Book Reviews–July 23, 2014

It’s the middle of the day, so I have some time to review books. Since my last book reviews, I feel like I’ve started, but not finished a lot of books. There have just been a number of books that I couldn’t get interested in within 100 or so pages, so I stopped. I think that’s why I rate all the books I finish with As or Bs. If it was just a C or lower, I likely stopped before I got to the end.

Dallas, 1963 by Bill Minutaglio. (audio) This is another book about the Kennedy assassination, but this one focuses on the atmosphere in Dallas before the assassination. Many players are introduced and their motives exposed. The inner workings of the upper echelon of Dallas society are exposed and the rift between Dallas and the Kennedy administration are explored. It’s a fascinating book. A

The Spellmans Reunited by Lisa Lutz. I LOVE the Spellmans series of books. This family of private detectives is wonderfully dysfunctional, but in a loving way (if that’s possible). The reader, as usual, is dropped into the story in the middle of an impossible situation. As things play out, though, things work out. This book is a bit more serious with characters with significant illnesses and facing mortality. Actually, that’s one of it’s strengths. It’s also the last of the Spellman books, which makes me sad. It’s definitely worth a read. A+

The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert. The main character in this complex novel is a woman who is raised in 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania by her botanist parents. She becomes a botanist in her own right, specifically, a bryologist. However, she stays in the Northeastern US until her 40s, when she travels after a love affair. In the long run, she visits Tahiti and ends up living in the Netherlands and doing some significant writing and thinking. I loved this author’s writing style; the characters were deep and real; the plot was twisting and full of interest. Overall, a great book. A+

Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead. This story of a ballerina in New York who leaves the ballet to marry her high school sweetheart, have a son, and move to the suburbs in California. But there’s so much more. It’s a story about the ballet, love, passion, honesty, and betrayal. And it’s a well-told story. A

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. A young orphaned Irish girl in the last 18th century in Virginia is brought into the house of a prosperous farmer as an indentured servant. She becomes an integral part of the slave society, but has to relearn a great deal when she grows up and becomes part of the well-to-do society. A good story about class, race, and the blurring of the lines even in plantation society. B+

Hidden Girl by Shiyma Hall. This autobiography is about a girl who was born in Egypt but sold into slavery by her parents. Her captors brought her to the US when she was 8 years old, and she was rescued by US social services a couple of years later. The book tells the story from her early life in Egypt to her adulthood in the US. Compelling. A

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta. Yes, I read this because of the HBO series, although I haven’t seen the HBO series. This is the story of a town trying to deal with the aftermath of a global “rapture-like event” in which apparently random people just disappear. The fact that those who disappear were not particularly religious or particularly good makes it different from the “Rapture” of pretrib evangelicalism – and very disorienting to the characters. The plot is basically a year or so in the life of different characters in this town, so it wasn’t a very strong plot with a definite climax. Otherwise, I thought it was a good read. There were lots of significant conflicts and things to think about. A good read. A

JesusLand: a memoir by Julia Scheeres. The author and her brother were raised in a strict Christian home (not particularly Evangelical from what I can tell, probably more Reformed) and were the youngest of a number of children. Actually, Julia was the youngest of the biological children and her brother was her age, but an adopted African-American. Their upbringing was strict and bordering on abusive for Julia and clearly abusive for her brother. When they were in 11th grade, they were both sent to Escuela Caribe, a Christian boarding school for “troubled teens” in the Dominican Republic, where they stayed until they were 18. The story is primarily of their time in this school, which was also emotionally and physically abusive. The memoir is well-written and interesting. A- (Note – There is a documentary out that I’ll be reviewing in an upcoming post called “Kidnapped for Christ” about Escuela Caribe which I found out about a month after I read this book.)

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. The disappearance (and, it turns out, death) of the oldest daughter in a family is the event that starts out this book about the seemingly well-adjusted family in a small city. In fact, the family is anything but stable. Underneath the shiny veneer, each family member has it’s own set of emotions and turmoil that can’t be disclosed or discussed with others. And when Lydia dies, they find out how little they really know about each other. This is an exquisitely written book about family dysfunction that I highly recommend. A+

Ruby: a novel by Cynthia Bond. I just don’t even know where to start in describing this book. The story is wound around Ruby, a black girl from East Texas who could pass for white, who grows up “in a white lady’s house” and then moves to New York as soon as she can only to come back to Texas when her cousin dies. But, her hometown in East Texas has gone on like nothing has changed  while Ruby has been gone. And, when Ruby gets back, she starts the acting crazy just like her mother did. But, is she crazy or is it the gris gris from all those years ago? The story is told in bits and pieces, fits and starts, but it eventually pulls itself together into a coherent whole. It’s about black and white, North and South, mental illness and magic, power and seduction. And it’s worth reading. A

Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerwin. (audio) OK, everyone on the planet practically has seen at least part of the HBO series “Orange is the New Black”. I eventually watched part of one episode, but I decided that I really didn’t want to watch such graphic sex, so I gave up on it. But, from the little I watched, I could see it didn’t have that much resemblance to the book I read. This memoir of a young woman who committed a drug crime, got caught, and then had to wait 10 years to serve a 15 month (I think) sentence in a federal detention facility is well-written and very  thoughtful. What stood out to me were the scenes that humanized the women in the federal penal system. It’s so easy to think of them just “getting what they deserve” (and often they are), but they are also people who are trying to live life however they can behind bars. I was also very impressed by her observations about the effectiveness of our justice system. Many of those behind bars are apparently there because of minimum sentencing laws when more thoughtful sentencing might produce more restorative justice. In any case, it’s a good book that I highly recommend. A+

The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout (audio) I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I found it worth listening to. This is a story about two brothers and a sister and the sister’s son. The sister’s son gets into some trouble when he throws a pig’s head into a local mosque which is complicated by the fact that the Muslims in town are almost all refugees from Somalia which makes the townspeople very nervous anyway. The brothers, both lawyers, come from New York, back to their hometown in Maine to help. From there, things get more complicated and all the family dysfunction starts to show.  By the end, things may not be rosy, but wounds are starting to heal. A

So, what have you been reading or listening to recently?

Book Reviews–May 2, 2014

I don’t do reviews very often, so I’m going to do a lot today. Hold on tight!

The Cornbread Mafia by James Higdon – The story of marijuana growers in Kentucky in the 1980s and the law enforcement activities that finally made a significant dent in the “industry”. A

Bonnie and Clyde: The Lives Behind the Legend by Paul Schneider – (audio) Fascinating story about Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker and their crime spree across the southeastern US in the 1930s. I decided to listen to this after we watched the History Channel miniseries. Not surprisingly, the facts as written in the book were rather different than what was portrayed in the miniseries. Interesting book. A

Lethal Guardian by M. William Phelps – (audio) Another true crime book. This is the story of a highly dysfunctional family in which a child’s aunt plans and pays for the murders of the child’s step-father because the aunt is convinced that the step-father is engaged in child abuse despite the lack of evidence. The woman that planned and paid for the murder was a lawyer at the time. An intriguing story and well-written. A

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan – A story about mothers and daughters in the US and China in the early twentieth century, about abandonment and love, and about being reunited. A beautiful story and well worth reading. Definitely for adults since the setting is courtesan houses in China. A+

Sense and Sensibility by Joanne Trollope – This is a retelling of the Jane Austen classic of the same name, but set in modern day England. I enjoyed it, but can’t say it was particularly outstanding. B

Belle Cora by Phillip Margulies – This novel set in late 19th century New York and San Francisco tells the story of a woman who went from a strictly conservatively religious childhood to owning several brothels in San Francisco. It’s an enjoyable read, but not earth-shattering. A-

Murder In the Heartland by M. William Phelps – (audio) This true crime book tells the story of heinous crime: the murder of a young woman in late pregnancy with the delivery of her baby by crude C-section. The perpetrator then proceeded to pass the baby off as her own. The book tells the story of the investigation that found the baby quickly and got her appropriate medical care and back to her family. Fascinating. A

Hellhound On HIs Trail by Hampton Sides – (audio) This is the story of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King, Jr., although we don’t hear his true name until close to the end of the book since he used so many aliases. While most of the book focuses on Ray, there is a good bit about Dr. King and his movements in the months before his death. This is a well-written and quite interesting book with lots of information that was completely new to me. A+

Vanity Fair by Thackeray – (audio) This must be the fifth or sixth time I’ve listened to this audiobook. I read it in 9th grade and the whole thing went over my head. After I watched the movie with Reese Witherspoon in it, I decided to read it again, and I loved it. But, I get why my fourteen year old self couldn’t understand it. I highly recommend it, but it may take more than one exposure before you learn to love it. A+

