I was at a bookstore sale and had accumulated an armload when one of the clerks pointed at Looking for God and said, "If you buy anything, you need to get that book. It's the best book I've read in a long time." I had glanced at it in passing already but I decided to buy it based on the clerk's recommendation. I'm glad I did.
Do you ever read those books where the author tells you how wonderful his/her life is and how yours can be just as great if you only follow these __ easy steps? Those are annoying books. You know that real people who are fully aware of their surroundings don't have lives like the ones in those books. Only plastic people have all of their problems solved by the end of the last chapter and I, for one, am not plastic so their solutions don't apply to me.
Nancy Ortberg isn't plastic either. She hasn't solved her problems and she's not about to tell you how to fix your life. She is, however, willing to tell stories about how she jumped over, plowed through, or crawled under some personal hurdles, with the hope that her readers might be encouraged, and maybe even possibly learn from her successes and failures. We don't have a perfect-on-the-outside-but-completely-hollow figurehead pointing at herself here. Instead we have a disarmingly open, honest, wise, and passionate woman eagerly pointing her life towards God.
Each chapter in this book is its own freestanding essay. Although they work well together, they don't necessarily have to be read in order. It's a bit like scrolling through a blog - more formal than a journal, but still very personal. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and plan to re-read it in a few months' time. If you're looking for discussion group starters, you might find this material useful.
Looking for God : an unexpected journey through tattoos, tofu & pronouns by Nancy Ortberg. Published in 2008 by Tyndale. ISBN: 978-141431332-0.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Elantris
I enjoyed Alcatraz versus the evil librarians so much that I had to see what else Brandon Sanderson has written. That's how I ended up with his 622 page first novel, Elantris.
Elantris entered the fantasy market in 2005 with wonderful reviews. Sci-fi/fantasy veterans like Orson Scott Card and Simon R. Green are quoted as saying this far surpassed their expectations. Independent reviewers like Publishers Weekly called it "outstanding" and "refreshing." All of this gave me hope because I don't generally like fantasy, I like science fiction even less, and here I was with a whopper.
I think what discourages me most about sci-fi/fantasy is that so much needs to be defined at the beginning. Instead of setting the scene as Paris, 1933, or backwoods Canada, 19th century, the author has to spend pages and pages on description. It's not just the details of setting and characters, it's everything. Who and what are the characters? What is the landscape? Is it on Earth? Is it in our version of time or completely separate? How do creatures relate? Does Earth exist? How do communities work? Who holds power and why? How are right and wrong determined and judged? Is there history that characters (and reader) know about? The questions go on and on and all of them need to be settled before much of the story can happen.
Not only is that a lot of description to get out of the way right at the beginning, but it's a lot for the reader to keep track of. Add to that names that look unpronounceable and secrets that are revealed as the story develops, and it's a lot of work to keep the story straight.
I kept that in mind as I waded into the first 125 pages. I was introduced to characters, settings, social, political, and religious history, and secrets on all sides. It was a steep learning curve but the storyline caught my interest. I read in short bursts until I got about 200 pages into the book. By then, I was hooked and ended up finishing the rest in just two evenings.
So what do I think? As I said the story caught my interest but that's not all I enjoyed. Elantris doesn't consist of one story but of several, all intertwined. I was often surprised at how situations turned and how the resolution of one issue would affect another part of the story. I was also impressed by how the characters change and grow through the course of the novel. Not only did I learn new things about them, but they learned new things about themselves.
This is a story that examines lots of deep questions without feeling like an introspective tale. It asks questions like "What is faith?" and "What makes a person good or evil?" and "How should power be allocated and used?" and "What does a person truly need to be happy?" and "Where does pain come from?" and "What does dead mean?" If it weren't 622 pages long, it would be wonderful for a novel study. Its very length makes it hard to become familiar enough with the text to facilitate active discussion but the discussion would be fascinating.
If you liked Lord of the rings and would like to see a strong female protagonist, you might want to give this one a try. I still wouldn't call myself a fantasy fan but I'm considering reading the sequel. In case you're interested, it's called Mistborn and it came out in 2006.)
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Published in 2005 by Tor. ISBN: 0-765-35037-8.
Elantris entered the fantasy market in 2005 with wonderful reviews. Sci-fi/fantasy veterans like Orson Scott Card and Simon R. Green are quoted as saying this far surpassed their expectations. Independent reviewers like Publishers Weekly called it "outstanding" and "refreshing." All of this gave me hope because I don't generally like fantasy, I like science fiction even less, and here I was with a whopper.
I think what discourages me most about sci-fi/fantasy is that so much needs to be defined at the beginning. Instead of setting the scene as Paris, 1933, or backwoods Canada, 19th century, the author has to spend pages and pages on description. It's not just the details of setting and characters, it's everything. Who and what are the characters? What is the landscape? Is it on Earth? Is it in our version of time or completely separate? How do creatures relate? Does Earth exist? How do communities work? Who holds power and why? How are right and wrong determined and judged? Is there history that characters (and reader) know about? The questions go on and on and all of them need to be settled before much of the story can happen.
Not only is that a lot of description to get out of the way right at the beginning, but it's a lot for the reader to keep track of. Add to that names that look unpronounceable and secrets that are revealed as the story develops, and it's a lot of work to keep the story straight.
I kept that in mind as I waded into the first 125 pages. I was introduced to characters, settings, social, political, and religious history, and secrets on all sides. It was a steep learning curve but the storyline caught my interest. I read in short bursts until I got about 200 pages into the book. By then, I was hooked and ended up finishing the rest in just two evenings.
So what do I think? As I said the story caught my interest but that's not all I enjoyed. Elantris doesn't consist of one story but of several, all intertwined. I was often surprised at how situations turned and how the resolution of one issue would affect another part of the story. I was also impressed by how the characters change and grow through the course of the novel. Not only did I learn new things about them, but they learned new things about themselves.
This is a story that examines lots of deep questions without feeling like an introspective tale. It asks questions like "What is faith?" and "What makes a person good or evil?" and "How should power be allocated and used?" and "What does a person truly need to be happy?" and "Where does pain come from?" and "What does dead mean?" If it weren't 622 pages long, it would be wonderful for a novel study. Its very length makes it hard to become familiar enough with the text to facilitate active discussion but the discussion would be fascinating.
If you liked Lord of the rings and would like to see a strong female protagonist, you might want to give this one a try. I still wouldn't call myself a fantasy fan but I'm considering reading the sequel. In case you're interested, it's called Mistborn and it came out in 2006.)
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson. Published in 2005 by Tor. ISBN: 0-765-35037-8.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Lost in the Amazon
I've never wanted to explore the Amazonian jungle and this book has certainly not changed my mind. I enjoy looking at the photos that come out of expeditions like this one but I don't even want to go on a tourist trip there after reading this account.
Stephen Kirkpatrick is an independent wildlife photographer (read "no budget") who is hoping to get some great shots and thereby solidify his career. That career is his driving force and has cost him his marriage. The question he wrestles with in this book is whether or not it will also cost him his life.
Because Kirkpatrick has written (with help) his story, we know he survived the ordeal but he doesn't know that when he's in it. We are privy to his struggles - mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual - while he's lost in the jungle. At least, we're privy to his version of his struggles.
I didn't find myself liking this guy or trusting his impressions of others. While the story was interesting, Steve Kirkpatrick is one of the authors I would rather not meet socially.
If you want a real life adventure story with poisonous critters, nasty food, foul swamps to wade through, isolated natives, and much, much more, you could give this one a try.
Lost in the Amazon : the true story of five men and their desperate battle for survival by Stephen Kirkpatrick as told to Marlo Carter Kirkpatrick. Published in 2005 by W Publishing Group (division of Thomas Nelson). ISBN: 0-8499-0015-8.
Stephen Kirkpatrick is an independent wildlife photographer (read "no budget") who is hoping to get some great shots and thereby solidify his career. That career is his driving force and has cost him his marriage. The question he wrestles with in this book is whether or not it will also cost him his life.
Because Kirkpatrick has written (with help) his story, we know he survived the ordeal but he doesn't know that when he's in it. We are privy to his struggles - mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual - while he's lost in the jungle. At least, we're privy to his version of his struggles.
I didn't find myself liking this guy or trusting his impressions of others. While the story was interesting, Steve Kirkpatrick is one of the authors I would rather not meet socially.
