The Best of Helmut Newton

 

 Photographs copyright of the Helmut Newton Estate courtesy of Schirmer/Mosel

Schirmer/Mosel, the late Helmut Newton’s long term publishing partner has just re-issued a softback version their Best of Helmut Newton, edited by Zdenek Felix with the art direction by June Newton, Helmut’s wife. The first edition hardbound book was initially published by Schirmer/Mosel in 1991.

This book provides a broad sampling of Newton’s body of work, including both his fashion work, portraits, assignments as well as his personal nude projects, such as Big Nudes. The black and white photographs have a wonderful tonality and contrast. The color photographs in this book appear over saturated, perhaps many were made using Kodachrome, a rather notorious high contrast color positive film. 

Newton’s long term theme was sexuality, ranging from subtle sensuality to overt eroticism, usually utilizing one of his many fetishs that he had became famous for. Most of the European publications did not have the same editorial limitations for the use of nudity and Newton used the nude models extensively. What is interesting to me is that many of his famous nudes were created in collaboration with his wife, June Newton (who’s photographic pseudonym was Alice Springs, a name taken from her native Australia).

A rather interesting photograph on the book’s back cover is a dual-self portrait of the couple with one of their athletic nude models photographed in Europe. Helmut is taking the photograph while wearing a trenchcoat, hunched over his twin lens reflex camera, not unlike the cartoon charter of the “dirty old man” who opens his trench coat on the occasion to fully reveal himself. Meanwhile June sits to the side intently watching the two, but who really has her rapt gaze, her husband or the nude model? This juxtaposition creates a sexual tension beyond photographing a nude woman, a hint at a three way relationship? Alternatively,  is June there to protect her husband from the temptations of the flesh, or is she there to protect the model from her “dirty old man”?

The model being photographed appears strong and very comfortable with her nudity. She has an air of nobility about her posture and appears very confident about her lean and young body. The standing model is also looking in the direction of the sitting June, for her approval or is it a mutual interest? But in so looking at the model, you become aware of another pair of nude legs just beyond. Who is she and why is this other person there?

The setting is also interesting as we have been provided a larger view of not only of the photographer himself, the model and his wife, but also beyond. Behind June is the exit (sortie) to the studio, with the door open and we can see cars either parked or driving by. It is very possible that those outside the studio can see in and view the posing nude model.  We can make out a silhouette of someone in a car which has paused at the entrance of the open studio door, introducing another element, that of voyeurism, creating additional sexual tension.

Newton imbues this sexual tension in his fashion photographs, with one of my favoite photographs included below, of the woman seated on the couch intently observing the shirtless man. As needed for a fashion photograph, her details of the dress are evident. There is the overtly suggestive sexual element of how that this same dress can be effectively used to communicate her interest in a relationship, such as the untied and open neck line. Like wise the models pose is very suggestive, with her legs spread wide apart, playing with a strand of her hair. She is wearing slippers, not high heels and since the man is shirtless, is this moment a flirtation or post-glory?

Not every photograph by Newton is so layered with meaning, but many are, and his photographs warrant a revisit. 

The 8 5/8″ x 10 5/8″ softcover book has 156 pages, with 105 color and duotone plates, and nicely printed in Verona Italy. The two insightful essays, translated from German in the English version, are by Noemi Smolik and Urs Stahel.

By Douglas Stockdale

Lebanon and Palestine: Same and Different

Lebanon and Palestine: Same and Different (April 28, 2009)

 

 

Brief ancient history:

Lebanon, a recognized State by the UN, and Palestine, divided and conquered by the Zionist movement under the name of the State of Israel, were through antiquity under the domination of neighboring Empires such as in Egypt, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq (Mesopotamia).  The people in the two tiny stretches of coastal lands on the East of the Mediterranean Sea were mainly mariners, traders, middlemen among Empires, and skilled artisans. Under the nominal or explicit domination of Empires, Lebanon and Palestine had autonomous administration of their society as City-States; the cities were highly democratic within the city limits as Athens emulated in the 7th century BC.  The famous City-States from north to south are Ugarite, Tripoli, Jubail (Byblos), Saida, Sour (Tyr), Akka (Acre and Haifa), and Askelan.  The City-State of Jubeil (inventors of the alphabet) built Saida; Saida built Sour and dominated the sea routes; and Sour built Akka and relayed Saida in sea domination and expanding the trading posts to Spain.  These City-States were the masters of the sea and traded with all Empires and build trading towns; they have resisted many overwhelming sieges, sometimes for years, and occasionally managed not to be entered and devastated.

Every empire that conquered Syria resumed its drive by dominating Lebanon and Palestine.  In general, when more than one empire co-existed at the same period and when the empire in Egypt was powerful enough then it governed the southern half of Palestine while the other empire governed the upper half, including Lebanon.  The strip of Gaza to Yafa was mostly under Egyptian cultural influence.

The coastal strip from north actual Syria to the Sinai was called Canaan. Then, the upper stretch to Akka was called Phoenicia or even Saida (in reference for the main City-State).

Sea people, called Philistines and probably coming from the Adriatic Sea, destroyed Greece fleet, devastated many coastal cities, and conquered Egypt briefly before they settle in Gaza and the southern part of Canaan, called Palestine ever since.

Moses arrived with an amalgam of nomadic tribes and his successors attempted to occupy part of south Palestine.  These tribes worshiped Yahwa, thus, yahoud and Jews for the Latin people.  These tribes under Moses reverted to worshiping the all encompassing God of the Land called El., except a few tribes such as Judea and Benjamin.  During the Roman Empire, Tyr administered the upper half of Palestine.

 

Modern History:

            In the beginning of the 20th century, the military in Turkey deposed the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and started policies focused on Turk Nationhood.  Many in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine immigrated to Egypt.  During the First World War famine fell on Lebanon along with a devastating wave of locust; they immigrated to the USA, Brazil, Latin America, and many were dropped in Africa by unethical ship captains. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in the First World War, Britain had mandate over Palestine and Iraq; France had mandate over Lebanon and Syria. Consequently, the bilingual Palestinians spoke English, and their counterpart in Lebanon spoke French. In 1930, Haifa grabbed the center of trades and many Lebanese flocked to Haifa and Palestine.  The reverse wave occurred when the State of Israel was recognized by a majority of one vote at the UN in 1948.  Lebanon received Palestinian refugees who were installed in camps on the ground that their stay is temporary!

 

In one chapter of “World Adrift” Amine Maaluf said “The western powers are now paying the price for failing to apply their values in the colonies”  The European colonial powers of Britain, France, Germany, and the  Netherlands had no intentions of spreading their moral values to those they considered not worthy of their pearls and gems. The indigents were to be enslaved, exploited, and humiliated; the indigents who adopted the western values of equality, liberty, and democracy were persecuted and harassed and imprisoned; the colonial administrators negotiated with the conservative conformists who were ready to strike deals and cohabit with lesser human rights.  Dictators in Europe are abhorred but readily accepted in under-developed States. 

Human values had different quality and flavors according to the whims and interest of the exploiting colonial powers.  Britain used astute diplomatic policies to subjugate their colonies more frequently than France did; France of the French Revolution had no patience negotiating and communicating with their colonial people and never skipped an occasion to stating its true purpose for domination.and exhibiting arrogant military posturing.

            The colonial powers installed infrastructures that were appropriate for exploitation of the colonies; they established the required administrations for smooth and efficient exploitation.  The other administrative offices for legislation and justices were carbon copies of the ones in their homeland but these codes could be disposed off and trampled at the first occasion that short sighted interest called for swift and immediate actions.

 

Contemporary history:

Current Lebanon was created by France during its mandate period and cut out from Syria; it is now a recognized State by the UN since 1943.  Palestine was divided but the Zionist movement conquered the allocated portion for the Palestinians by the UN in 1948.  The Palestinians are now located in the West Bank of the Jordan River and in Gaza where Israel has built 145 Jewish colonies.  The Palestinians that fled their towns and villages in the State of Israel are refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.  The UN resolution 193 demands the repatriation of these Palestinians to their hometowns but Israel has been rebuffing that resolution since 1948. Lebanon suffered many civil wars and calamities for not being capable or unwilling of absorbing the Palestinian refugees; Israel has waged four devastating wars against the State of Lebanon on flimsy pretexts based on the Palestinian resistance trying to regain their rights for a homeland.

China and India Empires: Same and Different

China and India Empires: Same and Different (April 28, 2009)

 

            Since antiquity, China and India formed vast empires.  They were the wealthiest, the most populous, and the most creative in almost all fields of industries such porcelain, gun powder, paper, vaccines, compass, rudder, the zero, philosophy, art of war and you name it.  Europe relied on the silk, spices, perfume, and luxury items imported from China and India through Persia and Turkey. The Great Wall of China is the only human made construction that can be seen from space. Three centuries before Portugal put to see its galleons to circumnavigate oceans China had fleet of ships three times bigger than the biggest that Spain constructed. 

            Every society has gone through the same historical development and experienced with feudal systems, caste systems, monarchies, and oligarchies.  The difference between China and India are:

First, China had gone through the harrowing communist period but it managed to crush the priesthood or sacerdotal castes.  In India the priesthood castes are as powerful as ever.  There are millions of “untouchables” caste, the lowest caste of the five structured by the Brahma and Hinduism religions.  The “untouchables” are consecrated by religion to remain untouchables.  Beside Gandhi who confronted that humiliating condition head front no other Indian government or political parties dared to revisit this abomination.  In fact, the caste system prevalent in the Middle East was imported from India.  For over two centuries, Europe was closed to the Ottoman Empire.  The Ottoman Empire had to rely almost exclusively on India for administrative organization, culture, and trades.  Among the good things we received the worst that India could export; it is so enduring that the Middle East societies cannot shake off the plight of caste system that is exacerbated by close nit community structure.

