book-reviews dashboard

Opening up a whole new landscape

2010-03-23T06:09:00.000+02:00

Book facts: Sri Lanka’s Other Half: A Guide to the Central, Eastern & Nothern Provinces; by Juliet Coombe and Daisy Perry “Far from the war-ravaged zones, mass graves and internment camps presented by the international media, this book reveals the other side of the story, introducing a place that contains some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, ancient jungle ruins, pristine rainforests, wildlife parks with the largest elephant gathering of the world and huge mangrove lagoons bursting with exotic flora and fauna” says the introduction to “Sri Lanka’s Other Half”.

Launched recently at a simple ceremony held at Nuga Gama, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, this book by photojournalist Juliet Coombe and Daisy Perry is an exhilarating guide for the adventurous traveller to the North, East and Central Sri Lanka, covering areas that have been shut off to tourism due to the civil war for over 26 years.

Ruins in Jaffna

If a book can make a big difference in the minds of the tourists luring them to this beautiful island; “Sri Lanka’s Other Half” can definitely be placed in the front of the campaign. “This book makes you want to drop everything and go immediately before it all changes” says Steve Dave – BBC best selling author of ‘Unforgettable Places to see Before You Die’.

But I prefer to call the guide kahambiliya. Like you start itching when you touch the kahambiliya plant, after reading the “Other Half” you start itching to go to these places and explore them. The language in the guide is so captivating you feel like you are travelling along with the writers while reading it.

It is not only the tips on how you should travel around, the book also explores the life of the people and tells interesting stories that will keep coming to mind whenever you visit that area. The guide can be used by up-market tourists as well as back-packers for the writers with their team of young explorers had even done the bus journeys so as to have the real feel of exploring these areas.

The writers were, in fact, among the first travellers to the North soon after the war. Juliet Coombe was eight months pregnant at the time she made her road journey to Jaffna carrying her two-year-old son Samad. A well-known BBC Lonely Planet photographer Juliet is married to a Sri Lankan and lives in Galle Fort.

“The aim of the book is to highlight that travel is for everyone whether you are young or elderly, a mum, pregnant, an independent traveller or a crazy adventurer,” says Juliet. Juliet and Daisy discovered that North, East and Central Sri Lanka certainly have something for everyone.

I’m among thousands of fellow Sri Lankans who want to travel Jaffna, but have no idea where to begin. The guide gave me enough tips from preparation to accommodation to where to find the famous Jaffna ice cream parlours, giving me the confidence to visit the unknown area.

Like its language, the photographs in the book all have their own character. The ‘Other Half’ is full of photographs and interesting stories. The war is over and tourism is already experiencing a revival. “Sri Lanka’s Other Half” carries a welcome message to all those who wants to visit this beautiful island.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100314/Plus/plus_15.html

[Via http://window2nature.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: The GOP

The Killing of Monday Brown

2010-03-21T18:40:00.000+02:00

The Killing of Monday Brown is the 2nd of three books in the Phoebe Siegel mystery series by Sandra West Prowell. The series is set in Montana, home of the author. This book revolves around indian culture and traditionalism. It was very interesting and, although not the best book I’ve read, a good read.

[Via http://klccreations.wordpress.com]

MetsBlog.com – News: Adam Rubin going to ESPN New York

'This Errant Lady' by Penny Russell

2010-03-21T06:54:00.000+02:00

2002, 207p.& notes

Now here’s a way to decide which book to read next- what goes well with your decor? It gave me great pleasure to see Penny Russell’s This Errant Lady lying on my bed, matching so well with my doona cover! Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!

I was drawn to read this after finishing Ken McGoogan’s Lady Franklin’s Revenge recently. I’d forgotten that Jane Franklin visited Port Phillip and Sydney in 1839 and I was interested to see what she said about Port Phillip in particular, even though Judge Willis, the Resident Judge of Port Phillip had not arrived at this stage. I’ve been writing a chapter the last few weeks on Judge Willis’ involvement in colonial politics, which has taken me back to his relationships with Sydney colonists, and as a member of the government elite (albeit of a neighbouring colony), Jane Franklin was well-placed to comment on political events and personalities in Sydney.

Having now read her journal of her overland trip to Port Phillip and Sydney in 1839, I can now see why Ken McGoogan wrote the biography he did, quite apart from any other propensities that a writer on arctic exploration might have. Jane Franklin’s journals are travel diaries in the true sense of the word- lots of information about routes taken, facts gleaned, people met etc. but not much about her own inner world. I share the frustration of Penny Russell the editor in her preface:

In recording this epic adventure, Jane Franklin treated her diary essentially as a notebook, producing a compendium of often unrelated scraps of information. This was in keeping with her general habit in travel writing. Despite her enthusiasm for knowledge, Jane Franklin rarely ventured to express her opinions, speculations, or interpretations in writing. The judgments offered in this, as in all her diaries, are generally borrowed from guidebooks, histories or local inhabitants. Whether she agreed with them or not, she did not see her diary as a space for formulating her own opinions. She confined her attention to the external, the observable- to what could be ‘fixed’ on the page (p. 16). … Her opinions, her thoughts, her own personality must be deduced as much from what is unwritten as from what is written- her character sketched in the space left vacant in her accounts. (p. 17)

This utilitarian approach can be partly explained by the fiction by which her trip was justified, both to her husband and to Tasmanians generally- that it was a research trip into a sister-colony that would be of use to her husband Sir John Franklin, Governor of Van Diemen’s Land, and would be a form of diplomatic representation of VDL at a governor-to-governor level. The reality was that she was restless and curious and liked nothing better than getting away from her husband and the scrutiny of a small colonial society. Mind you, she liked her comforts too- the iron bedstead came on this trip, just as it did on all her journeys- but you sense the increasing tightness of protocol and deference as she moves from the outlying areas into the more settled districts surrounding Sydney.

The editor, Penny Russell, has excluded much of the weight of detail that shackled Ken McGoogan’s biography, but she has tried to keep enough in

to preserve the rich texture of Jane Franklin’s portrayal of a colony arrested at a particular moment of development: a moment of optimism for the future, in a society still built on convict labour and pastoral expansion, in which progress rested upon the sufferings of the chain gangs and the brutually dispossessed Aborigines…But the catastrophic pastoral depression that would destroy the hopes of so many in the early 1840s had not yet made its mark, and the grandeur of half built churches and suburban villas, the growing concern over education, and the diversity of experiments in agriculture and industry all suggest an overall confidence. (p. 16-7)

Russell has also worked hard, though, to preserve the human aspects of Jane Franklin’s interactions with the people she met. Her trip was a long one- from April to July 1839- and she was quite devious in her excuses to cut it short as Sir John wished her to do. But she probably should have: it was quite clear by July that she had outstayed her welcome with the Gipps’, and it is her discomfort at this knowledge that makes her more likeable. We have the intimacy of her coming into Mrs Gipps’ bedroom for a chat, thinking that she was alone, and finding Governor Gipps stretched out on the bed; we have the cringing, walking-on-eggshells embarrassment when Gipps was furious that she had allowed his carriage to become soaked while she was using it.

For me- and I admit that this is probably an acquired taste- I enjoyed finding characters from “my” Port Phillip and Sydney strolling onto the stage. So we meet Mr Verner (who was to become Judge Willis’ good friend and neighbour) bowling along in his carriage with two friends; there’s a ship with Protector Robinson’s Van Diemen’s Land aborigines on board (some of whom were to be sentenced to death by Judge Willis two years later); Captain Lonsdale (who was to become one of Judge Willis’ targets) taking them to a corroboree but arriving late so that it was all over by the time they arrived; there’s Chief Justice Dowling and his wife, and Justice Alfred Stephen (Judge Willis’ brother judges with whom he was anything but ‘brotherly’). In fact- and this is important for my purposes- conspicuously absent is Judge Willis and his good lady from the balls and levees and receptions that were laid out for Lady Jane Franklin.

And so, eventually Jane headed for home. What a trip that was! As with all journeys once you’ve decided that yes, you’re ready to go home, it seemed to take an age. But in this case it did- five weeks from leaving the heads to their arrival back in Hobart (a trip that can take about 3-4 days for the Sydney to Hobart yacht race today). Buffeted by storms, and with food and water supplies running low, their ship bobbed around; once almost glimpsing the coast of Tasmania before being swept out into the seas again over towards New Zealand. Relieved, no doubt to be back, you still sense Hobart society swallowing her up again, with criticisms of her recklessness in even embarking on the trip and sniffy comments about petticoat government.

Penny Russell has intervened quite a bit in this book. She has, by her own admission

emphasised particular stories, bringing into bolder relief images that are blurred, tangled or broken in Jane Franklin’s original. (p.17)

From the original transcript, retrieved and recorded by Roger Millis (who wrote the huge tome on Waterloo Creek), she has favoured people over trees or buildings, but not reproduced “the exhaustive and inexhaustible coverage of the original”, she has omitted hearsay information, and trimmed wordiness and detail “to give them greater narrative cohesion and more dramatic immediacy.” She has supplemented the text with lengthy footnotes, giving a biographical sketch of the people Franklin mentions in passing, and interspersed Jane Franklin’s own text with clearly marked corroborating information from letters and other people’s diaries. The book is given a clearer structure by its division into chronological chapters, many of which are prefaced by an italicized introduction. You are aware, and Russell makes no secret of the fact, that you are reading a mediated text. Which is probably a good thing: as the back cover blurb notes:

An intrepid traveller, Jane Franklin was consumed by an unquenchable curiosity. She looked, questioned, listened and wrote- pages and pages of minuscule notes on every topic that came to hand. This edition, carefully abridged and introduced by Penny Russell, makes the diary available for the first time to general readers.

And while it’s probably not exactly a ripping yarn, we general readers (and more specialized ones too) should be glad that she has.

[Via http://residentjudge.wordpress.com]

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Cherry

2010-03-21T06:00:00.000+02:00

Author: Mary Carr

Published by Viking (2000)

Mary Carr’s memoir about adolescence and her teenage years completely enrapture the reader throughout. The story is at times compelling, harrowing, and also entertaining.

There’s something innocent and intelligent about her prose that inspired me during my writing and had me dig into my own experiences. Specifically her kiss with her crush:

“John’s tongue is not hard and pointy like Davie Ray’s or plumb absent like Bobbie’s. It parts my lips a little as if testing the warmth of water. And after a second I get the idea that my tongue’s supposed to do something other than lay there or draw back hiding. I ease it forward so as not to poke at him the way Davie Ray Hawks did me. I taste the coppery flesh of his soft tongue on my wet one. My breathing seizes up again. And I put my hands up and press them flat against his chest because half of me is afraid I’ll fall entirely into him if he keeps holding me.”

What I particularly culled from this passage was her ability to capture those first moments of liking a boy, the sensations of a first kiss and everything in between.

Although this passage was my favorite (I have many throughout), the last third of the novel delves into her acid trips with random boys which at some point mesh into one another. At this point of the novel, I found it hard to follow her through her drug induced foray (perhaps the point?). This reminded me too much of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (the movie) in which I couldn’t follow, not even as a voyeur.

Would I suggest this novel? Yes. I enjoyed her writing very much and I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Via http://bkwriter4life.wordpress.com]

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REVIEW: Torah Club Volume 2

2010-03-20T18:16:00.000+02:00

Late last year I completed Torah Club Volume 2 : Shadows of the Messiah, available from First Fruits of Zion. It is a once a week study of the Torah ( first 5 books of the Bible ) that goes for a year, and will probably reveal more in that time than you have known your entire Christian life. It also has an option to purchase an audio package, but since I did not get it this will focus solely on the written materials.

Well, unless you’ve been one for less than a year. Don’t screw with me okay, it’s been a long day for me!

First off, I should qualify that I am not a full fledged gung-ho Messianic Christian. Let’s just say for simplicities sake that I am a garden variety evangelical, with a good dose of Hebraic Roots blended in. It’s unfortunate that I need to even state my defense, but such is always the case whenever this subject comes up.

So what is the gist of this package? For a year you will read through the Torah and for possible the first time you will see what Jesus meant when he said “search the scriptures” to find him. He was talking about the Old Testament, but few of us have ever understood that reality. We instead think he must have been referring to Paul somehow.

Is Jesus in the Torah like he said, or is it just symbolic hypothesis that is read into the text? I was amazed at just how much of him is there. The story of Messiah is not some idea that began two thousand years ago, it begins at day one.

Torah Club is not your typical Bible study. You will read thorough old sages, some who have amazing insight, and some who I must admit are just plain fruitcakes. The study makes it clear that the old Jewish sages offer interesting historical insight, but to be sure to take their views no further.

There can be some difficulty for the average Christian in the sense that many names can be confusing. Jesus is Yeshua, Moses is Moshe, etc. It doesn’t take long to get up to speed, but the first-comer might wonder who the writer is talking about. Yet at the same time, there’s no harm in knowing the proper pronunciation either!

In a modern church that has all but purged Jesus of his Jewishness, we have more or less fulfilled the Genesis story of Joseph, where we have made our master so “Egyptian” that his own brothers, Israel, do not recognize him anymore as one of their own. He’s now a blue eyed European, and in what is becoming all too common, he now resembles a North American social activist. Shame on us.

Doing Torah Club does not mean that you must become part of some Christian fringe group. But it does mean you may have to put long held beliefs to the test. Currently I am involved in Volume 3, and will post a review in November when it is complete. Thus far, it is very promising!

I give this 4.5 Feathers out of 5. Do yourself a favor, and get this Bible study that has teeth!

[Via http://dysfunctionalparrot.wordpress.com]

Canon 5D Mark II Firmware 2.0.3 Audio Problems. » cinema5D news

What I'm Reading #17: Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial

2010-03-18T06:14:00.000+02:00

Since I had picked up Jen Bryant’s Trial at the same time, I decided to follow it up with her other courtroom-drama-verse-novel, Ringside, 1925. This was Bryant’s treatment of the Scopes trial in Tennessee over the teaching of evolution.

——————

Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant

Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008

Courtesy of Amazon.com:

Review Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, February 25, 2008:

“The colorful facts she retrieves, the personal story lines and the deft rhythm of the narrative are more than enough invitation to readers to ponder the issues she raises. Product Description

The year is 1925, and the students of Dayton, Tennessee, are ready for a summer of fishing, swimming, some working, and drinking root beer floats at Robinson’s Drugstore. But when their science teacher, J. T. Scopes, is arrested for having taught Darwin’s theory of evolution in class, it seems it won’t be just any ordinary summer in Dayton.

As Scopes’ trial proceeds, the small town is faced with astonishing, nationwide publicity: reporters, lawyers, scientists, religious leaders, and tourists. But amidst the circus-like atmosphere is a threatening sense of tension–not only in the courtroom, but among even the strongest of friends. This compelling novel in poems chronicles a controversy with a profound impact on science and culture in America–and one that continues to this day.

———————–

Strengths: This one had more meat to it than The Trial. It felt like Bryant fleshed this one out more. There is a wide range of characters whose perspectives Bryant uses to tell the story, which I liked, as well as using different verse styles to create a unique voice for each character.

Potential Flaws: I still can’t help but think verse novels are somehow easier to write. I kept thinking, “I could do this.” In this case, I felt at times like Bryant wrote out a rather simple narrative and then broke it into verse. Her variations are cosmetic: line length, page placement. Nothing using rhyme or more structured verse, which I felt would have added some dimension.

My Rating:

As with The Trial, I was just not particularly excited about this one. Comparably, it was better, but there was definitely room for improvement.

[Via http://mezzowriter.wordpress.com]

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The Annotated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Annotated and Edited by David M. Shaphard

2010-03-16T18:56:00.000+02:00

In accordance with my usual procedure, I finished reading this book earlier today (after lunch, while eating a few stray doughnuts); I am now doing my review of the book, and this evening at 7:00 pm I will be discussing the book with the other members of the Third Tuesday Book Club. I will say that I had read the book many years ago, certainly before I started keeping lists of the books I read (which was in 1999), and that I had remembered it as being a fun read. I can now report that my memory was not faulty on that point, even if I had forgotten just about everything else in the book.

The book opens with the immortal line, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” It is September in the year 1811, and Mrs. Bennet of Longbourn is quite excited that a Mr. Bingley has taken the nearby country estate of Netherfield, and that he is rich and unmarried. Her thoughts immediately turn to how she can turn this chance into marriage for one of her five daughters: Jane (22), Elizabeth (20), Mary (about 18), Catherine, known as Kitty (17) and Lydia (15). She thereby applies to her husband, Mr. Bennet; he must call at Netherfield so that Mr. Bingley can eventually become introduced to the daughters. He does so, and a few weeks later Mr Bingley attends a dance with his unmarried sister, his married sister and her husband, and “another young man”, who is admired for being rich and handsome, until he was found to “be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased”. When Mr. Bingley encourages his friend, Mr. Darcy, to dance with the Bennet daughter sitting nearby, Mr. Darcy makes disparaging comments about the said daughter, loud enough for the daughter in question to hear. This is Elizabeth Bennet, who is intelligent, lively, and outspoken, with a tendency to judge on first impressions. She immediately decides that she cannot abide Mr. Darcy for his pridefulness; and her prejudice against him defines her relations with him for the first half of the novel.

The book follows the Bennet daughters, and Elizabeth in particular, as they make their way through the next year and a half, meeting other men in society. Mr. Collins is Mr. Bennet’s cousin, who will one day inherit Longbourn; as he is a clergyman who has a rich patron (whom he adores), and as she has told him to get a wife, he comes to Longbourn to marry one of his cousin’s daughters (he does not much care which one). Mr. Wickham, who joins the militia stationed in the nearby town, is quite the gentleman, who grew up with Mr. Darcy, and who feels he has been hardly used by Mr. Darcy.

Besides being a very good story, with unforgettable characters (Austen is quite as good at characterization as Charles Dickens), it is a fascinating window into a time and place little understood by those of us in the Western 21st Century. It is a world where people of a certain class have standards of style, dress, and etiquette to maintain, and where one simply does not do things that are not sanctioned by society. It is also a world where class is extremely important; there are rules and regulations (mostly unwritten, but still very important) for how one interacts with one who is of a lower social class, and how one interacts with one who is of a higher social class. It is furthermore a world where rich young men essentially do nothing, because they can afford to do nothing, and where women learn to draw, or sing, or play the piano, and wait for the rich young men to come and court them. The worst fate (almost) that can befall a woman is to not become married, because then one is dependent on one’s brothers for support.

I will also note the invaluable assistance rendered by my having read an Annotated edition of the book; the text of the book is on the left-hand pages, and the annotations are on the facing right-hand pages. The annotations cover unfamiliar words, and also contain citations from Austen’s life, letters, and other writings. One can certainly read the book and enjoy the book without the annotations, but in my opinion they made for a more enriched reading of the book; and I will happily use the information from the annotations at my Third Tuesday Book Club meeting tonight.

[Via http://fromtherecamier02.wordpress.com]

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Born to Run: Bites of the Apple Book Review

2010-03-16T18:46:00.000+02:00

When my sister started reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall for a class she was taking in college, I was definitely intrigued. I considered waiting until she was finished and stealing it from her, but I ended up springing for it on tape. (Listening to books on tape during long runs is AWESOME. Especially books as riveting as this one.)

This book tells the story of a tribe of “running people” in Mexico called the Tarahumara. The author sets off to learn their secrets for a Runner’s World article, and takes us on a journey through Mexico, where he encounters a mysterious man known only as “Caballo Blanco” (the White Horse). Caballo, who lives among the Tarahumara (as much as any outsider can) emulates their running style and is determined to host an ultramarathon that pits American ultra runners against the Tarahumara superhumans. This quest leads the author to eventually meet up with as a cast of zany American ultramarathoners, ranging from the best ultramarathoner in the US, binge drinking college kids who also run like lightening, and a devoted barefoot runner known as “Barefoot Ted”.

The book keeps the reader thoroughly engaged by weaving MacDougall’s tale of Caballo’s quest to organize a race in mountains of Mexico with various factual jaunts. These jaunts include interviews with evolutionary biologists about the history of human running, discussions of running shoes and barefoot running, and tales of U.S. ultramarathons. MacDougall’s writing style forces you to the edge of your seat, no matter what the topic.

The book kept me so engaged that I had to shift from only listening to it on long runs to listening to it on my daily subway commute. I even chose to listen to it over watching Friends and The Office re-runs on several treadmill runs. While reading it, I felt energized and excited about being a runner. I also was riveted by the discussions of running form and injuries. While I previously had written off barefoot runners as hippie freaks, after reading Born to Run, I found myself lusting after these babies:

(source)

Barefoot Ted wore these “shoes” to protect his feet, and I had a serious hankering for them!! I decided to ease into it by buying some super light road racing shoes to train in as a baby step towards barefooting. I *did* end up getting a pair for Tim for his birthday, and he LOVED them! He hasn’t run in them yet, but I think he’ll be a barefoot enthusiast in no time. If he ever runs in them, I’ll def get him to do a guest post!

To summarize, this book was one of the most interesting I’ve read recently. It’s a fun, interesting, engaging story, but you also end up feeling like you really learned something. And learning is fun, right??

[Via http://bitesoftheapple.com]

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John Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize-Winning 'The Grapes of Wrath' -- Champagne or Table Wine?

2010-03-16T06:38:00.000+02:00

Dorothy Parker called The Grapes of Wrath “the greatest American novel I have ever read,” but many critics disagree

The Grapes of Wrath. By John Steinbeck. Penguin Classics, 464 pp., $16, paperback. Introduction by Robert DeMott. Also available in other editions.

By Janice Harayda

Still enraged that Premier Bankcard is charging a 79.9 percent interest rateon its credit card? Reading The Grapes of Wrath might be cathartic. More than 70 years after its publication, this novel remains one of the most scathing indictments of banking and related industries to appear in American fiction.

In 1936 the San Francisco News sent John Steinbeck to investigate the living conditions of displaced Dust Bowl farmers who were streaming into California looking for work. That assignment inspired The Grapes of Wrath, a Pulitzer Prize–winning novel about how displacement and bureaucratic cruelty transform families.

Steinbeck refracts his theme through the bleak story of the Joads, Oklahoma sharecroppers evicted by a bank who set out for California hoping to earn a living as fruit-pickers. Ma and Pa Joad and their children face an almost soap-operatic array of disasters on their car trip and in the blighted Eden of California, where people disparagingly call them “Okies”: hunger, homelessness, illness, death, unemployment and the sadism of rich landowners. Their stoic dignity has endeared them to readers of all ages and to the Swedish Academy, which gave Steinbeck the 1962 Nobel Prize in literature.

The Grapes of Wrath has won less consistent acclaim from critics, who disagree on whether the Joads’ story is Dom Perignon or mediocre table wine. Dorothy Parker, one of the finest critics of her day, called the book “the greatest American novel I have ever read,” and it appears regularly on lists of the most influential works of fiction of the 20th century. But Edmund Wilson said that Steinbeck reduced his characters to their biological drives and animal instincts. And when Jonathan Yardley reviewed a volume of Steinbeck’s collected works for the Washington Post in the 1990s, he was struck by “the solemnity, the sentimentality, the heavy-handed irony, the humorlessness, the labored colloquialisms, the clumsiness” and “the political naiveté” he found in them, though reminded of the “powerfully sympathetic portraits of American farm workers and . . . the vision of social justice” he once admired.

Many of the complaints about the book have merit. Steinbeck conflates poverty and goodness – and wealth and evil – to a degree rarely found in novels written in the documentary style of The Grapes of Wrath. He portrays sympathetically and often sentimentally characters such as a waitress who thinks that the rich are thieves and “the bigger the car they got, the more they steal.” He is less subtle than his fellow social-realist and Nobel laureate Sinclair Lewis is in Main Street and other books. You know exactly what you are supposed to think about every issue raised in The Grapes of Wrath, which is why some critics have dismissed it as propaganda or a tract.

But the sentimentality of The Grapes of Wrath is not the cut-rate sentimentality that floods a market full of books by Mitch Albom imitators. It is hard won. And it is rooted in a deep and sincere concern for the brutal conditions endured by the Depression-era poor, some hungry enough to eat coal, as Ma Joad did, or trade a child’s doll for gas that would allow them to flee circumstances. The novelist Don DeLillo rightly said that in The Grapes of Wrath “there is something at stake in every sentence.”

There’s also something going on in every sentence. The Grapes of Wrath keeps its momentum from its opening chapters, when Ma and Pa Joad’s son Tom returns from prison, to its last pages, when the family tries to help a sick man though its own circumstances have grown more desperate. At times, the action includes perceptive observations on what makes life worth living. Steinbeck writes that migrant workers yearned for amusement and found it when they gathered around a fire to hear a storyteller: “And they listened while the tales were told, and their participation in the stories made them great.” The Grapes of Wrath is not a great novel as many critics would define it: a near-flawless work that yields new insights with each reading. It has been made great by the participation in its story of the successive generations to whom it has spoken as if by firelight.

Best line: The title. It appears in this line in the novel: “In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage.”

Worst line: “‘No, it ain’t,’ Ma smiled.”

Reading group guide with 12 discussion questions about The Grapes of Wrath from by the Big Read project of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Movie link: The 1940 movie of The Grapes of Wrath with Henry Fonda was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won two.

Furthermore: The site for the Nobel Prize foundation has a biography and more about Steinbeck and The Grapes of Wrath. The California Association of Teachers of English site explores some of the author’s local connections. A preloaded digital audiobook editor of the Penguin Classics edition of The Grapes of Wrath from Playaway is available online and at many libraries.

You can also follow Janice Harayda (@janiceharayda) on Twitter at www.twitter.com/janiceharayda. She satirizes the publishing industry on her FakeBookNews page (@FakeBookNews) on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FakeBookNews.

[Via http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com]

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The Fabric of the Cosmos (Book review)

2010-03-14T18:34:00.000+02:00

This is an extremely in depth review of the history of, and the continuing research into, the nature of the universe from the perspective of physics. The edition I read was printed in 2005 and I intend to follow up the ongoing research mentioned in the book to bring me up to date.

I would suggest that the author assumed his potential readers possessed some prior physics knowledge as some of his material makes some connections that, for someone like me who hasn’t particularly studied the field for some time, are not immediately obvious.

The beginning of the book goes into the theories of, and the circumstances surrounding, the field of classiclal physics (Newton et al) through Einstein and onto quantum mechanics. The clash between general relativity and quantum mechanics is studied in some depth demonstrating the conflicts in reconciling the macro and micro environments.

The resulting history of string theory is then delved into as a consequence of some of this conflict. It becomes obvious that the author is a proponent of string theory, though to his credit, he does explain and acknowledge other ideas as well.

For me though, the real interesting sections are towards the end, with the realization of the physics community that the nature of the universe may have some basis in an illusionary context and this was brought home by some of the newer ideas, such as M-theory and I found a particular empathy with cyclical cosmology and the brane world cosmology. As a physicist, the author steers well clear of any theological interpretations, which one would expect, but I have to confess that it has sparked many connections that I will be exploring in some depth in the coming months.

It would appear that the author received some critical acclaim for this book, and the depth of the subject matter he displays is, indeed, very impressive. I do have to say though, that this book may represent hard work for the general reader, for whom physics may represent nothing but a passing interest. It would represent, and indeed I intend to use this, as a quality reference source, though I have to admit, at 500 pages, this made a very challenging book to complete.

Recommended, with these stated reservations.

[Via http://corvusrouge.wordpress.com]

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The Intrigue at Highbury Or, Emma’s Match, by Carrie Bebris – A Review

2010-03-14T06:27:00.000+02:00

It is a truth universally acknowledged that in Carrie Bebris’ clever Jane Austen inspired mysteries, whenever Mr. and Mrs. Darcy embark on a carriage journey across England they are sure to end up investigating murder in a country village inhabited by some one or other of Jane Austen’s characters from one of her novels. This truth has become so well fixed in minds of her fans that we consider this devise our rightful property and any deviations would be insupportable. Happily, her fifth book in the series The Intrigue at Highbury Or, Emma’s Match does not disappoint opening with the Darcy’s traveling to Sussex to visit recently married cousins Colonel and Anne Fitzwilliam. In Surrey along the London Road their carriage is hailed by a young woman in distress just outside the village of Highbury. What starts out as an act of kindness by the Darcy’s quickly turns into a clever con by highwaymen who assault their coachmen and relieve the Darcy’s of their possessions.

Determined to report the crime and recovery their family heirlooms the Darcy’s seek out the parish magistrate Mr. George Knightley who is having problems of his own. He and his new bride, the former Miss Emma Woodhouse, are entertaining a large party at Donwell Abbey in honor of friends Jane Fairfax and Frank Churchill’s recent London wedding. Among the out-of-town guests are Col. and Mrs. Campbell, newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dixon and Mr. Edgar Churchill, the bridegroom’s adoptive father. Many of the Highbury set are in attendance including Miss Bates, a woman of a certain age and no fortune whom Emma has taken it upon herself to rescue from Mrs. Augusta Elton’s misguided matchmaking by introducing her to several illegible bachelors. The party is a great success until Frank’s father Mr. Churchill has a bit too much to drink, promptly becomes ill and unexpectedly dies. There is nothing like a corpse at a party to quickly quell the merriment of a celebration. Emma’s grand event has become the most infamous dinner party in Highbury history, and for all the wrong reasons. Moreover, Mr. Perry the apothecary suspects murder by poisoning and Mr. Knightley agrees.

Arriving at Donwell Abbey on the night of the ill fated party, the Darcy’s and the Knightley’s see connections between the highway robbery and the murder and join forces to solve both crimes. High on their list on possible suspects in Mr. Churchill’s death is his son Frank. Even though he is to inherit the Churchill fortune, other blood relatives could supersede him and dark family secrets are looming. On the other front, itinerant gypsies could be responsible for the robbery and are quickly connected to newly arrived peddler Hiram Deal who seems to have an abundant supply of merchandise and ample stock of gypsie elixirs potent enough to have killed Mr. Churchill. Throw in charades, riddles, secret anagrams, plot twists, red herrings, and many memorable characters old and new and you have one fast paced, witty whodunit that is sure to keep you guessing until the last page.

