Into the Book

Virtu@lly .Eliminated - Jefferson Scott

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:25:00 +0000

This book is proof that putting weird symbols inside your books titles can sometimes net you an extra reader. That, and excellent first lines. Virtu@lly .Eliminated, by Jefferson Scott, has both of these. The strange title grabs your interest, and how can you put a book down with the following opening line: "Once he decided to kill himself, the rest was easy." These strengths alone made me pick up this book...and I didn't regret it.

The story is realistic sci-fi, so to speak. It's set in the "future" (Year: 2005), and follows the story of Ethan Harrison. A mysterious hacker is killing people through virtual reality, and Ethan is the only one who knows it. This book shows what happens when a middle-aged programmer goes to the FBI with a hunch and finds himself trying to bring down the most elite virtual reality murderer alive: the elusive Patriot.

The premise is cool, but the story just...works. We get to see Ethan's problems with his family, and his wife, due to his computer addiction. But this works...because it's not an isolated scene where his wife leaves him because of his addictions; rather, his family integrated and woven into the plot; Kaye, his wife, and Jordan, his son, are almost as much a part of the story as Ethan himself is. Though the book can come off as preachy in this arc in a few isolated cases, for the most part it's pretty mild. In fact, it weaves a moving and disturbing picture of just how attached modern society has become to technology.

Writing-wise, the multiple omniscient viewpoints are confusing to wrap your head around, but once you immerse yourself in this book the story just gets better and better. And the writing is excellent too, particularly the characterization. Maybe it's because I tend to be a characters-first writer myself, but characters are the real heart and soul of a novel. A good plot with crummy characters isn't really a good plot, no matter how interesting it is. Jefferson Scott pulls this off in an excellent way.

Overall, if you're looking for a quick (I finished the book in an afternoon), semi-futuristic read, Virtu@lly .Eliminated is definitely a good choice to look for.

~ Andrew

Restorer's Son - Sharon Hinck

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:31:00 +0000

There are very few sequel books in a series which are better than their predecessor. Restorer's Son, by Sharon Hinck, is one of these books. My opinion of the first book in the Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer, was average at best. Thankfully, the second book in the series more than evens the score out.

Restorer's Son continues the story of The Restorer, following Jake, who has disappeared into Lyric, and Susan and Mark, his parents, who find themselves back in Lyric only an hour after the conclusion of their last adventure, trying to find Jake. We also get to follow Kieran, the new Restorer, who is unwilling to recognize his new powers and connection to the One. Things start to go crazy when Kieran hears the One tell him to take the Verses to Hazor, arch-enemies of the People of the Verses.

What sets this book apart from the first is the story itself. Frankly, I think that Sharon Hinck's characters in the world of Lyric are much more complex and engaging than the characters she sends in from our world, who smell faintly of Narnia rip-offs. In this book, the character of Kieran is incredible. He's Lyric's equivalent of Paul, and he's just as intriguing as he was in the first book. Better, we're introduced to his past, his connections to Hazor, and just how all of that culminates in his role as the Restorer. It's just hard to fathom how such a good character and story can be meshed with a distinctly average supporting cast.

The characters from our world are almost as disappointing as in the last book. Jake has no personality, no actions of his own, and seems to serve as a convenient sideshow to get Mark and Susan back into Lyric again. This turns out to be a good thing though, as we get lots of chapters from Kieran's story without much of Jake's interrupting things. And the book ends on a high note (spoilers ahead): Jake finds he has the Restorer powers, and Cameron, chief council-member of Lyric with dubious intentions, is loose in our world.

If you read The Restorer and enjoyed it, you'll definitely enjoy Restorer's Son. It builds on the series, improves it in many ways, and is overall just an excellent read. If you haven't read the series, you might be able to power through The Restorer in order to get to Restorer's Son, but don't count on it. Personally, I'm looking forward to book three and seeing how the entire story winds down.

~ Andrew

Fairest - Gail Carson Levine

noreply@blogger.com (Bush Maid) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:35:00 +0000

Gail Carson Levine has put her own spin on a familiar fairy tale, and has brought the story of Snow White into a new and intriguing light. When Lucinda the fairy gives a magical mirror as a gift to the queen of Ayortha, it wreaks havoc in the life of young Aza: an Ayorthan girl with a spectacular singing voice, but a less than attractive face. The consequences of the gift go far beyond what anyone could have possibly foreseen.

Aza is an orphaned girl who never knew her parents. Raised by a kindly innkeeper and his family, Aza loved her life except for one thing: she was ugly. Her ink black hair made her pale-skinned face look pasty and ill, whilst her mouth look a bloodstained red. Living at an inn, Aza was required to deal with customers on a regular basis and their stares, rude remarks and taunts make her life miserable in spite of the love from her family.

It is when a well-to-do dame stays at their inn one day that Aza's luck seems to change. At the request of the dame, Aza became her lady-in-waiting on a trip to the king's castle. Whilst staying in the royal palace, a bizarre chain of events finds the queen's mirror in Aza's hands, and the decision she makes effects her life forever.

I love the world of Fairest. Even though it is a typical fairytale setting, complete with all the fictional creatures of the brothers Grimm world, Levine brings real life and colour to it all. The characters are lively, fun and varied, and the story keeps your attention the entire length. Though a magical element plays a key part in the story, I did not find the magic in this book to be heavy-handed or overwhelming. It is used lightly, and since it is already a fairytale world, it is considered a natural element throughout it. There are some usage of spells, however they are painted in almost a humorous light, and is not dark or satanic in presentation at all.

There is one instance where a character is near death, and their "spirit" goes into the magic mirror. Though this is done in a way that does not suggest anything evil or of the spirit realm and is quite innocent, it may not sit well with some readers, so I thought I should make mention of it.

The theme centers on appearances, (obviously) and I love the way Levine focuses the moral of her story on "It's what is in you, not what you look like that counts". Appearance most definitely is not everything, and the fact that it is portrayed so strongly in this story is something I very much appreciated. The author took characters who were pleasing to look at and showed the audience that they were corrupt inside, yet revealed that it is the goodness inside of a person that makes them truly beautiful.

The book is also a very enlightening read into the world of singing; captivating the emotion one feels when pouring their heart out in song. Anyone who appreciates music would definitely enjoy this aspect of the story!

Overall, I found this book to be an engrossing and entertaining read. The plot isn't slow, and the descriptions are rich and flavorsome without becoming boring. I have read it three times now, and every time is just as enjoyable as the last! I would give it four and a half stars out of five.

The Restorer - Sharon Hinck

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:27:00 +0000

I’ve had The Restorer, by Sharon Hinck, recommended to me by several people recently, and I read ItB's review from 2010, but I'm only just now reading the book. I wanted to like it, and I did, for the most part, but it's not exactly an outstanding book.

Susan Mitchell is just an ordinary soccer mom, wrestling with rambunxtious teenagers, dirty countertops, and overall daily stress. Susan finds herself sucked through a portal, into a world waiting for its promised Restorer. She must work through unexpected battles, strange taboos, and mind-poisoning enemies to grow in her own relationship with the One. But her adventures will forever change her family, her faith, and the world.

It's definitely an intriguing premise...how often do you get a sci-fantasy novel about a middle-aged mom? And in some ways, the story measures up to expectations. It's interesting, definitely, and the mix between fantasy (swords) and modern technology (guns, CDs, and transportation) is definitely attention-grabbing. And for the most part, the story itself is quite good. It's just a little...predictable.

The story has lots of unexpected twists, but the stakes seem fairly low throughout the book, and certain plot points just seem...predictable. Enter the Lost Tribes at just the right time to save the beleaguered army of the Chosen, and wouldn't you know it her husband ends up in this world too. I won't spoil the story, but a lot of unexpected twists aren't just that: you see them coming. It's easy to double-guess. The final ending can be seen from a million miles away.

Still, despite the predictability, it's not a totally bad book. It brings some interesting concepts to the table, and it's definitely enjoyable to read. But I would have liked to have been able to read a story that meshed a little better, with ideas that seemed a little bit more...grafted into the story as a whole. But if you're into fantasy, looking for a quick read, give The Restorer a chance.