Second, China has the mentality of becoming a superpower at par with the USA.  Everything that China is doing is at a gigantic measure such as the biggest dam with all the subsequent mass transfer of people, traditions, and customs.  The focus on urban centers and industrialization is diverting water from agriculture, the source of its initial prosperity and social stability.  A 7 months dry season in the northern part, the wheat basket region, is sending shivers of forthcoming famine.  The rivers are heavily polluted and the western diseases from water and land pollution are harvesting thousands of young lives. Over 25, millions were forced to vacate the urban centers to their remote villages after this financial crisis.  India is progressing at a steadier and less drastic strategy and linking the country with new route infrastructures.  The cheaper car produced by India are supposedly to be sold in India for only two thousands dollars.

Third, China is investing heavily on energy resources and lands oversea, particularly in Africa.  India prefers to cajole the USA and signed a less favorable deal for importing light nuclear rods from the USA and satellites from Israel, though it could produce these advanced technological items. The fact is that the British Empire held on to India for three centuries because it realized that the vast Indian population is the hardest working and was adding all the values to the wealth of the British Empire.

 

            During the Soviet Union period of 1917 to 1989, China and India followed the precepts of communism and tight control over private ownership and enterprises.  These two nations experienced famine on large scales and suffered all kinds of miseries and humiliation.  As soon as the Berlin Wall fell and the capitalist system dominated world economy and finance then China and India transformed their development accordingly.

            In China, tiny Deng Xiaoping ordered restitution of collectivity lands to private cultivators and authorized selling part of the production.  Then the private agriculturists were permitted to select what they wanted to plant and production tripled.  Small enterprises and private shops were granted to be formed and in no time 22 millions small industries were hiring 135 millions employees. In China, small modifications in freedom of choice, and small increases in production mean gigantic increases in internal production.

            In India of 1991, the finance minister Manmohan Singh relaxed certain restrictions on doing business. There were no needs for previous permit for each transaction, for importation, for investment, and for increase in production. The Indian economy took off at great strides.

            Currently, the GDP of China has surpassed France and Germany and closing up with Japan.  Shanghai alone has more high rises than New York and Los Angeles combined or 5,000 high-rises.  It is no secret that ten years after the disintegration of the Soviet Union that China and India were viewed as the main enemies to the USA and Europe.  These two powers had the technologies, the know-how, and the resources in raw materials and human potential to rival the economies of western nations.  It is no secret that the hurried frenzy of Bush Junior to invading Iraq unilaterally had the main purpose of dominating oil reserves and blackmailing China and India. 

Amine Maaluf wrote in “A World Adrift” that Colin Powel told ex-President Bush Junior “You break it; you own it.  You invade Iraq then you will end up with the responsibility of caring for 25 million Iraqis” Bush Junior didn’t own it alone; the whole world is sharing the price of a financial and economic meltdown.  In the mean times, China expanded its oil exploration in Africa and built a major pipeline to Russia and Central Asia States; India built many nuclear reactors and pipelines and are not as affected by energy shortages as Europe that relies on Russia, Algeria, and Libya for gas.

            One of the major problems that the world is facing is that in addition to the 50 millions middle class families in the USA and Europe over 150 millions middle class families in China and India can now afford and demand the same consumer items that the USA and European middle classes enjoyed for a century.   They want their cars, their washing machines, their refrigerators and all the commodities that any human desire to own when he can afford it; it is their right and no one can obstruct or make these new middle class desist from their hard earned rights.

            If just 50 millions families in the USA and Europe almost exhausted earth minerals and energies then how humanity is going to satisfy the demands of 200 millions families?

Turkey and Iran: Same and Different

Turkey and Iran: Same and Different (April 25, 2009)

 

Brief history:  Throughout antiquity till our modern days three main empires dominated the landscape of the Middle East. Turkey, Iran, and Egypt were vast empires and advanced urbanely and economically before the advent of Islam. Turkey and Iran managed to enjoy a semi-continuous existence of empires but Egypt had large vacuums of many centuries in between empires since the Pharaohs. Egypt enjoyed special status during the Greek, Roman, Arab, and Ottoman empires and was a world apart as wheat basket and advanced civilization. Turkey and Iran could benefit from stable “national” entities but Egypt experienced foreign leaders as kings or sultans and relied on foreign officers to lead its armies, the latest dynasty was from Albania with Muhammad Ali. 

The three empires are currently mostly Moslems and they were in general lenient with the minority religious sects.  The three empires have vast lands, rich in water, and have currently about the same number of population of about 70 millions and increasing at high rates. The Iranian empires relied on the Afghanistanis and the central Asian tribes for their armies.  As the frequent Mogul raids descended on Persia its armies went on the defensive. The Turkish and Ottoman empires relied on the Caucasus tribes from current Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia States, and also from Albania and Romania.  As Russia started to expand southward and occupied many of these regions then Turkey curtailed most of its vast military campaigns and went on the defensive.  The Caucasus triangle of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia is still a hot spot for domination among Russia, Turkey, and to a lesser extent Iran, especially with the oil and gas pipelines that pass through them.  My post “Cursed Cities: Karss” would shed detailed historical accounts on that tragic triangle.

 

Modern Status:

 

In around 1920’s two military dictators ruled over Iran and Turkey.  Rida “shah” in Iran and “Ataturk” in Turkey were attempting to modernize their infrastructure and civil administrations by emulating the European examples.  Ataturk went as far as changing the Turkish alphabet to Latin.  Both dictators confronted the religious clerics for establishing secular States with unequal long term successes.  Iran has reverted to religious oligarchy after Khomeini came to power.

While Iran was historically more clement with its minorities it appears that Turkey is practically taking steps to outpacing Iran in that advantage; for example, Turkey is translating the Koran into the ethnic languages such as Kurdish.  Women in Turkey are prominent in businesses such as Goler Sabanji; 9% of women are represented in the Parliament.  In Iran, Shireen Abadi is Nobel laureate for defending women’s rights; Iranian women represent only 3% in the Parliament though they represent 65% in universities.

In the 70’s Iran was flush with oil revenue while Turkey was struggling to establish an industrial infrastructure. It appears that in the long term oil is definitely a curse for emerging nations because wealth is not invested on the human potentials and stable modern political structure.

In 2008, foreign investment in Turkey was 14 billions dollars and increasing while it amounted to just one billion in Iran.  Turkey has expanded its representation in Africa by opening 12 new Embassies and 20 new consulates. Nisreen Ozaimy is from Iran by origin and fled to Turkey; when her family lived in Turkey it was impressed by the confidence that the Turks valued their various ethnic nationalities and they implicit feeling that Turkey is in fact a bridge between East and West.  The Turks managed to blend harmoniously the secular and religious inclinations.

Book Review: Lee Child - Gone Tomorrow (2009)

Gone Tomorrrow - Lee Child

AKA The Return of Jack Reacher, all 196cm, 250lbs of hardcore trained badness

The 13th Jack Reacher novel, Gone Tomorrow starts with the former Military Policeman making his way into New York on the Subway - sounds like a normal occurance, but such things never tend to end that way when Reacher is about, and while running through the Israeli produced “Watch-list” that identifies potential suicide bombers, Reacher realises he has a problem - there’s a very, very good chance the lady sitting a few rows in front of him is a suicide bomber…

I’m the first to admit that Lee Childs’ Jack Reacher books aren’t what would be classed as great literature - put it this way they’re never gonna appear on any “Serious Award lists”. What they do offer though, if you’re prepared to suspend your sense of dis-belief, are some bloody good, if a wee-bit far fetched, stories.

Unusually for a Lee Child book, I hadn’t read all that much about this online, other than the “promotional blurb” that appears on the back of the book:

Suicide bombers are easy to spot. They give out all kinds of tell-tale signs. Mostly because they’re nervous. By definition they’re all first-timers.

There are twelve things to look for. No one who has worked in law enforcement will ever forget them.

New York City. The subway, two o’clock in the morning. Jack Reacher studies his fellow passengers. Four are OK. The fifth isn’t…

For some reason I’d got it into my head that the entire book was gonna focus around the “suicide bomber”, especially once I started reading it, and noticed that the book is written from a first person perspective (Most of the Reacher books are written from a third person perspective), which I thought would be a really, really interesting idea - an almost 400 page book that revolves around Jack trying to stop a suicide bomber?

It turns out the actual “suicide bomber on a train” part of the book only lasts for a few chapters, and the remainder of the book covers how the person came to be on the train, displaying the signs that caught Reachers attention, and the aftermath.

In short I liked it, but it did move a little bit slow for around 100 pages or so, after the “start”, but things definitely pick up as the book approaches a typically violent finale.

Lee Childs next book, 61 Hours, is set to be released in April / May 2010 (he releases one new Reacher story every 12 months). However, if you’re new to the world of Reacher, you can download for free, a copy of Persuader, the 7th book in the series, from:

http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/leechild/

As for the next book I’m gonna read? Well I’ve decided to tackle a book that’s been on my “to read list” for about 4 years now - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon

Regency Romance Review#1

Mademoiselle Butterfly

by Aranel du Lac

England. 1815. A Countess desperate to rekindle a relationship with her son. A Count who does not desire love. A Duke with a knack for meddling. And an unsuspecting girl. Adversity is what transforms the butterfly. And in London, England, there is plenty

 Unfortunately, only one chapter of this story has been posted on Fictionpress. But what I have read so far is very promising.

I admit that the first time I had read this chapter, I skimmed a bit, as I was a bit occupied at that moment. But as you can see, I returned to read Aranel’s story again, and paid closer attention to what I read. I found myself quite stunned with her writing. She has a great command over the language. Her phraseologies accords well to the era, and just by reading her dialogues, you can tell that she is well-read in this time period. Regency phraseologies aren’t something anyone can pull off. I’m still having difficulties myself, as I oftentimes border into modernism. (This is completely off topic, but, Aranel, what  books have you read that influenced your writing?) I was also relieved to see that ‘Mademoiselle Butterfly’ had a firm historical backdrop. She didn’t use the Regency era merely based on the knowledge that men wore cravats & top hats, and women, muslin dresses. 

