Angel Tungaraza and her husband Pius live in modern day Rwanda where they are raising their five grandchildren. Pius teaches at the university in Kigali, and Angel runs a business out of their home baking cakes for all kinds of occasions.
Angel is more than a baker, she is an artist, and feels that her cakes must be individualized to the person they are for, to represent not just special occasions, but the personalities and dreams of their honorees.
To accomplish this, Angel becomes a confidante to all kinds of people. Many of them are other residents of her apartment building, and the friends and colleagues she is then referred to. She finds that the secrets she learns, and keeps, — of affairs, unhappy wives, a prostitute who is supporting younger siblings in the only way she can since they were orphaned in the Tutsi – Hutu genocide, a group of women who order a cake to celebrate a girl’s cutting — illegal but insisted upon by the father, require her to examine her own secrets from herself.
This is a book where cake can bring about hope and recovery, and where a baker can be more than just a baker. Angel brings people together in ways that are healing, joyful, and imaginative, and ultimately she finds healing for herself and her husband.
Confusing. Mysterious. Controversial. Rational. Emotional. All of these are words that can be applied to how Christians from different faith-traditions approach or describe the Holy Spirit.
In his new book, pastor, speaker and author Francis Chan wants to add another word: forgotten. For all the confessions, faith-statements, studies and claims, Chan asserts that in practice, the Holy Spirit is largely left out of the everyday lives and churches of Christ-followers in the United States –with disastrous consequences for our mission. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit (David C. Cook, 2009) is his plea for Jesus’ people to embrace the adventure of living the real promise and power of the Holy Spirit.
This is not a thoroughgoing theology of the Holy Spirit, though one early chapter briefly surveys the basic Biblical teachings on the Holy Spirit from a balanced evangelical viewpoint. The observations, principles and assertions arise from solid Biblical grounding and authority. Chan is clearly not writing for theologians, but for the average Christ-follower and evangelical church member. The material is accessible and the tone conversational, which means that Forgotten God may prove to be very helpful for small groups or as the basis for discussion within a church family.
Across its seven chapters, Forgotten God weaves together three strands of thought as Chan interacts with common questions or issues about the Holy Spirit. First, there is Chan’s observation or diagnosis of life and ministry undertaken apart from the Spirit. He is clearly burdened by the fact that so many claim Christ, but can share little experience of His power nor give compelling evidence of the difference He makes to those who do not yet know Him. At times incredulous, but always kind, there is clearly a prophetic edge to these passages.
“I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can. The benchmark of success in church services has become more about attendance than the movement of the Holy Spirit. The “entertainment” model of church was largely adopted in the 1980’s and ‘90’s and while it alleviated some of our boredom for a couple of hours a week, it filled our churches with self-focused consumers rather than self-sacrificing servants attuned to the Holy Spirit….The light of the American church is flickering and nearly extinguished, having largely sold out to the kingdoms and values of this world….We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God….shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not?”
That expectation –of clearly and radically different churches and Christians– raises a conflict of the heart that needs resolution.
The second strand of thought begins to move towards that resolution. Chan regularly pleads for believers to avoid becoming “stuck” in their previous understandings of, or traditions they have been taught about, the Holy Spirit. The life of the Spirit is a dynamic one, involving hearts tender to His whispers, flexible to His promptings and open to His possibilities. People on all sides of the evangelical spectrum may miss the Spirit’s moving or even grieve Him because of a mindset that blinds them to His present work. Some will miss because they expect too little; others because they expect too much. “No matter what tradition you come from, you likely carry baggage and harbor stereotypes when it comes to the Holy Spirit….There are a lot of stereotypes (some of which are true) and a lot of abuses, and they don’t come from just one side of the issue.” Chan does an excellent (even pastoral) job of gently pointing out areas where Christians can get stuck (ie, fear over what the Holy Spirit might do; wanting to see miracles) and gently leading them to consider the fullness of what the Bible teaches (ie, the Spirit is the Father’s good gift to His children; He also comes to shape character and display Jesus’ glory more fully).
The final strand of Forgotten God (and the most important) is the encouragement towards constant, practical living in the presence, and under the power and direction, of the Holy Spirit. Chan shows his hand early in the book: “My hunch is that most of you reading this book have basic knowledge about the Holy Spirit, but when it comes to experiencing the Holy Spirit in your life, it’s a different story…the goal of this book is not to completely understand the Spirit or to go back to the apostolic age. The goal is to live faithfully today.” Towards the end, he confesses, “I want nothing more than to live in total surrender and abandonment to the Spirit every moment I have left on this earth….I don’t want my life to be explainable apart from the Spirit”
That is not an easy or simple goal—especially in a Christian world so saturated with busy, check-off /checklist spirituality. Chan is very helpful in demonstrating the practical and indispensable role of the Spirit in areas like becoming more like Jesus in character and action, dealing with sin, following God’s will in our everyday lives, and serving God in the world. One thing I really appreciated was his refusal to allow Spirit-filling and living to remain in an individual shrink-wrapped cocoon. Spirit-filling is intended to press us into the world—and sometimes that is not safe:
“The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn’t normally want or choose to do. The Spirit will lead you into the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be. The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be…”
There’s power in living by the Spirit. And of course, in the end, Christians who live by the Holy Spirit will form churches that are desperate for the Holy Spirit, live by the Holy Spirit and are themselves powerful– “ an unstoppable force spreading the fame of Jesus and advancing the border of His Kingdom.
With Forgotten God, Francis Chan has given us an important reminder. We need the Holy Spirit for every moment of life and ministry. He is not an option or an afterthought. He is a necessity, for He is our life.
Check out this brief clip of Francis Chan discussing the book:
The preview sampler from DAW Books is basically an abbreviated anthology of 139 pages containing excerpts from six sci-fi/fantasy novels that are either recently or will be released. Unfamiliar with some of the writers and their works, it’s better than just little synopses like this:
Starfinder by John Marco: Steam power, electricity, and the ability to fly are changing the world, but not everyone is happy with the progress. For years there’s been an uneasy peace between the humans and the mysterious Skylords. It’s about coming of age for two friends and mankind. Dreaming of taking to the skies and feeling in the way of her busy governor of a grandfather, Moth and Fiona decide to go to no man’s land, the Reach and heavenly domain of the Skylords.
It’s an interesting premise and the 18 pages were enough to make me curious about the friends’ adventure into the unknown, the Skylords, and the settlement on the far edge. I may end up reading book one and the rest of the young adult Skylords series later on.
The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff: With too many aunts trying to run her life, personally and magically, Allie sees her inheritence of her grandmother’s junk shop in Calgary as a means to get away. What Allie doesn’t realize is that the community she’ll be serving is that of the fey and that trouble is brewing. Her wits and the help of a Leprachaun and her aunts may be the necessary ingredients for the antidote.
It’s funny, sarcastic, has a colorful cast of characters, and looks to be really fun reading. Having heard Huff’s name too many times and most likely read some of her short stories without realizing it, I’m looking forward to reading this urban fantasy and getting a full dose.
Rift in the Sky by Julie Czerneda: The Om’ray of Sona Clan can teleport to any place they have been or seen. Other Om’ray want to learn this Talent as well, but that would mean an end to the Agreement that’s kept the peace between the three races living on Cersi. The Clans’ future is also threatened by off-worlders interested in acquiring newly discovered artifacts. What lies in store for the Om’ray and the worlds under the Trade Pact?
Like with this excerpt, landing in unknown territory can often be confusing. Rift in the Sky is book three of the Stratification series, which is a prequel to the Trade Pact Universe series. It was nice to read something by Anticipation’s master of ceremonies and know of one more Canadian sci-fi writer though.
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire: Changeling Toby Daye wishes to have a “normal” life among mortals in the Bay area. With her dying breath Countess Evening Winterrose binds Toby to investigate her murder. Toby has no choice but to return to the Faerie world and heritage she rejected, resuming her position of knight errant and renewing old alliances. A lot has changed while she’s been away and Toby must keep one step ahead if she wishes to solve Evening’s murder, keep things from exploding, and remain alive.
It’s humorous, witty, gritty, and is a nice change of pace from previous changeling books I’ve read. I know I already posted about this urban fantasy/fairy tale noir, but it’s worth repeating and I’m really looking forward to reading the first October Daye novel in its entirety. Some stores have already jumped the gate, but it’s official release is September first.
Gwenhwyfar: the White Spirit by Mercedes Lackey: Legends say that Arthur had three queens named Guinevere and a “False Guinevere”. In this story about the third queen, Gwenhwyfar wants to follow the path of the Warrior, but concedes to the duties expected of a King’s daughter- helping form an alliance during a time of betrayal and treachery.
I’m a long-time fan of Lackey’s writing, but I’m tepid on what will most likely be a beginning to a King Arthur series geared towards young adults. I’m sure it’ll be good reading, but I also feel like she’s following too much in the footsteps of her friend and mentor, Marion Zimmer Bradley. It’s out in stores on October 6th. On another note and from Lackey’s original world of Valdemar, Foundation should be coming out in paperback in October and the latest anthology by various authors, Changing the World, is due in December.
The Mermaid’s Madness by Jim Hines: It’s been said a mermaid sacrificed herself for her beloved prince, but that’s a lie. The real story is one of murder and revenge. Just ask Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White, who were there when things fell apart and tragedy struck.
Drawing from the original macabre fairy tale, Hines adds a spin to the “happily ever after” versions. It seems like it’ll be good, but I’m not really up for another retelling. The latest addition to the Princess novels comes out on October 6th.
DAW’s preview sampler was a good little read that added to my Dread Pile o’Reads. I have another sampler from Ace and Roc publishing, also acquired during Anticipation, that will be read at another time. It’s nice to see all the new sci-fi/fantasy out there.
Has anyone read any of these titles or anything by their creators? If so, care to share your three cents?
