Literature & Fiction Books - Page 12

Dark Night of the Soul

St. John of the Cross

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I became familiar with this when I was in college and I had difficulty with mental illness.

I am very different from other people in the way I think. I have something like severe autism caused by brain injury combined with a high tendency to think about and want to please other people.

today I was thinking about some feedback I got and I realized that it is all going wrong b/c of my tendency to blame others, among other things.

I am very different from other people. I need to work out conversations via grammatical or other, mathematical, rules. this is like autism and it reflects that my injury started to show up in the 6th grade, when I was diagramming sentences.

and the thing is when you are different you want to be the same.

but this book, it doesn't really matter the specifics of the language b/c the concept, of dealing with something huge and coming out the other side, is very important to me.

I am almost 40 and facing this issue.

my tendency is to panic and blame people rather than take responsibility for being different. whatever that means. I don't know what that means.

it's OK, I have to trust that there will be another side for me when I come out of this whatever it is, this passage through acceptance.

Editorial Review:

A 16th-century mystic, St. John of the Cross was also a Carmelite monk who helped reform the Order. In this book, he addresses pride, avarice, envy, and other human imperfections. He also provides an extended explanation of Divine love, and describes methods of conversion through prayer, submission, and purification.

The Yada Yada Prayer Group (Women of Faith Fiction #19) (The Yada Yada Prayer Group, Book 1) (2008 Novel of the Year)

Neta Jackson

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Total reviews: 66 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

What do an ex-con, a former addict, a real estate broker, a college student, and a married mother of two have in common?

Nothing, or so I thought. Who would have imagined that God would make a group as mismatched as ours the closet of friends?

I almost didn’t even go to the Chicago Women’s Conference – after all, being thrown together with five hundred strangers wasn’t exactly my "comfort zone." But I would be rooming with my boss, Avis, and I hoped that maybe I might make a friend or two.

When Avis and I were assigned to a prayer group of twelve women at the conference, I wasn’t sure what to think. There was Flo, an outspoken ex-drug addict; Ruth, a Messianic Jew who could smother-mother you to death; and Yo-Yo, an ex-con who wasn’t even a Christian! Not to mention women from Jamaica, Honduras, South Africa – practically a mini-United Nations. We certainly didn’t have much in common.

But something happened that weekend to make us realize we had to hang together. So "the Yada Yada Prayer Group" decided to keep praying for each other via e-mail. That worked for a while, but our personal struggles and requests soon got too intense for cyberspace, so we decided to meet together every other Sunday night.

Talk about a rock tumbler!–knocking off each other’s rough edges, learning to laugh and cry along the way. But when I faced the biggest crisis of my life, God used my newfound girlfriends to help teach me – Jodi Baxter, longtime Christian "good girl" – what it means to be just a sinner saved by grace.

That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, Book 3)

C.S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 89 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Probably Lewis's worst. 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 11 people found this review helpful.

Firstly let me say I'm an atheist; I find all religious beliefs to be rather silly.

However this book (even more than its predecessors) is awful. It's not so much about Lewis's religious beliefs as about his politics and personal life; the whole thing is a huge compendium of Blimpish Tory ranting against anything vaguely liberal in Britain post-1945. Far and away Lewis's worst and most infuriating book. It is also embarrassingly, offensively, sexist ("Write no more books, have children instead").
There is quite a lot of messed up sexism in the whole trilogy, even more so than Lewis's work in general. It seems to (mainly) boil down to a lot of the "essentialist male = closer to God" nonsense and monarchy-worship (Lewis was an ardent monarchist and distrusted democracy, as shown in this and other books).
It seems to me that Lewis (to paraphrase Patricia Schroder) was scared by the whole notion of a woman who has a brain and a uterus.

Lewis must have been going through a pretty bad time personally during and right after the war, to write such a bizarre, mean-spirited, book. Perhaps it's more about Lewis's own doubts, and his reaction to the general loss of religious faith caused by the war, as the book seems to be written to bolster his *own* faith.

