I read this book as a teen.  Reading it again last week felt like I was reconnecting with my old friend, Ms. Christie.  She was my favorite author for so many years.

While the plot twists and turns quite often, it is really not complex at all.  Sub-plots are virtually non-existant in this book where it seems they could have been created easily enough.  However, one redeeming quality of the book would be the thought provoking theme: unpunished murder.

My daughter read the book just before I did for our book club.  It brought back memories of theory after theory on the identity of the murderer, theories that changed almost with every page.  Abbie didn't guess and I don't think I ever did either.  Even this time, I forgot who exactly it was even though I remembered parts of the book. 

Could the lack of sub-plots be a result of flat characters?  Each person in the story acts exactly as one would expect of his "kind of person".  None of the characters seems to really be an individual beyond basic description.  Perhaps the story would have been  more complex if the characters had been more developed by the author. 

On the other hand, although the characters themselves generate little thought, the theme does trigger a review of the ethics involved in punishing murderers.  If the law is inadequate to reach certain murderers, does an individual have the moral right to mete out the penalty due?  I don't think so.  I don't think the Bible sanctions such actions. 

Agatha Christie has been declared the queen of the murder mystery genre and this book has been named among her best.  So, if a complex plot and well-developed characters are not an absolute necessity for you,  you might really enjoy the challenge to detect the criminal of this who-dunnit.  You might find yourself considering deeper topics than you would expect besides.

Elizabeth George has written another good one here.  I read A Woman After God's Heart several years ago and was challenged by it.  Then I read another of hers...can't remember the name at the moment...it was only a mediocre book.  This one on prayer is basic (because it is for "young women"?) but certainly helpful.

It has been a great place to start for preparing the Bible studies I have to lead this fall.  The girls' Bible study will springboard from Elizabeth George's book, although I will add some of my own material.  The ladies' Bible study will go from Elizabeth George's book, as well as, Praying Jesus' Way.  (I just read this paragraph again.  I am concerned my words make it sound like these books eclipse the Bible in our Bible study.  At least one lady in our group totally dislikes using any book besides the Bible.  I find the extra books help put the Biblical concepts in a teachable order for me.  Beyond that they are good resources for extra illustrations, quotes and discussion questions.)

Anyway, as with most any classes we teach the preparation for these Bible studies has impacted my prayer life for the (very much) better.  I think my favorite point from George's book is the following:  Learning to pray is not one of those things we can put on our to-do list and then, at the end of a prescribed amount of time, scratch that baby off the list.  Elizabeth George contemplated her own prayer life on the tenth anniversary of her salvation.  Twenty years later she admits, “And I want to tell to you right now—I am still learning how to pray!” 

Looking for a good book to read with your daughter?  I think this would be a great place to start looking.

Here is an entry originally started July 9, 2009.  I guess it's time to get it done:

How interesting to read an entire book about punctuation.  I know that doesn't sound interesting but the book was interesting enough to read the whole thing.  Actually, it seemed more like a book of funny anecdotes with some punctuation rules at the end of the chapters.  Come to think of it, that is exactly what it was.

Of course, each anecdote has to do with punctuation in some way and the author does spend a page here and there for a diatribe on the horrid use of punctuation these days.  However, I found myself giggling a number of times while trying to remember if I have done anything so ridiculous with punctuation.  My only complaint about the book was that once or twice the author seems a little too fanatical about punctuation.

Here is the anecdote from the title as it is printed on the back of the book: 

     A panda walks into a cafe.  He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

     "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit.  The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

     "I'm a panda," he says, at the door.  "Look it up."

     The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds and explanation.

     "Panda.  Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China.  Eats, shoots and leaves."

If you like that one, read the book.  It's filled with more like it. (Excuse me while I check the punctuation in my writing...)

Here is another delicious book.  I know what you're thinking - how could a western of all things be a 'delicious' book?  I am not a fan of westerns, not on TV, not in books.  However, this book was recommended on the George Wythe College (TJEd school) website so I decided to try it.  Boy am I glad I did.

There are several plots going on while the story weaves its way through subtle and not-so-subtle developments.  Also, the subject, simply by nature, seems to be more appealing to persons of both genders --there is a love story, a hanging, a shoot-out (of course), a man making himself better, a man making himself more evil, all the elements of a blockbuster hit.

I annotated as I read and one theme that popped up quite often was that of "equality".  What makes men equal?  unequal?  Does money, education, intelligence, or religious affiliation make the difference?

When I was done reading the book I found out that Owen Wister looked to Jane Austen's works as a model for his own.  I think he did quite well and just maybe, he even improved on the original.

What could I say that hasn't been said about this book? 

This was my second reading of the book and it went much more easily than the first time.  I am not sure if the A&E movie made it easier or if it was because I am older.  At any rate, there wasn't a single time when i was struggling to get through a page.

