Misuse-itis: The Truth Behind the -Itis Suffix

Thinking of using the suffix "-itis" to joke about something someone is plagued with or addicted to? ("Boy, he sure loves cartoons. He has cartoonitis!" "Ugh, look at that huge pile of dishes. I feel a case of procrastinationitis coming on....") You might want to look up a list of medical suffixes first and pick a more appropriate term.

The "-itis" suffix means that something is characterized by inflammation (e.g., bronchitis, tendinitis). So cartoonitis is more likely to mean an inflammation of cartoons rather than an addiction to it.

A more appropriate suffix would be "-philia", which means an obsessive love of something. Bibliophilia, for example, is an actual-factual term for "love of books". :) And logophilia? That's a love of words!

"The Harvest of Grace" Book Review: A 3-for-1 Amish Tale of Love and Forgiveness

The Amish life is often an intriguing mystery to those of us on the outside. Books like The Harvest of Grace, an Ada's House Novel by Cindy Woodsmall, give us a little peek into the curious life of the Plain Folk.

The Harvest of Grace is about a 22-year-old Amish woman named Sylvia Fisher, who is a little different than your average Amish female: she loves dairy farming. Her eight sisters don't understand her love for milking cows and would rather be managing the household and raising babies. However, an unexpected betrayal sends Sylvia fleeing from her home and pouring her heart and soul into a debt-ridden dairy farm owned by Michael and Dora Blank.

After several months in rehab, Aaron Blank returns to the family dairy farm with the hopes of convincing his Daed and Mamm to forgive him and join him in moving to an apartment above the appliance store he wants to buy. But his stubborn father refuses to forgive Aaron for succumbing to the lure of alcohol and abandoning his family when they needed him most. And with Sylvia now influencing the happenings of the dairy farm -- and Michael and Dora -- Aaron isn't sure he'll ever find the redemption he searches for.

Will Aaron be able to win over Sylvia and his parents and achieve his goals? Can Sylvia forgive her betrayers -- and herself -- and discover God's purpose for her broken life?

Now, I've not read many Amish novels, but of the few I've read, this one is my favorite. I loved the realism of the characters. I loved the look into dairy farming, and I loved reading about all of the struggles of the different characters (sorry, characters....). The balance of romance with the realities of farming, and the fundamental message of forgiveness laced throughout the book, makes for an educational, encouraging read.

My biggest issue with this book is that the story is not just about Sylvia and Aaron: It's also about Cara and Ephraim, and Lena and Grey. And it's not like 50% of the story is about Sylvia and Aaron, while the other 50% is about the other two couples. Nope, they each get 1/3 of the story. Every chapter changes to someone else's story, either Aaron's, Sylvia's, Lena's, or Cara's. Now, I will say, the author did a good job of meshing everyone's stories together; however, I don't know if that makes it more confusing to follow along, or less confusing! I enjoyed all the stories, but sometimes I lost track of who I was reading about, who had what problem, and who had what relationship with which characters (confused? me too!).

It's a little unclear as to what Sylvia's relationship with God is at the beginning of the novel. We know she's mad at men, but she seems to be fairly neutral toward God. Aaron gained a close relationship with God during his rehab, but apparently still has some struggles. In the end, I'm not really sure who rubbed off on who more, and although Aaron has a defining moment with God, Sylvia's is a bit more muddled. But the author makes the message of forgiveness prevalent, forgiveness between family members and between man and God. And like every good novel, the story has a happy ending. ;) I would certainly recommend this book for those working through issues of forgiveness, as well as those who are curious about the hard-working Amish community.

To read the first chapter of The Harvest of Grace, click here to see it on WaterBrook's Scribd.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. Nevertheless, my opinions are my own.

Cindy Woodsmall is having a contest on her Facebook page! Click here for more details!

Magazines and Manuscripts: Two New Jobs

Always something new going on around here!

