Customer Reviews

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes (Sisterchicks Series #8)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been to the Netherlands once in my life. Ok, it was really the Amsterdam airport on a layover flight. Still though, I've been somewhere many have dreamed of going. And I would love to go there again. With this book, I was able to leave my surroundings and go to a land full of tulips, windmills and wooden shoes. While Amsterdam has gotten a rep for "other interests", Robin Gunn takes the reader to enjoy the rest of the country and learning about the culture. I really enjoyed seeing the sights and riding in the canals. It made me feel as if I was really there. Noelle and Summer have a wonderful friendship that's lasted throughout the years. It was also really interesting to see the underground work Noelle does to help protect women in the country. Gunn's writing is always a pleasure to read as she blends the characters thoughts and storyline easily and the travelogue flows smoothly. Summer's situation about wanting to avoid the cancer issue and just enjoy life is very understandable. It made things more realistic than her immediately accepting it and just going along with everything.

While I enjoyed this book tremendously, to be honest this probably ranks among one of my least favorite Sisterchicks books. I think the biggest problem for me was that the European Noelle made Summer seem like a stereotypical American. I know that Europeans take life differently from Americans and obviously have different customs and everything. Noelle just came across as being very cool and distant in comparison to Summer who was lively and outgoing. It just made me feel that Noelle didn't seem to realize how Summer's personality was. This could also be due to the fact that this was the first time they actually met face to face. I also found it very strange that not once did these friends ever think about calling each other after all those years of writing to each other. I could understand if it was a different time period or if they hadn't known each other that well but after forty years? It just seemed a bit unrealistic to me.

Other than this I really did enjoy the book. The Sisterchicks books are great armchair readers as they have taken me to places all over the world that I have only dreamed of going. I really love these books that show women being friends throughout the years and getting to enjoy traveling as well. I've read that this is the last Sisterchicks book but I'm hoping Robin can squeeze out as least one more. This book is great summer reading especially if you can't get away for a real vacation. It's the next best thing to hopping on a plane yourself.

I have enjoyed all the sisterchicks books, but I hadn't read any for a few years and got this one. It was excellent. There were actually a few concepts in the book that really had an impact on me. Even though it was fiction, it was based on a real life experience, which I thought was interesting. I like the writing style of this author and I wish she'd come out with more sisterchick books.

Sisterchicks In Wooden Shoes is probably one of my all time favorite books! Of course, I absolutely (and I do mean absolutely!) love all of the Sisterchick books. The escapades and adventures of the friends or sisters makes one want to grab a suitcase and your sisterchick and have an adventure of your own. These books are easy, light reading but there are many truths throughout the stories. I guess this book would be a favorite because the "girls" go on a trip to Holland. Not only are there tulips and wooden shoes but the story ties into Corrie ten Boom and her family. I'm not a crier my nature but there is a chapter in this story that really touched my heart and tears came to my eyes...I had one of those "eye opening" moments where the Lord helped me to "see" beyond the story. If you want to go on a trip but don't have the time or finances right now then go to Amazon.com and get this book..it's actually better than a trip---no packing or passport.

Every woman dreads hearing the words abnormal and biopsy. After she recovered from the shock of the phone call, Summer Finley knew exactly what she wanted to do. She had a pen pal friend in Holland she'd never met. They had written to each other since they were in grade school. Summer was going to Holland. Her husband, Wayne encouraged her to take the trip, and four days later she stood on her friend Noelle's doorstep. The result was a whirlwind adventure that left me green with envy: Holland, windmills, and tulips, field after field of tulips. The two friends had a wonderful time getting acquained, but Summer was still dealing with the effect of those two words. What would she find when she went back home.
This is a delightful story of friends who learn how much they need each other. A special book you won't want to miss.

Come along and travel with Summer from Cincinnati to Amsterdam. Summer is married and is the mother of six kids. After hearing some unsettling news Summer decides on the spur of the moment, to book a trip to Amsterdam to visit her lifelong pen pal Noelle. I have to say I don't suggest booking a flight on a credit card before talking to your husband in real life, but Summer does something many of us put off in life; living out a dream.

Once Summer arrives in Amsterdam, she and Noelle hit the ground running sightseeing. From visiting a field of tulips to seeing a real windmill the imagery of Amsterdam danced off the pages. Noelle had one surprise sight for Summer to visit that led Summer out of her comfort zone, while reminding her that everything is possible through Christ.