Gods and Generals - Jeff Shaara

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:11:00 +0000

Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara, is a book I’ve long wanted to read. The movie based off of this book is my favorite movie of all time, and I’ve seen it at least a million times. Knowing that the movies are very closely based on the books, I decided to give this a read. For the most part, I wasn’t disappointed.

As with Last Full Measure, Shaara’s writing style is a little strange. It’s not enough to detract from the story substantially, but it’s enough to be an annoying niggle. I also found myself comparing the book with the movie countless times; this is sort of unavoidable. The story, obviously, follows the same path as the movie: the beginning of the Civil War, specifically, the lives of Joshua Chamberlain, Winfield Hancock, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas Jackson. And the book is just as engrossing as the movie. The story is masterfully woven, an excellent plot which focuses on the characters and the people behind the war, rather than raw war itself.

Some themes have been expanded in the movie, others have been shrunk. The entire first portion of the book, telling of Hancock in California, and Lee’s actions before the war, is dropped from the movie. Still, it felt like a complete story…there was more backstory, more reason behind much of what happens later on in the book, which I appreciated. Some subplots were expanded in the movie, most notably, that of Jane Corbin, the little girl who Jackson befriends during the winter of 1862.

One of the neat things about this book is that some dialogue in the movie is taken literally word for word from the books. This basically meant that I kept following along in the movie, in my head, as I read the book. For the most part, this was a really enjoyable experience. I already had images in my head for all of the characters, could follow them as I read. I suspect if I’d read the book first, the result would have been quite opposite.

Overall, this was an excellent book. It measures up to the movie in almost every respect. If you’re at all interested in the Civil War or if you’ve read “The Killer Angels” (First book in the trilogy), you are in for a treat with Gods and Generals. And while you’re at it, watch the movie too!

Love Works - Joel Manby

noreply@blogger.com (Eustacia Tan) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered how effective leading with love is? Sometimes, it seems like it doesn't matter. But it does. I remember how my favourite teachers all taught/led with love, and no one ever likes the power-obsessed ones.

Now, before I start the book review proper, I'm going to define love. From 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." (NIV version)

If you feel like this is a very inaccessible definition, then here's the version from The Message:

"Love never gives up. Love cares for others more than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first", doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others."

Now, Love works aims to show you how to lead with love (this is practical advice, not airy-fairy theory) through 7 different aspects of love: patience, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving and dedicated. Here, the case study (aka role model) is HFE or Herschel Family Entertainment, which sounds like a great company to work at.

What I liked about reading is book is how each chapter (or topic) is broken up into sub-chapters. This means that all the sub-chapters are relatively short and I didn't suffer from information overload. The constant examples also showed me how to apply the theory and made the book easy to understand.

This book is something that I wished I read while I was still in IB. It would have been fun to discuss the book and see how the theories we learnt were or were not related to the principal of "love works". And now, with my cohort has a significant number of people starting companies (e.g. a group of my friends just incorporated their charity - who says we Singaporean kids have no drive?) this book could really come in handy. I'm having a lot of fun helping the friends who are starting a charity, right now, I'd want them to read this quote:

"Typically organisations start small with an entrepreneur and/or inspirational founder; they have a caring family-type culture with a workforce completely committed to a cause. However, when these same organisations find themselves in a transition, the found culture rarely remains intact. For the culture to survive, it must be define and adhered to or the organisation could lost its way. Once an organisation loses its soul, financial performance usually starts to decline and the best people leave."

It may not be relevant now, but I think that these are wise words we should keep in mind.

Disclaimer: I got this book free from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

The Buried Pyramid - Jane Lindskold

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:54:00 +0000

The Buried Pyramid, by Jane Lindskold, was a free book I picked up off of the internet for my nook reader. I tend to be skeptical of “free” books, but as I began to read, The Buried Pyramid actually seemed to be some good. By about two-thirds of the way through, with a few minor qualms, I was actually really enjoying the book. Then my opinion abruptly changed: read on to find out why this book isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.

The story follows Neville Hawthorne, an archeologist fascinated by ancient Egyptian ruins. He is recruited by Alphonse, a German enthusiast for all things Egyptian, to help him find the Valley of Dust, and the ancient tomb of Neferankhotep, pharaoh of Egypt. Through various circumstances, the expedition is scattered, and the elusive Valley remains hidden to man’s eyes.

Ten years later; Neville has unsuccessfully tried to bury his urge to go back and finish the job, and resolves once again to find the Valley of Dust. The day before he leaves England for Egypt, his plans are complicated by the arrival of Jenny Benet, his niece from America. Despite all his objections she accompanies him to Egypt, and together with an old army friend and an eccentric linguist, Neville and Jenny set off to find the Valley of Dust. But all along their journey they are confronted with puzzling notes from a mysterious person called the Sphinx, and are inexplicably followed by the Lady Cheshire, a mere tourist and friend of the family who has an enormous curiosity at divining their true intents.

The set up and premise of this book is intriguing. An ancient pharaoh’s tomb, what could be better? The characters are engaging and interesting and the story really does hold you in. There are a couple instances of technical errors of bad writing, but overall the book is well-written. The story is engrossing and you’ll be reading for long sessions to find out what happens.

Enter the three-quarters mark of the book. Though up until this point there are a few minor comments about God and the ancient religion of the pharaohs, they aren’t very many and just made me vaguely uncomfortable. That all changes at this point (warning: fairly major spoilers ahead). The party is trapped in the actual tomb of Neferankhotep, in a deep pit with no exits. Bedouin raiders are aboveground, determined to keep them from escaping. Then, the group finds a door.

They exit this door into, quite literally, la-la land. They meet Ra, and his boat that travels across the sky. The explorers form the crew for Ra’s ship and must fight off the evil gods who would stop Ra on his journey. When they reach the end, they enter the ancient judging places of the Egyptians, and are judged by all the Egyptian gods on their lives. What’s so mind-boggling is that the author apparently intends this part of the book to sound, well, real. But conversations with Egyptian gods and over a hundred pages full of pagan junk isn’t exactly realistic sounding.

After completing a quest set before them, the explorers are offered paradise, but choose instead (conveniently) to return to the real world. The gods place them in the town of Luxor, and in a Narnia-esque moment, no time has passed and they are touring the ruins there, as normal British tourists. This actually passes for the last quarter of the book.

I’ll leave you to judge for yourself. For me, this sort of stuff isn’t just annoying story-wise, it’s also wrong. Why fill your head with one hundred pages of Egyptian theology. For me, that’s a huge point against this book. The minor technical errors round it out, and I can only rate this book at a sorry two starts out of five. If the author had taken the time to come up with a half-good ending for a decent adventure story, perhaps this book would have garnered three or four stars. But as it is, it’s just not worth your time.

~ Andrew

It's (Not That) Complicated - Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin

noreply@blogger.com (Grace Pennington) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:36:00 +0000

Is it possible for a girl to have healthy, sane, and pure relationships with guys? If so, how? How can a girl avoid the very real dangers in a friendship with a boy? What does the Bible have to say about how young men and young women should treat each other? Are these matters really as complicated as they seem?

In their new book It’s (Not That) Complicated, Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin again shine light in an area that is dark for many conservative Christian girls. They pull from their own experience, the Scriptures, their father’s teachings, and their brother’s marriages, as well as the opinions and preferences of godly young men. The result is a candid, humorous, insightful book for Christian young ladies everywhere who are asking, “What does a godly guy/girl relationship really look like?”

Rather than giving rules of interaction, though, the book focuses on general Biblical wisdom and practical advice, leaving the dos and do-nots up to each girl with the guidance of her parents. The scope is even broader than friendships, though, it also touches on relationships with the men in one’s family, as well as suitors and marriage.

There is some discussion of adult topics occasionally, specifically in the chapter which talks about the “Proverbs 7 Woman.” Thus it might not be a good choice for very young girls, though everything is handled with the greatest delicacy.

