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NEW Follow Livingsword on Twitter

2011-04-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Follow Livingsword on Twitter?

By popular demand (what are people thinking?) I am now on Twitter (you can see me if you click that fancy Twitter button.

My twitting and tweeting promises revealing insights that may be shocking to some, preposterous to others and sizzling to the uninitiated…

What shall I Twitter about?

Well it will always be the Unedited Uncensored Video of my Mind…I will reveal my inner thoughts like never before…this is personal…and I mean business (what does that mean? Good question says I).

Everything the Blade Vision Network already slashes and burns shall fall victim to my arsenal of wordishness (except much more abbreviated, no not inebriated)…but as I said this is personal…you want the depth of shallowness of my mind this is it! (Somehow that does not seem quite right…but I promised not to edit didn’t I?)

Follow me on Twitter as I expose life as it is and life as it should be…there could be some dirty images for the theater of the mind…my ideas and ideals stripped naked (that should do it for the marketing, I should do product placement for Survivor)…

Beware the Blood the Blossom and the Blade!

U2 by U2 The Book that Bleeds

2010-05-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

U2 by U2 is a must for U2 fans….

Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry all chime in throughout the book providing a harmony in literary form that echoes their musical contributions…

Many insights and stories about their individual lives and as the band U2 are refreshingly infotaining…this is not just an entertaining book but also enormously informative…growing up in Ireland, growing a rock and roll band, growing understanding in what it is to be a rock and roll star…and more…

The book is dynamic in its treatment of creativity…how does a song develop and deliver…how do four people grow into one unit…how do you wrestle the heart mind and soul of a band and its fans…the creativity of this group of individuals shines bright on every page…as well as their genuine humility…

Some great photos flush the length of the book…which is creatively presented…the book bleeds answers to questions…what is the meaning of U2 songs…why does Bono have a heart for the disenfranchised…how does U2 develop music that is so multifaceted…what is the meaning of music? Big questions with bigger answers…

They provide word pictures of events and relationships, U2 by U2 is a superb backstage pass…as it goes beyond concerts to the artists personal lives…

After I read it my wife launched into it and both of us endorse U2 by U2 as a very good book…

Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T Chang Book Review: A Book that is Both a Good Book and Bad Book

2010-05-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China: Book by Leslie T. Chang Book Review…

A short three part view of the book…is it Good or Bad? Have a look…

1) Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T. Chang: Book Review: Millions of Vulnerable Teenage Girls MADE IN CHINA

2) Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T Chang: Book Review: Bait and Switch: Migration and Immigration

3) Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T. Chang: Book Review: Good Book Bad Book

What do you think?

Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T. Chang: Book Review: Good Book Bad Book

2010-05-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China: Book by Leslie T. Chang (Book Review pages 171-431)

Factory Girls is a book of mountains and valleys…when the author dwells upon the lives of the girls she encounters the book is compelling…when she lingers on her family reunion it is of some interest and then when she plummets it her family history it drags…

The lives of the girls in the factories and then visiting their families at their villages are interesting and well told…but to often we are swept off the topic implied by the name of the book Factory Girls…

I found this very disappointing...then I wondered if it was just me…so I asked my wife to read the book with no comment from me…she did so…and felt EXACTELY the same as me! We both enjoyed following the lives of the girls and comparing the village life to that of the city but when it came to the author exploring her roots it felt like she had clip and pasted those parts of the book into the story…it could have been a hundred or so pages thinner…perhaps it should have been two books…

In the end we found the Factor Girls parts of the book to be Good and the other parts to be Bad…It is a book worth reading…just skip the family history and family reunion…

Introducing: Science Fantasy: Star and Dragon

2010-04-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

What is your fantasy?

Speculative fiction as expressed through science fiction and fantasy is a passion of mine. The intellectual and creative process combining to contrive the probable and the possible…as well as the impossible and outright miraculous…

Much of the creative writing that appears in our blogs is seeds of experimentation in speculative fiction. Exercises that have aided me in developing a novel of science fantasy…a yet uncompleted work but one that is well along…perhaps you can help me develop my craft…or maybe you want to watch a train wreck…

Star and Dragon is a logical outworking of that passion. It will boldly go into all aspects of science fiction, fantasy, myth and legend with blends of unique ideas, characters and places…and favourites from the worlds of science fiction and fantasy…

Yet we will not stop there…as speculative fiction is a wonderful launch pad for conversations it will also be philosophical and more…what is the meaning of why we create such characters, creatures, empires, technology and planets?

Beam over to Star and Dragon and have a look.

Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T Chang: Book Review: Bait and Switch: Migration and Immigration

2009-12-14T00:01:00.000-08:00

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China: Book by Leslie T. Chang (Book Review pages 1-72-170)

The story of those who go out from their villages to join the swarms in the large urban centers continues in this part of the book. Chang explains the challenges of tracking down cooperative volunteers to tell their stories and expresses to us their lives in an interesting and at times humorous manner. There other times when the harshness of such lives and the cluttering convulsions of change and disorder cut jagged edges through the book dispersing any semblance of fluidity to a nebulous mass.

