The Heritage of Lancaster County series, by Beverly Lewis
These three books (The Shunning, The Confession, and The Reckoning) tell the tale of a young Amish woman who struggles with being Amish. Katie's discovery that she was adopted from an "English" (non-Amish) teenage mother only fuels her desire to leave the Amish world behind. The close-knit quality of the Amish community is a struggle for her to leave, but by the end of the first book, she has left Pennsylvania a shunned woman and is in search of her birth mother. The second book deals with Katie's (now called Katherine) dying birth-mother and the complexities of being thrown suddenly into another culture, one that appears less honest and forgiving than the one she came from. This book also introduces the aspect of star-crossed romance, as a former love long thought to be dead attempts to find "his Katie girl" again. In the third book, Katherine, now a wealthy heiress, returns to Pennsylvania in search of answers to spiritual questions she had had since before Daniel was thought to have died. Her birth mother's testimony and death had fueled those questions, and the third book deals a lot with Katie's spiritual journey more than her physical journey to find her mother.
The author of this book series is a Christian and the book series is published by a Christian publishing company, so do not expect the main character's spiritual journey to end in any way other than with Christian results. That being said, the books weave common questions that many people have into the plot line, and are often answered by wise characters that come in and out of Katie's life. It is quite refreshing to read and experience Christian philosophy in a novel form rather than the sometimes-dry books about Christian theory and apologetics.
One thing that struck me, and perhaps slightly confused me, is that the author's note states that she grew up in Amish country and consulted many Amish for details about Amish life and religious philosophies, and she is indebted to them for their help on the project. Yet from reading the book, I got the impression that she believes, or at least the character of Katie believes, that the Amish are not "saved" Christians. This would imply that while Amish believe non-Amish have no hope of reaching heaven, Christians believe the same about the Amish. If this is the case, it is curious to me that the author's Amish friends would be willing to help her on a book project that seems to derail their religious beliefs. Perhaps I am over-thinking or misinterpreting the book, but that was one of the first points that came to mind when a friend brought up the topic of the Amish.
One other thing I had a minor issue with is that the details that go into inheriting a wealthy estate in upstate New York seem to have been unrealistically glossed over with, "the lawyer is handling everything." But I admit those details were not pertinent to the storyline, and at this point I am just being nit-picky.
Overall, this book is a very good read. Although some men might enjoy it, in a movie format it would probably be considered a chick-flick. I'd recommend it to everyone, but most men probably would not take my suggestion. I'd also recommend this book to anyone interested in Amish culture, particularly the details of Amish shunnings, since this book explores the technical and also emotional aspects of a shunning.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Summerhill Secrets Series
Summerhill Secrets Series, by Beverly Lewis
This is a series of children's books which I had read years ago, probably in the 7th grade. I re-read them sometime during October but havetaken my pretty time procrastinated in writing about them. The main character is Merry Hanson, who lives in Pennsylvania Amish country. She is not Amish, but distantly related to them, and has many friends who are Amish.
The books all read like children's mystery novels, but not all the plots of each book are mystery. The first book, Whispers Down the Lane, involves Merry's friend Lissa, who has run away from home and has asked Merry to hide her. Merry finds herself torn between her desire to help her friend, and the possible consequences of harboring a runaway. Book two is Secret in the Willows and this book is indeed a mystery novel. Someone had been vandalizing an Amish home, and Merry believed the wrong person was being blamed for it. Catch a Falling Star (book three) deals with the details of a middle school love triangle, or hexagon, or whatever convoluted shape teenage crushes can create. Although that is not really a stage of my life I am interested in reliving, I did find the author's depiction of the complexities of middle school relationships to be quite accurate. Book 4 is Night of the Fireflies and deals with Merry's backstory of losing her twin to cancer, and the events in the present which dredge up those past memories. It is a significant book for helping readers in its target age group to identify feelings they might be having and discuss them openly with their parents, although it is still fiction and belongs in the children's fiction section of a bookstore, as opposed to the bereavement/grief or parenting sections. Book five is A Cry in the Dark and continues with that theme when Merry discovers an abandoned baby in her gazebo.
In every book, there is a clear explanation, in terms middle-schoolers can understand, of Amish beliefs and practices and how they differ from "English" people (all non-Amish). The books are engaging even for an adult to read, although many complex ideas an adult would think of are ignored (the lack of involvement of child protective services when a baby is discovered, simply because Merry's father is a doctor is one that comes to mind). However, it is refreshing to go back to that child-like mindset and just forget all the complicated things for a while.
These books are very entertaining, and I would recommend them to teenage girls, teenage boys who aren't afraid to be caught reading a book with a female character, and anyone interested in Lancaster Amish lifestyles written from a child's simplistic viewpoint.
This is a series of children's books which I had read years ago, probably in the 7th grade. I re-read them sometime during October but have
The books all read like children's mystery novels, but not all the plots of each book are mystery. The first book, Whispers Down the Lane, involves Merry's friend Lissa, who has run away from home and has asked Merry to hide her. Merry finds herself torn between her desire to help her friend, and the possible consequences of harboring a runaway. Book two is Secret in the Willows and this book is indeed a mystery novel. Someone had been vandalizing an Amish home, and Merry believed the wrong person was being blamed for it. Catch a Falling Star (book three) deals with the details of a middle school love triangle, or hexagon, or whatever convoluted shape teenage crushes can create. Although that is not really a stage of my life I am interested in reliving, I did find the author's depiction of the complexities of middle school relationships to be quite accurate. Book 4 is Night of the Fireflies and deals with Merry's backstory of losing her twin to cancer, and the events in the present which dredge up those past memories. It is a significant book for helping readers in its target age group to identify feelings they might be having and discuss them openly with their parents, although it is still fiction and belongs in the children's fiction section of a bookstore, as opposed to the bereavement/grief or parenting sections. Book five is A Cry in the Dark and continues with that theme when Merry discovers an abandoned baby in her gazebo.