The blunt humor and personal writing style makes it easy to read, and the subject matter is arranged logically and is easy to follow. It is intelligent and full of nuggets of wisdom that every girl needs to hear when evaluating how she should relate to the men in her life.

With a little help from their family and their brothers in Christ, the Botkin sisters are helping to show other young ladies that when a girl is focused on Christ and loves those around her with His selfless love, then things are not that complicated after all.

Afterlives of the Saints - Colin Dickey

noreply@blogger.com (Eustacia Tan) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:02:00 +0000

Have you heard of hagiography? It's a genre referring to the writing of the lives of the saints. Honestly, I didn't know about this genre until I read Afterlives of the Saints by Colin Dickey.

To Colin Dickey, "saints exist not as a medium for God but as a lens for humanity". Hence, the book Afterlives of the Saints looks at a few saints that have impacted Colin Dickey for a few reasons: through their writings (Part One), because of the art and literature they inspired (Parts Two and Three), or because of the wide range of beliefs they encompassed (Part Four) and those that are un-canonised for various reasons (Part Five).

Honestly, I'm very unfamiliar with the world of the saints. I wasn't even aware that there were saints of libraries, of laughter and even cheese. But reading this book introduced me to the background behind them, the stories that made them famous.

For some reason, this book reminded me of Malcom Gladwell's What The Dog Saw because each chapter is a separate story, able to stand on its own. In fact, the only common thread throughout the whole book is that each saint is a Catholic saint. Other than that, the topics explored are quite vast, from libraries to art to death. In fact, the book doesn't even focus on the saint. More often than not, the saint is used as a launching board to delve into the history and the different views of the topic.

To me, this book was very interesting. I felt that the subject was dealt with fairly respectfully and appropriately. The book treats the saints as humans and doesn't venerate them. Instead, it looks at their background, and why they behaved the way they did. He notes that "saints are defined almost exclusively by their bodies, by what they did with them and what was done to them." and it is the reasons behind and the consequences of the acts that they do that the book explores.

All in all, this is a very interesting book. I recommend it for those wishing to expand their general knowledge, especially knowledge of the times when the Catholic Church was a major influence (socially and culturally).

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

Black Hawk Down - Mark Bowden

noreply@blogger.com (Corey P.) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:53:00 +0000

On October 3rd, 1993, a small, elite group of U.S. Rangers and Delta Force soldiers were dropped by helicopter into the swarming heart of Mogadishu, Somalia. Their assignment was to kidnap several high-ranking deputies to warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and escort them out of the city. Simple, right?

But what began as an hour-long mission soon devolved into something much worse: pinned down by thousands of heavily-armed Somalis, the men fought for their lives through an entire night of bloody urban combat. By morning, eighteen Americans were dead and over seventy badly wounded.

Mark Bowden chronicles those events in Black Hawk Down: a gritty and relentless story filled with the blood, noise, and heroism of battle. Drawing on official reports, army records, radio transcripts, video tapes, and countless interviews, Bowden has crafted a non-fiction narrative so intensely real, you’ll feel that you’re standing right next to the men you’re reading about.

Coupled with this meticulous attention to detail is the author’s prose – skilled and stripped-down and unpretentious. Consequently, the book gains a forcefulness that would’ve been lacking had Bowden opted for rhetorical flamboyance. He points away from himself: bidding us marvel, not at his prowess as a writer, but at the valor of the men who fought and died in Mogadishu. He says,

Readers who picked up the book were not supposed to be struck by my cleverness, but by the extraordinary courage and humanity of those young soldiers They made mistakes. They were terrified. Sometimes they shot at people they shouldn’t have shot at. Sometimes they shot at each other. They became tragically confused and some of them were killed and others horribly injured. The story raised all sorts of questions about the wisdom of their leaders, about whether and when it is appropriate to send young soldiers off to fight and die, and what that decision means in the real world. But along with all of these mistakes and questions, the story captured the undeniable nobility of military service, and was shot through with my respect for these young men who felt so entrusted with this story, and who shared it with me. (pp. 357-358)

For those thinking about picking this book up, be warned: it’s not a light or casual read. It’s gritty. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s exhausting. You can’t simply pick it up every once in awhile and read a few lines. It demands complete mental and emotional investment on the part of the reader.

But it’s worth it.

If you take the time to read Black Hawk Down (and I strongly recommend that you do) you will find yourself repaid a hundred-fold. It is a searing and hellish depiction of modern warfare. In that respect, I’ve seldom read an uglier book. But I’ve also seldom read a more beautiful one. The picture it gives of camaraderie, sacrifice, and raw, manly courage is unforgettable.

They say “war is hell”, and Black Hawk Down shows us what that really means. Violence throughout is bloody and punishing: men are shot to pieces, dismembered, and eviscerated. There’s nothing funny or glamorous about it. It’s sickening. And it makes you respect the heck out of the guys who endured it. There’s also quite a bit of hard language, shouted in anger and frustration, as well as some sexual references. Make no mistake: this is an R-rated book. Prospective readers should take that into account.

I’ll leave Bowden the final word (from pp. 345-356):

Many of the young Americans who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu are civilians again. They are beginning families and careers, no different outwardly than the millions of other twenty-something members of their generation… In my interviews with those who were in the thick of battle, they remarked again and again how much they felt like they were in a movie, and had to remind themselves that this horror, the blood, the deaths, was real. They describe feeling weirdly out of place, as though they did not belong here, fighting feelings of disbelief, anger, and ill-defined betrayal. This cannot be real. Many wear black metal bracelets inscribed with the names of their friends who died, as if to remind themselves daily that it was real.

To look at them today, few show any outward sign that one day not too long ago they risked their lives in an ancient African city, killed for their country, took a bullet, or saw their best friend shot dead. They returned to a country that didn’t care to remember. Their fight was neither triumph nor defeat; it just didn’t matter. It’s as though their firefight was a bizarre two-day adventure, like some extreme Outward Bound experience where things got out of hand and some of the guys got killed.

I wrote this book for them.

- Corey P.

Toads and Diamonds - Heather Tomlinson

noreply@blogger.com (Aubrey Hansen) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 04:58:00 +0000

When two stepsisters meet a goddess at a well, one girl is cursed to drop flowers and jewels every time she speaks – the other, snakes and toads. The first girl’s jewels catch the eye of a prince, while her sister’s snakes drive her from her home. In the classic fairytale by Charles Perrault, the story stops there, but Heather Tomlinson takes it step farther by translating the tale to pre-colonial India. There, the sisters find themselves swept up into a tangled web of political intrigue and religious division – and romance.

What I liked best about Tomlinson’s retelling was the changes she made to the fairytale. In the original, the flower girl was a Cinderella-like victim, while her stepsister and stepmother were vain and selfish. In Tomlinson’s version, the stepsisters have a wonderful relationship with each other. Both have their charms and faults, allowing the reader to sympathize with each girl’s plight. Additionally, the vibrant fictional Indian setting provided a lot of interest with the foreign customs and scenery.

With the Indian culture, however, come Eastern religions. Two modified religions play an integral part in the plot. While the characters do learn some universal principles, several pagan ideologies are portrayed, most notably reincarnation. Even though the religions are fictional, they do share characteristics with real-life systems and should be approached with caution.

In addition to the Eastern religion, the romance is of some concern. Both girls fall in love with men they cannot have because of the strife their gifts create. While the romances remain chaste, there are numerous sensual descriptions and lingering moments. The emotion is highly charged, making it hard not to fall in love along with the girls.

Outside of the romance and religion, the other content issues are minor but worth noting. There is no hard language, only some name-calling. There are several instances of loosely-described nudity in regards to bathing and dressing, although never sexual in nature. A girl is abused by some soldiers, but their torture is disrupted before it becomes graphic.

From a technical standpoint, Tomlinson’s writing is an enjoyable balance of description and smoothly-moving action. However, there were a few places, especially towards the end, where the plot twists seemed abrupt and the characters’ motives were unclear. I also found the ending slightly rushed; while the main conflict was resolved, the author did not revisit most of the subplots and secondary characters. We are left to assume that everything turned out all right, but with so much at stake, being forced to assume is less than satisfying.

