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Title: Faith, Hope … and the Greatest of These is LOVE!
Author: Tammy Varner Hornbeck
Publisher: Publish America
Copyright: 2006
ISBN: 1-4241-5886-9
Genre: Poetry
Book Size: 98 pages
Reviewer: Deborah Porter
Available Through:
Publish America http://www.publishamerica.com/
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There is no doubt that poetry has a very special way of opening up the heart of the author to reveal their deepest longings and desires. For the reader, there is an awareness of the privilege they have been given in being able to share in this very intimate part of the poet's life, and that was exactly how I felt as I read Tammy Varner Hornbeck's first book, Faith, Hope … and the Greatest of These is LOVE!
Ms. Hornbeck has divided her poetry into two main sections:
The Love Between a Man and a Woman; and
The Love Between God and Mankind.
She also included a selection of poetry written by her close friend, the late Kenneth LaVonne Barton; a gentleman who encouraged Tammy in her writing and shared her heart for honoring the Lord through their poems.
Tammy's poetry is often sweet, and always heartfelt, honest and God-focused. Most appear to have been written at a time prior to her marriage to the man who truly is the love of her life, Jesse Hornbeck. There is no question at all that this couple was brought together by God.
Most, if not all, of the poems in the first section, Love Between a Man and a Woman, were written during a time when Ms. Hornbeck and her fiancé, Jesse, were separated due to unfortunate circumstances.
The longing to be with her beloved fiancé was a little reminiscent of the yearning expressed in the Song of Solomon. There was the constant recognition that the Lord had brought their lives together, but also the pouring out of a heart in pain at this enforced separation.
From this reader's perspective, I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed that this first section of the book finished without resolution. Although I know that the author was ultimately united with her fiancé in marriage, the poetry never moved to that stage of their relationship. For a section dealing with the love between a man and a woman, I felt that it would have benefited from the inclusion of at least some poems written after the couple was finally united. As I read this first section, I remember thinking how much I was looking forward to the glorious and triumphant celebration of their marriage. However, the first section closed with the author still waiting:
So do not fear, Darling when a dark day comes
This love is stronger than both of us
And oh, how we will love
When God brings you home!!
Ms. Hornbeck then moves onto the second section, The Love Between God and Mankind, and once again, the poetry is heartfelt, transparent, inspirational and sweet.
Although most of the poems in this second section fit the Love Between God and Mankind theme, there were others that seemed a little out of place, dealing more with the love between people. However, they were quite sweet tributes to the very special family and friends God has brought into Tammy's life.
In many ways, Faith, Hope … and the Greatest of These is LOVE! is a very intimate and personal book, but that is to be expected whenever anyone uses poetry to open the door to their heart-which is exactly what Ms. Hornbeck has done.
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