In every book, there is a clear explanation, in terms middle-schoolers can understand, of Amish beliefs and practices and how they differ from "English" people (all non-Amish). The books are engaging even for an adult to read, although many complex ideas an adult would think of are ignored (the lack of involvement of child protective services when a baby is discovered, simply because Merry's father is a doctor is one that comes to mind). However, it is refreshing to go back to that child-like mindset and just forget all the complicated things for a while.
These books are very entertaining, and I would recommend them to teenage girls, teenage boys who aren't afraid to be caught reading a book with a female character, and anyone interested in Lancaster Amish lifestyles written from a child's simplistic viewpoint.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Wild Vine
The Wild Vine: A Forgotten Grape and the Untold Story of American Wine, by Todd Kliman
This is a pretty fascinating book. Technically, it is a history book on a completely obscure topic (the history of a grapevine). But it reads more like a novel that chronicles the history of wine in America. In addition to an entertaining story, I found myself learning about agriculture, wine, and yes, history. The common term, "a new chapter in history" is taken quite literally in this book, where each chapter introduces a new event or character in the story.
To sum up the basics: the New World was promising, not just for expansion and discovery, but as a potential source for new crops. The hunt was on for a good American wine that could rival Europe's wines. For 300 years everyone was disappointed at the quality of wine the native grape (Concord) could produce. Even Thomas Jefferson, for all the things he accomplished in his lifetime, was unable to establish a vineyard that could produce good wine. Even the European grapevines that were brought to America failed.
Enter Dr. Daniel Norton, a medical doctor and amateur horticulturist dabbling in grapevine genetics. Half accidentally, half on purpose, a vine was born at his Virginia farm that was pest-and-disease resistant, and produced grapes that made good wine. As time passed, the vine made it to Missouri, which was set to become America's Napa Valley before California was known for anything but gold, eventually winning a gold medal in an international wine expo in Vienna, and medals in subsequent years as well.
Next chapter up: Prohibition. The vineyards were burned, but bootleggers in Missouri saved some vines in a hidden vineyard. Prohibition was lifted, but Missouri never recovered as a center for wine production, though that is changing today.
The rest of the book finishes the story of the Norton, and its return to its native Virginia. While reading the author's descriptions of the wine, I really got a sense of the spirit of America. To the author, if not to the reader, the Norton wine represents the rugged hardiness, the perseverance of the varied culture, and even the melting pot quality of collective "America." To drink a Norton wine, the book seemed to say to me, is to proudly engage in a patriotic show of love for your country.
Towards the end, I felt a slight shift of focus from historical to almost propagandist writing. However, it was not enough to turn me off to reading, and I felt drawn to the story enough to give the author the benefit of the doubt- that the Norton wine really IS that good. This book's story has all the qualities of a great Hollywood story- a main character (the grape) with a cast of supporting actors who all have unique elements they add to the story. A great victory (the gold medals in Vienna) against affliction from an antagonist (alternately, European wine, California, Nicholas Longworth) and an extreme setback (Prohibition) followed by a come-back. It includes a surprise twist near the end, though not the kind worthy of an M. Night Shyamalan movie. It even has sex appeal, though not in the way most would expect. The characters all have a deep passion and romance for the Norton grape, and a wine which embodies the wildness of early America- well, that's pretty sexy. It makes me wonder why this book has not already been turned into a movie, and the instant answer that comes to mind is the author's inclusion of nine pages of Bibliography which would suggest the research to indicate it is a true story. Hollywood can't stomach true stories.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves obscure history, or history from a new angle, anyone who loves (or likes) wine, wants to learn more about wine, wants to learn about a native American species, supports local business, or just thinks the cover looks cool (the cover ROCKS).
This is a pretty fascinating book. Technically, it is a history book on a completely obscure topic (the history of a grapevine). But it reads more like a novel that chronicles the history of wine in America. In addition to an entertaining story, I found myself learning about agriculture, wine, and yes, history. The common term, "a new chapter in history" is taken quite literally in this book, where each chapter introduces a new event or character in the story.
To sum up the basics: the New World was promising, not just for expansion and discovery, but as a potential source for new crops. The hunt was on for a good American wine that could rival Europe's wines. For 300 years everyone was disappointed at the quality of wine the native grape (Concord) could produce. Even Thomas Jefferson, for all the things he accomplished in his lifetime, was unable to establish a vineyard that could produce good wine. Even the European grapevines that were brought to America failed.
Enter Dr. Daniel Norton, a medical doctor and amateur horticulturist dabbling in grapevine genetics. Half accidentally, half on purpose, a vine was born at his Virginia farm that was pest-and-disease resistant, and produced grapes that made good wine. As time passed, the vine made it to Missouri, which was set to become America's Napa Valley before California was known for anything but gold, eventually winning a gold medal in an international wine expo in Vienna, and medals in subsequent years as well.
Next chapter up: Prohibition. The vineyards were burned, but bootleggers in Missouri saved some vines in a hidden vineyard. Prohibition was lifted, but Missouri never recovered as a center for wine production, though that is changing today.
