Apr. 24, 2008
Recommended Reading Review ~ Dispensationalism Today
Posted in Book Reviews
Dispensationalism Today by Charles C. Ryrie
This was my Dad’s choice for me to read. I came into it knowing pretty much nothing about dispensationalism, so perhaps I’m not in a good position to evaluate the soundness of Ryrie’s arguments. However, I do have the advantage of the perspective of the average know-nothing.
If you’re looking for a book to read that doesn’t take any brainwork, you’ll have to keep looking. This isn’t exactly Dispensationalism for Dummies. It did take some engaging of the brain on my part. I’ll admit that when I read the first chapter, I felt slightly stunned. And confused, to put it mildly. Nonetheless, with each successive chapter, things slowly began to straighten out in my mind.
I appreciated the fact that the last chapter of the book talked about how this particular theological issue shouldn’t be divisive for Christians. I think that was an important point, and I was quite glad the author included it.
In the end, I think this gave me a working knowledge of dispensationalism. I wouldn’t want to try to have a debate with someone over the issue just from the knowledge gleaned from this book. That would take more study. But if I was listening to two other people talking about dispensationalism, I think I would be able to intelligently follow their conversation. This book was a good starter.
Apr. 14, 2008
Mystery Mondays ~ Dorothy Sayers
Posted in Book Reviews
I just recently discovered the books of Dorothy Sayers, and have only read three of her books thus far. However, I do believe I will be reading more of her works.
Sayers created a detective by the name of Lord Peter Wimsey. He tends to exist in a perpetual state of cheerfulness, which can become grating at times. In situations call for seriousness, he can seem a little unfeeling, a fact which he doesn’t seem to realize. In one of her books, Cloud of Witnesses, Lord Peter asks his manservant, “Bunter, is my manner really offensive, when I don’t mean it to be?”
On the other hand, Sayers does balance out his character in the other direction as well. Somehow, the fact that he isn’t easily shaken makes the times when he is upset more significant. Just when I want to throttle him, he’ll experience a moment of sympathy, or anger, or sadness, and then all is right in my reading world once again.
While Sayers tends to make her endings less surprising than some other writers (or at least one specific one that I plan to write about), her plots are suspenseful enough to keep me eagerly reading to find out “whodunit”. I’ve enjoyed discovering her books.
Caution: you may encounter bad language and/or mature situations when reading a Dorothy Sayers book. Use discretion.
Mar. 10, 2008
Mystery Mondays ~ G.K. Chesterton
Posted in Book Reviews
Gaaah! It's Mystery Monday, and I almost forgot to post! The first author I wanted to highlight is G.K. Chesterton.
Perhaps you know G.K. Chesterton better for all the thinker stuff he writes. He did, however, create a detective by the name of Father Brown.
Father Brown isn’t your typical detective. He’s a priest for one thing. He’s also quite dumpy, carries an umbrella, and exudes an air of profound confusion. Don’t be fooled though. In reality, Father Brown sees much more clearly than most, if not all, of the people around him.
G.K. Chesterton made Father Brown the star of 52 short stories. You can probably find these compiled into a volume title The Complete Father Brown, or something of the sort, at your local library.
It’s been a little while since I read any Father Brown mystery stories. If I remember correctly, I was sometimes left in a state of confusion after reading one, because G.K. Chesterton mixed in a healthy dose “thinker” stuff into his mysteries. My poor little brain, which was wild to know who the murderer was, would rebelliously refuse to absorb all this, leaving me bemused.
Despite my brain’s failings, these stories were usually enjoyable reads for me. I should probably try them again now that I’m a little older. If you like your philosophy and mystery at the same time, try Father Brown.
Mar. 6, 2008
Introduction to Mystery Mondays
Posted in Book Reviews
If I have a weakness for any genre of book, it’s mysteries. I won’t deliberately read a cheesy book of any other type, but I will read a cheesy mystery. That’s not to say that I like the fact that the mystery is cheesy—it’s just that I’ll put up with it.
I’ve discovered some very good mystery writers over time. Most of them are adult. It’s rare for me to find a kid’s mystery that I’m satisfied with. Over the next couple of weeks, I’d like to highlight some of my favorite mystery authors, both for adults and children. And I think I’ll do it on Mondays, just so I can call it Mystery Monday. I like alliteration.