Summer and Noelle visit Corrie ten Boom's place and reminds readers of the unshakable love for God Corrie possessed. You felt like you were walking on sacred ground along with Summer and Noelle. Summer booked this visit in hopes of forgetting what may be waiting for her at home, what neither one of them counted on, is this trip healing some old wounds in each of their lives.

I enjoyed this book. Robin Jones Gunn writes great "escape books." This is the perfect book to take on vacation with you. Some of the details of how things come about are a bit unrealistic within the story, but Robin Jones Gunn has a way of catching readers off guard and driving home a powerful God lesson.

This is another thoroughly enjoyable Sisterchicks books from Gunn. Anyone who is already a fan will want to pick this one up,.Anyone who hasn't had the privilege of reading a Sisterchick novel should do so at the first opportunity! These are wonderful stories of faith and friendship and travel that take you to places all over the world for adventures. The stories are usually fairly light and breezy and full of lots of sights, sounds, food and language from the places they travel to, in this case the Netherlands. I've always enjoyed how Gunn incorporates a lot of the culture of the particular country into the story. As always when I read a Sisterchicks book, I just want to call all my friends and go on a road trip of our own! I'd heartily recommend that if you haven't read any of this series to grab this one and get started - and soon you'll feel as if you've traveled the world with some of your best friends!

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn is the latest in her fantastic Sisterchicks series. Each stand-alone book features a pair of women in an exotic location learning about God, friendship, and themselves. When Summer Finley gets word from her doctor about an abnormal mammogram, she decides to take a break from her carefully ordered life and fly to The Netherlands to visit her lifelong pen pal Noelle VanZandt . The two girls were paired up as pen pals in third grade, and in the 35 years since have gone from paper to email without ever speaking on the phone or seeing each other in person. Their relationship has weathered miscarriages, adoptions, grief, and heartache, and Summer does not want to live another day without seeing her best friend. The two have some wild adventures aboard a runaway wooden shoe-boat and learn about the Holocaust when visiting Corrie ten Boom's house, but the greatest lessons come from their time together. I am a huge fan of the Sisterchicks series, but I think that this one just may be one of my favorites (along with Sisterchicks Do the Hula). Both women are dealing with some serious issues, but their friendship and faith bring both of them to breakthroughs. Gunn describes the Dutch and their beautiful country with elegance and charm. This is a book to read and then pass on to your best friend!

When Summer Finley receives the news that her biopsy is "abnormal," her first instinct is to run to the person who has always been there for her, even though they've never met. Summer books a flight to the Netherlands to spend a week "in denial" with her pen pal, Noelle Van Zandt. The two share the sights, sounds and tastes of Holland as their friendship evolves to a deeper level. Getting to know one another in person, they develop insights into each other that transcend their years of letters and emails.

The week begins with the sites for which Holland is most famous: fields of brilliantly colored spring tulips and a windmill to complete the scene.

"Such vivid colors! The sunlight highlighted the blooms so all the colors were sharply focused. For one heart-tugging, breath-taking moment, I closed my eyes. It seemed impossible to take in so much glory all at once."

Summer and Noelle laugh, talk and photograph everything as they kick off their week. The following day, Noelle takes Summer on an early morning trip to a surprise destination. After a breakfast of apricot pastries fresh from the bakery, they take a train to a rural area of Holland where they visit a farm run by Noelle's sister-in-law. But this is no ordinary farm. It is what Noelle describes as a "spiritual community" for Christian women, many of whom arrived from other countries after having been persecuted or abused in some way. Summer is amazed by the peace she finds at the farm and the unabashed way in which the women worship straight from their hearts.

At Summer's request, Day Three brings a visit to the hiding place of Corrie Ten Boom in Haarlem, Holland. Summer explains to Noelle that the Ten Booms were Christians who risked their lives to provide a refuge for people hiding from the Nazis during World War II. The friends marvel at the hiding area behind a secret wall, but even more so, they are amazed by the faith and courage of this family.

Each day's outing leads Noelle to face challenges, often reluctantly, and brings her face to face with others who have sought strength from God to rise above thorny circumstances. Through various adventures and heart-to-hearts with Noelle, Summer comes to realize she can trust God with anything...even the unknown outcome of her upcoming medical tests.