The rest of the book finishes the story of the Norton, and its return to its native Virginia. While reading the author's descriptions of the wine, I really got a sense of the spirit of America. To the author, if not to the reader, the Norton wine represents the rugged hardiness, the perseverance of the varied culture, and even the melting pot quality of collective "America." To drink a Norton wine, the book seemed to say to me, is to proudly engage in a patriotic show of love for your country.
Towards the end, I felt a slight shift of focus from historical to almost propagandist writing. However, it was not enough to turn me off to reading, and I felt drawn to the story enough to give the author the benefit of the doubt- that the Norton wine really IS that good. This book's story has all the qualities of a great Hollywood story- a main character (the grape) with a cast of supporting actors who all have unique elements they add to the story. A great victory (the gold medals in Vienna) against affliction from an antagonist (alternately, European wine, California, Nicholas Longworth) and an extreme setback (Prohibition) followed by a come-back. It includes a surprise twist near the end, though not the kind worthy of an M. Night Shyamalan movie. It even has sex appeal, though not in the way most would expect. The characters all have a deep passion and romance for the Norton grape, and a wine which embodies the wildness of early America- well, that's pretty sexy. It makes me wonder why this book has not already been turned into a movie, and the instant answer that comes to mind is the author's inclusion of nine pages of Bibliography which would suggest the research to indicate it is a true story. Hollywood can't stomach true stories.
In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves obscure history, or history from a new angle, anyone who loves (or likes) wine, wants to learn more about wine, wants to learn about a native American species, supports local business, or just thinks the cover looks cool (the cover ROCKS).
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Tuck
Tuck, by Stephen R. Lawhead
This is book #3 in the King Raven Trilogy. My reviews of the first two books- Hood, and Scarlet- can be found by clicking on their names. If you couldn't tell from the names "Hood, Scarlet, and Tuck" all put together, this is a retelling of the Robin Hood story.
The story of Robin Hood as we know it takes place in England near Nottingham around the time King Richard the Lionhearted was ruling. But Sherwood Forest would have been a reconstituted forest at that time, not as hauntingly spooky or easy to hide in as a true virgin forest. So, the author sets the story in Wales during the time of King William the Red, and gives all the characters more-or-less the same names, but with the Welsh, Saxon, or Norman spellings and pronunciation, depending on where they are from. Thus, Robin Hood becomes Rhi Bran y Hud (King Raven the Enchanter), Will Scarlet becomes Will 'Scarlet' Scatlocke, and Friar Tuck becomes Friar Aethelfrith, a Saxon name so complicated that the Welsh (who call themselves Cymry) had to come up with a suitable nickname for him (they chose Tuck). Yes, the name changes seem complicated, but if you read it as if you've never heard the Robin Hood story before, then it will make perfect sense.
In the first book, we learn about Bran's rise from a wayward prince to a warrior king in exile. In book two, Will Scarlet is in prison, gets rescued through a daring plot by King Bran, and then they all go shoot some Freinc soldiers with arrows and declare war, despite their "army" consisting of 6 good archers. In this third book, Bran's army has grown a little, but not by much. Despite that, through hard work and careful planning, they are able to diminish the enemy's numbers by more than half. Bran journeys north to ask a neighboring Welsh kingdom for help, but discovers their king has been taken captive. A good third of the book takes place in the north, with Bran and Tuck adventuring with new friends and warriors they (and we the readers) aren't accustomed to being around. The strategic plan Bran cooks up for accomplishing their goals is simply ingenious, not only on his part but on the part of the author. The other plan, the one I mentioned in my review of Scarlet, is brilliant for its chemistry, but this one just made me laugh at the audacity- yet the genius- of it. If I had a mind like this author, I would have finished writing my own books by now.
After a sad disappointment, Bran returns home to find that, more or less, everything has gone to pot in his absence. But they press on and shoot a few more bad guys, which lands the whole army of William the Red at their doorsteps (not a spoiler- it says that on the back of the book). By this point in the story, enough plot has been set up that I can see where things might lead, so that by the last third of the book, most new developments had me saying, "YES! I knew that would happen!" But, it was not necessarily a predictable plot, it was simply that I got invested in the characters, which led to my fervent hope for something and then at certain points the author decided to relent and give me what I hoped for. There were quite a few places where things happened that I would not have hoped for, or did not expect, so it was not just a boring ending. In fact, it was quite an exciting ending, not unlike a Tolkien tale I've heard once or twice.
One thing I found interesting was the Author's Note which ended each book. The note at the end of Tuck cited the true historical accounts in which archers seemed to decimate an entire army, as a way to explain why some readers may find Rhi Bran's success with his archers (6 against 40) somewhat improbable as a plot line. By historical accounts and with the military technology of the times, a war could be decided by the number of archers on each side, and all other things being equal, by how many of the archers were Welsh. I particularly liked that tidbit of information, mostly because of my interest in strategy and military tactics in the context of a novel (it is hard to find a good story about war these days).
I recommend this book series to anyone who likes the story of Robin Hood, strong "heroic" type characters, medieval fiction, stories of ancient Great Britain, stories of "freedom fighters," brilliant and intricate plots, and archery. Lots and lots of archery.
EDIT: I've just browsed some other people's reviews, and I have to emphatically disagree with the one who claims Mr. Lawhead has good ideas but is not a skilled writer. He is quite skilled at depicting various accents and dialects, and despite the presence of 4 languages in 11th century Wales, it is not confusing to follow who is talking or why they are talking like that, not even when Alan a'Dale lapses in and out of multiple dialects. Additionally, for most of Scarlet, the book moves flawlessly in and out of Will's first person account, and a few third-person accounts that are needed in order to keep the plot up-to-date.