If you want a real life adventure story with poisonous critters, nasty food, foul swamps to wade through, isolated natives, and much, much more, you could give this one a try.
Lost in the Amazon : the true story of five men and their desperate battle for survival by Stephen Kirkpatrick as told to Marlo Carter Kirkpatrick. Published in 2005 by W Publishing Group (division of Thomas Nelson). ISBN: 0-8499-0015-8.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Andean folk knits
I used to be a knitter. I love detail so the more intricate the pattern, the more fun I had. I played with colour, texture, and lacework, and made up a lot of my own patterns. Apparently knitting was one of the things I did too much of and my hands have protested as a result. I no longer knit but one of my daughters does so I still have reasons besides sentiment to look at knitting books and this one is a gem.
Andean folk knits is written by Marcia Lewandowski who used to live and work in Bolivia. She and her family were there for eight years doing community and agricultural development work with the Mennonite Central Committee near the end of the 20th century. During her time in Bolivia, Marcia learned a lot about local knitting both there and in the surrounding countries. She shares that knowledge with us and works in a wonderful combination of ancient and recent history, culture, and geography lessons as well. That makes it a useful resource for the soon-to-be tourist who would like local crafts information as well as an introduction to the area.
Instead of just getting patterns for specific articles, I learned who the different articles were traditionally used by, why certain fibres were used for certain projects, what regional variations might be seen, and how I might adapt the pattern for my preferences. I learned what to look for and what to look out for when selecting yarn for the various projects. Everything is well illustrated and accompanied by notes on basic techniques to accompany the patterns.
If I were still buying knitting books, this is one I would get. There are a few projects I am trying to talk my daughter into making for me so maybe I should buy a copy for her shelf instead of mine...
Andean folk knits : great designs from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador & Bolivia by Marcia Lewandowski. Published in 2005 by Lark Books (a division of Sterling Publishing). ISBN: 978-1-57990-953-6.
Andean folk knits is written by Marcia Lewandowski who used to live and work in Bolivia. She and her family were there for eight years doing community and agricultural development work with the Mennonite Central Committee near the end of the 20th century. During her time in Bolivia, Marcia learned a lot about local knitting both there and in the surrounding countries. She shares that knowledge with us and works in a wonderful combination of ancient and recent history, culture, and geography lessons as well. That makes it a useful resource for the soon-to-be tourist who would like local crafts information as well as an introduction to the area.
Instead of just getting patterns for specific articles, I learned who the different articles were traditionally used by, why certain fibres were used for certain projects, what regional variations might be seen, and how I might adapt the pattern for my preferences. I learned what to look for and what to look out for when selecting yarn for the various projects. Everything is well illustrated and accompanied by notes on basic techniques to accompany the patterns.
If I were still buying knitting books, this is one I would get. There are a few projects I am trying to talk my daughter into making for me so maybe I should buy a copy for her shelf instead of mine...
Andean folk knits : great designs from Peru, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador & Bolivia by Marcia Lewandowski. Published in 2005 by Lark Books (a division of Sterling Publishing). ISBN: 978-1-57990-953-6.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The occupied garden
I first stumbled across Kristen den Hartog's fiction as a short story in Canadian Living magazine. I was skimming the magazine while waiting in a doctor's office and was intrigued to see a name I recognized - the den Hartog girls were in school with me and my siblings many years ago.
A few years after reading the short story, I saw one of Kristen's novels at the library and had to see what it was like. I first read her work because I once knew the author. Now I read her work because I enjoy her writing. I'm pleased to see that she's been getting noticed in literary circles.
The occupied garden is a departure from her usual fiction because it's not fiction and it's not written by her alone. The garden is co-written by Kristen's sister, Tracy, and is a beautiful account of their grandparents' and father's lives in Holland around the time of the German occupation.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the parallel drawn between the events and circumstances of the den Hartog household and the events and circumstances of the Dutch royal family at the same time. Getting married and having children at the same time heightens a feeling of connectedness between the two families despite the fact that their lives should be considered a world apart. I also appreciated the view of ordinary people surviving extraordinary times. We're not looking at master spies or war heroes here, but ordinary people at a time when daily life required daily acts of heroism and despair didn't always stay around the corner.
The research was thorough enough to provide insight into several different people's points of view which made this account much more interesting than the narrow view one usually gets when reading biography. It's hard enough to recover personal papers and anecdotes to document a famous person's life, but the authors here had access to letters, journals, and pictures from several of the families in the story, as well as personal interviews with surviving family members and friends, and all for the story of a middle class family. It's a welcome addition to the large collection of World War II stories and you don't have to be a WWII fan to enjoy it.
The occupied garden : recovering the story of a family in the war-torn Netherlands by Tracy Kasaboski and Kristen den Hartog. Published in 2008 by McClelland & Stewart. ISBN: 978-0-7710-2622-5.
A few years after reading the short story, I saw one of Kristen's novels at the library and had to see what it was like. I first read her work because I once knew the author. Now I read her work because I enjoy her writing. I'm pleased to see that she's been getting noticed in literary circles.
The occupied garden is a departure from her usual fiction because it's not fiction and it's not written by her alone. The garden is co-written by Kristen's sister, Tracy, and is a beautiful account of their grandparents' and father's lives in Holland around the time of the German occupation.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the parallel drawn between the events and circumstances of the den Hartog household and the events and circumstances of the Dutch royal family at the same time. Getting married and having children at the same time heightens a feeling of connectedness between the two families despite the fact that their lives should be considered a world apart. I also appreciated the view of ordinary people surviving extraordinary times. We're not looking at master spies or war heroes here, but ordinary people at a time when daily life required daily acts of heroism and despair didn't always stay around the corner.
The research was thorough enough to provide insight into several different people's points of view which made this account much more interesting than the narrow view one usually gets when reading biography. It's hard enough to recover personal papers and anecdotes to document a famous person's life, but the authors here had access to letters, journals, and pictures from several of the families in the story, as well as personal interviews with surviving family members and friends, and all for the story of a middle class family. It's a welcome addition to the large collection of World War II stories and you don't have to be a WWII fan to enjoy it.
The occupied garden : recovering the story of a family in the war-torn Netherlands by Tracy Kasaboski and Kristen den Hartog. Published in 2008 by McClelland & Stewart. ISBN: 978-0-7710-2622-5.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Uncharted
Angela Hunt is an author who likes to play with your mind. The cover of Uncharted says "expect the unexpected" and that could be said of any of her novels. The stories aren't always pretty, and you won't necessarily agree with her theology/worldview, but that's part of the attraction.
There are authors I read for their luscious writing, and others I read when I want to spend some time in someone else's head. Some are good for a laugh, some make history come alive, and some play games with you. Angela Hunt is definitely a game player.
I started Uncharted, thinking I knew where this story was going, but discovered that my ending was really just the introduction for the real story. Basically some 25 years after college, a formerly inseparable group of friends re-united. The cast includes your typical prom-queen, a jock, an over-achiever, a rebel, Mr. Ambition, and the peacemaker who held the group together. The friends went out on a boat and ended up in trouble on an island...but the similarity to Gilligan's Island ends there.
I can't tell you a whole lot more about the plot without ruining it for you. I can tell you that I've seen people get mad reading this book, and I've seen people who loved it. I haven't met anyone who read it without reacting to it. You won't be blown away by her writing style or her characterizations, but if you want to play head games, Angela Hunt is an author for you.
Uncharted by Angela Hunt. Published in 2006 by West Bow. ISBN: 0-8499-4484-8.
There are authors I read for their luscious writing, and others I read when I want to spend some time in someone else's head. Some are good for a laugh, some make history come alive, and some play games with you. Angela Hunt is definitely a game player.
I started Uncharted, thinking I knew where this story was going, but discovered that my ending was really just the introduction for the real story. Basically some 25 years after college, a formerly inseparable group of friends re-united. The cast includes your typical prom-queen, a jock, an over-achiever, a rebel, Mr. Ambition, and the peacemaker who held the group together. The friends went out on a boat and ended up in trouble on an island...but the similarity to Gilligan's Island ends there.
I can't tell you a whole lot more about the plot without ruining it for you. I can tell you that I've seen people get mad reading this book, and I've seen people who loved it. I haven't met anyone who read it without reacting to it. You won't be blown away by her writing style or her characterizations, but if you want to play head games, Angela Hunt is an author for you.