Readers of Jane Austen’s novel Emma will recognize similarities in the underlying plot to our modern murder mysteries. Filled with charades, riddles, word games, secret engagements and the speculation surrounding Jane Fairfax’s gift pianoforte, of all of Austen’s novels, Emma lends itself seamlessly to a continuation with a full mystery plot. Carrie Bebris’ skill at mining the original narrative for interesting coincidences to supplement her new story is amazing. In fear of spoilers I will not divulge my discoveries, but slyly allude to the fact that Mr. Knightley never liked Frank Churchill and was always suspect of his motives while others in the Highbury community could see no fault. That has not changed! Neither has the Austenesque wit as I found myself laughing at Mr. Woodhouse’s continued anxiety over other’s health and safety, Miss Bates’ endless chatter and the Mrs. Elton vs. Mrs. Knightley showdown over who would secure a beau for Miss Bates first absolutely hysterical. Unlike the other novels in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series, the Darcy’s take an equal role in sleuthing with the Knightley’s and both the men and ladies as pairs doubled the pace of the investigation. As always, Bebris’ historical research and inclusion of medical matters, poisons and gypsie culture in the Regency-era was quite impressive. If she is fibbing, she is a credit to her profession!

Bebris has surpassed herself offering her finest novel in the Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series yet. The Intrigue at Highbury will captivate Austen and mystery fans with its briskly paced continuation of Austen’s Emma infused with enough sharp wit, clever underpinnings, devious relations and fearsome gypsie attacks for the most diehard fans. However, I will withhold my highest praise and strongest prejudice for the next novel in the series when the Darcy’s travel to the seaside and meet the characters from Persuasion. Yay! Men in blue. La!

5 out of 5 Regency Stars

The Intrigue at Highbury Or, Emma’s Match, by Carrie Bebris

Tor/Forge Books (2010)

Hardcover (320) pages

ISBN: 978-0765318480

Additional Reviews

Bluestocking Guide
Austenesque Reviews
My Jane Austen Book Club
Genre Go Round Reviews

Read my review of The Matters at Mansfield (4th Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mystery Series

[Via http://austenprose.com]

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A Review of Richard Dawkins’ River Out of Eden: Chapter 1 – The Digital River

2010-03-14T05:42:00.000+02:00

I. Part 2

In the middle of his discussion of small-scale Natural selection in the section, Dawkins takes a short detour; stepping back to take in the ‘bit picture’ of large-scale Natural Selection.

That is why birds are so good at flying, fish are so good at swimming, monkeys are so good at climbing, viruses are so good at spreading. That is why we love life and love sex and love children. It is because we all, without a single exception, inherit all our genes from an unbroken line of successful ancestors. The world becomes full of organisms that have what it takes to become ancestors. That, in a sentence, is Darwinism. (p. 2, emphasis added)

This is where I part company with Dawkins as I believe that the reason that animals are so good at what they do is because they were designed that way.

Far more disturbing, however, is the subtle shift into reductionism he makes in the bolded sentences. After listing the optimized capacities of various animals in terms of purely utilitarian ’survival value’, he casts human passions in that same light. Note that he did not write of the human capacity for life, sex and procreation; but rather the love of those things. Therefore, from a Darwinian perspective, these aspects of human nature are purely utilitarian, having no intrinsic value themselves. I don’t fault Dawkins for this shift. Indeed, from his reductionist, Darwinian perspective it is not a shift at all. He deserves credit for not flinching from the logical ends of his worldview.

Now Dawkins would no doubt plead that such passions would be ’selected for’ as they would better enable our species to thrive, but this isn’t necessarily so. First, we have no means of determining that animals love life, sex and their little ones – at least not in the sense that we do*. Dawkins seems to understand this as he only wrote of animal capacity, not passion. Thus, if the vast majority of life thrives largely absent such passion, it is follows that it is not at all necessary for species to flourish. Why, then, did humans develop such passions? Perhaps it became necessary because of the protracted developmental process humans must go through (i.e. childhood and adolescence) before becoming self-sufficient? Perhaps. But what of the fact that, throughout history, humanity has exhibited the capacity for an extraordinarily callous disregard of life, sex and children. Putting all morality aside, what survival value is conferred upon a species by profligate abortion, infanticide, promiscuity or neglect and abandonment of children? And how does Darwinism make sense of the deliberate choice by much of modern Western culture (particularly Europe) to allow their societies to wither away; to have so few children as to knowingly charge headlong towards extinction? And all of this is to say nothing of the mass slaughters visited upon of wide swaths of humanity by tyrants past and present.

If Darwinism is to make sense of these conflicting realities, it must do so exclusively in terms of utilitarian survival value. In other words, Darwinism demands that a given ‘adaptation’ and its opposite must serve one and the same purpose: survival. Worse, since survival is the ultimate ‘good’ from a Darwinian perspective, both the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ are, by definition, good.

Any objective basis for morality is thus destroyed.

Agnostic and Darwin skeptic David Berlinski has observed

Darwin’s theory has been variously used – by Darwinian biologists – to explain the development of a bipedal gait, the tendency to laugh when amused, obesity, anorexia nervosa, business negotiations, a preference for tropical landscapes, the evolutionary roots of political rhetoric, maternal love, infanticide, clan formation, marriage, divorce, certain comical sounds, funeral rites, the formation of regular verb forms, altruism, homosexuality, feminism, greed, romantic love, jealousy, warfare, monogamy, polygamy, adultery, the fact that men are pigs, recursion, sexual display, abstract art, and religious beliefs of every description. (p. 23, emphasis added)

Note the bolded ‘opposites’. A paradigm – a ‘view of life’ – that is as malleable and flexible as this doesn’t explain everything, it explains nothing. This is not to say that Darwinians lack ‘explanations’ for how all of this works, indeed they have a multitude of theories to reconcile these conflicting ‘facts of life’ – theories as contradictory to one another as the facts they seek to explain.

Now, how does a ‘Biblical View of Life‘ deal with all of this? Does such a paradigm not suffer the same, or worse, fate? In a word, no. All of that ‘good stuff’, including the love of life, sex and children are all manifestations of the image of God in man. These human passions are pale reflections of the innate, absolute and pure attributes of God. What then of the ‘bad stuff’? These are the manifestations of human sin; perversions of the capacities God endowed us with at creation. God gave Adam & Eve the ‘good’, but it wasn’t enough; they wanted more. So they grabbed the ‘bad’. Thus the paradox of the human condition – we have true and honest ‘good’ and true and honest ‘bad’ all in one flawed package.

Many reject this ‘Biblical View of Life‘ for whatever reason – it’s regressive, backward, primitive, unscientific, what have you. That’s all well and good, but the biblical view has something the Darwinian view doesn’t – coherence. Whereas Darwinism must explain contradictory states of affairs in terms of one ‘metric’ (i.e. survival), Christianity explains each with respect to its own ‘metric’; Creation explains the ‘good’, the Fall explains the ‘bad’. A metaphor might help illustrate why the biblical view outclasses the Darwinian. Think of these ‘metrics’ as eyes. Darwinism has one eye and Christianity has two; only one has depth perception and thus superior vision.

How did Dawkins fair in this section? Again, it’s a mixed bag. While Dawkins again succeeds in giving us a proper view of Darwinism, we see how the paradigm runs aground on the rocks of reductionism and its resulting incoherence. By my lights, this ‘Darwinian view of life’ is not only not inspirational, it strikes me as terribly ‘lifeless’ as we must regard those things which imbue our lives with such color and zest as mere tricks played on us by our genes to get us to reproduce. How utterly dismal and bleak.

*Some animals do evidence a love of some type for their fellows. For instance, elephants have been seen to mourn when one of their herd dies.

[Via http://creationmeditations.wordpress.com]

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Reading Update

2010-03-13T18:48:00.000+02:00

Some people have asked how I expect to find time to read so many books. The short answer is: I read all the time. By way of offering some helpful advice, though, here are some specific things that I have done to increase both the quantity and quality of my reading.

Discernment

Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) has many great quotes on the subject of reading, but the most helpful to me is this one: “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention.” I am learning to discern which books are worthy of serious digestion, and reading through (most) others more quickly. While I was already a fast reader, this has greatly sped up the reading process, while allowing me to devote further concentration on the books from which I have the most to benefit.

Diversity

I am typically reading several books at any given time. This keeps me from getting too bogged down in any one book, allowing it to grind my progress to a halt. I try to break my reading up strategically. For instance, I’ll read more substantial theological works in the morning right after my Bible study, when my mind is most prepared for learning. I devote some time at work to reading books about music, ministry, and music ministry. Evenings and weekends are given more to novels, biographies, and other lighter reading. I even try to have books that are broken up into smaller sections which makes for good bathroom reading (That’s right, I’ve admitted it. According to a magazine article I read last week, I’m not alone… this is apparently where men do most of their reading! After all, what else are we to do to pass the time?). Recently I’ve also gotten into audio books, so I can be “reading” while I drive. ChristianAudio.com offers a FREE book every month (this month is “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer), which is way too good to pass up.

Sacrifice

The simple fact is, reading comes only at the expense of other activities. For me, what has been most notable has been the reduction in the amount of time devoted to sports & games, although this has been a gradual process that’s been going on for many years. I used to be very addicted to video games, and could spend entire days watching sports on TV. I now regret all the wasted years, because I have absolutely nothing to show for the thousands of hours idly spent on fruitless, mindless entertainment. I still love sports, and have not completely forsaken “fun”, but the time I currently spend on watching sports is a tiny fraction of what it once was, and video games have absolutely no attraction for me anymore. I used the word “sacrifice”, but replacing that time with reading and studying has been tremendously freeing, and more rewarding that I ever could have imagined.

Accountability

The simple fact that I’ve set a measurable goal and made it public keeps my nose in the books when I am tempted to do something less productive!

Here’s a roundup of what I’ve read recently, and links to my reviews of those books:

Unleashing the Word: Rediscovering the Public Reading of Scripture, by Max McLean and Warren Bird
Right Behind: A Parody of Last Times Goofiness, by Nathan Wilson
Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers, by Patrick Kavannaugh
A Sweet and Bitter Providence: Sex, Race, and the Sovereignty of God, by John Piper
Christ and the Future: The Bible’s Teaching About the Last Things, by Cornelis Venema

Days remaining in 2010: 293/365

Books read in 2010: 18/100

[Via http://honeyandlocusts.wordpress.com]

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Dream On

2010-03-13T06:38:00.000+02:00

Book #10 (February 21, 2010): Number9Dream by David Mitchell

David Mitchell is a British writer currently living in Ireland after quite a few years as a teacher in Japan. His short story “What You Do Not Know You Want” was my favorite in the Michael Chabon anthology I wrote about a few posts back. He’s written four novels with another coming out later this year. This one is about a young Japanese man in search of his father, who he’s never met. It takes place largely in modern Tokyo and Mitchell’s description of the city and its inhabitants is vivid and occasionally (as the protagonist slips in and out of his ongoing fantasy life) phantasmagorical. Mitchell’s writing style is energetic, frequently snarky, often funny, and if I have a problem with it it’s that he sometimes skips a little lightly over the surface of believability. Case in point: The encounters between the protagonist, Eiji Miyake, and the Yakuza (i.e., the Japanese mob) are so violently and comically over the top that I began to wonder if Mitchell might be secretly hoping that the Coen brothers will buy the film rights. But he manages to pull the story back from the brink of absurdity (a precipice it spends many pages teetering on) and occasionally creates something rather moving, especially in the parts where Miyake reminisces about his dead twin sister. There’s a John Lennon motif threading through the novel; hence the title, after a 1974 Lennon song. The ending is both cryptic and apocalyptic, and I’m still not sure how I feel about it.

Based on the two works I’ve read by him so far I can make the probably unwarranted generalization that Mitchell’s talents, of which he has quite a few, work better at the shorter lengths. Some of my favorite parts of the book are the stories within a story — for instance, the children’s stories about halfway through the book featuring a goat, a hen and a caveman, which Mitchell uses to make some not-at-all-childish points about human behavior. At this point I admire his work more than I love it, but I’m still interested in reading the rest of Mitchell’s novels and I’ll probably read at least one more of them before the year is out. In fact, Cloud Atlas is already sitting on my bookshelf.

[Via http://52books52.wordpress.com]

Breaking: Reyes to start year on DL

Book Review: Right Behind

2010-03-13T05:35:00.000+02:00

“Right Behind: A Parody of Last Days Goofiness” by Nathan D. Wilson

I must admit, this book was sort of a guilty pleasure for me. A satirical parody of the Left Behind series, it was one of the most fun reads I’ve enjoyed in quite some time. Certainly the only time in recent memory when I have laughed out loud for the entire length of a book! Which, at only 105 pages, meant a good solid 90-minutes of joy.

Those unfamiliar or unaccustomed with satire should probably stay away from this one. On the other hand, anyone who, like me, absolutely LOVED the Douglas Adams Hitchhiker’s Guide series will appreciate Wilson’s writing style. On the surface, it may come across as just plain dumb, but it takes true genius to write something so intentionally stupid. It’s really quite clever.

Wilson’s biting yet winsome writing pokes fun at many stereotypes within the evangelical culture, such as Christian bookstores, cable networks, and consumerism. Most of all, though, he critiques dispensational theology and the horrid writing style of most books in the genre of prophetic apocalyptic fiction.

Enjoying this book probably depends on a prior familiarity with the original Left Behind series. As someone who actually trudged through all twelve of the LaHaye/Jenkins books, though, I feel like I picked up on most of his references… not that many of them were all that subtle.

Moment of self-disclosure here: I originally began reading the Left Behind series at about the time the sixth book was published. I devoured the first half of the series like it was candy, and was drawn hook, line, & sinker into LaHaye’s system of prophetic interpretation. In my defense, I was a college freshman at the time, and didn’t really know any better. I had never actually read much of my Bible, and certainly not any of the prophetic passages. It took a while to realize that God’s Word is so very much better than fiction! By the time the last book came out I had seen the light. I no longer cared for dispensationalism, and had realized how terrible the writing was in the series… I just can’t stand to not finish a series once I’ve started it!

Anyway, if you are into satirical writing and not into the pre-trib Rapture, you’ll want to check this one out. Buy it here.

[Via http://honeyandlocusts.wordpress.com]

Molyneux hints at Fable III for PC News | PC | Eurogamer

Book Review: 20 Folk Bird And Fish Patterns

2010-03-11T18:02:00.000+02:00

Who carves a wooden catfish? I do, and I loved it. The first thing that caught my eye in this book was a wooden catfish. I knew right away that it wanted to be on wheels and be a toy – hence the birth of Captain Catfish. The pattern in the book was fun and the instructions were great. I really enjoyed carving this fish.

I was a little less happy with the bird patterns though. The birds all had side view patterns but no top view. There was only one photo even that showed a top view during the patterning stage with the birds. All 0f the fish had both top and side patterns to use.

I wanted this book specifically for the birds, the fish was really just a bonus for me. This makes the book less desirable to me.

The Author published his phone number and address in the back of the book but the phone number was no longer valid when I called. I emailed the publisher to ask if there were side patterns to have and never got an answer about the patterns. If you are most interested in the bird patterns on the cover of the book, and they are cool, I would not buy this book.

If on the other hand, you are into Captain Catfish! (hehe), he is probably worth the cover price alone.

-Jim

[Via http://makestuffwithyourhands.com]

Steam News

Life of Pi

2010-03-11T06:55:00.000+02:00

Typically, books titled after mathematical figures are written exclusively for the formula-friendly elite of high schools. Not so, with Yann Martel’s Life of Pi.

Half science-fiction, half biography, Pi is the story of

a severed tiger head (Pi) and his life as the ruler of the ocean kingdoms. It’s a classic, middle-eastern epic of retribution, environmental responsibility, and geometry, with a few modern twists (such as the entire story taking place at sunset) to keep up with contemporary audiences.

Martel weaves an intricate story, addressing those human truths often too complex for fiction with veteran ease. The internal conflicts of humanity are expressed poetically; the smooth red sky’s constant clashes with the serrated blue water was my personal favourite.

Pi (short for “Pieces of Tiger”, a name dutifully earned after the brutal dismemberment scene) is a character that strikes a chord in all of us. Caught by fish-shaped Bengalese poachers, he is encircled and decapitated, his body sold for fur. But Pi’s soul lives on in his severed head, and he takes to the skies to exact revenge on humanity. As is all too common in life, his vengeance overwhelms him, and he devours every living thing on Earth — that is, until he reaches the ocean, where the creatures of the sea are safe beneath the waves.

The story ends surprisingly philosophically, as Pi floats above the seas for all eternity, waiting for the seas to evaporate, so he can feast on the last living things on Earth and complete his revenge. But it’s a sad life for Pi, as the fish taunt him day after day, jumping from the seas in a circular shape that mock his name and mimic the circle of hunters that caused his torment in the first place — and we see the story becomes as circular as the fish’s mockery.

Life of Pi is a wonderful thing, one I would recommend to anyone looking for a colourful, well-designed book cover to put in their bag or purse.

[Via http://judgingbycovers.wordpress.com]

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green News Report -- March 9, 2010 ...

Review: A MILLION SHADES OF GRAY by Cynthia Kadohata

2010-03-11T06:00:00.000+02:00

Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews recently read A Million Shades of Gray by Cynthia Kadohata for the 2010 Vietnam War Reading Challenge. Here’s a snippet from the review:

It’s about a Vietnamese village torn apart by war. . . . A Million Shades of Gray is a devastating book. It shows a village, a country, torn apart by war. It’s chaotic. It’s violent. It’s ugly.

Read the full review.

**Attention participants: Remember to email us a link to your reviews, and we’ll post them here so we can see what everyone is reading!**

[Via http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com]

Blizzard: console WOW still "unlikely" News | MMO | Eurogamer

Hey, what'cha reading?

2010-03-09T18:56:00.000+02:00

Found this really cool article at the LA Times online talking about how more and more adults are finally catching on to all the great stuff being published for teens these days.

Just a taste:

“YA authors are able to take themselves less seriously. They’re able to have a little more fun, and they’re less confined by this idea of themselves as Very Important Artists. That paradoxically leads them to create far better work than people who are trying to win awards.”

According to [Lizzie Skurnick], who also reviews adult fiction for publications including The Times, YA books are “more vibrant” than many adult titles, “with better plots, better characterizations, a more complete creation of a world.”

“There’s some amazing, vibrant, fantastic literature in the YA venue,” said Cecil Castellucci, a young adult author who recently started the Pardon My Youth book club at Skylight Books in Los Feliz to “help people understand that YA literature is not just for young adults.”

Read the rest here:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-young-adult8-2010mar08,0,1082099.story

So everybody read lots and lots of teen books, m’kay?

Cool. Circulation stats doubled.

Need a suggestion? If you’re still into vampires, I recommend the hilarious, snarky, and oh-so-romantic Hearts at Stake: The Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey.

You can also check out our After Twilight @ CCPL booklist or www.vampirelibrary.com for more series and titles.

Always,

Missy

[Via http://ccplic4teens.wordpress.com]

Pat Kiernan's Canadian Pee News - Pat Kiernan - Gawker

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2010-03-09T06:06:00.000+02:00

Zombies, secrets, and romance – what else could you ask for from a title as frightening and ominous as The Forest of Hands and Teeth?

Written by Carrie Ryan, this post-apocalyptic teen novel takes place in the distant future where, except for the fenced-in village in which the protagonist, Mary, lives in, zombies have overtaken the world.

Mary has never known a life without the fear of the Unconsecrated, the name zombies are given in this “safe” village. Controlled by the Sisterhood, a strict religious cult, this community is filled with secrets and rules. Yet, Mary has wanderlust and is curious of what could be out there, stories about the ocean haunt and excite Mary, sometimes to the detriment of her own safety. When the Unconsecrated breach the fences, Mary is forced to run away and discover what, if anything, is beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Although completely engrossing and beautifully written, there were many questions and plot lines left unanswered in this novel, which frankly, left me a little disappointed. However, maybe some of those mysteries are solved in its companion novel, The Dead Tossed Waves, which is out today. Hopefully, that’s the case.

Honestly though, I really loved the old cover much better. That’s what drew me to this book in the first place, the old hardcover just captured the dreamy and romantic yet eerie world of The Forest of Hands and Teeth more than the new version. What do you think?

Below is the book trailer (that made me jump and cover my eyes) for The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

[Via http://thechildrenssection.wordpress.com]

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Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler Book Review

2010-03-09T06:01:00.000+02:00

What … a hilarious book!

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler was absolutely fabulous. Hysterical. Pee in your pants funny. Entertaining as hell. My god, I haven’t laughed that hard in all of 2010! The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea will soon be on the top of that list again with her latest book that comes out today. I’ve been a fan of Ms. Handler’s long before she got her television show, Chelsea Lately. I first heard of Chelsea Handler back in the summer of 2006 when she was doing a radio tour to promote her first book My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands. She was on the air with Drew and Mike on WRIF, a Detroit radio show, and she was so damn funny and held her own with them I immediately went to work and went online to Amazon to purchased her book after hearing her interview, which is something I’ve never done in my entire life. I don’t impulsive shop like that, but hell, was I glad that I did! When I read My Horizontal Life in one sitting, I nearly gagged from laughing so hard. Ditto with Are You There Vodka? which was also read in one setting last summer. Chelsea has set the bar high with her first two books, and fans will be relieved to know that her latest book Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang has passages in it that are so funny, so embarrassingly relatable that you will explode in a sudden burst of laughter, over and over again.

I read Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang last Friday morning in a three-hour power read from 5:30 am to 8:30 am. I had meant to just read a few pages, but I couldn’t stop myself and could not put it down and go to bed, even though I was exhausted beyond belief. I am so thankfully to have received my review copy, not only because this was one new book I couldn’t afford not to read, but because I am not able to “afford” to buy any new books these days due to my recent unemployment. I knew that I’d adore this book, and adore it I did. At one point while reading Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, I had to sign into Facebook and update my profile status in the middle of the chapter titled Black-on-Black Crime, because I wanted my friends to know I was laughing so hard while reading that book that tears were rolling down my face. You see, in this chapter Chelsea had encountered some wild women while on vacation in Turks and Caicos, and those women reminded me so much of two of my old wild friends so much I couldn’t take it, because I could just see them on vacation with “Tracy Lately” as her wild women kept calling her. As funny as their whole story was, hearing her assistant Eva carried around and used a Sham-Wow to help clean up Chelsea-related spills nearly killed me.

Chelsea Handler definitely lets loose in this book with some of her best comic personal essays. My god, even the dedication was funny – To my brothers and sisters. What … a bunch of assholes. Classic! I was so happy to read current stories, including quite a few stories about her recent ex-boyfriend Ted Harbert. Not that I am sick of her childhood tales of woe, because I just loved hearing about her struggles in getting her first Cabbage Patch Doll (as I never managed to get my own, but happily shared Maynard with my friend G!) but hearing about her family, friends, and life with Ted was so much more funnier to me. Now that I know that Chelsea can’t stop eating Lean Pockets or can’t learn how to work her own remote control, it makes her even more relatable. I loved hearing her wild beach stories, but hearing how she tricked Ted over and over by telling him the most ridiculous stories such a killing a dog nearly killed me. My god, how I laughed when I heard that man had to take the day off work when Michael Jackson died, or how he loved to go dancing so much he hired a helicopter to get him to his dance club a little sooner. I have noticed a change in Chelsea over the past year on her show Chelsea Lately, and after reading this book, I can understand why – she was dealing with someone, who, to put it politely, wasn’t right for her at all. I can’t be sure, but after reading this book I am half convinced her ex has Asperger’s Syndrome. I am not saying this as a bad thing, trust me, I know plenty about it, as my stepson has it; I am only saying that I know how hard it is to deal with this conditions, because having a person who doesn’t understand how to relate with others can be very draining. For example, Chelsea had to explain to Ted at a wedding that it wasn’t ok to ignore a man who was telling a story about he and his child getting in a car accident and flying through the air. Not only did Ted stop a waiter mid-story to order a drink, but he left the rest of the table to fend for their own, and you know in Chelsea’s circle that would be taboo. I personally feel when you are Chelsea Handler, queen of vodka, you need a man next to you who can roll with your crazy adventures without blinking an eye.

Chelsea has plenty of famous friends and family to take good care of her, and she will be ok. The girl has been working her butt off, taping Chelsea Lately, doing stand-up all over the country, and writing this book in between stolen moments over the past year or so. Last night she mentioned on her show that this will be her last book, so I want all you fans of hers to make sure you buy a copy, because this really could be the last of her books, which is unimaginable. She is so talented, so snarky, and so damn funny that I just love her and her writing, and I’ll be very upset if this announcement of hers turns out to be true. Fans of Chelsea, go buy your copy of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang immediately!

Poor Chuy, left off this cover and replaced by Chunk the dog. Still, I think she made the right choice, because a dog who refuses to poop in her presence is a rare dog indeed.

To buy your copy of Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, click here.

Chelsea Handler’s website (Which is sadly just her Myspace page – Girl, can’t you afford to buy a website?) can be found here.

Chelsea Handler’s Facebook Page can be found here.

Chelsea Lately’s website can be found here.

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[Via http://thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress.com]

O Japan - Japanese travel news, culture, cuisine, language, and ...

His January and February Reads... Better Late Than Never!

2010-03-07T18:49:00.000+02:00

January 2010:

The Guinea Pig Diaries by A.J. Jacobs (reviewed here)
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton (reviewed here)
Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Dearly Devoted Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (both reviewed here)
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro – This was an AWESOME book and I can’t wait for the next one in the series to come out because once I finished reading this one I was stuck hungering for more. It felt like there was an almost a mythical tale being told behind the scenes of the main story and that it had a rich sense of folklore at it’s base. I hope that the next story scratches deeper beneath the surface to expose more about the ancient ones and that they play a bigger role!
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – The Hunger Games series so far is wonderfully fantastic! This book lived up to everything I was expecting after reading the first book and I really feel like the characters have depth (which is nice to find in a book for teens!) I am patiently waiting with baited breath for the third and final book of this series to come out so that I can dive back into that universe and see what happens next.
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman – This was a fun and quick read! I think that it’s one I would have a fun time reading to a child and I hope to find more short but exciting books like this to read to my kid(s) when the time comes because I think it would spark their imagination and hopefully get them into reading too!

February 2010:

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead – I really donno what to say about this one. I can’t tell if I just didn’t like it or if I’m through with the series because I feel like after three books that the characters are stagnant and boring. What I mean is that all of the main characters are pretty much exactly the same now as they were when the story started and although some interesting things have happened I feel like I’m stuck watching characters that refuse to grow, and it’s frustrating. There was a twist at the end that might be enough of a saving grace to get me to read the next book, but right now I feel like I’ve gotten everything out of the Vampire Academy universe that there is to offer.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling – Me and the coauthor of this blog (my wonderful girlfriend!) decided to reread the Harry Potter series so that we could have discussions about each book and I have to say that it’s one of my favorite things we’ve ever done together! It had been almost a decade since I last read this book and I swear it must of gotten better since then. There was a whole new vibe to the book that I think came from knowing how the full story played out and as such it gave me quite a bit to think about. I think Rowling really knows how to weave a story and give her characters incredible depth, and if you’re one of the 30 people of so who have not read this book I definitely recommend it.

I also started Under the Dome by Stephen King but am still in the middle of reading that one (it’s just under 1100 pages, so it’s like reading 3 books I’d say!)

[Via http://mtqt.wordpress.com]

Bad news: HTC says the Nexus One doesn't 'go in pockets' -- Engadget

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini :Book Review

2010-03-07T06:28:00.000+02:00

Well, this is my first attempt to write a review for a book. So I decided to start with a book which I found to be a truly amazing literary work.

This is a book which makes you feel so bad, yet makes you want to thank God for all the blessings that we have in our lives – for our loving parents, for our culture, society and of course our governments..

This book is all about unconditional love, guilt, pain, poverty,betrayal. Somehow I haven’t read any other book where all these emotions touch you. You tend to feel the same emotions of love, pain, guilt etc when each of the character goes through these emotions. In this way,the author is successful in keeping the reader quite involved in the story. The story takes you through the life of Amir, settled professional in United States, who was born and brought up in Afghanisthan. Amir lives in United States, a country which he embraced not only because of the political asylum she provided, but also it allowed him freedom from his turbulent past. In the end of the story, we feel the same sense of relief, that Amir the protaganist felt himself.

Amir is a rich father’s son surrounded by all the riches, but he is always left yearning for the love of his father. Hussain, the servant’s kid is Amir’s close friend. Though Amir is not jealous of Hussain, he feels bad when his father pours out his love on Hussain. Hussain loves Amir with all his heart and is always ready to be there for his master and friend. His only aim is to please and protect Amir.

The story progress through the change of governments in Afghanistan and the drastic change in the life style of people. It also depicts the changed relation between Amir and Hussain after a unfortunate incident during a kite flying competition..Amir ends up betraying the trust of Hussain and this burdens his heart so much that he plots the removal of Hussain from his life.Through all this Amir finds it difficult to accept the loving and forgiving nature of Hussain which was increasing his burden. Amir finds some release from his burden only after leaving his country and he had become an insomniac by that time.

The story ends when Amir travels back to Afghanistan and tries to put things right.This travels paves his way to his redemption when he finds his lost childhood , hidden family secrets, contradicting values and tries to come in terms with his mistakes, guilt , pain and sets to makes things better for people around him.

Now if you start wondering if this is a review or a description of a book, I would say “Keep Wondering”. But if you would like to wonder aloud, feel free to put a comment.

Reach out to the author on this website: http://www.khaledhosseini.com/

[Via http://bookishreviews.wordpress.com]

Sony announces SOCOM 4 News | PS3 | Eurogamer

"Jesus, Interrupted" by Bart Ehrman

2010-03-06T18:50:00.000+02:00

Bart D. Ehrman (James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill) is perhaps America’s most well-known Evangelical-to-Agnostic story. His books continue to sit atop the New York Times bestseller list, and his latest is no exception. Jesus, Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible and Why We Don’t Know About Them (New York: HarperOne, 2009), provides similar content to his other controversial-ladden texts and has sparked the discussions I’m sure that the publishers sought. Amazon’s reader reviews call the work everything from “mind blowing” to “arrogant.”

You don’t have to look hard on the Internet (or on the bookshelves) to find someone spewing vehement rebuttals to Ehrman’s latest assault on traditional Evangelicalism. And for that reason, I want to avoid this move. But I also want to avoid filling this brief review with criticism for another reason. I want to avoid this because Ehrman’s right.

I don’t think he’s right about his claims of Scriptural “contradictions” or the “stunning” assertions in his book. I don’t think he’s right about his entrenched and overly skeptical view of the “historical-critical” method of biblical interpretation. I don’t think he’s right about his anti-harmonization-at-any-cost mentality or his views on the early church’s theological development.

I think he’s right about the fact that this type of conversation needs to be happening in the public square. He’s right that many of our churches aren’t doing enough to educate their parishioners with arguments beyond “well that’s what the Bible says.” He’s right that many of those who fill the Sunday pew just aren’t reading their Bible, regardless of their high view of Scripture.

This is a conversation worth having.