This is book #3 in the King Raven Trilogy. My reviews of the first two books- Hood, and Scarlet- can be found by clicking on their names. If you couldn't tell from the names "Hood, Scarlet, and Tuck" all put together, this is a retelling of the Robin Hood story.
The story of Robin Hood as we know it takes place in England near Nottingham around the time King Richard the Lionhearted was ruling. But Sherwood Forest would have been a reconstituted forest at that time, not as hauntingly spooky or easy to hide in as a true virgin forest. So, the author sets the story in Wales during the time of King William the Red, and gives all the characters more-or-less the same names, but with the Welsh, Saxon, or Norman spellings and pronunciation, depending on where they are from. Thus, Robin Hood becomes Rhi Bran y Hud (King Raven the Enchanter), Will Scarlet becomes Will 'Scarlet' Scatlocke, and Friar Tuck becomes Friar Aethelfrith, a Saxon name so complicated that the Welsh (who call themselves Cymry) had to come up with a suitable nickname for him (they chose Tuck). Yes, the name changes seem complicated, but if you read it as if you've never heard the Robin Hood story before, then it will make perfect sense.
In the first book, we learn about Bran's rise from a wayward prince to a warrior king in exile. In book two, Will Scarlet is in prison, gets rescued through a daring plot by King Bran, and then they all go shoot some Freinc soldiers with arrows and declare war, despite their "army" consisting of 6 good archers. In this third book, Bran's army has grown a little, but not by much. Despite that, through hard work and careful planning, they are able to diminish the enemy's numbers by more than half. Bran journeys north to ask a neighboring Welsh kingdom for help, but discovers their king has been taken captive. A good third of the book takes place in the north, with Bran and Tuck adventuring with new friends and warriors they (and we the readers) aren't accustomed to being around. The strategic plan Bran cooks up for accomplishing their goals is simply ingenious, not only on his part but on the part of the author. The other plan, the one I mentioned in my review of Scarlet, is brilliant for its chemistry, but this one just made me laugh at the audacity- yet the genius- of it. If I had a mind like this author, I would have finished writing my own books by now.
After a sad disappointment, Bran returns home to find that, more or less, everything has gone to pot in his absence. But they press on and shoot a few more bad guys, which lands the whole army of William the Red at their doorsteps (not a spoiler- it says that on the back of the book). By this point in the story, enough plot has been set up that I can see where things might lead, so that by the last third of the book, most new developments had me saying, "YES! I knew that would happen!" But, it was not necessarily a predictable plot, it was simply that I got invested in the characters, which led to my fervent hope for something and then at certain points the author decided to relent and give me what I hoped for. There were quite a few places where things happened that I would not have hoped for, or did not expect, so it was not just a boring ending. In fact, it was quite an exciting ending, not unlike a Tolkien tale I've heard once or twice.
One thing I found interesting was the Author's Note which ended each book. The note at the end of Tuck cited the true historical accounts in which archers seemed to decimate an entire army, as a way to explain why some readers may find Rhi Bran's success with his archers (6 against 40) somewhat improbable as a plot line. By historical accounts and with the military technology of the times, a war could be decided by the number of archers on each side, and all other things being equal, by how many of the archers were Welsh. I particularly liked that tidbit of information, mostly because of my interest in strategy and military tactics in the context of a novel (it is hard to find a good story about war these days).
I recommend this book series to anyone who likes the story of Robin Hood, strong "heroic" type characters, medieval fiction, stories of ancient Great Britain, stories of "freedom fighters," brilliant and intricate plots, and archery. Lots and lots of archery.
EDIT: I've just browsed some other people's reviews, and I have to emphatically disagree with the one who claims Mr. Lawhead has good ideas but is not a skilled writer. He is quite skilled at depicting various accents and dialects, and despite the presence of 4 languages in 11th century Wales, it is not confusing to follow who is talking or why they are talking like that, not even when Alan a'Dale lapses in and out of multiple dialects. Additionally, for most of Scarlet, the book moves flawlessly in and out of Will's first person account, and a few third-person accounts that are needed in order to keep the plot up-to-date.
The 5 People You Meet in Heaven
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom
This book is unusual. Most of the time when you read a book, you know that no matter how many bad things happen to the main character, none of them will be bad enough to kill, except maybe at the end if it is one of those tragic stories. This book is not like that. The first chapter is called The End, and it begins with "This is a story about a man named Eddie and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun."
Thankfully, the book doesn't open with a gruesome death scene, but explains a little about how Eddie got to his predicament that killed him, and then after that, Eddie finds himself somewhere else, where he learns that in heaven, before reaching his own paradise, he must meet five people who had influenced his life on earth in some way. They will each teach him a lesson explaining life, so that he can make some sense of his time on earth. Interspersed with Eddie's meetings with these five people, are snippets of the past, letting us get a glimpse of who Eddie was on earth. After all, we didn't really know him on earth, because the story began on his last day here. So we need to have some reference point.
I see this book as a work of philosophy, explaining a little to the reader about what life means on earth, and why we are here, and how we should live. Some people could object to the version of heaven as depicted in this book, but I don't really see the book as a work of theology. The setting of heaven seems to be simply the author's method for getting the points across.
Each of the five people had some quite startling things to reveal to Eddie, so it was interesting, and a very quick read. I would suggest this book to anyone. And everyone.
This book is unusual. Most of the time when you read a book, you know that no matter how many bad things happen to the main character, none of them will be bad enough to kill, except maybe at the end if it is one of those tragic stories. This book is not like that. The first chapter is called The End, and it begins with "This is a story about a man named Eddie and it begins at the end, with Eddie dying in the sun."