Also the book is downright illogical in it's perception of god (e.g. the Merlin character's pronouncements against Jane for using birth control; obviously Lewis's god couldn't cope with a diaphragm.......). If this is God's will, that we be governed by the apparent mentality of a sulky child, then indeed it is a toss-up which side is good and which evil

Editorial Review:

The final book in C. S. Lewis's acclaimed Space Trilogy, which includes Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, That Hideous Strength concludes the adventures of the matchless Dr. Ransom. The dark forces that were repulsed in Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra are massed for an assault on the planet Earth itself. Word is on the wind that the mighty wizard Merlin has come back to the land of the living after many centuries, holding the key to ultimate power for that force which can find him and bend him to its will. A sinister technocratic organization is gaining power throughout Europe with a plan to "recondition" society, and it is up to Ransom and his friends to squelch this threat by applying age-old wisdom to a new universe dominated by science. The two groups struggle to a climactic resolution that brings the Space Trilogy to a magnificent, crashing close.

Assassins: Assignment: Jerusalem, Target: Antichrist (Left Behind No. 6)

Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 416 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Will I finish this series before the rapture? 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Ok, I took on the task of reading this series, because the first book was really good. But after that it gets more repetitive, and less believable. I contemplated skipping the rest of the books and buying the last one to see what happens, im sure i wouldn't miss much and would be caught up by the first 200 or so pages. Maybe I can just read the last of each book? I don't know, but I'm trying hard not to give up..The authors really should be ashamed of themselves for dragging this out.

On the edge of my seat 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I'm almost done w/this book. It saddens me to read everything that goes on during this period. It is so very well written. I am sprung on these books and look forward to the next one. I recommend it w/all my heart.

Editorial Review:

After selling nearly two million copies since its release in August 1999, Assassins in now availabe in trade paper! The seven-year Tribulation reaches its halfway mark in the sixth book of the blockbuster Left Behind series, Assassins. Nicolae Carpathia is assassinated, setting the stage for the Great Tribulation.

The Gnostic Gospels

Elaine Pagels

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Total reviews: 184 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

History of the Early Church 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Gnostic Gospels is a scholastic look at some of the forces that threatened to split the early Christian Church. The battle, as portrayed by Pagels, was between Orthodoxy and Gnosticism. Her argument is based on ancient texts discovered in 1945 in Egypt. She talks about the battle between the Orthodox "winners" and the Gnostic "loser" on issues such as the nature of God, the meaning of the resurrection, and the role of the episcopacy. Since the Orthodox won the battle, our understanding of Christianity is descended from Orthodox beliefs.

Although Pagels puts forth her case strongly, I am left feeling unconvinced by her argument. Although Gnosticism did not win the battle, much of their beliefs have remained vital. Their understanding of approaching God through knowledge has many similarities to mysticism. Process Theologians share Gnosticism's view of God as part of Creation, as opposed to the ultimate source of Creation. In addition, Pagels paints Gnostics as a unified group. In fact, there were many sects that make up those who Pagel calls Gnostics.

For those who are new to Christianity in the early years following the death of Jesus, this book holds much valuable information. However, I feel that Pagel overstates her case and, as a result, comes off as a bit shallow and uncertain.

Editorial Review:

A provocative study of the gnostic gospels and the world of early Christianity as revealed through the Nag Hammadi texts.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

The Indwelling: The Beast Takes Possession (Left Behind No. 7)

Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 447 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Indeed, the Beast is taking Possession... of Your Money 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Toward the top of this very page, the authors declare: "For some reason, I'm finding that a large percentage of people who greet us at signings, etc., and tell us they have read "all the books" actually haven't. They are largely unaware that between books 12 (Glorious Appearing) and 13 (Kingdom Come) we produced three prequels (The Rising, The Regime, and The Rapture). These need not be read before Kingdom Come (the final sequel), but if you're a Left Behind fan, you won't want to miss them.
Dr. LaHaye and I also have a new series -- fiction based on the gospels -- that began last November with John's Story: The Last Eyewitness. Late this year the second of the four titles, Mark's Story: The Gospel According to Peter will release. And, of course, we'll finish with Luke's Story and Matthew's Story. As always, I'd love to hear from you."