I love comedy, nothing makes me forget my pain faster than watching a comedian tell a funny story. As long as they are not stringing profanity together, well I’ll sit and watch. One of my favorite comedians is Bill Engvall, one of the guys best known as a member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour Funny guy that Bill Engvall
Yesterday I ran a few errands, stopped by the Dollar Store to grab some writing supplies. The store also has a book section. Not just coloring book, but hardcover books, books that are at large book stores for full price. Here at the Dollar Store, well just a dollar will do. Walking down the row I was surprised to see a book by one of my favorite funny men. I thought Bill would see the humor in my getting a book by him at the Dollar store, it was almost like I had to get it.
I already follow his twitter feed Bill Engvall and I’m a fan on his facebook page Bill Engvall on Facebook
The book is a short autobiography, not quite 250 pages, where he shares what it was like to grow up in a small Texas town. His early love of baseball (he is an Angels fan) the pain of his parents divorce, all of it just out there. Pretty brave, and deep for a guy who calls himself “Just a guy”. Funny very funny, as he shares the lessons he learned from life, and the breaks he has had, both good and bad on his way to becoming The Bill Engvall. He is a great story teller, sharing the good the bad and the dumb things he has done in his life. The book reads as less a tell all, than a let me tell you. Had so much fun reading it I was sad to put it down when I finished it. He still has a lot of funny stories to tell, so I hope he writes more soon. Bill has a blog, there is a link to it on his web page but he does not write in it anymore. Makes me sad, because he is such a funy story teller. I could listen to Bill tell the same jokes, or several new ones every day. His humor is just that fresh and funny.
Can’t guarantee you will find a copy of his book at the Dollar Store like I did. I do feel comfortable saying that where ever you get this book , it will be an enjoyable read. Keep it some where it can be grabbed on a sad or dreary day. It will not solve your problems, or change the weather patterns, just make you feel a little bit better.
Just one complaint Bill, not a single picture. I know your proud of yourself for writing a book, but couldn’t you have included a single picture of your self? I would not have thought less of you if you had. The book rocks, I hope you travel to Boston soon. I look forward to seeing you live some day
I don’t know if I’ve ever done one of these posts, but I’ve just received a couple books that I’ll be reviewing:
Grammatical and Exegetical Study of New Testament Verbs of Transference: A Case Frame Guide to Interpretation and Translation (Library of New Testament Studies) by Paul Danove.
Articular Infinitives in the Greek of the New Testament: On the Exegetical Benefit of Grammatical Precision (New Testament Monographs,) by Denny Burk
The former book, I’ve received with many, many thanks to the kind people at T & T Clark & Continuum for their willingness to provide this review copy. especially Abigail Cox. I look forward to digging into Danove’s analysis and his use of Construction Grammar for studying the New Testament text.
The latter I’ve been interested in reading for some time and decided to buy it. Sheffield Phoenix Press provides a reduced price of their hardback books for scholars, which lowered the price of Burk’s book into a rather reasonable range (HERE) when you order it directly from them. Now if only Burk would start blogging about Greek on occasion – or perhaps start another blog that focuses on Greek since blog on culture is already rather popular.
I have just had a book review published on another website, and so thought it would be cool to have a link for it here as well. If you bookmark the site, I will publishing regular book reviews there in the ‘Literature Review’ section – just hover your mouse over it and my name will appear, and you click on that to get to all my reviews.
The site isn’t 100% up and running yet, but bear with us, it should be fully up soon. In the meantime I will be posting links to all my posts here on my blog, both in a post and in the links section under my name.
So here it is, a review of Rob Bell’s new book, ‘Drops like Stars’, on the links between creativity and suffering. Let me know what you think!
(PS. If the link doesn’t work, then just check out the link below ‘Book review – Drops like Stars’ and hopefully you’ll find it there)
Mortals…they always get in the way. Clary is just your typical teenage girl. She goes to school, hangs out with her adoring best friend Simon, and argues with her mother. That is until she is witness to something she should have never seen. Clary meets Jace, Isabelle, and Alec while they are on a mission to kill a demon. That’s right, a demon; in a night club.
Clary suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar world when her mother mysteriously disappears and a demon attacks her in her own home. Lucky for her Jace had taken an interest in her and helped to save her life. Now she is discovering a whole new world that her mother had kept secret from her. Clary is a Shadowhunter, just like Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. She is a member of an elite demon-killing race from another world. They are part-demon (the good kind) and exist in a world where fairies, vampires, warlocks, werewolves, and other “fairy tale creatures” are real.
She quickly learns that her mother has hidden quite a lot from Clary over the years. Her mother knew the location of one of the 3 magical items that can be used to create more Shadowhunters, and this knowledge is what lead to her capture. As Clary tries to come to grips with her new reality, she is also trying to save her mother from wherever she has been taken, keep her very human friend away from the very non-human things that are trying to kill her, and try not to fall for Jace.
This is just the first book in a 4 book trilogy (go figure) that has a very Buffy feel to it. A young girl finds out that she is a centuries-old prophetic protector sworn to destroy all things that go bump in the night and try to kill humans. While there are some truly funny moments (I mean who doesn’t love a teenage boy who makes references to Dungeons & Dragons?) and the over-all story line is quite intriguing, the book lacks a change of pace from many other books like it. A great read if you are looking for a series filled with all manner of fantastical creatures.
Hello gentle reader, to steal an opening from one of my favorite columnists. Yes, it’s true, I love Miss Manners. I have her books and read them like reference materials. Not only is she utterly hilarious, she gives some pretty darn good advice. (I almost said d@*$ good advice but lost my nerve. Miss Manners might read this someday and I don’t want a naughty word to make me look bad in front of my heroine.)
I like to read self-help type books that offer useful life advice and are still fun to read. Miss Manner’s Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior was an early entry in my self-help career. She taught me the value of knowing the difference between a salad and a dessert fork, and how to fake it if you’re ever confused; work from the outside in. If that doesn’t work, just eat slowly and follow the lead of the hostess. Make sure the hostess isn’t a troll.
Having learned to not sip from the finger bowl or ask anyone ‘Where did you get a name like that, it was time to more on to the more challenging elements of etiquette. I like that, ‘Elements of Etiquette’. It sounds like Miss Manners is collaborating with Strunk and White.
The challenge of etiquette is that when you know proper etiquette, and no one else does, you have some difficult choices to make. Take, for instance, the word ‘forte’. People say ‘Oh well, of course I’m terrific at weaving blankets out of mouse hair, you know that fiber arts are my forte’ (pronounced with a long ‘A’ sound). Since forte’ is a musical term that means ‘Fast’, it doesn’t really fit. Now good manners require that we just smile, say how nice for you, and move away from the funny smell of mouse trousers. In fact, the fiber artist should have said weaving was his ‘forte’, pronouncing it like the fort he built out of boxes, board, and mouse fur blankets when he was a little fiber artist. Good manners require that I not correct him, carry on with the smiling and the back-stepping. I can do that. I can refrain from correcting someone’s grammar.
Here’s the problem; not everyone is far enough up the etiquette ladder to hold back an uninvited correction. If I say the work correctly, I would say that dredging up obscure vocabulary is my fort (box house with boards and, let’s be honest, Chihuahua hair blankets). Now the weaver thinks I just blew it and nearly leaps out of his cockroach shell man-sandals to correct me. Now it’s on. Do I remain polite and accept the correction, when I know I said it right and he didn’t? Or do I go for it, do the bad thing, and correct the correction?
I’m in my fort and he’s advancing forte; I’m right, with God on my side, but he’s not bound by the rules of etiquette. What will happen? Who will win? Who gets to stand in the middle of the room gently smirking, while their vanquished opponent mumbles something about needing to go to the loo, and then ransacks the guest room for a dictionary?
It’s me, I win. I decided that this isn’t just about etiquette, this is a teachable moment. Who am I to leave this poor weaver with a busted up vocabulary when it’s in my power to enrich his life. I say it; ‘Well actually, most people are surprised to find that forte is the correct pronunciation. Of course, (here comes the bone), it really depends on the dictionary you use. Some list the preferred pronunciation in different orders.
Ohhh, victory is sweet. I fully enjoy the moment…..there, fully enjoyed. Thank you.
Hey, where is everyone? Things were just getting interesting. We were talking about grammar and dictionaries, long ‘A’s and accent markings. Hey, mouse guy, want to know who to say niche?
Fine, I think I’ll go arrange the plastic flatware and see if they have any dictionaries.
Book Review: Evangelism Through the Local Church, by Michael Green (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1992. 574 pages)
Introduction
The dust jacket calls Evangelism Through the Local Church “a comprehensive guide to all aspects of evangelism”. It is every bit of that. Green deals with the apologetic task, the theology of evangelism, philosophical, social, cultural and religious trends and issues as well as providing detailed, step-by-step guides for evangelistic groups and meetings. It is thorough and exhaustive.
Major Points
There are four parts to his book. In the first, “Issues for the Church”, Green establishes his subject by clarifying theological issues such as the nature of human beings, the meaning of baptism, the propriety of evangelizing other religions, the kind of church God uses in evangelism, etc. Part II is about apologetics. Here he points out the vacuity of postmodern culture and the problems and issues it creates in the lives of individuals. He looks at pluralism, secularism, agnosticism, and so forth, but he also includes a chapter on the emotional needs of people today–something I’ve never encountered in a book on evangelism. Part II, “Church-Based Evangelism”, is basically a series of practical, “how-to” chapters on preaching, individual evangelism, discipleship, using venues other than the congregation, preaching missions. He finishes this section with two issue-focused chapters. One assessing the value of Arminian vs. Calvinist approaches (following Simeon, Green concludes that one should “pray like a Calvinist and preach like an Arminian”) The second, which recaps the book’s title, offers a via media between Charismatic and Evangelical approaches, in which he acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of both. Part IV is a series of eight Practical Appendixes in which he and other contributors provide actual course outlines, methods for organizing, planning and executing evangelistic missions, as well as sports ministry and how peace and justice ministry is a place where evangelism can take place.