Thankfully, the book doesn't open with a gruesome death scene, but explains a little about how Eddie got to his predicament that killed him, and then after that, Eddie finds himself somewhere else, where he learns that in heaven, before reaching his own paradise, he must meet five people who had influenced his life on earth in some way. They will each teach him a lesson explaining life, so that he can make some sense of his time on earth. Interspersed with Eddie's meetings with these five people, are snippets of the past, letting us get a glimpse of who Eddie was on earth. After all, we didn't really know him on earth, because the story began on his last day here. So we need to have some reference point.
I see this book as a work of philosophy, explaining a little to the reader about what life means on earth, and why we are here, and how we should live. Some people could object to the version of heaven as depicted in this book, but I don't really see the book as a work of theology. The setting of heaven seems to be simply the author's method for getting the points across.
Each of the five people had some quite startling things to reveal to Eddie, so it was interesting, and a very quick read. I would suggest this book to anyone. And everyone.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The Reason for God
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller
This book was excellent. It was broken up into two parts. In the first part, the author, a NYC pastor who has heard it all, took the most popular objections to Christianity and addressed them. I would not exactly say that he "refuted" them, because it sounds somewhat abrasive to speak that way. Instead, he discussed the implications of believing in each objection, and exposed each one as logically unsound. One particular thing that stands out is that unlike many religious people, the author did not use scripture to "prove" his point. When a person uses scripture as the foundation for an argument with someone who objects to Christianity, the other person can simply call the validity of scripture into question, thus causing the whole argument to fall apart. Scripture is useful for a lot of things- teaching, rebuking, correcting, training- but it does not make a sound foundation in an argument about the validity of the word of God. Mr. Keller uses philosophy and logical thinking to discuss scripture, and through logic explains that many of the objections to Christianity require a belief in some other unproven theory.
Take for example the objection, "There can't be just one true religion." In the United States, it is culturally important that we be sensitive to other people's beliefs. This allows multiple religions to have breathing room. But in the Middle East, almost everyone believes there is just one true religion. To state that "there can't be just one true religion" also asserts that your cultural beliefs are more important than others, and is a statement of belief which others do not hold and which you cannot empirically prove.
So, in the first part of the book, the author lays out reasons we shouldn't disbelieve, and in the second part of the book, the author explains by topic reasons to have faith in Christianity. Although this part is important, from a practical standpoint, I found the first part of the book more useful to me in answering not only questions I've heard, but questions I've asked myself. In particular, the question "How can a loving God send people to hell?" is one that I have wrestled with. One thing that stood out from that chapter was that it would be very unloving for God to allow people like Hitler into heaven. The question that follows is how can a loving God NOT send people to hell?" There would be no justice anywhere if that were the case. I honestly had never thought of it from that perspective before.
I think that this book is good for anyone who likes to think, who wants to view Christianity from a new perspective, who likes philosophical thought, or who has tough, unanswered questions about God, the Bible, or Christians. This book is NOT good for someone with a low reading level. I have done college-level reading in a short time and with no problem, but this book was a challenge for me (only in parts). In addition to reading (visual input), I had to supplement my absorption of this book by reading some chapters out loud (auditory input) and underlining key points (tactile input) in order to fully understand the concepts discussed. However, this was not for the entire book, only some of the deeper chapters. For the most part, if you can read at a high school or college level, you should be okay as long as you are interested in the subject matter. Lastly, from a Christian perspective, this book is helpful for grounding you in the beliefs you already have or may have been raised with.
This book was excellent. It was broken up into two parts. In the first part, the author, a NYC pastor who has heard it all, took the most popular objections to Christianity and addressed them. I would not exactly say that he "refuted" them, because it sounds somewhat abrasive to speak that way. Instead, he discussed the implications of believing in each objection, and exposed each one as logically unsound. One particular thing that stands out is that unlike many religious people, the author did not use scripture to "prove" his point. When a person uses scripture as the foundation for an argument with someone who objects to Christianity, the other person can simply call the validity of scripture into question, thus causing the whole argument to fall apart. Scripture is useful for a lot of things- teaching, rebuking, correcting, training- but it does not make a sound foundation in an argument about the validity of the word of God. Mr. Keller uses philosophy and logical thinking to discuss scripture, and through logic explains that many of the objections to Christianity require a belief in some other unproven theory.
Take for example the objection, "There can't be just one true religion." In the United States, it is culturally important that we be sensitive to other people's beliefs. This allows multiple religions to have breathing room. But in the Middle East, almost everyone believes there is just one true religion. To state that "there can't be just one true religion" also asserts that your cultural beliefs are more important than others, and is a statement of belief which others do not hold and which you cannot empirically prove.
So, in the first part of the book, the author lays out reasons we shouldn't disbelieve, and in the second part of the book, the author explains by topic reasons to have faith in Christianity. Although this part is important, from a practical standpoint, I found the first part of the book more useful to me in answering not only questions I've heard, but questions I've asked myself. In particular, the question "How can a loving God send people to hell?" is one that I have wrestled with. One thing that stood out from that chapter was that it would be very unloving for God to allow people like Hitler into heaven. The question that follows is how can a loving God NOT send people to hell?" There would be no justice anywhere if that were the case. I honestly had never thought of it from that perspective before.