Overall, while Tomlinson’s retelling held my interest, the content issues will discourage me from rereading this book, and the abrupt ending left me feeling as though something were missing. It was an inventive retelling and may intrigue fairytale enthusiasts, but I cannot fully recommend this book. Approach with caution.

~Aubrey

The Last Full Measure - Jeff Shara

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

The Last Full Measure, by Jeff Shaara, completes the father-son Civil War trilogy begun by The Killer Angels and Gods and Generals. This book tells the tale of the last few years after the terrible battle of Gettysburg, following Lee and his army as they attempt to make a stand against the ever stronger Federals.

The book is told from the viewpoints of three main characters. The Union Army has suffered terribly from inept commanders and terrible organization, despite having a huge advantage of manpower and supplies over the Confederates. Into this steps Ulysses S. Grant, a man who's not afraid to pay the cost to get the army whipped into shape and turn the tide of the war. We also see Joshua Chamberlain, hero of Little Round Top from the battle of Gettysburg, now leading a brigade in the final stretch of the war and promoted to general.

Meanwhile, Robert E. Lee is retreating from the disastrous battle of Gettysburg and attempting to maintain his strength in the face of the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. Still mourning the loss of Stonewall Jackson only two months before, Lee is now faced with the loss of most of his excellent commanders. Stuart, dashing rebel cavalry commander, has been killed at the battle of Yellow Tavern, and Longstreet is forced away from the army for months due to wounds.

Coupled with this is the problem of Lee's remaining generals; men who lack the fire and zeal of the fight, and lose thousands of men in costly mistakes that the Confederates cannot afford. More than ever, Lee feels the lack of men like Stonewall Jackson. Finally, after a long string of battles culminating the siege of Petersburg, Lee's army is racing along the rail lines in search of promised food and suplies sent from Richmond, hoping to beat the brutal Union cavalry command, Phil Sheridan, to the desperately needed food.

The story is definitely interesting, particularly if you've already been following Chamberlain and Lee throughout the other books in the trilogy. Though I've not read the first two books, I have seen both of the movies and plan on reading the books based on my opinion of this one. The story is absolutely captivating, making you feel, like Lee, that his soldiers can still prevail, and will prevail; or like Grant, feel absolute frustration at the disorganization and ineptness in his army. By no means does reading the book feel like a textbook or anything close.

We're given a clear, up-close look at the possible emotions these men might have balanced throughout history, particularly those of Lee. The emotion at the end of the book, during the surrender of the army, is incredibly well written. Though this is a high point of the book, the low point would have to be dialogue; it often comes out sounded stilted, and not very natural at all. This becomes most annoying with the addition of myriad ellipses and 'um's littered throughout the speaking.

Overall, though, The Last Full Measure is an excellent book for historical fiction lovers, Civil War buffs, or anyone who's read and enjoyed the first two books or movies in the trilogy. Sadly, there won't be a movie made for this book of the trilogy, but one can still read the book and be transported back in time to the Civil War, and stand in the shoes of Lee, Grant, and Chamberlain.

~ Andrew

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley

noreply@blogger.com (Corey P.) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

In 1816, Mary and Percy Shelley travelled to the Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva in Switzerland, to spend the summer with several writer-colleagues – Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, and John Polidori. On a whim, the friends decided to have contest to see who among them could devise the best ghost story. Drawing on one of her dreams, as well as her knowledge of medical experimentation, Mary Shelley wrote about a scientist who created life and was horrified by it. And thus Frankenstein was born.

This renowned gothic tale, for which Shelley is most famous, follows young Victor Frankenstein, a student of natural philosophy, who learns how to impart life to a body built from the relics of the dead. Resolved to test his newfound knowledge, Frankenstein conducts an experiment and is successful. However, instead of finding joy in his accomplishment, he feels only revulsion when he sees the creature he has made.

I had worked for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart… Oh! no mortal can support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as Dante could not have conceived. (pp. 39-40)

Published in 1818, Frankenstein is both a classic monster story and a seminal work of modern science fiction. It is even regarded as a “horror” novel, but I think “gothic” is a more fitting description – especially considering the book’s emphasis on the grotesque and mysterious, rather than the overtly horrific. One could argue that the themes of the story are far more unsettling than the story itself.

Shelley’s prose is not particularly remarkable – at least, in my humble opinion – but it suits the story well. And what it might lack in elegance, it readily makes up for in forcefulness. The writing is packed with bleak, hypnagogic imagery, and considering the nature of the story, it’s most appropriate.

It’s worth noting that Frankenstein’s monster is not a gray-green giant with lifeless eyes, a small vocabulary, and bolts in his head. According to Shelley’s description, he is large and strong and hideous, but he’s also athletic and remarkably intelligent. It is his character, in fact, which provides some of the most eloquent dialogue of the entire story.

Frankenstein concerns itself with several weighty themes and ideas, two of which particularly bear mentioning.

The first and most recognizable theme points to the dangers of man trying to play God – a warning which is even more applicable today than it was 200 years ago. Frankenstein basks in the glory of his newfound knowledge with little thought to its perils. Later in life, he laments,

Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge, and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow. (p. 35)

The second theme is less often acknowledged, but equally important: “What is the nature of man?” It is in answering this question that the novel more fully reflects the pagan worldview of its author.

When Frankenstein’s monster is first given life, he is a pure being, untainted and guileless. He cannot conceive why it is necessary for men to have laws and governments, because he cannot conceive why men should do evil. But the monster’s purity is only temporary. Although he does nothing wrong, men loathe and reject him. At one point in the story, he saves the life of a young woman. What does he get in return? Gunfire.

Outraged by this ingratitude, he exclaims,

This was then the reward of my benevolence! I had saved a human being from destruction, and as a recompense I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound which shatter the flesh and bone. The feelings of kindness and gentleness which I had entertained but a few moments before gave place to hellish rage and gnashing of teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all mankind. (p. 116)

Violently detested by society, the monster responds in kind. “I am malicious because I am miserable,” he argues, in excuse for his crimes. “Am I to be thought the only criminal, when all human kind sinned against me?”

Thus the blame is shifted. The monster’s basically good nature has been twisted by a bad environment and turned to evil. He is not ultimately responsible for his actions; the world that rejected him is.

Frankenstein’s monster is a work of fiction, but his words reflect the philosophy of Shelley and other humanists: the philosophy that man is essentially a good creature. He just needs the right environmental influences to get in touch with his basic goodness.

Such an idea is, of course, diametrically opposed to Christianity doctrine of total depravity. Man is conceived in sin. His emotions, his will, his intellect – all is corrupted, and naturally inclined to wickedness. Does this mean he is as desperately and utterly depraved as he possibly could be? Not at all. But it does mean that he is incapable of saving himself. Short of divine intervention, he is doomed – entirely and utterly doomed.

Thanks be to God He didn’t leave us that way.

Is Frankenstein still worth reading, then? Yes. There are benefits to be gained from acquainting oneself with classics such as this. But don’t just swallow everything that is handed to you. Examine it. Consider what you’re being told. And above all, see how it fares in the light of Scripture.

- Corey P.

Protection for Hire - Camy Tang

noreply@blogger.com (Eustacia Tan) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:07:00 +0000

A short while ago, I stumbled across Camy Tang’s books. They’re unique because she writes with Asian characters as the protagonists. Needless to say, her latest book Protection for Hire has a lot of unique things about it. What I find most remarkable about this book is the fact that it melds the Yakuza (Japanese mafia) and Christian fiction so well. In fact, I don’t remember ever reading a book quite like it.

Protection for Hire stars Tessa, the niece of the Yakuza head (or oyabun) in LA. A few years ago, while working for her uncle, she took the blame for a murder by her cousin and was sent to jail, where she found Christ. Now, she’s out of jail and trying to make a clean break from her past, when she lands a job as a bodyguard to Elizabeth St. Amant and her son.