Uncharted by Angela Hunt. Published in 2006 by West Bow. ISBN: 0-8499-4484-8.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Home : a memoir of my early years
I don't read a lot of show business biographies but when Julie Andrews' memoirs showed up at the library, I had to take it home. Julie Andrews never struck me as typical Hollywood or typical Broadway. As a child, I was sure she was somehow related to royalty. She had that air about her. As an adult, I could take the book home and find out. What a revelation!
If pressed for an answer, I would now have to say that Julie Andrews most reminds me of my grandmother - not in a warm grandmotherly way, or even because they were of the same generation, because they weren't - but because both of them were survivors of very difficult home situations, and both tell their stories with virtually no self-pity or blame.
Julie Andrews' memoir does not come across as a cold re-telling of the past, but it is very matter-of-fact. She writes about her growing up years and early stage career with clarity and detail, but without destroying other people's reputations. The classy persona that you see in public and on stage must be an integral part of her character because it comes through in her writing.
A quick overview might classify this as a typical rags-to-riches story but it doesn't read that way because you get the impression that Julie Andrews doesn't see herself as a star. She certainly recognizes that she has worked with stellar people and performed for big names but she portrays herself as a struggling girl/young woman with an oddly talented voice. It's as if the voice is its own entity and the rest of her life is just there to support it.
The early parts of the book are a little disjointed as we jump from one memory to another. We all know that our earliest memories are flashes and brief episodes, usually unconnected to an over-riding storyline. That's how these come across, but the story becomes more fluid as we move into later years.
I wouldn't put this in my current top 10 list, but I did enjoy reading it and I'll probably read its sequel when it comes out.
Home : a memoir of my early years by Julie Andrews. Published in 2008 by Hyperion. ISBN: 978-0-7868-6565-9.
If pressed for an answer, I would now have to say that Julie Andrews most reminds me of my grandmother - not in a warm grandmotherly way, or even because they were of the same generation, because they weren't - but because both of them were survivors of very difficult home situations, and both tell their stories with virtually no self-pity or blame.
Julie Andrews' memoir does not come across as a cold re-telling of the past, but it is very matter-of-fact. She writes about her growing up years and early stage career with clarity and detail, but without destroying other people's reputations. The classy persona that you see in public and on stage must be an integral part of her character because it comes through in her writing.
A quick overview might classify this as a typical rags-to-riches story but it doesn't read that way because you get the impression that Julie Andrews doesn't see herself as a star. She certainly recognizes that she has worked with stellar people and performed for big names but she portrays herself as a struggling girl/young woman with an oddly talented voice. It's as if the voice is its own entity and the rest of her life is just there to support it.
The early parts of the book are a little disjointed as we jump from one memory to another. We all know that our earliest memories are flashes and brief episodes, usually unconnected to an over-riding storyline. That's how these come across, but the story becomes more fluid as we move into later years.
I wouldn't put this in my current top 10 list, but I did enjoy reading it and I'll probably read its sequel when it comes out.
Home : a memoir of my early years by Julie Andrews. Published in 2008 by Hyperion. ISBN: 978-0-7868-6565-9.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The wee mad road
"Our children grew up and left home. Before they could come back, we sold the house and ran away to a foreign land." (pg i)
Thus starts the "runaway" adventures of Jack and Barbara Maloney, who escaped from mortgage, jobs, and house in the US to a crofter's cottage in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. Jack and Barbara realized that they were old enough that their children had left home but young enough that their health was excellent and their parents didn't need special care. If ever they were going to take off on an adventure, this was the time. Jack was a freelance writer so he wasn't completely abandoning his career - just his contacts. Barbara ended up leaving her job at an art gallery. They sold their house and most of its contents, gave away or stored the rest, and headed off to a tiny village called Coigach.
The wee mad road is a reminiscence of their time at the cottage. The basic text is written by Jack with sketches and journal excerpts from Barbara woven in. Having read and re-read Lillian Beckwith's books about her 20 years in the Hebrides, I looked forward to what I hoped would be new but similar stories.
Although the Maloneys will not replace Beckwith, I did enjoy their book. Once again, I felt drawn into a tiny community I have never seen except in my imagination. They spent only 2 years at their rented cottage compared with Beckwith's 20 on Bruach, so there is less time (and fewer books) to get to know the people of the village, but I still feel I know them, nonetheless.
Jack and Barbara were intent on participating in village life and learning whatever new skills that might require. Their willingness to learn without criticising and to look foolish for the sake of helping their neighbours earned them the respect of the locals...and makes for some good stories. I hope you enjoy it too.
The wee mad road : a midlife escape to the Scottish Highlands by Jack and Barbara Maloney. Published in 2008 by Tasora Books. ISBN: 978-1934690024.
If you enjoyed this one, try some of the following titles by Lillian Beckwith: Lightly poached, The hills is lonely, The sea for breakfast, or About my father's business.
The wee mad road is a reminiscence of their time at the cottage. The basic text is written by Jack with sketches and journal excerpts from Barbara woven in. Having read and re-read Lillian Beckwith's books about her 20 years in the Hebrides, I looked forward to what I hoped would be new but similar stories.
Although the Maloneys will not replace Beckwith, I did enjoy their book. Once again, I felt drawn into a tiny community I have never seen except in my imagination. They spent only 2 years at their rented cottage compared with Beckwith's 20 on Bruach, so there is less time (and fewer books) to get to know the people of the village, but I still feel I know them, nonetheless.
Jack and Barbara were intent on participating in village life and learning whatever new skills that might require. Their willingness to learn without criticising and to look foolish for the sake of helping their neighbours earned them the respect of the locals...and makes for some good stories. I hope you enjoy it too.
The wee mad road : a midlife escape to the Scottish Highlands by Jack and Barbara Maloney. Published in 2008 by Tasora Books. ISBN: 978-1934690024.
If you enjoyed this one, try some of the following titles by Lillian Beckwith: Lightly poached, The hills is lonely, The sea for breakfast, or About my father's business.
Tasora Books, 2008 ISBN: 978-1-934690-02-4
Friday, December 5, 2008
Boomtown
Most of the reviews in this blog will be positive. After all, I don't see much point in writing about a book I didn't enjoy when I could spend that same time reading one I like a whole lot better. Every once in a while, though, there are books that must be reviewed for one reason or another and this is one of them. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it.
Boomtown by Nowen N. Particular (a.k.a. Marty Longe) is aimed at 8-12 year old boys and looks very promising. It's full of inventions, explosions, silly stuff, and bumbling adults who are rescued by children. Silliness is a core virtue in our household and I grew up with a brother who was forever inventing things and blowing things up so I was all set for a fun read but was disappointed.
For starters, the narrator/main character, Arthur Button, is an adult who doesn't have a clue to what's going on in his family or his new town. Since everything is observed and recorded through his eyes, the reader doesn't have a clue either. Two of the Button children are full of mischief and adventure and are the right age for readers to identify with but we only get to see what their father knows about their various escapades and thus end up missing out on a lot of the fun. We get bits and pieces of adventures and story lines but no real sense of involvement.
There's also not much in the way of plot development. Lots of things happen in the story and we're told about lots of wonderful inventions (like hen grenades and inflatable sky campers), but most of the bits and pieces feel jammed in there. It's as if the author has all these fun bits he wants to get into his story and isn't willing to sacrifice any of them for the sake of telling the story well. If this were a movie, it would be filled with special effects and explosions, very low on character development, and almost without plot - not my kind of film.
The illustrations were promising. I like the air of authenticity the faked photos and newspaper clippings give to the text. There are, however, some gaffs, the worst being a supposedly authentic ancient Chinese note with the text running in rows from left to right, and punctuated as if it were English. Many of Nowen N. Particular's readers will know that Chinese writing goes in columns from top to bottom, organized right to left.
If I were part of the editorial group for this book, I would suggest that the author cut out at least half of the escapades, string what's left into a proper story line, and tell it from the point of view of one of the children. Use the leftover bits in the next book. Be careful with the language, too. Over the course of just two pages, we had a sequestered jury and a venerable lawyer who liked to pontificate and decry. Rather challenging vocabulary for 8-14 year olds.
Boomtown, by Nowen N. Particular was published by Thomas Nelson in 2008. ISBN is 978-1-4003-1345-7.
Boomtown by Nowen N. Particular (a.k.a. Marty Longe) is aimed at 8-12 year old boys and looks very promising. It's full of inventions, explosions, silly stuff, and bumbling adults who are rescued by children. Silliness is a core virtue in our household and I grew up with a brother who was forever inventing things and blowing things up so I was all set for a fun read but was disappointed.
