Thursday, February 5, 2009 - January Book Reviews
Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
C.S. Lewis tackles important issues on prayer and other subjects in this set of "letters" to a fictional character, Malcolm. They are written in a friendly conversational style yet full of intellectual and spiritual wisdom.
Lewis' letters address issues such as canned prayers and the Lord's prayer. He talks about traditions and ceremony in church services and gives his thoughts on "liberal Christianity." Lewis discusses when to pray and how to pray, praying to saints, and praying about the dead.
Lewis makes several interesting points as he writes these letters about prayer. One of his most consistent, though, are these two questions we must ask regarding prayer: What is important to God in our prayers, and what does man need himself in praying to God?
If you want to explore issues regarding prayer from the point of one of the greatest theologians (only a layman, he insists, though) of all time, I would highly recommend this book.
Sense and Sensuality: Jesus Talks to Oscar Wilde on the Pursuit of Pleasure
As you probably know, Oscar Wilde is one of my favorite authors. He wrote some of the most hilarious plays in the world, and he also wrote an incredible novel (his only) dealing with morality and man. However, Wilde was not the most moral man on the planet. Ravi Zacharias explores the last few hours of Wilde's life--drawing on what we know to be Wilde's tormented sickness and supposed deathbed conversion to Christianity, and filling in the time between.
The time in between is Zacharias' own fictional account of what would happen if Wilde had "meant" Jesus before his death. What led Wilde to his conversion? We do not know. Zacharias draws from Wilde's own life and writings, and the Word of God, to show what could have influenced Wilde as he talks to Jesus on the "pursuit of pleasure."
Pleasure was something Wilde lived his life for. He went to jail for it. He was infamous for it. But he was never satisfied--his private correspondence, writings, and friends knew it. He was missing something--and Zacharias does a wonderful job explaining what might have led Wilde to what he needed.
Reflections on the Psalms
Who can explore the depth of the Psalms better than a literature expert? C.S. Lewis fuses his Christian beliefs and his knowledge of literature--specifically poetry--to help us better understand this book of the Bible.
Lewis not only discusses the spiritual aspects oft he Psalms, but instructs his readers on how to enjoy and learn from them. They are songs, he reminds us. They teach us to praise God and revere Him, and also to fear Him.
Finally, Lewis shows how the Psalms must be read from a literary perspective. That is what they are--poetry. Keeping this in mind, Lewis shows how each verse is significant for various literary reasons--including employing such literary forms that can be translated into any language.
Daisy Miller
Henry James was famous for writing about Americans traveling abroad and how they are treated in other countries. In this novella he introduces us to a young woman named Daisy Miller.
As for Daisy--well, "Daisy Miller was a flirt--a pretty American flirt." She captures the interest of a young man while vacationing in Switzerland and they are later reunited in Italy. But Daisy becomes involved with an Italian man--confusing all three of them.
Daisy Miller is a quick read--not incredibly interesting, but still offering some insight into the mind of a young woman who has charms, but doesn't quite know how to use them.
Tarzan of the Apes
I'm really surprised with this book. In all honestly, I thought I wouldn't like it very much. You see, I'm not partial to books that involve animals. I like people in my books. I don't relate to animals very well, I guess. I never liked Old Yeller or Black Beauty or any of those books as a kid. So knowing this book contained a good deal involving the life of animals--I didn't have very high expectations. However, it was ten cents at the library sale...can you refuse that?
Anyway, I stand humbled before you today. I LOVED this book.
Lord John Clayton--or Tarzan, as we will know him as--was born in Africa after his parents were marooned. When both his parents die, he is adopted by a family of apes. There the child grows not as a man, but as an ape himself. The "primitive man", so to speak. However, Tarzan knows something is missing. He knows he is different--and when he discovers the belongings of his parents, years later, he begins to realize what exactly this is. With English books, he teaches himself to read and write English--although, as he only knows the written words and has never heard it spoken, he cannot speak it.
Years go by. A party of Americans and Englishmen are marooned on the African coast. Among these Americans in Jane Porter. Tarzan, who has never seen a white woman before, is mesmerized by her. Yet how can he win the love of a woman who could view him as a fierce animal of the jungle?
Far From Madding Crowd
This book was originally attributed to George Eliot--and I can see why. While parts of it "seem" like Thomas Hardy, it often seems like a very different work for him. It is hard to explain--especially if you aren't familiar with Hardy or Eliot--but it is easy to see why the great writers were confused when it comes to this novel.