Life in the largest shoe factory in the world is gritty, cutesy and barbed mixed with boundless fascination. In short it cajoles the reader through the migrant mindset and teenage girl silliness in the dirty and dreary world of factory life.

To the Western mind...or perhaps mine at least the book is a jumble of chaos at times, changing directions and getting lost along the way…It seems such is life for these migrants and the book seems equally upon migration. I felt at times that I should have read the car sitting in the driver’s seat of my car with my seatbelt firmly attached prepared for evasion tactics.

It is at page 120 that I encountered a 50 page nebulous entanglement…or probably more correctly a sideshow…or better yet a bait and switch…Chang describes for 50 pages the history of her family’s life in China, Taiwan and immigration to the United States along with her challenge in discovering family and events leading to the family’s migration….

Yes, I can guess that she is attempting a type of comparison for us…this is what happened during the Second World War under Japanese invasion, then the civil war and life under communist China…How and why that generation migrated from China to the opportunities of the United States. However there is nothing in the title, subtitle or back cover explaining that this diversion would be encountered…there is a slight mention in one of the quotes about the book by a newspaper but certainly the cover itself leads one to think the story is centered squarely upon the Factor Girl subject…I had purchased the book to read about Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China not 50 pages of interesting but non-factory girl story line…perhaps a few pages would have sufficed without dwelling upon her lineage for quite so long a period.

Thankfully it appears that we get back on topic with the next chapter…we will move from reading about immigration back to migration…but more about that in my next update on Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China….

Ever found yourself disappointed when an author seems to go out of their way to tell you a moral of the story or personal asides that have nothing to do with the story you actually hoped you were going to explore?

What are you Reading? Book Review…

2009-12-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

Recently I have been receiving communications asking “what are you reading?” The answer to this question is not quite as simple as it sounds…you see we could reply that my co-blogger here (and more importantly she is my wife) is currently reading Going Rogue by Sarah Palin and is on page 277 (we will give you her review soon my review of the book has proven to be quite popular)…

Now…I separate my reading into a couple of categories. My prime reading which includes Factory Girls by Leslie T. Chang (on page 151)…

…and The Killing of Worlds by Scott Westerfeld (currently on page 55, this is the second book of the “Succession” series, I reviewed Book One: The Risen Empire not long ago)…

Then there are my slow read…books I slowly savor over extended periods of time such as The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William L. Shirer…

…I am also soaking up The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume 1 by Edward Gibbon (I have all of his volumes unabridged, I am on page 38)…

…I am also very slowly conquering The Rise and Fall of the British Empire by Lawrence James (page 11)…

…then there is Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan by Herbert P. Bix (page 26)…

You may have noticed that several of these books are rather low in the page count and that is because I started other books earlier in the year and have completed them…

On My Purple Kindle I am reading Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson (I’m on page 10, we reviewed his other book Three Cups of Tea)...

On my mp3 player I am listening to Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen…

…yet I will keep a few surprises up my sleeve…I am actually close to finishing several other books…and they and the others mentioned here shall ALL be reviewed here…

Do you have a book you want us to review?

What are your methods of reading?

What are you reading?

My Purple Kindle: A Delivery of a Case of Pride and Prejudice?

2009-12-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

It came a day early…no not Christmas…it was left on the front door step…yes my Kindle (along with its accompanying case) was left on my front door step…fortunately not with the neighbours or behind a shrub as the web delivery info explains is possible if you are not there to receive it.

My wife gathered it from its cold perch on the “welcome mat” and brought it into its new home…How romantic is it to have a new Kindle…shall I spin you a story? Upon coming home my wife informed me of my Kindle’s arrival which brought a smile to my face that grew when my eyes saw the package sitting there waiting for my eager paws.

My Purple Kindle (which is actually physically white but Purple in my heart) is a thing of elegant beauty….slender, graceful and ergonomically designed! It sits well in the hands and is wonderfully pleasant to read from! In fact it has exceeded my expectations. It charged faster than the instructions said and so far it has downloaded books faster than the one minute advertised. Also the case works remarkable well and I recommend acquiring a case for your Kindle when you buy it.

In the first “My Purple Kindle” article I requested suggestions for my first downloaded book…Looney helpfully suggested Newton’s Philosophiae Principia Mathematica and although I admit to being tempted by this suggestion I still did not give in to the dark side…purchasing a book about numbers for my Kindle the portable library of words was just a bit unsettling to start with…It lacked the romance of the occasion…

I meditated upon my focus in life and centered upon my first purchase…The Message a modern paraphrase of the Bible which I highly recommend. The second book I downloaded was Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson the writer of Three Cups of Tea which I reviewed here. I will soon also review Stones into Schools here at The Purple Bookmark.