Theological, Pastoral, and Personal Relevance
I wish I’d read this book years ago! For eleven years in pastoral ministry, I struggled with evangelism and renewal, never having read or studied anything that brought it home to the practical day-to-day life of parish ministry. I had read extensively in power evangelism, revivals, parachurch methods, and so forth, but never had I encountered such a clear presentation of all aspects of the subject. Green’s special qualities are his ability to combine clear and profound intellectual background in his apologetic and theological sections with uncompromising commitment to the welfare of the individual–both the believer (in team ministry training and equipping) and nonbeliever.. He is not a “church growth” expert. His book has none of the graphs, charts, principles and sociometrics so characteristic of that school. Rather, he focuses on the believer’s evangelistic interaction with the inquirer, in a spirit of love, energy and positive excitement. Green’s focus is on the local church. The painstaking detail in which he shows me, the parish minister, just how to go about this kind of thing, makes Green’s book very valuable. Yet this is not a book that advocates programs of any kind. For example, Green devised and has used what he calls “Discovery Groups” for years, but there is no published material, and the appendix in which he presents the material only suggests sequence, issues to be covered, and so forth. In the chapter in which he introduces the Discovery Groups, he describes the way the meeting goes, and offers a little dialogue to suggest how leaders might direct the conversation. In other words, it’s not Alpha, or EE or Serendipity. Green provides no videos, booklets, or three-ring binders; only outlines and suggestions for how these groups might go: one beggar telling another beggar how to give the third beggar bread. Underlying Green’s approach is his faith in God to do through the reader and the Church what he said he would in Jesus. Green’s book is a wonderful guide to evangelism as the parish lifestyle.
I wish I knew what happened with this review. I knew I started writing it last winter…or at least I think I did! We were right in the middle of buying a house and suddenly the pages of purchase and sales agreements became more important than the pages of Honeymoon in Tehran. Nevertheless, here I am now…months and months later, long after publication writing the review. What’s what saying? Better late than never!
Moaveni, Azadeh. Honeymoon in Tehran: Two Years of Love and Danger in Iran. New York: Random House, 2009.
Three words pop out at me when thinking of ways to describe Honeymoon in Tehran: political, cultural and fashionable. I thoroughly enjoyed Moaveni’s blend of sly personal commentary mixed with sharp political reporting. She tells it like it is without sparing the reader her own controversial viewpoints – quite the daring feat considering the scrutiny and censorship her topics are subjected to. Sprinkled amid pages of Iranian politics are tidbits of Moaveni’s personal life (pilates, friends and underground music scenes - to name a few). In the beginning it is a carefully balanced portrayal of life in Iran for a young female journalist, but then Moaveni meets and falls in love with Arash. An unplanned pregnancy speeds up already considered wedding plans. Suddenly, Moaveni’s portrayal of life in Tehran involves more than just herself as she is faced with raising a son and nurturing a marriage. Her decision to move to England is not surprising.
Critics have called Honeymoon in Tehran a sequel to her first book Lipstick Jihad but readers shouldn’t feel it necessary to read Lipstick Jihad before Honeymoon in Tehran. Honeymoon in Tehran is a completely readable book on its own. Moaveni makes enough references to Lipstick Jihad to fill the reader in.
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind, by Judy Finchler, is a book I could have written myself. It’s about a teacher who loves to read trying to inspire the same desire in her students. The exciting part begins when the school enters a contest to read 1,000 books. However, Miss Malarkey doesn’t just want the students to read for the contest, she wants them to actually appreciate the joy of reading. The problem begins when four boys refuse to cooperate. One by one, Miss Malarkey finds three of them books they love. They now find themselves reading books instead of playing video games. Finally, Miss Malarkey finds a book for the last one. He wants to be the one to read the 1,000th book.
Is There Really a Human Race?, by Jamie Lee Curtis, is a good book. (I’m running out of synonyms here!). I read it to my class to help them understand that, even though we look different, we’re all the same.
Take a Kiss to School, by Angela McAllister, will help those children who don’t want to go to school because they’re afraid their moms will miss them too much. So, they mom comes up with a way to reassure her daughter that she’ll be okay while she’s at school. She fills her daughter’s pockets full of kisses so she can take them out and use them when she needs it. Somehow the mom manages to make it through the day without her daughter. It kinda’ reminds me of my separation anxiety from Phillise when she went to school. Cute! Very cute!
TIGHTROPE POPPY the High-Wire Pig, by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, was a sweet little book about following your dreams. This book is a must read for anyone who dreams of a career path out of the ordinary. Poppy wants to be a tightrope artist. Even though this is not the typical thing that a pig does, she decides to leave home and follow her dreams. The circus owner welcomes her aboard and tells her to practice. She tells him that she doesn’t need practice. When her big day comes, she falls in front of everyone. She is so embarrassed that she wants to quit but she doesn’t. She takes the owner’s advice and practices. When she gets her chance again, she is the hit of the show. All of her practice and perseverance pays off. The message- You can do anything you want to do. Live your dream.
I Hate to Read by Rita Marshall, was a book I received straight from the publisher to review in advance. I liked it. In the book the title character, Victor, is a good kid, but he was a victim of the “I Hate to Read” syndrome. He hates to read. That is until he meets the crocodile in the white coat who introduces him to the many adventures he can experience in a book. Trust me, your students will love it. By the time you finish reading the book, some of your students may very well learn to love reading. Check it out!
Seeing as the inevitable end of mankind in 2012 is still a few years off, and Y2K was such a freaking bummer, I thought I’d take a nostalgic look at some end-of-the-world novels.
Really, there’s only so much else I can do while I’m sitting on my seven year supply of guns, munitions, beans and Spider-Man comics. So to pass the time waiting for my fellow human beings to die in ways too horrible to comprehend, I wrote some reviews. First up is:
THE FOURTH REICH by Robert Van Kampen
Nazi’s!! Hot unholy damn, how can you go wrong with nazi’s? Indiana Jones and Nazi’s, Zombies and Nazi’s, Rocky Road Ice Cream and Nazi’s. It’s a sure fire winner for a story.
Most of the time.
The book also takes the road-less-travelled and goes after a “pre-wrath rapture” approach rather than the popular pre-tribulation view made popular by the likes of Tim LaHaye. I’m down with that as I’m a pre-wrathish kinda guy myself.
The novel is really 2 halves. The first half is freaking amazing. International espionage, the Mossad, the rise of a seemingly benevolent leader, and the great character development of a Russian-Jewish brother/sister race to save their country.
Then it literally falls off a cliff. In fact, it derails so fast that to this day, YEARS later, my wife still remembers the moment. We were camping and took time to read some great books. I was having the best time of my vacation with this book and couldn’t put it down. Then the peace and calm of nature was suddenly torn asunder by my cries of “NNNOOOOOOOOoooooooooo……!!!”. The very fabric of time and space trembled as the novel sucked so hard and so fast that for a brief moment the sun could not give its light and any 5 Star rating was lost in that black hole of misery.
The greatness of the first half of the novel could not survive the sniper-shot through the cranium of the second half.
One chapter ends and the next chapter begins with with Nicolae ( seems to be a popular Antichrist name ) tearing off his mask to reveal that he is really ( insert Dr. Evil music here )…HITLER!! I am NOT making this up. Stupid stupid stupid stupid…
What began as a Tom Clacy novel degrades into an episode of Scooby Doo. Old-Man McPherson Hitler?? And the Anti-Christ would have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for that meddling Messiah!
Adding to the misery are the comical antics of the “Two Witnesses”, which can best be described as the “Two Stooges”. Maybe Arnold Schwarzenegger can pull off the “he had to split”, or “I let him go” lines. But Moses and Elijah need to either go back to comedian school or do some serious training at the gym because in both regards here, they suck royally.
I threw the book across the tent. I should add that tents are small and somewhat stretchy. The book flew back and hit me in the face as if to mock me a second time. I guess the universe just wanted to kick me when I was down.
Maybe the next end-times book review won’t leave me consumed with hatred and rage.
1 Star out of 5. Make it 2 if you like Scooby Doo.
Burke, Trevor J. Adopted into God’s Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor. New Studies in Biblical Theology 22. Downers Grove: IVP, 2006. 233 pgs.
In this work author Trevor Burke contends that one of Paul’s soteriological metaphors is often over overlooked, that of huiothesia, or adoption. Contending that adopting should not merely be subsumed under justification or regeneration, Burke sets out to demonstrate the uniqueness of this metaphor onyl used in a handful of passages by Paul.
Burke begins by laying out his case for the separate treatment of adoption, arguing that it contains a unique emphasis that gets lost when it is subsumed under other categories of the ordo salutis and that when adoption has been studied it has been too limited, mainly concerned with discerning the cultural milieu Paul was drawing upon (chapter 1).
In chapter 2 Burke discusses the nature of metaphors and the unique interpretative challnges they bring. He cites some standard thinkers in this discussion (Lakoff and Johnson, McFague), and argues that both the literary and social contexts are key for discerning the proper “field of associations” which grounds Paul’s use of huiothesia. Burke ends with the claim that despite the scarcity of references, adoption actually serves as “an organizing soteriological metaphor” for Paul.
The next logical step in Burke’s presentation is to try to understand the background to Paul’s adoption metaphor. He examines the OT, Greek, and Roman backgrounds. In the end he nearly completely endorses the Roman view, while minimizing Hebrew influence and denying any Greek associations (Chapter 3).
Chapters 4-6 form the heart of the book, where Burke analyzes nearly every Pauline passage on adoption, with the exception of Romans 9:4. He discerns a Trinitarian structure to adoption, and thus the fundamental passages are each explored to varying degrees three separate times, with an eye to the role of the Father (chapter 4), the Son (chapter 5), and the Spirit (chapter 6).
The main functions of the Triune persons, according to Burke, are as follows: the Father is the believers new paterfamilias, who like the Roman head of the household adoptes one by his sovereign choice. The Son is the agent through which this adoption takes place in union with him. Burke points out that while this has no direct correlation to the Roman practice of adoption, the idea of redemption from slavery discussed in chapter four fits within the conceptual scheme of Roman adoption. In Paul’s thought one is bought out of slavery, thus making adoption possible, not through money but through a person. For Paul the tye of currency necessary is changed. Lastly, Burke’s treatment of the Spirit reflects the mutual perichoretic coactivity (to use Elmer Colyer’s term) between the Son and Spirit, so that the work of the Spirit and the Son in adoption cannot in the end divided. Also, the moral significance and the method of believer’s assurance are dealt with here.