It’s rather obvious that it’s not Monday right now, so I won’t post anything today. However, I hope to have something up at the beginning of next week. Tune in then.
Mar. 3, 2008
Book Review ~ The Giver
Posted in Book Reviews
I have to tell you, if you haven't read this book, you're really missing out. I've read it several times, and it's just as good with each read. In fact, we just read it over at the SAYR, and it made for some great discussion questions.
I'm sorry if the review seems a little Newbery heavy. The reason for that is because I cross-posted it over at my other blog, Everything Newbery.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas lives in a world as near to perfect as it can be made. Every citizen of his community respects every other citizen. Each person has his or her place. The community runs like a well-oiled machine. Jonas is perfectly happy with this—until. Until he meets the Giver. Suddenly Jonas’s wonderful perception of his community begins to rust away, flake by flake.
When I started out reading the Newbery Award and Honor books, I was basically rereading. I didn’t want to spend a whole lot of time going “Well, I read this about five years ago. Should I count that as having read it for this project?” So I just decided to reread everything. We had quite a few Newbery books laying around the house, so I gathered them into a pile, and using the highly scientific method of eeny-meeny-miny-moe, began reading. None of the books were really new or exciting to me.
The Giver was one of the first Newbery books that I borrowed from the library, one that I hadn’t read yet. I think I’d kind of heard of it. But really, I wandered into it unawares, and came out grinning like some kind of overly happy clown. Looking back in my Newbery notebook, I see that I babbled somewhat incoherently about how great it was after I was finished.
What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said by dozens of other reviewers? I can tell you why I think it clicked for me. It was the mixture of depth and accessibility. When I think of a “serious” book, words like “slow-moving” and “dull” come to mind. That’s probably a wrong assumption—but that’s a topic for another post. What I liked about The Giver was that it actually moved. Yet it also made me use my brain, and challenged ideas I had taken for granted.
If you haven’t read the book, you may not want to read this paragraph of the review. I wanted to give my opinion on the ending. A lot of people seem to dislike it because of its ambiguity. Me? I didn’t mind not knowing what happened to Jonas. It was obvious to me that he was going to be fine. I wanted to know what happened to the people he left behind. What about Asher and Fiona? And Jonas’s family? Do they change for the better? Those were the questions I wanted badly to be answered.
If I had a top-ten list of Newbery books, this would make the cut. Is that recommendation enough?
~~
Speaking of the SAYR, we're reading our next book, Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis, in a couple of weeks. I would really encourage you to sign up if you think you can make time for it. It's open to anyone, and the discussions are a lot of fun.
Feb. 4, 2008
Recommended Reading Review ~ Mr. Popper's Penguins
Posted in Book Reviews
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
When Mr. Popper, a dedicated Polar expedition fanatic, tunes in to the broadcast of the Drake Antarctic Expedition, he gets the surprise of his life.
“’That’s nothing,’ said Mrs. Popper. ‘Just a lot of men at the bottom of the world saying “Hello, Mamma. Hello, Papa.”’
‘Sh!’ commanded Mr. Popper, laying his ear close to the radio.
There was a buzz, and then suddenly, from the South Pole, a faint voice floated out into the Popper living room.
‘This is Admiral Drake speaking. Hello, Mamma. Hello, Papa. Hello, Mr. Popper.’
‘Gracious goodness,’ exclaimed Mrs. Popper. ‘Did he say “Papa” or “Popper”?’
‘Hello, Mr. Popper, up there in Stillwater. Thanks for your nice letter about the pictures of our last expedition. Watch for an answer. But not by letter, Mr. Popper. Watch for a surprise. Signing off. Signing off.’”
After this mysterious message, Mr. Popper can hardly wait to see what the surprise could be. And one day a package arrives. It is covered with warnings, like “Unpack at Once” and “Keep Cool”, and it has holes punched in it. And lo and behold, when Mr. Popper unpacks it, he discovers a penguin inside! Thus is the beginning of a wonderful adventure for the Popper family.
This book is a wacky, fun ride. The authors don’t in any way attempt to make the book believable, and in a way, that’s the best part of it. The reader is asked to sit back for a few hours, suspend practicality, and travel along with Mr. Popper and his penguins (notice the plurality of the word) on a wild adventure.
There are plenty of laughs along the way. Mr. Popper’s mischievous penguins interrupt a diva in the middle of her operatic concert, cause havoc on a train by giving in to the temptation to climb the porters’ ladders, and come close to getting into a fight with half-a-dozen seals.
