Literature & Fiction Books - Page 19

God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

C. S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 27 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

As Relevant Now as Then 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

C.S. Lewis is known for being one of the best apologists (and amateur theologians) of our day. Primarily, Lewis is a writer; he knows how to use words to draw the reader in, and then humbly offers his insights on whatever topic is at hand. It is this humility that I think makes him so accessible - he talks about what he knows and doesn't presume to be an authority over anyone.

About GOD IN THE DOCK specifically, this is a collection of his letters, columns, and speeches. Most are short (4-10 pages) reflections on something he has encountered recently, from animal-rights protestations to dogma within the church to attempts to debunk myth to Christmas. Really, though, each one of these essays is about modernism. Modernism is the arch-enemy to Lewis - in its materialism, rationalism, statism and "groupism", it denies the validity of opposing systems of thought. Miracles are definitively ruled because they can't be reproduced in a lab (which Lewis argues is precisely why they are "miraculous" in the first place." Christian beliefs are discarded because they are similar to other "primitve" myths; Lewis argues that if God is real and we are made in His image, it makes sense that we would have common motifs in how we think about Him.

The essays in GOD IN THE DOCK are mostly designed to show the fallacies in people's thinking. They start with an observation, continue to describe the orthodox Christian point of view, point out something which the reader already knows to be true, and then shows that it makes more sense in the context of orthodox thought rather than modernist thought. What I found most interesting was that the same problems that Lewis wrestled with in his day are the same ones that Americans face today! I'm not sure if this proves that history repeats itself or if America is just 50 years behind England. Either way, Lewis' predictions for the future if his society continued to follow the modernist path were vindicated (if anything, he underestimated the degree to which society would degenerate).

In summary, C.S. Lewis was a humble and insightful man whose essays cover a wide gamut of topics. Each essay is short, about a 15 minute read, which is a comfortable way to wind down the day. I think that he very correctly evaluated the danger that modernism poses to humanity. Finally, his essay topics are very relevant to Americans whose country is now hashing outt he same issues that Lewis' nation did fifty years ago.

Editorial Review:

C. S. Lewis was a profound thinker with the rare ability to communicate the philosophical and theological rationale of Christianity in simple yet amazingly effective ways. God in the Dock contains forty-eight essays and twelve letters written by Lewis between 1940 and 1963 for a wide variety of publications. Ranging from popular newspaper pieces to learned defenses of the faith, these essays cover topics as varied as the logic of theism, good and evil, miracles, vivisection, the role of women in church polity, and ethics and politics. Many of these writings represent Lewis's first ventures into themes he would later treat in full-length books.

Father Elijah: An Apocalypse

Michael D. O'Brien

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 99 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Superlative Catholic Fiction 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Father Elijah is a fascinating and engrossing tale. Interestingly, it's subtitled "An Apocalypse"--as opposed to *the* Apocalypse. I suppose this is because this is a work of speculative fiction that offers a scenario of how the Apocalypse could happen and might be happening right under our noses.

The main character, Father Elijah himself, is a monk who entered the monastery after converting from Judaism. His past life was a succession of tragedies--he is a survivor of the Holocaust and was formerly a prominent figure in Israel. He has lived peacefully in a monastery near Mount Carmel for many years but now he has been called upon for a much more dangerous mission--to confront the one suspected by the Vatican of being the anti-Christ and convert him.

The plot continues from there through numerous twists and turns. There are moments of calm reflection on the mysteries of the Catholic faith interspersed with scenes of genuine spiritual warfare that are often frighteningly realistic. The characters are well-drawn and true to life. A couple of them seem like parodies of certain individuals or types within the Catholic Church. The better you know the Church, the more likely you are to chuckle at these characters. Overall, the writing is superb and flows well. It's easy to rip through 80 page chunks in one sitting.

O'Brien is insightful and clearly privy to the undermining effects of modernism which have been gnawing at the Church's foundations for at least the past 100 years. In Father Elijah he creates a mirror-world where certain clerics within the greater Church as well as within the Vatican itself, have embraced the spirit of the world and who view the spirit of God with contempt. There is one memorable scene in particular where the sickly and aging Pope confronts a headstrong Cardinal on this very point and the outcome is striking. One is forced to wonder how many of our prelates in the Church today would act in the same way toward the Pope?