Gabriel Oak is a young shepherd who falls in love with a visiting woman. Bathsheba rejects him, however, and returns home. Gabriel finds this the least of his tragedies, though, when he loses his farm and wealth. He must search for a job--and he finds himself in the position of having to take a job from the Bathsheba, who had recently inherited a large estate.
While he still loves the girl, neither of them can face their pride in admitting it. Bathsheba begins a whirlwind courtship with first one man--then turns around and marries another.
Yet Bathsheba's marriage is full of secrets. Her new husband may not be the kind of husband she thought she was getting--is it too late to realize who really loves her?
I believe this had been my favorite Thomas Hardy novel I've read. It also is not as well known as, say, Tess of the D'ubervilles or Return of the Native. I'm not quite sure why. It is a fascinating book with amazing characters!
Dubliners
I had read a few of the stories when I took British literature a few years back. James Joyce's collection of fifteen short stories is one of the most famous short story collections in English literature.
All of these stories depict middle class Irishmen in early 20th century Dublin. Each of them deals with something different--from a boy's first glimpse of death to a boarding house woman's matchmaking with her daughter and a boarder.
Joyce has a very sparse writing style, as is seen in his longer works. It works to his advantage well, here, as he attempts to create a story while leaving the reader much to wonder.
Carpe Diem
My aunt gave me this book for Christmas--I had heard of it before but never thought to look into reading it. I am glad she gave it to me, though, because this book was a lot of fun and I wouldn't have liked to miss it!
Sixteen year old Vassar Spore is a perfectionist. She also has her whole life planned out--where she goes to college, when she will win the Nobel Prize, and when she will marry a tall blonde surgeon (wow, she almost has her life as well planned out as me!). You have to love that--academics is her life. I swear Vassar could be homeschooled.
Over the summer, though, her important plans are interrupted. Instead of spending the time studying and taking classes (so she can become school valedictorian), her grandmother blackmails her into backpacking through the jungles of Southeast Asia.
Needless to say, Vassar is thrown into a lot of adventures and fun--while trying to figure what is important in life. She also wonders how her grandmother could blackmail her parents--what was the big family secret? Unfortunately, the secret is pretty obvious from the beginning, at least to me.
Along the way, Vassar also meets a young Malaysian cowboy. Yes, cowboy. And he's awesome. Down to his boots--his pride and joy. (I'm sure mine are way cooler though.)
Although this book is supposed to have a message, the message is rather cliched. Instead, I appreciated this book just for the fun involved. A delightful read for anybody, but especially over achiever teenage girls (don't even say it!)!
North and South
Roll over Mr. Darcy. Tell Don Juan the news. I've found a better romantic hero in this book--Mr. Thornton.
Let me back up a little first and introduce you to the story though before I go into why every man should be like Mr. Thornton (or look like Richard Armitage, who plays him in the movie...err, nevermind....).
Margaret Hale is the daughter of a clergyman. She's happy living in delightful, peaceful southern England. Yet when her father decides to leave the church when he feels he cannot agree with some of the precepts required, Margaret and her parents move to the town of Milton in northern England.
Milton is a factory town--overrun with mills and poor, tired workers. Margaret develops a persistent sense of social justice as she befriends the workers--and butts heads with the biggest mill owner in town--Mr. John Thornton. Of course, as always, their disdain for each other hides an attraction--but with such big differences between them, it seems impossible for them to be together as mill strikes, poverty, and death push them further and further apart.
I think the most amazing thing about this book is how there is no wrong or right side. We have two sides--the mill owners (namely Thornton) and the mill workers. They both present a good case. Both groups contain men of high integrity. Yet why can't they get along? Can they compromise? That is the question--and I think that is a question we often face in life. There isn't always the good and the bad. Often, two "goods" seem to disagree--and this book explores that in a fascinating way.
This is my new absolute favorite book (and movie!). Everyone needs to read it. Elizabeth Gaskell (dare I say it!) officially outranks Jane Austen, and North and South surpasses Pride and Prejudice in every way. Can't miss this one!
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
We've all seen the old movie, or at least the Disney animated film. Who isn't familiar at least a little bit with Robin Hood? I grew up watching the films (actually, little known fact about me: I played a villager/prisoner in a homeschool drama club production at age five!) and knowing the story, but I never read this--probably the most famous adaptation, till now.