An engaging and amusing book for anyone who’s willing to give it a try.
Dec. 8, 2007
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Posted in Book Reviews
1963 Newbery Winner
Finished 11-29-06
Meg Murry’s father hasn’t been heard from for a year now. He simply disappeared into thin air. Meg’s mother firmly believes he is still alive, but everyone else who knows about the situation is convinced he is gone for good. One day Meg meets three mysterious women named Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Who. Soon she finds herself traveling through the fifth dimension, along with her brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin. Their mission is to rescue Meg’s father from the planet of Camazotz where the forces of evil are holding him.
Do you know the experience of having a gift card to a certain bookstore, and knowing you only have a certain amount of money to spend? You pick carefully through the books, looking for just the right ones to buy. It has to be something you know you like. Preferably something you know you LOVE. If you know what I’m talking about, then you’ll know what it means when I say that I bought A Wrinkle in Time with my gift card last time I was at Barnes and Noble.
I love the deeper themes in this book. The epic struggle between good and evil, and how it reminds me that I, too, am in a battle against evil. The triumphant theme of all-conquering love. Those are a big part of what gives this book substance.
Of course, you can find those kinds of themes in a lot of other fantasy books. So why else do I like it? I think one thing that makes this book stick more with me is because it’s not weighted down with a lot of wordy and unnecessary descriptions like a lot of fantasy can be. Many times I’ll get lost in the extra fluff of a book and miss out on the important things that are happening. For me, one thing that makes A Wrinkle in Time memorable is because the book moves forward at a good pace without getting bogged down.
In case you’re not convinced, I present you with one final argument. Note the first line of this book: “It was a dark and stormy night.” Read it aloud to yourself in a dramatic voice. How can you not want to read a book that starts like that? It’s awesome.
This book review has been cross-posted from my Newbery blog.
Dec. 4, 2007
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Posted in Book Reviews
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
“Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?”
Thus reads an advertisement in the newspaper. Scads of children show up to take the test mentioned in the ad, but only four children pass all the tests. Reynie Muldoon, who is exceptionally talented at solving puzzles; Sticky Washington, a boy with a memory in which everything “sticks”; Kate Weatherall, whose talents center around the bucket she carries; and Constance Contraire—well, let’s just say that Constance is very, very stubborn.
Mr. Benedict has chosen these four children for a special (and dangerous) task: to infiltrate the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened. The organization poses a threat to the world, and it’s up to the children to find out how it can be stopped.
First off, let me say right up front that I adored this book. Most of the time a book comes down to characters for me, and these hooked me right off the bat. I love the kinds of books where you can pick a random line out of the book, read it out loud, and know right away who is saying it, just because it fits their character. That was what this book was like. The characters were so well established that I could predict how they would react in a given situation.
Another thing that I liked about this book was that it was a great adventure story. I love adventure—but sometimes stories like that can have shallow characters. This book had the absolute best of both worlds.
Here’s one of my favorite moments from the book. Mr. Benedict is reading some of the answers from the incorrigible Constance Contraire’s test:
He scanned the pages. “Oh, here’s a clever one. Do you remember this question from the test? It reads, ‘What is wrong with this statement?’ And do you know what Constance wrote in reply? She wrote, ‘What is wrong with you?’” At this, Mr. Benedict burst into laughter—a squeaky, rapid, stuttering expulsion that sounded rather like a dolphin.
Bottom line: I haven’t gotten this enthusiastic about a book in a long while. Definitely, definitely read this book.
Nov. 23, 2007
Quo Vadis and The Robe
Posted in Book Reviews
Just recently I’ve read two books about the early church. Both were very interesting, and I liked different things about both of them.
The first was Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz (add that to your spelling list). It centers around a young man named Marcus Vinicius, a Roman soldier. He falls in love with a woman named Lygia, who also happens to be a Christian. At first Vinicius is intent simply on getting Lygia. Whether by force or by consent he does not care. But soon he comes into contact with some of her Christian friends, and slowly but surely, he is disturbed out of his self-complacency. To believe would turn his world upside down. Yet he is seized with a growing conviction that it is the truth.