For starters, the narrator/main character, Arthur Button, is an adult who doesn't have a clue to what's going on in his family or his new town. Since everything is observed and recorded through his eyes, the reader doesn't have a clue either. Two of the Button children are full of mischief and adventure and are the right age for readers to identify with but we only get to see what their father knows about their various escapades and thus end up missing out on a lot of the fun. We get bits and pieces of adventures and story lines but no real sense of involvement.
There's also not much in the way of plot development. Lots of things happen in the story and we're told about lots of wonderful inventions (like hen grenades and inflatable sky campers), but most of the bits and pieces feel jammed in there. It's as if the author has all these fun bits he wants to get into his story and isn't willing to sacrifice any of them for the sake of telling the story well. If this were a movie, it would be filled with special effects and explosions, very low on character development, and almost without plot - not my kind of film.
The illustrations were promising. I like the air of authenticity the faked photos and newspaper clippings give to the text. There are, however, some gaffs, the worst being a supposedly authentic ancient Chinese note with the text running in rows from left to right, and punctuated as if it were English. Many of Nowen N. Particular's readers will know that Chinese writing goes in columns from top to bottom, organized right to left.
If I were part of the editorial group for this book, I would suggest that the author cut out at least half of the escapades, string what's left into a proper story line, and tell it from the point of view of one of the children. Use the leftover bits in the next book. Be careful with the language, too. Over the course of just two pages, we had a sequestered jury and a venerable lawyer who liked to pontificate and decry. Rather challenging vocabulary for 8-14 year olds.
Boomtown, by Nowen N. Particular was published by Thomas Nelson in 2008. ISBN is 978-1-4003-1345-7.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Bent hope : a street journal
Bent hope is more triumphant than sad but don't try to read it without a box of Kleenex handy. Don't skip straight into the main text without reading the foreword and prologue either. This is a book where every word counts. It may not seem that way at the very beginning, but you'll want to get the full effect.
There are lots of street-worker journals on the market these days and I've read many of them. They are full of stories of survival amidst broken hearts and dreams and frequently feature reminders that, broken as they are, street folk are people too. We are admonished to love them for many reasons - because they have had a rough life, because the system has failed them, because we might just as easily be in their shoes, because love can change a life, because Jesus was poor, because "loving the unlovely" brings blessings, because they've endured great loss, because they're fellow human beings,... but in the end, it is always "us" loving "them." This is the first book that asserts, from the start, that there is no "us" and "them."
"Either we are all beggars, hookers and junkies, or none of us are. There is no in-between...Every day I play the role of a beggar. I look to the charity of others, seemingly wanting something for nothing to feed my ego and the overwhelming need to belong. Every day I play the role of a hooker. I try to sell the words, ideas and actions I think might make me desirable to others, often against my own better judgment, in order to get the emotional validation I need to survive. And every day I play the role of a junkie. I feed my addictions, supplying relentless cravings with products, entertainment, daydreams and relationships that are bad for me." (pg 15) Can you deny it?
Tim Huff respects and learns from the people he meets on the street. He is impressed by the strength and dignity of people who have been dealt unimaginable blows. Pity is not a theme in his writing, although sorrow, anger, and indignation appear. So do humility, awe, and a deep appreciation for relationships without pretense. One by one we are introduced to his friends as Tim shares with us what so impresses him with each person.
I couldn't read this book in one sitting. Each chapter is dedicated to one person's story and I found, especially at the beginning, I could only "meet" one person at a time. It took some time to process that person's story before I went on to the next. Some made me cry, some made me very angry, many made me wish I could meet that person face to face for a big hug. Every story helped chip away at that invisible wall between "us" and "them." I hope it does the same for you.
Bent hope : a street journal by Tim Huff. Published in 2008 by Castle Quay Books. ISBN: 978-1-894860-36-9.
There are lots of street-worker journals on the market these days and I've read many of them. They are full of stories of survival amidst broken hearts and dreams and frequently feature reminders that, broken as they are, street folk are people too. We are admonished to love them for many reasons - because they have had a rough life, because the system has failed them, because we might just as easily be in their shoes, because love can change a life, because Jesus was poor, because "loving the unlovely" brings blessings, because they've endured great loss, because they're fellow human beings,... but in the end, it is always "us" loving "them." This is the first book that asserts, from the start, that there is no "us" and "them."
"Either we are all beggars, hookers and junkies, or none of us are. There is no in-between...Every day I play the role of a beggar. I look to the charity of others, seemingly wanting something for nothing to feed my ego and the overwhelming need to belong. Every day I play the role of a hooker. I try to sell the words, ideas and actions I think might make me desirable to others, often against my own better judgment, in order to get the emotional validation I need to survive. And every day I play the role of a junkie. I feed my addictions, supplying relentless cravings with products, entertainment, daydreams and relationships that are bad for me." (pg 15) Can you deny it?
Tim Huff respects and learns from the people he meets on the street. He is impressed by the strength and dignity of people who have been dealt unimaginable blows. Pity is not a theme in his writing, although sorrow, anger, and indignation appear. So do humility, awe, and a deep appreciation for relationships without pretense. One by one we are introduced to his friends as Tim shares with us what so impresses him with each person.
I couldn't read this book in one sitting. Each chapter is dedicated to one person's story and I found, especially at the beginning, I could only "meet" one person at a time. It took some time to process that person's story before I went on to the next. Some made me cry, some made me very angry, many made me wish I could meet that person face to face for a big hug. Every story helped chip away at that invisible wall between "us" and "them." I hope it does the same for you.
Bent hope : a street journal by Tim Huff. Published in 2008 by Castle Quay Books. ISBN: 978-1-894860-36-9.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Elijah of Buxton
Buxton, Ontario was founded by Rev. William King who bought land to provide homes for escaped and newly freed slaves. Elijah of Buxton is a fictionalized account of the first child born free in Buxton. Elijah himself is a kindred spirit to Tom Sawyer. He gets involved in all sorts of escapades involving family, friends, and community members - practical jokes, fishing, money-making schemes, even kidnapping and daring rescues.
Author Christopher Paul Curtis, has received multiple awards through his writing career including Newbery Honor and Medal, Coretta Scott King Honor and Medal, the Golden Kite award, and, most recently, the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for Elijah of Buxton. It was the TD announcement that prompted me to read this book and I'm very glad I did.
Eleven-year-old Elijah does a fair bit of growing and learning through the course of this story but this is not a heavy coming-of-age story. There are a lot of laughs but it isn't just a comedy either. Neither is is a history book although I learned some history by reading it. Elijah of Buxton is a brilliantly-told view of the world through the eyes of a boy - sometimes brave, sometimes "fra-gile," sometimes wise, sometimes dangerously naive, but always interesting. It's written and published for children but I would recommend it to any adult as well.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Published in 2007 by Scholastic. ISBN: 987-0-439-93647-7.
Author Christopher Paul Curtis, has received multiple awards through his writing career including Newbery Honor and Medal, Coretta Scott King Honor and Medal, the Golden Kite award, and, most recently, the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award for Elijah of Buxton. It was the TD announcement that prompted me to read this book and I'm very glad I did.
Eleven-year-old Elijah does a fair bit of growing and learning through the course of this story but this is not a heavy coming-of-age story. There are a lot of laughs but it isn't just a comedy either. Neither is is a history book although I learned some history by reading it. Elijah of Buxton is a brilliantly-told view of the world through the eyes of a boy - sometimes brave, sometimes "fra-gile," sometimes wise, sometimes dangerously naive, but always interesting. It's written and published for children but I would recommend it to any adult as well.
Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis. Published in 2007 by Scholastic. ISBN: 987-0-439-93647-7.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
When necessary use words
The greater the object in motion, the more difficult it is to change its direction. This description of momentum also applies to non-physical bodies. For years, now, critics have been urging the Christian church to shift its focus from fighting over who's right on doctrinal details, to focusing instead on caring for hurting people in this world. There is a lot of hurt in our world and it's not confined to any particular demographic or location.
We are seeing a change in direction in North American christendom, especially in the last five years or so. One of the more vocal proponents for change has been Mike Pilavachi who has been working with disenfranchised people (ie those who hope to someday reach the poverty line) in the US.
