horror there. Miss Foster lets us look into the hearts and minds of the evildoers. As I said it is kind of hard to take. I would recommend this book to young women of all colors as a book to read for inspirational romance as well as religious conviction.
Rating:
Summary: Nice inspiration story
Review: This was a nicely written book that many Christians and non practing will find inspirational. The power of God is exorted throughout the book. Forgiveness, faith, redemption is weaved throughout. I admit some parts were very hard to read and take in because of the issues of lynching, segregations, and racism. But this was 1919 and these things did in fact exist. Alena's parents kept her from the ugliness of the Jim Crow south. She was happy living her everyday life until that day she found out just how cruel the world could be. Shipped off to Chicago to her aunt against her will caused her to rebel. She felt as if she was being treated like she was the culprit. She even wants to give up writing, something that she loves. Along her way to finding herself she meets a pullman porter that tries to sweep her off her feet, a young white sister and brother fighting for civil rights, and the man, a journalist, that she eventually fall in love with. But she does have to go back to Mississippi and make peace with her parents and the horror there. Miss Foster lets us look into the hearts and minds of the evildoers. As I said it is kind of hard to take. I would recommend this book to young women of all colors as a book to read for inspirational romance as well as religious conviction.
Rating: 
Summary: Who knew that you would read it?
Review: Who knew that you would read it? I wanted to write a novel that would sell millions and make me the darling of the literary world. So, I came up with a surefire 7-point plan. 1. Steamy romances are the rage; sex sells. My response: Who cares? I'll write a book with only a thread of romance but no explicit sex scenes; no one will be able to keep the book in stock. And while I'm at it, I'll write without curse words. People will love it! 2. Books with tragic endings make headlines and best seller lists. My response: I'll write a book that is full of faith, optimism, charm, and hope. 3. People are angry, frightened, and sick of talking about race. My response: Great! I'll write a book that confronts racism and classism-particularly among Christians. 4. As a long-time Defense Department employee, though I am a Christian, I know nothing about the Christian fiction genre. It is a genre only read by a set group of Christians. My response: If "discovered," I will have my book published by a Christian publishing house and pretty much ensure that my book will be catalogued as "religious." All kinds of people will run to buy a religious novel with references to God, gospel music, and Jesus. And I'll expect that Christians and non-Christians alike will want to read my novel. 5. Christian fiction readers are overwhelmingly white women, and they don't buy books with African Americans on the cover. My response: Pooh! Pooh! I'll intentionally write for men, as well as, women...even for young people. My protagonist will be a black female. There will be an African American on the cover, and I will expect that book will be bought by African-Americans. Sales will cross gender, racial, and religious lines. 6. Christian fiction is usually thought to be pretty tame, predictable, and idealistic-always showing Christians in the most positive light and "heathens" as the bad guys. Fabulous! I'll include lots of adventure, controversy, and plot twists. The story will include Christians who are murderers and non-Christian characters who are funny, charming, and lovable. 7. Oh no, not more history! No one wants to read about history. Oh, yes! Passing by Samaria will include actual accounts, from 1919, of riots and African American troops serving in WWI. I think I'll talk about Mississippi, about the Chicago Tribune, about W.E.B. DuBois and the black press. That ought to do it. I wrote this book because I wanted to sell a million copies, get rich, and move out of the townhouse I lease. Hardly! Actually, I wrote Passing by Samaria from my heart, from the love in my heart. I wrote it because I could no longer avoid writing it. I wrote it because I love books, and hoped that I could tell you a good story that would make a difference. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I bear on my body healed scars from deep wounds caused by the anger and pain of racism. I wrote it because, like most people who have been miraculously healed, I could no longer avoid talking about the source of my cure. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I wanted to offer comfort and love to you, no matter where you stand on the difficult issues I confront in my novel. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I hoped that if I honestly shared my own frailties and struggles, I might help you or someone you love. I wrote the book from my naked, exposed heart because I had to; and I never really believed you would read it. Who knew? May you find a blessing within the pages of the book!
| 