And thankfully, Evangelicals are talking about this in the public square. Ehrman admits his book offers nothing new, and he delivers on this promise. And because it’s nothing new, answers abound for his argument. (For example, see Darrell Bocks’ review of Jesus, Interrupted here: Themelios 34 no. 3 (2009).

Ehrman won’t have the last word, and I don’t think he would want it. Jesus, Interrupted provides ample topics of conversation, and for that it is helpful. His “controversial” claims—much less so. We shouldn’t be scared of books. Read them, think critically about their claims, and evaluate for yourself.

And read your Bible too.

[Via http://curtiswlindsey.wordpress.com]

Craig Crawford leaves MSNBC… « Inside Cable News

Can you rely on internet book reviews?

2010-03-06T18:41:00.000+02:00

We always rely on other people to advise us and share their thoughts on the newest books when picking a new book. Is it right that we have confidence reviews we see on the web and how can you be certain the person writing a book review really has the same tastes and levels of thoughts as you. There is no way to be sure, we just simply go along with it at the time and pray that the review given is truthful. I recently read a review about a book for my young son and I was very dissapointed to see a different story to the one that was described within the forum. It could be people online do not have the time to write a true respective review. A bit of research can be done on the sites you read related book news from.

Three things to look out for when reading websites:

The date of the latestarticle.

The sites target audience discussing the book.

How many people visit the site.

[Via http://authorsbooks1.wordpress.com]

iPad to launch in April | News

Homeschool Freebie ~ The Voice of Spring

2010-03-04T18:52:00.000+02:00

The Voice of Spring Copywork Book

I’m so excited to be able to tell you about the Homeschool Freebie of the Day today! As our weather is heating up to the high forties, as the birds are singing again in the air, as I can finally see the blades of grass under the dingy slushy ice snow piles, as I am rushing to put seed orders in, and as I am ever so anxious to pull on my garden boots, this little gem came along. It is a copywork booklet of spring poems and verses. From Wordsworth to Robert Louis Stevenson to the Bible; from singing birds to the first appearance of daffodils to daydreaming on a breezy day there is a little of everything for everyone, whether old or young. It is done in Zaner style manuscript and can be used as a complete grammar unit (as in Ruth Beechik’s whole language learning ~ post coming soon!) or as individual handwriting lessons as a sunny day calls for or use as a complimentary pairing to outside nature walks and sketching work. It is another little nugget of hope on a cloudy, dreary day!

Here is the link: Homeschool Freebie of the Day

It is only for today only so hurry fast to download your copy! Here is what they have to say about it:

Copying the Poems: The Voice of Spring (PDF ebook) – From Bogart Family Resources comes today’s resource, this neat handwriting copybook that includes the complete text of three well-known poems and four scripture passages that focus the heart and mind on the new life that springs forth from God’s creation each Spring. 25 full lessons in 77 pages, making preparing copywork lessons a breeze – just hit print, and you’re good to go!

[Via http://amypayson.wordpress.com]

Warner extends LEGO rights to 2016 News | Eurogamer

Foreword to Pierced for our Transgressions

2010-03-04T06:31:00.000+02:00

By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org

(From: Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution)

Out of the Jewish leadership of Jesus’ day had risen teachers of the law who did not know what the law meant. Jesus found himself saying things like ‘Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?’ ( John 3:10 ESV). Some of the teachers had lost all sense of biblical proportion, ‘straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!’ (Matt 23:24 ESV). And as they lost their bearings, they came under Jesus’ most serious charge: ‘You have made void the word of God’ (Matt 15:6 ESV).

Emotionally, Jesus’ response was a sinless combination of grief and anger. ‘He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart’ (Mark 3:5 ESV). Why both anger and grief?

The anger was because people were being hurt – eternally. These teachers were supposed to know what the word of God meant, but instead Jesus said they were ‘like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing’ it (Luke 11:44 ESV). This made Jesus angry. Their job was to teach what God had said. Instead, they were blind guides and were leading others with them into the ditch. Jesus loved people. Therefore, he was angry with professional teachers who imperiled people with biblical blunders.

But Jesus was not only angry; he was ‘grieved at their hardness of heart’. These were his kinsmen. These were the leaders of his people. These were the representatives of the Jerusalem he loved and wept over. ‘Would that you . . . had known . . . the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes’ (Luke 19:42). The condition of their heart and the blindness of their eyes were a grief to Jesus.

This is how I feel today about teachers of Christ’s people who deny and even belittle precious, life-saving, biblical truth. When a person says that God’s ‘punishing his Son for an offence he has not even committed’ would be as evil as child abuse, I am angered and grieved. For if God did not punish his Son in my place, I am not saved from my greatest peril, the wrath of God.

In part, I write this foreword to defend my Father’s wrath against me before I was adopted. He does not need my defence. But I believe he would be honoured by it. On behalf of my Father, then, I would like to bear witness to the truth that, before he adopted me, his terrible wrath rested upon me. Jesus said, ‘Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey . . . the wrath of God remains on him’ (John 3:36; italics added). Wrath remains on us as long as there is no faith in Jesus.

Paul puts it like this: We ‘were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind’ (Eph. 2:3). My very nature made me worthy of wrath. My destiny was to endure ‘flaming fire’ and ‘vengeance on those . . . who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus . . . [and who] suffer the punishment of eternal destruction’ (2 Thess. 1:8-9 ESV). I was not a son of God. God was not my Father. He was my judge and executioner. I was ‘dead in . . . trespasses and sins’, one of the ‘sons of disobedience’ (Eph. 2:1-2 ESV). And the sentence of my Judge was clear and terrifying: ‘because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience’ (Eph. 5:5 ESV; italics added).

There was only one hope for me – that the infinite wisdom of God might make a way for the love of God to satisfy the wrath of God so that I might become a son of God.

This is exactly what happened, and I will sing of it forever. After saying that I was by nature a child of wrath, Paul says, ‘But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ’ (Eph. 2:4-5 ESV). What a grievous blindness when a teacher in the church writes that the term ‘children of wrath’ cannot mean ‘actual objects of God’s wrath . . . [because] in the same breath they are described as at the same time objects of God’s love’. On the contrary. This is the very triumph of the love of God. This is the love of God – the ‘great love with which he loved us’. It rescued me from his wrath and adopted me into sonship.

‘But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son . . . to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons’ (Gal. 4:4 ESV). God sent his Son to rescue me from his wrath and make me his child.

How did he do it? He did it in the way one writer slanderously calls ‘cosmic child abuse’. God’s Son bore God’s curse in my place. ‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”’ (Gal. 3:13 ESV; italics added). If people in the twenty-first century find this greatest act of love ‘morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith’, it was not different in Paul’s day. ‘We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles’ (I Cor. 1:23 ESV; italics added).

But for those who are called by God and believe in Jesus, this is ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (I Cor. 1:24 ESV). This is my life. This is the only way God could become my Father. Now that his wrath no longer rests on me (John 3:36), he has sent the Spirit of sonship flooding into my heart crying Abba, Father (Rom. 8:15). I thank you, heavenly Father, with all my heart, that you saved me from your wrath. I rejoice to measure your love for me by the magnitude of the wrath I deserved and the wonder of your mercy by putting Christ in my place.

Those who try to rescue the love of God by minimizing the wrath of God, undermine not only the love of God, but also his demand that we love our enemies. It is breathtaking to hear one of them say, ‘If the cross is a personal act of violence perpetrated by God towards humankind but borne by his Son, then it makes a mockery of Jesus’ own teaching to love your enemies, and to refuse to repay evil with evil.’ Those are deadly words, which, if they held sway, would take enemy love out of the world.

Why? Because Paul said that counting on the final wrath of God against his enemies is one of the crucial warrants for why we may not return evil for evil. It is precisely because we may trust the wisdom of God to apply his wrath justly that we must leave all vengeance to him and return good for evil. ‘Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him”’ (Rom. 12:19-20 ESV). If God does not show wrath, sooner or later we shall take justice into our own hands. But God says, ‘Don’t. I will see to it.’

Every section of this book yields another reason to thank God for the labours of the authors and for IVP in Britain. I pray that the Lord will give the book success in the defence and honour of God, and that Jesus Christ will be treasured all the more fully when he is seen more clearly to be Pierced for our Transgressions.

“This book is important not only because it deals so competently with what lies at the heart of Christ’s cross work, but because it responds effectively to a new generation of people who are not listening very carefully to what either Scripture or history says.”

–D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

[Via http://emmaustrekker.wordpress.com]

Flash Is Dead At Virgin America » Podcasting News

Book review on About

2010-03-04T06:10:00.000+02:00

Vintage Knits for Modern Babies by Hadley Fierlinger About.com Rating Article Feedback: User Rating Be the first to write a review

By Sarah E. White, About.com Guide

Ten Speed Press.

Vintage knitting patterns are a lot of fun, but it’s not always fun to update those patterns for modern yarns and current design sensibilities. Hadley Fierlinger, baby knitwear designer and owner of Shescrafty Knits, offers up 25 patterns inspired by the looks of knitting patterns of old in Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.

The projects bring a classic, vintage appeal to more modern, relatively easy designs you’ll love to knit for all the little ones in your life.

Knitting for Baby

Fierlinger says she was inspired to learn to knit, and to design knit garments for babies, because of a collection of passed-down knit garments a friend used when she had a child. These days Fierlinger shares her passion for the knitting looks of old with knitwear designs that keep a modern flair.

The book begins with an introduction to knitting for babies, discussing the best sorts of yarns to be used and how to care for knit garments to ensure they’ll be around and looking great to pass on to the next generation. But the bulk of the book is devoted to the 25 patterns.

The Patterns

Vintage Knits for Modern Babies has patterns for caps, booties, cardigans, pullovers, toys, blankets, jackets and more. Six of the patterns are rated for beginning knitters, eight for beginner/intermediate, three for intermediate, seven intermediate/experienced and one for experienced knitters.

Most of the patterns are modeled by girls and knit in colors more suited to girls, but that doesn’t mean the project couldn’t be made for boys (though some of them are strictly girl terrain).

Most of the patterns that come in different sizes offer three choices; depending on the pattern they might range from 0 to 3 months up to 3 years.

Fierlinger’s style is similar to Debbie Bliss (and she uses a fair bit of Bliss’ yarn, too): often relatively simple shapes with nice design details like eyelets on a sweater, cables on a bootie or Seed Stitch borders on an otherwise simple Stockinette coat.

Some of my favorite patterns in the book are the Matinee Jacket, the one project in the book rated for experienced knitters, it’s a pretty little jacket with Seed Stitch detailing on the yoke; the Angora Bolero, truly a classic little girl pattern; the Modern Baby Bonnet, worked in a wool-silk-cashmere blend mostly in Moss Stitch; the super-easy Apron Dress with pockets for wee toys; and the Double-Breasted Car Coat; the aforementioned Stockinette coat with Seed Stitch borders.

Bottom Line

The projects in Vintage Knits for Modern Babies are really cute, useful, luxurious projects that you’ll enjoy knitting and giving to the little ones in your life. If you make them for your children or grandchildren and see to it that they’re cared for well, they may just become the next generation of heirlooms passed down to inspire another future knitter to take up the craft and a love for the vintage style.

http://knitting.about.com/od/knittingforbabies/fr/vintage-knits-modern-babies.htm

[Via http://vintageknitsphotography.wordpress.com]

Dem Source: Massa Won't Run (Updatedx2)

Mastering the Art of French Cooking ***

2010-03-02T18:31:00.000+02:00

by Julia Child

(Kind of) becoming the master

When I saw the ineffable Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia, I was going through a cooking phase (and frankly, I didn’t have too much to do otherwise). So after seeing the movie, the only logical thing to do was to go out and buy Julia’s famed cookbook. I did so with all the excitement of a francophile and all the best intentions.

But then I didn’t cook much of anything from it.

Even Julia’s famed boeuf bourgignon went untouched. I read pages, leaved through each one voraciously in search of French words and that e’er so rare crossover of real French cuisine into American terms.

So this weekend, I finally decided to go ahead and actually make something ambitious. I chose crème brulée, in part because I know my father likes it and will therefore eat it, in part because it sounded difficult.

The final verdict? It turned out ok … could have been better. My main problem lay in the fact that crème brulée is not one of Julia’s main desserts but rather an offshoot of crème anglaise (which just sounded so much less appetizing, besides the fact that it sounded more like a sauce garnish than an actual dessert).

The crème part went well. It was thick, pale yellow and faintly sweet (not too). This was also due in part to the fact that I had a friendly helper (who refuses to be named) helping me stir the egg mixture into the boiling water and so on.

The crackly, deep-bronze top was where my trouble came. Julia suggests using a mix of caramel and toasted almonds (pralin) instead of brown sugar — but she neglects to tell you whether you should pulverize the mixture as is said in the pralin recipe, or whether you pour it over the crème hot and then break the top.

The second sounded more delicious, but it also carried the possibility of burning the crème with the hot caramel mixture, so without much guidance from Julia, I chose to pulverize the mixture. The result was similar to a sweet yogurt with bits of Butterfinger dabbled in. Not bad, to be sure, but not quite the essence of crème brulée that I’d been going for.

Ah, well. Next time perhaps I’ll try one of her master recipes or be daring enough to pour that hot caramel. It seems I’m not a good enough cook to make it on my own, though. I need a little more of a guiding hand.

[Via http://petitechenille.com]

Small Business News for March 1, 2010 | Small Business Trends

Review: 2666 by Roberto Bolano

2010-02-28T06:26:00.001+02:00

At the close of his book of essays How Fiction Works, literary critic James Wood writes: “The writer has to act as if the available novelistic methods are continually about to turn into mere convention and so has to outwit that inevitable ageing. The true writer is one who must always be acting as if life were a category beyond anything the novel had yet grasped.”

This is as good a notion as any when thinking about Roberto Bolaño’s monstrous novel 2666. It’s an intimidating book, not just because of the size (898 pages), or because of Bolaño’s much-hyped reputation as a towering genius of South American literature, or even because this “novel” is really five novels crammed together. It’s got something to do with Bolaño’s determination to break every rule of conventional literature. Expect the plot to be resolved? Characters to develop? A moral? It’s not going to happen while Bolaño’s around. And in this way he seems to be doing exactly what what Wood suggests – writing a new kind of novel that expresses his idea of the messiness and inconclusiveness of life.

Bolaño’s life was picturesque even by the standards of South American novelists. He was born in Chile, the son of a boxer, but grew up in Mexico City, where he became a journalist. He returned to Chile in 1973 to support the socialist government of Allende, and was thrown into prison after it was overthrown by Pinochet’s fascists. Expecting to be murdered, he was released when two of his prison guards turned out to be old schoolfellows. On release he became a Trotskyist, bohemian poet and professional provocateur, highly contemptuous of the established old guard of South American writers. In the 70s he moved to Europe, lived a vagabond life, wrote poetry and acquired a heroin habit. By 1991 he had a family and embarked on the unlikely project of supporting them by writing novels, of which he wrote seven in a dozen years, along with many short stories and essays. (Apparently two more novels were found among his papers after his death). He was rapidly hailed as the most important Latin American writer of his generation, and died at the age of 50, awaiting a liver transplant.

2666 was his final novel, published posthumously, and I confess to not having read his others. According to the introduction, Bolaño wanted the five sections of 2666 to be published individually (because that would mean better sales, and a better income for his family after his death), but his executors decided to publish them as one, in accordance with Bolaño’s original artistic intention. So what we have are five novels which connect with each other at occasional points, share themes and motifs, but are not closely related in the manner of a sequence like, say, Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet.

A mere summary doesn’t begin to do justice to 2666, because the experience of reading it involves multiple digressions, stories within stories, and minor characters who hijack the narrative then disappear. But here goes. The first section,’ The Part about Archimboldi’, concerns four literary critics who are obsessed with an elusive German writer. The critics meet at conferences, fall in and out of love with each other, and set off to Mexico in search of the never-sighted Archimboldi, but fail to find him. Section Two concerns a Mexican academic, Amalfitano, who is fascinated by the obscure author of a book about geometry, and attempts to repeat experiments conducted by the avant garde artist Marcel Duchamp. The third part, ‘The Part About Fate’, concerns a journalist – named Fate, of course - who goes to Mexico to cover a boxing match and gets drawn into various events which he does not comprehend.

The massive fourth part, ‘The Part About The Crimes’, is set in the nightmarish fictional town of Santa Teresa, clearly based on Ciudad Juarez. The town is in the grip of drug lords, corrupt politicians, businessmen and cops. Young women are raped and murdered at a rate of several every month – mostly working class young women employed at the maquiladoras (factories operated by multinationals). In this section, Bolaño seems to have invented a new genre of crime writing: rather than a few murders and a dedicated investigator who tracks down the killers, we have dozens, perhaps hundreds of murders (I lost count), multiple killers, and investigators who occasionally manifest interest but often seem indifferent or even complicit in the crimes. What is chilling about Bolano’s account is not just the matter-of-fact way the crimes are described, but the lack of reaction to them. “The dead woman must have been about twenty-five and she had a congenital dislocation of the right hip. And yet, no one missed her …” There is little official response to the crimes, and the only person passionate about bringing them to public attention is an elderly, female television psychic. There are many hints of official cover-ups - forensic evidence is always disappearing - and it is suggested (as has been claimed in the case of the Ciudad Juarez femicides) that powerful men are having women murdered at orgies. Almost as many women, though, are killed in banal working-class domestics – and Bolano describes these too. It could be argued that the whole town, or the whole of Mexico, is the murderer.

The final section returns to the figure of Archimboldi, and recounts the life of the mysterious German writer, from his bizarre experiences as a soldier in World War Two to his years of literary success. It’s a black joke on the part of Bolaño that the four critics in the first part were unable to find out the tiniest detail about Archimboldi; in part five, we have 270 pages about every aspect of his life. We who have never read Archimboldi learn more about him than we ever wanted to know, while those who devoted their lives to him know nothing.

It’s not surprising that, confronted by a book like this, critics resort to adjectives like “visionary”, “terrifying”, “awe-inspiring”, “wondrous” ,”challenging”, “intellectual”, “intermittently insane” et cetera. That’s all fair enough, but what is harder to explain is just what Bolaño is doing. For one thing, he is undermining the conventions of the traditional novel. Take the idea, common in crime fiction, that investigators investigate. In the fourth part of 2666, after about 300 pages of murders, a character called Albert Kessler appears, said to be the world’s foremost expert on serial killers. Aha, the reader thinks, now a real investigator is on the job, not like those corrupt Santa Teresa cops. Kessler wanders around for a bit, gives a lecture, then disappears from the narrative. Well, Bolaño seems to be saying, what did you expect? This isn’t Hollywood. Another convention that he flouts is the notion of the protagonist whose journey the reader follows. In Bolano’s world, you are likely to find yourself taken on a thirty-page detour by a minor character who never reappears. There’s something radically democratic about this. In Santa Teresa, a woman can be murdered and no one knows or cares who she is, but for Bolano, everyone’s story is important.

More philosophically, his project seems to be about knowledge. His books are full of characters who are seeking knowledge – whether it’s the facts about the life of a missing writer, why an experiment was conducted 80 years ago, or what is behind a hideous crime. Bolaño chucks in teasing lines like “No one pays attention to these killings, but the secret of the world is hidden in them.” The secret of the world? Where was that? I must have missed it. We, the readers, join the ranks of those hunting, hopelessly, for answers which are not forthcoming. In the end we are no better than Archimboldi’s critics, charging off on a wild goose chase to Mexico. We’ve read 900 pages and we know little more than we did at the start. There is no answer, no philosophy, no system that explains it. There’s just Bolaño, floating over the whole thing, laughing at us.

Roberto Bolano

Here’s a fantastic essay by Benjamin Kunkel from the London Review of Books on Bolano and his work.

[Via http://nickgadd.wordpress.com]

Solidalliance new line-up of Crazy earphones is now available ...

What I'm Reading #12: The Outlander

2010-02-28T06:26:00.000+02:00

There’s something great about a beautifully simplistic cover. It’s what made me pick up Gil Adamson’s The Outlander in the first place. More historical fiction for me.

I think I need to branch out.

———————

The Outlander by Gil Adamson

Ecco; First Edtion ; First Printing edition (April 15, 2008)

Courtesy of Amazon.com:

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Set in 1903, Adamson’s compelling debut tells the wintry tale of 19-year-old Mary Boulton ([w]idowed by her own hand) and her frantic odyssey across Idaho and Montana. The details of Boulton’s sad past—an unhappy marriage, a dead child, crippling depression—slowly emerge as she reluctantly ventures into the mountains, struggling to put distance between herself and her two vicious brothers-in-law, who track her like prey in retaliation for her killing of their kin. Boulton’s journey and ultimate liberation—made all the more captivating by the delirium that runs in the recesses of her mind—speaks to the resilience of the female spirit in the early part of the last century. Lean prose, full-bodied characterization, memorable settings and scenes of hardship all lift this book above the pack. Already established as a writer of poetry (Ashland) and short stories (Help Me, Jacques Cousteau), Adamson also shines as novelist. (Apr.)

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist

Tracked by bloodhounds and pursued by brutal-looking redheaded twins, a gently reared young woman flees over the plains of western Canada and into the mountains. She hears voices and sees events that may or may not be happening, causing her and other characters in this stylistically complex novel to question her sanity. The widow (as she is called in the first eight chapters of the book) is rescued by strangers who allow her free passage on a ferry or give her sanctuary and one who starts her back toward reality and sanity. Adamson cleverly integrates techniques of the adventure-suspense novel with a refined, often poetic style. She maintains suspense while portraying the wilderness of Canada’s far west and providing fine portraits of the people who lived in and were shaped by it. The slow unfolding of story and character coupled with lyrical descriptions of the terrain, an occasional touch of bizarre humor, and a multitude of well-chosen historical details will appeal to readers of literary writing as well as historical- fiction fans. –Ellen Loughran

———————–

First, let me say this: I had not the first clue exactly where the book took place, and from the two reviews listed above, neither did anyone else. The book’s flap says “flees across the west.” Publisher’s Weekly says “Idaho and Montana.” Booklist says “The plains of western Canada.” There are no recognizable city names or landmarks to indicate a particular region, so where PW and Booklist got their ideas, I don’t know, unless they were connected with the author and/or I seriously missed something.

Before I discuss strengths and flaws, I have to go into Adamson’s style in this book, since I can’t really say if this particular element is a strength or a flaw. There is a deliberate (I think) remoteness in the narrative. You’re never sure where she is or how much time has passed. The author also refers to Mary (the protagonist) as “the widow” so frequently you almost forget what her name really is. Again, I think this creates a very deliberate, disconnected way of connecting with the widow’s state of mind. In that respect, I think it was actually a clever construction on Adamson’s part.

On a reader’s level, it irritated the hell out of me. I had a few of those “WHAT??!?!?!?” moments as I was reading and desperately trying to do some sort of mental time calendaring in my head. However, that may have been exactly Adamson’s intention, to bring the reader to the same feeling of remote disconnection as the characters in the book.

I have no idea. I’m discombobulated by it.

Strengths: Adamson’s descriptive powers are excellent. She depicts the widow’s flight vividly, without becoming too ponderously detailed. She also creates extremely vivid, memorable characters, particularly Mary’s twin brothers-in-law and McEchern the dwarf. If you regard the aforementioned remoteness as a strength, it’s wonderful, because she remains faithful to it throughout the book.

Potential Flaws: The primary difficulty a reader may have with this text is what I mentioned before: a purposeful creation of a sense of utter LOSTNESS (sorry to make up words, but it seems to fit in this case). I am very torn about how I feel about the technique. Am I irritated because I was completely taken in and buffaloed by it? Or am I irritated because it weakens the story? I was unsettled at the end, and I’m not entirely sure whose fault that is…

My Rating:

-ISH?

I don’t know. I guess at the heart of it all, I saw a story that was intriguing, despite stylistic choices on the author’s part and my reaction to them. If you can appreciate a book written in a less-than-straightforward style, this may be the book for you. Ish.

[Via http://mezzowriter.wordpress.com]

BBC News - In pictures: Chile earthquake

Homeschool Freebies

2010-02-27T18:24:00.000+02:00

Just wanted to let you know about a wonderful site that I visit weekly called Homeschool Freebie of the Day! When you subscribe they send you one email each Monday with that week’s lineup of free things you can download to your computer. It is an eclectic, wonderful mix of things ranging from old children’s picture books now out of print and unavailable, to nature studies, to history audio stories, to phonics primers, and everything in between! Some weeks I end up downloading almost all available and other weeks am not really interested in what they’re offering. But it is nice to be contacted by people who are taking the time to get homeschooling resources into mother’s hands for free. I would encourage you all to visit and partake. You have one week to get what they have available and then it is gone.

Click here to visit the site: Homeschool Freebie of the Day and have some fun today!

Today’s prime choices:

Wholesome Comic Books for Children

The Adventures of PETER WHEAT! (Two PDF comic books) – Okay, get ready for something completely different! Today we want to introduce you to PETER WHEAT and the folk of the wheat field, beautifully drawn by the great Walt Kelly (creator of “Pogo”). These little known comics were originally published in 1950 as giveaways for local “Peter Wheat” bakeries. Though long “lost” and out of print, these contain some wonderfully exciting and fun adventures, and Kelly’s marvelous artwork make them especially attractive to young readers.

We’ve got two rollicking good stories for you today: In “Bitsy and the Beanstalk”, Peter’s little friend Bitsy has been hoodwinked by a sly fox… but brings home some magic beans that lead him straight to giant land. In “The River Adventure”, Peter and Sammy Sweet must ford the river to deliver flour to the bakers, but a hungry otter tries to make them his lunch!

Give these a chance and see what your kids think of these – we think they are going to become instant Peter Wheat fans! They are great for read alouds and for reading practice too.

A Living Book on Grammar. Did you think it had to be all text book? Think again! Charlotte Mason would be proud!

Grammar Land: Or Grammar In Fun for the Children of Schoolroom-Shire, by M. L. Nesbitt (PDF ebook) - Back by popular demand — A classic story book that makes learning grammar a delight! “What is Grammar Land? Where is Grammar Land? Have you ever been to Grammar Land? Wait a minute and you shall hear…” In this classic read aloud book, published way back in 1878, author Nesbitt creates an amazing fantasy land not unlike “Alice In Wonderland”, where the citizens are the nine parts of speech (Mr. Proper Noun, Dr. Verb, Little Article, etc.) and all are governed by the stern but wise old Judge Grammar. It’s a fun, fascinating way to learn some of the basic grammar rules all the while carried along by the very memorable characters and a wild adventure to boot. Highly recommended!

Here’s what one of our readers recently posted about this book:

I had downloaded this book and completely forgot about it until 2 days ago. I started reading it aloud to my boys and they were completely into it. My boys are very wiggly and they usually have to have something in their hands to occupy their physical while their mental is focused on what I am reading. They were completely still…following along on the computer screen. It was one of those awesome moments that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. Thank you for finding and sharing something that is so fun and educational at the same time. What a fun way to learn parts of speech. I’ve a feeling this story will stick with them for a while. The resources you list through the week are wonderful.

[Via http://amypayson.wordpress.com]

Breaking News: IPCC chief Rajendra Pachauri to face independent ...

THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN AFRICA

2010-02-27T18:08:00.000+02:00

THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN AFRICA

Class Struggle in Africa. Kwame Nkrumah. New York: International Publishers Co., Inc., 1970.

Written in 1970 after Nkrumah was forcibly removed from his position of president of Ghana, Class Struggle in Africa seeks to provide a historical analysis of the development socioeconomic classes in Africa. Often Africa is left out of the discussion of world historical development—a separate entity to which the social, economic and political patterns of the world do not apply. Nkrumah rectifies this distortion with the assertion that a fierce class struggle is raging in Africa.[1] While there are various political, social and economic climates in Africa, every part of Africa has been touched by exploitation and oppression of some form. According to Nkrumah, this makes all Africans participants of what he calls the African Revolution.

The author of a number of books, some of the most notable ones being “Neocolonialism” and “Africa Must Unite”, Nkrumah was the founder of modern Ghana and one of the leaders of the African Revolution. He was a leading advocate of Pan Africanism. His premise is that a class structure has always been present in Africa, even prior to colonialism, however these cleavages often disappear when fighting colonialism and reappear after. Nkrumah begins this book by looking at the origins of class in Africa. According to Nkrumah, there have been five major types of relationships known to man –communalism, slavery, feudalism, capitalism and socialism.[2] With the onset of colonialism, people in Africa moved away from communalism to feudalism and slavery. This movement away from communalism is said to be the cause of the class in Africa. Imperialism and colonialism further devastated the economic and social structure of traditional Africa. Furthermore, capitalism developed with colonialism. At the same time, the spread of private enterprise, led to the emergence of first a petty bourgeois class of bureaucrats, reactionary intellectuals, traders, and others, who became increasingly part and parcel of the colonial economic and social structure.[3] As a result a struggle between classes was bound to occur.

Class struggle has been a recurrent theme in history. Nkrumah defines the concept of class as nothing more than the sum total of individuals bound together by certain interests, which as a class they try to preserve and protect.[4] It is only in a socialist state that the workers and peasants are represented. In other words most states express the domination of one class over another and most states have a ruling class or classes. During the colonial era, the struggle between classes was determined by the relationship between the colonial power and the colony. This also ushered in a society with more apparent class cleavages, emphasizing proletariat and bourgeoisie classes. Nkrumah delves further by dissecting the characteristics of class and ideologies. For example, the bourgeoisie often subscribe to ideologies such as laissez-faire and capitalism-racism.

Nkrumah then proceeds to break down the ideologies of race and elitism as well as participants in the class struggle such as Intellectuals, the Peasantry and the Proletariat. Two of his chapters, entitled “Reactionary Cliques among Armed Forces and Police” and “Coups D’état” are factors that have stunted the African Revolution. He espouses how the armed forces are usually aligned with the ruling class because their outlooks and interest are similar. They are dependent on the class system to maintain their position in society. Coups D’états, the overthrow of governments, usually occur for reasons outlined above, to ensure the maintenance of the status quo. Both seem to have betrayed the working and peasant classes along with the African Revolution. The African Revolution, according to Nkrumah links class struggle of African workers and world socialist revolution. It merged during the national liberation struggle and matures as Africans fight for complete liberation. Furthermore it is a product if the African personality and based on principles of scientific socialism. [5] It is part of the larger world revolution, which can only be achieved when worker-peasant solidarity is organized. In conclusion, the total liberation and the unification of Africa under an All-African socialist government must be the primary objective of all Black revolutionaries throughout the world.[6]

Structurally, Nkrumah begins his book with a historical analysis of class in Africa and the larger concepts before dissecting each aspect specifically. While Nkrumah gives examples of class cleavages existing in African society during colonialism, such as Rhodesia and South Africa, he doesn’t fully discussion pre-colonial African society. He asserts that in this period communalism dominated African society. However he doesn’t define communalism and we are left to make assumptions about what communalism actually is. This can lead to a romanticized view of pre-colonial African society. In addition, it is obvious that Class Struggle in Africa is one Nkrumah’s later books. He mentions the African personality multiple times throughout the work but only alludes to a conceptual meaning. No where is it clearly explained here however from researching the author, one finds that he dedicate an entire work to the idea of the African Personality, conveying its importance to the ideology which he ascribes to and is prescribing.