Aranel’s writing also holds several great imageries, such as: “….the sunlight throwing his broad shouldered frame into a stark silhouette, casting his chiseled features into shadow, yet barely hiding his stoic expression.” I respect writers, like this authoress, who are able to write cinematographically (read my definition of this term). With ‘Mademoiselle Butterfly’, the descriptions of objects, characters, sceneries weren’t tediously long, but elaborate enough so that I could actually picture everything.

As for the plot, I can’t say anything for it, as I’ve only read a chapter. But it’s an interesting premises she’s broaching on: a Matchmaking Mama story with a twist. I believe. However, there was a lot of POV head hopping, and that’s something the authoress might want to consider. Some readers are alright with it, others are not. On a sidenote, I think romance readers are more accepting of POV switches in one scene…

The dialogues were a pleasure to read. The characters were engaging. The writing was fluid.–’Mademoiselle Butterfly’ truly is a gem, and I hope Aranel will continue on with it. It wasn’t the Harlequin-esque novel I expected upon closer inspection. It has a very literary touch to it. I can see her work being catagorized as a romantic historical fiction rather than a historical romance (heaving-bossom, bodice-rippers). But perhaps I judge too soon. Whichever direction this story takes, I’ll enjoy it all the same. I hope to read some more! 

Book Review: Introducing Paul

Introducing Paul The Man, His Mission and His Message

By Michael F. Bird

ISBN: 978-0-8308-2897-5

Introducing Paul is my first encounter with Michael F. Bird. I must say that I was very favorably impressed. He is a good writer. His writing is easily understood. His style is comfortable to me.

Bird takes Paul, studies his life, writings, backgrounds, travels, and theology. That could make for boring reading, or very interesting reading. It would be difficult to fall anywhere between the two. Thankfully, Bird made this interesting.

Bird’s approach to Paul is relatively conservative, for which I am grateful. While he does not pretend to give us a complete biography, he shows us that we can all learn more about Paul’s life. Bird’s coverage of Paul’s intentions, missionary work, and writings are good, too.

I was especially grateful for the overview of Paul’s theology. Bird did a good job with that as well as the rest of the book. While this is not intended to be a systematic theology based upon the Pauline corpus, it is none the less a good overview of what Paul had to say.

The one drawback I saw was regarding Paul’s views of roles of women. I believe Bird could have gone further and stated Paul’s teaching a little more plainly.

As a whole, this book is a five star book. It takes a large, difficult subject and presents it in a concise, accurate, and interesting manner.

I recommend it to all Christians.

WOMEN IN ISLAM: Divorce (Part 7)

WOMEN IN ISLAM: Divorce (Part 7, April 23, 2009)

 

Note: The political applications and practises by the various Moslem sects do not necessarily correspond to the intention of the original Prophet Muhammad’s message.

 

   

        The Prophet said: “Divorce is the most hateful of all lawful things in the sight of Allah”. Divorce is allowed as a last resort.  If divorce were forbidden, then animosity and adultery may become rampant. To save individuals and society from the greater evils, divorce has been permitted. However, it is not a step to be taken lightly or hastily. Sincere attempts at reconciliation are to be made first and - as in the case of marriage - the rights and wellfare of women are to be upheld.

 

        Imam al Ghazzali (b.1058 CE) who is honoured with the title of Hujjat al Islam ‘The Proof of Islam’ states, the greatest care should be taken to avoid divorce, for, though divorce is permitted, yet Allah disapproves of it. If divorce becomes essential then the woman should be divorced kindly, not through anger or contempt, and not without a valid reason. After divorce a man should give his former wife a present and not announce to others any of her shortcomings.

 

        The Koran advises a couple who are facing difficulties in their marriage to appoint arbiters.  In sourat al Nissaa it is read:” If you fear a breach between them twain, appoint (two) arbiters, one from his family and the other from hers; if they wish for peace, Allah will cause their reconciliation…But if they disagree (and must part), Allah will provide abundance for all from His All-Reaching bounty.”

 

        In order to dissolve a marriage, it is essential to pronounce a declaration of “talaq”. There are three types of talaq (divorce) that are practiced among Muslims.

First, talaq ahssan - (the preferable type of divorce): After issuing one pronouncement of divorce, the couple wait for the ‘iddah (waiting period, which consists of three menstrual cycles of the wife, usually three months). During this time, all possible attempts at reconciliation should be made. The husband may take his wife back at any time during the ‘iddah period. During the period of iddah the man must oblige to either keep the woman in the same home or at least furnish her with a comfortable apartment, which is easily accessible to him. Further, the man must provide for her as if no divorce has taken place. At the end of the iddah or waiting period if reconciliation has failed then the marriage is broken. In sourat al-Talaq it is read: “And fear Allah, your Lord: and turn them not out of their houses, nor shall they (themselves) leave, except in case they are guilty of some open lewdness, those are limits set by Allah: and any who transgresses the limits of Allah, does verily wrong his (own) soul: you know not if perchance Allah will bring about thereafter some new situation.”

            Second, talaq hassan - is a divorce where a man pronounces talaq to his wife in three consecutive state of purity. Third, talaq bid’i where the husband issues three pronouncements of divorce at one time. According to the majority of jurists, this talaq is valid but it is against the spirit of the Shari’ah and so the man is an offender in the eyes of the law.  The last Talaq bid’i is considered a serious act against the Islamic teachings. The second Caliphate Umar, a close companion of the Prophet, used to whip the husband who pronounced divorce thrice at once and in the same sitting.

 

       The sourat al-Baqarah (virginity) it is read: ” When you divorce women, and they fulfil the term of their (’Iddah), either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; but do not take them back to injure them, (or) to take undue advantage; if any one does that, he wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah’s Signs as a jest, but solemnly rehearse Allah’s favours on you, and the fact that He sent down to you the Book and Wisdom, for your instruction. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is well-acquainted with all things.”

 

             Islam treads the middle ground in the divorce concept, and safeguards the rights of women. It neither prohibits divorce, thereby imprisoning women, nor does it regard divorce as an insignificant decision. The right to divorce is not restricted to the husband. The woman may also seek a dissolution of the marriage by means of a process known as faskh, whereby she applies to the Qadi (Judge) for an annulment of the marriage. The wife may seek faskh in several cases, including: apostasy (renunciation of Islam) by the husband; lack of equality of status (kafi’ah); lack of compatibility; spoiling of marriage (fasad); incurable impotence on the part of the husband and if the husband ill treats the woman (nushuz). The above cases present valid grounds for a woman to seek divorce from her husband. If the couple come to a mutual agreement for separation and get divorced then this is called khul.  In sourat al Nissaa it is read: “If the wife fears cruelty or desertion on her husband’s part, there is no blame on them if they arrange an amicable settlement between themselves; and such settlement is best…”

 

               Islam has decreed justice for both sexes in the case of divorce. Although the act of divorce is disliked, it is permitted for the sake of weak human souls who cannot always find comfort and solace in the marriage relationship. This is mainly due to lower tolerance levels, high expectations in others and needless desires.

Book Review: Forget Me Not by Isabel Wolff

It’s never easy putting down new roots!

After the sudden death of her mother, Anna Temple realises she needs to live for the moment and pursue her dream of becoming a garden designer. Swapping hedge funds for herbaceous borders, and shares for scented stocks, she says goodbye to City life for a fresh start in the country.

But on the eve of her sparkling new future she meets the gorgeous Xan and their chance encounter changes her world in more ways than she could ever imagined — enter baby Milly.

Juggling her new business with the joys and fears of motherhood is a struggle, especially alone and when Anna unearths a long-buried family secret, skeletons tumble from the closet. Suddenly nothing is as it seems, past or present! Read my review below

Forget Me Not was one of my favourite reads by Isabel Wolff. I’ve enjoyed most of the books I’ve read by her but Forget Me Not was brilliant. I love when a book is written in first-person style it’s so easier to follow a story, I think.

Anna Temple’s mother has just died and that’s where the story starts: they’re clearing out her parents’ old house as her dad is moving closer to Anna. I loved all the flower references even if I’m no way flower-worldly.

The book not only explores bereavement but also family secrets, a single mother struggling to bring up her baby as well as starting her new business and also finding love again. I guessed, along with Anna that it was her sister who wasn’t her full-sister and was surprised when I found out it wasn’t and who it actually was.

I loved the Milly/Anna parts and thought Xan was irritating at first, flitting in and out at will but I liked that he did eventually come to realise how much he loved Milly even if he also irritated with how protective he became of Anna when he realised she had a new boyfriend.

I thought Jamie was more of a background character at the beginning before becoming more involved, I would have liked a bit more interaction between himself and Anna before they got together but I can’t complain.

I thought Patrick, Anna’s new boyfriend was dodgy and the incident near the end of the book definitely proved that. Also I was so curious as to who was the father of Jenny’s baby, Anna’s friend, and I didn’t see it coming. Luisa was also hilarious teaching Milly Spanish…the characters were just so diverse and so great.

It was a pageturner of high quality and I just love Isabel Wolff’s writing.

Rating: 5/5

Send in your reviews: chicklitreviews@gmail.com

<i>A Princess of Mars</i> by Edgar Rice Burroughs

This classic story was made available through iPulpFiction and the AppEngines ebook reader for iPhone and iPhone Touch. All-round gentleman of the frontier John Carter mysteriously awakens on Mars and goes through plenty of heroic adventures while rescuing a beautiful princess from the clutches of her warrior enemies.

While it’s early science fiction, it doesn’t have too much in common with what we think of as hard science fiction now. Short, action-packed, and violent, it’s instead an example of pulp fiction known as ‘planetary romance’.

For a modern reader (ie me), there’s plenty of flaws. The ’science’ is laughable and has more in common with fantasy tropes than actual science, the character development is minimal – he tends to gloss over such things as the development of friendships – and character portrayals are unsubtle, and plot holes are dealt with as he notices them (for example, oh, we can fly faster than our enemies who are in the exact same type of craft as us because, um, oh yes, we modified them earlier to get better performance…).