From here Burke backtracks a bit to explore the socio-cultural issues of honor and shame, and their relation to adoption (chapter 7). In chapter 8 adoption is explored eschatologically through the prism of Romans 8:18-27. Finally, after a brief summary of the entire book Burke explores what he calls some “alleged cases of adoption in the Old Testament” in his apendix.
First a few structural comments. One of books greatest strengths is in its summaries. Whether the summary at the end of each chapter or for the book as a whole at its conclusion, Burke’s summaries are extremely helpful. Concise and higlighting the major point of each section in a chapter chronologically, they made the book more understandable. This may seem insignificant, but not every author knows how to summarize well.
Negatively, while there were footnotes, they were mostly tangential to the point at hand. In the text the actual citations were in APA format, which i found cumbersome and unhelpful. Lastly, the chapter on honor and shame would have made more sense before the exploration of the Trinitarian nature of adoption. Four of the last five chapters are more textually and theologically focused, and sandwiched inbetween the Spirit and Eschatology Burke moves back to cultural background issues.
In terms of critical analysis, i will limit myself to two particular examples:
Burke’s method is overly rigid at times. This is particularly the case with Romans 9:4, which speak of Israel as God’s adoption children. Burke devotes less than two pages to this use of huiothesia. The ratnionale: there is no OT background to the practice of adoption, and the word is never used there. While i understand that Burke is unashamedly coming from a biblical-theology approach, using the lack of precise verbal and cultural symmetry as an excuse to effectively filter out one of only a handful of relevant passages is extreme. While it would make the review too long to argue against this approach in more detail and present an affirmative case, i would note in passing that conceptually the OT concept of covenant corresponds very nicely to more than one major element in the Roman cultural practice of adoption, thus giving the Jews, who by and large would have known the Roman practice of adoptio, a metaphorical launching pad to understand Paul.
Slightly related to number 1, at times Burke’s bias for reformed theology slants his readings of both the background for the texts and the texts themselves. One example will have to suffice. In arguing against Paul’s use of a Greek background for huiothesia, Burke states that Paul couldn’t have been drawing on this background since in Greek culture adoption wasn’t ”absolute” and irrevocable (59). To be clear overall Burke’s case is strong and there is little doubt that Roman culture was the primary field of associations for Paul. That said, the “provisional” nature of Greek adoption is not a problem for arminian or other free will theists who believe that one can lose their salvation.
Despite these criticisms, Burke has produced a fine work. His stated goal was to show that Paul’s metaphor of adoption “is worthy of greater consideration . . . it should occupy a more vital role in our theological reflection and understanding (28).” Burke’s monograph has accomplished this goal. The writing is clear, concise, and each chapter has a clear flow and train of thought. Despite some points of methodological and theological disagreement, i find most of Burke’s positions sound. This book is definitely worth a read.
I am of two minds with this book. Parts of it I loved, others I hated. Let’s break it down:
Dan Gillman is a jerk! I don’t know why that woman wants to give him a second chance. Really, I don’t. After all that lying and manipulating he did. But, then, this is the world of romantic fiction.
I’ve never really liked Izzy Zanella. He’s always just rubbed me the wrong way. However, despite that, I can’t wait to see how it works out between him and Eden. Maybe he’s starting to grow on me.
The Alyssa and Sam portion of the story was okay. At the beginning of the series, I was definitely on the Sam/Alyssa train, but, now, I think it’s too much about them, and not enough about everyone else.
Jules and Robin. My absolute favorite couple in this series. Reading about Robin with Ash, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a baby in their future.
Tony Vlachic and his significant other. The other characters are going to flip when they find out who Chickie is seeing. That is going to make for a wonderful story, which I hope takes center stage in an upcoming novel.
Hot Pursuit is an excellent transition from the whole Sophia/Decker/Dave triangle that’s been the focus, or sub-focus, of most of the recent books in the series, to what comes next.
In all honesty, I can’t say I loved this book, but I don’t really hate it, either. Mostly, it just made me long for the next book, which we probably won’t get until 2011.
Thomas Nelson has given their book review bloggers the opportunity and privilege to review Max Lucado’s new book “Fearless” prior to the release date on September 1, 2009. I immediately jumped on the chance to check out his new book- after all who doesn’t want to “imagine your life without fear”.
This book is so timely with everything that is happening around us. Fear of the economy, jobs being lost or threatened, folks losing their houses, uncertainty about our lives, not sure about the future of the church, etc. etc. etc. “Fearless” goes on to show us how we can lead a life of being fearless by following Jesus, reading the many scripture passages that lead us into a life without fear, turning it all up to God and trusting that He will not leave us, that He is always here for us.
I found the book to be a quick read, one that can lead us out of the gloom and doom of today’s world and ready to step into a life of light and hope, leaving the fear behind us and closing the door on it. If I were to recommend any one chapter of the book it would be Chapter 12: “The Shadow of a Doubt – Fear That God Is Not Real”. We all at some time or another have our questions as to whether God has left us behind, forgotten us, have we “used” up our good graces with Him and He’s tired of us. This chapter gives hope to those that doubt and don’t believe by finding faith through Scripture, fellowship, community, and spending time with others that have already bridged the gap between doubt and faith.
I would totally recommend this book to anyone whether you are going through some very fearful times in your life right now, know someone who is, are an every day worrier about the littlest things (present company included) or just needing a gentle reminder that God never leaves our side and with Him in our life and our following Him we have nothing to fear.
Oh- and one must read Max Lucado’s little vignette in the book about his episode of his runaway dog. I’m not going to reveal anything about it or where it is in the book so that you’ll read it and be as blessed by the book as I have been.
Thank you Max Lucado for another wonderful book that lit up my life!
Fear will always knock on your door. Just don’t invite it in for dinner. And for heaven’s sake, don’t offer it a bed for the night
The Honeymoon’s Over: True Stories of Love, Marriage, and Divorce. Edited by Andrea Chapin and Sally Wofford-Girand. Warner, 350 pp., $24.99.
By Janice Harayda
Some publishers say that “anthologies are the new memoirs,” but The Honeymoon’s Over makes you wonder if the boom is running on empty.
This is third essay collection I’ve reviewed this year that includes work by Joyce Maynard, the prolific journalist, novelist and contributor to NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Maynard is a good essayist whose entries have been among the best in all three books, but she’s been cannibalizing her life for parts for so long that some of her stories are wearing thin. Another writer might have added more freshness to this lightweight book of essays by 24 women on turning points in their marriages.
Nothing in The Honeymoon’s Over has the sophistication of Jane Smiley’s reflections on her first marriage in the recent Mr. Wrong, or of the best work of essayists like Daphne Merkin or Phillip Lopate. And the worst entries are bad enough to put off the poeple who might appreciate this book the most – those who are trying to decide whether to leave a marriage. Terry McMillan’s writing goes further south in a bitter, profane and disorganized screed against her ex-husband. Daniela Kuper makes cloying use of second-person narration in an account of her efforts to get her son back from a guru. And Zelda Lockhart devotes 20 pages to her past without making you understand why she married a lesbian partner with whom she fought regularly and to whom she had “never been physically attracted.”
The best entries in The Honeymoon’s Over describe experiences strong enough to carry them despite any flaws in the writing. Perhaps the most memorable is Elissa Minor Rust’s essay on why she has stayed with her husband since leaving the Mormon faith they once shared, an unusually candid report on Latter Day Saints teachings on sex roles. Did you know that married Mormon women must wear “temple-issued undergarments”? This is the kind of information you rarely get from news shows on Mormonism, which tend to focus instead on the LDS tolerance for polygamy. Rust avoids writing about politics, but her essay indirectly suggests some of the problems Mitt Romney may face in his bid for the presidency. How long will it be before the tabloids – or Sixty Minutes – start asking where his wife gets her underwear?
Best line: Rust describes the Mormon rules that she and her boyfriend, now her husband, had to follow when he moved to New York to begin the two years of missionary work required of young Mormon men: “We weren’t allowed to speak, except on Christmas and Mother’s Day (and even that was stretching the rules; he was allowed to call his family on those two holidays, but he also called me). For two years, our only communication was through letters – and he was only allowed to write one a week. For a person like me who has always fought against rules and power structure, this was torture. I would have had more access to the man I loved were he in prison.”
Worst line (tie): No. 1: Terry McMillan’s rambling and vengeful list of “100 Questions” for her ex-husband. McMillan writes on page 97, “I’ve forgiven you,” and on page 98, “I haven’t exactly forgiven you.” Which is it? No. 2: Andrea Chapin and Sally Wofford-Girand write of the contributors to this book: “Women in their second marriages seemed to choose better mates and by then were better equipped themselves to make a marriage work.” Then why do second marriages have a higher divorce rate than first marriages?
Caveat lector: Some Web sites say, incorrectly, that this book includes an essay by Jane Smiley (making you wonder if she was scheduled to appear in it but bailed out in favor of the more flattering lighting of Mr. Wrong).
Consider reading instead: Mr. Wrong: Real-Life Stories of the Men We Used to Love (Ballantine, $24.95), edited by Harriet Brown.
Today’s guest blogger is 18-year-old Valerie, who reviewed the book Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.
Being a fantasy lover for the better part of my 18 years, for awhile I have avoided romance, mainly due to its predictablity. Then one day, quite by chance, I happened to pick up Amelia Atwater-Rhodes’ novel Hawksong. I was pleasantly surprised by not only an engaging plot, but by the beauty of the romance told within.
It begins as a love story, a tale of war and prejudice between two ancient races. However, as two individuals from opposite camps are forced to coexist in order to bring peace, a unique and fragile relationship is set into motion. Filled with tension, loyalty, and dreams for a better world, Hawksong is a romance one can truly believe in, even if it is a fantasy. I highly recommend this book to anyone with a flair for the fantastic and a hunger for real, unforgettable love.To order Hawksong, click here.