There is something fun and breezy about the Sisterchicks books. Mixing friendship, faith and travel just works, especially when you are guaranteed a happy ending. Robin Jones Gunn always produces believable characters, plots and subplots to which women can relate. And if you like traveling or just learning about other countries, her novels are a great way to experience distant lands. Read SISTERCHICKS IN WOODEN SHOES! and you'll want to book a trip to the Netherlands immediately after turning the last page.

The Sisterchicks series always involves a couple of friends heading out for an international adventure (except for SISTERCHICKS DO THE HULA!, in which they head to Hawaii). It is not always the same friends, however, which gives each book a distinct personality and setting. Join "the chicks" in Mexico, Australia, France, Italy and Britain for a good read and great travel ideas.

--- Reviewed by Susan Miura

I could totally relate to the premise of this book. When Noelle says to Summer, take my hand and I'll show you the sites of my town. I thought back to when I visited Lea, my high school BFF, for the first time in Toronto, Canada. We had gone to school together and after graduation she moved to Canada. We didn't have the speed of email, back then but I really enjoyed her letters. When it was time for me to visit her she took me by the hand and showed me the lovely sites of her new home. Lea showed me amazing Castles, lovely flowers, took me on my first subway ride ever, had me eat special treats only found in Canada and had my face splashed by the breath taking waters of Niagara Falls.

Toronto was strikingly clean for such a big city. We shopped through the Eaton Center which is the biggest mall I'd ever seen, and found time to talk about how the Lord was moving in our lives.

I envisioned myself standing with Summer as she looked out the window and thought this," It was as if God had invited the shy new day to come and spread her beauty over this corner of His world, and she was being obedient but at the same time was embarrassed to be put in the spotlight of the rising sun."

My husband and I met while working on the stage version of "The Hiding Place." I was cast in the part of Betsy, Corrie ten Boom's sister. When Robin Jones Gunn took me to the very place where Corrie ten Boom's family hid the Jews, it was an extremely special part of the book for me.


I loved the way Robin Jones Gunn described how to look at art. Robin tells of all the art museums they explored, and the art inside, like that of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh, Noelle says, "Appreciation of beauty isn't work. All you have to do is look. Open your eyes, your mind, and your heart. Take in whatever it is you see. Let the painting do all the work. Just listen with your eyes, and the painting will tell you its story." Wow, I'm going to try that!

I totally agreed with the author when she said this," God somehow touched people, places and moments, and the everyday became glimpses of heaven here on earth." I've experienced this!

I felt like I was viewing the sites along with the character Summer as Robin took my hand and said follow me through the pages of her book. That's why I love the Sisterchick series. What I especially love about this series is that every now and then Robin tosses out treasures from heaven for me to ponder and get a hold of in my heart. Just when everything in the book is full of fun, friendship and exploration, the author has one of the characters in her book discover a truth from the word that would pierce my heart and make me think along with the character. Robin has a special gift for doing this in her writing, which makes her stories so rich.

I totally enjoyed the pictures at the end of this book where Robin shares her real life trip to visit her friend in Holland. That was the icing on the cake for me.

I don't know how Robin does this, but I feel like I've experienced this amazing town with her and learned many valuable lessons along the way. Thank you Robin, for writing such delightful books were I can make believe I've gone traveling with you and learn so much without leaving my home.

Finding Hope Through Fiction
Book Club Servant Leader

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! by Robin Jones Gunn is a sweet story of friendship and spiritual introspection.

The main character, Summer, finds out her mammogram was "abnormal" and she needs a biopsy. She decides to enter a "week of denial" and put off the biopsy in favor of a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Netherlands to meet her best friend and pen pal since elementary school, Noelle.

Summer and Noelle have a wonderful time building their friendship face to face for the first time as they explore the Netherlands. In the process, they both find themselves exploring their hearts regarding unresolved spiritual issues as Noelle sees things in Summer that Summer has not recognized in herself, and vice versa. Every woman needs a friend with whom she can bear her soul - and who can speak the truth to her in return; such a friendship is a restorative gift of God.

The women's friendship is beautiful, as is the countryside of the Netherlands. Robin Jones Gunn does an amazing job of describing sights, sounds, culture and food of the Netherlands - you'll feel as if you've gone there yourself!