You may now be thinking “where is the romance in all of that?” Well perhaps you are correct…although my first download of The Message will help keep me spiritually sound and Stones into Schools may encourage and motivate me to express my spirituality in a compassionate way I think to start my new reading relationship with My Purple Kindle a fine romantic novel would be good…certainly these are not typical of the variety of books I read…so that being said it had to be a literary classic…

Pride and Prejudice is of course the first to spring to mind…However recently I happened to receive an unabridged audio version of the book…which I have been planning to make my way through soon (and review here)…so why then get it for My Purple Kindle (plus we have the book which I have already read)? Thus I struck upon a value added idea…my third download (and yes also soon to be reviewed) was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!

My Purple Kindle: Amazon Kindle Available World Wide: Kindling Reading

2009-12-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

As Christmas prepares to gift us with presents, family and the celebration of Jesus’ birth I am also celebrating my soon to arrive Kindle…now I am excited about all of these events packaged into the big day. Yes, I understand that many like to promote the concept that Christmas is a sad time for many people…and I understand this as I volunteer with the homeless and poor…however for many that focus on the central part of Christmas…the faith part, it is a significant and wonderful experience…

Then again there is my Kindle…they are now available in over 100 countries! Now before you think that this is a self serving ad for Kindle you are dead wrong! (Fact is none of our reviews are self serving) First as a Canadian associate with Amazon.ca I get no revenue whatsoever from any sales for the Kindle. You see although you can order the Kindle here along with the 99 other countries it is not sold through Amazon.ca but only through Amazon.com. As a Canadian associate I do not even have access to images etc for the Kindle. Plus if you purchase a Kindle you can order your books and download them directly to your Kindle…no computer needed! Of course our reviews ARE a great way to be informed about various books etc in an infotaining way (work with me here ok?)

So I eagerly await my new Kindle along with the Neoprene Kindle case (it looks sleek, cool and also practical) and the experience of reading a book digitally in my handy dandy portable device along with the other plethora of options it provides…all to start on December 9^th if it arrives as scheduled (and I have found that Amazon is always on schedule).

Thus we begin an additional feature here at The Purple Bookmark…My Purple Kindle…I will record the travels and travails of My Purple Kindle…a Kindle review…I ask…are you ready for the new millennium…the portable digital library…and no it is not like reading from your laptop or mobile phone…is it?

Better yet, what book do you suggest I first download to my new Kindle when it arrives in a few days? What would help in Kindling my Reading?

By the way I shall provide my own photos of my new Kindle and tell you exactly what I think of it…so stay tuned….

Factory Girls: Book by Leslie T. Chang: Book Review: Millions of Vulnerable Teenage Girls MADE IN CHINA

2009-12-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China: Book by Leslie T. Chang (Book Review pages 1-71)

When you met a girl from another factory, you quickly took her measure. Thus begins the story of young female migrant workers in China. From village life to city life…and what a life it is…Dongguan is not Kansas kids…While we may cast our thoughts to generations past of migration from Europe to the United States or the more romanticized “Go West Young Man” the migration in China is equally a story to be told.

Chang’s style took me a bit of reading to get used to…it seemed rather disjointed and erratic, its pulse was hard for me to take…but then it occurred to me that this is the story…the lives of the mainly teenage girls leaving the only lives they have known in tiny rural villages and going to massive cities of untold millions is full of stop and go traffic, polluted agendas, employment atrocities, bizarre living situations, cute friendships and peculiar presuppositions.

The story is irrepressible, bold yet blundering…teenage girls making life changing decisions on the scantiest bits of information and risking all for a shot at more in life, not just money but adventure, a life’s dream. This story could be a reality TV show on steroids…who will get voted out of the factory next, and who will win the million dollars?

Vulnerable teenage girls far from home, not knowing the rules of the game…mainly because there are none…and we are not talking a handful of girls we are talking MILLIONS…untold numbers of lives migrating often with little if any real planning…yet as the book moves along it seems there are some rules…and the girls are making them up as they go along…

What is the story behind your cell phone, your child’s toys or the mouse you click away on? Factory Girls puts a human face on China and those products we take for granted…What do you think when you read MADE IN CHINA?

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: The Rogue Review

2009-12-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin Book Review

Is Going Rogue a GOOD BOOK or BAD BOOK?

Follow our Rolling Rogue BOOK REVIEW by clicking your way through the story bellow:

· 1) Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin

· 2) You Win a Free Lunch with Sarah Palin! Well Imagine if you did….

· 3) Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review Surprises!

· 4) Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Alaskan Girl Alaskan Life

· 5) Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Disappointment and Dread: Just Married with Children and a Rookie Politician: Interview Invitation

· 6) Going Rogue An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: THE SECRET IS OUT! Popular Palin! Best Seller!

· 7) Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Praying Palin: Platinum Superstar: Over 1, 000,000 Copies Sold: GOOD BOOK

You are judge and jury…good book or bad book?