The second book was The Robe by Lloyd Douglas. It is based on a very interesting question: what happened to the robe that was gambled for while Jesus hung dying on the cross? We meet a Roman soldier named Marcellus. It is he who won Jesus’ robe, and that robe and the man who wore it haunt him for months after the crucifixion. After he gets over his fear of the robe, he sets on a quest to find out more about Jesus and who he is. Traveling to Jerusalem, he begins speaking with Jesus’ close companions and gets a firsthand account of Jesus’ works.
As I said, I liked different things in both of them. Quo Vadis seemed a little more historically accurate. It also had many emotionally moving scenes. One of my quibbles with The Robe was that there was certain scenes that I felt should be a little more climactic, and they fell kind of flat. Quo Vadis was better in that department. However, in The Robe, the characters were more real to me. In Quo Vadis, the Christians were portrayed more as these sort of exalted beings who didn’t struggle with sin anymore. But in The Robe, the author wasn’t shy about showing those struggles. I liked that.
I had difference of theology with both, but nothing I couldn’t overlook. It definitely didn’t spoil either book for me.
Warnings about content: don’t read Quo Vadis unless you have a really strong stomach. Part of the plot involves Nero’s persecution of the Christians, and the author gives some pretty strong details about that. Also, the author gave an accurate picture of what some of Nero’s parties were like, and the descriptions of that, while not too detailed, could be rather obscene. Don’t go for this one unless you’re an older reader who can handle that. The Robe was pretty clean. A couple swear words, and again, a couple mentions of the sinful lifestyle the Romans led, but handled much more discretely.
So, both excellent books, and both highly recommended.
Nov. 9, 2007
Fall Reading Review ~ The Count of Monte Cristo
Posted in Book Reviews
This isn’t quite going to be like a normal review. When
Earthling recommended
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, a couple of you said something to the extent of, “Oh yeah, I read that. That was a really good book.” So I’ll just quickly give an overview, and then I wanted to get your opinion on the character of Edmond Dantes.
On the day of the betrothal of Edmond Dantes, he is falsely arrested. For fourteen years he rots in a dungeon, and when he escapes, his beloved is married and his father is dead. He comes into possession of a great fortune, and renames himself the Count of Monte Cristo. With fortune in hand, he vows that he will take complete revenge on the three men who were instrumental in his imprisonment.
If you haven’t read this book, I would recommend you do so. You’ll probably respond in one of two ways. Either you will simply think it’s a rollicking good adventure, which it is, or you will chew over the actions of Edmond Dantes for nights on end, trying to figure him out. Or maybe both.
Anyway, I responded in the latter way, so I was curious what others of you who have read this book thought of him. If you haven’t read the book, I wouldn’t read my post beyond this point, as it contains spoilers.
I really puzzled over the character of Edmond Dantes. Was he supposed to be the hero of the book? Or was he the villain? If you’d asked me during the first 200 pages, I would have responded “the villain” in a snap. But I gradually saw his character become more complex.
Okay, on the bad side. He threw around his money like it was as plentiful as dirt. It rubbed me the wrong way that he spent his money on so many frivolous things when it could have been used for much good.
He also struck me as extremely arrogant. At one point, he arranges a little scene in which some horses run away and his slave saves the life of a lady by the name of Madame de Villefort and the life of her son. This is the dialogue afterwards.
“I hope you will permit me to give your servant the just reward for his devotion.”
“Madame, I beg of you not to spoil Ali either by praise or by reward,” replied the Count. “Ali is my slave; in saving your life, he served me, and it is his duty to serve me.”
“But he risked his life!” said Madame de Villefort, who was strangely impressed by the Count’s masterful tone.
“I saved his life, madame, consequently it belongs to me,” replied Monte Cristo.
I thought, “My, my, my, a bit high handed, aren’t we.”
*slight spoilers*
I also did a little recap after the book was finished. This was the result of the Count’s efforts:
People dead: 6 (all indirectly, but by his hand nonetheless, I thought)
Persons driven insane: 1
Fortunes ruined: 2
Families torn apart: 3
But on the other hand, the Count had good in him as well. When he loved someone (like Maximilian, or Mercedes), he was willing to make great sacrifices for him or her. Even at great cost to himself.
*major spoilers*
In the end, I couldn’t decide if he was sorry or not. I think perhaps he was. I wish the book would have indicated one way or the other a little more explicitly. I almost wanted him to die in a fit of remorse or something of the sort. Instead he, went off with his girl, saying,
“God has sustained me against my enemies and I see now He does not wish me to end my triumph with repentance. I intended punishing myself, but God has pardoned me!”