Indeed, they'd love to hear from you, to hear the sound of your money clinking in the cashbox of sanctimony. In addition to the Left Behind Series of 13 books, there are now audio-books (abridged and unabridged), parallel children's books (Children Left Behind!?! Have these sadists no shame?), movie versions, computer games (teaching bigotry and violence), and countless books pretentiously analyzing the novels as theology! And some people worry about Microsoft or Google accumulating too much influence! Just where is all the money going? What charity is Tim LaHaye supporting with his wealth? Bill Gates has a foundation to promote world health care. Can the false prophets account for their true profits?

Editorial Review:

Nicolae Carpathia is dead. But who killed the Antichrist? The answer may surprise you. Book seven in the best-selling Left Behind series marks the beginning of the second half of the seven-year Tribulation period. In dramatic fashion, readers are exposed to the horrors of God's judgment and the hope of salvation. Rayford, Buck, Chloe, and the rest of the Tribulation Force find themselves at the center of heart-stopping action. Number one on the New York Times Best Sellers List for four weeks.

The Christmas Blessing

Donna VanLiere

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Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

sappy romantic inspirational fiction 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

One of the other readers admitted this is sappy, romantic literature. It is indeed. If you like rather cliched plotlines, phrases, and character developments, then this is for you. But if you want a heart-warming story about a young man coming to grips with love, with his calling, and with his past, (I'm being half-truthful, half-sarcastic) this is for you.

Yes, this is a sweet little story. For anyone who reads good literature, it is too predictable and written like a film, not like a book. But if you like sweet little stories, this is for you.

A perfect sequel! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this book even more than The Christmas Shoes. When I finished Christmas Shoes I couldn't help but wonder what happened to Nathan Andrews, the little boy who lost his mother when he was only eight years old. This story picks up many years later when Nathan is in medical school trying to figure out what he will do with his life. He meets a girl and is faced with the possibility of loss again. Nathan has to remember the lessons his mother taught him before she died and remain strong for the woman he loves. This is a very sweet love story perfect for the holidays.

When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box

John Ortberg

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Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

With passion and imagination, Ortberg calls readers to reassess their priorities and change their lives 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

John Ortberg, a well-known California pastor and bestselling author (THE LIFE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED), knows how to captivate a reading audience, and he does it, page after page, in WHEN THE GAME IS OVER, IT ALL GOES BACK IN THE BOX. Using playing games as a metaphor for life, Ortberg shows how the object of the game is a life "rich toward God" --- growing a healthy soul, enjoying the people around you, doing good work, becoming generous and savoring the moment.

Wise people, writes Ortberg, build their lives around what is eternal. He suggests asking yourself the question, "What in your life is going to last forever, and what is going back in the box?" Spend your time caring for the inner you as well as the outer you. Think about the changes you need to make. Let go of wrong priorities. Quit trying to control that which is out of our control, rather than letting the "Master of the Board" take the helm.

What makes this book so brilliant is not that Ortberg offers a lot of new information. It's that he has a flair for synthesizing this information and organizing his ideas in a way that makes them practical as well as soul-stirring. It's also a joy to read.

Gently, in one section, he calls readers to reassess a preoccupation with "stuff" and concentrate on what is most important. A "richness of being" is always available, Ortberg says. "I can seek at any time, with God's help, to be compassionate, generous, grateful, and joyful...usually it will not mean seeking to accumulate more stuff." As he shows through a moving story about Larry, a church member who is killed in an accident, in the end it's not about our achievements or our wealth. It's about our capacity to love. It's the people, not the stuff, that we need to focus on.