Amazon.ca Widgets

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Praying Palin: Platinum Superstar: Over 1, 000,000 Copies Sold: GOOD BOOK

2009-12-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin Book Review (pages 185-413...the end of the book)

Today HarperCollins announced that after only two weeks Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin has gone platinum selling over 1 million copies…they have extended their first round publications to 2.8 million copies…Only a select few political memoirs have sold so many copies… Sarah Palin’s sales now put her in the company of Barack Obama, Hilary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton*…Warning to Sarah, be sure not to stand too close to Bill…he has wandering hands…come to think of it…warning to Bill, keep away from Sarah she is an ace shot…

“Is that the Sarah Palin book?” I was asked as I sat down at my table at Starbucks with my coffee in one hand and Going Rogue in the other…the question came from the table next to me where five women were sitting. “Yes it is” I responded as I held up the book for all to see. “I can’t stand her” said one of the women vehemently and all the others chimed in but one.

I surveyed the ladies about why they disliked Sarah Palin so much and the answers were basically “she is an air brain” or similar permutation…I asked if they would read the book and four of the five said no…the fifth who earlier had been quiet remained so. I asked why they would not read the book and the response predictably was that again Sarah Palin was an “air brain”.

I mentioned to them that Sarah Palin had been a city councilor, mayor, chairperson of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, governor of Alaska and vice presidential nominee for the Republican Party so she at least was a citizen that was involved in public service…and she could not be much of an air brain to have done all of this…I then handed the book over to the most virulent speaker of the women and said “have a look”...

Each of the four outspoken Palin hating women took turns looking through the pages trying…I assume to find some air brain dust…each handed the book to the other failing to find anything as evidence of their convictions of air brained Sarah…there was a comment that Sarah Palin was pretty and that was distracting in politics! As the fourth lady went to hand the book to the fifth unspoken woman the woman declined the book and reached into her stylish hand bag and pulled out a copy of Going Rogue! She was almost finished the book and said she thought Sarah Palin was a good writer and the book was a good read….

It is amazing how much entertainment value you can get out of Going Rogue at a Starbucks!

This last part of the book covered much of Sarah Palin’s tenure as governor of Alaska and the excitement of her vice presidential run…She continues her humility but she also shows a gritty determination and cleverness that grows through the pages.

She is always supportive of John McCain but is critical of one or more of his handlers and that of headquarters…and I have to say these points seem well placed. It is fast paced and does not get bogged down in rabbit trails and diversions from the hot parts of the story. She makes solid points and moves on to make another clever play. Her ride in the election is riveting…You feel like you are replaying key elements of the election but have many interesting parts of the story filled in with behind the scenes explanations uncensored by the media.

Speaking of the media Sarah Palin does at times come down on them and justifiably so when you consider the evidence she presents. She does not come across as complaining but rather as elucidating…at times quite passionately…

A common thread in the book is occasional allusions to Sarah Palin’s faith. She is open about her beliefs but is not preachy. She is devout but not pushy…Her faith is the reason some people seem to hate her. I found the manner in which she related her personal faith experience to be refreshing, genuine and a glimpse into her personal frames of reference and character. She is a strong woman that is open minded and thoughtful, yet decisive….

I will not ruin Going Rogue by giving in-depth quotes, details or references…the book is NOT light weight or frivolous…it has depth and breadth…Sarah Palin obviously has a keen wit and healthy sense of humour…The book does cover a fair amount of political ground but you do not have to love politics to enjoy the book but if you do love politics you will not be disappointed…Does she tell whether she will run for president? I am not going to ruin the story for you!

I would lend you my copy of Going Rogue but my wife took it out of my paws the moment I finished it so she could read it! I highly recommend Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin it is a GOOD BOOK. Stay tuned for an update from my wife as she reads the book…

* Source: AP

Amazon.ca Widgets

Going Rogue An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: THE SECRET IS OUT! Popular Palin! Best Seller!

2009-11-23T00:04:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin Book Review (pages 82-184)

As Sarah Palin interviews have mounted over the past week with her promotion of Going Rogue it has been fascinating watching the media frenzy. This book is HOT with US sales of over 300,000 copies on the first day of the books release and many in the media are setting their hair on fire. This opening day is one of the best openings for a non-fiction ever…

Some in the media are bemoaning a “stupid public” and a “shallow Palin”. Well as I have now read 184 pages of the 413 page book I have to say I do not think I am “stupid” and as the book shows Palin is hardly “shallow”…Could it be the media spinners are concerned they cannot keep Genie Sarah in the bottle? The secret is out…Sarah Palin is not stupid…and she can write a good book…worth the time and money…

Two times city councilor, two times mayor, chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, one time governor and one time vice presidential candidate…reformer…wife…mother…hunter…fisherwoman…A lightning rod and rogue…the lady in red is more than the caricature the media portrays…

Sarah Palin provides intimate details of her thinking around marriage, pregnancy, child raising, lifestyle, environmental concerns, sports, patriotism, the military, faith (this is one that has the media buzzing…but their stinger is not working as her faith is both humble, sincere and personal), energy, leadership, politics and more…

Despite what the media suicide pact is attempting Sarah will survive…the book is a winner…and so is she…Sarah Palin is a good communicator and the book is a shining example. With mentions of Ronald Reagan dotting the book (but not abundantly so) one cannot but see a few similarities…In the 80’s the media hated Reagan! He was a populist president…the media never got it till he was dead and gone and indeed they still don’t quite get him…or the people that vote for a Reagan or a Palin.