I think that this book is good for anyone who likes to think, who wants to view Christianity from a new perspective, who likes philosophical thought, or who has tough, unanswered questions about God, the Bible, or Christians. This book is NOT good for someone with a low reading level. I have done college-level reading in a short time and with no problem, but this book was a challenge for me (only in parts). In addition to reading (visual input), I had to supplement my absorption of this book by reading some chapters out loud (auditory input) and underlining key points (tactile input) in order to fully understand the concepts discussed. However, this was not for the entire book, only some of the deeper chapters. For the most part, if you can read at a high school or college level, you should be okay as long as you are interested in the subject matter. Lastly, from a Christian perspective, this book is helpful for grounding you in the beliefs you already have or may have been raised with.
Possum Living
Possum Living, How to Live Well Without a Job and With (Almost) No Money, by Dolly Freed
The author of this book is amazing. The foreword indicates that Dolly Freed is a pseudonym, but whoever the author, she has a very similar mindset to me. She dropped out of school in 7th grade, with her father's permission, and spent the rest of her time learning things she needed to know from the library. She and her father bought an old store, renovated, and converted it into a house. She learned plumbing, electric wiring installment, masonry, heating and insulation, and tax assessment (or re-assessment) from the library. In 1978 dollars, they spent $1163 on two people for the entire year. They raised rabbits for meat, hens for eggs, and converted their backyard to a garden. They lived with very little waste; everything had a use, even the scraps. If the harvest was too big, they canned, dried, pickled, smoked, or froze what they couldn't eat for the winter, when there would be less available food. They got good clothes at Goodwill, which I can attest is actually probable. They lived in a nice, suburban neighborhood, and gave homemade wine as gifts for their friends. At the age of 18, Dolly wrote this book as a How-to-Do-What-We're-Doing book. If she didn't know how to write or become published, she went to the library to find out. As she grew older, and the book became fairly popular, she decided she wanted to become a NASA aerospace engineer. Then, she got up and did it. If it seemed like she had hit a dead end, she created her own opportunities to get where she needed to go. After meeting her husband at NASA and deciding she needed a career change, she created opportunities and became an environmental educator.
Why am I telling you about the author instead of the book? Because I really connected with the author. She had the right amount of witty-sarcastic comments, paired with a very clear and concise account of how to practice the skills she had learned (such as how to skin a rabbit or set up a solar heating system). Most of all, I like her because she is self-educated. I can give myself credit for 87.5% of my high school education, which I accomplished on my own through a correspondence school. The ability to learn independent of a teacher other than "life" is a trait I value in a person. I might not live exactly the way that is laid out in the book (read: I probably will never raise rabbits in my basement for meat) but there are plenty of good tips found in the book which I intend to put to use. One in particular is the importance (and ease!) of canning the extra produce you have for use a few months down the road, when those canned goods might not be as readily available. I have already put the advice to good use by making wineberry preserves and dill pickles from items I picked in the backyard. Although this book will not be the "frugalists' bible" as some have suggested it might be, I will definitely refer to it often for things I need to know how to do.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a quick and easy read, likes my kind of humor, has an interest in moonshine, has no job, or likes the idea of sustainable living.
The author of this book is amazing. The foreword indicates that Dolly Freed is a pseudonym, but whoever the author, she has a very similar mindset to me. She dropped out of school in 7th grade, with her father's permission, and spent the rest of her time learning things she needed to know from the library. She and her father bought an old store, renovated, and converted it into a house. She learned plumbing, electric wiring installment, masonry, heating and insulation, and tax assessment (or re-assessment) from the library. In 1978 dollars, they spent $1163 on two people for the entire year. They raised rabbits for meat, hens for eggs, and converted their backyard to a garden. They lived with very little waste; everything had a use, even the scraps. If the harvest was too big, they canned, dried, pickled, smoked, or froze what they couldn't eat for the winter, when there would be less available food. They got good clothes at Goodwill, which I can attest is actually probable. They lived in a nice, suburban neighborhood, and gave homemade wine as gifts for their friends. At the age of 18, Dolly wrote this book as a How-to-Do-What-We're-Doing book. If she didn't know how to write or become published, she went to the library to find out. As she grew older, and the book became fairly popular, she decided she wanted to become a NASA aerospace engineer. Then, she got up and did it. If it seemed like she had hit a dead end, she created her own opportunities to get where she needed to go. After meeting her husband at NASA and deciding she needed a career change, she created opportunities and became an environmental educator.
Why am I telling you about the author instead of the book? Because I really connected with the author. She had the right amount of witty-sarcastic comments, paired with a very clear and concise account of how to practice the skills she had learned (such as how to skin a rabbit or set up a solar heating system). Most of all, I like her because she is self-educated. I can give myself credit for 87.5% of my high school education, which I accomplished on my own through a correspondence school. The ability to learn independent of a teacher other than "life" is a trait I value in a person. I might not live exactly the way that is laid out in the book (read: I probably will never raise rabbits in my basement for meat) but there are plenty of good tips found in the book which I intend to put to use. One in particular is the importance (and ease!) of canning the extra produce you have for use a few months down the road, when those canned goods might not be as readily available. I have already put the advice to good use by making wineberry preserves and dill pickles from items I picked in the backyard. Although this book will not be the "frugalists' bible" as some have suggested it might be, I will definitely refer to it often for things I need to know how to do.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a quick and easy read, likes my kind of humor, has an interest in moonshine, has no job, or likes the idea of sustainable living.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Epicenter
Epicenter: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future, by Joel C. Rosenberg
There is a bit of a story behind this book, for me. It all started with a coupon. I had a coupon to buy a book by Mr. Rosenberg at a discounted price. I don't even remember the discount. He had written a series of fiction novels so I thought it was best to start with the first book in the series. That book was called The Last Jihad. (Reviewed on this blog here.) To summarize, that book was written before September 11, 2001, yet featured a hijacked American airliner by terrorists on a kamikaze mission. The book's publication was placed on hold in September 2001 due to the similarity of events that were unfolding. Many of the events in his subsequent books also hit headlines in real life. People began to wonder how this author could possibly be writing fiction that comes true.