Ortberg also reminds his readers that Christians have to be consistent in acting like Christians instead of labeling themselves as such. "The world gets pretty tired of people who have Christian bumper stickers on their cars, Christian fish signs on their trunks, Christian books on their shelves, Christian stations on their radios, Christian jewelry around their necks, Christian videos for their kids, and Christian magazines on their coffee tables but don't actually have the life of Jesus in their bones or the love of Jesus in their hearts." "Be the kind of player people want to sit next to," he urges, borrowing from a Monopoly analogy.

By turns humorous, painfully vulnerable, poignant and wise, Ortberg weaves biblical, personal and fictional anecdotes together with practical points in a compelling way for the reader. He includes insights from many excellent authors throughout, including Anne Lamott, Lewis Smedes, Susan Howatch, Viktor Frankl, Marjorie Rawlings and Thomas Lynch. Rather than getting in the way, these quotes and excerpts enrich the text.

One of Ortberg's passages that haunts me is this: "We need to ask ourselves what we are doing (or not doing) with our lives now that could lead to deep regret." He urges the practice of "regret prevention" --- assessing the commitments we have made in light of what we don't want to regret. Then, he asks us to consider what we need to rearrange. Don't wait for a crisis --- a child running away, getting fired, having a spouse file for divorce --- to force your hand, he urges. More will never be enough.

Although he uses the game metaphor throughout, Ortberg doesn't force it to get his ideas across. The narrative flows seamlessly. In places, Ortberg writes about spending time with your children, but this book is suitable for readers at any stage of life. My husband and I --- almost empty nesters --- are planning to read and discuss it together. It would be an excellent resource for personal reflection or small group study as well.

This is Ortberg writing at his best. But reader, be warned --- you'll come away changed.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion #3)

Francine Rivers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 44 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion #3) 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great Book. I hated to finish it because it is the last of the series. I recommend it to everyone.

As Sure As The Dawn - Review 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read all three Mark of the Lion series in order. All three were very enjoyable. The amount of research Francine Rivers has done is incredible and I felt I was back in ancient times. The Christian message was very strong. However, due to the violence and promiscuity - the violence can be graphic but the promiscuity is not - some readers might not find this their cup of tea.

I found As Sure As The Dawn to be very enjoyable, although I thought it ended rather abruptly. I would recommend the whole series with the caveat of violence and promiscuity as noted above.

Editorial Review:

This classic series has inspired over half a million readers. Both loyal fans and new readers will want the 10th anniversary editions of this beloved series. These editions include a new foreword from the publisher, a new preface from Francine Rivers, and discussion questions suitable for personal and group use.

#3 As Sure As the Dawn: Atretes. German warrior. Revered gladiator. He won his freedom through his fierceness . . . but his life is about to change forever.

The Rapture: In the Twinkling of an Eye--Countdown to the Earth's Last Days (Before They Were Left Behind, Book 3)

Tim LaHaye, Jerry B. Jenkins

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Total reviews: 49 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Great!! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I received my book in record time and it was in excellent shape!! Thanks for another great Amazon purchase!!

Rapture the hope of many 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Rapture proved to be a message of hope to me that the promise of God was believed by someone who was counting on that hope as much as I was. The writing style used by the authors is something to get used to but once you have mastered their style it presents a wonderful word picture for your mind to contemplate and digest. Man takes hope from various aspects of life one of which is reading. I have found that most of the reading material being written today is not up to the quality that I demand from my books but this whole series of books by these two writers has certainly made the grade in my estimation. I look forward to more of their special ponderings of The Word in the future.

Editorial Review:

The final prequel will have the Rapture three-quarters of the way through the book and then following characters such as Irene and Raymie (and others) up to heaven and being able to see events in the Tribulation from heaven's perspective. The book will alternate between focusing on events on earth immediately after the Rapture (covering lots of things the authors wished they could have covered in the original volumes) and focusing on characters in heaven and how they view the chaotic events on earth. Now available in trade paper.