The thing that is scary to the media is there are MILLIONS of Palin’s in the United States…her non-elitist pedigree and common sense approaches alarm them...Sarah Palin is a kitchen table candidate and she serves up a delectable nutritious meal. In the book Sarah Palin shows patriotism and a servant’s heart for Alaska and the United States…she speaks of her mistakes and is humble about her flaws (and there are flaws). Indeed her humility is winsome…she does not come across as an arrogant political swindler promising one thing and delivering another. She is genuine and sharp witted with a splendid humour that is lost on those who do not “get it”…the stuffed shirt and ivory tower pretentious elite “we know best” crowd.

The further I get into the book the more I see why the media are fearful…surely the piranhas will not stop attempting their feeding frenzies…and Sarah Palin will misspeak at times…there will be blood in the water…but her raw humility is not raw flesh…and her patriotic leadership that is both earthy yet populist is refreshing. While some US leaders seem self satisfied to live in a US of declining future Palin envisions a beacon of light upon a hill…she admits her mistakes and lessons learned…

The media attack is hunting Sarah Palin…but Sarah Palin is surrounded by millions like her…there is potential for a Sarah Palin movement here…the more the media attacks her the more they put themselves on the open season list…

Follow our rolling review with more coming soon…

Amazon.ca Widgets

The Risen Empire: Book One of Succession: by Scott Westerfeld

2009-11-21T00:14:00.000-08:00

The Risen Empire: Book One of Succession: by Scott Westerfeld

Science fiction is doomed if it cannot successfully blend science with fiction…the science needs to be believable…characters no matter how exotic have to be plausible…science fiction is not fantasy and vice versa…certainly there are styles that successfully blend these two distinct art forms which is challenging…however this book is science fiction from galactic empire and artificial intelligence to micro ships…and machine augmented humans…

This is science fiction that is plausible scientifically and has a heart of creative fiction. The Risen Empire is enormously successful at developing a feel that is futuristic star empire with many imaginative concepts injected with gritty personalities that are complex, dynamic and multidimensional.

Military, political and religious interactions aplenty, personal relationships that are multifarious in degrees, intricate lifestyles and a dreaded enemy along with an Undead Emperor enhance the experience…The Risen Empire is not simply a book…it is an experience…

The universe of The Risen Empire does not obfuscate some of the dirty secrets of science fiction…space travel between stars has a price in this version of high speed travel…those traveling thus do not age at the same rate as those bound to planets…this provides a fascinating launch pad to explore how this affects a society, human relationships, military, technological application and governance. Time is an interesting sub-character or plot device in this story…

Love across political lines and separation across light years can be transferable from historical events of the golden age of global exploration hundreds of years ago yet Westerfeld is more than creative in exploring many facets of these themes in unique ways in The Risen Empire…a future universe…

The technology is interestingly described yet the story is not a slave to it. The book is more space and planetary in nature but the characters and their relationships are always a stabilizing force.

The Risen Empire is one of those books that cause you to think while reading, certainly it is not burdensome but sparks many lines of thought when various concepts are presented. It is a fluid read with layers of complexity tuned for various kinds of readers…

It is not a mega galactic empire science fiction series but it provides a story that is appetizing and robustly enjoyable…it is good science fiction…it is a GOOD BOOK.

If you like Book One of Succession you may like Book Two of Succession (soon to be reviewed here at The Purple Bookmark): The Killing Worlds

Four Views on Hell: Counterpoints: William Crockett Editor

2009-11-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

Four Views on Hell: Counterpoints: William Crockett Editor

Four Views on Hell is a counterpoints series book. Four writers representing four different views on Hell each write a chapter explaining and defending their viewpoint. At the end of each chapter the other three writers present their responses.

Hell is a hot topic (couldn’t resist…sorry) and this book has both light and heat…The writers cover an enormous amount of ground in relatively easy to understand language yet they are academics so the tone has some weight in it…as does the topic of course…you do not need to be a theologian to appreciate the subject matter or level of intellectual interaction…

The first chapter is by John F. Walvoord who represents the “Literal” view. The second chapter is William V. Crockett presenting the “Metaphorical” position. Zachary J. Hayes explains the “Purgatorial” view and Clark H. Pinnock teaches the “Conditional” viewpoint.

The four writers are polite but the gloves come off fairly often as they hammer each other’s position…testing them under fire…mostly in each chapters response sections….probably the most congenial of the four is Walvoord defending the literal position. The titles used to describe the four positions seem to be rather poorly chosen perhaps packaging a bit of inaccuracies in the information slotted into each term.

This is my second time reading the book…I had read it several years ago but a recent sermon I heard along with a conversation with the preacher led me to review the book. The previous reading and this current review were in common in that my feelings and position on the topic did not change, I actually felt affirmed in my thinking on the topic…I do change my position on things as I acquire more knowledge and hopefully wisdom. However the book is very good at simply stating the differences of the four views and perhaps exposing prejudices a person may have before obtaining sufficient data. In other words don’t write off Hell….