One thing that struck me about Father Elijah is that it clearly is set in an age before the internet. It was originally published in 1996 when the "old media" still ruled the roost. Among the chief culprits undermining the work of the Vatican and good priests in Father Elijah are those who run the so-called Catholic media--newspapers, magazines, etc. These are exposed as merely agents of the world who are trying to co-opt the Church for their own diabolical purposes. And indeed, in the bad old days of the 1980s and 1990s, the Catholic media often acted in just this way, though with a few notable exceptions.

But in the 12 years since Father Elijah was first published, there has been a sea-change brought about primarily by the advent of the internet. Now, obfuscatory, dishonest, and outright dissenting articles published in the ostensibly Catholic media can be exposed and criticized in a public forum before millions of serious readers. A good priest who is faithful to the Pope can have a blog that gets read by hundreds of thousands every day, while the true numerical and popular weakness of dissenters in the Church is made plain for all to see.

Of course, this takes nothing away from Father Elijah. It is an excellent read, highly recommended to anyone who is a Catholic and who wants to have a better understanding of the nature of evil and how evil has occasionally donned the guise of goodness and penetrated even the Church itself.

By way of closing, this book reminded me a great deal of another fascinating work of fiction called Dream of Fire. The plot is similar, though Dream of Fire is set in a fantasy world and is considerably more brutal, at least in a physical sense.

Editorial Review:

"One is almost agog at the dexterity-the artistry really-with which O'Brien shapes enormously charged material into a narrative which exhibits the integrity one finds only in the very best fiction"......Thomas Howard..Author, C.S. Lewis: Man of Letters.

The Man Who Was Thursday

G. K. Chesterton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday... 5 out of 5 stars.
36 of 36 people found this review helpful.

For a book that's only about a hundred pages long, "The Man Who Was Thursday" is pretty packed.

G.K. Chesterton's classic novella tackles anarchy, social order, God, peace, war, religion, human nature, and a few dozen other weight concepts. And somehow he manages to mash it all together into a delightful satire, full of tongue-in-cheek commentary that is still relevant today.

As the book opens, Gabriel Symes is debating with a soapbox anarchist. The two men impress each other enough that the anarchist introduces Symes to a seven-man council of anarchists, all named after days of the week. In short order, they elect Symes their newest member -- Thursday.

But they don't know that he's also been recruited by an anti-anarchy organization. And soon Symes finds out that he's not the only person on the council who is not what he seems. There are other spies and double-agents, working for the same cause. But who -- and what -- is the jovial, powerful Mr. Sunday, the head of the organization?

Hot air balloons, elaborate disguises, duels and police chases -- Chesterton certainly knew how to keep this novel interesting. Though written almost a century ago, "The Man Who Was Thursday" still feels very fresh. That's partly because of Chesterton's cheery writing... and partly because it's such an intelligent book.

He doesn't avoid some timeless topics that make some people squirm. Humanity (good and bad), anarchy, religion and its place in human nature, and creation versus destruction all get tackled here -- disguised as a comic police investigation. And unlike most satires, it isn't dated; the topics are reflections of humanity and religion, so they're as relevant now as they were in 1908.

But the story isn't pedantic or boring; Chesterton keeps things lively by having his characters act like real people, rather than mouthpieces. From Symes to the Colonel to the mysterious Sunday himself, they all have a sort of friendly, energetic quality. "We're all spies! Come and have a drink!" one of the characters announces cheerfully near the end.

And of course, once the madcap police investigations are finished, there's still a mystery. Who is Sunday? What are his goals? And for that matter, WHAT is Sunday -- genius, force of nature, villain or god? The answer is a bit of a surprise, and as a reflection of Chesterton's beliefs, it's a delicate, intelligent piece of work.

"The Man Who Was Thursday" is a wacky little satire that will both amuse and educate you. Not bad for a book often subtitled "A Nightmare."

Beyond Tuesday Morning (September 11 Series #2)

Karen Kingsbury

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Christian fiction! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Karen Kingsbury did it again. Another fantastic story. Another, I can't put this book down until I finish it. I loved it! Great Christian fiction!