Also, the action-based plot had the effect of distancing me – along with the tendency to give away what’s going to happen in the text or in the chapter titles – so I felt little suspense or concern for the characters. Which would be normal for action-based plots.

On the plus side, so much happens in this book that a modern re-telling, taking time to flesh out characters and explore motivations, would take three to seven volumes, so the somewhat superficial attitude is really a relief. A quick and easy pulp fiction read.

Burroughs wrote several sequels in the same style, and was, of course, also the creator of Tarzan.

Indie bookstores on your iPhone

Just got an exciting email from IndieBound about their new iPhone app that should be of interest to you all.  And I quote:

“Here’s what the app has to offer:

Book Lists Browse indie bookseller-recommended titles and bestsellers on the Indie Next List and Indie Bestseller Lists.  As you know, Indie Next Lists are updated monthly and Bestsellers weekly.  These automatically update in the app. Book Search Search for any in-print book with the comprehensive book search, and buy online from an indie bookstore of your choice. Store Finder Find indie bookstores near you with the Store Finder, and search for other independently-owned businesses in your area. For more information and screenshots, visit http://www.indiebound.org/iphone.  New updates to the application are already in development! Future features include search, browse, and purchase options for e-books, linking your purchase options to your favorite bookstore, and more. DOWNLOADING You can find the application in the iTunes store by searching for the keyword “IndieBound,” or follow the link below: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=310898838 You can either: 1) Follow this link on your phone to install through the App Store, or 2) Follow this link on your computer, download the app through iTunes, then sync your phone. You can also review the app and send the link to a friend using either method. If you have any questions, please contact Matt Supko (matt@bookweb.org). Thanks so much!”

None of us here at WORD have an iPhone, so we’re depending on you.  Please go check it out and let us know what you think!

Manolo Queen of Comedy

Julia Morris is an Australian comedian and would be most famous for her TV sketch show Full Frontal during the 1990s as well as being a guest panelist on daytime talk fest Beauty & The Beast.  She recently released her book Don’t you know who I used to be?, the title a satire crack at the world of celebrity (or probably what comes to the forefront of our Aussie minds would be the ‘other woman’, Belinda Neal and I refuse to reference it with a link).

Julia’s story focuses mainly on her time living on the ‘edge’ in London, dealing with the ‘horror’ of having to start at the bottom of a big pond again in her showbiz career; a humbling experience dealt with a seat of the pants living style and much needed wit.  At times I felt like I was sitting down having a vino with her laughing as her personable narrative just flowed through the stages of her London experience.  Although sometimes I think her wit took away the sting of the real angst and emotional pain that she would have been experiencing.  But sometimes words will never convey what you’ve experienced emotionally, I know that from my own personal experiences on my girlie path of life.

My two favourite lines in the book were ‘overnight romance’ instead of ‘one night stand’ and $22,000 Aussie dollars converts to about £23; soooo true but let’s be honest, our currency isn’t worth much right now.  Probably not much more than Julia’s purchase of a royal title on the internet from some poor members of the aristocracy who were selling off square inches of their land to make money.

“Once we registered the paperwork with the Department of Nomenclature I officially became Lady Julia Morris on my driver’s license, passport and all of my banking documents,” she writes.  Absolutely hilarious!

Her husband Dan Thomas does sound like an absolute angel and her story telling is refreshingly honest with, thank goodness, not too much focus on parenting and children as everyone is wont to do these days, for us single girls sometimes it’s just *SIGH* who cares, enough already!

If you are in Sydney you can catch Julia live at the following venues; there’s nothing better than a good stand-up comedy that makes your cheeks hurt like I experienced this weekend seeing my best mate’s brother Adam Hills‘ perform live at the Enmore Theatre.  Seriously I don’t think I have laughed that hard or for that long (2.5hrs) practically non-stop for a very long time, a headache followed me around the next day but it was well worth it!

Venue: The Metro Theatre, George St, Sydney

Date: Tuesday 28th April 2009

www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au

OR

Venue: Laycock St Theatre, Laycock St, North Gosford

Date: Saturday 16th May

www.laycockstreettheatre.com.au

Love,

Sassi

Your Pop Culture Gossip Girl

three stars: book review of Quiverfull ~ Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce

A long time ago, I was given a great piece of advice. If you pay $25.00 to attend a conference and you come home with even one $25.00 piece of information, then the conference was worth attending. Bibliophile that I am, I maintain the same policy when it comes to purchasing books and I think I got my money’s worth when I bought my copy of Quiverfull ~ Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement by Kathryn Joyce.

Readers of this blog know that I see the patriocentric movement much like the reckless and activated toddler in the movie Honey I Blew Up the Kid who grew bigger and more unwieldy as he came into contact with various high tension lines. Those who are giving credence to these teachers and are providing a platform from which to speak are akin to those electrified wires, adding to the power while creating a creature that is taking on a life of its own. That is why I was anxious to read Ms. Joyce’s book and to, perhaps, find some new insights into the whys of the patriocentric movement that has declared itself in charge of Christian homeschooling.

But rather than giving me a more clear picture of this fringe but influential segment of the homeschooling culture, the reason I found this book to be so valuable was more for the opportunity it gave me to understand how a secular feminist assimilates the teachings and lifestyles within the patriarchy movement and, more importantly, how an outsider perceives the nonessential lifestyles that are being passed off as essentials of the faith within the homeschooling culture.

Covering most of the significant leaders within this faction, Ms. Joyce, for the most part, accurately portrays the key differences between the crunchy crude charm of Mike and Debi Pearl, the more “noblesse” and less “oblige” of Vision Forum’s Doug Phillips, and the myriad of other players who have wandered in and out of these circles for the past 30 years. I found little to disagree with in her perspective as she mapped out the teachings and leanings of each one. Oddly, Voddie Baucham, mentioned only in passing, and Kevin Swanson, two of the more notable and current mouthpieces for the movement, weren’t given the time of day in her book and Helen Andelin, the matriarch of fascinating childish womanhood, was curiously absent.

Interviewing both the movers and shakers, as well as the followers who have been moved and shaken, made for interesting reading, not to mention a smorgasbord of patriocentric madness. Her story, for example, of attending the Jamestown Celebration last summer and watching as the crowd jumped to their feet at the singing of Dixie, shows the neo-confederate leanings that are no insignificant part of this group. The account of Geoff Botkin praying over the ovaries of his newborn daughter along with the many testimonies of exhausted mothers who were told their salvation depended upon their childbearing, gives us a hint of the near-fertility worship these groups incite. The creepiness of Andrea Yate’s pastor, Michael Woroniecki, alone, made me want to sleep with my light on.

The lack of footnotes was probably the most troubling part of the entire book for me. Given how easily patriocentrists can spin and dissemble their own teachings to make themselves agreeable to a broad audience, footnotes and quotes ought to have been a number one priority and their absence was distressing. Skeptics and seekers reading the book will need them, in order to place these teachings in context and die hard sycophants will demand it. Note to Kathryn: please, please, please publish a corresponding booklet with your resources and remember this is there is a second edition.

I also had a difficult time getting my arms around the title of the book. “Patriarchy” is such a nebulous term, as is “quiverfull,” leaving the door open for incorrect conclusions to be drawn. There are many people, such as myself, who embrace a husband’s headship in the home and his leadership of the family as well as the Biblical truth that children are a blessing from the Lord and who welcome any children the Lord would give them, but who do not agree with the militant fecundity mindset nor seek to defile the marriage bed by declaring the use of all birth control to be sin.

Ms. Joyce, and I believe it is because she is not from within this movement, is not a believer, and is not committed to the Bible as the Word of God, does not understand the subtleties in the language or the continuum along which these teachings lie. As such, she does not possess the discernment to sort truth from error, leaving her at a disadvantage. Or perhaps, in the spirit of feminist spin, she felt the need to disdain male leadership as abusive and women, who love having lots of children, as having done so under duress, either by a man or the church. I am still trying to decide who she intends her audience to be and to what end she wrote her book.

I would also hope that those who are responsible for giving energy to the leaders within this movement through homeschooling conventions and other venues will consider what Kathryn Joyce is saying and be more circumspect in providing a forum to patriocentrists. Given the current political climate and the increasing scrutiny I believe homeschooling families will come under in the future, I would recommend that homeschoolers read this book. Then, perhaps, as in the case of the blown up kid, it will be a mother who brings sanity and control to what may become an out of control situation.

Book Review: <i>Reclaim Your Dreams</i> by Jonathan Mead

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Jonathan Mead, he blogs at Illuminated Mind and is a regular writer at the insanely popular Zen Habits.  In his own words, “My purpose here is to explore the uncommon side of things that is often overlooked by the typical, mainstream approach.  Illuminated Mind is about finding freedom from what we’ve been conditioned to think will make us happy.”

Jonathan is a thinker and a questioner in the best sense of the word…one who is neither content with the status quo nor content to accept what anyone tells him at face value.  One of my most cherished theology profs once told me, “For every one book you buy that you know you’ll agree with, buy at least two that you know you will challenge you.”  For me, Jonathan Mead is one of those fellows who is both immensely enjoyable to read and simultaneously guaranteed to challenge.  Though we share fundamentally different worldviews, as far as I can tell, I love to read his writings and use his ideas as a springboard from which to do my part and shake up the status quo from time-to-time (my boss might read ‘time-to-time’ as ‘always’…but that’s a matter of perspective, I guess!).  With those thoughts in mind, I naturally jumped at the chance to read and review his recent ebook, Reclaim Your Dreams:  An Uncommon Guide to Living on Your Own Terms.