So, he wrote Epicenter to explain his process. Working in a bookstore, I found a copy of Epicenter, and began flipping through it. I was fascinated, and it did not bother me that I had not read the rest of his fiction books because I thought, "Why read his fiction if I can just read the headlines and get the same story?" So when I got to chapter three, I decided, "Ok, put the book down, go back to work, buy this book, and read it at home." I found myself doing that a lot while working at the bookstore. A bookstore is a dangerous place to work.
So, I bought the book, and read through it carefully. I got about halfway through before life got in the way. I started school again, then I started a business. Finally, revolutions erupted in the Middle East and I told myself, "Don't put this off any longer." So I started the book again, from the beginning.
What I learned is that everything that is happening right now in the Middle East was predicted in the Old Testament by the prophet Ezekiel. Mr. Rosenberg takes Ezekiel's words and turns them into a plot line for his novels, and that is where the ideas come from. But it just so happens that the world is on that same plot line, and that is why the novels appear to be coming true in the news headlines.
The first four chapters of the book explain the prophecies, explain the differing theological views surrounding them, and explain logically from a political perspective why some countries are behaving the way they are behaving today. Also important in the first four chapters is an explanation of why it is necessary to view the world through the lens of scripture rather than the view of politics or economics. The lens of scripture gives the big picture, while other worldviews leave things out. The next ten chapters involve what future headlines we can expect to see, and since the book was written in 2006 and revised in 2008, I could see that some of those headlines had actually begun to appear in the three years since its publication. The final chapter is an explanation of why this information is important and needs to be taken seriously by Americans and anyone in the world for that matter.
The book was incredibly informative, persuasive, and written clearly enough that anyone can read it. There was a lot of additional information as well- an afterword, frequently asked questions, polling results explaining American attitudes toward the Middle East and prophecies, the actual scripture passages in case someone doesn't have a Bible or doesn't know where to find it in the Bible, and transcripts of interviews with world leaders. Although the book is not long by my standards, some people may look at this book of nearly 400 pages and find it too daunting to read. But actually, the book concludes on page 244. If you are interested in the afterword and appendices you can keep reading, but the main message is before that.
Once you are finished, if you are still interested in the subject matter, you can follow Mr. Rosenberg's blog here: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Biblical prophecy or current world events. I would also recommend this to anyone who is confused by Biblical prophecy or current world events, and to anyone who is apathetic about the danger posed by the alliances of radical-thinking countries.
There is a bit of a story behind this book, for me. It all started with a coupon. I had a coupon to buy a book by Mr. Rosenberg at a discounted price. I don't even remember the discount. He had written a series of fiction novels so I thought it was best to start with the first book in the series. That book was called The Last Jihad. (Reviewed on this blog here.) To summarize, that book was written before September 11, 2001, yet featured a hijacked American airliner by terrorists on a kamikaze mission. The book's publication was placed on hold in September 2001 due to the similarity of events that were unfolding. Many of the events in his subsequent books also hit headlines in real life. People began to wonder how this author could possibly be writing fiction that comes true.
So, he wrote Epicenter to explain his process. Working in a bookstore, I found a copy of Epicenter, and began flipping through it. I was fascinated, and it did not bother me that I had not read the rest of his fiction books because I thought, "Why read his fiction if I can just read the headlines and get the same story?" So when I got to chapter three, I decided, "Ok, put the book down, go back to work, buy this book, and read it at home." I found myself doing that a lot while working at the bookstore. A bookstore is a dangerous place to work.
So, I bought the book, and read through it carefully. I got about halfway through before life got in the way. I started school again, then I started a business. Finally, revolutions erupted in the Middle East and I told myself, "Don't put this off any longer." So I started the book again, from the beginning.
What I learned is that everything that is happening right now in the Middle East was predicted in the Old Testament by the prophet Ezekiel. Mr. Rosenberg takes Ezekiel's words and turns them into a plot line for his novels, and that is where the ideas come from. But it just so happens that the world is on that same plot line, and that is why the novels appear to be coming true in the news headlines.
The first four chapters of the book explain the prophecies, explain the differing theological views surrounding them, and explain logically from a political perspective why some countries are behaving the way they are behaving today. Also important in the first four chapters is an explanation of why it is necessary to view the world through the lens of scripture rather than the view of politics or economics. The lens of scripture gives the big picture, while other worldviews leave things out. The next ten chapters involve what future headlines we can expect to see, and since the book was written in 2006 and revised in 2008, I could see that some of those headlines had actually begun to appear in the three years since its publication. The final chapter is an explanation of why this information is important and needs to be taken seriously by Americans and anyone in the world for that matter.
The book was incredibly informative, persuasive, and written clearly enough that anyone can read it. There was a lot of additional information as well- an afterword, frequently asked questions, polling results explaining American attitudes toward the Middle East and prophecies, the actual scripture passages in case someone doesn't have a Bible or doesn't know where to find it in the Bible, and transcripts of interviews with world leaders. Although the book is not long by my standards, some people may look at this book of nearly 400 pages and find it too daunting to read. But actually, the book concludes on page 244. If you are interested in the afterword and appendices you can keep reading, but the main message is before that.