In conclusion, besides lacking clear explanations for the above concepts, Class Struggle in Africa is concisely written. Lending to further clarity, Nkrumah writes in descending order, beginning first with the larger concepts and then delving into the specifics. The book, which is dedicated to the workers and peasants of Africa, seeks to warn them initially of the attempts to conceal the class issues that exist in Africa. It then exposes, for those who don’t believe, the class struggle. In effect, Nkrumah is naming the hidden internal enemy, essentially those who are responsible for stalling the African Revolution. He also makes mention of the external enemies who are lying in the fringes, pulling the strings from outside of Africa.

Bibliography

Nkrumah, Kwame.1970. Class Struggle in Africa. New York: International Publishers Co., Inc., 1970.

[1] Kwame Nkrumah, Class Struggle in Africa, (New York: International Publishers, 1970), 10

[2] Nkrumah, 13

[3] Nkrumah, 15

[4] Nkrumah, 17

[5] Nkrumah, 19

[6] Nkrumah, 88

[Via http://radioscribe.wordpress.com]

FFI and II released on iPhone News | iPhone | Eurogamer

Signs of Early Spring

2010-02-25T18:50:00.000+02:00

Hello again and I hope that all is well, with all of you.

I have been grateful to see so many readers/friends still stopping by, during my blog break, judging by the stats. Thank you! And for all the kind emails as well. Most appreciated.

Things are progressing here, slowly but surely. I solved the mystery of one issue (healthwise) that was causing me some ongoing, nagging problems. Energy levels now on the rise, yippee! And along with that, projects coming together that have been on hold for too long already. I’ve even started spring cleaning! I am feeling refreshed and renewed as spring starts to show signs of a very early arrival, here in B.C.

Here’s an encore haiku to welcome spring, that I hope you will enjoy now or perhaps, once again:

And speaking of haiku, if you are looking for an excellent and inspiring read, check out: Haiku Mind by Patricia Donegan.

I am loving every page! It truly does help to “open the heart” as the subtitle states.

I have some new haiku poems in the works but nothing with a winter theme. Unfortunately, no snow pics to be had in our area, this year, to date. We’ve had so little snow. I’m predicting a lot of rain on the way, to (hopefully) compensate for the dry conditions.

I’ll be stopping by your blogs as soon as time permits. I’ve truly missed you all!

[Via http://mypoeticpath.wordpress.com]

Organizing for America | Erica Sagrans's Blog: Morning News

Another post about winter and peanut butter cookies

2010-02-25T18:13:00.000+02:00

Before I launch into my peanut butter cookie debacle, let me just say that Old Man Winter slapped me in the face last night. Remember my last post? It seemed like me and winter were on the verge of getting along, right? I was about to embrace winter and do all kinds of fun, feel-good, winter activities.

Well, last night, I left work at my usual time, 4:30pm. And I walked outside into a blizzard. Seriously Milwaukee?

Apparently around 3:30pm or so, the old man decided it was time to drop a few inches of snow in Milwaukee, and to do it as fast as possible (about 4 inches/hour). Anyway, the bottom line is that I left work at 4:30pm, and I got home at 7:00pm. So, winter and I are back to square one.

Luckily, I spent those glorious 2 1/2 hours sitting on the bus trying to finish my book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I didn’t quite finish it, but I did finish part of the mystery so at least that was satisfying. By the way, if you are interested in reading a great mystery, this book is beyond great.

Okay, moving along to more important things, like PEANUT BUTTER!

If you can believe it, I actually have not ordered any Girl Scout cookies this year. This is quite shocking considering my all-time favorite cookie is the Tagalong.

mmmmm… tagalong…

I was feeling rather depressed about this when my brother in law Chad, aka my new favorite person, introduced me to a little thing called Keebler Fudge Shoppe Filled Peanut Butter Cookies.

And now all is right with the world.

[Via http://uwkimmy.wordpress.com]

Yahoo knocked at Twitter's door | ABH News

Argenti Warns Social Media Revolutionises Corporate Communications

2010-02-25T06:00:00.000+02:00

this is the unabridged version of an article published and written originally for Bnet.co.uk of which I am a regular contributor

The following video is a December 2009 interview of Paul Argenti (Corporate Communications Professor at Tuck University) following the release of his book dedicated to how ”Web 2.0″ (even though the term is a bit outdated). The book describes how Social Media transforms corporate communications. Here are – in a few words – what should be remembered from that interview. As it happens, a lot of what Argenti describes here is similar to what I have written in these columns and elsewhere:

most execs are out of sync: and it’s easy to dismiss what you don’t know as being a fad or meaningless,
yet a true revolution in corporate communications is unfolding with regard to how our corporate relationships are impacted in all areas: press and public relations, investors, analysts, partners and clients, employees and job seekers etc. What is funny, Argenti says, is that despite point 1, none of the interviewed execs denies this fact,
this revolution has less to do with tools than strategy,
Video and Vlogging (video blogging) are transforming everything we do in corporate communications,
Web 2.0 enable proactive vs. reactive communications;
negative feedback is definitely what execs are afraid of, but it is already broadly available beyond social media. Social Media is not the cause of negative feedback or brand disloyalty and cannot be held responsible for the quality of a product or the fact that a service hasn’t been rendered properly.

to point 6 I would also add that often public relations representatives:

have no clue about how to and how not to behave with regard to social media,
misjudge the importance of a sentence or a comment whereas – even more than in the printed press – every word counts in Social Media,
fail to understand the human factor behind crisis management in Social Media and think that fiddling with comments is enough, whereas human conversations work wonders,
minimise the importance of engaging in Social Media as opposed to being present in social media,
talk digital vs. do digital, and don’t understand what the web makes available to all,
fail to count on positive feedback including that which can be generated by internal blogging communities and partnerships,
fail to implement the right processes and spell them out clearly, including disclosure practices.

Many of these issues will be debated at the likeminds conference which is due to take place in Exeter on February 26th at which I will be a keynote speaker dealing with Social Media in B2B.

Paul Argenti’s interview on Youtube
Paul Argenti: Digital Strategies for Powerful Corporate Communications (but the book from Amazon)

[Via http://visionarymarketing.wordpress.com]

Apple posts third new iPhone TV spot | iLounge News

Review: Encyclopeda of Haunted Places

2010-02-23T18:31:00.000+02:00

Encyclopeda of Haunted Places

Encyclopeda of Haunted Places

by Jeff Belanger

(4 stars out of five)

The Encyclopeda of Haunted Places is a collection of haunted locations throughout the world. It provides the reader with concise histories of the locations along with examples of paranormal activity. It’s interesting to see how different teams approach paranormal investigations.

The book is compiled by Jeff Belanger (founder of GhostVillage.com) from articles written by top paranormal investigators throughout the world.

I guess like me the first thing that many of you will do is check out the locations in your state. I was disappointed to find that neither the St. Augustine Lighthouse nor the Pensacola Lighthouse were included. Maybe a revised edition will remedy that oversight.

All in all, I give it 4 out of five stars. I think that it is a “must have” for the paranormal enthusiast.

A special hat tip to Atrueoriginall .

[Via http://gnostalgia.wordpress.com]

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What I've Been Reading

2010-02-23T18:22:00.000+02:00

1. The Gathering, by Anne Enright. Enright’s prose is a bit like Joan Didion’s: calmly incisive, yet moving. The Gathering won the 2007 Booker Prize, and its story centers on the death of the narrator’s brother, the closest sibling she has in a large family. Through the arrangement for the funeral, the story delves into intricate family relationships (fortunately not stumbling on clichéd dysfunction), parsing out sibling bonds, the echoes of childhood trauma, and what the dead mean to the living. Heavy stuff. Wonderful read.

2. The Ascent of Money, by Niall Ferguson. I found Ascent of Money disappointing, but I acknowledge that part of that had to do with high expectations. What I was hoping for: A thoughtful treatise on what exactly money and finance does for our economy and society, using history to illuminate the question. What I got: A history book on the rise of finance, laying out facts in chronological order, but without a cohesive philosophy on how we interact with capital. This is mostly because Ferguson is a historian, not an economist, and he succeeds in what was likely his goal: a succinct history of finance.

3. The Little Book That Builds Wealth, by Pat Dorsey. I enjoy but am always a little embarrassed to carry these Little Books On Investing, with their horrible titles, into a café or on a subway. (But apparently, not embarrassed enough to write it up on a public blog. Eh, consistency is overrated.) Dorsey is the Director of Equity Research at Morningstar and is a Buffet-and-moat type of guy. He evaluates companies by two factors: their intrinsic value and the strength of their moat or competitive advantage. My strongest quibble with Dorsey — and thus the Morningstar school — is that a moat is an input into determining intrinsic value, not a separate and equally important attribute. It may be one of the most important variables in determining value, but it is just one of many factors. The moat metaphor creates a wonderful visual to evaluate strengths of businesses. The problem is that people start talking about moats as if they’re binary — you either have it or you don’t — but it’s really more nuanced and gradient. Despite those and other minor criticisms, Dorsey has put out a nice book, if for nothing else than giving the reader (i.e. investor) a mechanism to think about defensibility of businesses.

4. From Poverty to Prosperity, by Arnold Kling and Nick Schulz. Kling and Schulz have taken an ambitious first step in re-thinking traditional economics, and they’ve produced a great book. Their main premise, which they call Economics 2.0, is that Old School economics was based on physical goods and how to allocate a scarce amount of resources, and as a greater portion of our goods are intellectual/services (“recipes” they call them), the principles of economic exchange are different (my post on the subject). Fortunately, there are very smart people who have been thinking about these ideas for a while, and a good portion of the book is Kling and Schulz interviewing eminent economists like William Baumol and Paul Romer. By far my favorite part of the book is the interview with Romer. Here’s an excerpt:

One thing I wanted to try and make clear [in my book] is that part of this transformation was [moving] away from thinking of production as — we talk about an economy producing things, but in some sense we don’t really make anything. Think of it just the way a physicist would; we don’t produce anything, we just rearrange it. The way we create value is by rearranging the physical mass that’s available here on earth, and the value-creation process amounts to using recipes for rearranging things, instructions for rearranging things, to put them in more valuable configurations that older ones, and that helps people understand why running out of stuff is not the problem.

[Via http://stephendodson.wordpress.com]

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In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion by Scott Atran

2010-02-21T06:52:00.001+02:00

Scott Atran is a respected cognitive anthropologist and a psychologist, so I new the book was going to look at religion from that point of view. The author deals with religion from the perspective that it comes from the ordinary workings of the human mind as it deals with emotionally compelling problems of human existence. The aim of the book is to look at religion from the stand point of evolutionary psychology and in that respect the author is very successful.

Now nothing in this book was new to me, I had already read much of it in Religion Explained by Pascal Boyer, however, this book is geared towards the academic community. It is a very technical read and if you are looking for a book that deals with religion from a psychological point of view but you are not familiar with the jargon then Pascal Boyer’s book is more your cup of tea than this one. I did find the book hard to read for that specific reason and kept a dictionary close at all times while reading it. I feel that the author sees religion devoid of the passion and feelings that usually go with it as well as taking it our of the context of culture which I feel makes a big difference in how people look at religion.

One statement that he made at the very beginning of the book was as follows: Human cognition (re)creates the gods who sustain hope beyond sufficient reason and commitment beyond self interest. Humans ideally represent themselves to one another in gods they trust. Through their gods, people see what is good in others and what is evil. For some reason I kept coming back to it in my mind over and over. Sometimes telling myself it was very true and at others that not everyone is like that, or are they?

The book certainly makes you think, and be prepared to think a lot. You might not agree with everything in it, but it sure does gives one food for thought. I would recommend it only for the people who are ready to invest a lot of time understanding the terms he uses, and to digest everything he says that might go against your way of thinking.

[Via http://celticscholar.wordpress.com]

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Fear Factor Terror Incognito - Book Preview and Launch

2010-02-21T06:52:00.000+02:00

To return to Australia now, plans are underway for the Gosford Preview and Sydney Launch of Fear Factor Terror Incognito, due for release on March 1.

author Sujata Sankranti with her book 'The Warp and the Weft'

Meenakshi Bharat Co-editor of Fear Factor Terror Incognito, Picador India & Picador Australia

Co-editor, Meenakshi Bharat and contributing author, Sujata Sankranti will be here for the week during which the book will be launched. Susanne Gervay, Andrew Y M Kwong, Carol Mara and I are looking forward to showing them Sydney, the NSW Central Coast and the Hunter. I believe everyone is looking forward to the book Preview and Launch.

The Sydney launch at The Hughenden Boutique Hotel promises to be a stellar night with almost all the authors planning to attend, as well as other distinguished guests and members of Australian-Indian associations. Award winning author, Melina Marchetta will launch the book.

The Gosford Preview at the Gosford Regional Gallery is shaping up to be another exciting night with authors, local identities, members of the Ausrtralian-Indian communities, medics from the medical community, media, local organisations and more. Professor Sturmberg, A/Prof of General Practice at Monash University and The University of Newcastle, will launch the book at the Gosford Preview.

Invitations and a Press release have been sent out by Picador Australia to both these events.

FEAR FACTOR PRESS RELEASE

An article in the Commonwealth Foundation Journal features Meenakshi, Sujata and me. Read the online version of Short Story competition winners forge international links.

For more information on the Commonwealth Short Story Competition

Fear Factor Terror Incognito is also mentioned in a news item on the AsianAustralian Studies Research Network website.

Meenakshi Bharat

Meenakshi and Sujata will be keynote speakers at the University of Technology Sydney, TransForming Culture Research Centre & Round Table Writing Anthology Panel, where they will discuss terrorism as it affects our day to day life and in relation to the newly released book Fear Factor Terror Incognito. Invited panellists are contributing authors: Meenakshi Bharat, Sujata Sankranti, Rosie Scott, Susanne Gervay, Andrew Y M Kwong and Tom Keneally. Chair is Devleena Ghosh.

The Anthology Panel will be held on Monday 15th March – 6pm for refreshments – 6:30 – 7:30 pm Anthology Panel at the UTS Gallery. UTS TFC will send out invitations for the Anthology Panel shortly

For more information contact: Transforming Cultures at Transforming.Cultures@uts.edu.au

Meenashki Bharat is an Indian translator, reviewer and critic. Her special interests include children’s literature, women’s fiction and English studies – areas which she has researched extensively. Her published books are The Ultimate Colony (2003), Desert in Bloom: Indian Women Writers of Fiction in English (2004), Filming The Line of Control and the recently published Salman Rushdie the Novelist, and an annotated edition of George Eliot’s The Mill on the Floss. She was recently keynote speaker at the Modern Languages Association (MLA) in San Francisco. Currently she is engaged in translating a volume of Hindi short stories. She is also getting a volume of short fiction ready for publication. She is Associate Professor at Department of English Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi

Sujata Sankranti

Sujata Sankranti is author of The Warp and The Weft and has recently completed her novel ‘In the Shadow of Legends’. Sujata was overall winner of a Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She is retired Associate Professor at Department of English Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi. She is currently working on a new novel. She edits a Youth Journal. Sujata is of the Mavelikara Royal Family, all of whom are famous in one or another field of life. Recent media report about Sujata.

It will be a real rare treat to have Meenakshi and Sujata with us for a few days and it is shaping up to be an exciting and fun time.

Today’s Writing Tip

Polish a short short story suitable for the Commonwealth Short Story Competition. Your story should be around 600 words or 4:30 mins long.

The story should be written for broadcast on radio, so make sure it is auditory – read it aloud and tape it. Sound is the most important feature when writing for radio – the narrative voice and tone needs to be just right, the prose must have a pleasing rhythm when read.

It is a challenge to write a story contained in 600 words or less but a great joy when it works. Winning a Commonwealth Short Story Prize is a huge honour, achievement and a great buzz.

[Via http://roundtablewriting.wordpress.com]

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2010-02-20T18:34:00.000+02:00

Book Review

9/6/2008

Review of James Elkins What Happened to Art Criticism? (Chicago, Paradigm Press, 2003)

James Elkins’ book, What Happened to Art Criticism? lacks in size, but certainly makes up for it in deep thought provoking points. Elkins proposes his own interesting explanations for the last fifty years of changes in art criticism. For the first half of the twentieth century art critics were fiercely opinionated and presented their judgments with ambitious ferocity. Elkins suggests that contemporary critics have become more inclined to delineate from judgment and opinion and have moved toward just describing the artwork at hand. Like the old saying, “better safe than sorry,” contemporary critics seem to have taken it to heart.

In his first chapter, Elkins gives a broad view of art criticism in its current “worldwide crisis.” With its voice becoming weak and dissolving into the background of society, Elkins points out that despite the crisis, business is booming. Art criticism he says, is more widely practiced than ever. It attracts numerous writers and has worldwide distribution. Despite this, art criticism is completely ignored with readership unknown and unmeasured. Elkins calls it a fascinating mystery of change. How could art criticism change from being a passionate, historically informed practice to a huge massively funded, but invisible and voiceless practice?

The second and third chapters discuss the lack of unity and common ground. In chapter two Elkins evaluates the seven models of contemporary art criticism. They include the catalog essay, the academic treatise, cultural criticism, the conservative harangue, the philosopher’s essay, descriptive criticism, and poetic art criticism. The catalog essay serves to give academic reference. It is an informal commissioned piece usually written for a gallery that presents the artist and the work in a nonjudgmental light. The academic treatise takes an academic position and explains what the artist did and why it is significant. It answers the question, “Why should we care?” It presents a historical context to its criticism of the artists work. The conservative harangue is not only fun to say out loud at cocktail parties, but also serves to present the critical point that what is new is not always good. The philosopher’s essay presents the artwork as an example and answer to a logical and philosophic problem.

Descriptive criticism is not unlike the catalog essay. This style is written primarily for show reviews and gallery exhibits. Elkins presents seven sources for this writing style trend. They include: high rent galleries that force critics to conform to non judgment in order to be published; the power of the market in promoting certain styles; the proliferation of styles; reaction to Greenberg and a movement of first generation Artforum critics; a reaction to Greenberg’s modernism; a revival of Rezeptionsgeschichte, or the interaction of the viewer to the art, and the rise of the “institutional critique” criticism, which involves more of the production of belief as opposed to real judgment.

Finally, there is poetic art criticism, which constitutes an occasion for a creative writing experience. These seven writing styles serve to break up the doldrums of a society with forced and strict rules of engagement however, they also serve to cause crevices in the world of art criticism rather than sew the fractured world back together.

In chapter three Elkins presents seven more ideas or “unworkable cures” for the reform of contemporary art criticism and their individual supporters. The first “cure” presented is that criticism should be reformed by returning it to a golden age of apolitical formalist rigor. This is supported by such critics as Roger Fry, Christopher Reed, and Hilton Kramer. The second cure is that criticism lacks a strong voice. This idea wants a strong leading voice to emerge in the art world. It was supported by Diderot, Bauldelaire, Fry, and Greenberg to name a few. The third cure is criticism needs systematic concepts and rules. The fourth cure is that criticism should be more theoretical. The fifth cure is that criticism needs to be serious, complex, and rigorous. This cure is supported by many different people and groups such as the October and Artforum critics, Thomas Crow, and Rosalind Kraus. The sixth cure is that criticism should become a reflection of judgments, not the parading of judgments. The final cure is that critics should occasionally take a stand or have a position. They should take a stance and defend themselves accordingly. Elkins, while spending a substantial amount of time on these “cures,” does not tend to believe that any of them will work. With a knowing sadness, he admits all are doomed as unworkable cures to the problem at hand.

In his last chapter, Elkins finally gives the reader a fleeting look at his position on contemporary art criticism. He does not think it is necessarily a good idea to reform art criticism. He thinks that what counts is trying to understand why it has taken a flight from judgment and has moved toward description. He also states three qualities that most engage him about contemporary criticism: ambitious judgment; reflection about judgment itself; and criticism important enough to count as history and vise versa. In support of criticisms’ importance as history, Elkins ambitiously says, “In order for that to happen, all that is required is that everyone read everything. Each writer, no matter what their place or purpose, should have an endless biography and know every pertinent issue and claim. We should all read until our eyes are bleary…making sure we’ve come to terms with Greenberg, or Adorno…” (Elkins 85). While a very noble idea, its place is probably as the eighth unworkable cure in chapter three.

I believe Elkins has written a substantial book on the problems and possible solutions to art criticism. I tend to agree with him that a total reformation is out of the question. It would be a daunting and endless task and virtually impossible. Art criticism has weathered the storm of evolutionary change to become what it is today, and it will continue to do so despite critics’ misgivings of grandeur. Change may come in one of the forms presented in this book or it may take on an entirely new light. It is its own monster and it will continue to feed, grow and change.

[Via http://kristinsartbox.wordpress.com]

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If I Never Roundup.

2010-02-20T18:13:00.000+02:00

It’s been awhile since last I collected together some of the various If I Never bits and pieces that have been occurring, so thought I’d take a moment to bring you all to speed.

“[If I Never is] an exceptional work of art” — Mandythebookworm’s blog.

Struggling Authors interview, including an exciting If I Never-related competition.

My Writing Magazine “My Writing Day” interview.

My interview on India Drummond’s fantastic blog.

“As rich as blood sausage”! — Gregg Farley, innovation consultant and author of Jack’s Notebook.

This is just a small selection of some of the If I Never stuff that’s been happening over recent weeks/months. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting stuff coming up soon!

A sample chapter of If I Never can be read here.

To buy your copy of If I Never, please click here.

[Via http://garymurning.wordpress.com]

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Book Review -- "There's A Mouse About The House"

2010-02-18T18:32:00.000+02:00

There’s a Mouse About the House

Series: Slot Books

Author: R. Fowler

• Ages: 3 years and up

• Size of book: 6 1/8 x 14 5/8 inches

• Pages: 20

• This title is available as part of the February Starter Kit

• Save $5.96! with the 5 title value pack

Bedtime Stories Set

• Save $23.92! with the 9 title value pack

Super Saver Combo Set 2

• This title is available as part of this season’s Business Builder Kit

Tracey’s review — This is such a cute book! When I first became a consultant with Usborne Books & More in November of 2008, this book was in my starter kit. My two older boys, then ages 5 and 3, fell in love with it right away. They wanted me to read it first. They still ask to be able to play with it or have me read it.

My first thought when I saw this book, I must say, was, “Oh sure — that mouse will get lost quick.” Surprisingly, we haven’t lost it! When I turned the book over, I saw that there was a template to make a new mouse…just in case. That’s nice.

This book helps to teach pre-reading skills, too, because you lead the little mouse on a trail from left to right. It also helps little ones learn to only turn one page at a time, because when you slip the mouse through the slots you can only retrieve the mouse on the next page. If you skip a page, you won’t find the mouse!

- Tracey

Usborne Books & More Supervisor

[Via http://usborneforkids.wordpress.com]

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Katie’s Festschrift

2010-02-16T18:50:00.000+02:00

Katie Funk Wiebe, my mom, taken in Edmonton, July, 2009

There’s a special “Festschrift” event being held April 24 at Tabor College, in Hillsboro, Kansas, the town where I grew up and went to high school and college.

A “Festschrift” is a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar. This celebration in April is a two-hour by-invitation reception in honor of my mother, Katie Funk Wiebe and launching a new book, which is a collection of essays about her. The book is being published by The Mennonite Brethren Historical Commission (sponsored by the U.S. and Canadian MB conferences). The vision of this book is to provide an opportunity to reflect on the significance of mom’s contribution to the thought and life of both the Mennonite Brethren and the larger Mennonite/Anabaptist community.

The book is in three sections. First, her life is examined in order to understand the development of her thinking within her particular context.

I wrote a chapter for this section, titled “What Would Mother Do?”.

The second section looks at mom’s multiple roles as a writer, theologian, historian, teacher, and speaker.

The last section is about mom’s interest in the issues facing women, widows, and older adults.

The event is sort like a Nobel prize within the Mennonite universe. Mom never expected her work would garner her such acclaim. I think she is the first woman in the Mennonite Brethren church to gain such honor, possibly the first woman in the Mennonite church in general.

I am proud of her — but not surprised!

[Via http://joannawiebe.com]

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Daring Young Men: The Berlin Airlift

2010-02-16T18:29:00.000+02:00

Richard Reeves’ new Daring Young Men: The Heroism and Triumph of the Berlin Airlift, June 1948-May 1949 is briefly reviewed by Steve Weinberg in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

I’m looking forward to reading Reeves’ book with great relish, and in particular to comparing it with Andrei Cherney’s superlative The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour. (See our earlier review of Cherney’s outstanding work in The Power of Chocolate.) If you’re unfamiliar with the events of the ‘Berliner Luft’, this latter book is a “must read.”

Hungry Berlin children await the arrival of American planes at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport

A C-54 comes in for a landing at Tempelhof as Berliners wait atop a mountain of rubble

[Via http://haysvillelibrary.wordpress.com]

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Recommend Books on Trinitarian Theology

2010-02-16T05:59:00.000+02:00

I have begun reading through some of the essays found in Trinitarian Theology for the Church: Scripture, Community, Worship edited by Daniel J. Treier and David Lauber. I think it functions as a great introduction to current issues in Trinitarian theology. Is there another book out there like this one that you would recommend? I would like to find another book or two like it as I continue to delve into this subject. One that gives attention to the evolution of the doctrine or its development of the church fathers would be especially helpful.

[Via http://nearemmaus.wordpress.com]

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The Ascent of Money, by Niall Ferguson

2010-02-14T18:32:00.000+02:00

This book is part of an effort that created a television series on the same subject. There are illustrations scattered throughout, rather than in the traditional mid-book well.

The trajectory of the book mixes chronology and theme; generally, it proceeds from past to present, but there is some looping as the chapters pass by–”Dreams of Avarice” (the invention of money and the evolution of banking); “Of Human Bondage” (government debt issue); “Blowing Bubbles” (speculation and frauds); “The Return of Risk” (insurance and social security); “Safe as Houses” (real estate investment); and “From Empire to Chimerica” (globalization of finance).

The poets make few appearances here, but Dante’s sight of the usurers on the burning sand in canto XVII appears in the discussion of the development of finance. Ferguson does not let Pound speak for modern-day critics of bankers, as he might have done:

WITH USURA

wool comes not to market

sheep bringeth no gain with usura

Usura is a murrain, usura

blunteth the needle in the the maid’s hand

and stoppeth the spinner’s cunning. Pietro Lombardo

came not by usura

Duccio came not by usura

nor Pier della Francesca; Zuan Bellin’ not by usura

nor was “La Callunia” painted.

Came not by usura Angelico; came not Ambrogio Praedis,

No church of cut stone signed: Adamo me fecit.

(From Pound’s Canto XLV.)

Rather, Ferguson takes the Olympian view–all is folly and greed, all is slicing and dicing of treasure into finer bits, then by the Medici, now by the quants, leading inevitably to another bubble and the inevitable burst. Still, he is no agrarian conservative or consistent Green who would trade his laptop for a quill pen and his Cambridge condo for a Glasgow hovel. He does well to cover any political biases–one might guess what they are, but they don’t unduly interfere. There is no New Economy, in his view, because there is no New Man–there will always be irrational exuberance over one thing or another.

The early chapters seem the more scholarly portion of the work, but perhaps only because the material could not have been sourced from the New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal, as are the later chapters, dealing with familiar subjects such as Enron, Hurricane Katrina, and George Soros.

The book was completed in early 2008, and Ferguson knew that he was on the edge of a lost chapter (or two). There will have to be a revised edition to tell the story of our present era and to give it a name.

[Via http://georgiarambler.wordpress.com]

Stabroek News - Marketing and small business

BOOK & FILM REVIEWS

2010-02-14T18:08:00.000+02:00

Every so often, I share what I’ve been reading or seeing at the movies. So here are my latest reviews.

AVATAR (Film Review)

Several words come to mind to describe this film: Awesome. Revolutionary. Mind-Blowing. The story itself is nothing new. Technologically advanced militants seek to exploit unskilled natives who live close to nature and worship spirits of the land. It’s environmentalists versus developers. Warriors versus innocents. Foreign invaders versus Native Americans. The parallels to Pocohontas are clear. What’s different is the amazing 3-D technology, the film making, the fantastic world building that makes you feel you are on this planet with these people. Amazing creatures. Floating mountains. Beautiful lush greenery. Fearsome beasts. Willowy seeds from the spirit tree. The Home Tree reminded me of the Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or the great World Tree in Norse mythology. The blue-skinned natives, created through special effects, look wonderfully real as does the world they live in. But why must the military commander in sf/f always want to kill the poor natives or the friendly aliens? Can’t we make a genre movie without stereotypes? At least the story has heart, and you feel the triumphs and sorrows of the characters, but it’s really the feeling of being in this wondrous place that will stick in your mind when you leave the theater.

WHEN IN ROME (Film Review)

Movies have been done before when a person tosses a coin in a magic fountain and wishes for love, except in this story, the roles are reversed. A girl takes coins from a fountain on a lark and becomes the object of love for several wacko suitors. The only man she wants is charmingly real, but is his affection true or is it inspired by the magic spell? She has to return each coin to the man who tossed it in to undo the enchantment. Will she be able to give back the coin to the man she loves?

THE SLAYER by Cindy Dees (Paranormal Time Travel Romance)

Tessa Marconi jumps back in time to the Persian Empire to recover a stone fragment that will help mankind in its quest to reach the stars. But opposed to her is court wizard Rustam, who turns out to be a Centauri agent sent to stop her. Rustam’s duty is clear, but his heart is captured by the lovely woman who possesses the ability to soar with him into space every time they make love. He understands the significance of this latent talent Tessa harbors, and it just might bring about their doom. An unusual twist on the time travel theme.

THE NUDE by Dorothy McFalls (Regency Romance)

Widowed Lady Mercer has always harbored a secret crush on the artist known as Dionysus, until a nude portrait of her shows up at an affair of the ton. With her reputation in tatters, Elsbeth accepts an invitation to a house party from Nigel, Marquess of Edgeware. For some mysterious reason of his own, Nigel insists on repairing her standing in society. As she is drawn to the kind man, she realizes someone is trying to kill him. Is it Dionysus, the reclusive artist whose identity no one knows? His cousin Charlie who stands to inherit his estate? Or his trusted friend George who might be involved in smuggling? The Nude is a good murder mystery in addition to a worthy and engaging historical romance. It kept me guessing whodunit until the end.