Pilavachi's book, When necessary use words, looks at the establishment church and contrasts it with offbeat congregations, grassroots outreaches, and personal stories of people struggling to make sense of their difficult lives. It's not so much a condemnation of where the church is now, as it is a call to step up and move forward, treating people as people rather than conversion targets.
If you're looking for heart-warming stories, there are a few woven in. If you're looking for a how-to manual on setting up a project, you won't find it here. What you will find is a firm but mostly gentle push towards a more obviously caring church.
"...it's vitally important that we stand up for righteousness and don't water down biblical truths to fit in with society, but we seem to have so poorly represented Jesus that most people couldn't tell you what He is for.
"...Jesus is loving, compassionate, full of grace and mercy, kind, humble, forgiving, and passionate. Would people outside of the Church say the same about us?" (pg 64)
When necessary use words : changing lives through worship, justice, and evangelism. Written by Mike Pilavachi. Published by Regal in 2007. ISBN: 978-0830738144.
We are seeing a change in direction in North American christendom, especially in the last five years or so. One of the more vocal proponents for change has been Mike Pilavachi who has been working with disenfranchised people (ie those who hope to someday reach the poverty line) in the US.
Pilavachi's book, When necessary use words, looks at the establishment church and contrasts it with offbeat congregations, grassroots outreaches, and personal stories of people struggling to make sense of their difficult lives. It's not so much a condemnation of where the church is now, as it is a call to step up and move forward, treating people as people rather than conversion targets.
If you're looking for heart-warming stories, there are a few woven in. If you're looking for a how-to manual on setting up a project, you won't find it here. What you will find is a firm but mostly gentle push towards a more obviously caring church.
"...it's vitally important that we stand up for righteousness and don't water down biblical truths to fit in with society, but we seem to have so poorly represented Jesus that most people couldn't tell you what He is for.
"...Jesus is loving, compassionate, full of grace and mercy, kind, humble, forgiving, and passionate. Would people outside of the Church say the same about us?" (pg 64)
When necessary use words : changing lives through worship, justice, and evangelism. Written by Mike Pilavachi. Published by Regal in 2007. ISBN: 978-0830738144.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Out of the question...into the mystery
Leonard Sweet is recognized as a theologian/philosopher. Theologians are noted for dealing in rules and details, and philosophers for playing with theories and ideas, but Sweet doesn't live in that box. In Out of the question, Sweet very quickly makes it very clear that he is disenchanted with rules-based- or theoretical religion:
"...we need something more biblical than higher standards. We need higher relationships. We need less to be 'true to our principles' and much more to be true to our relationships...Our problem...is that we've made rules more important than relationships." (pg 2-3)
This theme continues as he looks at how religion has so often been used to excuse or justify horrible behaviours:
"There is a world of difference between superficial obedience and substantive relationship, between obeying orders and doing the rught thing. You can do the right thing in a strictly ethical or juridicial sense and still be wrong...Sometimes obedience is an abdication of moral responsibility, as the German church discovered through the lessons of World War II." (pg 53)
This is not a new theme. We're hearing it all over the place these days. What makes this book stand out is where Sweet goes once he's made his case for change. Most of this book is spent in deep examination of how we relate to each other in contrast to how we could be relating to each other. There's no denial that relating to people is difficult. Sweet at times describes relationships as chaos, porcupine-like, full of conflict, misunderstandings, and tension, and just plain hard work but the bottom line is, it's all worthwhile.
This is not a "Seven easy steps to..." workbook. We're not talking about patching up a few cracks on the surface. Being a philosopher, Sweet digs, exposing the roots of why we do what we do and shows us what changes in our foundational beliefs are needed to truly bring about change in our day-to-day interactions with others around us. Digging down deep is not easy but the change that results is genuine.
Out of the question...into the mystery : getting lost in the Godlife relationship. Written by Leonard Sweet. Published in 2004 by Waterbrook Press. ISBN: 978-1578566471.
"...we need something more biblical than higher standards. We need higher relationships. We need less to be 'true to our principles' and much more to be true to our relationships...Our problem...is that we've made rules more important than relationships." (pg 2-3)
This theme continues as he looks at how religion has so often been used to excuse or justify horrible behaviours:
"There is a world of difference between superficial obedience and substantive relationship, between obeying orders and doing the rught thing. You can do the right thing in a strictly ethical or juridicial sense and still be wrong...Sometimes obedience is an abdication of moral responsibility, as the German church discovered through the lessons of World War II." (pg 53)
This is not a new theme. We're hearing it all over the place these days. What makes this book stand out is where Sweet goes once he's made his case for change. Most of this book is spent in deep examination of how we relate to each other in contrast to how we could be relating to each other. There's no denial that relating to people is difficult. Sweet at times describes relationships as chaos, porcupine-like, full of conflict, misunderstandings, and tension, and just plain hard work but the bottom line is, it's all worthwhile.
This is not a "Seven easy steps to..." workbook. We're not talking about patching up a few cracks on the surface. Being a philosopher, Sweet digs, exposing the roots of why we do what we do and shows us what changes in our foundational beliefs are needed to truly bring about change in our day-to-day interactions with others around us. Digging down deep is not easy but the change that results is genuine.
Out of the question...into the mystery : getting lost in the Godlife relationship. Written by Leonard Sweet. Published in 2004 by Waterbrook Press. ISBN: 978-1578566471.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The caliph's house : a year in Casablanca
Anyone familiar with Peter Mayle's huge hit "A year in Provence" will know what to expect with The caliph's house by Tahir Shah. At least, the format and situation will be familiar. Shah, a struggling author of Anglo-Afghan descent, uproots his young family from their stifling British existence and moves them to Morocco. What follows is a tale of renovations gone very, very wrong, and a struggle to move with and in and around the new culture without being completely taken over by it.
The author's blurb at the back of the book jacket reveals that Shah and his family still live in Casablanca so you know they stick with the move despite circumstances that would have sent me packing a long time ago.
This kind of writing is less about long-term plot development and more about stories of day-to-day events so knowing the pattern and the outcome don't detract from the reading. If you're curious about life behind the walls in Muslim north Africa, here's a peek at what goes on. Granted, it's from a Western point of view but that only makes it easier for Western readers to understand.
Shah does not write himself in as a hero in this story. In fact, there are times he shows himself behaving badly. There are times I want to wring his neck on behalf of his wife and children but the story itself is fascinating. If you enjoy armchair travel or misadventures of (almost) normal blokes, this could well be the book for you. If you're at all squeamish, there will be some sacrifice descriptions you will want to skim over.
The caliph's house : a year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah, was published by Bantam in 2006. ISBN is 987-0-553-80399-0.
The author's blurb at the back of the book jacket reveals that Shah and his family still live in Casablanca so you know they stick with the move despite circumstances that would have sent me packing a long time ago.
This kind of writing is less about long-term plot development and more about stories of day-to-day events so knowing the pattern and the outcome don't detract from the reading. If you're curious about life behind the walls in Muslim north Africa, here's a peek at what goes on. Granted, it's from a Western point of view but that only makes it easier for Western readers to understand.
Shah does not write himself in as a hero in this story. In fact, there are times he shows himself behaving badly. There are times I want to wring his neck on behalf of his wife and children but the story itself is fascinating. If you enjoy armchair travel or misadventures of (almost) normal blokes, this could well be the book for you. If you're at all squeamish, there will be some sacrifice descriptions you will want to skim over.
The caliph's house : a year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah, was published by Bantam in 2006. ISBN is 987-0-553-80399-0.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals
"'What am I eating? And where in the world did it come from?' Not very long ago an eater didn't need a journalist to answer these questions. The fact that today one so often does suggests a pretty good start on a working definition of industrial food: Any food whose provenance is so complex or obscure that it requires expert help to ascertain." (pg. 17)
Michael Pollan will have you asking those same questions. Pollan is an investigative journalist with several book credits under his belt. Not all of them are about food but he does explore the theme further and with good reason. One of the things that has changed significantly in our world and within our collective memory is what and how we eat.
By and large, we are a trusting population. We assume that, barring any recalls, if it's on the grocery store shelf, it must be safe to eat. We can't pronounce half the items on the ingredients list but they're in everything so it's no big deal. Besides, we're constantly bombarded with conflicting health information so it's easier to just ignore it all.