First of all, I'm the new Executive Editor of Gambatte! magazine, an imprint of Written World Communications. The magazine is new, so I'll post the website URL as soon as the website is ready. :) Gambatte! magazine is geared toward otaku: fanatics of manga, anime, and Japanese culture. If you or someone you know is an otaku and looking to contribute to a magazine, feel free to contact me about being featured in Gambatte!

Second, I'm working on something I love: editing a manuscript. Stephy + Editing = Happier Than a Clam. Call me nerdy, but it gives me great pleasure. :)

There are so many opportunities available when you're a writer and/or editor. I only wish I had more time to pursue them all!

Reviewing Books @ Makobi Scribe

Guess what? I'm going to be reviewing books for Makobi Scribe, a great website chock full of product reviews, giveaways, and blogger resources! Although it's mostly run by Jennifer, a mom of three boys, there are several other women on the Makobi Scribe team. I'm super excited to be reviewing books for this awesome website! :D I'll keep you updated on when the reviews are posted!

Tuesday Tip - 10 Items or Less?

We've all seen it: The express lane at the store with the horrific "10 Items or Less" sign. Left in a state of confusion, Americans have grown used to the sign and don't even know of its misdeeds. But this sign is wrong -- terribly wrong.

Less Versus Fewer

Most drama aside, "10 Items or Less" is actually completely incorrect. The proper phrase would be "10 Items or Fewer". Less is used when you are referring to something you cannot count, or something that would be very difficult to count. Fewer is used when you are referring to something countable, or something with an exact number.

For example, you pour a heaping cup of rice into a boiling pot, but realize that you put in too much rice. You should have used less rice.

But when you juggle four juggling balls, when you can only handle three, you should juggle fewer juggling balls.

The exception to this rule is when you are referring to distance, time, and money. So, although the party was less than 10 feet away, you decided you would spend less money and waste less time if you stayed home.

"Praying for Your Future Husband" Book Review: How to Bless Your Spouse Before You Meet Him

I've been a big fan of Robin Jones Gunn ever since I first read book one in the Christy Miller series. Although I am now married, I did pray for my future husband as a teenager. Robin Jones Gunn and Tricia Goyer deliver a to-the-heart compilation of thoughts and advice for young women who are waiting for their handsome prince to arrive.

Each chapter covers a way to pray for your future spouse: Pray for Strength, Pray for Intimacy, Pray for Trust, and so on. A chapter begins with a Bible verse and includes personal stores from Robin and Tricia, as well as how to pray for your spouse and prepare your heart for him. The chapter then ends with discussion questions, and not generic ones, either. The questions really get to the heart of the matter and make you think. If you're not discussing them with friends, write about them in a journal; get to know your soul.

The book isn't just about your future husband; it's also about preparing yourself for him. Robin and Tricia encourage you to fall in love with God, the ultimate Lover. God is the One who answers prayers, and prayers can do amazing things in peoples' lives. Turning your heart over to God is the best thing you can do for yourself and your future spouse.

The book helps you understand how to apply what you learn to your day-to-day life and encourages you to think well of your spouse before you even meet him. It also reminds you that your prayers are a gift to your future husband -- the first one you'll give him.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is single and looking to marry someday. Even as a married woman, I was encouraged to continually pray for my spouse, as the prayers certainly shouldn't stop after marriage.

Buy "Praying for Your Future Husband" at WaterBrook Multnomah's website

Please rank my review! :) Thanks!!

I Took the Proofreading Test Again on Textbroker....

...."Congratulations! You passed the proofreading test with 100%! You can now proofread articles created by your fellow writers."

WOOHOO!! It took three tries, but I passed!! ;) I was actually promoted to Level 5 in April, before they revamped the system they use to determine who should be a 5-star writer. However, I am still SO glad I passed! That means I'm actually learning and memorizing AP Style. :) That also means I'm becoming a more capable editor, for my own work as well as others'. I'm growing -- yay!! X-D

*Happy dance!*