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston – My mom recommended I read this non-fiction book. This is the story specifically about an outbreak of a viral disease in a monkey facility in Reston, Virginia that was determined to be Ebola virus (it was actually a new strain and was named Ebola Reston) and the purging of the facility and euthanizing of the monkeys. But, more generally, it is also the history of what we know about Ebola virus in general. The author’s tone about how vulnerable we are to Ebola and how we are always on the brink of human annihilation is a little wearing at times. Ebola hasn’t spread because of it’s high case-fatality rate. It kills so many of it’s victims that it can’t get established in the human population. That being said, recent outbreaks of Ebola in areas that are emerging out of the African jungle are worrisome. Still, the near-constant tone of doom and gloom is kind of hard to read. Otherwise, a very good book. A-

The Burglary by Betty Medsger – This wasn’t an easy read, but I’m glad I finished it. the book is the story of the burglary by anti-war activists of the FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania in 1971. The perpetrators were never identified, but most of them allowed themselves to be identified in this book. The author of the book was one of the journalists to whom the burglars sent copies of the files that they had stolen from the FBI office. I also learned much about the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, and the shocking amount of spying on ordinary Americans that has gone on in the past and may even be continuing. A fascinating book. A+

Someone Else’s Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson (audio) – I totally adore Joshilyn Jackson’s books. There hasn’t been one yet that I haven’t just devoured. Until this one. I am so sad to say this, but this wasn’t my absolute favorite book of the year. I loved the narration – she reads her own books. I just had a hard time getting into the book. But, I was kept interested enough to finish it, and I’m glad I did. The plot went somewhere completely unexpected and that made the whole thing worth it. So, it was a good book, but not her best. A-

A Cruel and Shocking Act: The Secret History of the Kennedy Assassination by Philip Shenon (audio) – This long book tells the behind the scenes story of the Warren Commission. Not only the author write about the commissioners, but he writes in more detail about the junior and senior lawyers for each team. I was surprised by how truly petty so many of the commission members (i.e. elected officials) could be and by how much a role politics played in who worked on the report. The “secret history” that the author learned was what the junior and senior lawyers never got the chance to put in the report and the leads that they never got to track down, particularly leads in Mexico City. Definitely worth reading. A

Daughters-In-Law: A Novel by Joanne Trollope (audio) – A family with three sons marries off their last son and has to come to grips with the fact that their sons’ lives no longer revolve around the parents. Daughter-in-law have to learn to live with a mother-in-law who has to learn that she’s not the only woman in her sons’ lives. A good read (listen). A

So, what have you been reading? Any recommendations??

More Reviews!

More of what I’ve been reading and listening to in the last few months.

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote – This is the classic of the “true crime” genre. Capote tells the story of a family who is murdered by two men whose ultimate goal is robbery. Along the way, we learn about the victims’ and the murderers’ lives and families as well as some of the criminology of the day. Fascinating and well-written. A+
• The Sex Slave Murders by R. Barri Flowers – Another true crime novel. And the name is more lurid than the book. This is the story of a couple who committed serial murders because of the husband sexual compulsions. Interesting story about how a girl who grew up with “everything” in an upper middle class family with doting parents got ensnared by a man who apparently had no moral compass. I listened on audiobook. A-
• Facing the Wind by Julie Salamon – This is the story of a man who had everything, a loving wife, three kids, and a good job. But, he lost his job and took over the day to day care of his disabled son and was overcome by severe depression and, in a fit of psychotic depression, killed his family but was unable to complete his own suicide. This is a fascinating look at the background of this man’s life, particularly life surrounding his disabled son, the situation surrounding the killing and the aftermath, and his attempt to put his life back together after he got out of the mental hospital. The book was really pretty good, but the narration got rather sing-songy. B
• The Good Rat by Jimmy Breslin – This story of the Mafia felt rather disjointed to me. He appeared to be stringing together many narratives about the Mafia along the backbone of the  confession of a major organized crime figure (i.e. the Good Rat). I enjoyed listening to it, but the wandering nature of it made me a little disoriented at times. B
• The Innocent Man by John Grisham – This is a true story by John Grisham about a man who was convicted for a crime he did not commit. Grisham is detailed without being dull. In the end, the protagonist, who spends time on death row, is exonerated with the help of DNA evidence and the Innocence Project. It’s a sobering look at what can happen to innocent people when law enforcement doesn’t step back to be objective. A+
• A Death in Belmont by Sebastian Junger – In this story, the primary crime is the murder of a woman in Belmont, a suburb of Boston, right around the time that  the Boston Strangler was terrorizing the city. In fact, this murder might have been categorized as one of his except that it was “solved” so quickly despite the fact that the man never confessed and was convicted on circumstantial evidence. The author grew up a few blocks from this crime scene and one of the day laborers who worked on his house confessed to being the Boston Strangler. He wrote this book with scenes from his home renovation, the stranglings, and the Belmont murder case, weaving them in a cohesive story. Very Interesting book. A
• The Bling Ring by Nancy Jo Sales – This book is a combination of the story of the Bling Ring, the teenagers who broke into celebrities’ houses to steal things, and analyses of the culture that allowed such a Ring to flourish. It’s an enlightening book with lots of insights into youth and celebrity culture. A

What have you been reading? I’m always up for suggestions!

Reviews–January 13, 2014

It’s been a while since I posted any reviews. I doubt I’ll remember everything I’ve read or listened to, but hopefully you’ll find some ideas for books.

• A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin – This is the last book (so far) in the Song of Fire and Ice series. All I can really say about this book is that you shouldn’t believe a character is dead until their head is good and truly separated from their shoulders (and even then, it’s questionable). The armies are separating and merging for one great war that had better involve dragons. We’ll have to wait for the next book/s to find out! Note: lots of violence and sexuality. A-
• The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg – I should tell you first of all that Fannie Flagg is one of my absolute favorite author and I was ecstatic when I heard that she had a new book coming out. And the book did not disappoint. The story takes place simultaneously in present day in southern Alabama and in the 1940’s in Pulaski, WI and then Texas. It’s a far-ranging story over time and place about how we construct our identity. I highly recommend it. A+
• Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint by Nadia Bolz-Webber – I like memoir, especially spiritual memoir. Nadia Bolz-Webber is a woman who doesn’t look like your typical “Christian” woman, much less a Lutheran pastor, and this book tells the story of how she got from alcohol and drugs to pastoring. Mostly, though, I like to read how much she loves Jesus, and she loves sharing Jesus with people who society is ready to give up on. It’s a great read! A
• Dark Places by Gillian Flynn – This is the third Gillian Flynn book I’ve read and I loved it (although not quite as much as the other two). The main character was the only survivor after her family was murdered when she was seven years old. Her brother was thought to be the one who committed the crime and is in prison for it. The book is an exploration of the crime and the truth behind what happened and the main character’s search for truth. It’s a bit dark, but I liked it. B
• Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn – This was the second Gillian Flynn book I read and I found it gripping. The main character is a journalist who is sent back to her hometown to report on two suspicious deaths. This, of course, brings back her own issues. Again, it’s rather dark, but a good book. A-
• Law and Disorder by John Douglas – Douglas is a retired FBI agent who wrote this book about cases where law enforcement could have done a better job or can learn lessons.  It’s a fascinating book. A
• Shattered Innocence by Robert Scott – This is the story of Jacey Lee Duggard, the 11 year old girl who was kidnapped and held prisoner for 18 years, bearing 2 children to her captor. This is a fascinating story, particularly showing the failure of the legal system to keep a known kidnapper from kidnapping Jacey Lee Duggard and holding her for so long. B
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt – This is a true story of a murder in Savannah, Georgia and the prosecution and appeals of the man who was convicted. There is a lot of commentary about other characters in Savannah society and it’s unclear who actually committed the murder, and we may never know. But, it was a good book.B
• Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer – Another true crime story, but this one focused on a family that practiced polygamy. Ultimately, it was a story of faith, violence, and mental illness. Not bad. B-
• Inferno by Dan Brown – I really dislike Dan Brown’s writing style, but his plots drag me in and the next thing I know, I’m halfway through the book and have to finish. It’s an addiction. This book takes place in Italy and has to do with Dante’s Inferno. B-
• Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn – This is the first of the Gillian Flynn books that I read. Oh. My. Goodness. She gets you hooked into the story and you can’t put the book down. In this book, the main character’s wife is missing and appears to be abducted or murdered. But things are far more complex. And sinister. Definitely read this book. A
• Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus by Dean Jensen – This story about Lillian Leitzel is truly fascinating. It starts with her birth in Eastern Europe and her early years working on the trapeze and continues through the golden years of circuses in the United States and ends with her death in a European ballroom. A good read. A-

I didn’t include any audiobooks this time because this list just got too long. I’ll do the audiobooks later. I  hope you find something new to try. Enjoy!