Though he never comes right out and says it, Jonathon Mead is a classic existentialist, interested in challenging authority and the status quo; following his dreams wherever they might take him; and in general, ’suck[ing] out all the marrow of life.”  Thoreau, Whitman, Emerson, and Kierkegaard would be proud of their faithful disciple.  While that might put off some of the regular readers of this blog, since Dead Poet’s Society is one of my favorite movies of all time…the former existentialist in me got really excited over this book and agrees wholeheartedly with many of Jonathan’s points, even if I don’t presently agree with all the finer points of his philosophy.  For example, some might be uncomfortable with his unashamed questioning of authority, but there certainly is nothing wrong, in principle, with a genuine, humble quest for the truth and desire to find a better way of doing things.  If we find out that those we question are right, great.  If not, we continue our search, being careful not to disregard the answers we’re given just because they clash with our personal desires.

If I could sum up the point of this book in two short thoughts it would be–your life/job/vocation doesn’t have to look like society tells you it should…define your dreams and go for them!  In an age when so many are trapped in the pursuit of productivity and the culture of the cubicle, Jonathan rightly recognizes that much of life’s joy is found in the journey.  As he writes, “Too often we let the fear of the unknown keep us from taking action, so we follow the herd where things are comfortable and predictable.”

Many of Jonathan’s frustrations will be all too familiar for those in corporate America, which largely seems immovably fixed in its ways and its culture of “the way we’ve always done it.”  Instead of being lemmings blindly following those who have gone before us, he challenges us to define our dreams, our purpose, our values and then relentlessly pursue them…all the while passionately enjoying the journey and not simply focusing on the goal at the end of the road.  In order to break free of the routine, Jonathan provides a multitude of practical exercises designed to get readers to think beyond any self-imposed limits, walk through the process of understanding / defining our dreams, and making those dreams reality.  His writing is not some divorced-from-reality motivational work, however, he is clear that living out your dreams is both risky business and hard work–both of which are instrumental in avoiding lives of “quiet desperation.”

In short, whether or not one subscribes to the philosophical worldview embraced by Mead, there are many gems in this ebook that can be put to good use by anyone seeking to clarify and then follow his or her dreams.  It is, to use his own words “a permission slip to be ridiculous…[and] an invitation to dream.”  Check it out here on Illuminated Mind.

: : : : : : : : : : :

REFUEL by Doug Fields

I just finished reading Doug Fields’ latest book, ‘Refuel.’  It’s a short book - only a little over a hundred pages long, but I think that’s part of what is so great about it.  In it he speaks about the need to refuel, to recharge spiritually, and his contention is that it doesn’t have to be these elaborate systems and routines that just add more guilt and pressure to our lives.  Instead, he contends that the answer is to simply stop, be quiet and make a connection (with God).  In other words, throughout the day take moments here and there where you stop, settle your mind and take some time to connect with God.  It could be a few seconds, minutes, or more, but the point is that it is simple.

He writes that we tend to overpack our lives with busyness and noise, whether noise in the car, at work, at home, the television, or noise inwardly, like worry, distraction, unrealistic expectations, etc.  It definitely hit me where I’m at.  And this is where I think the length and simplicity of the book are so great - people with overpacked lives, with too much noise, don’t need a massive book on how to not be busy - that just adds to the busyness.  I love that he writes about connecting with God throughout the day in small doses to refuel our spiritual tanks.  It makes sense that as that happens more and more often, it becomes easier to connect with God in greater doses, or to see more balance in life.

Ultimately, this is a book for those feeling some spiritual emptyness or beating themselves up for not being the Christian giants they feel they should be.  It’s a GREAT book, worth the read, and I can’t wait to get the teaching series once it’s released down the road (it must be on the horizon - they’re doing it at Saddleback now!).  Definitely worth getting - I absolutely recommend it!

Book Review: He Loves Me Not... He Loves Me by Claudia Carroll

In the heart of County Kildare is Davenport Hall - a crumbling eighteenth-century mansion house, ancestral home to Portia Davenport, her beautiful younger sister Daisy and their dotty, eccentric mother, Lucasta.

Disaster strikes when their father abandons the family, cleaning them out of the little cash they had managed to hold on to. But a ray of hope appears when Steve Sullivan, an old family friend and confirmed bachelor, suggests that they allow the hall to be used as the location for a major new movie.

So Davenport Hall is taken over by the creme de la creme, including the self-centred Montana Jones, fresh out of rehab and anxious to kick-start her career, and Guy van der Post, a major sex symbol with an eye for Daisy. Throw in Ella Hepburn, Hollywood royalty and living legend, and soon there’s more sex and drama off-camera than on! And Portia, who’d completely given up on love, is in for quite a surprise… Read my review underneath…

Now I don’t usually start a review before I’ve finished a book but this is an aside that I might forget before completing the book: not being told about sequels is irritating. I hate starting a book which has a sequel when I don’t have said sequel. If it hasn’t been released I’ll read the book and then re-read after I get the sequel/sequels (a la Harry Potter - I read 1-5 then 1-5 plus 6 then 1-6 plus 7). I always check a book to see if a sequel is in the works and when I did got He Loves Me Not… He Loves Me, there was no mention of a sequel. It did however mention her second novel which IS the sequel. That irritates as it didn’t state her second novel WAS the sequel. If I’d have known I wouldn’t have started it until I had both books. Oh well, it’s water under the bridge since I have started the book. I just find it irritating not knowing, I prefer to read sequels right after I’ve read the first. Now… on to the book!

I really don’t know what I made of the book, I enjoyed it yet it was filled with so many cliches; the handsome but rubbish actor, kooky mother, leading female/male actor who don’t get on, etc. I also hated the way Portia and Daisy talked to each other - darling? - it’s such an old-fashioned word. It was definitely a soap-opera-type plot with plenty of different characters. My favourite character was Lucasta, she was hilarious and I also liked Mrs. Flanagan.

It was amusing in parts but it was pretty much a typical plot with the main character having difficulties with a man, the trouble was, unlike most plots like this (which is many, many, many) if they had just talked to each other or rather if Portia had just listened, none of it would have been a problem. Talk about jumping to conclusions! Daisy wasn’t too great a character, she just flitted between men and completely used poor Paddy.

The plot - a movie being filmed at the crumbling house - was outlandish and you would think the house would have been knocked down years ago. But despite the outlandish nature of the plot - and getting over the whole film itself - which was ridiculous and sounded so rubbish - I did enjoy reading it and did laugh out loud a few times.

As far as a debut goes it wasn’t overly impressive, when I think of some of the debut novels I’ve read (Paige Toon’s Lucy in the Sky, Lucy Dawson’s His Other Lover, Debbie Carbin’s Thanks For Nothing, Nick Maxwell - all 5/5 books). I will give Claudia another go as well as trying to find the sequel to this as well.

Rating: 2/5

Send in your reviews: chicklitreviews@gmail.com

Book Review: <em>Reading Lolita in Tehran</em> by Azar Nafisi

Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003) is a memoir about life and Iran and reading English language books by  Azar Nafisi.  My alumni chapter book club selected this book appropriately about a book club Nafisi started to read Western literature with young women she had taught at the university in Tehran.  The book is divided into four sections loosely draping Nafisi’s story over the works of four authors:  Vladimir Nabakov’s Lolita, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, the works of Henry James (particularly Daisy Miller), and Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. The first section focuses mainly on the reading group and the conversations therein, while the reamaining three sections are more of a straight-forward memoir.  Nafisi is educated in America (in Oklahoma, no less, which she makes sound like a hotbed of Iranian revolutionaries), returns to teach in Tehran right at the time of the revolution, loses her positions due to her liberal ways, returns to teaching (albeit compromising some of her principles), and then starts the reading group.  Finally, Nafisi departs Iran for good for the United States where she teaches and writes to this day.

This is horribly judgmental of me, especially to say of someone who lived under a totalitarian regime, but I found that Nafisi comes across as whiny, at least in the first chapter.  Marjane Satrapi (who is roughly the age of one of Nafisi’s “girls”) writes much more eloquently about the Iranian Revolution and the oppression of the Islamic regime, especially for women. The discussion of the books and life issues by the women of the reading group is supposed to be central to this work, but I never get the sense of individuality of the women in the group as if they’re only there to fill a role for Nafisi’s thesis. I warmed up to this book in the second section when Nafisi’s class puts the novel The Great Gatsby on trial, a clever way of discussing the book and the clash of cultures of the students in reading it.  Nafisi is at her best when discussing the books and I found her observations quite illuminating.  Especially for Lolita which I read many years ago but didn’t really follow it all to well.  I think Nafisi must be an excellent teacher and her passion for the novels comes across well in this work.  Ultimately this is a pretty good book, especially for its literary sections as well as a glimpse into life in modern Iran.

Favorite Passages

In class, we were discussing the concept of the villain in the novel.  I had mentioned that Humbert was a villain because he lacked curiousity about other poeple and their lives, even about the person he loved most, Lolita.  Humbert, like most dictators, was interested only in his own vision of other people.  He had created the Lolita he desired, and would not budge from that image.  I reminded them of Humbert’s statement that he wished to stop time and keep Lolita forever on “an islnd of entranced time,” a task undertaken only by Gods and poets. - p. 48-49

The worst crime committed by totalitarian mind-sets is that they force their citizens, including their victims, to become complicit in their crimes. - p. 76

This respect for others, empathy, lies at the heart of the novel.  It is the quality that links Austen to Flaubert and James to Nabakov and Bellow.  This, I believe, is how the villain in modern fiction is born: a creature without compassion, without empathy.  The personalized version of good and evil usurps and individualizes the more archetypal concepts, such as courage or heroism, that shaped the epic or romance.  A hero becomes one who safeguards his or her individual integrity at almost any cost. - p. 224

Authors: Nafisi, Azar.

Title: Reading Lolita in Tehran : a memoir in books / Azar Nafisi.

Edition: 1st ed.

Published: New York : Random House, c2003.

Description: 347 p. ; 22 cm.

