Review of Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic
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Nisha DSouza
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Review of Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic" by Sophia Aldridge.]
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic by Sophia Aldridge is an inspirational true account of two seniors who built their house during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sophia and her husband, Ernest, in their mid-sixties, bought land in 2018. A year later, they decided to build their forever home independently. They were sufficiently prepared, or so they thought, with Ernest's proficiency in handling large machinery, carpentry, electrical, and plumbing work and Aldridge's computer and designing skills. Unfortunately, they did not anticipate a complete lockdown; that meant increased prices and delayed deliveries, eventually making their budgets and plans go for a toss. There's an old saying, "Man plans, and God laughs." Fortunately, in their case, their faith in each other and God led them to achieve their dream despite all the obstacles. Could you have accomplished what this senior couple did amid a horrible pandemic?
Aldridge compares a lasting marriage with building a home and says both require total commitment and many similar factors. I found this comparison especially apt because, in both cases, you certainly need a strong foundation, regular health checks and maintenance, and resilience to beat the tough times. The constant setbacks they faced as a couple during the build—like faulty products delivered, a hurricane that wreaked havoc, and issues with their postal address—did not deter them from their goal. The unexpected rise in construction material prices due to the pandemic meant they would be depleting their savings. It was inspiring to read how they were determined to complete what they started despite the skeptics and the challenges. I'm inclined to think that this was mainly due to their trust in God and their marriage.
The book has so many positive aspects that it makes it a must-read for anyone looking to build their home or work on their marriage. Their sheer willpower to keep moving forward would be deeply motivational for many. However, there are two things I would suggest changing in this book. One was the book's editing; I noticed quite a few errors. Secondly, the part where Aldridge shares stories from various women was slightly confusing to me at times. That was primarily because the narration shifted from second person to first person and then back abruptly. For example, in one story where she talked about Zillah and Zillah's husband, the following sentences created confusion: "Zillah believes he knew her hormones were out of whack and her mind was scrambled. Sometimes, we disagreed on the discipline of the children, but not often. Zillah was the disciplinary parent because Lamech had traveled often." I think making these adjustments will enhance this book's appeal.
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic: Building Your Own Home and Marriage is an incredible book that will provide many interesting insights about building a home and working on your marriage. My husband and I are contemplating constructing a house, so this book comes at an opportune time. Although we don't intend to build it without the help of professionals, this book will still be a helpful guide to knowing what could go wrong and how believing in God and yourself can move mountains and bring about miracles. I deducted one star only because of the errors mentioned earlier and rated the book 4 out of 5 stars.
The Bible quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch and tied in perfectly with the chapter's contents. I highly recommend anyone venturing into home building or facing relationship problems to read this inspirational book. It will redefine the way you look at things and help you rekindle your faith in God and your marriage. The pictures at the end help visualize the build and the references are good resource material.
******
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic by Sophia Aldridge is an inspirational true account of two seniors who built their house during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sophia and her husband, Ernest, in their mid-sixties, bought land in 2018. A year later, they decided to build their forever home independently. They were sufficiently prepared, or so they thought, with Ernest's proficiency in handling large machinery, carpentry, electrical, and plumbing work and Aldridge's computer and designing skills. Unfortunately, they did not anticipate a complete lockdown; that meant increased prices and delayed deliveries, eventually making their budgets and plans go for a toss. There's an old saying, "Man plans, and God laughs." Fortunately, in their case, their faith in each other and God led them to achieve their dream despite all the obstacles. Could you have accomplished what this senior couple did amid a horrible pandemic?
Aldridge compares a lasting marriage with building a home and says both require total commitment and many similar factors. I found this comparison especially apt because, in both cases, you certainly need a strong foundation, regular health checks and maintenance, and resilience to beat the tough times. The constant setbacks they faced as a couple during the build—like faulty products delivered, a hurricane that wreaked havoc, and issues with their postal address—did not deter them from their goal. The unexpected rise in construction material prices due to the pandemic meant they would be depleting their savings. It was inspiring to read how they were determined to complete what they started despite the skeptics and the challenges. I'm inclined to think that this was mainly due to their trust in God and their marriage.
The book has so many positive aspects that it makes it a must-read for anyone looking to build their home or work on their marriage. Their sheer willpower to keep moving forward would be deeply motivational for many. However, there are two things I would suggest changing in this book. One was the book's editing; I noticed quite a few errors. Secondly, the part where Aldridge shares stories from various women was slightly confusing to me at times. That was primarily because the narration shifted from second person to first person and then back abruptly. For example, in one story where she talked about Zillah and Zillah's husband, the following sentences created confusion: "Zillah believes he knew her hormones were out of whack and her mind was scrambled. Sometimes, we disagreed on the discipline of the children, but not often. Zillah was the disciplinary parent because Lamech had traveled often." I think making these adjustments will enhance this book's appeal.
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic: Building Your Own Home and Marriage is an incredible book that will provide many interesting insights about building a home and working on your marriage. My husband and I are contemplating constructing a house, so this book comes at an opportune time. Although we don't intend to build it without the help of professionals, this book will still be a helpful guide to knowing what could go wrong and how believing in God and yourself can move mountains and bring about miracles. I deducted one star only because of the errors mentioned earlier and rated the book 4 out of 5 stars.
The Bible quotes at the beginning of each chapter were a nice touch and tied in perfectly with the chapter's contents. I highly recommend anyone venturing into home building or facing relationship problems to read this inspirational book. It will redefine the way you look at things and help you rekindle your faith in God and your marriage. The pictures at the end help visualize the build and the references are good resource material.
******
Two Seniors Build in a Pandemic
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Nisha
Official Reviewer Representative
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein
Official Reviewer Representative
"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein
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Sarah Zain
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Having a cooperative and willing partner is the most important factor in the success of any project, including marriage. I felt from your words that the book was expressive and would really have a good impact on readers. It's for sure will be on my list. Thank you for the comprehensive review.
Life is hard on its own so let's make it easier for each other if we could.