Many thanks to Valerie for her great review! Interested in being one of our featured teen reviewers? Use the meebo box in the sidebar to chat with an ASCPL librarian who can tell you how to become one or send us an email at ysodiv@akronlibrary.org
I’ve been venturing from the Vampires, venturing from romance and I ventured into this young adult book by Kelley Armstrong. Honestly, I mistook it for the Kim Harrison young adult book (Once Dead, Twice Shy) I had thought about picking up on my last retail bookstore jaunt. I really dig what they are doing with the young adult covers. Making them trade paperback size does cause them to be a bit pricey, but the cover art is pretty compelling on some of them. My used bookstore doesn’t currently have a Vamp Only Rack – but what they do have is a pretty display of YA books with the Twilight series on the top row – and some very pretty books below. The YA part does generally mean no sex and seems to feature teens as the main characters. So – if you’re looking to rub one out – this genre is likely not for you…
The stories and characters however seem to be more real than those in the romance novels. I guess there isn’t the need for the contrived girl hates boy but then falls madly for him scenes that seem to be the major plot point of most of the romance I’ve gotten my hands on of late.
The Summoning begins with a little girl. Chloe, seeing ghosts in her basement. Flash forward 10 years to Chloe being a ghost seeing teenager. The years between have been ghost free, her memories suppressed and the ghosts possibly being held away by her dead mother’s necklace. Till one day when all hell breaks loose. Late blooming Chloe gets her period, starts seeing ghosts and ends up in a group home. Through her interactions with the other students she finds out she’s not schizo as the shrinks are saying, she really is seeing ghosts, in fact, she’s a necromancer. She’s also opened to the world of other supernatural beings, shamans, witches, werewolves – all kids in this group home. They figure out there’s something going on, plan an escape and Chloe falls right into their hands (perhaps that’s a spoiler, but believe me, when you’re reading you KNOW something is going to go wrong!). Really the story doesn’t wrap up in a nice little bow. No one lives happily ever after, in fact, you don’t really know anyone’s fate at the end except Chloe’s. If ever you wanted a sequel – this is the time. Really, it ends not quite mid thought, but certainly mid story. I knew as I was getting near the end that everything was either going to be shoved into a few short pages or that I was going to be left hanging. I’m almost glad I was left hanging. I hate it when complicated plots are suddenly resolved, when I’ve just read 300 pages of something only to have all the ends that were still loose at 298 pages to be finished at page 302. Luckily there’s a preview chapter to The Awakening – and I’ll be picking that up ASAP. I want to know more about these kids, I want to know how the story ends. It will be interesting to see if book 2 stands alone – I doubt it does, as it must just pick up right where this one left off.
I can go weeks and barely find anything to buy from the usual erotic publisher’s sites. I check New Concepts, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain and Siren. First I got Tymber Dalton’s latest installment on the Triple Trouble series, then in the last 14 days I found 4 more, all ménage. Funny how things come in clumps like that.
All the books in Part One and Part Two of these reviews are technically novels, between 145 and 180 pages, but with typeface and lines per page, Kansas City Shuffle (by all appearances one of the longest based on page count) was actually much shorter. Rules of Desire was far longer at just under 80,000 words and Wolf and Total Recall longer still – even though they had fewer pages. (By comparison, Dalton’s Three Dog Night was only 42,000 words.)
Since only Siren does an actual word count, I did a rough word count per page by selecting one full page each from Wolf, Total Recall and Kansas City Shuffle. Wolf and Total Recall, both from New Concepts publishing, had over 640 words per page. Kansas City Shuffle had about 350 words per page – a HUGE difference. Doing a quick calculation, that makes KCS about less than 60,000 words while Total Recall and Wolf are closer to 90,000+ words and you got a far more complete story for your money. Keep word counts in mind when looking for ebooks and ignore the page counts as they can be VERY misleading.
First up are Kansas City Shuffle and Rules of Desire. Tomorrow I’ll post the reviews on Wolf and Total Recall.
Title: Kansas City Shuffle
Author: Talya Bosco
Type: Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Genre: Werewolf
Sub-genre: Ménage, plus-size
My Grade: C (3*)
Rating: NC-17
Length: Sold as Novel length: approx 60,000 words
Where Available: Loose-Id as an ebook
Kansas City Shuffle is a variation on werewolves in modern society. The best part of this book is the heroine, who comes across as a real person – with a few quirks. Larissa Myles is an accountant who won a contest to visit Kansas City, the location of her favorite erotic romance author specializing in ménage werewolf stories. Little does she know the stories are based on the woman’s own life and the way the pack lives.
Part of the winning ‘package’ is dinner on three different nights with a cover model from the author’s books. The first night Larissa goes to the hotel dining room for dinner with a male model she sees a real hunk who the hostess calls “Mr Jared”. Yum – he’s as good as any of the models and she all but drools. Then she learns her model ‘date’ has a family emergency and she ends up having dinner with the husband of the publicist, Susan, who picked her up at the airport. Next day she gets a shopping spree and while modeling a dress she sees anther hunk, Devon, and he asks for a date – and she agrees. She’s here for a good time, so why not?
That night she has her next date with a model and he’s just insulting, disapproving of her size, her clothes, and her meal. She dumps him and goes to leave when the nice waiter offers a table elsewhere. And there’s Jared. She dines with him and it’s a slow seduction ending in her suite and they he invites her to the art museum next day and then goes to have dinner with Devon that night – but it’s a setup. In fact, everything is a setup, even the contest.
Devon and Jared are the alphas of the werewolf pack and Jared’s mother used the contest to find them a suitable mate. Now they have to convince Larissa to stay, preferably with both of them.
Despite the misleading page count, this was a short novel and easy to read, but entertaining with a somewhat different spin on the usual werewolf mating story, but no real depth to the characters or story.
Title: Rules of Desire
Author: Leah Brooke
Type: Contemporary Romance
Genre: Erotic, series
Sub-genre: Ménage
My Grade: C (3*)
Rating: xxx
Length: 78,906 words (per Siren)
Where Available: Siren as an ebook
Leah Brooke has a large and loyal following in the erotic romance community and the Desire series is very popular. I liked one most of the way through, and it might have been the second most liked, until the last few chapters. This is the story of Erin Robinson, the sister of Rachel from Book 1 of the Desire series. Erin quit her job and came to help her sister when her ex-husband threatened her. Now she owns half the lingerie store in Desire and is fending off the three Preston brothers, Jared, Duncan and Reece. The Christmas party is difficult because she has to keep avoiding the mistletoe. Since Rachel is pregnant and she isn’t much of a drinker, both are having the virgin margaritas, though for some reason she feels drunk.
The three Preston brothers have been waiting as patiently as they can for Erin to come around to the idea of being with three men. They coax her to their table and while plying her with food wonder how she could be drunk on virgin margaritas. Then they realize she’s not drunk, she’s been drugged. They race her to the hospital and it turns out someone dropped GHB into the margarita mix she was drinking – but no one else’s. She was the only target.
Since Erin can’t be alone during her recovery, and her sister is in no condition to look after her, the Prestons take her to their ranch. Jared and Reece go to her apartment over the store to get some of her clothes and the stairs collapse under them. The supports were cut out. Now the three brothers are determined to keep her safe – and seduce her while they can.
Erin has no real trust in men and these ménage arrangements in Desire worry her. She’s convinced that her sister’s husbands will get jealous of each other and then she’ll need to be there for Rachel. That’s a large part of why she’s stayed. Overcoming her doubts is no easy task for the Prestons, especially under these circumstances. The story unfolds with long sex scenes that are hot, interspersed with threats to Erin’s life to give it some shred of storyline. Who’s doing it is something of a surprise – mostly because there’s no secondary character development. Not a lot of story and frankly, Erin’s big guilt trip/nightmare issue is really rather lame.
Unfortunately, after the attacker is caught and Duncan recovers from his head injury, the brothers decide Erin has to lean some discipline and Rules of Desire goes down the drain. This is where I started disliking the story. I get cross-eyed with this crap. Plenty of sex – mostly sex, but lighter on story than the other Desire books other than at the beginning. For me, Blade’s Desire remains the best in this series by far.
Sorry for this quickie again, I’ll get to replying your comments soon!
Here’s an online plea: Whoever borrowed my ‘Further Under the Duvet’ book by Marian Keyes, please-please-please could you identify yourself and return it to me as soon as possible? I’ve been looking for it for ages, and I wanted to pack it up and take it with me when I get back to Brighton. I’d hate to spend another RM40 on one book twice.
In general, scientists (including psychologists) consider what is normal the sample of items or group of people within a restricted community who share a particular attribute or characteristic 68% of the total studied, which means one standard deviation from the means (which has no meaning whatsoever, except that it is amenable to mathematical formulations of other mathematical derivatives).
Now if we want to study the same group who share two characteristics then the percentage deteriorates rapidly. If you need to investigate people who share three characteristics then you tend to scrap your project as leading nowhere. When we walk the street we are amazed to discover that there are more “normal” people than we imagined. There are mainly two reasons for our imagination:
First, the “abnormal” people (for example, the Mongolians, the smart idiots, the clinically found psychologically disturbed) are sheltered off the street, voluntarily or involuntarily. Most of them are secluded in rooms at homes, or in the basement, or in the attic.
Second, the majority of “abnormal” people that look normal on the street are labeled normal in contrast to our perceived over valuation to our personality. They are normal in a bad connotation; they are not as good as us in many ways. There are a few instances when we observe people of being in a category of “better than normal” but we never declare ourselves defeated. In the depth of our psychic we know that if we get to “know” them deeper than the superficial aspects, let’s say sort of skin deep, then these super normal must have vices and diseases that instantly drag them way below “normalcy”.
Being normal is pretty fragile. Maybe if you read “The man who substituted his wife for her hat” by the physician Oliver Sacks you might realize how barely tenable the concept of normalcy is. You have got people who lost the functions of language, memory or part of it, identity recognition, time, and space. You have got people who lost the feeling of their body, of imagination, of who consider one of their limbs are stranger to their bodies, people stuck in one moment in their life, people who cannot see what is on one side (right or left), super talented people in one restricted domain of music, numbers, chess, poetry, or drawing.