In bite-sized pieces (I had to work that in), Pollan takes the reader through his experiences in looking deeper into four representative meals - ranging from MacDonald's drive-through dining to gathered from the wild. Although the facts are clearly stated, this is not a heavily analytical book. It is more a looking-over-the-shoulder-of-the-author/adventurer read. Pollan is a story teller whose mission is to pass along what he's learned.
Now he may not tell you what you should or shouldn't be eating, but he will make you think about it. If you read and like this one, you may also want to try The botany of desire : a plant's-eye view of the world, (2001) or In defense of food(2008).
The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals by Michael Pollan. Published in 2007 by Penguin. ISBN: 978-0143038580
Michael Pollan will have you asking those same questions. Pollan is an investigative journalist with several book credits under his belt. Not all of them are about food but he does explore the theme further and with good reason. One of the things that has changed significantly in our world and within our collective memory is what and how we eat.
By and large, we are a trusting population. We assume that, barring any recalls, if it's on the grocery store shelf, it must be safe to eat. We can't pronounce half the items on the ingredients list but they're in everything so it's no big deal. Besides, we're constantly bombarded with conflicting health information so it's easier to just ignore it all.
In bite-sized pieces (I had to work that in), Pollan takes the reader through his experiences in looking deeper into four representative meals - ranging from MacDonald's drive-through dining to gathered from the wild. Although the facts are clearly stated, this is not a heavily analytical book. It is more a looking-over-the-shoulder-of-the-author/adventurer read. Pollan is a story teller whose mission is to pass along what he's learned.
Now he may not tell you what you should or shouldn't be eating, but he will make you think about it. If you read and like this one, you may also want to try The botany of desire : a plant's-eye view of the world, (2001) or In defense of food(2008).
The omnivore's dilemma : a natural history of four meals by Michael Pollan. Published in 2007 by Penguin. ISBN: 978-0143038580
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Walk on : the spiritual journey of U2
You don't have to be a U2 fan to get a lot out of this book. The purpose behind writing may have been to chronicle U2's spiritual journey, but there's a whole lot more at stake here because Walk on takes you on your own journey of spiritual evaluation. Author Steve Stockman, doesn't pull punches when describing U2's relationship with the church.
"The Christian community seems to have confined its definitions of faith to various precise behavioral patterns and cliched statements of faith. In getting caught up in the minutia of behavioral codes that have had more to do with respectable middle-class behavior than biblical guidelines, many have been so obsessed with the cigar hanging out of Bono's mouth that they are missing the radical biblical agenda that has fired his life and work." (pg.3)
It's hard to read words like that without thinking about my own response to taboo behaviour. What's really important? and how well equipped am I to make that judgment on someone else's behalf?
The church isn't the only group U2 has fought. In fact, they've been hit on all sides:
"The press...have been quick to have a go at [Bono] for his do-gooding, telling him to stick to the music. Condemning someone for trying to save lives and help others is a remarkable indictment on third-millennium priorities. It is remarkable how human beings can be so belligerent about people trying to do good. Let us lambaste people who are trying to feed the hungry or fight for drugs for the dying. When did it become a crime for someone, no matter how successful or rich he or she is, to love their neighbor?...How far from the hippy dream has music moved when it is more useful to make a number-one single than keep people alive?" (pg. 193)
I don't know about you, but if I were being attacked on all sides for what I was doing to help someone else, I'd wear out pretty fast. Bono is often characterised as the quintessential brawler - someone who jumps into the fray with both arms swinging and without considering the consequences - but I think he must be a very patient and steadfast man to continue fighting for causes we all know are right while the rest of us would rather snipe at the workers than get our hands (and hearts) dirty by helping.
You don't have to know the music or agree with the methods. The book is still worth reading. It made me think.
Walk on : the spiritual journey of U2 by Steve Stockman. Revised edition published by Relevant in 2005. ISBN: 978-0976035756
"The Christian community seems to have confined its definitions of faith to various precise behavioral patterns and cliched statements of faith. In getting caught up in the minutia of behavioral codes that have had more to do with respectable middle-class behavior than biblical guidelines, many have been so obsessed with the cigar hanging out of Bono's mouth that they are missing the radical biblical agenda that has fired his life and work." (pg.3)
It's hard to read words like that without thinking about my own response to taboo behaviour. What's really important? and how well equipped am I to make that judgment on someone else's behalf?
The church isn't the only group U2 has fought. In fact, they've been hit on all sides:
"The press...have been quick to have a go at [Bono] for his do-gooding, telling him to stick to the music. Condemning someone for trying to save lives and help others is a remarkable indictment on third-millennium priorities. It is remarkable how human beings can be so belligerent about people trying to do good. Let us lambaste people who are trying to feed the hungry or fight for drugs for the dying. When did it become a crime for someone, no matter how successful or rich he or she is, to love their neighbor?...How far from the hippy dream has music moved when it is more useful to make a number-one single than keep people alive?" (pg. 193)
I don't know about you, but if I were being attacked on all sides for what I was doing to help someone else, I'd wear out pretty fast. Bono is often characterised as the quintessential brawler - someone who jumps into the fray with both arms swinging and without considering the consequences - but I think he must be a very patient and steadfast man to continue fighting for causes we all know are right while the rest of us would rather snipe at the workers than get our hands (and hearts) dirty by helping.
You don't have to know the music or agree with the methods. The book is still worth reading. It made me think.
Walk on : the spiritual journey of U2 by Steve Stockman. Revised edition published by Relevant in 2005. ISBN: 978-0976035756
Monday, November 17, 2008
Some lighter reading
I like stories that feature real people in true to life situations. The people can be fictional as long as they come across as real. Cookie cutter characters with interchangeable names frustrate and confuse me. (How do you tell them apart from one book to the next?)
Sometimes, though, I look for something much lighter. I don't want cardboard but I don't want the weight of someone else's struggles on my shoulders either. That's when I go looking for diversionary reading and one of the top series on my diversionary list is Elizabeth Peters' series about Amelia Peabody, Victorian feminist, Egyptologist, and amateur detective rolled into one.
Amelia was first introduced in 1975 in Crocodile on the sandbank. Set in 1884, Amelia decides to spend her recent inheritance on travel and ends up rescuing a young woman from kidnapping. The women also participate in some excavating much to the frustration of men who are working in the same area. Amelia is as opinionated and bull-headed as her friend, Evelyn, is gentle so the two work well together while infuriating the men.
18 books later, Amelia is still going strong. The cast of regular characters has grown and the characters themselves have grown and matured over time. While each story stands on its own as a mystery, the stories combined provide a wonderful (though somewhat unbelievable) family narrative. (How many dead bodies can one family deal with before the local authorities start asking new questions?)
Most, if not all, of the series is available on audiobook. Barbara Rosenblatt is narrator par excellence. Her voices are wonderfully done and they don't get in the way of the story. Some of the audiobooks have conversations with the narrator at the end. Those are well worth listening to.
Elizabeth Peters herself has a PhD in Egyptology and has received awards for her mystery writing so you know the background information is solid and the writing is well done. Peters' other mystery series stars modern day art gallery curator, Vicky Bliss.
For a full listing of the Amelia Peabody series, check out http://www.ameliapeabody.com/bookshelf.htm
Sometimes, though, I look for something much lighter. I don't want cardboard but I don't want the weight of someone else's struggles on my shoulders either. That's when I go looking for diversionary reading and one of the top series on my diversionary list is Elizabeth Peters' series about Amelia Peabody, Victorian feminist, Egyptologist, and amateur detective rolled into one.
Amelia was first introduced in 1975 in Crocodile on the sandbank. Set in 1884, Amelia decides to spend her recent inheritance on travel and ends up rescuing a young woman from kidnapping. The women also participate in some excavating much to the frustration of men who are working in the same area. Amelia is as opinionated and bull-headed as her friend, Evelyn, is gentle so the two work well together while infuriating the men.
18 books later, Amelia is still going strong. The cast of regular characters has grown and the characters themselves have grown and matured over time. While each story stands on its own as a mystery, the stories combined provide a wonderful (though somewhat unbelievable) family narrative. (How many dead bodies can one family deal with before the local authorities start asking new questions?)
Most, if not all, of the series is available on audiobook. Barbara Rosenblatt is narrator par excellence. Her voices are wonderfully done and they don't get in the way of the story. Some of the audiobooks have conversations with the narrator at the end. Those are well worth listening to.
Elizabeth Peters herself has a PhD in Egyptology and has received awards for her mystery writing so you know the background information is solid and the writing is well done. Peters' other mystery series stars modern day art gallery curator, Vicky Bliss.