To me, some books are simply delicious.  P&P is one such book.

This is a truly hilarious book.  We have read Pyramid, Castle and Cathedral not to mention The New the Way Things Work by the same author.  All were great educationally and were enjoyable books but this one is more enjoyable than all the others put together.  Perhaps it is a little less educational.  It is definitely way sillier.

A man is walking across North America in the distant future, long after a sudden, tragic meteorological occurance buried the whole continent under many feet of...junk mail.  He falls into a motel but he interprets the place as a tomb and the many items in it and the adjoining bathroom as ceremonial items.  Truly hilarious.  My favorite is the "decorative tiles" on the ceiling which were carefully colored in random patterns (really, they were water stains!).

Clearly a classic.  I guess I can't say that until I have read it at least a second time but I am thinking that when I finish it the second time and perhaps the third or fourth time I will be able to confirm that this book is definitely a classic.  Here's a good way to put it, I hardly ever read a book a second time.  There are too many wonderful books out there to waste my time reading a book a second time.  However, I finished the book a week or so ago and I started it again yesterday.

Some thoughts I had:

• The main character is hit with a baseball in the eye.  In the hospital he realizes how he has taken his eyes, his health for granted.  I stopped to think of things that I take for granted.  However, as I read the list I wonder if those typical things (health, family, church, reading, sewing...) are really what I take for granted.  I mean, they came to mind immediately.  When I really think about it, I do appreciate all those things.  So what do I take for granted?  Can I realize those things without some sort of disaster?

• There seemed to be a parallel between the setting of the story during WWII and the American Jews themselves.  Hatred of Jews - WWII: hatred between American Jews - religious "war".

• True friendship is portrayed in the book.  Friendship is another word like "love" that we throw about so often in hyperbole that we rarely use it in the true fashion anymore.  Here is an interesting quote: " Two people who are friends are like two bodies with one soul."

• There was a time in Jewish history in Poland when the discussions of the rabbis was no longer connected to "the desperate needs of the masses of Jews."  The book points this out and denounces the scholars that became only interested in showing "how much they knew, how many texts they could manipulate" to argue minute points of the Talmud.  I can see how easily this can happen where education is elevated to the highest regard.  I am sure it happens among the scholarly in any field of study today.

• It seemed to me that the Torah was raised to the position of God.  Do they worship God or God's book?

• I liked how one character consistently referred to God as "the Master of the Universe".  It is good to remember that He is in control of everything at all times.

• Here is a quote I haven't processed yet:  "If a person has a contribution to make he must do it in public.  If learning is not made public it is a waste."  Can this be true?

Ok, I'm stopping.  These are just a few of my notes and I already have a couple new ones the second time around.  Clearly a classic.

What a delightful find.  This was the last book published by Tolkein before he died.  The whole story arose out of his "failed" attempt to write an introduction to George MacDonald's Golden Key.  I say failed because he never did finish writing it but here is the reason why: he decided that people should be introduced to a fairy tale by the tale itself.

Anyway, this is a small book that is typical Tolkein as the story will delight young readers while older readers will find food-for-thought in its pages.  The ending is an interesting mix of sweetness and sadness, such as it should be in a story about "faery".

Hmmm.  Well, it was interesting.  Here is another audio book on MP3 from the library.

HG Wells obviously had a rich imagination when he wrote these stories.  He also had a good bit of indoctrination from some environmentalists, too.  Should I tell you how the world ends?  I suppose you should read the story yourself (or listen to it).  I did appreciate his writing style.  I also appreciate the unique plots and settings he uses.

I listened to most of the short stories on the recording as well.  I say most because I got fed up with the endings of his stories.  Now, I am one who gets disgusted with our modern story endings where everyone gets what they wanted, exactly as they wanted, as much as they wanted, etc.  I like endings that make you think, or at least are a little unexpected.  Perhaps someone does get what they want but they find out they have to pay a price for it or perhaps they don't get as much as they want of it.  You get the idea.

This is not the way Wells ends his short stories.  His stories just stop.  As though he got called away from his desk while writing the last page but he never returned to finish it. 

Although I am glad I listened to it, I don't think I will have the inkling to re-read (listen to)  this book.

I just finished this book today.  I have had discussions regarding this book with my husband and several friends already.  Wow, this book is causing a stir.

I want to go back now and re-read several passages that threw up little red flags.  I also want to compare notes with those of Norman Geisler (an apologist that I respect).  A friend directed me to a website that contains his comments on the book.

At any rate, I can say two things about  The Shack so far:

1.  I cried almost every time I picked up the book!

2. I thought the literary style of the book was excellent. (That's my humble opinion.)

I recently finished listening to Jane Eyre on MP3.  Does that count for reading the book?  Well, I loved it.  Our library has gotten several books on MP3.  You check out the little unit with the book on it and you provide the earphones and the triple A battery.  Of course, this may be old news to people who aren't tucked away in the corner of Alaska!