Hayes’ presentation of the purgatorial view is the Roman Catholic position and it seems to sidestep many questions about Hell instead explaining purgatory…they are related but different topics and Hell seems to get lost in Hayes attempt to safeguard purgatory (which he admits is not biblical). However this makes the folly of the purgatorial theory even more pronounced. It was pleasing that Hayes did make clear that the Protestant and Roman Catholic positions on salvation are not the same while he does partake of some flame throwing at the Reformers. He frequently appeals to traditions to support his arguments at the expense of the Bible.

Pinnock’s presentation of the conditional position is offered to support annihilation. He is vehemently against a literal conscience suffering forever in Hell but supports an eventual annihilation…how eventual is uncertain… Pinnock at times seems rather condescending of the other positions which I urge the reader not to stumble upon when assessing the points of view (an air of smug superiority seems to linger upon Pinnock’s words at times). These men are human and this topic can inflame emotions…particularly when you see your pet theories getting burned up…

Walvoord’s representation of the literal view is the only one of the four that utilizes the Bible to any great degree (all four do claim to represent Christian positions and they surely do mention proof text but the rest are very limited by comparison in both breadth and depth). He explains specific biblical texts and their application to the topic. To my thinking he does not go deep enough to support his position…However although he is rather succinct he does keep firmly upon the topic at hand and does not stray far into theological backwaters or historical and traditional events that lack authority.

Crockett’s explanation of the metaphorical position is a bit more erudite compared to the others. Thus his argument is also somewhat more complex as he attempts to build his case for Hell as metaphor. He is quite creative in developing support for his position…however he seems to become almost fanciful to support Hell as metaphor at the expense of almost any literal interpretation…with this form of thinking the entire biblical message could be stripped of historicity and thus any real significance…

Personally I prefer a more exhaustive treatment of such topics but this book does provide a good smorgasbord on the subject of Hell. It is readable and the format enhances the critical thinking upon pet theories and growing more biblically astute.

Do any of these concepts of Hell seem to line up with your view? Which position do I support…just ask…

Four Views on Hell is a good book if you are searching for a relatively easy yet comfortably sophisticated assemblage of the prominent views of Hell….it is more than a Pop Book of Hell but it is also lacking in significant depth (a good starter book). It is a bad book if you want to really nail down the subject…unfortunately there are few good deep theological books on the subject…in that case I suggest you go to the Bible as your source…

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Disappointment and Dread: Just Married with Children and a Rookie Politician: Interview Invitation

2009-11-20T00:05:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin (pages 52-81)

Disappointment and dread…I am sorry to inform those who hate Sarah Palin that so far her book continues to be well written and interesting. Now you may disagree wither politics but her book is pretty good.

The story develops as Sarah paints the picture of being just married, pregnancy, giving birth, baby name choices, raising children in a growing young family and working on a fishing boat. The things that strike me the most without giving away the story is how the author humbly points out her imperfections in an authentic way. She is not glossy or evasive she is down to earth and seemingly forthright. She comes across as bright, compassionate and hard working. She does not come across as a celebrity, a sleazy politician or a slick sales person. She is not ponderous or belabored in her wording but energetic and insightful.

The scene in the book describing her first child’s birth is very clever and witty. The naming process for the children is funny…these are people you would feel pleased to have as your neighbors…

Municipal politics…where the rubber hits the pavement…where you pay taxes for the pavement…how did Sarah get started in politics? What events in her life sent her down this pathway? The story unfolds with vignettes of her entry into public service. This seems to be the heart beat of whom she is politically today…at least this far into the book. What grinds her gears and what floats her boat in civic office…there are some very interesting scenes in the light of day and in the dark corners of city politics. She is open about hard choices and challenging situations.

Want to learn some interesting aspects of growing up in Alaska? What it is like to live in such a climate and culture? What is it like being a rookie in municipal politics…working a fish boat in Alaska…want to move beyond the stereotypes…this book will do it…

If you are head hunting saying Sarah Palin is unintelligent her writing does not support that assertion. Her book so far is very readable and even conveys a certain style that is compelling. Certainly it is not shallow nor a science journal but “An American Life”. So far in the book as her life is described Sarah Palin is extraordinary in an ordinary way…The quality of the book is superior to many, an interesting story well told…

What kind of politician is Sarah Palin? Well I will leave that for you to decide dear guest…

I can tell you this…The Purple Bookmark extends an invitation to the author to be interviewed right here…

Stay tuned for our next part of the review as the story deepens and the politics becomes stickier…

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Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review: Alaskan Girl Alaskan Life

2009-11-19T00:02:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin (pages 7-51)

Do I agree with every political perception of Sarah Palin? No! Is her book a well written and entertaining sojourn into life growing up in Alaska? Yes…at least in the part I have read so far….

The book is written in a format that feels comfortable and conversational. Does Sarah Palin come across as shallow? Actually no…she shows some interesting turns of phrase, a winsome humility…clever introspections and analysis of others as well. Her style is fluid and readable yet has some dog-eared rivets as touchstones….some may not want to hear it but there is substance in her cohesive thoughts expressed intelligently and with sharp delivery.