For a full listing of the Amelia Peabody series, check out http://www.ameliapeabody.com/bookshelf.htm
Monday, November 10, 2008
Alcatraz versus the evil librarians
The target market for this book may be pre-teens but put "evil librarians" in the title and I had to at least take a look. I saw Alcatraz versus the evil librarians on the audiobook shelf at work and took it right home to listen to. Author, Brandon Sanderson, is the reader and does an excellent job. Like the best children's movies, there was lots of humour for the adults too. The premise was innovative, the plot fun, and the details made it all work.
Take a ward of the State, who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home, and tell him that the klutziness that drives him and his guardians crazy, is actually his greatest asset. Tell him that he is not a societal misfit, but a hero in the making with undeveloped superpowers. Tell him that the rule makers and enforcers who have governed his life and made him miserable, really are evil. Tell him that he is surrounded by friends and people who need him. - Tell him all that and then watch the story unfold.
That's Alcatraz - It's fun, it's subversive (in a fun way), and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
Alcatraz versus the evil librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Published by Scholastic in 2008. ISBN is 987-0439925525.
Take a ward of the State, who has been bounced around from foster home to foster home, and tell him that the klutziness that drives him and his guardians crazy, is actually his greatest asset. Tell him that he is not a societal misfit, but a hero in the making with undeveloped superpowers. Tell him that the rule makers and enforcers who have governed his life and made him miserable, really are evil. Tell him that he is surrounded by friends and people who need him. - Tell him all that and then watch the story unfold.
That's Alcatraz - It's fun, it's subversive (in a fun way), and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel.
Alcatraz versus the evil librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Published by Scholastic in 2008. ISBN is 987-0439925525.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Where the river ends
Most of the people who like stories centered around people rather than events or action are women. Even among biography readers, men tend to gravitate towards the events and accomplishments while women tend to focus on feelings and character development. That makes Charles Martin, author of Where the river ends, an anomaly.
Where the river ends is Martin's sixth book and all six books detail the inner struggles of a (usually male) protagonist as he comes to terms with difficulties in his life. The difficulties are usually major losses and the protagonist emerges battle-scarred and weary, yet stronger for the fight. I'd like to think that Martin is providing his largely female audience with a sneak peak/inside view of the average man. Granted, that average man looks like a hero by the end of the book, but Martin's underlying message is that, given the do or die options, any man would do the same. Any man could be a hero.
In Where the river ends, Doss Michaels, takes his wife for a promised canoe ride, from start to ocean, down the Moniac River in southeastern USA. The ride is complicated by the fact that Doss' wife, Abigail, has advanced terminal cancer and a powerful and possessive father who would rather see his daughter "safe" in a hospital bed. Doss has essentially kidnapped his wife from the hospital and stolen enough narcotics to keep her comfortable so Abigail can complete her own "bucket list." Backwoods muggers, state troopers, and an impending tropical storm all wreak havoc on the journey.
Following a brief prologue, the story starts with the departure for the canoe trip. But it's not long before you're carried into the past as memories of how they met, and how they ended up together are interspersed with narrative of the trip. It's a journey within a journey as the past explains the present and pushes inevitably into the future.
We see Doss reap what he sowed in his youth - he didn't have an easy life and he certainly got into trouble, but he built strong relationships, garnered respect, and developed a solid work ethic, so people were and are there for him when he needs them most.
What I like most about Charles Martin's writing is that, when his stories end, the trials aren't over. These aren't neat little episodes tied up in happily-ever-after packages. You know there was stuff that happened before the book and more stuff to happen afterwards. It leaves me feeling like the character is more alive and real than many other storybook characters are. However, as a reader you are left satisfied that the story has been told. I hate cliff-hanger/soap opera books where the reader is left on a hook until the next book comes out. When I finish a book, I want to be at the end of the story, not in its middle. The character may live on for more stories (we all have many stories in us), but I want each story to end when the book is done, not just stop.
Although I love his books, I have to be in the right mood to read something by Charles Martin. He doesn't write easy-read stories. He takes his readers through strongly emotional journeys. They aren't always heavy or negative, but they are emotional. Pick your time wisely, and have something light to read as a chaser, but do give him a try.
Where the river ends by Charles Martin. Published by Broadway Books in New York, c 2008. ISBN 987-0-7679-2698-0.
Where the river ends is Martin's sixth book and all six books detail the inner struggles of a (usually male) protagonist as he comes to terms with difficulties in his life. The difficulties are usually major losses and the protagonist emerges battle-scarred and weary, yet stronger for the fight. I'd like to think that Martin is providing his largely female audience with a sneak peak/inside view of the average man. Granted, that average man looks like a hero by the end of the book, but Martin's underlying message is that, given the do or die options, any man would do the same. Any man could be a hero.
In Where the river ends, Doss Michaels, takes his wife for a promised canoe ride, from start to ocean, down the Moniac River in southeastern USA. The ride is complicated by the fact that Doss' wife, Abigail, has advanced terminal cancer and a powerful and possessive father who would rather see his daughter "safe" in a hospital bed. Doss has essentially kidnapped his wife from the hospital and stolen enough narcotics to keep her comfortable so Abigail can complete her own "bucket list." Backwoods muggers, state troopers, and an impending tropical storm all wreak havoc on the journey.
Following a brief prologue, the story starts with the departure for the canoe trip. But it's not long before you're carried into the past as memories of how they met, and how they ended up together are interspersed with narrative of the trip. It's a journey within a journey as the past explains the present and pushes inevitably into the future.
We see Doss reap what he sowed in his youth - he didn't have an easy life and he certainly got into trouble, but he built strong relationships, garnered respect, and developed a solid work ethic, so people were and are there for him when he needs them most.
What I like most about Charles Martin's writing is that, when his stories end, the trials aren't over. These aren't neat little episodes tied up in happily-ever-after packages. You know there was stuff that happened before the book and more stuff to happen afterwards. It leaves me feeling like the character is more alive and real than many other storybook characters are. However, as a reader you are left satisfied that the story has been told. I hate cliff-hanger/soap opera books where the reader is left on a hook until the next book comes out. When I finish a book, I want to be at the end of the story, not in its middle. The character may live on for more stories (we all have many stories in us), but I want each story to end when the book is done, not just stop.
Although I love his books, I have to be in the right mood to read something by Charles Martin. He doesn't write easy-read stories. He takes his readers through strongly emotional journeys. They aren't always heavy or negative, but they are emotional. Pick your time wisely, and have something light to read as a chaser, but do give him a try.
Where the river ends by Charles Martin. Published by Broadway Books in New York, c 2008. ISBN 987-0-7679-2698-0.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society
You must admit, the title alone is intriguing. What is potato peel pie, who would eat it, and what does it have to do with something as pretentious as a literary society? The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society is a novel written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It's set up as a collection of letters exchanged in post-war England starting January 1946. Juliet, the central correspondent, is a newly popular published author struggling to start her next book. On the one hand, she doesn't want to disappoint her fans. On the other, she doesn't want to write more of the same.
At the same time, Juliet, like the people around her, is trying to come to terms with life after the war - why is there more rationing now that the war's over? how long until my flat is resurrected from that pile of rubble? why didn't I know what happened in Guernsey? and above all, how can I make up for the lost time?
You can't regain lost time but you can try to make sense of what happened and that's exactly what Juliet intends. A letter from someone who found her name and address in the flyleaf of a book he bought secondhand, starts a whole new set of friendships with island dwellers who were cut off entirely from the mainland during German occupation. These people are hungry for news, both old and new and Juliet is happy to oblige.
I found this to be a wonderful story and a thoroughly enjoyable way to learn a little history. It doesn't take long for the characters to come to life. I learned as much about them through their writing styles as I did through the contents of their letters. Their many stories are varied so the novel doesn't come across as a heavy or hopeless book despite the fact that horrible things are talked about. Hilarious things are talked about too.
I enjoyed the structure of the book. Although I wouldn't want a steady diet of reading other people's correspondence, it's fun when well done and this one is well done. No other text is inserted except for an introductory line before each letter telling you who wrote it - much better than skipping down to the signature for each letter.
Two other books I would recommend in a similar format are Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, and Life on the refrigerator door : notes between a mother and daughter by Alice Kuipers. Don't read the refrigerator door book without a box of tissues handy.