Mini-Reviews–November 16, 2013

I’m going to take the chance today to give some mini-reviews of some books, movies, and productions I’ve experienced recently.

Carousel – PWM and I saw this last night at UWSP. Unfortunately, tonight was its last showing, so you’re out of luck to see this particular musical. What I can say, though, is that this was a really well-done show and I anticipate that any other musicals are also quite good. I didn’t think the ending was really strong, but that was the fault of the play itself (and how dare I criticize Rogers and Hammerstein?!) and not the performers. The cast was excellent. The vocal leads were quite strong. The two dancers who performed the ballet were exquisite. PWM and I thought it was an excellent night out and well worth the drive.

Blood and Beauty – by Sarah Dunant. I listened to this fictionalized account of the Borgia family on audio. It’s rather long, so it took me over a month of rather intermittent listening, but it was interesting enough to keep me coming back for more. Obviously, the author had to take some liberties with the history in places where the actual events are in question. But, she did a good job in keeping true to the characters’ personalities as she had drawn them. A

The Challenger Disaster – We watched this movie on the Discovery channel tonight and found it fascinating. PWM loves the popular work of Dr. Richard Feynman. This show was about the commission that investigated the Challenger disaster from the point of view of Dr. Richard Feynman, the one truly independent person on the panel. It was enlightening (and distressing) to see how all the parties involved were trying to cover up any possible problems by their own agencies instead of actually getting down to the real problem. I highly recommend watching this. It should still be available to watch over the next few days on Discovery Channel or Science Channel.

Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin – I may have already reviewed this somewhere. In any case, I got started reading this because Rosie Girl has been reading it and watching the DVD. I’ve decided that the book is plenty explicit about violence and sexuality and I don’t really need to see the DVD. But, the book is a wide-ranging, medieval-type fantasy story that is fun and fascinating. I really enjoyed it. A

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin – By the time we get to the end of this book, the few beginning plot ropes have unraveled into tiny little plot threads that are spread all over Westeros and even into the Summer Lands. And we start to get a little magic in the mix just to keep life interesting. And I’m still enjoying the read. A

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin – Nothing happens simply in this story. Just when you think that this person might make it to their destination, a band of outlaws catches them and takes them somewhere else. Just when you’re sure someone is dead, you find out that they’re not. I’m starting to feel like my brain is being whipped around like a tether ball or something. I’m only halfway through, so I’ll rate it when I’m done.

Monsters U – This was available on Pay-per-View the other day and it was truly worth it. It was fun and made us laugh and played on every college stereotype I remember. I very much recommend this movie. A

That’s what’s been up with us. Any movies, books, TV shows, etc. that you’d recommend? I’m all ears!!

Book Reviews–June 30, 2013

Yep, folks, it’s that time again! Book reviews! I don’t promise any consistency in my likes and dislikes, so take it with a grain of salt.

Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl by Susan Campbell. I really enjoyed this book, but I felt like it was disorganized and scattered. I realize that memoir isn’t held to the same linear standard as autobiography, but this book was more confusing than I would have liked. But, I enjoyed it. As spiritual memoir goes, this was a pretty good one. B

The Dressmaker: A Novel by Kate Alcott. The story of Tess, an apprentice to Lucille Duff Gordon, is told against the backdrop of the events of the sinking of the Titanic. When controversy erupts around Lady Duff Gordon, how should Tess respond? Fascinating book. A

The Shadow of the Titanic by Andrew Wilson. After I read The Dressmaker, I got on a Titanic kick, so I read this book. It really is fascinating to see how clearly the class lines were drawn one hundred years ago. It’s also fascinating to see how the Titanic disaster affected the rest of these people’s lives. A

Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright. This is a well-written book about Scientology and it’s fascination with Hollywood and celebrity. All the names and places can get confusing, but I think Wright does a good job with helping to keep things sorted out. I’m fascinated by various religions and why people believe or stay in them when they’re clearly abusive. The book provides a glimpse into a system that is clearly dysfunctional for many people, yet they choose to stay. Fascinating. A

Until I Say Good-bye: My Year of Living with Joy by Susan Spencer Wendel. I went to high school with Susan. She was drum major in our band the year before I was. Otherwise, though, we were in different circles of friends, so I was surprised to hear that she had been diagnosed with ALS, although I wasn’t surprised to hear that she was a successful journalist at the Palm Beach Post. This book is a memoir of a year that she took to deliberately spend time with her family and friends before her disease became too debilitating. It’s funny, poignant, and sad. I highly recommend it. A+

Rapture Practice: A True Story by Aaron Hartzler. Aaron grew up in a Fundamentalist Christian home and went to a Fundamentalist Christian school. Somewhere along the way, he didn’t turn out to be a Fundamentalist Christian himself. That’s what his memoir is about. It’s well-written, funny, and full of insight. A

Beyond Belief: My Secret Life in Scientology and My Harrowing Escape by Jenna Miscavige Hill with Lisa Pulitzer. This true story is about a woman whose family is high up in the Scientology hierarchy and who grew up in Scientology and how she got out. It’s a fascinating look at how a religion can overwhelm one’s common sense. My only complaint is the title – her leaving Scientology didn’t seem much like a “harrowing escape”. Otherwise it was a good book. A-

Chosen by Ted Dekker. This is a young adult novel that we read aloud as a family. A small group of forest dwellers are fighting to defend themselves from the desert dwellers who surround them. A group of new, young soldiers are sent into the dessert to retrieve an item to prove themselves, but an adventure follows instead. It’s an exciting adventure story. The Christian story parallels may be a little heavy-handed, but our family enjoyed it. A

The Central Park Five: The Chronicle of a City Wilding by Sarah Burns. I’m old enough to remember the case of the Central Park Five – five teens who confessed to the brutal rape and beating of a woman out jogging one evening in Central Park. The problem is that they didn’t do it. But, they confessed. And that is the problem with our legal system. This book goes through the events of that night which explains why the boys would have confessed, why none of their confessions at all matched, and who the real perpetrator was. All of them have now been released from prison, but this has obviously had a negative impact on their lives. This is an excellent look at the problems with our justice system. A

I’ll have some movie reviews coming up soon. And, if I can remember the audiobooks that I listened to, I’ll include reviews of those! In the meantime, keep reading!! And share your recent book and movie favorites in the comments!

Book Reviews–February 11, 2013

5 book reviews for today:

The Family Corleone by Edward Falco – This book is a prequel to The Godfather (by Mario Puzo) and traces the rise of the Corleones from one of many “gangster” families in New York City in the 1930s to the primary crime syndicate family in the New York City area. The book has a strong plot and interesting characters. The story is inherently violent, but there was not gratuitous violence or sex. The audio version was well done. A-

The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey – Kate Crane is a ballerina in a New York company but has seemingly always been upstaged by her younger sister, Meg. But, now, Meg is back home in Grand Rapids for a “medical issue”. As Kate’s story unfolds, we learn about the world of ballet, but also about the complicated relationship between sisters. I also listened to this book on audio, which I very much enjoyed. A

Deadly Little Secrets: The Minister, His Mistress, and a Heartless Texas Murder by Kathryn Casey – These true crime books are like a guilty pleasure for me. I know that they don’t really add anything of value to my life, but I find them fascinating anyway. I particularly am interested in books about clergy who commit heinous crimes. How did no one see their character flaws before this? How did they get through college and seminary without someone suspecting that all was not right with them? This book told an interesting story of a minister who murdered his wife so he could be with his mistress and the investigation that finally led to a conviction. It’s an intriguing tale. B

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling – I had heard that this book was amazing and that it was awful. I had no idea what to think when I picked it up. First of all, it is NOT a children’s book!! The language and situations are appropriate for adults and not even for teenagers, to my mind. That being said, it is an excellent book. The story line sounds kind of thin – a member of the town council dies suddenly, leaving a “casual vacancy” on the council that must be filled – but it gets filled in by lots of surrounding drama. The strength of this book is the characters. Rowling does an excellent job of making the characters come alive and making you want to care about them, even the least lovable. I strongly recommend this book. A+

The Story of Cirrus Flux by Matthew Skelton – We read this book aloud as a family a few weeks ago. We chose it because we had listened to Endymion Spring, another book by Matthew Skelton, a few years ago on audio. I prefer Endymion Spring because it is more complex and because of it’s historical roots and being set in the library in Oxford. Cirrus Flux is a good book, though. It is the story of the orphan, Cirrus Flux, an orphan in 19th century London, whose father left him a mysterious artifact that a bunch of adults all seem to want. Oh, yeah, and he gets to ride in a hot air balloon that is powered by a bird whose wings set on fire. There’s cool stuff like that in the book. Overall, a good book. A-

What have you been reading?

 

Reviews–January 20, 2003

Books, books, books!! I do love me some books! Regular books on paper are my favorite, but audio is good, too. I have a Kindle but don’t use it too often, but I’m not philosophically opposed to it.