DESIRE UNTAMED by Pamela Palmer (Paranormal Romance)

Kara MacAllister’s life changes abruptly when her ailing mother dies, abnormal creatures attack her, and a powerful stranger abducts her. Lyon says she’s destined to become the Radiant and save his alien race. Seduced by his sensuality, she opens herself to the possibility that she’s an immortal like him and his brethren, the so-called Feral Warriors, protectors of Earth and foe to an evil demon trying to rise again. She must assume her powers if her people and Lyon’s are to survive. But there’s one thing he neglected to tell her, and that’s the men’s shape shifting ability. Can she help him regain his animal form while taming the beast within? Imaginative world building, likeable heroine, and a unique premise.

BEGUILED by Maureen Child (Paranormal Romance)

Artist Maggie Donovan has only recently become Queen of the Fae. She’s not too happy about this development especially when Fae Warrior Culhane pushes her to assume the throne. She likes her life in California just fine, at least until the former evil queen Mab escapes and Maggie’s niece is kidnapped and demons attack. Her peace shattered, Maggie has no choice except to accept her destiny along with the warrior who captured her heart. A delightful read.

KRIS LONGKNIFE: UNDAUNTED by Mike Shepherd (Science Fiction)

Princess and Lieutenant Kristine Longknife activates a political maelstrom when she brings onboard her explorer ship an Iteeche Imperial Representative. Why does the member of an enemy race want to meet with her grandpa, King Ray? Ron, the taciturn official, won’t say, except that the grave matter concerns both their peoples. This meeting opens up a can of worms that King Ray is reluctant to expose, so instead he sends Kris on an out of the way mission to Texarkana to quell the flames of political unrest. Kris, with the Iteeche entourage aboard, meets more resistance than expected, but with her usual panache she accomplishes her task. Returning home, she only has to convince her superiors to listen to what the Iteeche have to say. Great setup for a sequel.

[Via http://nancyjcohen.wordpress.com]

Saturday Morning News and Views « The Confluence

Some Nearly Forgotten 1940s Novels that are Exceptionally Good

2010-02-14T06:52:00.000+02:00

As I was looking over the lists of novels I’ve read over the years, I came across these four novels, all written in the 1940s, which I considered excellent when I read them, but have heard little or nothing about the novels or their authors in recent years.

‘Never Come Morning’ by Nelson Algren (1942) – Algren captured the raw underside of Chicago life in this novel about a dirt-poor boxer. Having read nearly all his works, I am a huge admirer of Nelson Algen’s style; he writes about the hard gritty side of life, but with obvious intelligence and insight. His novels ‘Man with the Golden Arm’ and ‘A Walk on the Wild Side’ are probably better known than this early novel, but this one is excellent. Perhaps Nelson Algren is best remembered for this quote.

Never play cards with a man called Doc. Never eat at a place called Mom’s. Never sleep with a woman whose troubles are worse than your own.” From A Walk on the Wild Side

‘The Mountain Lion’ by Jean Stafford (1947) - A brother and sister coming-of-age novel, this story is a tragedy, yet charming and funny by turns. Stafford is best known as a short story writer and for her unfortunate short marriage to the brilliant but mentally unstable poet Robert Lowell. I’ve read nearly all of her work including her short stories and her other major novel “The Catherine Wheel”, and they are all excellent. Jean Stafford is a writer too good to disappear into obscurity. Here is a quote from Jean Stafford.

Irony, I feel, is a very high form of morality.

‘A Burnt Child’ by Stig Dagerman (1947) - Stig Dagerman was one of the most prominent Swedish writers in the 1940s. If you like extreme psychological novels, this is the novel for you. Wikiquote has a whole long page devoted to quotes from ‘A Burnt Child’. I’ve also read ‘The Games at Night’, a book of short stories, which is also excellent. Stig Dagerman committed suicide in 1954 at the age of 31. If you want to learn more about Stig Dagerman, go to the Stig Dagerman Blog. Here is one quote from this novel.

I am sufficiently intelligent to be able to differentiate between real falsehood, which is aimed at hurting people, and a wise moderation of so-called truth, whose only object is to simplify life for all concerned.

‘The Bridge On the Drina’ by Ivo Andric (1945)– This novel is probably least likely of the four here to be forgotten because Ivo Andric received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1961, although that may not be a guarantee. It is the story of some of the people who crossed the bridge during its three and a half centuries of existence. The bridge is in what is now Serbia, and Andric sees it as the connection between the eastern Ottoman culture and the western Christian culture. This is historical fiction at its most powerful. Here is a quote from Ivo Andric.

If people would know how little brain is ruling the world, they would die of fear.

I would really like to hear from anyone who is familiar with these novels and/or authors. Please leave a comment.

[Via http://anokatony.wordpress.com]

Saturday Morning News and Views « The Confluence

Poor Form.

2010-02-13T18:11:00.000+02:00

As many of you — especially those who’ve been following my blog for some time — will already know, I have a tendency to grow concerned whenever someone says that something cannot be said, that it may be “offensive” or is in some way “poor form”. Not naturally a person who goes out of his way to cause offence, or to be confrontational, I nevertheless grow suspicious when the aforementioned terms are used in an attempt to dictate, or guide, what others can or cannot express.

So earlier today, during a conversation on Twitter, I found myself once again treading this already familiar path. Chatting to a fellow writer (and very lovely lady) I was pointed to a blog post dealing with some of the don’ts of promotion. The post contained some excellent advice but I was immediately concerned by one point that stipulated a writer should not say anything online — specifically nothing negative about books, other authors and reviewers.

Now, as I’ve already pointed out, I very rarely deliberately set out to trash someone, or to argue publicly with them. Thus far, reviews of If I Never have largely been extremely positive — and I doubt I’d lower myself to argue publicly with a reviewer, anyway. Nevertheless, I can certainly envisage scenarios where I might politely correct certain points, for example, and if the response was offensive, I would certainly pursue the argument (with appropriate dignity, naturally )

On the matter of not trashing other writers or books in general… well, I’ll always express my honest opinion — and do so as forthrightly as I deem fit. The notion that this might somehow come back and bite me, damage my sales, say, is something I find highly unlikely (the readership I’ve already built up, I feel, expects honesty from me — and if I couch my expressed opinion in strong terms I think they are already familiar enough with me to know that I’ll be doing so with, as I see it, good reason.) However, even if my honesty did threaten the sales of my novel, I tend to feel that — admittedly under exceptional circumstances — I would still speak my mind. Why? Well, quite simply, how could I not? What would that really say about me if I withheld a negative opinion simply because I was afraid it might damage me in some way.

As to how it might affect the author concerned, of course, this is always a consideration. I’ve been around long enough to know how devastating a negative comment can be — and whilst we all have to learn to deal with that, as writers and individuals, I’d only ever pick on someone my own size (or bigger), so to speak.

This isn’t to say that we should all say whatever the hell we like about other people and their work, of course, without giving it careful thought. It’s vital that, where they can, writers support each other — and as a newly published author I’m well aware of how fortunate I am and, whenever possible, try to help others along this pretty demanding path. Generally speaking, if I don’t like a piece of work, I’ll say nothing about it rather than publicly trashing it. But we are writers. By definition, we write, we share ideas, we communicate and, yes, sometimes we argue like cat and dog. Is that a bad thing? Is it healthy creatively to tiptoe around opinions that some might not like?

The very idea that it is “poor form” to contribute to the cut and thrust of “the literary life”, to express an honest (if negative) opinion, simply because “the writing community” or some imagined social convention considers it so is not something I’m prepared to subscribe to. Yes, I take time to consider any response I make, and, where possible, do it as inoffensively as possible.

But I will post online about the books I love and hate, about the writers who inspire me and those who make me despair. On occasion, I might even respond to a negative criticism. And if that’s poor form, then so be it.

A sample chapter of If I Never can be read here.

To buy your copy of If I Never, please click here.

[Via http://garymurning.wordpress.com]

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Review: A WEB OF BLACK WIDOWS by Scott William Carter

2010-02-13T18:02:00.000+02:00

A WEB OF BLACK WIDOWS by Scott William Carter

A collection of short stories by Scott William Carter, while it may be small in size A WEB OF BLACK WIDOWS is as powerful as a package of dynamite. The collection of six stories:

A Web of Black Widows
The Woman Coughed Up By the Sea
She’s Not All There
Black Lace And Salt Water
Front Row Seats
Static in a Still House

Of those stories, I think that “Front Row Seats”, and “A Web of Black Widows” are worth the price of the book alone.

Here’s a little taste of “A Web of Black Widows”.

They had stopped every few hours so he could add another black widow to Nancy’s body. Soon he had done ﬁve of them. Each time it went faster.Then she said she wanted them connected with a web, and that didn’t take long at all. But then something strange started happening. Each time he did a spider, it seemed to be in a diﬀerent place the next time he looked at her body. Not just a little, but a lot.

Oh yes, that got my attention. Having said that, I believe that “Front Row Seats” is a must read. I know that I will think about that story the next time that I go to the movies.

I give it 4 stars out of 5.

I received this complimentary ebook from PS Publishing for review purposes.

[Via http://gnostalgia.wordpress.com]

Break Media acquires FileFront gaming network | News

Review: ALL THE BROKEN PIECES by Ann Burg

2010-02-13T06:00:00.000+02:00

Natasha at Maw Books recently reviewed All the Broken Pieces by Ann Burg for the Vietnam War Reading Challenge. Here’s an excerpt from her review:

Two years ago, twelve-year-old Matt, the son of a American soldier and a Vietnamese woman, is airlifted out of his home country of Vietnam and adopted by an American family. He wakes up often with nightmares, but his adoptive mother and father are there to help sooth him.

Read the full review.

**Attention participants: Remember to email us a link to your reviews, and we’ll post them here so we can see what everyone is reading!**

[Via http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com]

Microsoft dates Halo: Reach, XBL Game Room | News

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (9780142407325)

2010-02-11T18:54:00.000+02:00

Melinda has been ostrasized by her peers because she called the cops at a summer party, but no one knows the horrible secret she is hiding. “It” has devastated her life and she feels there is no one to talk to so she keeps silent about it until “It” rears its ugly head again and she needs to save her former best friend from undergoing the same fate Melinda did.

A truly memorable novel that reaches into a young teenagers anguish which reaches into your soul.

An excellent must read for young teenagers and parents alike.

[Via http://eclecticreview.wordpress.com]

Disney, Warner, Viacom pose "serious threat" to publishers | News

Book review: 'A Match Made In High School' by Kristin Walker

2010-02-11T06:18:00.000+02:00

Fiona’s senior year of high school is off to an interesting start. After a brief (but thrilling) encounter with her massive crush Gabe, the senior class is shuffled together and given a year-long assignment: to participate in a marriage education program in which one girl will be partnered with one boy in their “relationship.” These marriages include the works: establishing an income, choosing a “home,” organizing budgets.

And trying not to kill each other.

Much to her dismay, Fiona’s partner is none other than Todd Harding, a goofball bully whose girlfriend Amanda has been torturing Fiona since grade school. Fiona’s best friend Marcie is buddied up with Johnny Mercer, a music-obsessed loner, in an arrangement that seems to be working out far better than Fiona’s match with Todd.

Because, you know, the guy’s a jerk. Fiona thinks being a male cheerleader would instill the guy with a little humility and sensitivity to others’ feelings, but not so much. Todd goes out of his way to make his faux relationship with Fiona, a sassy and honest teen, a nightmare. Once the constant pranks and barbs have gotten to be too much, Fiona must finally stand up to Todd and end the feud once and for all. For the sake of obtaining her high school diploma and keeping her sanity.

Kristin Walker’s A Match Made In High School is a funny, erudite look at high school and the drama and angst that accompanies teen relationships. When the novel could have derailed and become another campy young adult novel, Walker’s sharp writing kept it on track. Narrator Fiona is smart-mouthed and quick-witted and was, from start to finish, distinctly her own character. And a realistic one at that! Even when I wished Fiona would end her obsessing over Gabe, it was with a measure of chagrin that I realized I probably acted the exact same way about my crushes at seventeen. (OK, I know I did. It’s just a phase, I promise.)

The novel’s overall premise felt both unique and familiar to me at the same time — the classic trope of students paired up against their will, forced to work together on a project in which neither of them have much interest. I’ll cite Bella Swan matched as Edward Cullen’s lab partner, say. But it really didn’t bother me — mostly because the marriage education program? Pretty creative. The idea of kids having to examine what makes a “real,” healthy adult relationship function was pretty interesting, though we all know you can’t really teach someone about a partnership. And there is that whole pesky “love” angle to consider.

But Walker’s not making a case for the program; if anything, she might have been making a case against it. You can’t predict who or what will appeal to you, and love comes in very unique forms. A Match Made In High School didn’t take me in the classic, predictable route I expected, and I won’t ruin anything for you . . . but I was very surprised and pleased with the ultimate pair-ups. Because you know this has to have a happy ending, right? And I’m so glad it did. An entertaining, smart debut novel I’ll be happy to pass on to a friend!

4 out of 5!

ISBN: 1595142576 ♥ Purchase from Amazon ♥ Author Website

Review copy provided by author

[Via http://writemeg.com]

News to know: Google Buzz, smartphones; Rhapsody; Win7; Adobe ...

Angels Wathcing Over Me....

2010-02-09T18:37:00.000+02:00

Angels Watching Over Me…Maybe this title brought back memories of singing this old spritual…

Well it’s all night, all day, angels a watchin’ over me my Lord

Well it’s all night, all day, angels a watchin’ over me.

But is this true? Are there really Angels? Who are they? What are they? Where does truth end and myth begin? Answers to all of these questions and many more can be found in Dr. David Jeremiah’s new book… Angels released recently by Multnomah Press http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422699&view=excerpt

Forget the blonded headed cherub with wings so often used to portray angels. As the author shows us time after time, Angels are formittable. In recounting the story of John Paton missionary to the New Hebrides, the natives saw “hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands.”

Angels are real. Angels are not little Gods. Angels are not human…

Walk with Dr. Jeremiah as he opens the fact about Angels and leads you to a clear Biblical understanding of their significance in the life of a Christian.

This book was provided by Multnomah Press for review and can be purchased at: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/results.php

and many other Christian Retailers.

[Via http://word4women.wordpress.com]

Gmail to Get Social News Feed: Report – GigaOM

The Hidden Treasures of Our Trials, by Coraly Hanson

2010-02-09T06:03:00.000+02:00

This book is for you if you have experienced tragedy or loss and feel forgotten by God. You will learn to look at your circumstances from a new perspective and will reclaim your hope and faith. The author offers encouragement by pointing to scripture and sharing examples from her own life of times disasters were turned into victories.

The book is written in a bible study format with eight lessons in which readers are asked thought-provoking questions that get to the heart of the matter. By working through the lessons you will be working through your specific situations and applying scripture to your life.

This book would work well for a group bible study but is also effective for individuals.

[Via http://juliejonesinc.wordpress.com]

Unity inks three-year LEGO deal | News

"Blue Bamboo"/"No Longer Human" Review

2010-02-07T18:07:00.000+02:00

I’ll admit I screwed up a little. After ordering two of Osamu Dazai’s books, a collection of short stories called “Blue Bamboo” and his famous “No Longer Human”, I couldn’t decide which to read first. I chose “Blue Bamboo”. Most of the tales in this book are somewhat upbeat, if a little sorrowful at times, in keeping with their gothic romantic roots. The stories were insanely readable, and although the stories themselves are maybe a little on the forgettable side, the ones that stick with me most are two of the longer stories in the collection, “Blue Bamboo” and “Lanterns of Romance”. “Blue Bamboo” is a retelling of a traditional Chinese folk story from a Japanese point of view, and is an interesting study in character. “Lanterns of Romance” involves a group of three brothers and two sisters as they chain write a story, based on Rapunzel. Each segment of the story gives a little bit of insight into the personalities of one of the siblings, and by the end, what comes out is an interesting piecemeal story.

“Blue Bamboo” is good if you want a window into the Japan of the 1920’s, when the traditional culture was still present in Japanese society despite the moderation. The stories seem somewhat old-fashioned and modern at the same time, and the result of this mixute makes a very readable collection.

Unfortunately, the romantic views in the first book really made “No Longer Human” a little bit more bleak. The story, from the narrator’s point of view, starts: “Mine has been a life of much shame. I can’t even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being.” This was a short book, 180 pages in a large, 1950’s serif font that was only written on about 2/3 of the page, and using modern typesetting, would probably come in at about 120 pages. Despite its brevity, it’s a powerful book that condenses one man’s thoughts and feelings of alienation into a short two or three hours of reading.

It follows a man as he remembers the life behind him. It documents how from the very beginning, he felt congenitally different from the rest of humanity. Through it, he discusses how he adopted the role of a clown to cope with this difference, and how he felt his acting was fooling people into believing he was a member of society. He talks about how his dream is to become a painter to capture the horrors of day to day social interaction. He talks about meeting another artist in Tokyo and wandering the streets, finding his only solace in booze and woment. He talks about how he joins the Communist Party and rises to high rank despite having no real interest in Marxist theories, but instead hanging around because he finds the sheer insanity of it all to be amusing. He talks about an attempted lovers suicide, and how his failure to his lover’s success affected his life. He talks about his finding a new wife, her rape, and his slow descent into morphine addiction despite a newfound success as a cartoonist. His story ends, having convinced the reader that he was an absolute monster, definitely distinct from humanity. But, when the author who writes the prologue and epilogue of the story asks a bartender who figures heavily in the story if the man in the story gave her a lot of hell, she replies, “The Yozo we knew was so easy-going and amusing, and if he hadn’t drunk–no, even if he did drink–he was a good boy, an angel.”

“No Longer Human” is a bleak book, but strikes a balance between making the point of how bad the narrator felt about himself without becoming excessively bleak. This story is a lot more modernist than the stories in “Blue Bamboo”, and would have parallels in Kafka’s work that was being written in 1920’s Germany. “No Longer Human” takes a look at a painful time in Japan, as modernisation occurred and the country militarized for war, and the narrator is a seeming cauality of the times. It’s a powerful work, and a great read.

[Via http://oyadevblog.wordpress.com]

Apps & Games News section added, comments appreciated | iLounge News

Book Review: Understanding the Power of the X-Factor by Marianna Haun

2010-02-07T18:03:00.000+02:00

“Domino, the source of the War Admiral heart through Sweep, is also passed through Stalwart.”

“When it comes to passing great heart in today’s pedigrees, War Admiral appears to have the edge…”

“Another outstanding double-copy mare in the mold of Pocahontas, Weekend Surprise and La Troienne is My Charmer, dam of Seattle Slew.”

Above are just a few quotes when opened to random pages…

Packed with commentary following heart lines, Marianna Haun has incorporated important study with scientific research. Everything from EKGs, heart score, pedigrees, pictures and fundamental explanations are included in this book. It is an excellent compilation of information for anyone interested in the equine [larger than normal] heart.

Understanding the Power of the X-Factor, contains pertinent reference material for those who intend to breed or compete horses with Thoroughbred blood. It must be noted, however, that there are theories presented that are propelled by enthusiasm, and have yet to be verified by outside sources. For example, it is the opinion of this reviewer that the ‘origin’ of the large heart may not be limited to one individual, in this instance, Eclipse 1764. Extensive research involving the genetic material and physical attributes of breeds preceeding the English Thoroughbred, including Arabians and Barbs…(known for their stamina, speed and remarkable accomplishments) would have to take place before any lasting declarative statements are made.

Overall, this is a worthy book for the library, and an excellent board from which to dive into an ocean of research and discovery.

For more info click here:

Understanding the Power of the X Factor: Patterns of Heart Score and Performance

[Via http://wingspan.wordpress.com]

Horrible news | Habs Inside/Out

Im beginning to get it...

2010-02-06T18:53:00.000+02:00

…I mean this entire time I have been reading Chants of a Lifetime and listening to Krishna Das describe how much he loves Maharaj-ji and his devotion and (at times) his borderline infatuation with his guru, I havent understood it. Let me explain. I have understood that he felt this way, I just couldn’t grasp why. Even reading all of his wisdom through words and action, and his complete love of all his devotees. I saw the beauty that is this person, but could not feel why, why on earth Krishna Das and many other men and women were sooo devoted so willing to sit in a corner of a room just to be near him day after day after day sometimes not even hearing a single word from him and only hoping that maybe he would throw them a piece of fruit quite literally like monkeys.

Last night my husband and I got into an argument about money, our favorite topic to argue or feel discomfort about lately (in reading what I am writing I now decide to be more creative and come up i other things to argue about, hee hee just kidding) anyway, I took my book and huffed upstairs and he put on the TV and Im not sure what he did cause I was ignoring him. I fell asleep with Buddha’s words in my mind translated nicely for the westerners by Krishna Das: “Yo Monks - Stuff Don’t Work, its not supposed to work, thats why its stuff, it brings us pleasure but that doesn’t last – it has another side to it - pain – and when pains over there’s pleasure and then there’s pain – they are two side of the same coin”.

After that I fell asleep and This morning I woke up with a stiff neck. Hmmm. Louise Hay would say I’m not being flexible and not willing to look at both sides, ok I can see that about myself. So hubby and I made up and although what I really need is a chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture and some muscle therapy – limited finances will not allow that and so I went to the sofa to lay on a heating pad instead and read more.

As I began to read something started to happen, I started to feel love for Maharaj-ji. It started very subtly but as I read more and more I felt the beginning of a deep longing to know this man or rather for him to know me. As Krishna Das reminisced to me through his book I began to realize how well maharaj-ji knew others, how he could look at Krishna Das or any devotee and know what they were thinking, if they had slept well, what they needed, even what they had eaten, as Krishna Das found out one day after eating too many samosas! I began to feel a longing to be known like that by someone so holy so pure in thought and action. It reminds me in the bible where it says something like God knows everything about you, even the amount of hairs on your head. That had always perplexed me as a child, why on earth would God Want to know how many hair there were on my head? didn’t he have better things to do with his time/knowledge? what could be the possible use of that knowledge anyway? As a teenager that part of the bible simply freaked me out – I started imagining a judgemental God, one who knew everything about me, everything I did? yikes! I’m sure this slight mind control technique kept me out of a lot of trouble during those self exploration years, but I still hadn’t understood the true meaning. Until now.

What each of us truly desires is to be seen and known and not judged for what both being seen and known brings. To be fully allowed to just be as we are. This is what I am receiving from Maharaj-ji in this very moment and realizing I can also give that to myself. I don’t need to wait for someone to come along and see me and know me. In fact what I have been searching for all along may not have been for someone else to truly see me and know everything and still love me, maybe I have been waiting for Me to give this love and acceptance, knowingness and allowance all along. Krishna Das says our belief systems change in two ways – we either see someone who has it figured out and we take clues from their life, or we get to a point in our lives that it is far too painful to continue on and so we have to change. But what if both of those two opportunities are happening for me at the same time?

So here is where this knowledge comes full circle for me right now in this moment. If I am expecting someone outside myself to know me fully – know all my imperfections and just allow and accept and not judge….and I realize that underneath that I am really desiring to know myself and fully allow and accept myself …. and I also know that everyone around me, in my life is a mirror for me of things I must look at about myself…. Then I must acknowledge that the argument my husband and I got into last night is somewhat important. You see I had become a little snappy shall we say, because he was telling me the different things we need to buy with his first paycheck. He needs a new laptop to do work on since he is an outside sales man, and a shell for his car (eventually) because it will help with gas mileage, and some new shirts so he doesn’t have to wear the same dress shirt…. etc etc. I was angry because I felt like he was spending our money before we had even gotten one cent of it and after being where we have been for what seems like an eternity but has really been about 6 months, I was fearful that he was going to become frivolous with the money he was making. Even as I argued with him last night, a small part of me screamed inside…. I want to buy things too, I want to spend our money on things and feel comfortable too … Although I didn’t tell him this because I didn’t want to acknowledge that a part of me, that part of me that feels shame for even daring to think like that. I mean if I feel like that too, then have these last 8 months not taught me anything? Have I not learned that i should be more careful with my money, more responsible and save up for a rainy day? Have I just come out of a thunderstorm that uprooted my life and already imagined that another thunderstorm could never pass again? At least he was being honest about what he wanted, I couldn’t even acknowledge my real feelings. In seeing this side of myself I begin to understand why I became snappy. I was actually annoyed at myself too. more on that later I’m sure.

I am grateful for the stories I am reading in this fantastic book, it feels as though whenever I want I can open his book and its like I get private story time with Krishna Das. I get to relive his life with him and since its a book I can reread it over and over to let the moral of each story sink in. Sometimes there isn’t a moral – sometimes I read a story and its just delightful to read, and other times I read a story and have to sit with it for a while because I Know there is something more there that I need to learn about myself & Im only half way through the book !

still reading…..:)

Sharing his heart through music and chanting is the basis of Krishna Das’ own spiritual work—his way of serving the Divine within himself and others. “Chanting is a way of getting in touch with yourself. It’s an opening of the heart and letting go of the mind and thoughts. It deepens the channel of grace, and it’s a way of being present in the moment,” he says. Since 1994, the sound of his voice singing traditional Indian chants with a Western flavor has brought the spiritual experience of chanting to audiences all over the world. You can preorder Krishna’s book Chants of a Lifetime online at either HayHouse.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Amazon.com, or wherever books are sold. His book includes a free CD for personal chanting practice. More information on Krishna Das can be found at www.krishnadas.com.

[Via http://christinechristensen.wordpress.com]

Perfect Dark XBLA showing at X10 News | Xbox 360 | Eurogamer

Katydidn't by Colleen Reece

2010-02-04T18:01:00.000+02:00

Come read the story of the seven Witherspoon children, and how Katy discovered the secret of the katydids, in Katydidn’t by Colleen Reece.

The Witherspoon children love life on their little farm. Six out of the seven children are spending the summer doing things they love. But not Katy. She doesn’t want to do the things that her brothers and sisters are doing. She’s sad and lonely. Until one day, she remembers how Jesus tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Praying to be different, Katy finally discovers the secret of what the katydids sing to lull her family to sleep each night.

Everything about this book is beautiful. From the stunning cover art to the touching and memorable story inside, from the meaningful lesson the book shares to the how artist K.C. Snider brought the Witherspoon family and their farm to life, there is so much to love in this story.

Getting along can be difficult for children. The perfect blend of flowing prose, nature, and Biblical wisdom will find your child picking up this book time and again. The leaf accents that adorn the front cover can also be found on the first page that shares the story of the katydids, and on some of the other inside pages, tying all the elements together.

This book is one that I will definitely consider adding to our Sunday school classroom. Katydidn’t is a touching story with a meaningful lesson that you and your child can both enjoy.

Rating:

Publisher: Guardian Angel Publishing
PRINT: 978-1-61633-021-7; 97816163321X
EBOOK: 978-1-61633-022-4; 978161633228
SRP: $10.95 (Print), $5,95 (CD), $5.00 (download)

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[Via http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com]

Stocks in the News: Barnes & Noble, Dow Chemical, Hershey ...

Sabrina Jeffries - The Truth About Lord Stoneville

2010-02-02T18:43:00.000+02:00

Bumped this book to the top of my reading list and I was beyond excited that it totally lived up to the hype. Sabrina Jeffries’ new series “The Hellions of Halstead Hall” is shaping up to be a fabulous addition to her publishing legacy. Having read all of Sabrina’s previous books I can safely say that this was one of her best.

Oliver Sharpe, the Marquess of Stoneville, has been London’s most notorious rake for years. Fed up with his behavior, his grandmother threatens to disinherit him if he doesn’t tame his wild ways and wed within the year. Outraged, Oliver decides to hire a woman from a brothel to pose as his fiancée to prove that he can’t be forced into marriage. When he meets Maria Butterfield, a beautiful American woman who is searching for her fiancé in the most unlikely of places, he knows she’s perfect for his ruse. But before long, Oliver finds himself willing to risk anything to make Maria his – even his heart, and the dark secret he hides inside it.

Readers first meet Oliver, Lord Stoneville as a minor character in the series “The School for Heiresses”. Now, the intriguing and dark gentleman and his eccentric siblings have a series of their own. This first book focuses on Stoneville himself; his battle with the demons that have haunted him for almost 20 years and the love he finds that could release him from his guilt. As a hero Stoneville is definitely a little troubled and enigmatic but a force to be reckoned with all the same. You can’t help but feel sorry for him even though he comes across as a bit of a dissolute rogue.

Maria, our heroine, is one of my favorite women written into one of Sabina’s books. She even pulls a sword on our hero… you go girl! Her strength and resolve pit her against our hero in some creative ways but their attraction proves too much for them both in the end. Their love story has its ups and downs, as to be expected, but the ending is satisfying and prepares the readers for some interesting twists and turns in the books to come.

I can’t review this book without briefly mentioning Oliver’s siblings - Jarrett, Gabriel, Minerva and Celia make up a dynamic family with an unbreakable bond and loyalty to each other. You will enjoy the little “detours” they set for Oliver in his pursuit of Maria. Jarrett’s story is the next in line, with a release date of Fall 2010. I hate waiting!

The love scenes are steamy and fast-paced but add to the vibrant colour of this book rather than take away from it – unlike so many other books I have read where the love scenes are so graphic that they ruin the tone of the book. I would give this book a 9 out of 10 on my Sexy Scale. (10 being very graphic in sexy content – 1 being so tame there isn’t even a real kiss… ok, well maybe a chaste one)

I loved this book… I simply can’t wait for the release of the next 4 books. I give this book a 9.5 out of 10 overall. Check out Sabrina’s website for information on all her previous books, hope you add them to your collection!

[Via http://danielledubois.wordpress.com]

Mangold wants a new deal

The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green ~ review

2010-02-02T06:10:00.000+02:00

Title: The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green

Author: Terra Wellington

Paperback: 322 pages

Published: 2009

ISBN: 9780312384739

Acquired: won in the March 2009 LibraryThing ER batch

Challenges: ARC Reading Challenge 2010, New Author Challenge 2010

Because most parents have limited time and budgets, an understandable reaction is, “I have too much on my plate already. How can I possibly add more to my to-do list?” Have no fear. All the how-to’s in this book are about raising your family green in a practical way- so that it becomes part of your lifestyle. Trust me: It is doable.