It was slightly dissatisfying. But perhaps that way was best.
So here are my questions for you.
Do you think Dantes was meant to be the hero, or the villain of the story? Or neither?
Do you think his cause was just and right?
Do you think he was truly repentant in the end?
You don’t have to answer them all, and you can include other things as well if you desire.
Oct. 12, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ A Girl of the Limberlost
Posted in Book Reviews
Have you ever experienced the feeling where something you read as a child seemed really strange, or just plain terrible, but when you were older and reread it, you loved it? I had something like that going on when I read A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter. Now I didn’t have an extreme dislike when I tried reading it years ago, but I didn’t really understand the characters at that point, and I gave up on it without any regrets. When I picked it up this time around, though, I was ready for it, and it was good.
Elnora Comstock has a difficult life. Her mother watched her father drown in a quagmire early in their marriage, and she has been a bitter and angry woman every since. Elnora is turning into a sweet young lady in spite of her cold home, and her fondest desire is to complete her high school education and go on to college. In order to cover the expenses that go along with high school, Elnora works to collect moths and arrowheads from the woods and sells them to several people in town. Along the way, she strives desperately to break through her mother’s bitterness and reach the love she desperately longs for.
This book almost seemed to have two halves. The second half of the book was a romance with a whole different conflict. Now I know I’ve said this before, but I usually don’t like romance. But certain kinds of romances do work for me. I like to call those “unselfish romances”, and this was one of them. So I enjoyed the second half of the book, perhaps even more than the first.
One neat part of the book was the nature aspect of it. Reading about the different moths and caterpillars that Elnora worked with was very interesting. One of my favorite moments of the book is when Mrs. Comstock watches the wings of a moth open and soliloquizes on the wonder of God’s creation.
One more thing. The ending of this book has to be one of the most perfect ones I’ve read in a long time. The author tied up the loose ends really nicely, and it just felt right. I was very pleased with that.
So, it was an excellent book, and one that I would definitely recommend that you add to your to-read list. I plan to read her other book set in the Limberlost, Freckles, when I get a chance.
Sep. 19, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ The Killer Angels
Posted in Book Reviews
As I first started The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, which is about the battle of Gettysburg, I searched my memory for what I knew about that particular battle. I was slightly shocked to realize that I wasn’t even absolutely sure who had won the battle of Gettysburg! How awful is that? It was with this shameful knowledge that I began reading The Killer Angels.
The book covers the four days that make up the battle of Gettysburg. Nothing more. From the perspective of several top-ranking officers in both armies (including Robert E. Lee), we are given a glimpse of what those four days were like, and of the decisions behind the battle.
This is one of the most gut-wrenching books about the war that I’ve read. I cried several times, not because the author was sentimental or sappy, but because of the clear way that the author presented what happened. It made me ache to think of all the slaughter and death.
Aside from the emotional aspect of the book, I thought the author did an excellent job of making sure that I understood the positions the armies were in. I tend to skim over those portions of battles, because I can never get a clear picture in my mind of which direction everyone is coming from. But with the aid of maps, Shaara actually managed to pound it through my thick skull.
I have only one complaint. At the beginning of the book, the author said in a note to the reader, “I thought it necessary to update some of the words so that the religiosity and naïveté of the time, which were genuine, would not seem too quaint to the modern ear.” Now, I don’t know about you, but this “modern ear” wouldn’t have minded hearing some of the “religiosity”. For me, it would have added a bit of hope to the book. To the author’s credit, though, he did an excellent job of portraying Lee as a man of faith.
A warning: there is some bad language. More than a little, although the two words that were most frequently used weren’t of the worst sort.
If you can get past that, read this book. The battle of Gettysburg will be clearer to you than it ever has before.
Aug. 30, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Wives and Daughters
Posted in Book Reviews
I didn’t quite know what to expect from Elizabeth Gaskell’s Wives and Daughters. I was imagining something reminiscent of Jane Austen or perhaps Louisa May Alcott. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised that Elizabeth Gaskell had a style completely of her own.
Wives and Daughters follows the life of Molly Gibson as she grows up in the small town of Hollingford. Her quiet life with her father, a widower, is turned upside down when her father remarries and she gains a new mother and sister. She loves her new sister Cynthia—and tries to love the new Mrs. Gibson—but she has no idea of the complexity that they will bring to her life. Especially as the two girls become of marriageable age.