To put things simply: I loved this book. It’s easy to read and more than captivating. Tessa is a very likeable character, and I could really identify with her struggles. One of her main problems is trying to get along with her mother and sister, who feel that she has shamed them by going to prison (and working for her uncle). This is something that I can completely identify with (but for different reasons). The way they push her buttons, is so similar to how my family can push my buttons that it’s eerie.

Another thing that I found interesting was how Tessa was compared to Paul. Although this was mentioned only in passing, I still think it’s a very valid reference. Like Paul, Tessa did a lot of harm in her previous life, and when she became a Christian, she also faced a lot of suspicion. Throughout the book, there’re many examples of how she’s discriminated against: from the disbelief of her family to gossip by those she tries to help and the inability to find a proper job. It’s a good reminder of how being a Christian hasn’t changed from the beginning till now, and that there are no excuses to expect to have an easy life.

In short, I highly recommend this book. It funny and action-packed and most importantly, it shows us that no matter what a background, God can create in us a new beginning.

~ Eustacia

Disclaimer: I got this book free from NetGalley. I was asked to write a review, but all opinions written here are mine.

First Light - Bodie and Brock Thoene

noreply@blogger.com (Eustacia Tan) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:33:00 +0000

It's so easy to think that the times we live in are especially turbulent. But the truth is, ever since the Fall of Man, we have been living in dark times. Which is why, reading First Light was especially fascinating for me, because it brought to life the history of the dark times in which the True Light walked on the earth.

First Light is the first in the A.D. Chronicles series. The story looks at a few main protagonists: Susanna bat Maccabee, who is being pressured to marry Demos bar Talmai but loves his younger brother Manean bar Talmai, Peniel the blind beggar boy (the blind beggar that Jesus healed), Marcus the Roman Centurion and Zadok the Chief Shepherd of Israel. Their actions and interactions revolve around Yeshua, and how their lives have been changed by him.

I feel that by using such a diverse cast of characters, the authors have managed to bring out life in Jerusalem more fully. From the 'high society' that Susanna and Manean move in, to the lowest of the low, Peniel a blind begger, life in Jerusalem is brought to life. Futhermore, the use of the Jewish spelling of the name helped me to remember to look at the same Bible stories with fresh eyes.

Of course, it goes to say that I really loved reading this book. All the characters were brought to life, and I liked how the authors gave characters like the blind beggar in the Bible a believable history. Needless to say, Peniel was my favourite character. His faith even in the midst of the bitterness of his mother and the apathy of his father was very touching, and I don't think I can ever read John 9:20-22, where his parents do not speak up for him, as I did in the past.

The only quibble I have with the book is the unrequited romance between Mary (the sister of Lazarus) and Marcus the Centurion. The supposed reason for this is due to her past as a prostitute, they got to know one another. But my understanding is that the Mary that was a prostitute and Mary the sister of Lazarus were two different people. But this is a very minor part of the book, and nothing happened between them.

Overall, I heartily recommend this book if you're into historical fiction. It's well-written and very enjoyable.

The Fourth Fisherman – Joe Kissack

noreply@blogger.com (Ashley) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:05:00 +0000

In The Fourth Fisherman, Joe Kissack tells the story of a group of Mexican fishermen who were lost at sea for several months. He also weaves in his own story; how he appeared to have everything, when inside he was lost and hurting.
The two sides of the story are completely different.

The fishermen lived simple lives; Kissack had everything he could want. The fishermen had faith in God, and it was the only thing that really kept them alive; Kissack spent many years trying to fill the void with worldly things.

I really enjoyed this book. It is a real-life example of God's provision when things seem hopeless. Even if you don't normally read nonfiction (I don't), I would recommend this book.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

-Ashley M.

The Passage - Justin Cronin

noreply@blogger.com (Corey P.) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:58:00 +0000

It’s the end of the world… again. And Harold Camping has nothing to do with it.

Apocolyptic fiction of any kind greatly interests me. Done well, it can be a superb tool for exploring strong emotional, moral, and philisophical themes. McCarthy’s The Road is a magnificent example of this, showcasing the relationship of a father and son against the backdrop of a ravaged world.

Enter Justin Cronin’s The Passage. It caught my eye last year, and I added it to my list of potential reads for 2011. I eventually discarded it in favor of other books and had all but forgotten it when, out of the blue, a friend recommended it to me. I took his advice, picked up a copy at the library, and bingo! I was hooked. It’s equal parts science-fiction epic, end-of-the-world nightmare, and touching human drama all rolled into a single, 800 page volume of ambitious apocalyptic literature.

When a vampiric bat virus is discovered by expeditionaries in South America, it’s transported to a clandestine government facility in the Colorado mountains. There, a team of scientists soon discover that the virus’ potential benefits are incredible: it has the power to make human beings immortal and virtually indestructible. Thrilled by their findings, they attempt to engineer the virus in hopes of creating the ultimate super-soldier. Meet Project NOAH.

Unfortunately, these profound advances come at a cost no one could have anticipated; and when the virus is injected into the human blood stream, it becomes clear that something is very wrong. The test subjects of the experiment – twelve men who were convicts on death row – transform into a superhuman race of vampire-like creatures called Virals. And when a security breach at the facility where they are held unleashes them on the outside world, all hell breaks loose. A night of chaos and death marks the beginning of a nation, and ultimately of a world, forever changed.

As civilization swiftly crumbles, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a troubled man, haunted by the death of daughter and by his involvement in certain morally-questionable activites. Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is refugee from Project NOAH – one of the few to survive. Wolgast determines to protect her from the bloody fallout, but for Amy, escape is only the beginning of a much longer journey – over many miles and many years – towards the time and place where she must finish what never should have begun.

I used the word “literature” intentionally when describing this book. The Passage isn’t some cheap apocalyptic horror novel like those that often litter the bargain section of the bookstore. Rather, it is fascinating, intelligent, and thoughtful piece of fiction with impeccable prose, finely-drawn characters, and a relentless pace. It is, in my opinion, a work of art.

Though the premise of his story sounds similar to others of the same genre, Cronin spins it in an entirely new and interesting way. His writing style is polished, smart, and easy to engage with. I’m not exactly a fan of Stephen King, but I think he summed up the quality of the story well when he said, “Read fifteen pages and you will find yourself captivated; read thirty and you will find yourself taken prisoner and reading late into the night. It has the vividness that only epic works of fantasy and imagination can achieve. What else can I say? This: read this book and the ordinary world disappears.”

One major theme of the book is that of retaining humanity in an inhumane world. The characters – even the ones that don’t play particularly crucial roles – are crafted with care and skill, and the reader feels their struggles, joys, and pains. Amy, in particular, is one of most lifelike little heroines I’ve ever encountered in fiction, and her relationship with the troubled Wolgast is heartfelt without a hint of saccharine sentimentality.

Another aspect of the story that I really enjoyed was the author’s gritty take on vampires. These are not sparkly, angst-ridden, misunderstood bloodsuckers a la Stephanie Meyer; nor do they resemble Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The vampires in The Passage are hairless, insect-like killers: super-fast, super-strong, and extraordinarily difficult to destroy. Elements of vampire lore are present, to be sure – the creatures are immortal, drink blood, and mostly hunt at night – but on the whole, Cronin’s interpretation is quite unique.

Surprisingly enough, faith is neither mocked nor ignored in the story. In fact, one of the key characters is a devout Christian, firmly believing (as it turns out, rightly so) that Amy is God’s answer to the terrible catastrophe. Not only that, but Cronin’s narrative closely resembles that of the Fall in Genesis 3: man brazenly pursues his quest for godlike-ness, and consequently unleashes unimaginable evil on the surrounding world – evil that touches everything and everyone, even the generations to come.

This is not say The Passage is entirely or even explicitly Christian, and readers should still exercise caution and biblical discernment. That said, there’s much to think about, and the book is all the richer for it.

The post-apocalyptic world of The Passage is a dark, threatening, and horrific place; it’s not surprising, therefore, that Cronin’s narrative is punctuated by violence. Humans and virals alike are shot, stabbed, maimed, dismembered, and blown apart in a number of vicious encounters; these sequences are never excessively graphic, but jarring nonetheless, and easily unsettled readers should know what they’re getting into.