Our library system is having a reading program for adults to encourage us to write reviews for their system, so I’ll be cross-posting my reviews over there.

Agenda 21 – My dad gave me this Glenn Beck book for Christmas. It’s the story of a dystopian society that has come about as the results of the hardcore environmental movement’s agenda. The descriptive elements were good and the characters weren’t too badly developed. My issue was mainly with the plot. There was a developed plot and climax, but it wasn’t very strong. And the climax felt like the real beginning of the book. This is definitely an “issue” book. The authors want to show you the possible result of extreme environmentalism. The epilogue goes in to detail about the actual documents from the 1970s on which the story is based. I have a hard time getting too excited about it since the only significant changes the environmental lobby has gotten us to make have been to change out our light bulbs and get some of us to drive hybrid cars. I don’t think we’re in imminent danger of being forced to live in communes under the authority of faceless bureaucrats. B-

House Atreides – This is one of three prequels to the Dune series of books. It is named for the Atreides family, but there is also a great deal of plot about the Corrino and Harrkonen houses. This book (and the other three in the series) introduces us to the main characters in Dune (which I still haven’t read all the way through). The primary plot lines in this book center around the young Duke Leto and his year-long education on the planet Ix, which comes to an end when Ix is invaded and overrun by an Empire-sponsored house in a plot to make synthetic spice. In the meantime, House Corrino and House Harkkonen are involved in their own scheming and plans. A

House Harkkonen – Second of the three Dune prequels, this continues the story of the universe created by Frank Herbert. The plots and schemes of the Atreides, Corrino, and Harrkonen houses continue unabated with emphasis on the extended Harrkonen family (where DID Raban and Feyd Rautha come from, anyway?). Another good read (although I listened on audio, which was quite well done). A

House Corrino – Third of the three Dune prequels, this book focuses on the activities of House Corrino, the Imperial family. Along the way, we also learn more about Gurney Halak, Thufir Hawat, Duncan Idaho, and the Houses Atreides and Corrino. Another well-paced and interesting book with high quality audio. A

Accelerated by Bronwwen Hruska – I finished this book in two days. It’s really good. This is the story of an upper class New York school and it’s need for boys to fit in so badly that they convince parents and doctors to overmedicate these kids with stimulants. The plot is strong and engaging. The characters are well-drawn. The book drew me in and kept me interested until the end. A

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver – I loved this book, but I’m not sure how to describe it. One day, a young mom finds that the nearby woods, that her father-in-law wants to have clear-cut, have been chosen as the over-wintering site for the monarch butterflies since their traditional site in Mexico has been made unusable due to global warming changes. The aftermath of this (very fictional) event involves the woman’s family, church, and town, in ways that no one could have imagined. This book clearly wants to send a message about global warming, but I didn’t feel like I was being beat over the head with the message. It was a story about relationships with global warming issues as background. A+

A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans – The popular blogger has written another book, this one a documentation of her year of trying to live according to “biblical womanhood”. First, this book is not a theology book. If you want an in-depth discussion of the various issues about women in the Bible, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Second, Evans tries to take an even hand toward the issues she chooses to tackle, but her bias towards a more “liberal” position is evident. That’s OK, but you need to know that it’s there. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. Evans chooses 12 different attitudes that women are to embody to explore each month. Within that month, she delves into more practical things. We get to laugh at her attempts to sew and make challah as well as scratch our heads about the ancient Israelite rules regarding menstruating women. When she gets serious about interpreting scripture, she is charitable towards those with whom she disagrees. Overall, a very good book. A

So, get to a library and get reading!

Theology at the Theater–Les Miserables

The movie version of the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables opened in theaters yesterday, and our family was one of many who went to see it. At about this time last year, PWM and I saw the musical on stage at the PAC in Appleton. I completely fell in love with it. The movie adaptation is also amazing. But, what is this about theology?

The two main characters, Jean Valjean and Javert, embody grace and law, respectively. Early in the film, Jean Valjean is shown grace by a priest and is then told by the priest that he has been saved to do good. Valjean goes on to show grace – unmerited favor – to those around him, including Javert.

Javert, on the other hand, rigidly believes that the law must be followed in every situation and that there is no place for grace. He cannot fathom that Valjean even extends grace to him.

These are the two ways that we can approach life. We can try to follow the law, which is what many religions tell us we must do, but we find that we aren’t able. The outcome is only despair, as Javert discovers.

Accepting God’s grace (and, of course, extending it to others) is the other way we can live. This is so freeing! We don’t have to worry about whether or not we are good enough for God to love us. We can forgive others and let go of those debts that are owed us. Jean Valjean doesn’t have an easy life, but he has the freedom to extend grace to others, including Javert. In the end, his life has had more meaning.

Yes, it’s a movie about love, romance, freedom, the human spirit, and all of that other stuff, but it’s ultimately about grace. And the music isn’t bad, either.

Glorious Ruin–Book Review

Rarely will I call a book a “must read”, but I think this is one. Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free by Tullian Tchividjian is a short book but packs a lot of truth. Of course, I wanted to read it. Having chronic headaches makes me feel like quite the “sufferer”. The fact is, though, that life is full of suffering, even those of us born to middle class American families. It may not seem as big or bad as the suffering of those in third world countries or those in our country struggling with illness or other problems, but our suffering is real nonetheless. And this book helps us to face it head on and deal with it.

Tchividjian starts by making the point, as I noted above, that suffering is inevitable and it is serious, even that suffered by middle class Americans. He next moves on to remind us that our suffering is not part of a big payback and reward system. God wants to save us, not just make us feel better.

He also introduces the ideas of the “Theology of Glory” – working our way up to being good enough for God to take away our problems – and the “Theology of the Cross” – accepting the grace God has given us through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, including the grace to walk with us through suffering.

In the chapter “Suffering Honestly”, we are encouraged to face our suffering, but not to obsess over it. In fact, Tchividjian makes the point that the more we focus on what we are learning from a given situation, the more we become inwardly focused. When we do this, we start to think about how we should respond to suffering instead of focusing on Jesus.

Our tendencies in dealing with suffering are to either moralize it or minimize it. Moralizing suffering is the Christian version of karma – if we do all the right Christian things, God pays us back by taking away our suffering. Prosperity gospel at it’s finest! (And total bunk, by the way.) Minimizing suffering is our tendency to reduce or downplay our own suffering. In both minimizing and moralizing suffering, we’ve left God and his grace out of the equation, assuming we can manage on our own. But, we can’t.

I’m not going to tell you the entire conclusion – read the book!! Suffice it to say that the final answer to everything is the Gospel. Not a few selected verses, but Jesus. Our suffering brings us closer to Jesus and teaches us a new way to view the world.

So, get this book and read it. You will be glad you did.

Book Reviews–November 21, 2012

I haven’t done book reviews in a long time, so these will be short and sweet. I looked through my reading history on Infosoup (our library website) and realized that I only read about half the books I take out of the library these days. I’m finally getting a little selective in my reading. I also haven’t reviewed all the books I read – just the ones I think you might find interesting.

Flunking Sainthood: a year of breaking the Sabbath, forgetting to pray, and still loving my neighbor. I enjoyed this memoir of a woman who tried a different spiritual discipline each month. She wasn’t terribly successful with each particular discipline, but had insights about her own spiritual growth with each one. Well written. A

Discovering God: the origins of the great religions and the evolution of belief. by Rodney Stark. An examination of the origins of monotheism. Fascinating. A

Catherine the Great: portrait of a woman. Robert K. Massie. A very long and dense book, but worth it. I really felt like I had some understanding of why she made the choices she did. A

Sybil exposed: the extraordinary story behind the famous multiple personality case by Debbie Nathan. I had seen All about Eve, but wasn’t very familiar with the Sybil case, which was famous because of a TV movie. This book was a rather critical review of the “Sybil” case, suggesting that the doctor and writers involved may have not been completely objective. Like any psychiatric issue, multiple personalities or fugue states are complex. This book was an interesting read and the author did a pretty good job trying to get a handle on the issues. B+

I’m Eve by Chris Costner Sizemore. This book is by the subject of the movie, All About Eve. She describes her life and the disruption caused by her multiple personality disorder. This was written with her cousin and clearly has a biographical flair. Quite interesting. B

A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson. A novel by one of my favorite authors. A mother, daughter, and granddaughter are brought together in the crisis over one of the women’s identity’s. Deep characters, a moving plot, just an amazing book. A+

Unorthodox: the scandalous rejection of my Hasidic roots by Deborah Feldman. We don’t often consider a religion like Hasidic Judaism to be a cult, but it can be just as stultifying as any other coercive and stifling religion, especially for women, according to this author. In her memoir, she describes a life with little opportunity for her as a woman and how she worked to get the education and freedom she desired. Illuminating. A