Madam Palin’s humour is frequent and has drawn forth more than a few giggles and smirks from me (causing my wife to shake her head and say “I guess I will have to read that book” later I actually saw her taking a peak in the book)…Sarah Palin comes across as a person comfortable in her own skin…at times confessing weaknesses and expressing vulnerabilities…yet resilient and tenacious…

We follow her life growing up in Alaska…an American life, presented in a style that paints the mountains, rustles the trees and enjoys the snowflakes…There is hunting, hiking, family life, school, friendships, hard work, initial encounters with her future husband and all the accoutrements of small town life in Alaska for a young girl…a good story…yet she does expose the ugly events, those sad moments that touch our lives…and she does so in a genuine disarming way…intelligently…it seems there is much here that has not been beaten like a dead horse by the media…

The story expands into Sarah’s life outside of Alaska, her various college education opportunities and accomplishments plus beauty contest experiences…

Then we follow the developments as two lives become one when she marries Todd…the description of the wedding is really quite humorous…

Sarah Palin’s presentation is well delivered and the story is equally up to the task of entertaining and informing…

Does any of this make her vice-presidential or presidential material? Well perhaps those could be a sophisticated conversation simply in definition…However so far she tells a good story in an interesting way…

We will be back with more of Sarah Palin and her book Going Rogue: An American Life

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Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin: Book Review Surprises!

2009-11-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin

Sarah Surprises…perhaps the cover of the book is rather predictable…Sarah is pictured with a photo that is close but not filled with her face…her eyes are directed elsewhere and perhaps the sky in the background presages the intent…lofty ideals or heavenly meaning…Alaskan beauty or perhaps other reasons…How personal is this book going to be?

Sarah is wearing a red top which could indicate a sense of bull fighting…clever insight? Sarah is also wearing a nice pin of the US flag…a patriotic touch that can nudge some people into frowning…I like it…She looks good…she looks a bit like a hockey mom…but a politician?

Going Rogue has a map! I admit that…well yes…I like maps in books…This map is of the nations surrounding the polar ice cap thus Alaska is prominent and since I am guessing the story will have significance in the state to the north of even the majority of Canada this is most appropriate (being rather Vancouver centric I briefly lament the fact that although Seattle and…gulp…worse…Toronto makes it onto the map Vancouver does not…however I will attempt not to hold Sarah responsible for this tragedy)…

I received Going Rogue today and after analyzing the cover, map and dedication I rubbed my hands together and feather turned to chapter one…The Last Frontier…there is a brief quote then the incipit (opening words) I will not give away anything that will wreck the book for you dear guest:

It was the Alaska State Fair, August 2008. With the gray Talkeetna Mountains in the distance and the first light covering of snow about to descend on Pioneer Peak, I breathed in an autumn bouquet that combined everything small-town America with rugged splashes of the Last Frontier.

I admit surprise…I found that this intro was disarming and the chapter is aplenty with warm personal family touches yet thrusts hard core politics in your face…Perhaps it is a bit flowery but I confess to being transported to the Fair by Sarah…well this is called The Purple Bookmark….we like Purplization…

By page three I catch myself as the story flies by…Sarah flirts with politics…and I mean hard core political issues while sliding casually back to that day at the Fair…It seems demonstrative of her ability to combine a certain casual genuineness with razor sharp teeth…

Sarah mentions President Ronald Reagan on page three and Senator John McCain by page six…and therefore we conclude chapter one…a surprise…Why do some people hate her so? Well I have not gone into her politics in the chapter…if you want to know just ask…or mention a hot button topic and I will answer hot or cold…or hotter?

Thus chapter one is Purplish…and yes roguish…not a disappointment…a surprise in story telling…this could be quite good…so place your Purple Bookmark right here as we continue our book review with Sarah’s story….

You Win a Free Lunch with Sarah Palin! Well Imagine if you did….

2009-11-17T00:08:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin

CNN has reported that when Sarah Palin goes to her local diner in Wasilla Alaska she orders the French dip (and to think some people perceive her as not having enough international experience).

Now with Sarah’s new book Going Rogue: An American Life scoring BIG on sales we ask what would you eat at lunch with Sarah? Where would you take her to dine?

What questions would you ask her about her time in the spotlight and on the political hot burner? You never know perhaps she has already answered those questions in her book…

FULL coverage of Going Rogue…Good Book or Bad Book…Purplized at The Purple Bookmark….

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Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin

2009-11-16T00:03:00.000-08:00

Going Rogue: An American Life: Book by Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is a lightening rod, it seems people either love her or hate her…even if they have never met her….

Former Alaskan governor and vice presidential candidate…a woman people have become very emotional about…many a family feud and neighborhood meltdown has occurred over her time in the spotlight. Many see her as a hero of Alaska a genuine down to earth mother of five, a hockey mom; others see her as an anti-female conservative queen…among other things…

A tough as nails politically astute politician or out of her depth country girl…the girl next door…Beauty queen or ice queen…More a celebrity than politician…How do these stereotypes fly with her new book? Is she selling a book to raise her profile and adjust the way people see her? Is she going to run for president? What is it like to be thrown into the spotlight like she was last year?