Interestingly, though this book was written in 1883, it was written in an "Old English" type style. Also, it was adapted specifically for children.
I love the character of Robin Hood--he's one of my favorite in fiction. So that alone drew me to this book. Pyle tells several of the old familiar tales in an easy style for children. However, some of my most famous Robin Hood tales were missing. Frankly, I think the old Robin Hood ballads of the Middle Ages were much more interesting.
Reread:
The Scarlet Pimpernel
This was one of my absolute favorite books years ago. My mom read it to me when I was about ten, and I read it several times the year or two after that. I hadn't picked it up for a long time, so I decided to order it again. I am pleased to say it is every bit as good as it was seven or eight years ago.
Set during the French Revolution, this story explores the life of a young Frenchwoman, Marguerite, and her wealthy husband Percy. Just hours after they were married, Percy finds out a dreadful secret about his beloved wife--she sent a French aristocrat and his family to the guillotine. Percy is disgusted and becomes estranged from his new bride.
Marguerite is determined to win her husband back. However, when the life of her brother is at stake, Marguerite jumps to action to save him--even it means betraying England, which of course would even further damage her relationship with her husband. A French ambassador blackmails Marguerite into spying for the French on the English--specifically to keep her eyes out for the "elusive Pimpernel", an unknown Englishman who smuggles death-sentenced French into England.
Marguerite has a choice to make--does she betray England, and lose her husband forever, or does she let her brother die? It is a riveting tale--and the characters of both Marguerite, Percy, and others are some of the best in fiction.
Comments
Thursday, February 5, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ChristineDaae
Hey!
Yeah, the concert was really good! Do you have a favorite song of his? Mine is "How Can I Keep From Singing". Love that song!
I like using Netflix a lot. We can also download unlimited movies (one at a time) onto our computer and watch them. That's really cool.
Uhh.. the movie had a few...issues. If you know what I mean. There were a couple freaky scenes too. I don't know if I would recommend it. It did do a pretty good job following the book, although it wasn't the story as told by Nellie, to a renter, but instead to the young Cathy. Did that make any sense, lol?!
Yes, the new Sense and Sensibility is wonderful! It is by far my favorite of the two. I do highly recommend that, but watch out for the first few minutes of the movie, for some reason they threw in this bad scene, and then somewhere in the middle of the movie, the same scene. As long as you steer clear of those, I think it's great!
Tell me how Nicholas Nickelby (sp?) goes. I finished Emma and Persuasion and David Copperfield and am going to start Mansfield Park tonight hopefully. Loved all three of those though, especially David Copperfield. It has such a sweet ending!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the Scarlet Pimpernel. I have read it three times before. It is my favorite book I think. So adventurous and romantic! What a great story...
In Christ,
Christine
Friday, February 6, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CrossView
Carpe Diem caught my eye! LOL! I have one of those over-achievers.... We've discussed, more than once, how the two of you must be related... ;o)
And WOW! to North and South. Until your review, I had absolutely no interest in reading it. Now I do. Or at least, having my 19-yr old read it! =P
Saturday, February 7, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by carygrant19
Sorry it's been so long.
Have you ever read 'Good Morning, Miss Dove?' I had to read it for a class and I LOVED it. It's by Frances Gray Patton and it's set right after World War II. I think you'd like it so you should try it-it's kind of rare so the library might not immediately have it.
There's this sweet place here where movies go after they leave the major theaters, and they're really cheap. So maybe when Twilight goes there I'll see it.
I tried GWTW, the book, but couldn't get through it the first time. I'm getting it from the library again, though, and will try again.
I did my movie review, and I picked 'We're No Angels.' Do you know that one? I think you do....
Drop me a comment!
Monday, February 9, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Jocelyndixon
I got the SP from the library.... hoping to pick it up soon!
Shalom,
Miss Jocelyn
http://aponderingheart.com
http://feelinfeminine.com
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sharla88
I've seen a lot of things about North&South, it looks really good, I'll have to see if I can find it.
Sorry I have not been by in a while!!!
GB~
Sharla~
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Charlotte
Ah! I adore the Scarlet Pimpernel! No comparison. It's amazing. You should check out its sequels. They're a bit cliche but still fun. :)
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