Never Ceese

Never Ceese

by Sue Dent

ISBN-13: 978-1599580173 (Hardcover)

300 pages

Pub. Date: February 2006

Publisher: Journey Stone Creations

As a vampire, Richard never expected that a werewolf could help him overcome the curse that was given to him hundreds of years ago. Likewise, as a werewolf, Ceese has little faith that Richard could in turn help her with her curse. Yet it is the determination of their close friend, Penny, that brings Richard and Ceese together for the good. The vampire and werewolf struggle to look past their differences and get along, but what Richard doesn’t realize is how close Ceese really is to him. Meanwhile, a professor of stem cell research takes advantage of an enthusiastic college student’s research; a possible cure for vampires and werewolves through the stem cell process. The professor, Dr. Henderson, is only in on the research for his own diabolical plan of becoming immortal. Richard and Ceese struggle to find the cure they have been longing to have, while narrowly escaping from Dr. Henderson’s attacks. With the odds stacking against them, can Richard and Ceese find the cure that has eluded them for so long?

Sue Dent’s novel, Never Ceese, kept me turning pages to read more and snagged my interest almost immediately. Being a fan of vampire and werewolf novels, I throughly enjoyed reading Dent’s novel. With a modern twist to the traditional vampire and werewolf stories, this novel keeps the reader interested while weaving a creative and original plot. Any vampire or werewolf fan should pick up a copy of this book. I would recommend Never Ceese to all.—Ashley Ligon

Point of Clarification

My review of Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament may have resulted in confusing a few people.  Or it could have resulted in you thinking that I am lessening or making light of the divinity of Jesus Christ.  So as a point of clarification to a helpful and constructive comment from a friend I wanted to post this as a reply.  As always my hope is that the writings on this blog will strengthen and encourage you in your faith and walk with Jesus Christ.  I trust and hope that God will take frail words and use them through the power of His Spirit to do that.  Grace and Peace in Him.

“The reference to the book requiring some previous knowledge of the Old Testament was supposed to convey that this is not a book I would recommend giving to a brand new Christian. I think there are some other things they should read and explore first. Also, in general I would much rather a believer first be exposed to the Word of God in all it’s richness and then be led through the church’s (i.e. believers) understanding of that Word.

And I wholeheartedly agree that Christ is the Word of God, and that He is the divine Son of God. God incarnate, come to live and die as one of us as payment for sins, and then to be raised as the first of all who would come after. Hallelujah sin and death have been defeated through the person and work of the God-man, Jesus Christ.

But what I appreciated about this book is that it responds to a church culture in which Jesus relationship to the Old Testament is seen in one of three ways. First, some Christians see no connection at all and so they just read the New Testament. Second, Christians think that Jesus relates to the Old Testament simply as the fulfillment of a bunch of prophecies. So they read the Old Testament as if Jesus is on every page and every passage is a prophecy about Jesus. Certainly the Old Testament points to Jesus, the question is in what way. Third, some believers see Jesus coming merely to fix what was inherently wrong with the Old Testament and the Law, or to come in and abolish the Law and make it irrelevant. The result of these three misconceptions is grievous to the church today. The first and third responses result in Christians ignoring the Old Testament. The second response results in Christians spiritualizing the Old Testament so that they misuse and distort the Word of God. Thus all three result in the Church losing the first two-thirds of God’s written revelation. However, what Wright does is show that Jesus follows perfectly in the plan and mission of God’s work as begun in the Old Testament. By doing this he not only restores relevance to the Old Testament but He also grounds the person and work of Jesus Christ as being the central fixture in God’s work in the World. The result then is not a diminishing the person and work of Jesus, the Word of God, but an exalting of it.”

His Name is Jesus

“Christ lived the life we could not live and took the punishment we could not take to offer the hope we cannot resist.” - Max Lucado

It’s only fitting that on the eve of Easter that I would be watching Ben Hur, dying Easter eggs, and reading His Name is Jesus, a compilation of Max Lucado’s writing on the life of Jesus. This book is a beautiful gift book that pairs Lucado’s writings on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus with inspiring scenes from nature…. my favorite scene was from Yosemite, of course. It had been a while since I had read Lucado’s books - so it brought me back to my college days when I absorbed books like “When God Whispers Your Name” and “In the Eye of the Storm.” This book also features excerpts from Lucado’s other works, including “Six Hours One Friday” “He Still Moves Stones” and “He Chose the Nails.” It’s beautifully designed, and would be a great gift for a grandparent or the “hard to buy for” in-law.

BOOK REVIEW: You're So Vein by Christine Warren

Christine Warren’s urban fantasy series The Others got its start as Fantasy Fixed, an erotic urban fantasy romance series published by Ellora’s Cave.  She re-wrote the first of the Fantasy Fixed series, called it One Bite With a Stranger, and annoyed both her current Others fans and those who liked the Fantasy Fixed books.  I read both versions, Fantasy Fix and One Bite.  I think Fantasy Fix actually made more sense.  The re-write tried to reconcile erotic romance and mainstream romance and that takes more than watering down the sex.  The original had an edge the re-write lacked, plus the light BDSM elements just could not transfer easily.

Unfortunately, both the print and the ebook versions of her Fixed series have disappeared from the Ellora’s Cave website.  I snagged all but book 2, Graham and Missy’s story.  I’m looking for a print copy, but no luck so far.  I found Fantasy Fixed at Alibris.  The Fixed series was centered around 5 close friends, Regina, Missy, Danice, Corinne and Ava and their agreement to get fixed up on a date to fulfill their fantasies.  The books were:

Fantasy Fix (which was re-released and extensively revised as One Bite with a Stranger) - Misha & Reggie

Fur Factor - Graham & Missy

Faer Fetched - Mac & Danice

Fighting Faer - Luc & Corinne

The next book, one of my personal favorites, did not involved ‘the girls’ but added Tess and Rafe

Fur For All - Rafe  & Tess

The last book at Ellora’s Cave featured Graham’s second in command, Logan, of the Silverback Clan of Werewolves and an Alpha female who inherits the leadership of a clan that owes fealty to the Silverbacks.  It is pretty much unrelated to either the Fixed or the Others series.

You’ve no doubt noticed that Ava Markham never got a book.  She showed up repeatedly in other of the Fixed series, even Fur for All, which did not involve any of the original 5 friends as a main character.  She rarely shows up in the Others.  Of the original 5 play big parts there, only Missy is a regular in The Others.  Tess’s character is substantially different in the Others than in Fixed and Graham and Rafe and put in regular and sometimes substantial appearances.

In You’re So Vein Ava finally meets her mate, and he’s not at all what she wants.  Not that she ever wanted a mate.  Ava might still love her friends, but she has trouble accepting their choices in mates.  She feels that each has had to give up too much of themselves, change who and what they are to become mates with these ‘Others’ - Regina most of all.  Reggie, her closest friend, became a whole different species, a vampire, for her husband Misha.  The antagonism Ava feels toward their beloved husbands distresses her friends no end, but her dislike of Misha is the strongest and most vocal.  Somehow, perhaps Ava’s pure cussedness at giving them up, has kept them in touch.  Of the 5 friends, it was Ava who was most like a force of nature.  Ava is smart, savvy, determined, self-contained, aloof, tenacious as a badger, not to mention drop dead gorgeous.   Ava built a highly successfully business representing models with money she made as a model herself.  She does not intimidate easily and really does not like taking orders.

After another of her usual uncomfortable ‘girls nite out’ she persists in attending even though she feels less than completely welcome these days, Ava walks home.  Lost in her thoughts, a bit angry, a little bitter, at how things have come to where they are with her friends and the awkward relationship they now share, she’s not paying attention to her surroundings.  Suddenly, she’s attacked by a vampire close to her home.  Vladimir ‘Dima’ Rurikovich was up on a roof hunting an escaped vampire prisoner when he realized what was happening.  Reluctantly, he comes down to help her.  Too late.  He kills the rogue vampire after learning just enough to know he’d been turned by the lunatic vampires he’s hunting.  He checks Ava, expecting to find her dead, but she’s hot to the touch, almost feverish.  Ava bit her attacker and got just enough blood in her mouth to start the transition.

Dima had two choices, abandon Ava to her fate and a painful transformation - if she even survives it, or do what he can to help her.  Despite the rules of the European Vampire Council, which are clear about fledglings, and knowing he was getting himself in a world of trouble by giving the woman help, he takes her to his loft, gives her his blood to help in her conversion.   When she’s finally conscious again, Dima explains what happened.  Ava initially refuses to believe him.  It could NOT have happened to her.  This part of the book is a bit weak.  Ava’s well established aversion to Mish and Reggie’s conversion should have made this a bigger psychological issue for her, not a fairly easy acceptance she eventually yields to.

Reggie and Missy use the GPS system in her phone to find her in the loft.  After some discussion, including a pointed one about what Dima is doing in NYC with notifying the Council of Others, they decide it’s best that Ava stay with Dima right now.

She leaned against the loft door for a minute, struggling to recover her energy after the onslaught of her friends.  She knew they meant well, as they always did, but she’d been overwhelmed enough for one night.  Her head was pounding, her hands were trembling and she felt as if she hadn’t slept or eaten in a week.  All she wanted was to crawl back into the bed she’d been so eager to get out of a couple of hours ago and sleep until this nightmare had run its course and she could get back to her normal sane human life.

Was that really too much to ask?

A deep breath and a concentrated surge of willpower gave her the strength to turn away from the door and fix Dima with her special reserve Ice Queen Bitch From Hell Death Glare (patent pending).

Dima goads Ava into biting him it leads to fighting and then having sex.  It was that or kill her.  When she next awakes, Dima is gone.  Ava takes the opportunity to head back to her place - she is not running away, she’s going home.  She’s handled everything else that’s happened to her alone, she might just as well handle this too, because Dima won’t be sticking around.  Using her cell phone, she calls her car service and on the way to her place she realizes she has no way to get in, her Kate Spade and all its contents were long gone.  She only had the phone because it was in her coat pocket.  Only Reggie and Missy had keys.  She heads to the Vircolac and Missy.