Something I don’t think I’ve mentioned about books and me is that I thoroughly dislike certain kinds of romance books. It’s just my personal taste. Thankfully, this book is not the type of romance book that I don’t like. Because you see, the main romance in Wives and Daughters is not a selfish one, to oversimplify the matter. That makes all the difference to me, so I very much enjoyed that aspect of the book.
I think the biggest indication of Mrs. Gaskell’s skill was how much I loathed her character Mrs. Gibson. And the author quite meant it to be that way. She very carefully formed Mrs. Gibson so that she would be thoroughly annoying. It’s a quite a feat to get me to dislike anyone in a book—I always end up feeling sorry for the villain. But there was something so vexatious about Mrs. Gibson that I wanted to walk right up and shake some sense into her. It was definitely a testament to Mrs. Gaskell’s prowess as a writer.
I would say the major drawback to this book is that the author died before she could finish writing it. Even though it’s kind of obvious how it will end, I still would have been satisfying to read all the details of the ending. However,
Eyebright mentioned in her recommendation that BBC had made a movie out of it that wraps everything up rather nicely.
Even though I wouldn’t try to lump Mrs. Gaskell’s writing style in with Austen or Alcott, I think fans of those authors would like this book. It’s kind of in the same genre, I guess you could say. And don’t let the fact that the author died before completing the book stop you. You can read the book and then see the movie—double fun! It was definitely an entertaining read.
Aug. 22, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ A Horse from the Sea
Posted in Book Reviews
First of all, horse books and I have not always gotten along in the past. It’s not that I dislike horses; it’s just that somehow I’ve never quite been able to connect with the emotions expressed in horse books. So I was a little wary when I started A Horse from the Sea by Victoria Holmes.
Set in Ireland, A Horse from the Sea is an account from Nora Donovan’s point of view as to what happens when a ship from the Spanish Armada wrecks on a shore close to home. Washed up on shore are a white stallion and a teenage boy, Jose. Nora, the only one who knows about them, struggles to keep them both concealed from forces that might harm them. Eventually she must make a choice. Is she brave enough to risk her life in order to save Jose?
As I began the book, I feared that this was going to be another horse book that I didn’t get along with. A few chapters into it, however, I found myself immersed in the book. The plight of Jose and Nora was thoroughly interesting to me, and even though the author’s descriptive passages were plentiful, it had enough action to hold my attention.
One thing that I really liked was how the author wove a lot of the Irish culture into the book. Her realistic use of names and places made me feel like I was really there, as well as the way she included a few of the Irish superstitions.
If I had one complaint, it would be that I wished the author had developed some of the side characters a little more. The plot centered a lot on Nora and Jose, and it left me a little curious as to what some of the characters were like. However, that was a minor detail.
All in all, I got along with this horse book quite well. I would say that someone who is a lover of horses might like it even more than I did, but even if you aren’t too interested in horses, I think you would enjoy this book.
Aug. 9, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Mornings on Horseback
Posted in Book Reviews
I think I may have mentioned before that I’m typically not a big nonfiction reader. Therefore, Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough has probably been my most challenging read so far. It is the biography of Theodore Roosevelt, but it actually doesn’t ever go into his presidency. The majority of the book is devoted to recounting his childhood and his early years as an adult.
Although it took me longer to read than a fiction book would, I did enjoy Mornings on Horseback. McCullough used ample correspondence between Roosevelt and others in order to illustrate his points. I liked that, because it felt like I was getting information from a direct source, rather than having to blindly accept everything the author told me.
I also thought McCullough did a pretty good job of representing the good and the bad about Theodore Roosevelt. It wasn’t as if the author was trying to dig up a lot of never-before-heard dirt about Roosevelt, but on the other hand, he didn’t pretend that he was perfect either. I must admit that once in a while Roosevelt annoyed me immensely—he struck me as very snobbish at times—but it also made me realize that great leaders like Roosevelt have their failings too. Why should I expect him to be perfect?
Altogether, I think Mornings on Horseback painted a very good picture of the young life of our twenty-sixth president. It held my interest for the most part, and was quite an agreeable way to get to know more about the personality behind Theodore Roosevelt.