Sexual content is surprisingly limited, and when it does pop up, it’s brief and easy to skip. More objectionable is the foul language. It’s not as pervasive as, say, Robopocalypse; and thankfully, after the first couple hundred pages or so, the swearing lightens up considerably. All the same, there’s still quite a bit of it and, when it does pop up, it’s generally strong R-rated fare.

All in all, I recommend The Passage, bearing in mind the cautions given and the fact that it’s only for the most mature of readers. Apparently, it’s only the first installment of a proposed trilogy, the second of which will be released next year. Am I looking forward to it? Definitely.

- Corey P.

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:08:00 +0000

A Tale of Two Cities is not exactly an excellent book to pick up after a long absence. It’s a little difficult to follow and moves a little slower than “modern” books, but don’t let that detract you from this book at all. It has earned its place as one of my favorite Dickens novels yet.

The year is 1775. The novel opens with Dickens’ famous lines, “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” As with many novels, the story is difficult to summarize in a single paragraph. Mr. Lorry, clerk of Tellson’s bank, has just received word that a certain person of interest to him has been ‘revived to life.’ Upon receiving this message, Mr. Lorry comes back into contact with Lucie Manette, whom he carried across the English Channel to safety in England almost twenty years past. Lucie and Mr. Lorry travel to Paris, to find her father, who has been dead for twenty years, but is now revived to life.

As with any Dickens novel the characters are fantastic. If there weren’t so many of them, they would be even better! The characters come to life throughout these pages. One is truly immersed in their lives and sympathetic to their troubles. They act as real people; they make mistakes, they lie or hedge, they love. Dickens’ novel brings the eighteenth century to life for modern readers perfectly. Most notable of all the characters is Mr. Sydney Carton. His character is perhaps the most complex of all those found in the novel, and certainly the most interesting. One thing to remember as you read this book: even the most minor characters may yet have a part to play in the story.

Perhaps the biggest issue I have with the book is that it tends to ramble; not necessarily in the inclusion of unecessary elements, but more with the confusion of the reader. It takes a good while to get your head around the story, and it was several chapters in before I was certain of what was happening and who every face was. One thing you will definitely want to put particular attention towards is placing the characters in your head as they are introduced. As I mentioned before, you’ll want to keep track of even minor characters.

Overall, A Tale of Two Cities is most assuredly a classic, and it has earned a place on my virtual bookshelf. I recommend it highly.

Barbarossa - Charles Faddis

noreply@blogger.com (Corey P.) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, I exchanged e-mails with a fairly new author by the name of Charles Faddis, who asked me if I’d be interested in reviewing his novels Codename Aphrodite and Barbarossa. I said yes for two reasons: first, because the espionage genre has always interested me, and second, because both books are based on the author’s real life experiences as a former CIA Ops officer. He spent twenty years in the Near East, South Asia and Europe running operations against terrorist groups, rogue states and WMD smuggling networks.

Faddis sent me copies of his work, and I eagerly began reading. It was disappointing, then, to finish Codename Aphrodite and come to the conclusion that it wasn’t something I could – in good conscience and good taste – recommend.

The story was interesting, to be sure; but that’s about the only positive thing I can say about it. The characters were poorly developed, the dialogue was mediocre, the plotting less-than-stellar. As if that weren’t enough, excessive amounts of strong language and crudely explicit sexual material (90% of which had nothing to do with the story) were thrown into the mix. All in all, it was neither a fun nor edifying reading experience.

Considering this, you’ll understand my trepidation as I started the second book, Barbarossa. Sequels are notorious for being worse than their predecessors. What reason had I to think this one would be any different? None.

Imagine my surprise when Barbarossa proved to be an exception.

The story follows ex-CIA operative Bill Boyle, who accepts the challenge of traveling deep into the mountains of Kurdistan in pursuit of a nuclear weapon that has fallen into the hands of Al Qaeda terrorists. Rallying a small cadre of friends, Boyle sets out to complete his mission as swiftly and securely as possible – easy isn’t part of the equation.

For starters, the quality of the writing in Barbarossa is much better than in Codename Aphrodite. There are still some rough spots (especially toward the beginning), but overall, Faddis’ prose is cleaner, leaner, and better polished; less like an amateur in search of footing and more like a writer who’s serious about his work.

The story is also superior, in my opinion, and much more engaging. It’s brisk, without feeling rushed or skimpy, and kept my attention for the duration of the book’s four hundred and fifty plus pages. Simple, but not simplistic; entertaining, but not unintelligent. And of course, Faddis’ first-hand experience in the very field he’s writing about adds a welcome sense of realism to the yarn.

Certain characters introduced in Codename Aphrodite are better developed here and allowed to take on more than one dimension. Boyle, for instance, is more likable and easy to sympathize with: previously his most notable “qualities” were drunkenness and a generally bitter demeanor. In Barbarossa, he’s sobered up, and the more applaudable aspects of his person, such as courage, perseverance, and selflessness, are easier to see.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for every character; particularly Aphrodite, Boyle’s love interest and wife-to-be. She still comes across as underwhelming, with little to set her apart from the humdrum crowd of today’s heroines. (Modern fiction’s obsession with “beautiful but deadly” women is becoming rather tiresome, don’t you think?)

Gritty is probably the best way to describe this book’s content. Violence is rough and often bloody, with numerous people meeting their end via bullet, blade, or explosive. Thankfully, the amount of strong language is significantly lower than in Codename Aphrodite; it’s still present, but nowhere near as pervasive. Sexual content is restricted to a few crude references.

So do I recommend Barbarossa? Yes. It’s not perfect, but the positives outweigh the negatives, making it a fun, fast-paced, decently-plotted spy thriller for older readers. I’ll be on the look out Faddis’ next work – he may be one of those authors who gets better with each book.

- Corey P.

(I received this book free from the author in exchange for a review.
I was not required to write a positive review.)

Interview: Gary Schmidt

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We’re extremely excited to have Gary Schmidt with us today here at Into the Book for another author interview. Gary has written numerous books, most recently Okay for Now. Here’s a look at the writer behind the books.

Into the Book: What helped you take your first steps in writing? If there was one particular thing that really inspired you to become an author, what would it be?
Gary Schmidt: Hmm. . .I'm always nervous about the word "inspired," as if there was some moment when everything clicked. I always liked to tell stories. I liked to read during middle and high school--not so much earlier than that. And I really did have amazing English teachers during those yeras who shared with me their love of books--who taught me how to love what they loved. In terms of imagining myself as a writer, I suppose the first step really was Earl Hamner's work in The Waltons. I know, this dates me and today that show is (wrongly) considered sentimental. But the narrator's voice in that show--which began and ended each hour--was incredibly powerful to me; I think that I first imagined living the life of the writer by seeing it in a kid somewhat older than me, and by enjoying the voice projected on that show.

ITB: Your books all have a distinctly ‘real’ feel about them, as if this story really happened in some small town in New York; how do you capture that? Where do you get the material for the setting of your books? Does the setting play an important part in your inspiration for the books?
GS: I do think about setting quite a bit. In his Vanity Fair, William Thackery likes to play with setting, and what he does is helpful to all writers: At times he uses setting specifically as a mere stage. He even talks about it as a puppet show. At other times, he uses it to comment on the action. It seems to me that the setting should always be more than a stage--it should always be reflecting or commenting upon or ironically undercutting or at the very least offering some contribution to the meaning of what is happening to the characters. In terms of the small town, I live in a very small town in Michigan. I also am most familiar with small towns in New England. So I suppose this is all sort of natural for me. But perhaps even larger is this: When you are writing a novel and are about to spend a year on the first draft, you better like the place you inhabit imaginatively. And I like the places that my characters are inhabiting. In some ways, I wrote First Boy because I wanted to live for a while on a dairy farm.