Trail of the Spellmans: Document #5 by Lisa Lutz. Another side-splitting addition to the Spellman novel series. Lutz is a very funny writer. I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone but adults because there is a fair amount of alcohol and drug humor, but otherwise, it’s hysterical. A

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson. Another of Jackson’s wonderful stories of life in the South, with all it’s good and bad and ugly. A+

Drop Dead Healthy: One man’s humble quest for bodily perfection by A.J. Jacobs. Jacobs took a year and tried to become more healthy, choosing a different health area on which to focus each month. I love his writing and I learned a few things. A

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Suffice it to say that this is one of the best selling fantasy books for a reason – it’s excellent. It’s also the beginning of a series of young adult books that are also worth reading. Our family has read most of them out loud, which has been great for sparking discussion. Some of the books touch on significant topics like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and genocide. Others of the books are more action and adventure. Even when the books seem light, though, there are threads of ideas that make us think. Rosie Girl is studying World Religions this year, and we’ve also discussed how we can see some of Card’s Mormonism underlying the stories. Overall, an excellent series of books. A+

City of Scoundrels: the twelve days of disaster that gave birth to modern Chicago by Gary Krist. If you are interested in American history, this is a good book for you. The author describes the people and events that occurred in the early 20th century that were critical for the future of Chicago. B

The Midwife’s Confession by Diane Chamberlain. A midwife commits suicide and her friends are left to sort out the reasons behind it all. I absolutely loved this book. A+

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlain. A woman has to deal with her past – and all the consequences. It’s much better than that summary sounds! A

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: a novel by Deborah Moggach. An Indian businessman and his Anglo-Indian cousin set up a retirement home in India. The personalities of the people who end up living there are as different as possible, but the story works beautifully. A

The Resignation of Eve: what if Adam’s rib is no longer willing to be the church’s backbone? by Jim Henderson A good book showing that women are doing more than half the work in the church, but are the unsung heroes. The author also uses scripture to show that women can play more of a role in the church than they currently are. A-

The Year of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in homeschooling by Quinn Cummings. This book is a memoir of a family’s first year of homeschooling their daughter. In addition to the usual homeschooling issues, Quinn did some exploring of other home education philosophies and techniques – quiverfull, unschooling, etc. I enjoyed her style of writing and the book in general, but there wasn’t much new here. We’ve homeschooled for 13 years now, so the angst about doing it “right” and the various ways to homeschool are kind of old hat. But, it was a fun read. A-

Winter of the World by Ken Follett. I expected to like this one more than I did. I enjoyed The Fall of Giants, so I was kind of disappointed by Winter of the World. I think the book was too wide-ranging. I never got comfortable with the characters because I felt rushed from one part of the world to another. There was not a comfortable balance between the world events and the intimate events among characters. Overall, though, not bad. B-

Goldberg Variations: a novel by Susan Isaacs. An aging business owner of a beauty business decides to leave her business to one of her three grandchildren whom she barely knows. She brings them to her home for the weekend and tells them that she will decide that weekend who will get the business. She is shocked to find that none of the three want it. And it goes from there. Three young adults and their grandmother trying to dance their way into or out of each other’s lives is the plot of this book. And it works. A

So, what have you been reading lately??

The End of the Harry Potter Era

I almost didn’t want to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.  Now that I’ve seen it, there are no more books or movies to anticipate.  Well, there’s Pottermore, but we  don’t even know what that really is.  Here are my thoughts on the last Harry Potter movie (which I’m putting in a bulleted list which gives the impression of a well-thought out piece of writing – which this most decidedly is not).  Warning: spoilers ahead!

• It was loud!  Of course, Wild Man and I were only 2 out of 4 people in the theater, so there weren’t the usual number of bodies around to absorb sound.
• I think they did a pretty good job of deciding what parts of the story were critical and which could be left out.
• Griphook was well-acted.
• The special effects in Gringotts were wonderful!  And I really liked the dragon.
• I LOVED Shell Cottage – very picturesque.
• We could have done without Molly Weasley standing beside Professor McGonagall looking scared and helpless.  Because Molly Weasley is not helpless.  She didn’t seem to belong there.
• I liked Aberforth and I also really liked how they made him more important later on in the battle than he was in the book.
• I’m glad that they kept with the plot of Percy Weasley coming back and Fred Weasley getting killed.  I realize that there wasn’t time to include the whole scenes, but seeing the family together before Harry went into the forest was incredibly moving.
• The shot of Tonks and Lupin was also sad.
• They could have killed Snape without the violence that they chose to use.  I know it was mostly just sounds, but, really, a single snake bite would have been plenty.
• I was concerned that the scenes in the pensieve would either get too long and involved or not be enough to show us about Severus, Lily, and James, but it was actually quite good.  Having Snape at the Potter’s cottage right after Lily and James were killed may not have been necessary, but it was OK.
• Alan Rickman did a wonderful job with Snape, but I could see in this movie that he does look rather older than the Potters.
• Neville’s sweater was amazing!  One of these days I’ll try to make one like it.
• I cried when Harry went to the forest.  It’s a wonderful scene in the book and the movie.
• Voldemort was much better acted (or directed) in this film.  In Part 1, I felt like his evil was more pedestrian.  This time, he was evil incarnate.
• Neville’s speech when Harry is brought back to the castle was unnecessary and entirely too long.
• The battle between Harry and Voldemort was longer than necessary, even for an action film.
• I understand why they put the killing of the snake and the killing of Voldemort so close together, but it didn’t quite feel right.
• I liked that the atmosphere after Voldemort’s death was subdued instead of jubilant.  Yes, they had won, but they had paid a terrible price.
• I do not think that Draco would have gone back to the Death Eaters.  The Malfoy family leaving before the final battle was interesting – was it cowardice or a love for their family?
• The scene on the platform at the end of the movie was just perfect.

So, what did you think?  Did they do a good job?  Was it close enough to the book?

Book Reviews – 1/1/2001

What better way to start the year than with book reviews?  Hope you enjoy!

Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers by Mark Regnerus – I loved this book.  Of course, it says something about my my academic background that I enjoy reading books about sociology.  I am fascinated by this topic, especially since I used to have a number of young women in my practice whom I was treating for sexually transmitted infections and whose babies I delivered.  I really want my own kids to delay sex until marriage for medical as well as religious reasons.  I’ve seen the devastation that early and frequent sexual activity can wreak.  But, is the Church being effective in helping our teens make good choices?  This book tried to answer this question, among others.  The author showed that abstinence pledging by teens, despite being a sacred cow of Evangelicals, is simply not very effective.  It appears that the teens who are least likely to be sexually active and to have fewer partners are those with high personal religiosity levels.  It appears that the “programmatic” approach to the problem of teen pregnancy taken by many churches has failed us.  So, what is the answer?  There’s not a simple one, but we need to get past the naivete of thinking that kids who are involved in youth groups will automatically “wait for marriage”.  Our churches and families would do much better to focus more on helping our teens develop a closer walk with Jesus with less focus on “good behavior”.  A

The Victims Return: Survivors of the Gulag Return after Stalin – by Stephen Cohen – Millions of people were sent to the “Gulag Archipelago”, a network of prison/work camps scattered across Siberia, during the reign of Josef Stalin.  Many of them died, but many returned home to try to reintegrate into Soviet society.  I read this book knowing almost nothing about the USSR after Stalin, so it was highly educational on that front.  What made it a good read, though, was the stories.  The author writes about a variety of people who were in the Gulag for varying amounts of time, but focuses on their life after the Gulag.  They had to deal with the memories of the Gulag, but also with fitting into a society that was changing.  Definitely worth reading.  A

The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera – I had heard of the movie, “The Whale Rider”, but didn’t know much about it.  When Wild Man was studying Australia and New Zealand, we needed another read-aloud, so I chose this.  And I’m very glad I did.  The whole family enjoyed the story of the girl who was not loved by her grandfather because she wasn’t a boy.  By the end of the book, though, the girl has shown that she is the next “Whale Rider”.  A

The American Evangelical Story by Douglas Sweeney – This was a good overview of the history of Evangelicals in America.  It was very good to see how the Evangelical denominations shaped and were shaped by the development of this country.  Definitely a good read, especially if you enjoy social history.  A

Jesus Freaks: A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge by Don Lattin – I was looking up the Jesus Freaks book by D.C. Talk, but this one came up in the list.  I just couldn’t resist checking it out.  It’s a true story about a cult that is only tangentially related to Christianity.  It was a pretty good book.  B