Aug. 2, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Magnus
Posted in Book Reviews
The next book I’m going to review, Magnus, has also been published under an alternate title, Wings of Dawn. I’ve read some books by the author Sigmund Brouwer before (surprise, surprise, primarily his children’s books), and I’m a fan of his writing.
In his book Magnus, Brouwer takes us back to the Middle Ages and introduces us to two different factions, the Druids, and the Merlins. The evil Druids are a secret organization that desires to take over the country of England, and eventually much more than that. The Merlins just as secretly oppose the Druids at every turn.
Thomas is a young man who has been trained for many years for the purpose of one task—to take back the city of Magnus from the evil forces that rule it. He knows nothing of Druids or Merlins, and he is very surprised to find that there is much more to his quest than meets the eye. He doesn’t know who to trust. The knight who befriended him? The mysterious girl who will never give him the answers he longs for?
Perhaps because I had already read and enjoyed several of Brouwer’s books, I was a little more critical of this book than I usually am of other books. So I’ll air my nitpicks first, and then tell you what I liked.
First, I thought that Brouwer’s usual writing style wasn’t quite as evident in this book. Usually he has a very tongue-in-cheek style, and I didn’t see as much of that. It was there, just not in full force.
The other thing that drove me crazy was the fact that the Merlins, who were the good guys, seemed to justify deception and taking the law into their own hands. For example, at one point in the book, Thomas’s loyalty to the Merlins is called into question. It was decided that if Thomas was a Druid, that he would be executed. Since the Merlins were supposed represent Christians, it drove me crazy that they would do something like that. The only bright spot was that usually their deceptions seemed to backfire on them. It was small consolation.
However, I would definitely say that those were minor annoyance, and that the good outweighed the bad. It was action packed, and while Thomas probably performed some impossible feats of bravery, Brouwer managed to keep me from sitting back and saying, “Yeah, right, that could never happen.” This particular author is also very good at weaving in spiritual elements into his fiction without making it at all preachy.
While this might not be my favorite work by Brouwer, it was still worth reading. In fact, if this was by any other author, I would probably be quite pleased with the discovery of it. I think it is because I’ve enjoyed Brouwer so much in the past that I’m holding him to a higher standard. However, I suggest it with no reservations.
Jul. 30, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Shadow Spinner
Posted in Book Reviews
The backdrop of Shadow Spinner, by Susan Fletcher, is based upon a true legend. A Sultan, betrayed by his former wife, marries a new woman every night and then kills her in the morning. Until Shahrazad comes along. Shahrazad cleverly stays alive by beginning a story every night and then leaving it unfinished until the next evening. If the Sultan wants to hear the end of the story, he must let her live. Not only is Shahrazad preserving her own life with her stories, she is also saving the lives of many other women of the country. As long as the Sultan is married to Shahrazad, he kills no more women.
Enter Marjan, the main character. While visiting the Sultan’s harem one day with her aunt to sell jewelry, she entertains some young children by telling them a story. Shahrazad’s sister overhears her and takes her to Shahrazad. For Shahrazad is running out of stories to tell to the Sultan, and without a new one, the Sultan’s bloodbath may start all over again. Marjan supplies her with a new story for the night and returns home. But soon Shahrazad has further need of Marjan’s assistance. Apparently the story has a second part, and the Sultan wishes to hear it. Marjan must find the blind storyteller from whom she first heard the story so that she can find out the second part. But with the Sultan’s mother opposing her, this is a dangerous task.
I don’t think that Fletcher could have ruined this story even if she tried. All right, so maybe that’s not true. But I found the story of Shahrazad so fascinating in itself, that it would have been hard for me not to be interested in this book. As it is, Fletcher does an excellent job of recounting Shahrazad’s story from the perspective of Marjan.
I’m always pleased when authors weave in deeper themes along with an entertaining plot. Fletcher had several going in Shadow Spinner, but I most enjoyed how she illustrated the power of a story. Throughout the story, she portrayed Shahrazad as not only having the purpose of keeping alive with her stories, but of changing the Sultan’s views of woman. Shahrazad hoped to show the Sultan that not all women are good, but not all are bad either, and that he couldn’t execute all women on account of one. By weaving that truth into her story, she wanted to get him to accept it.
I won’t spoil the ending, but it sure turned out to be a wild ride. I would recommend Shadow Spinner to anyone who is interested in a fast-paced, fanciful tale.
Jul. 22, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ The Greatest Mom Ever!