ITB: How does your worldview play into the books that you write? How much of the books are based off of your own experiences? Is there any specific book which is a fictional autobiography, so to speak?
GS: This is really at least two very different questions. First, in terms of autobiography, all of my characters are created characters. None of them are distinct autobiography. I suppose the closest to me would be Turner from Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy in terms of who the kid is; in terms of the actual events, Holling from The Wednesday Wars would be the closet to my actual life. I think that most writers--particularly writers who are writing for young readers--remember their own pasts as they writer; certainly I do. I often think, What would I have done at this particularly moment when I was thirteen or fourteen? Even if I don't use that option, it at least gives me an idea, and puts me back into the age my character is currently occupying.

In terms of "worldview," I think that all writers work out of a worldview. Maybe a definition of being a hack is writing out of someone else's worldview just to do a writing job. A writer must work out of those ideas and beliefs; those who do so best are--to me at least--some of our most powerful writers. I think of someone like Jacqueline Woodson, or Walter Dean Myers, or Gary Paulsen (especially Dog Song), or Francisco Stork, or Katherine Paterson, or Pam Munoz Ryan, or Nikki Grimes, or. . .well, I could go on and on. . .when I think of these folks, I think of writers who write out of those parts of themselves that are connected to their deepest beliefs and hopes and understandings about the world. And since I am a Calvinist, I write about a deeply broken world, and about grace in that world.

ITB: The characters in Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now are incredible. Everyone we’ve met who’s read the books have loved Holling, Doug, Lil, and the other faces of your novels. How do you develop these characters to become so real that they literally step off of the page?
GS: Developing a character is an incredibly slow business for me, and I'd be glad to know how some other folks do it. A first draft takes me about a year, and during that year, I am trying to produce new material each day, and to redraft the old material at the same time. The constant redrafting means that I can add detail and meaning time and time again, as I try to craft a character who is not one-dimensional--since no one is--and who has many conflicting motivations and interests and understandings. We are all so complex, so much a mixture, and I want my characters to show that. But this, obviously, is very slow work.

ITB: Which book so far that you have written (and there are more than a few) has been your favorite once finished? Which was your favorite while writing? Which character is the most real to you?
GS: I never know how to answer this one. I can tell you about all the different dogs I've owned and loved, but I would never know how to compare them in a way that would lead me to say that one was my favorite. (Though, to be honest, the border collies we have now are really something.) The same is true of my books. There I things that I like about all of them, and things that I would like to redo about all of them. But no one is my favorite. I guess this is true of the characters as well. No one is more real to me than the other, since I lived with them for a long time, and so they all feel real.

ITB: What advice would you like to give to any aspiring or beginning authors?
GS: The best--and really only--advice for a young writer is to do two things: First, read. Read everything. Read works that are too hard for you, and too easy. Read all genres. Read all forms. Read what you hear people talking about, and read the book that no one else has heard about. Read all the time. No good writer is not first a good reader.

Second, write. Set a reasonable goal, and write. And as you writer, don't write for your own self only. Write for the larger audience: the world.

But first, read.

ITB: Last, one specific question from an ItB reviewer: How do you approach major revisions to your novels? How complete is your first draft, usually?
I revise every day. Each time I sit down, I go back to the beginning of the chapter, and revise up to the last thing I've written. In this sense, writing for me is recursive, cycling back and back and back. Other writers push straight through and complete a draft without going back at all; after the draft, they then revise from the beginning. But for me, this is a slow process that easily takes a full year. Usually by the time that year is over, the book is at least conceptually complete. But after that year, I can do the larger revisions with a sense that the larger meanings are in place. However, as a writer, I always have to be aware that something completely new can enter in, and so I have to be open to that new element. If that new thing means whole changes, well, then that's what it means. I wrote Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy three times. But that's the writing life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, Mr. Schmidt. We’re very excited to be interviewing you and we look forward to your future books!

Andrew, on behalf of Into the Book

The Devil's Dictionary - Ambrose Bierce

noreply@blogger.com (Corey P.) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:59:00 +0000

While perusing the classic lit section at Barnes & Noble - a section that seems to diminish in size with each visit - I came across a copy of Ambrose Bierce's beloved and oft-quoted book, The Devil's Dictionary.

Needless to say, it promptly disappeared from the shelf. I stuffed it between the other books I was carrying and headed for the check-out line, grateful that I'd gotten to it before someone else did.

Originally published as The Cynic's Word Book in 1906, The Devil's Dictionary isn't what you might assume. It's not a book on how to cast spells, harness the occult, or correctly use Satanic incantations. Instead, it's packed full of satirical reinterpretations of words in the English language, mocking hypocritical doublespeak - both popular and political - as well as other aspects of human (let's face it) stupidity.

I kid you not when I say Bierce's wit is sharp enough to shave with. And beneath his sardonic and frequently hilarious sense of humor, there are number of painful truths about human nature. He's the sort of writer who makes you laugh, think, and say "Ouch!" - all at the same time.

It's impossible to resist sharing some of the gems in this book, but as there are close to 250 pages of them, I'll confine myself to sharing just a handful:

Abrupt, adj. Sudden, without ceremony, like the arrival of a cannon-shot and the departure of the soldier whose interests are most affected by it.

Egotist, n. A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me.

Cat, n. A soft, indestructible automaton provided by nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the domestic circle.

Vote, n. The instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country.

Gallows, n. A stage for the performance of miracle plays, in which the leading actor is translated to heaven. In this country the gallows is chiefly remarkable for the number of persons who escape it.

Idleness, n. A model farm where the devil experiments with new sins and promotes the growth of staple vices.

Non-Combatant, n. A dead Quaker.

Yankee, n. In Europe, an American. In the Northern States of our Union, a New Englander. In the Southern States the word is unknown. (See Damnyank)

Bierce was raised on a farm in Indiana and enlisted in the Union army in 1861. Five years later, he settled down in San Francisco and went on to become a successful writer and journalist. He contributed to the San Francisco Examiner and other newspapers, and became known for the scorn he heaped upon the scoundrels of his day. He even earned the moniker "The Wickedest Man in San Francisco" - not by indulging in wickedness himself, but by sharply (and accurately) pointing out the follies and vices of his fellow men.

This exceptional knack for pitting abrasive humor against bloated rhetoric is nowhere more apparent than in The Devil's Dictionary. He seldom fails to get a laugh - but there's often more truth to his words than we'd like to admit. And that's what good satire is all about.

When he veers into religious territory, though, Bierce's caustic humor is a hit-and-miss affair. Some of it should make believers stop and consider; for example, he defines "Christian" as:

One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ insofar as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.

Ouch. That hurt. How many of us pick at the speck in our brothers eye, without regard to the log that is in our own? (Matt. 7:3-5) How often do we profess the name of Christ with our lips, even though our hearts are far from Him? (Isa. 29:13)

Something to think about.

There are times, however, when Bierce's wit crosses the line between humor and reckless irreverence. That I could've done without; but neither did it come as a shock. Bierce made no claim to Christianity. And if he's leveling his guns at almost everything in sight, why should I be surprised when he starts taking pot-shots at the Sacred?

Chew the meat, spit out the bones. Thankfully, there's more of the former than the latter.

- Corey P.

Engaging God's World - Cornelius Plantinga Jr.

noreply@blogger.com (Eustacia Tan) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:19:00 +0000

As my university days get older, the question of balancing God and studies weighs even heavier on my mind, especially as I prepare to go to Japan for my studies. Thankfully, God prompted a Church worker to lend me this book.

Billed as a “primer for students”, Engaging God’s World is a very concise introduction to the theology of Longing and Hope, Creation, The Fall, Redemption and the Vocation in the Kingdom of God. Although Mr Cornelius writes from a very Calvinistic perspective, he doesn’t mention things like unconditional election or TULIP, with which I have theological doubts. Instead, he speaks from a much broader Protestant perspective.

In my opinion, the most useful part of the book is the first half of the 5th chapter: The Vocation in the Kingdom of God. He speaks very convincingly about how every vocation, even studying, is a way to glorify God, encouraging students to use even what they think as “ordinary” things as a means to glorify God.