Jane Austen in Scarsdale by Paula Cohen – This story takes the general plot of Persuasion by Jane Austen and transposes the story to Scarsdale, NY.  The main character is a guidance counselor in a high school in an affluent area who is constantly dealing with difficult parents and anxious students as she tries to help her students navigate the college admission process.  The real fun begins when her ex-boyfriend moves into town with his sister and her son, who is a high school student.  And, if you’re a Jane Austen fan, you know where the plot goes from there.  Yes, it’s formula, but it’s a nice, pleasant read.  B

Poison: A Novel of the Renaissance by Sara Poole – A young woman becomes the “poisoner” to Cardinal Borgia in the days before the pope dies and the Cardinals must go into conclave.  Not only is the poisoner required to protect Borgia during this time, but she also learns a secret about her father that leads her to try to prevent the expulsion of the Jews from the city.  Well-written, intriguing plot.  A

Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean (audio) by Richard Logan – In the early 1960s, the Duperrault family from Green Bay, WI chartered a boat and captain to take a trip through the Bahamas, with the idea of eventually purchasing their own boat.  However, things went terribly wrong.  A few days after the boat was last seen in the Bahamas, the 6 year old daughter was found in the open ocean floating on a styrofoam float.  The girl was terribly dehydrated and required hospitalization.  The story that she told while in the hospital was one of murder and her desperate struggle to survive.  The perpetrator, the boat captain, answered an inquiry about the loss of a boat, but then committed suicide, apparently because the little girl survived.  This story tells not only about the 6 year old girl, Tere, but also the family and the boat captain.  Absolutely fascinating.  A

The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz – I just love the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz.  In this installment, Izzy Spellman is taking over the family business, but also trying to put up with a series of blind dates set up by her mother, dealing with phone calls from her favorite octogenarian from Florida, and asking the family why random bits of the house (like door knobs) keep disappearing.  It’s another hilarious and funny installment.  Definitely read it!  (Warning: Language alert – Not safe for kids!)  A

From Asparagus to Zucchini – This is a cookbook produced by the Madison Area CSA Coalition.  It’s an alphabetic listing of the veggies that are likely to show up in your CSA bag along with suggestions on how to store, clean, and cook them.  I highly recommend it.  A

So, go check out a book from the library and get reading!

Book Reviews – 12/27/2010

In the last few months, I’ve listened to three books by Lisa See (on mp3 while I knit).  I have to say that she is one of my favorite authors.

Shanghai Girls – This novel tells the story of two sisters who grew up in Shanghai during the 1930s, but are forced to leave when the Japanese reach the city.  They had both been married to Chinese men who lived in Los Angeles, so they make their way from Shanghai to Hong Kong to San Francisco and then on to Los Angeles.  The rest of the story is about the sisters and their husbands’ family’s life in Chinatown.  The author does an excellent job of developing believable characters and drawing the reader into the setting.  I learned quite a bit about Chinese culture and the persecution faced by the Chinese at the hands of our government in the mid-twentieth century.  A

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan – Snow Flower and Lily are two girls growing up in medieval China who become “old sames”, life-long friends with a ceremony performed when they are children.  We watch them grow up, get their feet bound, learn to perform household tasks, and even learn “women’s writing” (since women were supposed to be illiterate).  The story continues through their marriages as one moves up in society and the other down.  Again, the author has given us characters with whom we can sympathize and shows us a part of Chinese society that most of us would never learn about otherwise.  A

Peony in Love – This is the least “conventional” of the three Lisa See novels that I have read.  Peony, a girl engaged to be married, becomes enamored of a man she believes that she cannot have because of her engagement.  She then becomes obsessed with “The Peony Pavilion”, a popular opera.  This story takes place in the 17th century and explores deep emotions and women’s desire and need to express themselves.  We see the contrast between the reality of women being relegated to the “women’s chamber” and the desire of the women themselves to be heard by the outside world.  A

In addition to enjoying the books themselves, I liked listening to them being read by Janet Song.  Whether you choose to read them or listen to them, I think you’ll find it worth your time.

 

 

Book Reviews – 12/26/2010

In the Land of Believers by Gina Welch - Here's another look at Evangelicalism from an outsider who went "undercover".  Gina Welch pretended to be a Christian to be able to more closely observe conservative Christians at Thomas Road Baptist Church (the church founded by Jerry Falwell).  There is a whole discussion to be had about the ethics of how she inserted herself into this group of people, but that's for another day.  Ms. Welch takes the reader through her own journey of distrust toward Christians to a deeper understanding of (at least) this particular group of Evangelicals.  She never converts but does make some real friendships in the singles' group that she joins.  Her final conclusion is that we would all do well to make an effort to get to understand each other.  Ms. Welch came away from the experience with more understanding of Evangelicals and less of the contempt with which she started.  I would have liked to read more of her thoughts about the Single’s ministry and her perspective of women in that section of Evangelical culture.  A-

I Am Hutterite by Mary-Ann Kirby - This is a pretty good book about a family that is raised in one of the tight-knit Hutterite communities in Canada but chooses to leave.  The author does a nice job showing the advantages of communal living but also the disadvantages, particularly as regards authority structures.  The family's struggle to fit in to a world that they don't understand and that doesn't share their values is well-described.  An enjoyable book.  B

I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg - My review: Another pleasant read from Fannie Flagg. The story revolves around a real estate agent and former beauty pageant winner in Birmingham, AL. As usual, Flagg gives us a cast of characters that we can care about as well as an engaging plot.  B

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – I hesitated to read this series at first because the premise was so depressing: in a futuristic North America, the government requires each province to choose one boy and one girl to compete each year in The Hunger Games, a to-the-death competition which is televised (and required viewing) in all the provinces.  Only one boy or girl can win.   But this year, Katniss takes the place of her sister, whose name is chosen in their province, and competes (with and against Peeta, a boy from the province) in the Hunger Games.  The games, designed to show the provinces the strength of the Capitol, test the nerves, skill, and resourcefulness of Katniss and Peeta.  They also test their character as only one person can win.  A very well-written book that quickly drew me in to the plot.  The characters are well-rounded, so I would love and dislike them by turns.  I strongly recommend this books for high schoolers.  I think it’s rather graphic and dark for younger kids. A

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – This second book in the Hunger Games trilogy is another stand-out in the young adults category.  The character(s) from the Hunger Games who survived are given the usual honors and awards, but then are in for a big shock when the time comes for next year’s Hunger Games.  Again, I was impressed with the depth of the characters.  The plot was very edge-of-your seat – I was completely surprised at the ending.  And, for good measure, there’s some romance – of course, it’s romance complicated by the politics of the Hunger Games.  A

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – I listened to this conclusion of the trilogy on audiobook.  My daughter didn’t like the reader, but I actually did.  In any case, this book tells the story of the aftermath of the Hunger Games and the subsequent civil war.  Some of the characters are calling the shots, while Katniss is questioning what her role should be.  The climax of this book was, again, a complete surprise.  But, everything was brought together in a satisfying dénouement.  This was a good conclusion to a very strong series that prompts the reader to consider the role of the state in the lives of it’s citizens.  A

With Friends Like These by Sally Koslow – From the author of The Late, Lamented Molly Marx comes another light, entertaining novel.  The story follows four close friends who had shared an apartment when they were younger.  Now they are getting older, having children, advancing their careers, etc., but not without some strain.  The four women consider themselves close friends, but selfishness and deception rear their ugly heads.  How they resolve the actions motivated by their selfishness and deceit provides plenty of fodder for the plot.  The characters are a little flat, but the story moves quickly and is worth the couple of hours it takes to read it.  B

The Late, Lamented Molly Marx by Sally Koslow – This entertaining read is told in flashbacks from the perspective of the deceased Molly Marx.  Molly was a young mother who lived an upper class life in Manhattan.  When she was killed while on a bike ride, she thought she had it all: a good marriage, a lovely daughter, and an up and coming career.  However, as she reviews the events of her life, she realizes that all was not how it seemed.  Definitely a light read, but pleasant.  B

I hope to post more reviews later in the week.  I’ve listened to a number of books on mp3 while I was knitting this year,  so I’ll review those as well.

 

 

7 Quick Takes Friday – Book Edition – 9/3/2010

 

For today’s post, I’m going to give you a little insight into my life by telling you about some of the books I’m reading and that the family’s reading.  Besides, I haven’t done book reviews in a while!