…This book is all about creating lifestyle changes. Some of these changes don’t add more to your plate, they just change how you do things. Other changes ask you to care more, and donate what time and resources you have available. This is how you create meaningful change in your home, your community, and beyond – one person making a difference in a real way.

-The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green by Terra Wellington, pages xi-xii

Terra Wellington has been around the green circuit for a few years now, guesting on The Montel Williams Show and other TV shows, as well as being a syndicated collumnist, ClubMom contributor, and has her own blog, MomsandthePlanet.com. And I grant you she knows quite a lot about green living. However, I found this particular book not my thing.

To be honest, I can’t fathom why the LibraryThing algorithm picked it for me, other than I am a mother who read and loved The World Without Us. Quite frankly, I’m a very naughty polluter. I’m bad at recycling, often throwing my cereal boxes, newspapers and aluminum cans in the garbage with everything else. I do try to keep the plastic bags, though, because they make excellent trash bags for the smaller cans in the bedrooms and bathroom. I have the CFL squiggly-looking light bulbs because some dude on the morning show I watch said they lasted 5 years, and I’m lazy and hate climbing ladders to change light bulbs, so I ran out and got a bunch. After changing almost every bulb over now, I can tell you this: The whole 5 years thing is a lie. More like one year, maybe a year and a half. BUT they do save on the electric bill, and they last 3 times as long as the cheap bulbs I was buying, so the cost is offset, I think.

Honestly, I do think about what I buy before I buy it and what impact it might have on the environment. I’ve taught my kids that styrofoam is evil, and never breaks down. I never buy the six packs because I’d hate to kill some bird or fish or dolphin because I forgot to tear the plastic rings. I don’t leave the fridge door open, oven on, water running, and I keep my thermostat at around 70 degrees. Frankly, I’m pretty much doing as much as I am willing to do.

Most of what Wellington offers in the book is either impractical (for me), expensive (I’m not running out and buying new appliances, hiring an energy guy to go over my house for leaks!), or not possible since I’m a rentor. A lot of what she suggests I already do. There were a couple things though that actually irritated me:

If it’s possible, have your pet stay outdoors to reduce pet dander.

Or better yet, give your pet to someone who will love it, dander and all. HONESTLY! It infuriates me when I see some dog tied up outside, year round, never see a person talk to it, pet it, and often see it’s bowls empty, and I wonder WHY on God’s green earth do these people even think they need an animal? How ’bout we reverse that. Let the pet stay inside, and have the owner stay outside to reduce his dandruff. BTW, it’s about 16 degrees here right now, and I don’t let my cats out on the front porch right now, even.

Another one that made my eyes roll was the “reduce your showers (if you must take them) to 10-minutes”. Maybe I could just shower ever three days, then I can have a nice long shower. How ’bout if I just skip them altogether? That’ll save even MORE water! Also in this book is things for pool heaters and stuff, but how many 10-minute showers worth of water are in all these private pools? Why not get rid of those, everyone swim at a community pool and enjoy more community?

Do you know that if everyone parked their cars, took public transportation instead or EVEN BETTER, walked everywhere (OMG, I know… scary!) the carbon gases would be greatly reduced, and maybe so would the rising obesity rates. AND, you would have much more time to stop and smell the roses, so maybe the heart disease rates would drop, too?

Okay, so what did I like about this book? Wellington is trying. She’s offering solutions. She believes in what she’s doing and writing, and it shows. There’s great cheat sheets and worksheets for readers to fill out. Most of the sections are short and readable. I think the book would work best as a reference book on someone’s shelf who actually is into that stuff.

I give The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green by Terra Wellington 3 out of 5 stars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s a quick and funny video (Mom and Maggie approved) about recycling. I enjoyed this vid a lot more than the book, and actually feel inspired to get a recycling tub after watching it.

[Via http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Krugman calls FOX News 'deliberate ...

Review of Evil Ways, by Justin Justainis

2010-01-31T18:33:00.000+02:00

From the pen of Justin Gustainis comes another page turner…

Quincey Morris and Libby Chastian are not your everyday, ordinary private detectives. They specialize in supernatural cases that involve witchcraft, vampires, werewolves and all sorts of preternatural creatures.

In this story, an eccentric billionaire named Walter Grobius has one thing in his agenda: to control the world using the most devastating evil known to man, a powerful evil that can be traced back to biblical times. Children across the country are being kidnapped and brutally mutilated; good witches are being killed. For what purpose?

As Grobius prepares for the ‘big ritual’, the one that will make him immortal and grant him the power that he’s always wanted, Morris and Chastian team up once again to fight evil. But will they walk out of it alive?

Evil Ways is the second book in the Morris and Chastian Investigation dark fantasy series. Like in the first book, the author delivers a thrilling ride filled with action, suspense and interesting twists and turns. The pace moves pretty quickly, and the story kept me engrossed from beginning to end. What I enjoy most about this series is the protagonist, Quincey Morris. He’s the good guy next door, the guy with the big heart and high sense of justice, and with a touch of vigilantism in him — but of course, he’s also an expert at fighting supernatural fiends. If you like novels about the battle of good vs. evil, you’ll love Justin Gustainis’ books.

Visit the author’s Website.

[Via http://thedarkphantom.wordpress.com]

Bad news for Omar Khadr? Sort of - Canada - Macleans.ca

Book Review: Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

2010-01-30T18:02:00.000+02:00

This book can be summed up in one word. Amazing. I am so glad that I had certain friends that urged me to read it.

Nora…ALMOST reminded me of Bella. But she was more logical, and not so stupid about things.

Patch…up until like Chapter Twelve, scared me like no other character in literature so far.

The mystery elements in the novel were really well done. I had no clue what was going on right up to the end. I am just really glad that Elliott turned out not to be too bad.

There are other characters that I am kind of iffy on. But I really enjoyed the book as a whole. I can’t wait until the next part is released!!

[Via http://teamjalice1863.wordpress.com]

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Civil War in China

2010-01-30T06:48:00.000+02:00

Suzanne Pepper. Civil War in China: The Political Struggle, 1945-1949. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1978.

In her preface to Civil War in China’s 1999-printed second edition Suzanne Pepper cites the axiom that “historical writing is defined as much by its own present as by the past it seeks to illuminate” (xix). The “political struggle” referred to in the title might thus be interpreted as reflecting conditions under which American scholars wrote China’s revolutionary history, as well as describing the vaster human experience of that revolution itself. During the late 1960s and early- to mid-1970s, focal points of struggle for young American China-watchers were Chalmers Johnson (Pepper’s graduate advisor) and intellectual contestation surrounding the Vietnam War. According to Pepper, Civil War in China was intended to provide a counter-argument to Johnson’s “peasant nationalist” theory of the Chinese Communist Party’s political success by “tracing the pragmatic process of revolutionary institution-building” (xxv), with the hope of establishing a closer relationship between the categories of (Marxist) socioeconomic revolution and Chinese contexts. The work’s broader agenda was to show that conservative arguments bemoaning the “loss” of China, and Vietnam, to communism failed to appreciate the social conditions that fostered such transformations. More than twenty years later, both Pepper’s argument and the density of its supporting evidence remain persuasive models within the field of Chinese studies.

Strictly speaking, Civil War in China is concerned with establishing the meaning of Chinese political contexts during the 1945-1949 period, defining politics as “a process of interaction and exchange between the government and the governed” (4), thereby allowing the author to sidestep accusations of an overly elite (and elitist) focus while simultaneously directing inquiry toward the foundations of political legitimacy itself. While Pepper includes both Guomindang failures and Japanese aggression as factors contributing to Communist success, she is primarily interested in the source of the Communist “mandate” to rule as stemming from popular support. To what extent this support existed is thus a result of both KMT deterioration and CCP dynamism, and of the context of civil war in general.

The first part of the work, “The Last Years of Kuomintang Rule,” provides a thorough catalogue of KMT blunders during the “reconversion” (jieshou) process following Japanese defeat in 1945. Collaboration with officials of the hated quisling regime, abuse of those who had remained beneath it (rather than following KMT leaders into uncertain exile), inept attempts at economic reform, and seemingly ubiquitous corruption and graft stripped the KMT officials of their prestige as legitimate rulers. Within the “informal court of public opinion” (28), this de-legitimating process was manifested in the form of labor strikes, student protests, and repeated calls for reform. Pepper convincingly shows that, for many, to oppose the KMT did not necessarily imply support for Communist policies, and that within the coastal cities that were primarily under KMT control the Communists often remained only a shadowy, unproven alternative to the more immediate experience of pressing social malaise. Liberalism, not communism, “was the dominant political current among intellectuals in the KMT-controlled areas” (132). But liberal intellectuals proved equally inept as politicians, generating no viable alternatives of their own.

The second part, which addresses “The Communist Alternative,” is thus an investigation both into intellectual critiques of the Communists, and of the rural and urban policies from which their ‘viability’ – and legitimacy – derived. At the heart of this investigation is Pepper’s reinterpretation of the much-discussed Communist policy of rural land reform, through which she argues that the reduction of social inequality, and liquidation of rural elites, remained a consistent practice throughout the Anti-Japanese and Civil Wars even while discourse and practice related to tenancy changed. The political success of the Communists was not a result of a nationalist “united front” (as argued by Johnson, and an impossibility given the stiff opposition of elites to Communist policies), but of an approach to redistribution that coupled the mobilization of poor and middle peasant support with systemic institution-building. As this rural revolution returned to the cities following KMT defeats, pragmatism and anti-leftism ultimately ‘led’ to an urban policy whose aim was “to safeguard China’s urban economic infrastructure” (391) by pursuing a more unlikely united from that included workers, capitalists, and highly-paid Soviet advisors.

Concluding that “the CCP’s victory was as genuine as the KMT’s defeat” (433), Pepper’s account presents a view of ‘victory’ that includes tactics of violent intimidation and localized variation, and a view of ‘defeat’ that includes attempts at reform, and popular ambivalence alongside popular rejection. Civil War in China’s geographic and thematic sweep are almost unthinkable by present standards of scholarship, but as Pepper herself modestly observed, “to the extent that the book succeeded, it did so because of the compelling nature of that same subject matter and the lines of inquiry it opened” (xx). The obviously exhaustive research on these subjects, however, led one contemporary reviewer to praise the work as a “definitive account” within the writing of modern Chinese history (Journal of Asian Studies, 38,2: 343-345). Rather than critique the work for its unavoidable limitations concerning sources, or for its position within a cluster of concerns that are now refigured or forgotten, a more productive interrogation might ask (as Pepper does) why such an undeniably transformation – and as of recently, richly-documented – period has received so little scholarly attention among Western academics since Civil War in China’s initial publication. The varied levels and locales at which Pepper investigates political process, far from appearing outdated, reveal configurations of change that escaped the reified dichotomy of KMT and CCP “periods” within Chinese historiography, without denying the importance of (or ambivalence toward) politics in everyday human life.

Matthew Johnson

[Find it on Amazon]

[Via http://ucsdmodernchinesehistory.wordpress.com]

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Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages

2010-01-30T06:43:00.000+02:00

Thomas P. Bernstein. Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages: The Transfer of Youth from Urban to Rural China. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1978.

Thomas P. Bernstein’s book was the first major study of the rural transfer, popularly called “up to the mountains and down to the villages” (shang-shan, xia-xiang), an ambitious public policy program implemented by the Chinese government. The program, practiced first on a limited scale just before the Great Leap Forward and accelerating sharply during the early years of the Cultural Revolution, transferred urban secondary school graduates to rural villages and frontier settlements. According to Bernstein’s statistics, over 14 million urban youths, roughly 10% of China’s urban population, were resettled to the countryside during and after the Cultural Revolution. The study’s goal was to “describe and analyze the policies and practices underlying the transfer,” and to consider their efficacy. (9)

What is noteworthy of this study is Bernstein’s exhaustive research and documentation, a difficult feat considering that at the time he conducted his research, foreign scholars had almost no access to China. As such, he industriously uses data from the Chinese media, visitor’s reports, and interviews with refugees in Hong Kong. Due to the lack of reliable figures, Bernstein is forced to resort to extrapolation, educated conjectures, and deductions to compile data and to analyze important statistics, such as the number of youths resettled and the proportion of urban population transferred, all of which are provided in the form of charts and tables. This type of data analysis forms the basis on which he illuminates different aspects of the program: What were the economic and ideological rationales of sending these millions of urbanites off to the countryside? What was the clash of values between this policy and the propelling of personal ambition? What was the relationship between rural residents (peasants) and the sent-down youths?

An example of Bernstein’s data analysis is demonstrated in his discussion on the goals and policies of the transfer program, in which he argues that the incapacity of the urban sector to supply enough jobs to those in the urban labor market was the root of the rustication program. He connects a relation between the capacity for the urban sector to provide young people with employment and the actual numbers sent to the villages to support this argument. His analysis of the Chinese press reveals two other major goals that sustain the program, that of ideological transformation and rural development. To Bernstein, the tension between the developmental and ideological goals creates difficulty for the implementation and success of the program, for “the transfer of urban youths to the countryside itself promotes the very institutional normalcy so suspect to China’s ideological radicals” (289).

The two contemporary reviewers, Susan Shirk (Journal of Asian Studies, 38,1:148-152) and Victor Funnell (Pacific Affairs, 51,3:502-503) both recognized the value of this book for its insightful analysis and perceptive observations. Shirk wished that the author would have been able to develop the implications of his findings. Indeed, the weakness of the book is exactly the author’s lack of explanation for how the policy was implemented by the government, given the lack of support for the program itself. One is also left wondering about the change in people’s perceptions and social values in relation to the shifting urban-rural dichotomy. On the other hand, this book’s contribution is precisely that it lays groundwork and raises issues from which further study, especially given the passage of time and increased access to sources, may arise.

Ellen Huang

[Find it on Amazon]

[Via http://ucsdmodernchinesehistory.wordpress.com]

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Review of "The Arabian Nights Entertainments"

2010-01-28T18:52:00.000+02:00

Wikipedia has a lot on this book. I don’t have a lot to say on it, other than to point out that the Arab world has been in an incredible decline for a long time. I what the HBD explanation for the decline of the Arabs is? Their clearly not stupid and they were responsible for many technological and intellectual advances for centuries. Then they completely stopped doing anything productive. It seems like even those of us who put emphasis on genetics would have to recognize the importance of culture when it comes to explaining how messed up Arab civilization (what’s left of it) is.

[Via http://foseti.wordpress.com]

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Book Review: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever

2010-01-28T18:51:00.000+02:00

As you may have already guessed, the main purpose of this book is to present some key elements that must be present in a healthy church. Mark Dever does a wonderful job in simply laying out what he considers to be the nine basic indicators of church health. These 9 marks are:

1. Expositional Preaching

2. Biblical Theology

3. The Gospel

4. A Biblical Understanding of Conversion

5. A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism

6. A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership

7. Biblical Church Discipline

8. A Concern for Discipleship and Growth

9. Biblical Church Leadership

Dr. Dever is clear to explain that this is not an exhaustive ecclesiology. Instead it is a concise address on common errors that are responsible for so much that goes wrong in the church. As such, this book is very useful.

In Mark 1, Expositional Preaching, Dever explains why he believes that systematically preaching through God’s Word should be the staple form of preaching in a healthy church. The difference between topical and expository preaching, as Dever sees it, is that in topical preaching the pastor chooses a topic and then picks the Scriptures that support what he has already decided he wants to say; with expository preaching, on the other hand, the pastor systematically works through the text of Scripture, unfolding God’s Word for God’s people. Many times, an expository preacher will not know what he intends to say when he comes to a particular text. In fact, Dr. Dever says that many times he is quite surprised by the things he finds in a passage as he studies it (pg. 40). Topical preachers pick select topics that they feel their congregation needs to hear and find Scripture to support it. Expository preachers assume that all of the Bible is relevent to all of us, all the time. One of my favorite quotes from this chapter is:

Many pastors happily accept the authority of God’s Word and profess to believe in the inerrancy of the Bible; yet if they do not in practice regularly preach expositionally, I’m convinced that they will never preach more than they knew when they began the whole exercises. [...] A preacher should have his mind increasingly shaped by Scripture. He shouldn’t just use Scripture as an excuse for what he already knows he wants to say (pg. 41).

Mark 2, Biblical Theology, was another that was particularly interesting to me. At the beginning of this chapter Dr. Dever tells the following story:

I had made a statement in a doctoral seminar about God. Bill responded politely but firmly that he liked to think of God rather differently. For several minutes, Bill painted a picture for us of a friendly deity. He liked to think of God as being wise, but not meddling; compassionate, but never overpowering; ever so resourceful, but never interrupting. “This,” said Bill in conclusion, “is how I like to think of God.”

My reply was perhaps somewhat sharper than it should have been. “Thank you, Bill,” I said, “for telling us so much about yourself, but we are concerned to know what God is really like, not simply about our own desires (pg. 58).”

This particular chapter really resonated with me because I find this type of attitude so prevalent in the modern evangelical church. We need to be concerned with knowing and understanding who the God of the Bible really is, so that we can worship Him. No matter how sincere your worship, if it is directed to a deity who is not the God described in Scripture it is idolatry.

As you may have expected, Dever does touch on God’s sovereignty in this chapter. As exemplified in the story to open this chapter, Dever is not exactly bashful in his defense of the truth and integrity of God’s Word and Biblical leadership. In fact, one of my favorite quotes from this chapter is quite bold but immeasurably important:

For confessing Christians to resist the idea of God’s sovereignty in creation or salvation is really to flirt with pious paganism. Many Christians will have honest questions about God’s sovereignty. But a sustained, tenacious denial of God’s sovereignty should concern us (pg. 72).

Dever then takes it a step further, applying this to church leadership:

As dangerous as such resistance is for the spiritual life of any Christian, it is even more dangerous in the leader of a congregation. To appoint a person as a leader who doubts God’s sovereignty or who seriously misunderstands the Bible’s teaching on it, is to set up as an example a person who in his own heart may well be deeply unwilling to trust God. That is bound to hinder the church as it tries to trust the Lord together (pg. 73).

Theology is the study of God. Therefore it is essential for a healthy church to have a Biblical understanding of God and His ways with us. Dr. Dever plainly states:

How you think about God impacts the way you live and what you want your church to be like. You must have a biblical understanding of God (pg. 72).

While I would love to give a little summary of every single chapter in the book, I’m affraid that would deem the reading of the book unnecessary in the minds of many of you. Dr. Dever’s insight is far more siginificant than I could even begin to summarize. Each and ever chapter of this book is filled with biblical truth as applied to the local church. Every single chapter is worth reading, and I would recommend this book to anyone. Whether you are in a position of church leadership desiring to grow a healthy church, or a lay person desiring to measure the health of your current local church, and especially if you’re a lay person trying to find a local church, this book is a must-read!

To conclude, here’s a list of some endorsements of this book by some of my favorite pastors/teachers/theologians:

If you are a Christian leader, be careful of the work you are now holding in your hand: it may change your life and ministry. (D.A. Carson)

Mark Dever gives the biblical criteria for discerning the spiritual well-being of a church, not what it looks like on the outside before the world, but what it is on the inside before God. This is a foundational work which I highly recommend. (John MacArthur)

It is astonishing that the apostle Paul describes the local gathering of Christians as “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 ESV). That raises the stakes of church life and health and mission about as high as it can be. We are dealing with a blood-bought body of people. I do not want human ideas. I want God’s Word about the church. I turn with hope and confidence to Mark Dever’s radically biblical commitment. Few people today have thought more or better about what makes a church biblical and healthy. (John Piper)

Written by a pastor and theologian who has built a strong local church in Washington D.C., this is the best book I have read on this topic of critical importance. (C.J. Mahaney)

Mark Dever points toward a truly biblical recovery of the New Testament church in his manifesto, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Every page is loaded with thoughtful analysis and careful consideration. It belongs in the hands of every faithful pastor and all those who pray for reformation in this age. (Albert Mohler)

By his grace; for his glory,

Brandon

[Via http://aphorizo1.wordpress.com]

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Free Books!

2010-01-28T06:15:00.000+02:00

I’ve been a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson for a little over a year. Recently, Thomas Nelson streamlined their book reviewing process, starting a new program called Book Sneeze. They provide you with books and you provide them (and consumer websites) with honest reviews of their books. It’s a great system. If you’re interested in getting in signing up and getting some free books, check out this link.

Happy reading!

[Via http://caitlinmuir.wordpress.com]

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Review of Jonathan Kellerman’s “Bad Love”

2010-01-26T18:44:00.000+02:00

Though I’m not an ardent follower of Jonathan Kellerman’s books, when I do come across one, I will generally pick it up. Bad Love is one of Kellerman’s popular Alex Delaware novels. Delaware is a child psychologist who tends to find himself helping his good friend Det. Milo Sturgis solve complex crimes.

In Bad Love, Delaware is the object of odd threats, such as having his koi skewered and the tape of a child saying “bad love” over and over. Delaware remembers the phrase “bad love” was used by a child psychiatrist at a 1979 symposium that Delaware co-sponsored. When Delaware investigates further, he discovers many of the people associated with the symposium have died. Sturgis also connects the phrase with other murders that have happened over the years.

As usual, Kellerman plots a great story that is filled with many twists as you seek to understand the mind of a killer. Kellerman also does a good job of maintaining the suspense so that the reader is dying to know whodunit and why at the end of the novel.

So if I enjoyed the book (and I did), you might wonder why I’m not a bigger fan of Kellerman’s. I wish I could stay. I’ve read many of the Alex Delaware novels and enjoyed them all to varying degrees, but I can’t say why Kellerman’s not one of my favorites. I bet Dr. Delaware could tell me why if I talked to him, but I guess that won’t be happening.

[Via http://jimsbookblog.wordpress.com]

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Again with the wizards...

2010-01-26T18:37:00.000+02:00

I finished Witch & Wizard late saturday night. I have to admit that while there were a few places where I almost vomited because it was so ridiculously cliché, I enjoyed it overall. And I am excited because it is the first in a series yet to be written.

I stand by my presumption of a 1984 wanna be, but It was also reminiscent of a lot of fantasy. There are 5 worlds, or parallel universes, which to be honest the author didn’t do that good of a job explaining more than 2 of them. There was magic and suspense that really did keep me interested. It’s kid friendly. I am going to say it’s a kids book you need to be an adult to appreciate. Or rather, understand. Like I said, some bits were just too in your face political that I was not the least bit amused.

I’m going to say that I liked it, but not that I’d recommend it to someone who isn’t prepaired to read it with all the cliche patrs. I want to read the next one.

[Via http://dhpotter.wordpress.com]

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First book of 2010!

2010-01-26T05:57:00.000+02:00

This book has been through a lot. Photo (c) r.smith 2010

This is actually a re-read, and I don’t think I posted it about it the first time I read it.. but even if I did, that was over a year ago so, it bears repeating.

Ballad of the Whiskey Robber: A True Story of Bank Heists, Ice Hockey, Transylvanian Pelt Smuggling, Moonlighting Detectives, and Broken Hearts is the true story of Attila Ambrus, Hungarian “folk hero” (as proclaimed by his countrymen).

Just as it was the first time I read this book, I could not put it down. Proof positive that truth is stranger than fiction.. Whenever I first started reading it, after I intially received it, I actually had to do a little online research to see if it was a biographical book or a work of fiction. (Despite the fact that the title states it’s a true story, yes. It was just that off-the-wall.) For me, one of the only things reminding me that it’s non-fiction is the skillful way in which the author weaves the tumultuous history of this area of the world throughout the story. He succeeds in creating another character out of Hungary, as if it were another person in the already outrageous cast, as opposed to it merely being a setting or a background for the events that unfold.

He also manages to perfectly capture and re-create for the reader the conflict between a blundering police force bent on serving justice to what they consider a “dangerous criminal,” and the rest of the country who sees the man as a modern day Robin Hood.. Robbing from a government that has failed all but the richest of its citizens and has opened the door for other countries to prosper off of their natural resources while returning no benefits to Hungary.

For fans of fiction and non-fiction alike, I would recommend this book. Bet you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if you didn’t already know.

[Via http://rottingout.wordpress.com]

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Great news: Noted deficit hawk to ...

Who is the Lycan Librarian?

2010-01-24T18:39:00.000+02:00

Welcome to Porter Grand’s Moonlit Library. The Lycan Librarian, as most librarians, knows that many people have a hard time finding books they will love to read. Life is short for mortals, so there is no time to spend struggling through a book one does not enjoy devouring. There is a vast legion of wonderful books that do not get the publicity they deserve, so the Lycan Librarian is here to share notes and impressions about wonderful, lesser-known books pulled from the new book cart, and from the dusty shelves of this library. (Yes, I fear I am a very poor housekeeper, as I would rather be reading than cleaning.) I hope to help you find new books and authors to rave and howl about, and to learn, from you, about some I have not yet discovered. I especially love dark books, and horror, but some of the most graphic and disturbing books fall in non-fiction and literary fiction categories, so I have learned to not pigeonhole books, and I don’t judge them by genre, their title, their cover, or their author. Each book is as unique as you and I, and we all deserve the chance to showcase ourselves on our own merits. I look forward to this blog being a fantastic journey, and I hope you will log in often to share it with me.

Porter Grand

[Via http://lycanlibrarian.wordpress.com]

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Book review: Leviathan

2010-01-24T18:36:00.000+02:00

I hesitated to read Scott Westerfield’s Leviathan because it is for “young adults,” but since it is a new steampunk book, and I tend to find YA books tolerable, I decided to read it in the end.

I found the book an uneven package, so I will start with the strengths. Leviathan is a very well-imagined and executed steampunk world of walking war machines and genetically engineered super-beasts. Set against the outbreak of World War I, the political divide between the German/Austrian alliance (Clankers) and the British/French alliance (Darminists) is overlaid with philosophical and religious differences over the use of machines and the manipulation of genetic material. These fantastic artifacts of engineering are wonderfully illustrated by Keith Thompson, and I would recommend any steampunk fan to at least flip through a copy just to look at the artwork.

The story follows two young heroes. Fifteen-year-old Deryn disguises herself as a boy to enter the British air force to serve on the living balloons and airships created by melding jellyfish, whales, glowworms, bats, hawks, and talking lizards. Think Harry Potter meets Horatio Hornblower meets Mulan. Her counterpart is Aleksander Hapsburg, the orphan son of Archduke Ferdinand. He flees the emperor’s assassins with his tutors and guards in a walking tank (think Star Wars) to a mountain hideaway in Switzerland. They’re both likable heroes, but neither one came across to me as particularly strong or memorable. They’re just…nice.

Deryn’s airship, the flying whale-beast called Leviathan, is shot down and crashes into the Swiss mountains. Alek comes out of hiding to help the survivors, and ultimately the Austrians and British join forces to escape the German military. And that’s it.

This is where we swing into the negatives. The hard cover edition features extremely large print, which pushes the book up to 450 pages or so, but the whole story feels like Act I. Naturally, there will be sequels, but we shouldn’t need sequels. We should want them.

The Harry Potter books each tell a single complete story within the larger, over-arching plot of the series. Each volume has a plot, and subplots, and a villain, and a resolution. Leviathan has no clear villain, just “bad guys out there in the world” and it has no clear plot. Alek is on the run from assassins, in general, and Deryn is just doing her job on her ship. They happen to meet, and fly away together. This is not a story.

There was also a disappointing lack of subplots. The secondary characters were fairly thin and interchangeable, with the exception of the British scientist and the Austrian count. You’ll find no rich cast of teachers, mentors, relatives, friends, love interests, and enemies. Which hurts the book.

So, I highly recommend the concept and the art, and I suspect when the series is complete I will also recommend the full story, but here and now, Leviathan is an incomplete book.

But in Westerfield’s defense, I would really like to see an adult version of this book, or an adult book set in the same world. It really is an exciting alternate reality, and I think if he were to tell a properly bloody and emotionally complex story in this world, it would be outstanding.

[Via http://josephrobertlewis.wordpress.com]

Dear News Media… | The Intersection | Discover Magazine

Busy-ness

2010-01-23T18:06:00.000+02:00

Things have been really, really busy (and kind of exciting) these last few days. On Thursday, I went to a retirement party and it was really nice – there was a really big turnout for this person, which she totally deserved. And I’l actually miss her – even though she’s not really leaving us. Then, yesterday, I had my follow up CT scan for my sinuses. It was wierd – just as weird as the first time – they put you on this kind of table that moves up down and back and forth. Then, my head was put into this circular type of thing that reminded me of a MRI machine, but it wasn’t a tube and it moved really fast, taking pictures of my sinuses.

Also, on Thursday, I visited the allergist for the first time and they did allergy testing on me. It turns out that I’m pretty much allergic to everything except for animals, food and mold. I’m allergic to all trees, grass and flowers. I’m also allergic to dust. That explains an awful lot, but maybe now I’ll get answers from the ENT.

I reviewed my latest read:

The review is here.

I also have a new Twitter account. I fixed the URL in the sidebar so be sure to add me.

[Via http://mominsanity.wordpress.com]

Fox News Wins Haiti, Massachusetts Election Ratings, By A Lot

Book Review | The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

2010-01-23T18:04:00.000+02:00

Quick review on Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point.

The book develops on top of the theory the author calls “The Tipping Point”, in which simple and modest things can make big difference in whether a message, a behavior, a product, a disease and whatnot becomes an epidemy or fails to deliver any significant result.

The writing

The basic concepts that surround the theory are presented and extensively defended and grounded with examples and case studies, always citing several experiments and studies somehow related to specific details of the concept. This is an interesting approach as it won’t just give a good credibility to the idea, as it will also present other ideas and concepts coined in different times and by different people, but that in the end help to suggest and defend the same things that the book author is writing about.

Still on the book approach to the ideas and concepts presented, the fact that the it will only run on top of the homonymous theory, defending it on its own and without stating whether it’s good or bad, right or wrong, and without attacking any other subversive concept, makes it for a compelling and enjoyable read.

The content

Running on top of 3 pillars: The Lay of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context, The Tipping Point theory suggest that only a few outstanding individuals are able to get in touch with a message and pass it on to several different individuals from distinct groups and cultures with the credibility of a friend, or can assimilate all the details of it and translate in a compelling way for the larger audience, or can be charming enough to draw and influence others to accept it.

It also suggests that details on how a message is presented determine how sticking it can be, what will make it for a remarkable experience and convert people to its interests. And how the context of time and circumstance, and audience and their boundaries can provide the necessary power for the message to last, convince or just spread like wildfire.

I found it specially interesting how short and quick the “Conclusion” chapter is, and how it needn’t be any longer, as you will inevitably map all the concepts presented back to your day-to-day experiences and all the trends you end up taking sides with. At some point things just seem to fit it, and it all makes sense.