This book is easy to read and understand. I feel that it’s very useful for students, especially those in the US. I want to share this passage, which I found to be very encouraging:

"Let’s call a person who accepts Jesus’ commission a good citizen of the kingdom of God, and let’s call a person who accepts this commission with enthusiasm a prime citizen of the kingdom. A good citizen likes the kingdom of God just fine, but a prime citizen passionately yearns for the kingdom. A prime citizen has been redeemed far down in her spirit, way downtown in her heart, so that she deeply loves God and the things of God. She relishes God’s Word. She rejoices in God her Saviour. She finds that the things of faith – repentance, forgiveness, hope in God – seem sweet to her. Her pulse quickens at the prospect of blessedness such as “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor the human heart conceived” (1 Cor. 2:9). In her best moods, she longs not just for happiness, but for joy; not just for joy, but for God; no just for God, but also for the kingdom of God. Because of her enthusiasm for the kingdom, she doesn’t merely endorse justice in the world; she hungers and works for it. She doesn’t merely reject cruelty; she hates and fights it. She wants God to make things right in the world, and she wants to enrol in God’s project as if it were her own. She “strives first for the kingdom” in order to act on her passion." (page 108)

Courageous - Randy Alcorn

noreply@blogger.com (Grace Pennington) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 02:56:00 +0000

Who has the responsibility to lead, protect, and provide for a family? The father. But all across the country, and around the world, fathers are failing -- giving up, giving out, giving in.

Sheriff deputies Adam, Shane, Nathan, and David are all fathers struggling to face up to their responsibilities. Adam worships his little daughter but neglects his fifteen-year-old son, Shane is divorced and trying to connect with his boy. Nathan grew up fatherless and wants to give his children a better life, but his daughter’s heart is being stolen by a boy at school, while David is haunted by secrets from his past that he wants to forget. Used to risking their lives for others every day at work, they can’t seem to find the courage to do what’s right when they get home each night.

Javier, on the other hand, is a simple, hardworking Hispanic who loves his wife and children with all his heart and strives to be as good a father as his father was before him. These five men struggle along just trying to help their families survive -- until a tragedy wakes them all up to the real courage and dedication it takes to be a father.

A novelization of the box office hit film, Courageous is a book that will make you smile, cry, and inspire readers everywhere to be strong and courageous.

Randy Alcorn takes the Kendrick brothers’ screenplay and expands it into a novel full of subtle nuances and new and interesting subplots. The characters and events are developed further, plotlines and characters are added, and characters from the Kendricks’ other films are tied into the story in very fun and unexpected ways. Some events are fleshed out to add new and deeper meaning, and the Christian messages are enhanced and made stronger.

Everything from the film is in the book, exactly as portrayed on the screen, but so much more has been added it’s almost like a new story -- without conflicting with any of the original material. We gain lots of new insights into David’s character, Adam’s growth and his relationship with his son are portrayed more gradually and fully, and we learn more about the character of Derrick, his family and his past, just to scratch the surface. Despite having seen the film twice, I was surprised multiple times while reading.

Some of the new content makes the book a bit less child-friendly than the film, though not excessively so. The drug content is significantly greater, while there are a few mild and tastefully handled sexual references, including a subplot involving artificial insemination. Abortion is mentioned as part of one subplot, and the violence and gang activity are a bit stronger than in the film. Still, everything was delicately handled and appropriate for a mature reader, in my opinion.

The Christianity is well handled and even stronger than in the film, and usually does a good job about not being heavy-handed, though there are one or two scenes that come across as mildly “preachy.” Overall though, it is well done.

The writing is fairly good. There is some on-the-nose dialogue, and some plot points or subplots that fall a bit flat. There’s some telling instead of showing in places, but none of it was strong enough to pull me out of the story -- just strong enough to keep it from making the book a favorite. In some parts the writing really shines, earning my admiration. Overall, I am impressed with how well Randy Alcorn was able to expand the story and do it justice.

Courageous is definitely worth reading, whether or not one has seen the film. It will challenge your faith, touch your emotions, and leave you wanting to excel in godliness, faithfulness, and true bravery. I praise God for the success of this book -- I believe that it, like the film, can help our country become a better place by showing fathers the need to step up and be men of courage.

Okay for Now - Gary Schmidt

noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Joyce) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:32:00 +0000

Gary Schmidt captured my attention once already (review here), and Okay for Now only improves my opinion of his excellent writing. Though Okay for Now is loosely connected to Wednesday Wars, Holling Hoodhood plays a tiny part in this book, and the setting and characters are different. Still, it's an excellent book even by itself.

Doug Swieteck calls his new home "The Dump." Why shouldn't he? His dad moved his family to stupid Marysville, in the summer of 1968. Doug's father traveled to Marysville on a job, but is unhappy with his life and takes his frustrations out on Doug. Doug's brother finds himself with the wrong crowd in Marysville and is soon accused of robbery. But soon, Doug finds a mission of his own, which begins when he sees the plates of John Audobon's Birds of America at the local library. This mission leads him to all sorts of people across Marysville, like Lil Spicer, and Mrs. Windermere. With them, Doug finds a new world of belonging in Marysville.

As always, the characters take center stage in Schmidt's novels; he most definitely has a talent for writing real and believable characters. By the time Okay for Now leaves your hands, you will feel like Doug and Lil are family, part of your own life, and you will ramble on about them to anyone in close range. In other words, this author leaves you nearly in tears when he twists the story yet again around a character that you've grown attached to throughout reading the book.

The story is not to be forgotten, however. While the characters take center stage, the story they roll out is equally engrossing. Schmidt's knack is making such a normal setting as upstate New York in the 60s, in a small, sleepy town, and weaving that into a story that you won't be able to put down. The elements are equally mundane: trouble at school, problems at home, a refuge in the library, making deliveries from Spicer's Deli. But in Schmidt's capable hands they are formed into a masterpiece.

It's not an understatement to say that I really enjoyed Okay for Now. It's one of the few books that I am going to go back and re-read immediately after finishing and reviewing it. In my mind, that's the highest praise that can be given to an author. Gary Schmidt's Okay for Now will literally have you coming back for more, again and again.

~ Andrew

Steel - Carrie Vaughn

noreply@blogger.com (Bush Maid) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:14:00 +0000

I have heard the name of Carrie Vaughn around the book world before, but have never read any of her works until I was caught by the cover of this one. Steel is a swashbuckling adventure that drags its readers straight into the historic pages of piracy and open seas. It also dragged the main character into the fray as well - literally.

Jill is a sixteen-year-old fencer at her highschool. Though she has competed at countless tournaments and is practised at the art, she has never before used a sharpened blade in combat. Whilst on holidays in the Caribbean with her family, she comes across the broken blade of an ancient rapier, and keeps it for herself.

It isn't long before Jill realizes there is more to the sword piece that meets the eye. After falling into the ocean, she is mysteriously transported through time to the deck of a pirate ship full of very real pirates. Jill finds that the pirates have no idea where she came from, and worse - no idea how to get her back. The only clue to her sudden appearance in the early eighteenth century lies in the broken sword tip: whose secrets seem strangely tied to Jill's pirate captain rescuer.

Reading this book made me feel as though I was right on deck with Jill. It is written with such a vividness and authenticity that you can almost taste the salt in the air. The story took twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and the growth of Jill's character was a pleasure to watch. There were also some very touching scenes that made me teary - some only consisting of a few words. I was curious as to how the tale would end, as I thought it might be tricky to wind up. Yet the author brought it to a most satisfying finale which wrapped the story up perfectly. It was a most enjoyable read.

There are however, a few issues. Being a pirate story, there is some moderate coarse language scattered throughout. There was no R rated or obscene swearing, however it was strong enough to make a mention of. Immorality ran high here during this period of history, but for a few brief, discreet allusions, the author did not go into any depth.

Dark magic and blood sacrifice comes into play as a key plotpoint of the story, but it is marked strongly as wicked and wrong. Though it is a major element to the resolution, it was mostly out of the spotlight when it comes to description and detail.

One minor point that may be worth noting is that the pirate captain is a woman. This didn't bother me, and it does add to the story's plot, however I thought I would make a mention of it.

Overall, I found this to be a very enjoyable read and would give it a rating of four stars out of five.