Posted in Book Reviews
Believe it or not, I actually had a guy friend recommend The Greatest Mom Ever! by Terri Camp to me. He said he read it a couple years ago, and that even though it was written for Moms, he thought that it had some lessons that the rest of us could profit from as well.
And I found that he was right. After all, don’t all of us need a reminder once in a while to wait on God? Don’t all of us need a push to hunger for God’s Word again? Those are just a couple of the lessons in The Greatest Mom Ever! that can be applied to everyone’s lives.
I love hearing funny stories, and Mrs. Camp definitely had a ton of them to share. I also enjoyed the fact that she was completely honest about herself and her family. Why is it that we are strangely comforted to hear that we aren’t the only people who are much less than perfect? I’m not sure, but it usually gives me a push in the right direction to hear other people share their struggles. So I appreciate books where the author is transparent rather than preachy.
So whether you’re a Mom or not, The Greatest Mom Ever! probably contains some life lessons that can be applied to your own life. It was a fun read, and I enjoyed it.
Jul. 10, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Uglies
Posted in Book Reviews
As soon as I heard the premise of Uglies by Scott Westerfield, I was intrigued. A young woman named Tally lives in a society in which every person has an operation to make them look beautiful as soon as they turn sixteen. “Uglies” is the term used for teens before they undergo the operation. Tally can’t wait to get her new body. Therefore she is totally shocked when her friend Shay actually expresses the desire to keep her own looks. Tally learns that there is a group of people who ran away in order to avoid the surgery and who now live in a settlement together. When Shay runs away to join them, Tally is given the choice of never getting her new body, or following Shay and betraying the group of people.
Why was I so interested in the plot of Uglies? Because of all the emphasis on physical beauty in our society today. I’m not saying that what happened in this book is going to happen to us someday, but I do think that the book was a warning of what can happen when physical beauty becomes more important than character.
Westerfield did a great job of keeping the plot moving. This book certainly lacked no excitement. As you can see from my previous two paragraphs, I also appreciated the theme of his book. It was a unique subject to tackle, and a very interesting one, I might add.
The only bone I had to pick was that I thought that the author undermined his message a couple times. For example, the leader of the rebel group, David, is attracted to Tally. But I thought it was odd that with Westerfield’s premise of the dangers of focusing on beauty, that David seemed to base his liking of Tally on her surface appearance. He didn’t take any time to get to know her character before trusting her with many of his secrets. So I just wished that Westerfield had put a little more emphasis on the fact that what is inside a person matters so much more than what they look like.
Aside from that, it was a very good book. I hope people sit up and listen to his warning of what can happen when we make an icon of beauty. I’m only glad that I read it when the second and third books were already out, because Uglies sure left me hanging.
Mild caution: there are a couple (maybe two or three) swear words.
Jul. 2, 2007
Summer Reading Review ~ Twice Pardoned
Posted in Book Reviews
A couple weeks ago someone recommended a book for me and asked me to post what I thought when I was done. I decided that it might be a good idea for me to do that for all of the books I’m doing for this summer reading. These won’t be as long as my regular reviews—just a short summary and a few thoughts on the book.
The very first book that I read was recommended to me by a good friend from church. Twice Pardoned by Harold Morris is the true story of one man’s transformation to freedom in Jesus while in prison.
As the book begins, Harold Morris tells of his childhood and how he began to fall in with the wrong crowd as an adult. Although he never intends to fall into crime, he soon gets mixed up with two men who are into some illegal activities. Because of his involvement with these two men, Morris is falsely accused of murder. The two men testify against him, and Morris receives a life sentence in jail. The story journeys through Morris’s life in prison and tells of how he gets saved. By the end of the book, Morris is pardoned not once, but twice. Once by the earthly authorities, and once through the blood of Jesus.
I enjoyed the majority of this book very much. Morris’s account of his time in prison was quite interesting. It gave me a new feeling of compassion for people in those circumstances. While the second half of the book, in which Morris told of many of his ministry opportunities after he got saved, moved a little slowly for my taste, I think it was necessary in order to show the difference between his hopelessness before he was saved and his love for God afterwards. It was exciting to see how God worked in his life.
All in all, it was a great book. I would attach a caution to it, however. Morris tells candidly (although not graphically) of his life as a wild unbeliever and the state of moral decay in the prisons. I would recommend that teens ask their parents to flip through this book, just to make sure that it is appropriate for the teen to read.