The afterword by the author goes on how to take advantage of the Tipping Point concept to create develop your own messages and turn it on a tipping point for your goals. It also presents 3 new topics, showing how the isolation generated by the contemporary life helps different messages to tip among kids and teens, and how immunity can make an epidemic to cease and how important the people who are able to translate messages for larger audiences are, and why messengers should take special care of them to make sure they always have a good translation of their messages.

That’s it

Recommended reading for data junkies by the amount of data related to studies and surveys that are presented. For business folks and marketers also.

I also got Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking from the same Malcolm Gladwell, and will start reading it on February. Looking forward to it!

… find me on goodreads.com to share your thoughts with me and recommend me some good books!

[Via http://rafaelbandeira3.wordpress.com]

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Maggie Guest Reviews Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

2010-01-21T18:48:00.000+02:00

Maggie and I just finished reading Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr last night, which was a re-read for me, but a first read for her since she fell asleep on it last year and never picked it back up. I enjoyed it more this time around, and wonder if it was because I haven’t recently seen the movie, or that I saw things this time I didn’t before, or that it was the wide-eyed (most of the time), often giggling girl cuddling beside me. Maybe it was all three, but I’m thinking it was the last that increased my enjoyment the most

Since I reviewed it last year, I thought it’d be a perfect chance for Mags to do her first official review. She has given a paragraph here and there on different books that we’ve read together about what she thought of a book, but never the whole review. So, take it away Maggie!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

My mom is making do this, I want to play and this is boring and stupid, but she’s making me sit here and write this with her.

So why did I read Nim’s Island? “Because I wanted to” isn’t enough, mom says, so I guess I have to say more. At school we do Accelerated Reader. You get points for reading books and you get prizes and it goes on your report card. Also, if I don’t meet my point goals, I can’t play computer games. With Nim’s Island’s 3 points, I’ll have 46 points. I want to get 100 points by the end of the year, I’m trying to get mom to read Twilight with me, it’s worth like 20 points or something

Nim’s Island is about a girl named Nim who lives on an island with her dad, Jack. Her dad leaves her alone while he goes to study plankton. He only means to be gone for 3 days, but then a storm hit and his boat got broke, and he couldn’t get back to her. He let Nim know what happened by hooking up a note on Nim’s bird named Galileo. While he was gone, they got an email from Alex Rover, who is the author of the adventure books Nim loves. Having someone to talk to makes Nim feel less alone and happy to have a friend. When Alex finds out that Nim is alone, she comes to the island immediately, even though it was hard for Alex to even leave her apartment because she’s afraid of everything, even just going outside.

Five things I liked about the book:

I liked Fred, the iguana, best. He’s so funny. He always forgets he doesn’t like banana and takes a bite of Nim’s then spits it out and then Nim’s too grossed out to eat the banana.
The book was funny. When Fred got mad, he swam down to the bottom of the pool and hid under a rock.
It was cool that they lived on an island. I’d love to live on an island and swim in the ocean whenever I wanted. And she didn’t have to sit in a boring classroom for school, but got to sit outside and learn about nature and stars and how to talk to the seals.
It was a short book.
I liked the pictures in the book.

Things I didn’t like:

I didn’t like that Nim was left alone. It’s bad to leave kids alone. It made me feel sad that she didn’t have anybody to share the coconut pearl with or to comfort her when her knee got hurt.
I didn’t like it when my mom teased me and said she was going to stop in the middle of the storm, in the middle of a sentence. This is what she did:

“The water was up to Alex’s waist, then her chest, and up to her neck; she was spluttering and ducking, and… “

Okay, time for bed.

I threatened to bite her if she didn’t finish. She finished.

Did I mention I didn’t like writing a review?

I give Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr 4 out of 5 stars. Okay, that’s all I can think of, so I guess I’m done.

YAY! I’m FREE!!!!

[Via http://thekoolaidmom.wordpress.com]

John Edwards admits paternity – Washington Post | Latest news ...

The Year of the Flood

2010-01-21T18:45:00.000+02:00

I took everyone’s advice and finished my book club book – The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. I’m an Atwood fan, and looked forward to reading this futuristic view of a dystopian society. Although I don’t usually care for science fiction, Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale - not really science fiction, but certainly futuristic - is an all-time favorite of mine. I picked up Year of the Flood hoping to find something similar.

For anyone who read Oryx and Crake (which I did not), you’ll find some familiar characters as Oryx, Crake, and Amanda Payne, to name a few, show up here. However, the point of view differs as Flood focuses on an “eco-religious” group known as God’s Gardeners. The main characters are Ren, who enters the sect as a young girl, and Toby, who is rescued by them as a young adult. The different perspectives that these characters bring to the story give us different ways of understanding the group and it’s leaders, particularly “Adam One,” the acknowledged head of the group.

The story is a fairly straightforward look at how this group attempts to withstand the disintegrating society of the “Pleeblands” (average citizens) and the “CorpSeCorps” (Corporate Security) that governs this dystopian world. It is a world rife with manufactured “food,” genetically spliced animals, and other completely conceivable changes to the natural order, with an ultimately bleak view of our future. There is suspense, friendship and affection, hymns, and the occasional sermon from Adam One to take us to an ultimate resolution of sorts.

I can’t say that I loved this book, although I loved parts of it. Atwood is always wonderful in her literary style and eye for detail, and this book is a great example of that. It is obvious that environmentalism is a cause near and dear to her heart. In fact, she has established a website, www.yearoftheflood.com, with many resources concerning the environment (and a CD that was produced of the God’s Gardeners hymns).

However, I felt that the heavy emphasis on environmentalism in this novel came at the expense of the storyline. I found many of the futuristic names (“liobamb,” “HelthWyzer,” “the Exfernal World” to name a few) distracting and off-putting. The plot was often dragged down by side stories designed, I believe, to proselytize about potential dangers to the planet and/or our western culture.

I don’t begrudge the time I spent reading this – it was interesting and gave me a lot to think about. However, I can’t honestly say that it is a book I will recommend often to friends.

Grade: C

[Via http://2manybooks2littletime.wordpress.com]

GTA tops the list, and other game news

Book review: The Road Less Traveled

2010-01-21T06:47:00.000+02:00

The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth by the late M. Scott Peck, M.D was first published in 1978. A classic book about the road to spiritual growth through discipline, love and gratitude, something I return to for guidance and highly recommend to others. The ideas put forth are timeless and invaluable.

This is an insightful book about life and highlights how our upbringing and family dynamics effect our future. I found this book really thought-provoking and relative to raising a family as one needs to follow their conscience and make tough decisions. Peck teaches and encourages this process.

My favorite parts of the book were the real life stories as Peck was a practicing psychologist/psychiatrist who reveals the secrets to fulfilling, healthy, meaningful and lasting relationships. It really makes you see yourself and others in a different light, as well as words and concepts we think we understand. His hallmark argument is that we so often view love as a noun instead of a verb… as something that just happens to us or doesn’t happen to us, instead of an ongoing task we must work at…that work, that action-is love.

[Via http://michellemerrifield.wordpress.com]

Tiger Woods in Mississippi latest: Daily News says it's true ...

Book Reviews: January Edition

2010-01-19T18:15:00.000+02:00

The Christmas Break gave me a chance to catch up on a lot of books I’ve been waiting to read… most of them were well worth the wait!

“ Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church” by Michael Horton

This is a hard-hitting wake-up call for those of us in the American Church. Horton, a professor of systematic theology and apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, essentially dismantles what passes for theology at most evangelical churches in this country.

While he does confront the errors of “pop theology” movements such as the “Word-Faith” or “Prosperity Gospel” of Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen, and the “seeker-sensitive” or “Emergent Church” of guys like Brian McLaren, his harshest criticism is reserved for those of us who attend conservative evangelical churches. His primary argument “is not that evangelicalism is becoming theologically liberal, but that it is becoming theologically vacuous”. In other words, it doesn’t take a great heresy to lead the Church into apostasy. All that is necessary to make the Church ineffective is for Satan to succeed in de-emphasizing the centrality of Christ in our churches. Horton’s argument is that the vast majority of churches follow a “flavor of the moment” mentality, emphasizing programs, political activism, and social work — in and of themselves all admirable undertakings — at the expense of the preaching and understanding of God’s Word. This leads to a lack of discernment among professing believers, leaving many unable to even tell the difference between sound doctrine and heresy.

This is not to say that this book is merely a collection of criticisms. After all, anyone can identify problems. What is needed are visionaries who offer solutions. This is the purpose of the final chapter in the book, in which Horton calls for the Church-at-large as well as individual church congregations to recommit themselves to theology, and, most of all, to the power of Christ and the Word. After all, it is the Word of God that equips us for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Still, read by itself, this book is long on critique and short of solutions. However, Horton wrote in the introduction that this would be the case, as this book is actually part one of a two-book effort in this area. It’s counterpart, “The Gospel-Driven Life”, is entirely solution oriented, giving direction for those who, like Horton, do not believe that the Church has already arrived at “Christless Christianity”, and that reformation is not only possible, but imperative. I hope to offer a review of this second book in the next month or two.

All in all, this is a great read, though you should be prepared to be convicted by it. I certainly was! Buy it here.

“Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit” by Francis Chan

This is the second book published by the author of “Crazy Love” (which is one of the greatest books published in the last few years). Those familiar with Chan’s previous work will undoubtedly love this one. In it, he explores the theology of the Holy Spirit. His premise is that the Holy Spirit is the “forgotten” person of the Holy Trinity — not in the sense that he is actually forgotten or left out completely, but that our understanding of the Spirit lags behind our understanding of the roles that the Father and Son play in the Godhead. We have neglected the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, choosing in most churches to either over- or under-emphasize the Spirit’s power in the lives of believers.

“Forgotten God” is light reading, but offers questions that require deep reflection. Chan does not offer an exhaustive study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Rather, his purpose in this book is to stimulate conversation and thought about the Holy Spirit, which will lead in turn to more Christians taking up further study of the Spirit from God’s Word. He does this primarily through sharing testimonies of believers who exemplified spirit-filled lives (such as Joni Eareckson Tada and Francis Schaeffer), and by gently confronting pre-conceived notions about the work and purpose of the Spirit through asking tough questions (“I think most of us would…choose a physical Jesus over an invisible Spirit. But what do we do with the fact that Jesus says it is better for His followers to have the Holy Spirit?”) and pointing out uncomfortable truths (“Let’s be honest: If you combine a charismatic speaker, a talented worship band, and some hip, creative events, people will attend your church. Yet this does not mean that the Holy Spirit of God is actively working and moving in the lives of the people who are coming.”).

Highly recommended reading for any Christian. Buy it here.

“Words From the Fire: Hearing the Voice of God in the 10 Commandments” by R. Albert Mohler, Jr.

In this book, Mohler, who is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, writes an exposition of the Ten Commandments, explaining how each is still vitally important to us today, even though we live under the covenant of grace, and not under the law. Jesus, after all, was the fulfillment of the law, and we are to be like him. While Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to come to faith by the free gift of God’s grace — even though we are guilty of breaking every commandment He has ever given us — we are still called to live according to God’s Will. Jesus didn’t remove the law, though he removed it’s power over us. Rather, he raised the bar, setting an even higher level of expectation for those who bear His name. It is not enough to live according to the letter of the Law. We are to live according to its spirit, through the power of the Spirit which enables our obedience.

The purpose of the book, says Mohler, is to answer the question: “How do we know and teach what we claim to know and teach?” His answer is that God is a God who speaks. Previously, He has spoken through the law, but now He has spoken through the Living Word, Jesus Christ. This leads to what he calls “several realities that should frame our thinking”. He offers eight such realities that must be true regarding the question “How do we know?” if we operate under the assumption that God speaks, and that He has spoken: If God has spoken, then (1) we do know; (2) we know only by mercy; (3) we too must speak; (4) all He has spoken is about God, and it is all for our good; (5) it is for our redemption; (6) we must obey; (7) we must trust; and (8) we must witness.

Mohler then devotes a chapter to each of the commandments. I was amazed and challenged by the depth of his insights, particularly in regard to our worship. In fact, as I was reading the book, I shared one of those insights here on this blog. His focus is entirely on Jesus, and this makes the 10 Commandments more “relevant” now than ever! Mohler’s summary in the penultimate paragraph of this book is spot on:

“Understood rightly, these commandments lead, not to our despair that we fall short of them, but to our thankfulness for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ comes to save lawbreakers like ourselves. Thus, we see the commandments themselves as grace to us. But our confidence is not in our ability to keep these commandments, for we will surely fail. Our confidence is in Christ, whose perfect obedience fulfills the law.”

This book would make an excellent resource for small group discussion, as well as for personal reading. Buy it here.

“Who Made God? Searching for a Theory of Everything” by Edgar Andrews

I don’t know if I’ve ever had more fun reading a book so steeped in scientific terminology… in fact, I’m sure I haven’t! Andrews, who serves as Emeritus Professor of Materials at the University of London, is one of the world’s foremost experts on molecular science. He also possesses a keen wit and employs a great sense of charming British humor in his writing (think Monty Python without the crassness).

In this book, Andrews addresses what he calls “the sceptic’s favourite question”: If God made everything, then who made God? Richard Dawkins and many other “new atheists” seem to think this is a trump card that destroys any argument in favor of a Creator God. Rather than simply refuting the arguments of these atheists, though, Andrews instead asserts that this is an “unanswerable question” not because Christians do not have an answer, but because the question leaves the word “God” undefined. The question “Who made God?” begs the question “Who is God?”

With that in mind, Andrews seeks to come up with a scientific “theory of everything”, which he says is every scientist’s dream. Whereas many Christian apologists have devoted themselves to refuting the assertions of atheists (primarily in regards to Darwinian evolution), the author’s goal is to promote a positive thesis (that God exists and reveals Himself in the Bible) rather than a negative antithesis (that Darwinian evolution is false). His book’s purpose then, is “to explore how the biblical hypothesis of God provides a comprehensible, intellectually consistent and spiritually satisfying view of being that encompasses man’s experience of life, the universe and everything.”

Andrews explores the origin of life using what in science is called the “hypothetical approach”. This involves investigating two (or more) mutually exclusive hypotheses, and observing which hypothesis accounts most plausibly for what we observe in every area of life. He reasons that this is the approach seen in the Bible itself. Nowhere in God’s Word do we find any argument that seeks to prove God’s existence. It is assumed from the very beginning: “In the beginning God…”

The book goes through all of the most recent scientific theories regarding the origin of life, as well as the history of how those theories developed. He covers everything from molecular biology to astrophysics to natural selection to string theory. This branches out into discussions of philosophy and psychology. At every point, though, these complex scientific theories are presented in layman’s terms, making heavy use of analogy. At each point of discussion, Andrews explains how “natural science” (which assumes there is no God) accounts for what is observed, and then compares it with his hypothesis of God (which assumes that He exists and that the Bible offers explanation for all that is observed). It is truly fascinating.

If you are a fan of books dealing with the “Creation vs. Evolution” debate, this is a must-read. If you are skeptical of God’s existence or the authority of his Word, this will address your questions better than just about anything else out there. If you’ve never read a book in this genre, this is a great place to start! In other words, buy this book… eventually. It’s been a hot seller, and is currently unavailable pending a second printing! When it is available, you’ll find it here. In the meantime, feel free to borrow my copy!

“Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches” by Russell D. Moore

This is a book I never thought I’d read. Now I can’t imagine how a book exactly like it wasn’t published long before 2009! In his first chapter he explains why you ought to read the book, even (and especially) if you don’t want to… and I’m ashamed to admit that this probably described me.

There are plenty of “how-to” books regarding adoption. There are plenty of books describing the great need for adoptive families felt by orphans all over the world. There are plenty of books examining the theological doctrine of spiritual adoption. This, to the best of my knowledge, is the only book that combines these three in a manner that shows how these issues absolutely cannot be separated.

Russell Moore is a professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, but he writes this book as both an adoptive father and an adopted son of our Heavenly Father. His book argues that the Bible does not draw any lines between theological adoption and practical adoption, so Christians should not, either. The Bible tells us over and over what it means to be adopted into the family of God, as sons of the Father and co-heirs with Christ. It also tells us that pure & undefiled religion requires the care and rescue of orphans, just as Christ did not leave us as orphans.

Moore does not assert that all Christian families are called or equipped to adopt, but he DOES assert that EVERY Christian has a responsibility to be involved in adoption, whether through becoming adoptive parents, helping others to adopt, or working to create and/or support an adoption ministry in the local church. After reading this book, I am 100% convinced that this is absolutely true. After your Bible, I don’t know that there is a more important book that I could commend to you than this one. Buy it here.

You can learn more about this by watching this short promotional video for the “Adopting for Life Conference“, which Laurie and I will be attending in about a month. If you would like to attend as well, we’d love to travel with you!

“Big Truths for Young Hearts: Teaching and Learning the Greatness of God” by Bruce A. Ware

Last but not least is a book that I read very quickly, but an now going through very slowly and meticulously. I was intrigued to hear that Bruce Ware, professor of systematic theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, was publishing at the end of 2009: A systematic theology written to be taught to and read by children!

In the book’s introduction, Ware explains that as his daughters grew up, he began to realize that what he had been teaching them each night at their bedsides was the same material he had been teaching to his seminary students for decades! This led to the idea of writing a book that would progress systematically through the essential doctrines of Christianity on a level that is accessible and understandable for children, without compromising on the rich truths expressed in Scripture.

I have to say, he has done a great job with this! Far too often we underestimate the ability of children to grasp the deep things of God. How tragic! They understand far more than we think, and in many cases, probably more than we do. After all, Jesus didn’t tell children to have faith like adults! There is a deep need for our children to be brought up immersed in the Word, and this book will be a great resource for parents seeking to raise their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). I am personally thankful to have this tool as I pursue my aim of becoming a Proverbs 4 dad!

Though this book says it is written for ages 9 and up, it is by no means childish. To be perfectly honest, most adults could stand to learn much from this book! We live in an age where an intellectual pursuit of theology is not much emphasized in evangelical culture, and it is probably safe to assume that the vast majority of Christians have never devoted themselves to a serious and systematic study of theology. If a 1200+ page seminary text seems intimidating, this quite manageable 230-page paperback could be the ideal starting point for many! Buy it here.

********************************************************************

I’ve just realized that three of last month’s books were written by professors at Southern Seminary. Perhaps I need to look elsewhere for books this month! Thankfully, none of the books nearing the top of my reading stack are in any way affiliated with SBTS:

“The Gospel-Driven Life” by Michael Horton; “Counterfeit Gods” by Tim Keller; “The Trellis and the Vine” by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne; “Unleashing the Word” by Max McLean

http://www.monergismbooks.com/Christless-Christianity-The-Alternative-Gospel-of-the-American-Church-p-18103.html

[Via http://ssbcworshipministry.wordpress.com]

AMERICAblog News: Kuttner on Obama, Coakley, and health care reform

Book Review: Covenantal Theonomy by Kenneth Gentry

2010-01-19T18:01:00.000+02:00

As an advocate of the theonomic (theocratic) thesis for almost ten years, I am continually perplexed at the attempts of Kline’s disciples to override the theonomic agenda. Like all other theologies, theonomy is not a monolitihic position. The Jordanians and Bahnsenians have gone their separate ways, though both affirming the necessity of God’s law for modern society (for some differences read James B. Jordan’s Therough New Eyes).

In his Covenantal Theonomy, Kenneth Gentry responds to one of Meredith Kline’s most fervent disciples, T. David Gordon. Gentry’s response focuses on Gordon’s premise that the Bible is insufficient to address issues pertaining to the civil sphere. Gordon argues that theonomists have abused the law of God by perpetuating the Mosaic Law in the New Covenant. Gordon argues that the law had a distinct purpose and it was meant for a distinct people, the theocratic nation of Israel. However, following the Bahnsenian tradition, Gentry argues persuasively that the law is part of the immutable character of God. Since God does not change, his laws remain the same in every time and place, unless it is rescinded by a New Covenant imperative (the sacrificial laws as a clear example). Further, Gentry argues that the Scriptures provide a clear case for the accountability of non-theocratic nations to the law of God. Even nations who did not have the disctinct Mosaic laws as their own were judged for violating them.

Unique to this discussion is the exegesis of Matthew 5:17. Gentry spends a considerable time defending the theonomic understanding of this text. This passage is crucial to the theonomic position, though theonomy, as Gentry reminds, is not dependent exclusively on it. The theonomic thesis is “rooted in the presupposition that Scripture is the self-attesting word of God, which is not to be dismissed by man (170).” Thus, Paul and the other New Testament writers assume a theonomic thesis.

The reader will see two clear assumptions as they compare Gentry and Gordon. Gentry is firmly grounded in the Westminsterian tradition. That is, the main confession of the Reformed Presbyterian faith is on the side of theonomy on this issue, as Gentry ably expounds. Gordon, on the other hand, holds no such commitment. He affirms–as his mentor Kline– many times that the “assembly” and “divines” were wrong to assume such continuity between covenants. Thus, confessionally, Gentry and the theonomic tradition are in good standing.

Gordon, though in error in most of his assumptions, brings a freshness to the debate. He raises several crucial questions. Is it legitimate (as I have argued elsewhere) to take exceptions to your tradition’s central confession? Have theonomists been too literalistic in their understanding of civil laws without considering the trajectory and redemptive outworkings of biblical history? Has theonomy minimized the biblical idea of “wisdom” and “maturity” in speaking to areas of the civil sphere? My own perception is that the modern day theonomists (or “theocrats” as Jordan prefers) have matured in their view of biblical ethics. They have filled in the gaps which our early forefathers were not able to do.

Further thoughts:

a) For a more recent expression of the theonomic movement, see James B. Jordan and Peter Leithart’s lectures at the Biblical Horizon’s Conference in 1991.

b) As you read through Gentry’s response, note the level of research in the footnotes. Theonomists have in the words of Gary North “foonoted opponents to death.”

c) If you do not already have Greg Bahnsen’s masterpiece Theonomy in Christian Ethics, you can purchase it from Covenant Media.

[Via http://apologus.wordpress.com]

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Book Review: Steering By Starlight

2010-01-19T06:25:00.000+02:00

In my last book review, I was disappointed by the book’s inability to cause a change in my husband and I. Well, I won’t be saying that about this one. Not since The Power of Now has a book stirred me up so much. A definite life shifter, Steering by Starlight is the kind of read that makes you want to live better and believe that a better life (a more magical, mystical and miracle-laden one) is possible.

This is one of the books I call my “turtle reader” because it’s among my stash that I read super slowly. It’s my wine and chocolate read. This is the kind of book that should be savored, absorbed and appreciated. Frankly, I couldn’t get enough of it and was sad when it came to an end.

Why?

I’m a big fan of Martha Beck. But I have to say this is one of my favorite books by far. Written in Beck’s light, humorous style (comparing lizards to our minds and Harry Potter’s dark arts to toxic people), she provides easily digestible info on life’s most painful parts. This book didn’t fail to deliver on fun or insight.
Beck sheds light on everything from dream analysis to dealing with toxic people. I’m so glad I bought this book and not borrowed it because I know that it’s going to be something I can turn to again and again.
Powerful exercises. Every self-help book has exercises for you to do. Normally I wince when I see them and don’t get much out of it, but in Steering by Starlight, I was first surprised by how fun they were and then by how powerful it turned out to be. One of my favorite exercises was thinking about a positive thing in my life now and going backwards from end to beginning. I realized that a lot of so-called negative events were actually necessary and in the end brought something positive in my life.
Beck’s books are influential because they show rather than tell you how to change your life. Reading about her life story and seeing both difficult life challenges and its positive outcomes were inspirational. She spreads optimism and hope by demonstrating what is possible.

Why not?

It’s difficult to find a con about this book. I think if anything, I wish it were longer.

My last words:

If you’re struggling to find your purpose, feeling stuck and need a change, I definitely recommend this book! Since I’ve picked it up, I’ve been experiencing small miracles every day. My only regret is that I’ve already read it and have finished most of her books. Martha puh-leaze write more books!

[Via http://2inspired.wordpress.com]

Metaprinter – Covering the News from Haiti via Blogs and Twitter

Three more carnivals!

2010-01-17T18:17:00.000+02:00

I haven’t posted here for a month, but the carnivals keep rolling out like clockwork.

On Dec. 21st I hosted a carnival at my own blog I’ll Never Forget The Day I Read A Book!. January 3rd saw our first carnival of 2010 at Book Dads. And today the 35th Book Review Blog Carnival is posted at Home School Dad .

Submissions are being accepted for the Jan 31st edition, to be hosted by Kitsch Slapped. Submit your BOOK REVIEWS here. Did I mention that this carnival is for BOOK REVIEWS?

[Via http://bookcarnival.wordpress.com]

The Morning News: Haiti, Health Care, Hack the Planet | Slog | The ...

Book Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

2010-01-16T18:45:00.000+02:00

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Scholastic, 2009. 400 pages.

Source: Personal copy

When I curled up with Shiver and read the first few chapters, I was captivated. Grace is a teenage girl who survived a wolf attack in her Minnesota backyard as a child; Sam is the werewolf who saved her from the rest of his pack. During the six years since the attack, the two have watched each other: Grace catching glimpses of Sam in wolf form from the safety of her home and–rather than being afraid of his frequent presence–finding herself drawn to him. Other people in town are not so captivated by the wolves. When a boy from Grace’s high school is killed by one, hunters take to the woods to weed out the pack. Fearing for the life of “her wolf,” Grace plunges into the woods and encounters him in human form.

The story that follows is romantic, full of long gazes and many (mostly chaste, yet intimate) nights spent in Grace’s bed. Facing what may be his last year of ability to switch back and forth between wolf and human form, Sam’s body temperature must be carefully regulated in order to keep him from changing back into a wolf. Grace is determined to help Sam remain human for as long as possible, and her ability to keep a roof over his head owes to the fact that her parents are largely absent. Sam’s wolf-ness doesn’t remain a secret for long, though, and complications arise from nearly every direction: curious friends, rogue pack members, and the impending winter frost.

I enjoyed this book, but the thrill I felt when I began reading it did dwindle throughout the course of the story. Parts of it are very slow. There are many, many episodes where Sam and Grace snuggle in bed or do other leisurely activities together, like cooking or reading. (Sam’s one literate lupine, let me tell you! Rilke is strewn throughout the novel.) These scenes were sweet and did help to portray the young couple’s intimacy and ease with one another, but also they made me long for something, anything to actually happen to move the story forward. Alternately, the parts of the book which dealt with Sam’s pack members and teens from Grace’s school felt as though they were cluttered with too many characters. I’m not sure how these episodes could have been framed differently–where there’s one wolf or high school student, there tends to be many–but most of these side characters lacked depth. On the other hand, the alternating first-person narration limits the story’s perspective to either that of Sam or Grace. When I think about it this way, it makes sense information about side characters would be incomplete. Even so, the huge ensemble wasn’t quite satisfying to me.

That said, I think this is a good book for teens and adults who enjoy paranormal romance. A second book, Linger, will continue this story in July 2010. Perhaps that’s why there are so many characters in Shiver? Lots of directions for a second volume.

[Via http://readingandrooibos.wordpress.com]

Friday Morning News: Brownout? « The Confluence

Chaplin: The Tramp's Odyssey

2010-01-16T18:37:00.000+02:00

Lovers of classic comedy and show biz biography undoubtedly know the name Simon Louvish. In recent years, the Scottish-Israeli film scholar has penned colorful, interesting books about W.C. Fields, the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Mack Sennett, and Laurel and Hardy. In Chaplin: The Tramp’s Odyssey he tackles the granddaddy of them all, providing his own quirky insight into one of the 20th century’s greatest enigmas.

As Louvish wisely points out in his prologue, there are probably already a hundred books on this juicy subject. Yet still the author has managed to carve out a niche for himself, mostly by presenting the most up-to-date scholarship on the topic, and by structuring his book playfully, as a sort of marathon Charlie Chaplin film festival starring the Tramp himself. Chapter headings are named after Chaplin’s key films, the themes of which are connected to events in Chaplin’s own life. Most significantly, he makes the touchstone of the book the greatest crisis of Chaplin’s adult life, and one of the most unfathomable events of (if you’ll excuse the expression) modern times: Chaplin’s 1952 exile from a land where he had been universally beloved only a decade before.

It would be hard to exaggerate the scale of Chaplin’s fall from grace. In his heyday he had been the highest paid man in America, the co-owner of his own movie studio, an icon, a toy, a comic strip. His Q factor was second only to Santa Clause. As Louvish mentions in one of the book’s more arresting sections, Chaplin actually enjoyed a following in the jungles of Africa – in a time not so long after Stanley first bumped into Livingston. An intimate of Shaw, Wells and Einstein, Chaplin was as close to a God as it is for a mortal man to get without actually commanding an army. But mortal is the key word. After one too many scandals involving girls half his age, and a rather foolish propensity to speak too generously about America’s Cold War enemies, Chaplin was given the “heave ho” by some grand-standing No Nothings, and the public betrayed him with a speed that would astound Timon of Athens. He spent the next 25 years in exile in Switzerland – a deposed king not so very unlike Napoleon in St. Helena, a subject about which he’d once wanted to make a film.

With the benefit of hindsight, it becomes easier to see why this unthinkable event happened. Yes, America loves the Little Guy. It also loves the Self-Made Man. But by the time of Monsieur Verdoux, Chaplin had ceased playing the former, and seemed to be denying the right of his fellow citizens to join him in becoming the latter. When a child of grinding poverty in Europe becomes one of the wealthiest inhabitants in America, and then implies that her ideological enemy has the better system, it should at the very least not be surprising that the public reply becomes “don’t let the door bang you in the ass on your way out”. On the other hand, it is surely no coincidence that Chaplin’s detractors tended to be morons who showed no evidence of comprehending the Constitution or its Bill of Rights, the very instruments that made the American system superior to the communist one in the first place. These documents, when honored, were supposed to guarantee Chaplin’s freedom not only to make his fortune here, but to say whatever damn-fool idealistic notion came into his head. Otherwise, America may as well be Russia. Call him any names you like. But kick him out for his beliefs, and (to adapt a handy modern phrase) the communists will already have won.

But don’t be deceived. This political angle is really just the book’s eloquent framing device. Louvish is writing about a comedian after all. Much intelligent analysis is given to the content of the films, including thorough descriptions of their plots, for those who don’t know them. Strung together as they are in Louvish’s book, the chapters of Chaplin’s life spool together like the reels in a film. The trajectory of his life, occurring as it did in numerous discrete, definable steps, makes for an exceptionally coherent narrative arc even under the worst of circumstances. His Dickensian childhood, his apprenticeship with Karno, his stint as first among equals at Keystone, the breakout at Essanay, the formal brilliance of his Mutual period, the full flowering at First National, the masterpieces for United Artists, the talkies, and then the political and personal problems that brought him down. Weaving through it all, like a naïf on a fairy tale journey, is the character of the Tramp, far from Chaplin’s only creation, but the one that public clamor constantly demanded he return to.

