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.
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