Beyond Tuesday Morning 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great. A must if you have read One Tuesday morning.

Awesome Book and Writer 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

It is an awesome book. I stumbled on to Karen Kingsbury kind of accidentally and it was one of the best things I have ever done. She is an excellent writer. This book must be read after One Tuesday Morning.

Beyond Tuesday Morning 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Received this book within a few days of ordering. Like new condition. I am very satisfied with this purchase.

Book review 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

One Tuesday Morning & Beyond Tuesday Morning, book series by Karen Kingsbury excellent books relating to
September 11, 2001 - highly recommended

Editorial Review:

A CBA Bestseller

It's been three years since 911, but FDNY widow Jamie Bryan keeps waking up to the aching pain of that morning. Determined to find meaning in her grief, Jamie pours her life into volunteer work at St. Paul's, the small memorial chapel across from the site of the Twin Towers. In the stream of broken, grieving people who make their way through the church doors, Jamie connects with two men. Can she open herself to the possibility of loving again?

The Book of God: The Bible as a Novel

Walter Wangerin Jr.

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Bible as a Single, Powerful Story. Here is the entire story of the Bible, narrated by master storyteller Walter Wangerin Jr. Reading like a great historical novel, The Book of God dramatizes the sweep of biblical events, making the men and women of this ancient book come alive in vivid detail and dialogue. From Abraham wandering in the desert to Jesus teaching the multitudes on a Judean hillside, The Book of God follows the biblical story in chronological order. Priests and kings, apostles and prophets, common folk and charismatic leaders--individual stories offer glimpses into an unfolding revelation that reaches across the centuries to touch us today. Wangerin recreates the high drama, low comedy, gentle humor, and awesome holiness of the Bible story. Imaginative yet meticulously researched, The Book of God offers a sweeping history that stretches across thousands of years and hundreds of lives, in cultures foreign and yet familiar in their common humanity. History and fact take on personality and warmth. Wangerin shows you human hands--Abraham raising the knife over his son Isaac on Mount Moriah, a priest offering incense in the temple at Jerusalem, Joseph the carpenter at work with his tools. He shows you human faces--Moses and Aaron face-to-face with the king of Egypt, Mary smiling like a white rose, and Jesus laughing with a Samaritan woman. Gardens, humble homes, olive groves, palaces, temples, and the hills of Judea shining in the afternoon sun--Wangerin makes the places where the events of the Bible took place come to life in the imagination. Wangerin helps you understand what it was like for each person to be caught up in the events of a particular time and place--a time and place where the eternal God somehow reached out and touched ordinary men and women. The book of God is no ordinary book. Written by a born storyteller, it is the magnum opus of one of the most respected and beloved authors of our time.

Shadows of Lancaster County

Mindy Starns Clark

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Editorial Review:

Following up on her extremely popular Gothic thriller, Whispers of the Bayou, Mindy Starns Clark offers another suspenseful stand–alone mystery full of Amish simplicity, dark shadows, and the light of God’s amazing grace.

Anna thought she left the tragedies of the past behind when she moved from Pennsylvania to California, but when her brother vanishes from the genetics lab where he works, Anna has no choice but to head back home. Using skills well–honed in Silicon Valley, she follows the high–tech trail her brother left behind, a trail that leads from the simple world of Amish farming to the cutting edge of DNA research and gene mapping.

Anna knows she must depend on her instincts, her faith in God, and the help of the Amish community to find her brother. She also must finally face her own shadows—and pray that she’s stronger than the grief that threatens to overwhelm them all.

Waiting for Morning (Forever Faithful, Book 1)

Karen Kingsbury

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It was a painful read.. 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I want to preface this review with a truth. I have loved every book by Karen Kingsbury that has graced my hands. This was the first book of hers that I was unable to finish and had to make myself work to get halfway through the book.

A lot of the difficulty was lack of intervention for Jenny (I have not finished this and do not know what happened to her):
1- the school would have stepped in with a counselor even before speaking to a parent.
2- Web searches are heavily monitored for dangerous searches and most results are blocked before students can get to them. I would even hazard a guess that they could track it back to what student did the search.
3- Hannah is a mother first and I don't care how selfish she is... you don't turn your back on your child when they are showing such obvious signs of trouble.