As always, Louvish is smart, passionate and writes with clarity. Sometimes, he is almost too smart. A spirit of “gotcha” pervades his books. He’ll catch his subjects in some inaccuracy and match it against a documented truth he has uncovered elsewhere, often a date or some other salient detail, and then follow it with an (often literal) crow of “aha!” While correct facts are obviously necessary to the progress of knowledge, I frankly find Louvish’s attitude of triumphalism a bit illogical, even perplexing. Do entertainers often lie in the course of building their myths? Of course – public relations is, after all, the Siamese twin of show business. No revelation there. But just as importantly, and just as frequently, the actors themselves are not lying at all. They are people who have led extremely busy lives, often advanced in age when they slow down to pen their memoirs. Lapses in memory can often attain proportions appalling to their devoted fans, who revel in memorizing every minute fact of their heroes’ lives and careers. Think of George Harrison in the 1995 Beatles documentary, not remembering if a certain song was on Rubber Soul or Revolver. Inconceivable! Woody Allen claims not to have seen most of his own films since they first premiered in theatres. To my mind, it’s crazy to even bother citing the artists or their intimates as sources in such cases, except where the occasional example may reveal some particular illuminating truth. With Louvish, spotting the uttered untruths is a kind of bloodsport, often taken to absurd degrees. When writing about one of Chaplin’s many child-brides Joan Berry, Louvish writes “Note that press and FBI records consistently spelled her name as ‘Berry’”. Why? Why should we take any note of that at all? It speaks volumes about Louvish’s abilities as a fact-checker, but little if anything about Charlie Chaplin.

But these are nutshells in an otherwise tasty cake. While some of the notes on the dust jacket give the impression this book is for Chaplin aficionados only, my feeling is that it’s detailed descriptions of the films themselves (for those who don’t know them) ought to widen its appeal. Call me a Pollyanna, but who doesn’t want to know more about Charlie Chaplin? The book is available here.

[Via http://travsd.wordpress.com]

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Book Review: Roseanna by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo

2010-01-14T18:24:00.000+02:00

Excerpt from back cover:

“The masterful first novel in the Martin Beck series of mysteries by the internationally renowned crime writing duo Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo, fins Beck hunting for the murderer of a lonely traveler. On a July afternoon, a young woman’s body is dredged from Sweden’s beautiful Lake Vattern. With no clues, Beck begins an investigation not only to uncover a murderer but also to discover who the victim was. Three months later, all Back knows is that her name is Roseanna and that she could have been strangled by any one of eighty-five people on a cruise. As the melancholic Beck narrows the list of suspects, he is drawn increasingly to the enigma of the victim, a free-spirited traveler with a penchant for casual sex, and to the psychopathology of a murderer with a distinctive-indeed, terrifying-sense of propriety.”

I have been spoiled with white knuckle murder mysteries that I almost didn’t finish this book. Written in 1965, it really made me slow down and think about crimes and how they were solved back then. I think this book was a breath of fresh air, mostly because I’m not used to the old detective or manual solving of a murder. I gave this book a chance and really learned how murders were solved back in the 60s. This book took place mostly in Sweden, with many references to other parts of the world, including Lincoln, Nebraska, where the murder victim was from. If you can get past the obvious grammatical errors made during the translation from Swedish to English, then it is worth the read. However, you have to give this book a chance because the main climax comes about 50 pages to the end of the book. Please don’t read just the last pages of the book because it gives an overview of most of the passengers of the boat, why Detective Martin Beck is the way he is, and the gripping details as to how they solved a virtually unsolvable crime. All they started out with was a dead body in a lake.

My rating: 4 out of 5

Next book review: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

[Via http://mkarbon.wordpress.com]

Google News Drops AP

The Manly Art of Seduction Gets Banned on FaceBook

2010-01-12T18:20:00.000+02:00

The book banned on FaceBook

I’m not sure what it takes to get banned from FaceBook. I guess you have to do something so heinous that it has not only no redeeming social value, but you should not be able to show your face either in civilized company or on any street in New York. I mean, it should be in the same category as someone who kidnaps girls out of madrassas in Afghanistan and sells them into prostitution. O.K. I did not do that. And neither was I actually physically banned from a site that now captures the imaginations, time, and for many the advertising attention of edging onto a 100 mil people. That means that FaceBook now is an unofficial country, much larger than, say, Vatican City, with an amount of wealth that would make the Vatican pink with envy.

No, I did not get banned. My book did. Like a lot of authors, I got taken in with the idea that in order to sell my book to the multitudes, I needed a FaceBook ad. I had been flogging the hell out of the book on my FaceBook page to whomever would give me an inkling of attention (and let’s face it, any author’s friends, among whom are many other authors, get tired of being the same old meat to that writer’s works).

I needed an ad. So I clicked the little button that runs you through “creating your ad.” It was simple. My book is a how-to book. It is about mastering an art form. It could be the art of sculpture, or French cooking (pace Julia), Baroque dance, or flirting. O.K. It’s actually closer to the last one. The book is called The Manly Art of Seduction, How to Meet, Speak to, and Become Intimate with Anyone. The book is aimed squarely at gay men (you could pretty much tell that from the cover), and it has absolutely nothing to do with seducing 13-year-old virgins of any gender (sorry, Mr. Polanski), or imposing yourself in a male-chauvinist way on anyway. The main reason for my writing it is that in this age of Cubicle Hell and Digital Isolation, too many queer men have become just as klutzy as anyone when it comes down to going up to, meeting, and scoring with other men. They are wracked with feelings of rejection, even before they leave their apartments. I wanted to change this, and came up with a wonderful program to do this: I know, it has made me psychologically secure, socially popular, and sexually happy as a pig in doody most of my life. Since you are only allowed a paltry 100 character in your ad, I had to get in their “the fustest with the mostest” as Stonewall Jackson advised. So my ad had the book cover and these few words:

Frustrated, scared of rejection, a complete guide to emotional and sexual satisfaction with men.

The ad then came with a link to the Amazon page for ordering the book. Since on FaceBook ad rates are based on the size of your potential audience (and they are steeeep, let me tell you), I narrowed down my audience to single gay men: a merely 13,000 souls I was told. Therefore, the ad would appear on pages that other single gay men would see, and not on pages frequented by Christian households, etc. I released my copy up to the FaceBook gods, and a few hours later, got a message from them saying:

”Hi Perry Brass,

Thanks for purchasing a Facebook Ad! Below is the confirmation for the ad that you have created. You will be charged only for the impressions or clicks your ad receives and this amount will never exceed your daily budget. We will email a receipt for each charge from your Facebook Ads account to this email address.”

This message was signed: The FaceBook ad team. I came to learn that at all points I would be interacting with the FaceBook Ad team, never with a real person who can be reached one-on-one. But I had the potential of reaching 13,000 randy, ready, single gay men, so what the hey (!) as they say.

Blissfully, my ad ran. I was given a link to spot every page view and click, and the clicks did happen. I was getting a lot of clicks and hundreds of page views. I was happy. The book was not selling through the rafters on Amazon, but then we have a recession going on.

Everything was hunky-doory for a week, when suddenly I got an email from my friends at the FaceBook Team telling me that:

“The content advertised by this ad is restricted. Per section 5 of Facebook’s Advertising Guidelines, this content is prohibited from being advertised on Facebook. We reserve the right to determine what advertising we accept, and will not allow the creation of any further Facebook Ads for this product. Ads for this product, service or site should not be resubmitted. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy.”

In other words, the famous FaceBook team, looking over hundreds of thousands of FaceBook ads decided that my ad, for The Manly Art of Seduction, was not in keeping with FaceBook’s good name in this world. My product, a book, would be banned from FaceBook ads, even though it defamed no one (FaceBook has a ban on any product that calls for racial, ethnic, gender, or sexual orientation hatred of any kind), sold no service, and did not direct anyone to any kind of questionable site other than Amazon.com.

I was furious, of course, as any author or reader can imagine, and having obtained the name and email address of a real person at FaceBook, who answered me once in the name of the famous Team regarding a billing question, I fired off an email to “Betty.”

”Dear Betty,

Can you please explain to me why the ‘FaceBook team’ has decided that after 58,000 impressions and over a hundred clicks, charging me $68, my book will henceforth be banned from ever being advertised on FaceBook? I think that banning books is a very serious charge, and would like to know why FaceBook has suddenly decided that this book is offensive? The book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and probably hundreds of bookstores. So what is it about this book that FaceBook finds offense enough to ban it from ever being advertised on ‘our site’?”

I’m sure “Betty” felt this was a quagmire she was not going to get her kindly butt into, so she turned the question over to “Molly.”

“Hi Perry,

Thanks for writing in to us. This issue has been escalated, and after reviewing further, the product was determined to be unacceptable to run on our site. We do not allow ads for products with a sexual emphasis, including seduction, sexual health, etc. Please note that we reserve the right to choose which advertisements we’ll accept, and we will not allow the further creation of ads for this product. Users have demonstrated that they are very sensitive about these types of ads on our site, and we are taking these concerns very seriously.

Thanks for your cooperation with this decision.

Thanks for contacting Facebook,

Molly

Online Sales Operations

Facebook

I was, as ever, amazed at the chirpiness of this response from dear ol’ Molly. I was also amazed at how many other truly questionable ads I found on FaceBook—ads for a site for foot fetishists, for a site for definitely X-rated “massage therapists,” and for numerous dating and plain old escort services. One of my friends warned me, though, not to call attention to these ads, because the poor schnooks who took them out and were paying for them, would be bounced off, too, and didn’t they have a right to pay dollars for FaceBook’s millions of eyeballs, just as I had wanted to?

I also learned that FaceBook has a truly hypocritical attitude toward gay content; they will censor any ad they feel is “too gay,” and once told The Advocate, a national gay magazine, that they could not use a picture of Matthew Mitcham, an “out” gay Australian diver who was a star at the Beijing Olympics, in a Speedo. In other words, an image that a couple of billion people had seen, this diver in a skimpy bathing suit, was not right for an ad for The Advocate. The Advocate, which is now owned by a gay media conglomerate, caved in, feeling they could just as easily switch the cover image to one of a straight celebrity in more than a Speedo. They did, and the FaceBook Team was happy. So my question is, do these more “blue” ads just get past the FaceBook Team’s eyes? Or, did some bluenosy fundamentalist, while on the lookout for trouble, alert the Team to the vileness of my book?

(In regard to FaceBook’s hypocritical and homophobic stance on “gay” material, I can also attest that numerous other gay men have had similar experiences, to the point that even images of shirtless men have been deleted from some FaceBook pages. This goes on while the same kind of image can appear happily on other pages.)

It’s all hard to say. But it does make me wonder now that we are entering that phase when Social Networking sites are becoming the gatekeepers of a lot of our culture, one way or another, what other things will be banned from promotion on FaceBook, etc.?

As an aside, I Googled movie titles with the word “Seduction” in them: They are numerous, and some of them are tied to classic movies such as “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” with Barbara Harris and Meryl Streep. Sorry, Meryl, your movie can never be advertised on FaceBook. Also, I did an Amazon search of books with the same word in the title: I stopped counting after sixty titles. I would gather that none of these books can be advertised on FaceBook either. Sorry, you poor authors, you toilers of the pen and the DVD screen: clean up your acts! The Seduction Police are here.

You can also read more about FaceBook censoring The Manly Art of Seduction, How to Meet, Talk to, and Become Intimate with Anyone in this article in Out in Jersey:

http://outinjersey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=608:facing-homophobia-with-facebook&Itemid=1

For more information about the upcoming workshop based on the Manly Art of Seduction, Jan 20, 2o10, please visit

http://manlyartworkshop.eventbrite.com

[Via http://perrybrass.wordpress.com]

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It's not about the bike: Lance Armstrong

2010-01-12T06:39:00.000+02:00

A serious reader could not have missed hearing about this book. It has been making news ever since it has been written. I too heard of it but never felt the urge to pick it up and read it. On my recent library visit, I picked this book up for lack of any other choice. I am glad I did it because this was one inspirational read I have done since a long time.

The book is written by Lance Armstrong, a cyclist. It is about his fight against cancer and survival. The author was diagnosed with cancer just when he was at the peak of his career. He was at the advanced stage and had to undergo multiple surgeries and multiple sessions of chemotherapy. The surgeries and chemotherapy drained out the last ounce of energy from his body and left him almost dead. He bounced back and entered the Tour de France and won it and went on to win three more of them. This book is his journey from diagnosis of cancer and his winning the Tour de France.

Armstrong could have easily adapted a tone of feeling sorry to win the sympathy of the world. Instead, he puts up a brave face and wants the world to be motivated by his fight. For Armstrong, the focus is on the fight and the ultimate bouncing back rather than the cancer and the suffering. This I feel is the best part of the book. The tone of the book is one of courage and not of self-pity. This is what made the book work for me.

The book starts with Armstrong’s childhood. He talks about his father abandoning his mother and how his mother struggled to run the house and pay his fees. Armstrong shares a strong bond with his mother and that is evident from the very beginning. They understand each other very well and you wish you had that kind of relationship with your mom. The book goes on to trace Armstrong’s journey as an amateur cyclist and his turning pro. It takes an emotional turn when Armstrong is diagnosed with cancer. His surgeries, his chemotherapy sessions, the way he and his mom read and read about cancer to gain knowledge in order to fight it out – all this makes for a motivating read. The book continues about his recuperation and his decision to get back to professional racing, his wavering between states of self-confidence and depression. There is even a detailed section on IVF, where Armstrong talks openly about his experience.

The book was easy and quick to read. This may not the best book I have read, but it will remain in my memory for a long time. If you are going through a low phase in your life and need some pepping up, this is the book for you.

[Via http://mybookshelf.wordpress.com]

Palin to Fox News: 'I am Thrilled to be Joining the Great Talent ...

Wisdom Sits in Places

2010-01-10T18:33:00.000+02:00

Working with the Rocky Mountain Land Library’s collection frequently provides us with a blast of remembrance, recalling favorite books from many years ago. Books such as Keith Basso’s Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language Among the Western Apache. Anthropologist Keith Basso lived and worked with the Western Apache for fifteen years when an elder asked him to make a map. “Not whitemen’s maps, we’ve got plenty of them, but Apache maps with Apache places and names. We could use them. Find out something about how we know our country.”

Basso took to the task and learned more than any one map could convey. As one of his Apache friends tells him: “Wisdom sits in places. It’s like water that never dries up. You need to drink water to stay alive don’t you? Well you also need to drink from places. You must remember what happened at them long ago…then your mind will become smoother and stronger…” Basso’s simple words speak volumes. This is a classic work on the power of place.

A Sampling of Apache Place-names

from Wisdom Sits in Places

Trail Goes Down Between Two Hills, Slender Red Rock Ridge, Eagle Hurtles Down, Whiteness Spreads out Descending to Water, Juniper Tree Stands Alone, Line of Blue Below Rocks, Big Cottonwood Trees Stand Here and There, Flakes of Mica Float Out.

Water Flows Inward Under a Cottonwood Tree

[Via http://landlibrary.wordpress.com]

Toshiba to enhance line-up of 32nm multi-level cell SSDs ...

Beyond 'Shopaholic' -- A Review of Sophie Kinsella's Stand-Alone Novel 'Remember Me?' Coming Tomorrow

2010-01-10T18:06:00.000+02:00

At last, a novel that dares to ask: What if you got amnesia and couldn’t remember all of the important things that had happened in recent years, such as that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had gotten divorced? Tomorrow: A review of Remember Me?, a stand-alone book by Sophie Kinsella, the author the bestselling “Shopaholic” series.

[Via http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com]

Adebayor unhurt in gun attack - Manchester City FC

Random Tidbits

2010-01-07T18:06:00.000+02:00

I just tried updating this blog to make it look a little more snazzy. I think it looks a little better and hopefully, over time, I make this look semi-professional. For the time being, this will have to do.

On a side note, and not entirely having to do with book reviews I am going to attend my first book release party next week - very exciting! The party is for the upcoming book, Add More ~ing to your Life, which proves to be a pretty incredible book about making a better you for the new year. I’m very excited. Also, the author, Gabrielle Bernstein, is pretty awesome. She’s young, she’s perky, she’s intelligent, and she’s legit out there to help young women succeed in the world.

Here is her website if you want to check it out: http://www.addmoreing.com/

Also, I found this a while back and I thought it was incredible. It’s a listing of all the outta sight libraries in the world so check it out: http://thisrecording.com/today/2009/6/10/in-which-i-always-imagined-that-paradise-would-be-a-kind-of.html

(I’m starting to think heaven could be a kick ass library)

So that’s all. Have a good Thursday!!

[Via http://andreafsper.wordpress.com]

Mouth Of The Potomac - NY Daily News

Book Review: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith

2010-01-07T14:20:00.000+02:00

I’ve been catching up on reading over the holidays and finally finished Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust, by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith. I’ve been reading the book off and on since fall, and I’m glad that I’ve taken my time with it, as a lot of its lessons are ones that should percolate awhile, to get the full benefit.

If you’re wondering about the mindset that made Brogan and Smith—two social media veterans—so successful doing business over the Web, then Trust Agents delivers on its promise to explain the thought process behind what they do. In addition to describing the six basic principles of being a trust agent, the book includes “actionable information, supported by research, strategies, and studies” (p. xii)—all presented in an anecdotal yet intellectual style, that’s both enjoyable and enlightening to read.

So, what’s a Trust Agent?

In the opening chapter on trust, social capital, and media, the authors define people “who humanize the Web” (p. 20), as trust agents (p. 20).

Trust agents have established themselves as being non-sales-oriented, non-high-pressure marketers. Instead they are digital natives using the Web to be genuine and to humanize their business. They’re interested in people (prospective customers, employees, colleagues, and more), and they have realized that these tools that enable more unique, robust communication also allow more business opportunities for everyone (p. 15).

Further, these digital natives are comfortable with a new level of transparency, on the Web:

They operate under the assumption that everything they do will eventually be known online. Realizing they are unable to hide anything, they choose not to try. Instead, they leverage the way the Web connects us and ties our information together to help turn transparency into an asset for doing business (p. 9).

According to the authors, those who understand how to build relationships on the Web, also know how to make business happen both on- and off-line, as an extension of their social capital:

When people come together and share a meal [or in this case, interests or goals on the Web], they not only end up fed, they also become tighter as a group. The mere act of gathering means that they will exchange things—stories, favors, and laughs—and will grow richer as a result. It may sound touchey feely, but these things have real value. And we don’t just mean that they keep you warm on a cold winter night, either, we mean they have real value, as in “you can take it to the bank” value (p. 22).

In this view, “online social networks (like the Facebooks and Twitters of our time)” are media, “not because they help us communicate, but because they extend human relationships” (p. 18).

Trust Agent Principles

The book is organized according to the six basic characteristics/actions of trust agents:

Make Your Own Game: My favorite chapter, it provides examples of and strategies for “gatejumping”—what happens when you find a better way to do things, while everyone else is too busy to notice (p. 35). It describes three methods of gamesmanship, including playing, hacking, and programming, where the business objective is to “understand the systems, learn the rules, and then determine whether we want to hack the existing systems or create completely new ones” (p. 66).
One of Us: Comparing the trust we reserve for those off-line, Brogan and Smith suggest that “trust on the Web is more highly impacted by what other people say.” “…a lot of trust on the Web is established by groups, through a sense of belonging—in other words, by being One of Us (p. 80).
Archimedes Effect: “The Archimedes Effect is about leverage [on the Web]: putting in a certain amount of effort and getting a greater result than our normal human effort would give” (p. 115). This chapter shows “how the whole Web is one gigantic lever, and you can use it to accomplish pretty much anything more easily than before” (p. 139).
Agent Zero: This chapter observes that “…no matter where they go, trust agents have a desire to connect good people together. We refer to this as being Agent Zero; being in the center of a network and being able to spread ideas” (p. 142).
Human Artist: This chapter describes how essential people skills are to business. It provides tips on learning the etiquette of circumstances and understanding how to interact with people. It calls customer service, “the new PR”, and an area where trust agents “can crush your competitors and create great press for you” (p. 198).
Build an Army: This chapter explains that “leaders aren’t simply those who are best at doing their jobs; they are best at helping others to grow and gathering those people’s skills to their command when necessary” (p. 240).

It ends with a summary chapter “The Trust Agent,” which interweaves the various characteristics/actions discussed previously and shows how these principles tie back to your career, in immediate and actionable ways. It describes how frames and perspective matter in business and how the trust agent “analyzes things with a particular strategy and end result in mind” (p. 243). To this end, it advises starting small and provides six games you can begin making for yourself today.

Recommendation

This book really made me think a lot. That’s about the highest praise you can give a book, and why it’s such a provocative read. As I considered the six principles of trust agents, I was constantly playing devil’s advocate, in the sense that though I want to be on board, I intuitively know, as even the authors themselves observe in the concluding chapter, that in a lot of settings, trust agent moves would be dismissed, as too amateurish or unquantifiable.

In other settings, I suspect the views expressed, and the implied loss of control they require, would be deemed outright heresy. Would a Robert Scoble approach really work for me, and most “regular” worker bees?

Frank Eliason from Comcast Cares notwithstanding, I still ask myself how likely a trust agent is to flourish, from within. Is this a book only for those consultant/entrepreneurial types, already operating outside the system? And if these principles don’t work within, then what does that say about your business’ likely prospects to succeed?

And yet the proof is in the pudding. Brogan and Smith offer example after example, where trust agent principles have worked, not least of all in their own businesses, in that take your money to the bank, sort of way. And to that end, they have written a wonderfully generous book, reflecting on their collective experiences on the Web, and making their lessons easily accessible to us, as the helpful mentors they are known to be.

And so, we’re left to consider—is the Golden Rule the key to business success on the Web? and by the end of the book, the authors seem to imply, in all relationships? Brogan and Smith think so:

…if you were to retain one piece of information, one tip, about the social side of trust, it should be this: You need to be liked, and you start becoming likeable by being worthy of being liked. Be kind. Be patient. Be humble, on time, and generous. Be that person you would like to be friends with. Likeability and the related trait, intimacy, is one of the biggest factors in trust, and it’s one of the easiest to develop with people online (p. 247).

Unfettered idealism? or the deepest pragmatism? Is helping others, for the right reasons, also one of the most effective ways to help yourself? Is it possible to do both, simultaneously, and remain genuine? That’s for you to decide. But make no mistake about it, Trust Agents is a revolutionary book, showcasing how the Web helps create democracy, “in the ability for all of us to produce and distribute our materials” (p. 223). In good democratic fashion, the book’s conclusion challenges us to write the next chapter, and answer these and the many other implied questions it raises, for ourselves. Read it.

Book Review: The End of the Circle, by Walter Cummins

2010-01-07T06:18:00.000+02:00

BOOK REVIEW by DUFF BRENNA

Walter Cummins has published more than one hundred short stories in venues such as Kansas Quarterly, Virginia Quarterly Review, Confrontation and many, many other journals and magazines. His fourth collection of stories, The End of the Circle, takes place on the run, so to speak, in various places like America and London and Venice and Leiden, the Swiss Alps and Paris and other locations in Europe.

“Oxfords” dips into the lives of Stuart and Winnie and baby Tink; Elaine and Henry and baby Joy. Stuart and Winnie live in Oxford, a tiny farm town in America. They are prosperous and have a very comfortable home. Stuart has a large library that Henry envies. Both Stuart and Henry work at a nearby university, but Stuart is not a teacher. He’s a renowned scholar. A renowned scholar doesn’t need to teach; he does renowned scholar stuff. These contrasting personalities, especially Stuart and Henry, find very little in common. Their wives have babies, Tink and Joy, to help them connect, but Elaine and Winnie would never have formed a friendship otherwise. It’s what the story is about ultimately—connections, how vague and formless and happenstance they are, even those connections between parents and children. This unlikely foursome never really coalesces. The men are awkward together, having only Stuart’s work to talk about (because he wants to talk, not listen), work which Henry finds only mildly interesting. What Henry notices more than anything other than the renowned scholar’s library is that Stuart can’t stand his son Tink, seems to hate him, actually. We find out the boy was an “accident.”

One day Henry and Stuart are talking and the thread of the conversation leads Henry to think that Stuart is going to explain his aversion to Tink. But instead of an explanation, Stuart wants to discuss Tristram Shandy, and Henry, trying to follow Stuart’s elaborate thesis, ends up “uncertain whether he was in the presence of genius or a bizarre form of madness.” The upshot of Stuart’s problem with his son? He’s a noisy kid, a distraction. A magnificent mind needs quiet in order to work well. Stuart can’t have a screamer around the house. Too disturbing. Too bothersome. Ultimately, scholarship wins and Stuart leaves Winnie and Tink.

Later, after tragedy strikes Henry and Elaine, the story shifts 20 years into the future and a coincidental meeting in England. A grant has taken Henry to Oxford University. He runs into Stuart who is there doing research. But there’s a large problem for the renowned scholar who needs quiet. His son Tink is there too. Tink is searching for his daddy, who vehemently does not want to be found.

The second story in the collection, “Baggage,” might have been called “The Irritable Traveler.” Or maybe “The Rotten No Good Bastard.” His name is Howard. He’s on a train going from France to Italy. He’s packed into a compartment with five other people of various nationalities. They’re all kind to each other, affable, accommodating; all that is except Howard who decides (capriciously) that he doesn’t like any of his fellow passengers and will not speak for the entire trip no matter what language they use to communicate with him. An old woman in the compartment drops her passport accidently. Howard knows where it is, but he won’t tell her. Let her fret. To hell with her. The passport is found by one of the other passengers and given back to the fretful woman. But Howard’s baggage is on a rack over her head. He sees it is going to fall on her if he doesn’t do something. It is a moment wherein Howard can redeem himself and also spare the old lady from serious harm. Do it, Howard. Come on, man move. You could call this one a cliff-hanger to the last page.

“The Happy Frenchmen” is a story about funny doings. Man. Woman. Love affairs. Let’s get away from it all, darling, away from your wife, away from our colleagues who might rat us out. Let’s go to Italy and call the trip our honeymoon. Sex, good food, wine. And sex and sex, yes lots and lots. Grand idea. Except fate steps in and the couple suddenly have to deal with the man’s dislocated sacroiliac. Sex? What man can have sex when he can hardly get out of bed or dress himself or move other than in a crimped crab sort of way? He’ll find things he doesn’t want to know about his new lover. She’ll be enlightened as well. And there’s that pesky wife waiting back in the States. This story isn’t a belly laugh, but it’s full of irony and knowing chuckles and wise insights into the nature of “lovers” like these two. “Awful Advice,” “Poaching,” and “The End of the Circle” come at the same theme of illicit love in various ways. All three narratives are little gems and perhaps the most haunting stories in the book.

Other treasures include “Stef,” “What Eamon Did,” “The Beauties of Paris,” and “Missing Venice.” Stef shows us a father visiting his estranged daughter in London. She has a new baby and she’s not married. Her flat is a rundown disgrace. The father has married a younger woman and he doesn’t want to tell her about Stef, but he also wants somehow to connect with his daughter. He is clumsy and awkward. He tells Stef that her baby looks well-behaved. Rapidly, caustically Stef says, “You’ve only seen her for ten seconds.” He asks if the baby gives her problems. With obvious annoyance Stef replies, “She’s a baby, isn’t she.” Then this telling exchange:

“I only meant that some are easier than others.”

“So are some parents.”

And therein hangs a tale of parents and children and everyone going their own way, cutting themselves off from their blood ties and finding how impossible it is to backtrack or start a relationship over. Too many mistakes, heartaches, failures, lapses in caring that turn things so sour nothing can sweeten even an hour when you haven’t been around for years, Daddy. But surprisingly this story concludes on an encouraging note, an ending suggestive of the hopeful possibilities it uncovers.

Carter in “What Eamon Did” is a loner. He saves just enough money at teaching each year to set out for the countryside, living in the woods sometimes, or renting a room when the weather turns bad and he has to. When he stops at a pub for a drink one day some musicians show up to entertain the patrons. One musician who plays a pipe aggressively taunts a man in the audience named Eamon. There is obviously bad blood between them. Carter wants to know what in the world the problem between the two men is. He tries in various ways to find out. By the end of the evening the piper has provoked a fight, not with Eamon, but with Eamon’s overwrought wife. A fight because of something Eamon did, “some crime or sin or stupid error.” Carter knows that the people in town won’t ever let the man forget, not for as long as he lives.

In “The Beauties of Paris” we have another father estranged from his daughter. Her name is Ariel. She has nursed her mother through to a painful death and it is obvious that she, Ariel, is still deeply grieving and angry and emotionally exhausted. The father wants to distract her from her grief by showing her the beauties of Paris. Like the father in “Stef,” he also wants to connect. In an odd way a tentative connection happens when he gets them both lost at night in the middle of a Parisian riot.

“Missing Venice” has David and his son Donny on a train to Venice. David is divorced from Donny’s mother. The fourteen-year-old brat has been making trouble for her. She has remarried and is having another baby and she wants Donny out of her hair, so she guilts David into taking his son on a trip that was originally planned for David and his new wife Virginia.

David and sullen, pissed off Donny meet Maria, a homely woman who doesn’t know when to shut up. She barrages the father and son with her knowledge about Italy and the places the train is passing through. When the three of them reach Venice they can’t find a place to stay, so they end up searching for lodging, wandering the city at night with their cumbersome luggage. It’s very late and very dark and Maria is in an alley crying, David trying to comfort her, Donny standing by angry and bitter at the whole stupid world. When two women and a man they had seen earlier show up and start beating David and Maria, “This is death,” David believes. The sensation of “an absolute emptiness” shudders through him. But finally Donny has somewhere to put his anger. And he does. The result creates one of the most satisfying endings in the entire book.

All of the stories in this latest Cummins’ collection tell us how difficult it is for human beings to really know one another—to really connect—and how unpredictable our futures are. With subtle symbols (trains, unknown streets, crumbling towers to nowhere, dark alleys, claustrophobic hotel rooms) and character insights that only the finest writers have at their command, Cummins reveals another fact over and over: nothing turns out the way you think it will, so don’t create scenarios for your tomorrows. Don’t make inflexible plans, dear traveler—unless you want to hear God laugh.

Duff Brenna is the author of the novels Too Cool (a New York Times Notable Book), The Altar of the Body, and The Book of Mamie (an AWP Best Novel selection).

[Via http://asitoughttobe.wordpress.com]

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