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jeska_bythebook's review
5.0
Kasey bares her heart on the page in such a compelling way that I couldn’t put the book down. I’m an avid reader, but I read fiction. Me finishing this nonfiction book is testimony to how good it is. I love the picture she paints of God using every mistake in our lives for His glory. She backs it up with scripture and her extensive counseling background has her adding in some science I didn’t expect. I needed to read this book and I didn’t even know it. It’s powerful and moving and will inspire you to live the life God has called you to. No matter your past. He intends to use it. One of my favorite quotes, “God doesn’t waste our lives. He designs them on purpose, for purpose.”
I received an advance copy from the publisher and this my honest review.
I received an advance copy from the publisher and this my honest review.
kellian901's review
4.0
“Our worst day, most horrific pain, and most desperate darkness will be used to the glory of God. Our lives are but a divine setup for us to be sure of this truth. Nothing that has happened to us or through us is a mistake or an accident. God takes no pleasure in our pain, but he does purpose it.”
katescene91's review
5.0
What can I say about this book? I saw so much of myself in Kasey’s story. While our stories are not identical, there are parts that are similar and As I read this book, I felt like we were sharing our stories with one another over coffee. I am still processing what God wants me to take away from this book but I know I read it at just the right time and the change that is occurring in me will alter the course of the rest of my life.
Kasey, thank you for being raw and honest and thank you for going first. Now, it is my turn.
Kasey, thank you for being raw and honest and thank you for going first. Now, it is my turn.
panda_incognito's review
3.0
This book is full of incredibly honest, raw stories about the author's struggles and how she has seen God redeem them. She is a vivid storyteller with a gift for choosing the right sensory and emotional details to make an anecdote stick, and because she is as a counselor, the stories are also rich with details and explanations about the effects of trauma. I was interested to learn more about how her background had influenced her worldview, relationship with God, and decision-making, but even though the book was valuable to me from this perspective, I had a hard time with the format.
This book is a grab-bag of stories and biblical exposition, and some aspects hit home better than others. Each chapter ends with a take-away Christian truth, but some of these seem tacked-on and irrelevant to the main content of what she was writing. Also, she often starts a story, veers off into a detailed breakdown of different Scripture passages, and then moves on to another anecdote without resolving the first one. This got very disorienting at times, and I also questioned her judgment in sharing some of the stories that she did.
Although I appreciate how raw and honest she was about her own life and feelings, some stories involved other people in major, unflattering ways. She sometimes even referred to people by their full names, and even though I hope and trust that she used pseudonyms, I never saw a disclaimer that confirmed that she had changed people's names. Also, some of the stories had only tenuous connections to the points that she was trying to make, and looked like they were only in there for shock and entertainment value. Why tell the world about your husband's naked sleep-walking on your honeymoon when there isn't even a point to this??
This book has a lot of value, so I wouldn't actively discourage anyone from reading it if they wanted to, but I wouldn't recommend it, either. It's a hit-or-miss book that shares more stories than necessary and often doesn't integrate the memoir sections with the spiritual truths she intends to convey. Parts of the book are stronger than others, but overall, it reads like a jarring mash-up between an expository Bible study and a tell-all memoir. The two elements don't mesh nearly as well as she intended, and even though I learned a lot from her stories and feel grateful that I read this, this book is not a finished, polished project. Perhaps that was never the author's intent, since she is grappling with the messiness of life, but I wish that she had rewritten and reevaluated parts of the book before releasing it to the public.
This book is a grab-bag of stories and biblical exposition, and some aspects hit home better than others. Each chapter ends with a take-away Christian truth, but some of these seem tacked-on and irrelevant to the main content of what she was writing. Also, she often starts a story, veers off into a detailed breakdown of different Scripture passages, and then moves on to another anecdote without resolving the first one. This got very disorienting at times, and I also questioned her judgment in sharing some of the stories that she did.
Although I appreciate how raw and honest she was about her own life and feelings, some stories involved other people in major, unflattering ways. She sometimes even referred to people by their full names, and even though I hope and trust that she used pseudonyms, I never saw a disclaimer that confirmed that she had changed people's names. Also, some of the stories had only tenuous connections to the points that she was trying to make, and looked like they were only in there for shock and entertainment value. Why tell the world about your husband's naked sleep-walking on your honeymoon when there isn't even a point to this??
This book has a lot of value, so I wouldn't actively discourage anyone from reading it if they wanted to, but I wouldn't recommend it, either. It's a hit-or-miss book that shares more stories than necessary and often doesn't integrate the memoir sections with the spiritual truths she intends to convey. Parts of the book are stronger than others, but overall, it reads like a jarring mash-up between an expository Bible study and a tell-all memoir. The two elements don't mesh nearly as well as she intended, and even though I learned a lot from her stories and feel grateful that I read this, this book is not a finished, polished project. Perhaps that was never the author's intent, since she is grappling with the messiness of life, but I wish that she had rewritten and reevaluated parts of the book before releasing it to the public.
carriantrox's review
4.0
Ministered to me so much that I need to fully digest it before reviewing further. If you feel lead to read it.. do it.
alangmaack's review
5.0
Nothing in life is ever wasted. This is a truth I’ve been learning to hold on to. And I think no one may know this truth better than Kasey van Norman.
In her newest book (and Bible study), van Norman shares the most intimate details of her life. Through sharing many intimate details of her life, van Norman uses her story to point the reader towards the truth that nothing in their lives can keep them from knowing and experiencing the goodness of God.
Nothing Wasted is an incredibly personal story. Van Norman shares the details from her past that she has allowed to shape her into who she is meant to be. In sharing these details, van Norman seeks to help the reader also come to know how the painful points of their story can be used by God to shape their lives and further impact others.
God wants to redeem all parts of our story. Nothing Wasted is a beautiful picture of God’s ultimate redemption. And provides hope for all those who read the pages.
If your story has taken twists and turns you never expected, Nothing Wasted can help find weave the pieces back together, with God’s help. Even if you think the twists and turns of your life are not that extreme, van Norman will help guide you back towards God and his redeeming grace.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
In her newest book (and Bible study), van Norman shares the most intimate details of her life. Through sharing many intimate details of her life, van Norman uses her story to point the reader towards the truth that nothing in their lives can keep them from knowing and experiencing the goodness of God.
Nothing Wasted is an incredibly personal story. Van Norman shares the details from her past that she has allowed to shape her into who she is meant to be. In sharing these details, van Norman seeks to help the reader also come to know how the painful points of their story can be used by God to shape their lives and further impact others.
God wants to redeem all parts of our story. Nothing Wasted is a beautiful picture of God’s ultimate redemption. And provides hope for all those who read the pages.
If your story has taken twists and turns you never expected, Nothing Wasted can help find weave the pieces back together, with God’s help. Even if you think the twists and turns of your life are not that extreme, van Norman will help guide you back towards God and his redeeming grace.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review is my own, honest opinion.
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