If you like fictionalized history or reading about ordinary people's lives, The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society is a must read. I've seen it in hard cover and audio book. It's published by Dial Press, August 2008. ISBN for the book is 987-0-385-34099-1.
At the same time, Juliet, like the people around her, is trying to come to terms with life after the war - why is there more rationing now that the war's over? how long until my flat is resurrected from that pile of rubble? why didn't I know what happened in Guernsey? and above all, how can I make up for the lost time?
You can't regain lost time but you can try to make sense of what happened and that's exactly what Juliet intends. A letter from someone who found her name and address in the flyleaf of a book he bought secondhand, starts a whole new set of friendships with island dwellers who were cut off entirely from the mainland during German occupation. These people are hungry for news, both old and new and Juliet is happy to oblige.
I found this to be a wonderful story and a thoroughly enjoyable way to learn a little history. It doesn't take long for the characters to come to life. I learned as much about them through their writing styles as I did through the contents of their letters. Their many stories are varied so the novel doesn't come across as a heavy or hopeless book despite the fact that horrible things are talked about. Hilarious things are talked about too.
I enjoyed the structure of the book. Although I wouldn't want a steady diet of reading other people's correspondence, it's fun when well done and this one is well done. No other text is inserted except for an introductory line before each letter telling you who wrote it - much better than skipping down to the signature for each letter.
Two other books I would recommend in a similar format are Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, and Life on the refrigerator door : notes between a mother and daughter by Alice Kuipers. Don't read the refrigerator door book without a box of tissues handy.
If you like fictionalized history or reading about ordinary people's lives, The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society is a must read. I've seen it in hard cover and audio book. It's published by Dial Press, August 2008. ISBN for the book is 987-0-385-34099-1.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Get me a book!
I don't sell or distribute books except when I'm working at the library. This blog is not a book distribution forum. If you want to read something that I have recommended, you can borrow it from a friend, borrow it from a library, buy it from your local bookseller, or buy it online.
I can't tell you who your friends are or what books they have, but I can tell you that if you don't see the book you're looking for on the library shelves, and you can't find it in the catalogue, you should ask library staff to get it for you. They might be able to borrow it from another library or, if enough people ask for it, they might decide to buy it themselves. If you don't ask, you won't get it.
If you want your very own copy and can't find it at your local bookstore (assuming you still have one of those wonderful places in your neighbourhood), ask for it. They might have more copies in the back. It might be on back-order. They might special-order it in for you. If you don't ask, you won't get it.
If you don't have a local bookstore, or they can't help you, you can still purchase online and have books delivered right to your doorstep. Here in Canada, our favourite online bookstores are chapters.indigo.ca and amazon.ca They also connect you with more reviews than just mine so you can get a second (or tenth) opinion.
If the book you want is older and hard to locate, try alibris.com - it's like ebay for second-hand books. (I know, very dangerous!) Again, more reviews plus a choice of vendors, prices, etc.
As a last resort, you could try contacting the publisher of a very elusive book to find out which of their distributors has the last copies of that gem. If no copies are available, they might tell you if a re-print is likely. If you don't ask, you won't know.
So get on out there, ask for books, and READ!
Carol
I can't tell you who your friends are or what books they have, but I can tell you that if you don't see the book you're looking for on the library shelves, and you can't find it in the catalogue, you should ask library staff to get it for you. They might be able to borrow it from another library or, if enough people ask for it, they might decide to buy it themselves. If you don't ask, you won't get it.
If you want your very own copy and can't find it at your local bookstore (assuming you still have one of those wonderful places in your neighbourhood), ask for it. They might have more copies in the back. It might be on back-order. They might special-order it in for you. If you don't ask, you won't get it.
If you don't have a local bookstore, or they can't help you, you can still purchase online and have books delivered right to your doorstep. Here in Canada, our favourite online bookstores are chapters.indigo.ca and amazon.ca They also connect you with more reviews than just mine so you can get a second (or tenth) opinion.
If the book you want is older and hard to locate, try alibris.com - it's like ebay for second-hand books. (I know, very dangerous!) Again, more reviews plus a choice of vendors, prices, etc.
As a last resort, you could try contacting the publisher of a very elusive book to find out which of their distributors has the last copies of that gem. If no copies are available, they might tell you if a re-print is likely. If you don't ask, you won't know.
So get on out there, ask for books, and READ!
Carol
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Who cares what Carol reads?
Reading is not generally considered a social activity but I like to read and I like to talk about what I've read so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that much of my social life is centered around books. In fact, much of my life is built around books - I work in a library, I volunteer in a different library, I teach library skills, and I hang out at the library or book store when I have time on my hands. There are books in every room and hallway of my house - on shelves, piled on tables, on the floor, beside the bed, under the bed, on the couch, beside the chair, in the cupboards, but not in the dishwasher...We don't have a dishwasher.
I was 3 years old when I learned to read, and 6 when I first organized my books into a library, complete with spine labels, and a sign-out system. (It was the only part of my room that showed any sign of order or organization.)
I'm a compulsive reader - I read junk mail, cereal boxes, magazine covers in the cashier lines, and the fine print on just about anything, provided it happens to be in front of me. I would rather read than go shopping, talk on the phone, play on the computer, go out for dinner, watch TV, go to a movie, or play sports, which goes a long way toward explaining how I end up reading 300-400 books a year.
The scary part for me isn't the sheer volume of stuff I read - after all, I can't imagine it any other way. What scares me is how much of what I've read and liked or didn't like still rattles around in my head! In my life, most conversations either revolve around or at least refer to books so the data is constantly being reinforced. However, I'm beginning to think that it would be safer to store some of the information in an external file - something accessible to the people who count on me for book recommendations but can't always find me when they need something new to read.
I can't guarantee that we'll always agree on what constitutes a good book, or that your reading tastes are as eclectic as mine. (I tagged one of my all-time favourite books on Library Thing and discovered that no-one else had ever selected it.) I'm not fond of pulp fiction and I have a very low tolerance for violence, horror, or smut but that doesn't mean they will never appear in something I recommend. (I can skim obnoxious paragraphs in the interest of continuing with a good story.)
I read adult books, picture books, and stuff for all ages in between. I read fiction, non-fiction, and reference, (and in my home collection I file biographies under fiction).
Some of the books will get "real" reviews. Others will just get a sentence or two, possibly accompanied by a quote or two. I'll try to include complete information re author, title, publisher, ISBN etc but that might not be available for some of the older books. Please do not try to order books through me. Suggestions for getting your own copies will be in my next posting.
The bottom line for this blog is to encourage you to find and read the good and great books in the vast sea of reading material out there.
Carol
I was 3 years old when I learned to read, and 6 when I first organized my books into a library, complete with spine labels, and a sign-out system. (It was the only part of my room that showed any sign of order or organization.)
I'm a compulsive reader - I read junk mail, cereal boxes, magazine covers in the cashier lines, and the fine print on just about anything, provided it happens to be in front of me. I would rather read than go shopping, talk on the phone, play on the computer, go out for dinner, watch TV, go to a movie, or play sports, which goes a long way toward explaining how I end up reading 300-400 books a year.
The scary part for me isn't the sheer volume of stuff I read - after all, I can't imagine it any other way. What scares me is how much of what I've read and liked or didn't like still rattles around in my head! In my life, most conversations either revolve around or at least refer to books so the data is constantly being reinforced. However, I'm beginning to think that it would be safer to store some of the information in an external file - something accessible to the people who count on me for book recommendations but can't always find me when they need something new to read.
I can't guarantee that we'll always agree on what constitutes a good book, or that your reading tastes are as eclectic as mine. (I tagged one of my all-time favourite books on Library Thing and discovered that no-one else had ever selected it.) I'm not fond of pulp fiction and I have a very low tolerance for violence, horror, or smut but that doesn't mean they will never appear in something I recommend. (I can skim obnoxious paragraphs in the interest of continuing with a good story.)
I read adult books, picture books, and stuff for all ages in between. I read fiction, non-fiction, and reference, (and in my home collection I file biographies under fiction).
Some of the books will get "real" reviews. Others will just get a sentence or two, possibly accompanied by a quote or two. I'll try to include complete information re author, title, publisher, ISBN etc but that might not be available for some of the older books. Please do not try to order books through me. Suggestions for getting your own copies will be in my next posting.
The bottom line for this blog is to encourage you to find and read the good and great books in the vast sea of reading material out there.
Carol
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