Anyway, the book compared to those by Jane Austen but I don't think it topped them.  Several times I just couldn't stand the thought of stopping the story because of the intensity of the plot.  I truly wondered what would happen several times.  This not knowing was heightened by the fact that the box said the running time was 4 hours....uh, try 24!  I don't know exactly how long it runs but the box was definitely way, way off.  Anyway, I kept thinking I was coming to the end but the story kept going.

In the end, this book rates a little lower than Jane Austen's because there was really only one plot to follow whereas Ms. Austen always had three or more all at once.  This made Jane Eyre a little flat to me.  However, as people have said a number of times in my hearing, anyway, Jane Eyre does provide  some opportunities for the reader to learn about human nature and himself.

I was certainly impressed by this book.  It is written by two boys who are tired of the attitude our society has towards teens...one of terribly low expectations.  They cite examples of teens in history and teens today who have done hard things.

It made me realize how much time I myself have wasted living at the status quo.  Hopefully, Abbie and then the other kids (at appropriate times) will be interested in the concepts this book puts forth.

Oh man,  I am so glad to know the end of the story but wish I hadn't finished that book because I want the story to go on and on.  Aah, the love story that emerges...or should I say stories.  The improvement of Emma's character by the observation and realization of the characters around her gives me a model.  I even saw a bit of myself in one character...I won't say which one.

Anyway, this is certainly the epitome of a classic.  I learned about others and about myself and the experience was all the better for the story I found myself wrapped up in.

Finalleeeeeeee!  I feel like i was holding my breath for more than a month until I could allow myself to read the last book in Ted Dekker's "The Circle Trilogy."  I knew it would be a fast read because I would not be able to put the book down...I was right.

The new believers, the ones who chose to die to find new life in Elyon (God), are beginning to look a lot like the church as we know it.  The largest issue is how the believers should behave toward unbelievers.  Some advocate strict rules and adherance to those rules while others want to be all soft and inviting to lure people into church and there are those in between.  Again, there is a dichotomy where some want to seclude themselves and others want to fit back into the non-believer setting.  Dekker walks a fine line between the importance of the church remaining pure in doctrine but also not becoming legalists. 

This third book also deals with the way Christ is romancing his bride.  My own feelings of awe were renewed as I thought about how Christ saw me, chose me, loved me --even before I was a believer.  I was convicted, too, as I thought about how certain people who are unlovely to me.  I cannot love them myself but I can depend on Christ to help me love them.

What a wonderful series.  I have recommended this trilogy to everyone who will listen to me.  

A countinuation of the story from "Black", "Red" is just as good as "Black."   Because of reading this book I now feel like I understand what it would have been like to have been an everyday Jew at the time of Jesus. Would I have followed the established religious leaders because they surely "know what is right"?  Would I have been numbered in the relatively few who followed Christ after his death?  I can't say.  I can say that I am so thankful to be counted a Christian today.  And I am thankful to my friend who was so gracious to lend these Ted Dekker books for me to read. (I like them so much I ordered a set for myself)

More to come on the last book..."White"

What a classic book!  I know this is at least the third time I have read the book but as I read it I had to pause several times to think about the lessons it naturally teaches. 

I also told the story of this book to the campers as the theme for the week was Narnia.  It was a great moment when a whole roomful of 7-9 year-olds (120 of them) realized the connection between this book and the more familiar "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

This book is a fabulous read although it may be difficult if you don't enjoy the fantasy genre.  In order to allow any future reader to discover the "reality" in the book as I did, I will not describe too much of the plot.  However, I will reveal that the protagonist, who claims to not believe in the God of the Bible, finds himself encountering that very God and Satan, too. 

Very soon in the book the reader figures the setting must be just before the tribulation.  Ted Dekker writes about one possible way the antichrist will rise to power.  One word that could be used to describe the beginning of the book would be: creepy.  In fact, I did use that word.

The worst part of the book is coming to the end only to find that the story is not over.  The reader must continue to the next book and presumably to the third (there are three in the series).  Of course, that could be the best part of the book because it is always sort of sad when a good story ends.

My favorite section of the book is when the main character actually turns to God for salvation.  I don't think I have ever read a better description of how the man has free will to refuse God's offer, yet that very offer is so incredibly amazing that it cannot be refused.   Besides that description, the book also shows how God delightfully interacts with His people and closely interests Himself in each individual.

If you are looking for a page-turner with lots of food for thought then this would be a good choice.  Don't let the "creepy" scare you away before you give it a try.  Dekker weaves plenty of lighthearted moments into the heavy subject of the book.  I think I might even read this book again...I'll bet I missed some nuggets in it on the first time through.