People who would describe a glove in much detail until they wear it and then would exclaim “My God! This is a glove!” People who would describe a rose in detail and after smelling it shout “But this is a rose!”
We are subjected at any instant to flipping from normal to the other side of the category and we will have no idea that we have flipped; even psychiatrists will never tell us how we have been categorized: we are no longer normal people to communicate intelligibly with; as if our folks or relatives should fair better than us to be told the whole truth.
It is currently the month of August 2009. As I wandered the shelves of my local library, I stumbled upon an award winning novel. It was only a hundred or so pages put the title and cover took me in. It is called The First Part Last by Angela Johnson.
Bobby is sixteen years old, living in New York, has two best friends, and a typical teenage life. On the day of his sixteenth birthday, he receives some news that will change his life. And nine months later, he named her Feather.
Bobby learns sooner than he expects that he will be the father of his girlfriend’s baby. His parents are heartbroken, her parents are stunned, and his friends are speechless. Bobby knows he has to be a man about this situation by any means necessary. But, what is necessary to become a man?
With the help of his brother, his father, his neighbor, and Just Frank, Bobby can handle Feather in his life. Bobby loves her more than anyone else in world. He’d do anything to make sure she had a great life and a great father.
Angela Johnson won the Coretta Scott King Award for this novel. She writes with a certain style that keeps your eyes glued to the paper. You want to know what happens then and now and you want to know as soon as possible. With her poetic style, Angela has made The First Part Last a national bestseller. I recommend to all teenagers.
Does this book sound interesting? Would you recommend it to a friend? Let me know and give me ideas of what else should be on my shelf.
I read Vikram Seth’s Suitable Boy over two years ago. Yet many of the characters, even lesser ones – like Mahesh Kapoor, remain vivid in my memory. I can almost see the man when I close my eyes and try to imagine a scene from the story. One could argue that it’s unfair to compare with “A Suitable Boy”, where Seth left no stone unturned in developing the characters, where even lesser ones are given meticulous attention and volume to help the reader eke out in their minds, the flesh and blood aliases. The point I’m trying to make is this: without interesting characters, or even apparently ordinary characters cast extraordinarily by the author, a book – a work of fiction that is – will not leave a mark in the reader’s imagination. Mr.Zama’s debut novel is such a book.
There’s no need to brace yourself – I am not going to flay the author. Even today, with the plethora of publishers and writers, it remains quite hard to get one’s work published (and I don’t mean on the Internet). That, in itself, is quite an achievement. One needs persistence (let’s forsake talent for while, we’ll get to that in a bit), and some luck. Sometimes luck alone works. Zama probably has both. At least, this book is not as cheesy as Vikas Swarup’s Q & A (source of the hit movie Slumdog Millionaire). What it is is a mixture of excoticism (with an overdose of spices), avuncular wisdom, a paean to secularism, a jumble of none too memorable characters (except perhaps Aruna) all afloat in a drama devoid of any significant conflict, a probable cause being Mr. Zama’s over inclination to resolve all problems, and resolve them fairly easily. There, I’ve violated my promise, but it was unavoidable.
At times, the book reads like a manual for Indian cooking:
“Aruna’s mother lit the second ring of the gas burner and put an aluminum pan on it. She poured a couple of tablespoons of oil into it. When the oil was hot enough, she took out an old round wooden container. She slid the lid open on its hinge. Inside, there were eight compartments, each holding a different spice. She took a pinch of mustard seeds and put them in the oil. When they started popping, Aruna’s mother dropped cloves, cardamom pods, and a cinnamon stick into the hot oil. She added a small plate of chopped onions to the pan. The lovely smell of frying onions filtered through the kitchen and into the rest of the house”
…and this goes on for another paragraph. I mean, come on! Almost any major city of any consequence has an Indian restaurant, and with YouTube and the zillions of recipe websites, one no longer is in awe of popping mustard seeds and the smell of fried onions in spices. These so called tactile mechanisms are a bane and detract the reader, but perhaps there’s a selling point that I’m missing. Through such deviations, mediocre writing, and failing to latch on to the potential latent in the Aruna character, Zama’s work never really picks up, stuttering on through its three hundred odd pages, letting in too many inconsequential people walk in through Marriage Bureau’s doors. Mr. Ali, Mrs. Ali – why not just use their names? And their son, Irshad – I was hoping to see some real conflict when he was arrested in a protest against farmland acquisition. But Zama fritters away that chance too, and with the bloody battle of Singur still fresh in many a mind, what a miss it is.
Now, talking of talent, one doesn’t expect every Indian author to bear the promise of a Vikram Seth or Amitav Ghosh. We have become, are becoming, a more and more egalitarian society, with most of us finding it easier to accomplish one’s heart’s desire – be it launching a startup company, scuba diving or writing. This is a good thing. Seriously, I mean no irony or cynicism even if there’s a whiff from my take on the book. There’s a playing field for everyone, and that’s how things should be. Now as far a reading goes, it is fair to say that one needs to be choosy in this avalanche of media, and finding a good book to read (and that of course, as many might quickly point out, is purely subjective) remains difficult, for talent, unlike opportunity, is less common. Read the jackets carefully, sometimes they help. The “About the Auhor” section at the end of this one says -
“…He works for an investment bank and writes on his commute and sitting in front of the TV after dinner.”
I wish I had read it prior to my venture. Now that I have, I am not surprised of the outcome. Quite an achievement, Mr. Zama! (See, I didn’t use his first name at all in the essay, barring the title. Doesn’t sound so good, does it?)
Author: Rohinton Mistry Title: A Fine Balance Publication Info: Books on Tape, Inc. (2001) ISBN: 0736684425
Summary/Review:
This novel – epic in length – tells the story of four people in Mumbai, India who come together during The Emergency of the mid-1970’s. They are:
Dina Dalal – a young widow who takes up clothing manufacture to maintain her independence from her controlling brother.
Ishvar Darji – a kindly tailor from a low caste background who comes to Mumbai to work for Dina.
Omprakash – Ishvar’s more unruly nephew who works with him as a tailor.
Maneck – a young man from a mountain village studying at the university and staying with Dina as a paying guest.
In the first part of A Fine Balance, Mistry tells the life stories of each of these characters which actually could be four gripping novellas in their own right. Then the story is told of how they all come together under one roof and after a rocky start forming a friendship.
This novel is marked by stark descriptions of poverty and injustice in India which Mistry none-too-subtly lays at feet of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s corrupt regime. This novel does not have a happy ending, but there is joy and love in the brief time of friendship of the principal characters that shows that their is some hope in the most dire of circumstances.
Favorite Passages:
She envisioned two leaky faucets: one said Money, the other, Sanity. And both were dripping away simultaneously.
Recommended books: A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini and Salt and Saffron by Kamila Shamsie. Rating: ****
Mark Dever serves as the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC. In addition, Dr. Dever serves as the executive director of 9marks, a ministry to assist pastors and leaders int he area of church health.
Dever provides a good resource for pastors and leaders to consider when discussing the issues of church health. The strength of the book is it is an exegetical analysis of the book of 1 Corinthians with application to contemporary church, specifically addressing the church where Dever serves. The chapters appear to be a compendium of sermons preached at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) out of the book of 1 Corinthians.
Noting the issues surface by the Apostle Paul regarding the church at Corinth, Dever addresses them and applies the biblical principle to contemporary church life. He does not sidestep any of the issues that make church folks “squirm;” rather, he addresses them head on from a firm theological position.
I would recommend this book as research for a pastor considering teaching through 1 Corinthians. It also is a useful resource for those interested in a personal, self guided study of Scripture. Additionally, the material could be adapted easily for discussion material for a church staff or small group.
Dr. Danny Akin’s endorsement summarizes the book nicely:
“Twelve Challenges Churches Faceis a careful exposition of 1 Corinthians. It is both theological and practical in its goal to foster healthy churches. You will be edified and encouraged by Pastor Dever’s treatment of important issues that confront the church on a daily basis.”
Sheehan, George. Running and Being: the Total Experience.New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978.
I didn’t know what to think of this book when it came across my desk. Everyone knows George Sheehan is a renowned expert on distance running. Everyone also knows he isn’t exactly the friendliest of runners. What I didn’t know was how funny he would be in Running and Being. Part philosophy, part psychology, part memoir, and all about running, Running and Being was above all else, entertaining. Amidst the advice about pace, hills, racing, losing, injuries, and accomplishments there is humor, sarcasm and wit. Even the illustrations are funny.
Here are two examples of nonrunning humor: “I was born with the dread that someone would punch me in the nose or, even worse, put his arm around me” (p 26), and “I never smoked. Buying something and then setting it on fire is incomprehensible” (p 47). Crack me up.
Despite Sheehan’s “keep away” attitude I found his advice to be warm, solid and comforting. If words could actually be all those things. I consider his expertise on the subject of putting one foot in front of another to be priceless.
This is not a Book Lust challenge book – just something I picked up because it’s reputation preceded it.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Tanglewood Press.
It’s time for back-to-school. For some of your children, it is their first time to go to school. The Kissing Hand is the perfect book for those first timers. Little Chester Raccoon is nervous about going to school and wants to stay home with Mom. His mother shares a wonderful secret with him. She plants a kiss in the palm of his hand and wraps it up with his fingers. Anytime he feels lonely and sad, he can place his kissed hand onto his cheek to feel his mother’s love.
The Immortals quartet by Tamora Pierce is the second quartet in her Tortallan stories (that is, all these stories take place within the medieval kingdom of Tortall). This quartet follows the story of young Daine, a newly orphaned girl trying to find her place in a world that seems to be crashing down around her. While she possesses magic, it is not “the Gift” as most others have, but “wild magic,” which allows her to bond with animals on a much higher level than the average human.
The four books of this series follow Daine on a journey of self-discovery. What is this strange “wild magic” she possesses? And how does she control it? Who was her father, and why didn’t her mother tell her about him when she had the chance?