With a title such as Going Rogue: An American Life what is Sarah Palin appealing to in people? Does this title seem to widen the divide between urban and rural people which was so apparent during last year’s election?

What’s the deal with Sarah Palin is she cultivating a phony image for political purposes or is she a straight shooting blur the political lines desperado?

Who is the real Sarah Palin and will you be Going Rogue and buy the book?

How does Sarah Palin play in your country, America, Canada, Europe, Down Under or elsewhere? Good book or bad book…does it matter? Would you prefer to listen to her on audio book or read her book?

The Code of the Samurai by A L Sadler: Book Review

2009-11-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

The Code of the Samurai by A L Sadler: Book Review

“One who is a samurai, even though but as small retainer, certainly ought to provide himself with a suitable instructor and study the military arts so that he knows all there is to be known on the subject.”

A firsthand account of Japanese chivalry written over 400 years ago…in a modern English translation…

The book cover purports that “you can understand what drives the Japanese”…after reading this book I can say that the Japanese drive Toyota, Honda, Mazda…and they have moved far down the highway from The Code of the Samurai…

The book provides some fascinating insights into Japanese history and past thinking…but we are not provided with any modern insights as to how the Japanese culture has adapted and utilizes this “code” in the modern day…we are left with an old book in modern translation…

Certainly we can draw our own conclusions but anybody that has spent real time studying modern Japan and the historical elements that have created cohesion for that society recognizes that the influence of the “code” while influential is still simply one part of the whole.

It is challenging for a person reflecting upon this book to understand perhaps the underlying nuances of the text if they are an English speaker relying on this translation…however the translation does not appear to take extraordinarily modern turns of phrase and inject them back in time unduly affecting understanding….However the book is enslaved to a rather sluggish style…aspiring to academic but dry and simplistic to the modern reader…

The Code of the Samurai is interesting in how it represents Japanese samurai culture and honor code from 400 years ago…the books connections to the past seems stretched in modern lives…surely modern Japanese do live in the echo of such thoughts…the code…however the modern Japan has complexities that cannot be derived from this singular teaching.

If you are interested in learning more about samurai and the Japan of that era The Code of the Samurai is a GOOD book…If you are interested in understanding the modern multifaceted Japan of today and want an interesting, accurate AND pleasantly readable source The Code of the Samurai is a BAD book….

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin: Book Review

2009-11-12T19:48:00.000-08:00

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin.

Three Cups of Tea is an adventure of the highest caliber…

What is all the hype around the story about?

Check out our book review here:

PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: Book Review

2009-11-12T19:35:00.000-08:00

Deciphering Dan Brown’s book The Lost Symbol…

Dan Brown has been a writer that has proven very popular with massive sales and widespread interest that has even spawned Hollywood interest.

Some have wondered if he would have lost some of his magic as he has symbolized the popularization of hidden meaning and secret lives…

How does The Lost Symbol measure up?

Follow our deciphering of the story here (If you want to skip ahead to our final determination then simply read PART 5)…

PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5

Paths of Glory by Jeffrey Archer: Book Review

2009-11-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

Paths of Glory a novel by Jeffrey Archer a Book Review (Hardback 2009)

To walk the paths of glory you can read the following sequential review or simply read Part 7 for the final short summation…

Read Paths of Glory Book Review Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Paths of Glory Book Review Part 7

2009-11-12T19:10:00.001-08:00

Read Paths of Glory Book Review Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6

Paths of Glory a novel by Jeffrey Archer a Book Review (Hardback 2009)

Books about climbing can become overburdened with superlatives about the spectacle of climbing the skies upon massive jutting rocks splintering air and lives…Paths of Glory gives a taste of such adventure but it does not give you blisters as you follow the trek.

Paths of Glory follows the life of climber George Mallory…it is a work of fiction but there is much historicity in the story. George is heroic and broken, driven and saturated by succumbing to his life’s walk…or rather climb.

Often the case with historical fiction is to romanticize and/or modernize…This is where Jeffrey Archer stands upon the pinnacle of his accomplishment. He has written a book that can be a wondrous view point for a climber; he writes a book that delves into life in an era and community with enough precision to be believable but with enough detachment to not succumb to tedium of over romancing the adventure and characters.

The relationships have tension and often an irresolvable inquiry into their character issues does not come flat out with resolution…this tension is a pleasant hike with its own crevices…

The English flavour is tangible…The character flaws are pregnant with possibilities…the historical setting is not dusty but passionate…The characters though believable also twang with unpredictability…

If you like historical fiction, climbing stories, fine character reflections and an almost sensual indulgence to presenting an unvarnished yet eloquent story then Paths of Glory will be glorious to you…We rank this novel as excellent in all these regards…a Purplish Peak…a GOOD BOOK!