Once you are finished, if you are still interested in the subject matter, you can follow Mr. Rosenberg's blog here: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/
I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Biblical prophecy or current world events. I would also recommend this to anyone who is confused by Biblical prophecy or current world events, and to anyone who is apathetic about the danger posed by the alliances of radical-thinking countries.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Not a book...
Wow! A post that is not about a book I've read! If you want, I can tell you about the massage therapy textbook I've just finished reading. But that would be boring. I think it would be more interesting for me to direct you to a friend's website I've only just discovered today.
Her name is Claudia and although I knew her in elementary school as "Heather's Mom" we're friends these days because we both have a love for blogging about the things that interest us. Why don't you take a moment and check out her website?
http://ebookandbookreviews.com/
Her name is Claudia and although I knew her in elementary school as "Heather's Mom" we're friends these days because we both have a love for blogging about the things that interest us. Why don't you take a moment and check out her website?
http://ebookandbookreviews.com/
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Stories in the Sketch Book, by Washington Irving
This book is a very difficult read. In fact, I'm going to share with you a little secret. I started it in October and I haven't finished it yet! Gasp!
The problem for me, lies in the fact that the book is an anthology. I loved certain stories. But others were incredibly boring. To me, an anthology is an author's way to get things published that would normally get thrown in the editor's trash bin.
To be fair, there were some stories that were not interesting to me, but which had wonderful insight about life in England in the early 1800s, life in England from an American's perspective, death, immortality through writing, and relationships between men and women. I can understand why they may have been included in the publishing, but they still did not interest me, and slowed the speed of my progress through the book.
In case you don't know anything about the author, he was American-born, but the majority of the things collected in his Sketch Book were written during a time when he lived in England. This book was written at the beginning of the 19th century, using a slightly more formal and outmoded pattern of speech. A reading of this book would be a major accomplishment for a middle-schooler to undertake, because of the amount of vocabulary words and slightly different syntax sometimes used within the book. It may even be on some advanced high school reading lists (depending on your school).
And now for a quick review of some of my favorite stories:
Rip Van Winkle. I'm sure you are familiar with this one already. A man falls asleep for 100 years and wakes up to find everything is changed. It is a great story, and the detail of the descriptions is very vivid and seems to place you right in the scene.
The County Church; The Widow and Her Son. These two are placed right next to each other, and take place in the same church. The first is a visit to the church and observations of the simplicity of faith (vs the big "megachurches" of the city) and the second is a picture of what happens when tragedy hits the church family. I felt I could relate to the stories and observations made about church life.
The Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap. This one is a unique writing and really only appreciated if you are familiar with Shakespeare's "Henry" plays. Being a total book nerd, I love Shakespeare. I also love history so the narrator's quest for the history of the Tavern is also interesting to me.
The Specter Bridegroom. This was quite a fascinating piece of fiction (rather than some of the others which seem to be observations about life). I have no idea why the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle became so famous while this one did not. I have a mental image of Peter Jackson and Tim Burton teaming up with Johnny Depp to make this into a movie. I hope it happens, as that would be awesome.
There are plenty more, but I will leave you with those. If you like somewhat antiquated language, want to read a challenging book for school but think Shakespeare is too challenging, or if you like anthologies or reading the classics, this book is for you.
This book is a very difficult read. In fact, I'm going to share with you a little secret. I started it in October and I haven't finished it yet! Gasp!
The problem for me, lies in the fact that the book is an anthology. I loved certain stories. But others were incredibly boring. To me, an anthology is an author's way to get things published that would normally get thrown in the editor's trash bin.
To be fair, there were some stories that were not interesting to me, but which had wonderful insight about life in England in the early 1800s, life in England from an American's perspective, death, immortality through writing, and relationships between men and women. I can understand why they may have been included in the publishing, but they still did not interest me, and slowed the speed of my progress through the book.
In case you don't know anything about the author, he was American-born, but the majority of the things collected in his Sketch Book were written during a time when he lived in England. This book was written at the beginning of the 19th century, using a slightly more formal and outmoded pattern of speech. A reading of this book would be a major accomplishment for a middle-schooler to undertake, because of the amount of vocabulary words and slightly different syntax sometimes used within the book. It may even be on some advanced high school reading lists (depending on your school).
And now for a quick review of some of my favorite stories:
Rip Van Winkle. I'm sure you are familiar with this one already. A man falls asleep for 100 years and wakes up to find everything is changed. It is a great story, and the detail of the descriptions is very vivid and seems to place you right in the scene.
The County Church; The Widow and Her Son. These two are placed right next to each other, and take place in the same church. The first is a visit to the church and observations of the simplicity of faith (vs the big "megachurches" of the city) and the second is a picture of what happens when tragedy hits the church family. I felt I could relate to the stories and observations made about church life.
The Boar's Head Tavern, Eastcheap. This one is a unique writing and really only appreciated if you are familiar with Shakespeare's "Henry" plays. Being a total book nerd, I love Shakespeare. I also love history so the narrator's quest for the history of the Tavern is also interesting to me.
The Specter Bridegroom. This was quite a fascinating piece of fiction (rather than some of the others which seem to be observations about life). I have no idea why the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle became so famous while this one did not. I have a mental image of Peter Jackson and Tim Burton teaming up with Johnny Depp to make this into a movie. I hope it happens, as that would be awesome.
There are plenty more, but I will leave you with those. If you like somewhat antiquated language, want to read a challenging book for school but think Shakespeare is too challenging, or if you like anthologies or reading the classics, this book is for you.
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