This book just made my insides crawl and even though the book of Lamenations was mentioned and there were a few verses referred to.. The constant presence of humble christians did not seem to exist in this book. WHY did the church family back off? Why wasn't this discussed at all? So much was glossed over that could have opened my eyes and my heart to this story.

I truly hope I enjoy Mrs. Kingsbury's next book as much the books I have read in the past.

Editorial Review:

Hannah Ryan is the mother of two adorable little girls and the wife of a doting husband. Her life is perfect -- until the night her husband and eldest daughter are ripped away from her by a drunken driver. Torn by grief and rage, Hannah finds her faith -- like that of Jeremiah weeping over Jerusalem -- tested to the limits. As she walks the long road of her own modern-day Lamentations, she must learn to forgive... and finally discover that God's mercies truly are new every morning. Sometimes the road home is only found by letting go.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 5, Full-Color Collector's Edition)

C. S. Lewis

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 143 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great voyage 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the story of the two youngest Pevensie children and their very obnoxious cousin on their return to Narnia. Caspian, now King, had sailed to find the seven lords that his father sent on an adventure but had never come back. The children joined him and the Knight Reepicheep, who is a talking mouse, on the ship The Dawn Treader to new adventures. From the discovery of new lands and their perils, slavery, new species and the truth of what happened to the lords... this book will keep you entranced and open your imagination to the outer most places. Great for anyone who enjoys traveling through CS Lewis' imagination.
Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)

Astounding performance by Derek Jacobi. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is not particularly a review of The Voyage of The Dawn Treader plot or story line. Plot synopsis of this book can be found in many other places. My purpose here is to review this audio version.
I am in the process of reading The Chronicles Of Narnia to my children, we are immensely enjoying the experience.
Recently I started to read this to my kids at bedtime. We were enjoying it, but it seemed to be taking a long time to finish. A fairly lengthy car journey was coming up so I decided to get the audio version read by Derek Jacobi. I thought I had been doing a pretty good job of reading this book aloud, until that is I heard Mr Jacobi's version. His narration is absolutely perfect. The changes in voice, tenor, pitch and accent were so seamless and convincing that it really was hard to believe that only one person was reading. My son's comment that "even the boring bits are exciting, with this reader" is very true. This was a wonderful and memorable way to experience this classic " must read" book. When our car trip was over there was still a little bit left of the book, but no one wanted to go back to me reading it..., not even me.
Highly Recomended.

Editorial Review:

The Dawn Treader will take you places you never dreamed existed.

Lost Letters of Pergamum, The: A Story from the New Testament World

Bruce W. Longenecker, Ben Witherington

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Lost Letters of Pergamum introduces readers to the style of New Testament writings, the social and political world of Jesus and his first followers, and early Christian gatherings. Using the literary technique of correspondence through ancient letters, which comprise much of the New Testament, Longenecker mixes fact and fiction to paint an interesting and informative picture of the New Testament world and early Christianity.

Transported two thousand years into the past, readers are introduced to Antipas, a Roman civic leader who has encountered the writings of the biblical author Luke. Luke's history sparks Antipas's interest, and they begin corresponding. As Antipas tells Luke of his reactions to the writing and of his meetings with local Christians, it becomes evident that he is changing his mind about them and Jesus. Finally, a gladiatorial contest in Pergamum forces difficult decisions on the local Christians and on Antipas.

While the account is fictional, the author is a respected biblical scholar who weaves into this fascinating scenario reliable historical information. Bruce Longenecker is able to mix fact and fiction and paint an interesting and valuable study of the New Testament world and early Christianity. Readers are invited to view Jesus and the early church from a fresh perspective, as his first followers are brought to life.

More reliable than typical historical fiction and far more interesting than standard textbooks and reference books, The Lost Letters of Pergamum provides readers with a delightful opportunity to step into the world of the New Testament. Pastors, Bible study groups, and all thoughtful readers will enjoy this book, which one reviewer said he "couldn't put down."