I personally enjoyed this quartet more than the Song of the Lioness Quartet (see my review). While Daine is still a very strong female character, I felt her journey provided far more interest what with all her animal friends coming in to share their thoughts and stories. I actually found all the characters (old and new) to be far richer in quality than in Song of the Lioness. Tamora Pierce has filled Daine’s adventures with evil characters who possess redeeming qualities (for example, an evil emperor who fusses over his birds and wants nothing but the best for them). I also appreciated that the only small references to the “birds and the bees” were brief and toward the end of the final book in the quartet. With the small exception of the last few chapters of the final book of the four, I’d give these books a G-PG rating. As far as I’m concerned, they can remain in the children’s section.
As with the Song of the Lioness quartet, I had issues with the paperback publisher’s apparent lack of a copy editor. There are some typos that really are truly unforgivable, and so I must mention it. However it did not detract severely from my enjoyment of the story. In no way do I blame Tamora Pierce – I’m sure the original versions of the books are perfectly edited. I just happened to pick up a few horrid paperback reprints.
Short notes:
Books in the Series: Wild Magic, Wolf-Speaker, Emperor Mage, The Realms of the Gods
Characters: As was mentioned before, Tamora Pierce is to be commended once again for her rich characterizations, especially her accomplishments in making even the most monstrous of creatures seem remotely human, and in giving the most evil characters some endearing quality to make you think twice. Readers of the Song of the Lioness quartet will recognize a few familiar faces, though it is truly Daine’s story that is focused on.
Setting: Just the way I like it – no overload on details, just a tad more than the bare minimum to give you an idea of the place – the rest is left up to your imagination. Time flows more smoothly throughout this quartet than it did with Song of the Lioness making it much easier to stay within the realm of the story.
Plot: The plot woven throughout these four books is truly engaging. Two of the books were finished within a three-day time span. I could not put the book down for long without returning to it. With each page something new seemed to be happening, and with such a wide array of human, animal, and magical characters’ stories entering the plot line there was never a dull moment.
BarLOGGER’s score:
4/5 stars – an enjoyable read worth reading again, but just short of being absolutely required upon my bookshelf at home
I just read Demon Chick, a paranormal young adult novel written by Marilyn Kaye (Sept. 2009), in which 16-year-old narrator Jessica Hunsucker is snatched by a demon and transported to hell. Why is she taken? Because 16 years earlier her mother, an aspiring politician, “made a deal with the devil”: mother’s successful political career in exchange for her daughter’s eternity.
The book is entertaining but thin and so-so. Jessica never really balks at being in hell or seethes about her mother’s assholeness, so I wasn’t convinced she was real. And then she decides, for no reason apparent to me, to stay in hell, rather than remain on Earth after she’s given the opportunity to do so. (I guess being cared about by a demon in hell is better than being cared about by no one on Earth.)
What I liked about Demon Chick is Jessica’s hell: life on Earth minus choices. The only books to which she has access are Functions of Photosynthesis; Renal Failure in Sedentary Populations; Dictionary of Legal Terminology; and Cholesterol-Free Cooking―not too thrilling for a 16 year old. And the only television programming is realty shows, not scripted reality shows, either. Looking in on a rock musician preparing to use the toilet, Madonna sleeping, and other stuff like this. And then there are fast-food restaurants, which Jessica doesn’t think are hellish; her demon says they’re foodies’ torture. Makes me wonder what else is hell.
One need only read and contemplate a small fraction of Robert Bly’s marvelous anthology of poems in News of the Universe to realize the tremendous power that great poetry has to help awaken us from our sleep to the mystery and miracle of who and what we really are. Today, in the midst of wars, economic crisis, global terrorism, global warming, and the numerous other problems and challenges that confront us, we may find it difficult to sense and feel the miracle of our existence, of our very being. The poet reminds us, however, to look at our situation from a larger perspective:
“Sometimes I go about pitying myself,
and all the time
I am being carried on great winds across the sky.”–Ojbiway
Containing 150 poems from many eras, News of the Universe, first published in 1980 and one of my most illuminating companions for more than 25 years, represents what could perhaps be called the poetry of the soul, of real feeling. The anthology brings us new, more honest feeling-perceptions of ourselves and the universe. We commune with some of the world’s great poets, including Pope, Yeats, Frost, Baudelaire, Lawrence, Stevens, Rumi, Kabir, Jeffers, Rexroth, Snyder, and many others.
Each of us will find in this volume poems that can not only help expose the rigid structure of ideas and attitudes about ourselves and the world that shape and even imprison our consciousness of the inner and outer world, a consciousness that is constantly constricted by the needs and demands of our self-image, but can also help open us to new ways of seeing, feeling, and sensing the world as it is.
Are we at all interested in seeing things as they actually are, or must we see everything in relation to our own lives? The poet reminds us:
“I should be content
to look at a mountain
for what it is
and not as a comment
on my life.”–David Ignatow
Robert Bly: photo from Wikipedia
Robert Bly, one of the outstanding poets, translators, and storytellers of our time, is the author of many books, including Light Around the Body, which won the National Book Award. Bly brings his formidable understanding of the relationship of poetry to consciousness to bear not just on his illuminating selection of poems but also in the informative essays he includes in this volume, essays that explore the psychological, social, religious, philosophical, spiritual, and other dimensions of poetry. He explores the evolution of poetry from the 18th century, with its self-preoccupation and alienation from nature, to the poetry of the 19th and 20th century that, seeking the source of consciousness in all things, attempts to heal the rift that emerged with the “I think therefore I am” paradigm of Descartes. What gradually emerges is a sense of the mysterious unity of man and nature, and a new but ancient sense of the body, from which so many of us are alienated, as reflective of the universe itself. The great philosophical dictum “as above, so below,” comes to life in the insights of some of the poets in the volume. About the body, the poet writes:
“Inside this clay jug there are canyons and pine mountains,
and the maker of canyons and pine mountains!
All seven oceans are inside, and hundreds of millions of stars.
The acid that tests gold is there, and the one who judges jewels.
And the music from the strings that no one touches, and the
source of all water.
If you want the truth, I will tell you the truth:
Friend, listen: the God whom I love is inside.”–Kabir
We are all “hungry,” says Bly, for consciousness. And so he has given us a gift of poetry that we can return to again and again for new insights into what it means to be a conscious human being, a book that can help us return to the actual feeling and sensation of the “good and beautiful,” which were so important for Socrates and Plato, and for which we are all searching, whether consciously or unconsciously.
One of the many crucial themes one finds in this volume is the realization of our ultimate death and the death of everyone we know, a realization that few of us allow into our awareness in our daily lives, but which can be tasted in moments of meditation, stillness, and silence.
“There is a stillness
On the tops of the hills.
In the tree tops
You feel
Hardly a breath of air.
The small birds fall silent in the trees.
Simply wait: soon
You too will be silent.”–Goethe
Bly writes: “this poem contains an experience many people have had: each time a human being’s desire-energy leaves his body, and goes out into the hills or forest, the desire-energy whispers to the ears as it leaves ‘You know, one day you will die.’ I think both men and women need this whisper; it helps the human to come down, to be on the ground. When that whisper comes, it means that the tree-consciousness, the one in the wooded hill, and the one in man, have spoken to each other. …”
The poet reminds us, however, that to come down to the ground is simultaneously to be lifted upward toward the heavens:
“Earth hard to my heels bear me up like a child standing on its mother’s belly. I am a surprised guest to the air.”–Ignatow
In being a “surprised guest to the air” we begin to reclaim our humanity, a growing sense of the wonder and mystery of being, and begin to live with a real question: “Who am I?”.
All the poems in this magical volume are enlivened by that fundamental question, but none for me so beautifully as this one:
“I live my life in growing orbits,
which move out over the things of the world.
Perhaps I will never achieve the last,
but that will be my attempt.
I am circling around God, around the ancient tower,
and I have been circling for a thousand years.
And I still don’t know if I am a falcon,
Or a storm, or a great song.”–Rainer Maria Rilke
News of the Universe is a book that I recommend to anyone who wishes not just to think in a new way about the mystery of being but also to sense and feel it directly.
Copyright 2009 by Dennis Lewis. This review, slightly edited, was first published in the January 2009 issue of The Journal of Harmonious Awakening.
Photo of Robert Bly from Wikipedia: June 2004 at the Great Mother – New Father Conference in Maine. Photo by Fred L Stephens of Oak Ridge, TN
Firstly, let me apologise to all you if you’re a frequent visitor to this blog (if there are any of you still out there). I just came back from Crete for two weeks, and before I went I entirely forgot to update this place. Regardless. Let me stop complaining that I never post anything and post something. Yes.
Everything is Illuminated is a fantastic book. It’s really quite something. But what I don’t understand is how little coverage this book seems to have got – it came out in 2002 and is much better than a lot of other recent books since that date (even the Book Thief, in my opinion), and has even had a film made of it starring Elijah Wood – a good film, too – and yet I have met no one who has either read the book or watched the film.
It’s about an American Jew who goes to the Ukraine in search of the woman who saved his grandfather during the war. The story switches between two story arks; the first is a simple tale of looking for Augustine with Jonathan, the Jew, whereas the other is a progressing novel about Jonathan’s ancestors. It’s deep, funny, moving, philosophical and smart. If this trailer doesn’t make you want to watch the film, I don’t know what will:
And everyone with an IQ above 2 should watch this.
I’ve got once again an idea for a novel that I like, but won’t say anything because I’ve failed at everything else; so why should this be any different?
Also, the website of Maradonia is messed up. lulz at her.
(I will seriously find a worthwhile thing to blog about.)
This post was shared with me this morning and I like to share details about various book release options along with distribution and promotional opportunities — so, the top audio book sites seemed like good information to share. These sites are the ones that are selling the most audio books.
50 Best Websites for Audio Book Addicts
Love reading, but hate the strain on your eyes? Then check out the world of audio books. Not only can you enjoy them without a pair of glasses, but you can listen to them while driving, in the shower, and many other places a traditional book won’t go. If you want to learn more, or simply need to grow your collection, check out these top 50 audio book sites, with everything from the best stores to free books.
Best Stores for Audio Book Addicts
These sites are ideal for finding the newest release or getting recommendations for just the right audio book. 1. Amazon: The leading name in online book selling, Amazon has a special section for audio books. You can grab the latest books or classics on CD, MP3, or as a download. Choose by subject, featured, top ten, best selling, and more.
