2 Books Published by Upper Room on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Publishers Weekly *
Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts and her mother, Lucimarian Roberts, encapsulate resilience, faith and generations of joy in this slim and inspirational volume. Eighty-seven-year-old Lucimarian reflects concisely on a life buoyed by her deep love of music, as well as her commitment to her faith and civic service. The same musicality that steadied her as a young woman growing up in the segregated South, then marrying her husband of 53 years (who was a Tuskegee Airman), informs her descriptions of life traveling all over the world before making a home that was eventually imperiled by Hurricane Katrina. Excerpts of biblical passages and lyrics from her favorite spirituals add a devotional quality to the main narrative that is both endearing and uplifting. That the health challenges of both Roberts women are not addressed until late in the book underscores the main theme of the book: that victories surmount despair. The stories from journalist Robin about her mother add a sweet and conversational tone to the book.

Quiet Spaces guides busy contemporary women into short prayer interludes—despite the busyness of the day’s schedule. As a businesswoman, wife, and mother, author Patricia Wilson understands the hectic nature of contemporary life and the sometimes conflicting tugs of career, family, and home. Wilson helps women discover the quiet moments that will help connect them with God. She recognizes those days when the most quiet moment is that overlooked space while waiting for an appointment. Her prayers deal with a wide range of spiritual concerns. Each prayer interlude has five parts: Calming: a passage from the Psalms to calm the mind Centering: a practice to focus on God Praying: a prayer for a particular situation or occasion Listening: a passage from the Gospels Returning: a practice to anchor the prayer experience. Wilson’s prayer interludes can take as little as five minutes, but offer the renewal many women seek.