Sitting in Missy’s kitchen, she nearly attacks Missy because she failed to feed.  Graham arrives with the blood drink Missy called for and not far behind, Dima arrives.  Her Kate Spade is delivered to the Vircolac earlier - and the only thing that seems to be missing is her cash.   Inside is a note requesting her presence at an exclusive address ‘as a member of my household’ of someone named Y C or something.  In the middle of the discussion about the note and its meaning, Dima watches as a darkness coalesces into Dmitri ‘Misha’ Vidâme.  He greets the vampire as ‘brother’ in Russian.  A reunion of sorts ensues, but not an entirely easy one.

The Council is called into emergency session to discuss the rogue vampires and Ava suggests she just go to the household and present herself as requested to reconnoiter the place.  It is eventually agreed to, over Dima’s objections.  This is 2/3rd’s of the way thru the book.  The last third is split between Dima convincing Ava he loves her and the operation of capturing the escaped vampiress, the self styled ‘Princess Chernigov’.

I was never a fan of Ava in the earlier books in the Fixed series.  She was always so arrogant, patronizing, superior, and stubborn.  It is obvious she cares for her friends very much, but does NOT like the choices they made and fought with them about it.  Still, she didn’t walk away.  She might be prickly as a cactus, but she’s loyal.

In You’re So Vein, Ava finally gets fleshed out and the reasons behind her behavior show her in a more understandable light.  Ava will never be warm a fuzzy person, but she’s not quite the ball buster she seems on the outside either.  Still, she and Dima had rather pat and predictable backgrounds and an equally pat and predictable ending.  Ava does manage to become a whole person, complicated and difficult, a tough bitch, - not an altogether bad thing when you’re up against a megalomaniacal vampiress who want to use her as live bait to trap the one man that has ever broken thru your defenses to your heart.

You’re So Vein is one of the average Other’s book.  Its main weakness is the character’s have little context outside the immediate story and the resolution of ‘Princess Chernigov’ is not final as it should be.  Dima realizes she cannot be held in any prison for long and the only way to deal with her is to kill her, but she ends up captive instead of dead.  The story line was rather lean for the 300+ pages and too many key scenes between the main characters were boringly predictable.

In many ways You’re So Vein reminds me more of the Fixed series, but with less sex.  It’s nowhere near the level of Wolf at the Door, She’s No Faerie Princess, or The Demon You Know - the best of The Others in my opinion - for complexity or the story or depth of characters.  It’s a pleasant, easy, fast, uncomplicated read.  For some reason I have this feeling it was originally meant to be a Fantasy Fixed novel and then was re-worked for The Others series.  Fans of the Fantasy Fixed, like me, will enjoy it more than those who only know Warren’s The Others series.

My Grade: C+ (3.5)

Who would enjoy this book: Fans of The Others and Fantasy Fixed series by Christine Warren and the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands.  My rating is R.

Tight Ships and Loose Cannons: Welcome to Motherhood

About the Book:

(Homeland, CA) - For all the Christian women in the world who dread reading Proverbs 31 and wonder who on earth could ever live up to that woman - this book is for you. Between dirty diapers, complaining children, housework, husbands and a multitude of other attention-grabbing detours women face, award-winning author and speaker, Kathi Macias finds a way to encourage and biblically instruct women of all ages and phases. Women everywhere are the glue that holds their families together. Keeping everything under control challenges even the most organized household CEO. Kathi uses humor, God’s Word, as well as practical insight and instruction to lovingly encourage women to grow in this progression of grace.

Readers will find How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons?: Proverbs 31 Discoveries for Yielding to the Master of the Seas, filled with scriptural explanations and journaling pages to process and write their personal feelings and prayers. With sections of the book focused on each step of the learning process to guide our ships to safe harbor, readers will be happily surprised to find the funny without the fluff. Kathi’s words are the “spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down.” Her vulnerable approach facilitates the teachings of Proverbs 31, making it easier for women to swallow. The truth of the scriptures is very much alive and well throughout the pages, yet the ease and charm of the author’s words entice readers to press forward and embrace the plan for God’s woman today.

About the Author:

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored 26 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. She recently won the prestigious 2008 member of the year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the annual Golden Scrolls award banquet. Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where the two of them spend free time riding their Harley.

Blog Tour Interview:

I understand you sometimes refer to this book as “discipleship with a grin.” What do you mean by that, and why did you choose a humor format for a discipleship book?

Actually, I chose a discipleship theme for a humor title. As much as I hate to admit it, the title came to me one day and I knew I had to do something with it–just too good to pass up! So the more I thought/prayed about it, the more I realized it described my life, both naturally and spiritually. I began to try to lay out my spiritual growth via humorous life stories, and found they produced a natural pattern. From there I developed the five stages of spiritual growth into five sections for the book, and I was off and running! Besides, I learned from a friend/mentor years ago that you can “shove a lot of truth down people’s throat when their mouth is open laughing,” so I figured, why not???

What are some of the funniest “loose cannons” stories included in your book?

One of my favorites is the story of my very first women’s retreat as a brand new Christian back in the “Jesus freak” days of baptisms at the beach and praise-ins at the park. I shared a room with three ladies I had never met, one of whom ended up being my “bunk mate.” She snored, she was quite a bit overweight (taking up much more than her side of the bed!), and she “leaked” because she was still weaning her youngest child. You’ll have to read the story to see how that experience taught me a lot about “spiritual face plants.”

Another favorite story is about the time I took my three sons (two pre-teens and one elementary school age at the time) to the community swimming pool. The older boys decided to use their younger brother as a human beach ball, and when they ignored my cries from the side of the pool to stop, I actually had the nerve to jump into the water and swim right up to them and order them to stop. Their level of humiliation at being seen in the pool with their mother was as close to social suicide as it gets. But we all survived and learned a lot in the process.

Your book is divided into five sections. Can you briefly explain what they are and what they have to do with discipleship and humor?

As I mentioned earlier, the five sections correspond with what I consider the five stages of spiritual growth: crawling (infants or “rugrats”) on our knees; walking (toddlers who are still a bit shaky but exploring and learning); running (stronger, more mature believers who are beginning to make a difference in their world); flying or soaring (eagles with a solid foundation and maturity to share with others); resting (back on our knees and realizing that place of utter dependence on Him is really the best place to be after all). The discipleship correlation is, I believe, evident in these stages; the humor comes in simply because I’m one of those slow learners who needs God to “hit me upside the head” at times, and I haven’t been bashful about explaining those times in the book.

What advice can you give to the young mom out there who is juggling two kids, a fulltime job outside the home, a husband, housework, pets and church?

Life happens in seasons! You CAN’T be all things to all people at all times. It simply doesn’t work. And if you don’t believe it, read about my many crash-and-burn episodes as I tried! The Proverbs 31 woman is a composite picture of many women from different walks and stages of life; when we get a grip on that, it releases us to enjoy the season we’re in right now, even as we prepare for the next one.

How did raising your own children help prepare you for the parenting side of the proverbial woman? Any tips you’d like to share?

Relax and enjoy them! Yes, even the rugrats and teenagers, because “this too shall pass.” There were times I thought I’d go bald from pulling out my own hair over the frustrations and failures of that season of my life, but now it’s my grandchildren who are passing through those rugrat-to-teen stages, and hey, I still have my hair! You’ll make it–and so will your kids–in spite of your frustrations and failures. And yes, I know there are too many of those to mention (or admit to). I’m the queen of mom-failures, and yet my kids never cease to bless me with words of love and praise. Do I deserve it? Probably not. But I love every minute of it!

Do you have a favorite part of the book or a favorite chapter?

Several, in fact, but one in particular: Chapter 26, “Back Home Again,” contains the story of my precious father, a man who lived for 88 years denying God’s existence and then finally turning to him in his last week of life. It’s one of the more serious stories in the book, but even that one ends on a humorous note.

If the Proverbs 31 woman is alive today, what does she look like?

She looks like me–and you–and every woman whose heart longs to please God and to raise her children according to the Scriptures, even though she knows she’s doing well just to make sure they all have their sack lunches before they leave for school in the morning. She’s thin, overweight, short, tall, black, white, brown, red, yellow, and polka dot when she catches her kids’ chicken pox. And she’s absolutely beautiful!!!

Are there some specific lessons you hope readers will learn and apply to their lives after reading your book?

I want them to learn to relax and laugh and enjoy this voyage called “life,” and to trust the Captain of our souls to take us home safely when our trip is over, rather than struggling to “man the oars” ourselves.

What makes your book different than other books similar to yours that are in circulation today?

There are countless books written for “control freak” women who want to do it all and be it all–perfectly and completely at all times. This one, however, is not only written with a humorous tone, but it also takes the reader through what I call the five steps of spiritual growth: crawling, walking, running, flying–and back on our knees, totally dependent once again. I do this by exposing many of the sometimes humorous–and sometimes not so humorous–events in my own life as I progressed through the five stages.

Are there any authors that either influenced you personally or influenced your style of writing?  Who are they and how did they influence you?

Brennan Manning, Henri J. M. Nouwen, and Max Lucado have to be right at the top of my favorite nonfiction authors list, simply because they call me back to the heart of worship, to a fresh appreciation of grace and a clarion call to rely totally upon God and not myself. I need those reminders on a regular basis. In addition, I love their writing styles. Their words “sing,” and it is my goal to do the same with the words I write.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?

Okay, now I have to ‘fess up to how nearly one-dimensional I am. If I’m not writing, I’m…well, reading someone else’s writing. That’s at the top of my “what I like to do” list. However, I also spend time riding on the back of my husband’s 2003 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle. He’s been riding HD’s since 1970 and says he will never outgrow that youthful passion. On the road we are known as “Big Al” and “Easy Writer…”

“Will the Real Superwoman Please Stand Up?” (an excerpt from How Can I Run a Tight Ship When I’m Surrounded by Loose Cannons?)

