Spangler regards humor as "a gift God has given us to enable us to respond to life creatively." To this end, she includes humorous "women only" stories from well-known evangelical speakers and writers, such as Luci Swindoll, Becky Freeman, Barbara Johnson and Thelma Wells. Drawing from their own experiences of motherhood, marriage, friendship and aging, these women invite an easy solidarity; Patsy Clairmont tells of walking down the street feeling very fashionable, only to discover a pair of pantyhose trailing behind, while Barbara Johnson informs women that the best way to prepare for a mammogram is to smash their breasts thrice daily between a pair of frozen metal bookends. Most of the vignettes have no spiritual message whatsoever (Liz Curtis Higgs's essays on home decorating and bra-shopping in junior high are funny but not up to her usual spiritual standards). Some contributors try to use the humor as a theological jumping-off place: Thelma Wells describes a Ruth-and-Naomi friendship with a woman who refused to abandon her during a Nashville tornado. Most of the stories elicit a chuckle or two, though very few are fall-on-one's-face hilarious (an exception is Chondra Pierce's description of how she deals with telemarketers at suppertime). This inoffensive, benign book will entertain readers without challenging them spiritually. (Jan.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