2. Audiobooks.com: This site contains a large selection of both new and used audio books. You can buy, rent, download, or even trade items. They even have certain collections on sale.
3. The Talking Book Store: There are over 8,000 downloadable audio books to choose from including hundreds of foreign language study courses on this site. The Highly Recommended section has downloads for just $0.95 and up. You can also get a buying guide, help for downloading, and instructions on how to burn a CD.
4. Barnes & Noble: With a special section for audio books, you can find tens of thousands of titles. Browse the latest titles by subject or best sellers. They also have tons of books in other formats as well.
5. Audio Editions: In addition to the usual media, you can also find books on tape at this site. You can view the bestsellers, as well as preview the upcoming releases. There is also a book outlet with audio books priced 35 to 70 percent off.
6. Audio Books Online: The site shows you ten ways to save right on their homepage. You can also choose a variety of subjects biography to war. They also have an “Audie” award where they list their favorite books.
7. AudioBooksCorner: The site contains over 10,000 titles available by author or titles. You can also get books from around the world on this site. They even have a free section with many items available at no charge.
8. Audiobooks.net: On this site, you can choose to rent, buy, or download audio books. Each choice is discussed in further detail and start $7.95. They also have a top 20 section if you need help selecting a book.
Best Free Sites for Audio Book Addicts
Got a classic or public domain book you’ve been dying to listen to? Then visit these sites to find it and many other books without spending a single penny. 9. AudioBooksForFree: The title says it all, you can find thousands of audio books on this site for download at no charge. Choose from fiction, non-fiction, children’s, or even music on the site. Before you download a book, it will also tell you the gender of the author or narrator and if the book has explicit content.
10. LibriVox: This site provides free audio books from the public domain, many of which involve classic works. Volunteers record chapters on the site, and you can even learn more about becoming one. They also have a podcast to give you the latest in their audio books.
11. Free Classic Audio Books: You can download your first audio book straight from their homepage. Formats include MP3 and M4B. Sample titles include “Huckleberry Finn,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “The King James Bible.”
12. Audiobooks.org: Visit her for a wide selection of audio books at no charge. You can also get links to popular paid books, along with a best seller list. There are even free samples of best selling books for the viewing.
13. Books Should Be Free: Tough to argue with that, this site delivers just what it promises. They have the most popular downloads available directly on the homepage. Be sure to check out their top 50 books for even more.
14. Free-Books: This site has a readily available index with 23 choices right on the homepage. These books are available as “read and listen” or as an MP3 download. You can also get other free services on this site such as historical photos and immersion learning.
15. Project Gutenberg: A leading site for free eBooks, you can also get audio at no charge. Choose from computer generated or human read. You can also download thousands of text only books as well.
16. Podiobooks: Get serialized audio books in podcast form on this site. There are currently 6,878 episodes available for download in 335 titles. You can check out their most popular selections, or connect with other audio book fans on the site.
Best Devices for Audio Book Addicts
Now that you have some audio books, you need something to hear them on. Check out the below for the best in audio book products and accessories. 17. Kindle: Starting at $299, this iPod for books can hold 1,500 items. Features include wireless service that lets you download without a computer or Wifi, free book samples, and a huge selection of different reading materials. Best of all, audio book lovers will enjoy the read-to-me feature which translates text to speech.
18. Playaway: This device is preloaded with audio books and looks a lot like a Walkman. In addition to personal use, the device is also utilized for schools, libraries, and the military. Available only for rental.
19. M-Audio: Visit here to get the latest in audio technology for your computer or mobile device. They sell state of the art headphones, speakers, and more. Be sure to check out the resources section for more information.
20. Sony Reader: Similar to the Kindle, this reader starts at $279. You can get it in a variety of styles and colors as well. There are also books for sale and special offers as well.
21. MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter: Got an iPod, MP3 audio book, and no way to connect them? Then get this free download to convert that download into an iPod friendly file. It also works with WMA, M4A, WAV, OGG, and more.
22. Exact Audio Copy: This is an audio grabber for CDs using standard CD and DVD-ROM drives. Use it to grab the audio off of any book and save into the format of your choice. The download is free for non-commercial purposes and comes with useful guides.
Best Rental Sites for Audio Book Addicts
Wish Netflix rented books? Then check out the below for the best in audio book rentals with many similar features. 23. Audible: A subscription service, Audible allows you to choose from 60,000 titles for one monthly fee. With a simple download, you can get magazines, radio shows, comedy, and speeches in addition to books for listening at your leisure. There is also a section for kids and the first three months are only $7.49 a month.
24. The Audio Book Store: This store allows you to choose whether you would like to download a single book, or rent unlimited books on CD with a monthly membership. They have 60,000 items to choose from, and they all cost $7.49 each. You can search by subject, best sellers, and more.
25. Simply Audiobooks: Three clubs to choose from on this site allow you to rent, download, or do a Playaway rental. You can even get a 15 day free CD rental trial with no shipping charges, late fees, and unlimited rentals. They also have an audio book store with 22,000 titles to choose from.
26. NetLibrary: With both eBooks and audio books, this site is worth a look. A membership gives you access to their constantly updated books. You can even get audio libros for Spanish speakers.
27. Audio To Go: Another renting site, plans start at $16.99 a month. There are over 23,000 titles on CD or tape. You can even get a free trial membership for two weeks.
28. Audio Book Worm: Choose from thousands of audio books shipped to you on this site. You can rent by mail or download their software for rentals. There is even a free trial period.
29. Books Free: Recommended by “O” Magazine, this site is definitely worth a look. You can rent books as an MPS, on CD, or even the old fashioned, paperback versions. Choose from a variety of plans, or rent books a la carte.
30. Book Club Offers: Still not sure which service to pick? Then stop here to get a side by side comparison of many leading sites. They also have more information on other similar clubs.
Best Christian Sites for Audio Book Addicts
With many audio books just for them, Christians can find everything on these sites from the Bible to the latest works in religion. 31. Audio Treasure: Get the Bible in MP3 format as a free download on this site. Choose from versions such as King James, World English, Spanish Reina Valera, and many more. You can also get other related audio books on the site.
32. Free Christian Audiobooks: Similar to the above, this site goes beyond the Bible and offers many other related works. Books are available for Windows Media and iPod. There is even the option to order the entire site on disc if you don’t feel like a lengthy downloading process.
33. Audio-Bible: Visit here to get The King James Bible narrated by Stephen Jonston. It is over 72 hours long and uses Real Audio. You can also get other related links on the site.
34. Christianbook: An Amazon like site, they also have a special section for audio books. There are currently over 6,000 titles to choose from in a variety of categories. If you prefer old fashioned books, there are also tons available as well.
35. DeseretBook: This Christian themed book store is designed for the LDS family. In addition to the many hardcovers and paperbacks, you can also find a special section for audio books. Simply expand the section to get choices such as children’s, fiction, young adult, and more.
36. The Catholic Company: With tons of products, you can also find many audio books, along with videos. View by most popular, best reviewed, and more. You can also call their toll free number or request a catalog.
Best Website for Kids and Teen’s Audio Books
Because young people like to read as well, visit these sites with loads of audio books for sale or free for the downloading. 37. Storynory: Get free audio stories just for kids on this site. You can choose from fairy tales, classics, educational, and more. Stories also come in text so your child can read along.
38. Recorded Books Youth Library: Kids and teens will enjoy this audio book site just for them. You can purchase the latest educational and fiction books straight from the homepage in different formats. There are even resources for adults on the site.
39. Learn Out Loud: Browse this catalog of educational audio books, podcasts, downloads, and free audio. There are over 20,000 titles from hundreds of authors and publishers. You can even get free videos on the site.
40. Playtime Books: Get books for kids in MPS, CD, and even bilingual format. They have special sections for different subjects, the newest available on the homepage, and many recommendations. Best of all, the site is entirely free.
41. Kids’ Corner: Get many classic tales by authors such as Beatrix Potter on this site. They even have slide shows for viewing straight from your computer. In addition, there are also audio interviews with such notable figures as Mr. Rogers.
Best Specialty Sites for Audio Book Addicts
Go beyond the traditional audio books, and check out these sites many genres and readers in mind. 42. AudioFile Magazine: This is the magazine for people who love audio books. Issues contain reviews, new releases, author and narrator interviews, and even award winners. There is even a free trial offer if you are still unsure on whether or not to subscribe.
43. Soundview Executive Book Summaries: Get titles to help run or grow your business in many formats, including MP3. There are three different subscription levels to choose from. If you don’t want to join, you can also purchase single books.
44. Bookshare: Visit here for audio books for those with disabilities. The site offers more than 50,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals, and assistive technology tools. Anyone can join and it is free for U.S. students with qualifying disabilities.
45. British Columbia Libraries: The “library without walls,” they have many audio books. Members can check out audio books just like at a regular library. Visitors can also get excerpts on many books at no charge.
46. Audio Publishers Association: This site contains the voice of the audio book industry. Get the latest news in the industry by stopping by here. They even have a list of resources for those interested in a behind the scenes look.
47. The House of Oojah: Australians with an interest in audio books will enjoy this site. Choose from fiction, children’s, meditation, and more. If you live outside the country, you will also find many new and interesting titles.
48. Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic: Visit here to get textbooks and others on audio intended for students with visual or learning disabilities. Anyone can order one of their products, and they currently have over 54,000 to choose from. There are also lesson plans, volunteer opportunities, and more.
49. ListenToYouTube: Is there an audio book on YouTube that you want on your computer or iPod? Then visit this site to convert it into an MP3. Simply paste in the URL, click GO, and get the file without a fee or signing up.
50. Books on Tape: This site is for those who still prefer this classic method of audio books. They have over 7,500 tapes priced at up to 75 percent off. You can also get audio books as CDs or downloads.
With hundreds of books coming out every week, who has the time to find a quiet place and read? Check out these 50 audio book sites, find a book you’ll love, and share it with the entire family.
Originally posted at http://accreditedonlinedegrees.org/50-best-websites-for-audio-book-addicts/