I’ve always been a control freak who wanted everything to run smoothly–perfectly, actually. No bumps or surprises, just–well, a “tight ship,” as they say. And somewhere along the line I got the idea that I could make that happen–if I just tried hard enough. I think it may have started when I first saw Superman on our family’s black and white TV and wondered, Is there a Superwoman somewhere? When I put that question to the adults in my life, they smiled and patted me on the head and said, “I don’t think so, dear.” So I decided to sign up for the job–a reasonable if somewhat naïve aspiration for a six-year-old, not so reasonable and way beyond naïve at twenty-six. Two decades after the birth of my Superwoman dream, I was still running as fast as I could and getting nowhere. My twenty-year-old dream was going down for the count, and I was nearly at the point of throwing in the towel–and then I met Jesus.

What a difference! Now I could latch on to verses like “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and “All things should be done decently and in order”–biblical affirmations of my desire to do things right, to do things efficiently and effectively, to do things with power and authority. Finally I was invincible–in Jesus, of course. Now all I needed was a godly role model and I’d be on my way.

I began my search in earnest, reading through the Scriptures until I came to Proverbs 31. Eureka! There, at last, was the epitome of the Superwoman I’d been hoping to become since I was six years old. The perfect woman–perfect wife, perfect mother, perfect housekeeper, perfect entrepreneur–all rolled into one! Not only did her husband and children praise her, but God must have approved of her as well or He certainly wouldn’t have included her as an example in the Bible. My dream was alive and well once again! At last I would be able to “get it all together,” to win instead of fail, to run a tight ship, and to keep things under control. Life was good, and the future looked bright.There was only one problem. I hadn’t figured on all the loose cannons rolling around the deck of my not-so-tight ship…

For more information:

www.kathimacias.com

Follow the Blog:

http://tightships.wordpress.com

Order the Book:

www.newhopepublishers.com

Book Review: Love The One You're With by Emily Giffin

This is a story for everyone who has ever wondered: How can I truly love the one I’m with, when I can’t forget the one who got away?

Ellen and Andy’s first year of marriage doesn’t just seem perfect, it is perfect. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other.

But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo for the first time in eight years. Leo, the one who brought out the worst in her. Leo, the one who left her heartbroken with no explanation. Leo, the one she could never quite forget.

When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she’s living is the one she’s meant to live. Read my review underneath!

I love Emily Giffin’s writing and rank Something Borrowed as one of my favourite chick-lit books ever. I also enjoyed Something Blue and Baby Proof and was excited when I finally saw Love the One You’re With at the second-hand bookswop I go to.

I quite liked the idea of the story: Ellen is married but after 100 days of marriage she bumps into her ex-boyfriend Leo. It seems she isn’t over him so the question is: who does she want to be with?

I just think the whole thing could have been explored a bit more. I still don’t think we really found out why Leo and Ellen broke up. It seemed, I don’t know, like a loose end that wasn’t tied up properly.

I also thought Ellen was a bit mean flitting between both men and trying to turn things around to make Andy look bad and justify all her actions to herself. I mean to be that obsessed with an ex after, what was it, 8 years and willing to dump and betray her husband at the first sign of trouble was a bit spiteful. Even at the end of the novel she still wasn’t 100% truthful with her husband even though Andy was a brilliant and nice character.

I loved all the minor characters: Margot, Suzanne and the Graham family kept the story bubbling along. I think it was a shame the relationship between Ellen and her father wasn’t explored as it seemed there were troubles there. It was also a shame the apparent OCD wasn’t explored more, we read of it at the beginning of the novel and once when she was in Atlanta.

I thought Ellen was never really sure of how to approach things. She said yes to Atlanta, got totally fed up with it and then didn’t say a thing until the huge argument with Andy.

Even at the end of the book she didn’t seem totally sure with who she chose. It was as if she chose who she chose because of what her sister said even though she said she was following her heart. I was glad with the ending though and would have been disappointed had it ended the other way.

I can’t really think of anything else to say about it. It wasn’t a book that provoked a lot of different questions, it was mainly who will Ellen choose and that was it. Full stop. End of.

I did, however love that Julian and Hillary (from Something Borrowed) made an appearance. I love how Emily does that, mentions the characters from her other novels or has them appear in some way.

For all that I’ve said for the book I did enjoy it and read it quite quickly it just seemed to lack something that Something Borrowed & Blue had. I loved the cover though, it is a beautiful book cover. I can’t wait for Emily’s next novel which is due out in 2010. I’ve read the first few pages from her publisher and it sounds great.

Rating: 3/5

Send in your reviews: chicklitreviews@gmail.com

Eating Green

Green Princess Cookbook: Sweets and Treats to Save the Planet by Barbara Beery published December 31, 2008 (spiralbound) by Gibbs Smith

When it comes to being green, I feel dumb. My younger son Justin has his degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and I tell you it does not rub off on me. Not that I haven’t tried! I bought a black, plastic composting thingy, and put it in the backyard, where it sits idle and forlorn. Justin says it’s easy to compost. I want him to come home and visit so I can get a crash course.

In the meantime, I find the Green Princess Cookbook: Sweets and Treats to Save the Planet. The title sounds completely incongruous, but I open the book. On the first page, I am taunted with the words – written in green – “It’s Easy Being Green!”

In nine pretty-pink bullet points, I learn that organic food is grown by farmers who don’t use chemical pesticides or fertilizers that are harmful to the planet. If you want to buy organic, you can — fruit, vegetables, milk, eggs and other foods. And, Barbara Beery says in her book, you should try to buy fruits and veggies grown within 100-miles of where you live – it’s easier on the planet than having the food transported by ship or plane, saves on gas, and keeps our air and water cleaner. I’m excited when I realize there will be more Farmer’s Markets cropping up, as we roll through spring into summer. And buy beef, she says, that was grass-fed, because that, too, is better for the cows, the farmers, and the planet.

Beery has cute little tips at the bottom of each recipe. That is, the design is cute, not the information. She mentions going to a berry farm. I’m New York City born, and raised in the Garden State – that’s New Jersey, in case you didn’t know. I wouldn’t have known it was the Garden State. When I was in high school, I was invited to dinner at an old rancher’s home. I was friends with his daughter, and while their home was in the NY suburbs like mine, their ranch was in Wyoming. Anyway I was sent to run into the grocery store to pick up some lettuce. I grabbed the first green ball of leaves I saw. It was cabbage.

I digress. I want to atone for that by going to a berry farm this year, and picking berries with friends. Living in Oregon, that should be a slam-dunk – if I get my timing right.

Another tip. Buy organic bananas – I am a recent convert on those. Good. What I’m learning is that green is easy if you are aware enough to walk through a Farmer’s Market instead of a grocery store, or just reading the labels. That’s a start, anyway.

The fruit recipes are colorful, but, for me, diabetic, they have way too much sugar. The cornbread in a recycled can recipe looks fun. There’s butter, jam, cookies, no-bake brownie cupcakes, smoothies and sorbets.

Enjoy this Slurp ‘N’ Slushy Organic Berry Cooler for me. You’re tossing all this into a blender until it’s smooth, and then you serve over crushed ice: ½ cup freshly squeezed organic orange juice, a cup of whole-fruit raspberry sorbet, a quarter cup fresh or frozen organic cranberries, and a quarter cup sliced fresh or frozen organic strawberries.

Seriously, let me know how you like it.

BOOK REVIEW #4: FAMILY PLANNING

BOOK REVIEW #4:

Title: Family Planning

Author: Karan Mahajan

Publishing date: 2008

Book Review written by: Shellyza Moledina

I picked up this book at my local Canadian library; they were having a theme of ‘INDIA!’, and knowing that my grandparents lived in Gujarat during their childhood years, I was extremely drawn to the literature on display.

I was even more interested when I looked at this particular novel’s back cover. Karan Mahajan, 24 year old, born and brought up in New Dehli and currently living in Vermont. As I am currently 21 years old, the initial similarity of mine and Mahajan’s background as Indo-Western-youth was very appealing. I wondered whether I’d identify with any of his characters, as an author’s writing is often a passionate expression of his own feelings and background.

To be very honest, Mahajan’s book confused me. It seemed like I was reading a book from an alternate universe, something that either confirmed that I was indeed a very sheltered girl who thought of life as coloured bubbles and rainbows, or that Mahajan was focusing on the most controversial topics in Indian culture, and putting less emphasis of other parts of Indian lifestyle.

I only have one sibling, the protagonist in Mahajan’s book has thirteen. I came from a very happy yet conservative childhood; the characters seem very ‘Westernized’ but hardly happy. I came from an environment where discussing and even thinking about sex wasn’t encouraged: but Mahajan’s characters do this openly. I didn’t necessarily dislike the book – it just confused me at first.

Much of the story in itself is heartbreaking: Mr Ahuja, a father of thirteen children who’s primary characteristic is his selfishness and pain. A primary focus of the book is how that selfishness and pain affects his family, especially his wife - Sangita. Another primary focus is sex; Mahajan seems to cut out all pretenses when it comes to the sexual culture in modern India and really hit it home. Both focuses aren’t necessarily wrong, but perhaps out of the comfort zone of an Indian audience.

If you ignore the initial discomfort and analyze the novel a little more, you realize that Mahajan has actually brought up very worthwhile issues, that need to be solved in modern India. Is the ‘gender sexism’ that ruled the previous centuries truly gone? What about the book’s attitude towards arranged and love marriages ? Does the author describe Ahuja’s sex life with Sangita as ugly? If so, why? What about the author’s atittude towards love, depicted in Ahuja’s first relationship: Rashmi? It’s easy to antagonize Mr. Ahuja for his selfishness, but how can one stop grieving a failed relationship and not let your own pain affect your loved ones? And above all, are we comfortable with the fact that our children may become little versions of ourselves?

I encourage Western readers to not necessarily take book this as the sole general representation of modern Indian life, but rather one of the few lifestyles that Indians may undertake. I also encourage Indian readers to have patience with this one – the initial discomfort and lack of Bollywood-movie-soppy-endings doesn’t necessarily mean that the book does not have something to teach us.