1. Eats, Shoots, and Leaves by Lynne Truss.  I read this several years ago, but I’ve assigned it to Rosie Girl as her grammar text.  It will only take her a couple of weeks to read since it’s short.  I loved it – it was funny and informative – but Rosie Girl isn’t very thrilled about it.  Ah, well, she’s a teenager! A

2. Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer.  This has been our family read-aloud for the last week or so.  It follows Artemis and his friends dealing with yet another threat to the fairy people.  We love Colfer’s humor.  The one thing we’re not crazy about is his hyper-environmentalism, but it gives us a chance to talk about appropriate care for God’s creation. A

3. The Septimus Heap books – Magick and Flyte – by Angie Sage.   We read these books as a family right before the Artemis Fowl book.  Ms. Sage has created a rich, magical world that feels like Medieval Europe, along with fascinating and well-rounded characters.  Wild Man and I are both listening to the next set of books on our mp3 players, while Rosie Girl has read them before. A

4. Lord Foulgrin’s Letters by Randy Alcorn.  This book was modeled on C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters.  Honestly, I prefer Lewis’ take on things.  In Lord Foulgrin’s Letters, the author includes the letters from his fictional demon, but also has short chapters about the life of the “subject”.  I think part of what I didn’t like about this book is that it was so blatant about all of the evangelical “hot button” issues – the characters have to deal with abortion, p*rn, satanic ritual, etc.  Everything was also very “spelled out” in this book where Lewis left far more to our imaginations.  Everything felt very stereotyped.  Not a bad book, but definitely not up to the level of the original. B-

5. Escaping The Endless Adolescence by Joseph Allen and Claudia Allen.  I cannot recommend this book highly enough to parents.  Most of us realize that adolescence is lengthening – children are growing into adolescents before they’re ready and young adults are still behaving like adolescents when they should be adults.  As a parent of a teen and a pre-teen, I want to know what I can do (if anything) to help prepare my kids to be adults and not to act like a teenager forever.  The authors assert that our teens today need REAL exposure to the adult world instead of being always stuck in the “teenage bubble”.  Teens know that they need good grades for college, but that’s such a vague and faraway goal, that it’s hard to keep in sight.  In contrast, being involved in activities that are part of the adult world and that really make a difference – volunteering or working at a “real” job – gives kids the immediate feedback that they need.  You really need to read the book.  I was encouraged that a lot of what we do naturally as homeschoolers is what they recommend.  A+

6. The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory.  This book is a historical novel about Margaret, the mother of Henry the Second, in contrast to her last book about Elizabeth Woodville.  Not only is it just an interesting read, but it’s a great history lesson about the Wars of the Roses.  B

7. The Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett.  I listened to this on audiobook and enjoyed it, despite the length.  It’s the story of the building of a cathedral in 12th century England.  There’s plenty of sex and violence, so it’s not for the faint of heart or children.  Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book.  I also watched the mini-series on Netflix, but it was more graphic than I would have liked and it ended about halfway through the book.  I wonder if they have more episodes planned.  B+

Check out 7 Quick Takes Friday to see what others are up to!

More Book Reviews – June 19, 2010

Here are some reviews of books I’ve read in the last couple of weeks.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Nifenegger - Henry is a time traveler, or a chrono-displaced person.  Basically, he isn't stable in time due to a genetic disorder.  This novel is the story of his time traveling adventures and how they affect his wife.  This is the most well-thought out book about time-travel that I've come across, but also the least fantastical.  For example, Henry can't take his clothes or fillings or anything not part of his body with him. So, when he travels, he shows up wherever he is completely naked.  Henry becomes adept at breaking and entering and becomes a good runner as survival strategies.  I was impressed with the intricacies of this novel, not just in how Henry survives the time-traveling, but the emotional issues that come up around the time traveling.  It's a great story and it's well-told.  There's a lot of adult language, so I'd recommend it for high school and above.  A

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer - I listened to this book on mp3 and truly enjoyed it.  The book is structured as a series of letters among the characters in the years immediately following World War II.  The main character plans to write an article about the experiences of the people of the Channel Islands during the German occupation during the war, but the article expands into far more.  Excellent book.  A

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick - A taut novel about a man who solicits a mail-order bride, the woman who comes to him under false pretenses, and the son with whom he tries to restore family ties.  The author's style of writing, unfolding each bit of the novel bit by bit, giving us each piece of information in a precise order worked quite well.  The suspense was maintained throughout and the numerous storylines all woven neatly together.  My real complaint was the  excessive explicit sexuality.  It wasn't necessary.  I recommend this for adults who are looking for a thrilling novel.  Definitely not for the under 17 set.  B-

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni - This novel is based on a fantastical interpretation of several Biblical passages that have to do with angels and the "nephilim".  In this scenario, there are creatures in the world that are the offspring of humans and fallen angels.  The angelologists are a group of humans that have existed since the time of Noah who are dedicated to destroying these creatures.  This novel revolves around a convent in New York state, a group of angelologists from Europe and the US, and a precious artifact.  I love fantasy literature, but it so often is filled with adrenaline-filled action a la Dan Brown that I find it hard to read.  This book is more fantasy with less action which is more spread out - much more to my taste.  I enjoyed it very much.  It ended in such a way that a sequel is expected, if not required.  I am definitely looking forward to it.  B

I have a whole new stack of books (as you can see on my Shelfari shelf) so I hope to have more reviews in a month or so.  In the meantime, let me know what you’ve been reading and what you recommend.

Books I’ve Read Lately

Wow.  It has been months and months since I’ve blogged about books that I’ve read.  I’m not doing reviews for publishers anymore because it was getting too stressful to make sure I got the books read on time.  Nonetheless, I have been reading a good bit.  Here are some of the highlights.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley - Very fun mystery about a pre-teen in early 20th century England.  The characters have their idiosyncrasies and quirks, but are generally likable (well, except for the villain!).  Definitely recommended.  A-

Edmund Bertram’s Diary by Amanda Grange - Not what I would call great fiction, but a nice addition to the post-Austen genre of literature.  The characters were true to Austen's characters and the back story that the author added was believable and helpful.  Recommended for serious Austen fans.  A pretty easy read.  B

Mr. Knightley’s Diary by Amanda Grange - Another of Amanda Grange's hero diaries.  Very nicely done and true to Austen's characters, stories, and style.  Recommended for Austen fans.  B

Miss Julia Delivers the Goods: A Novel by Ann B. Ross - I've become a fan of the Miss Julia novels.  Set in rural South Carolina, these books are the stories of Miss Julia, a widow who discovered in the first book that her husband had been having a long-term affair with a younger woman and had a 10 year old son.  Miss Julia, who had always done everything "properly" and was always a good Southern Lady, then invited them to live with her!  The books are all about Miss Julia learning to shed her "proper Southern upbringing" and really live life.  And they are hilarious!  B+

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross - The most recent Miss Julia book is about Miss Julia handling Hazel Marie's illness and problematic love life.  Of course, it all works out in the end, but not without some fun twists and turns.  It's light reading, but pleasant. B+

Miss Julia’s School of Beauty by Ann B. Ross - Light and fun like the other Miss Julia books.  Not profound, but enjoyable. B+

Angel Time by Anne Rice - I've never read any of Anne Rice's vampire stories, but I have enjoyed what I've read since she's started writing overtly Christian works - which is unusual because I generally find that overtly Christian literature ends up being insipid.  But not Rice's.  This book is the story of an assassin who is taken back in time by an angel to help change history and make something wrong into something right.  Very interesting book - not long, but enjoyable.  B+

Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick – The author of this book was a reporter in South Korea who has visited North Korea several times.  However, most of the source material for this book is from those who have defected from North Korea because visitors to North Korea are shown only a very limited area of the country.  I knew that North Korea has a repressive government and that the people there live in harsh conditions, but reading this book opened my eyes even more to what life is really like.  One of the things I thought was amazing was how many people are truly brain-washed to believing the propaganda.  Of course, it makes sense when you think about it.  They hear the same information over and over from the day they were born with no dissenting voices.  What is really scary is that the government even has "spies" in the apartment complexes to make sure that no one is disloyal.  Anyway, I highly recommend this book.  It will get to you to pray for North Korea like nothing else could.  A

Illegitimate: How a Loving God Rescued a Son of Polygamy by Brian Mackert - Biography of a man who was raised in a polygamous family (part of the FLDS) and how he came to find peace and forgiveness in Jesus.  Very good. B

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown - I listened to this book on CD.  Can I just say that it is very frustrating that an author with such great story ideas is such a bad writer???  I loved the story line of all three Dan Brown novels that I've read, but I find his writing to be of fair quality at best.  It's also a little frustrating to have such an interesting story wrapped around such warped metaphysical/spiritual ideas.  He really goes overboard when he starts philosophizing through one of his characters.  So, I recommend this book with reservations.  C

Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg - Fascinating book about how modern (as opposed to classical) liberalism is more like fascism (which, by the way, is quite difficult to define) than modern conservatism, despite the frequent cries of "fascism" when conservatives propose policy changes.  The book is quite long, but not really hard to read.  The first part is devoted to trying to define fascism, which isn't easy.  Then, Goldberg discusses how many fascistic elements entered American policy in the 1920s and 30s.  He then proceeds through the rest of the 20th century to show how modern liberalism resembles fascism.  Quite interesting.  I came away with a strong sense of the importance of defining terms carefully.  It's important that conservatives not allow ourselves to be painted with the "fascist" label when it's simply not true!  A-

Stuff Christians Like by John Acuff- I finished this book in two days!  It was truly hysterical, just like the blog on which it is based.  Don't read it if you are too terribly thin-skinned about Christian culture.  But, if you can laugh a little about the cultural quirks of evangelical Christian culture, this is the book for you!  A+

The Search for Christian America by Mark Noll - This is a book written by several Christian historians exploring the idea of a "Christian America".  They conclude that America was founded by men who were nominally Christian, but that's about it.  There is no evidence that the men were intending to create a "Christian nation".  I liked this book because it was not written as an attack on the "Christian Right" as other books have been.  Rather, it was written by Christians who were concerned that our nation's history was being co-opted and used as a tool by other Christians.  I very highly recommend this book.  A

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Schaffer – I listened to this book on mp3 and truly enjoyed it.  The book is structured as a series of letters among the characters in the years immediately following World War II.  The main character plans to write an article about the experiences of the people of the Channel Islands during the German occupation during the war, but the article expands into far more.  Excellent book.  A

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark - Excellent book, although I was a little unsure until about halfway through.  Definitely not recommended for young teens - although I don't think they'd find it interesting.  Anyway, a very tight and economical writing style.  And the resolution came on the last page - with absolutely no falling action.  Highly recommended.

Hunting Eichmann: How a Band of Survivors and a Young Spy Agency Chased Down the World’s Most Notorious Nazi by Neal Bascomb - Excellent book.  Appears to be quite thoroughly researched and in-depth.  Occasionally a little confusing with all the names, but that is to be expected with this type of history.  It was interesting mostly because of it's topic and story.  The author, though, did a good job with keeping things moving and keeping a confusing history reasonably clear.  Strongly recommended to anyone with an interest in history.  A

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie - A very long, in-depth look at the last Tsar of Russia and his family.  I loved it.  The one downside was all the different people and their very long names, but that's what you get when you read about Imperial Russia.  The author paints a very balanced portrait of all the persons involved - Nicholas, Alexandra, Rasputin, Kerensky, etc.  I very highly recommend it if the topic interests you.  A

God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark - Rodney Stark wrote this book somewhat to refute the popular ideas floating around the the Crusades were aggressive acts by medieval Christians who were out to conquer the Muslim Empire to gain riches.  Stark makes a good argument that most Crusaders were actually motivated by religious reasons, something that we have a hard time understanding today.  He also shows that probably only the Knights Templar actually made any money on these Crusades.  But, neither is the book's intention to "bash" the Muslim societies.  The Muslims had very quickly conquered the Mediterranean lands in the South and were making significant inroads in Spain and even in Southern Italy.  Part of the reason for the Crusades was to protect the boundaries of Europe.  I realized as I was reading, though, that this wasn't new information for me.  I listened to a Learning Company set of CDs on the Crusades and it contained much of the same into.  But, a good book.  A

I do want to post my reviews in a more timely fashion from now on because I really do recommend most of these books.  If the reviews appeal to you, check them out from your library.  And check out my Shelfari shelf at the bottom of this page to see what I’m reading right now.  It’s summer – get reading!!

What have you been reading?  Anything interesting?

The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit

Last Thursday, a friend and I got to go to the Milwaukee Public Museum and see their exhibit, “The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible”.  I really wish I had known about this earlier so that our whole family could have gone, but I found out about it on Monday, May 31, and the exhibit closed yesterday.  Milwaukee Public Museum put this exhibit together and it has been running for 6 months.  I know we are “out of the loop”, living out in the sticks, but I still can’t believe we didn’t hear anything about it.  Well, we’re now getting Facebook announcements from the museum so we won’t miss anything else so important.

I was very interested in seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls for a few reasons.  When I was growing up, I had heard my dad talk about how the finding of the Scrolls had confirmed the integrity of the Scriptures.  These texts were 1000 (I think) years older than any other original text and yet were almost identical in content.  I had also watched the various NatGeo and History Channel documentaries on the subject.  In addition, a few years ago, I listened to a lecture series about the Scrolls by Dr. Lawrence Schiffman.  It was completely fascinating.  I could not pass up the chance to see even fragments of the actual scrolls themselves.

On to the day itself.  First of all, I was quite confident about the drive and finding the museum because PWM and I had gone before and hadn’t had any trouble.  I checked out Mapquest to confirm that I knew where I was going and we bought a map well before we got to Milwaukee.  Nonetheless, we got lost.  Badly.  After almost an hour of wandering around downtown Milwaukee, we finally made a fateful right turn and were right at the museum, exactly at the parking ramp I remembered from our previous visit.  Sigh.

We didn’t have time to check out one of the cool downtown restaurants as we had hoped (and planned time for), so we had a snack in the museum and were right on time for our entrance.  This exhibit had timed entrances every 15 minutes.  We were allowed to stay as long as we wanted, but we had to be at the entrance before 1:15pm.  We went ahead and got the audio set that provided additional commentary to the exhibit.

The first part of the exhibit was to set us in the time and place of the creation of the Dead Sea Scrolls.  There were maps of the Middle East – I thought the topographical and the meteorological ones were the most interesting.  They had a nice section on the history of the area from Alexander the Great to Masada to the Hasmoneans (are those in the right order?) to the Roman occupation.  We got to see coins and lots of household items from that time in history.

One of the most interesting things in this part of the exhibit was the ossuaries.  These are limestone boxes in which families kept the bones of their deceased family members.  Some of the boxes had decorations and most had the names of family members inscribed.  One of them is believed to be the ossuary of the family of Simon of Cyrene, the man who was required by the Romans to carry Jesus’ cross.  Cool!!

We then went into a room that was all about the finding of the scrolls and the excavation of the Qumran site.  They had replicas of the jars where the scrolls were found and an original cloth from one of the jars.  I thought this was fascinating, but the actual information here was stuff I was familiar with.

The next room had a short video on how the restorers use computers to try to restore what the original scrolls said from the fragments.  It’s quite tedious work.  They actually use letters from the same scribe’s writing elsewhere in the document.  Then, we got to see a replica of the Isaiah scroll, a scroll that’s a commentary on Habakkuk, and a scroll that was a set of rules for the Qumran community.  Even though the scrolls were replicas, they were amazing!!  These are the scrolls that were mostly intact when they were found.  The replicas are on parchment and the pages are sewn, just like the originals.  I was just floored.

The next room was the room where they had actual bits of Dead Sea Scroll.  The lights were all dimmed.  I’m not sure how many pieces they had, but there were probably 12 or 14 cases, each with 2-5 little fragments.  Some were scripture while others were commentary on the scripture.  It was amazing that the archaeologists have even been able to figure out what these are part of.  All I could tell is that they are little bits of parchment.  It was just awe-inspiring to be in the same room with a 2000 year old text of scripture.  Wow.  They also had a page from the copper scroll.

The point of the exhibit was to show how the Dead Sea Scrolls have affected our translations and view of the Bible, so they had some original New Testament papyri in the same room.  These were from before 500AD and had been found in Egypt.  The difference between papyrus and parchment was really interesting to see.

The next room was full of Christian Bibles (i.e. Old and New Testaments).  They had a page from a Gutenberg Bible, a Luther Bible, and an original King James version.  Then another case had multiple English translations of the Bible.

The last thing that we saw was the most recent hand-written Bible.  This Bible was made in a monastery in Minnesota.  The pages are at least 2x3 feet in size.  The techniques are the same that were used in Medieval times, before Gutenberg.   They used quills and inks that were handmade.  The Bible is illustrated with some rather modern-appearing illustrations.  Some of the illustrations are colored with gold and silver leaf.  It is gorgeous!!

The Dead Sea Scroll exhibit was wonderful!  The curators did an excellent job of bringing us from the time the scrolls were created through to modern times.  What makes the scrolls special is that they really confirmed that the scripture that the Jews were reading in Jesus’ day is the same scripture that has come down to us.  Apparently, the entire book of Isaiah was preserved, and when it was compared to our modern translations, there was no significant difference.

People may doubt about all kinds of things to do with Christianity and faith, but the Dead Sea Scrolls really help to confirm the fact that the integrity of the text is not one of the things to spend much time worrying about.  The set of circumstances that allowed those scrolls to be preserved until the right time in history in which they could be properly excavated is nothing short of miraculous.  Wow.

I’m so sorry I didn’t get to see this exhibit till the very last week.  If you ever get a chance to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, especially in the context of a well-organized exhibit, I’d encourage you to do so.  I learned so much.  And, my friend and I had several hours of chatting between here and Milwaukee, not to mention getting to see downtown Milwaukee – over and over and over!!