Dune

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Set in the distant future amidst a feudal interstellar society in which noble houses, in control of individual planets, owe allegiance to the Padishah Emperor, Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose aristocratic family accepts the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis. As this planet is the only source of the oracular spice melange, the most important and valuable substance in the universe, control of Arrakis is a coveted—and dangerous—undertaking. The story explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its spice.^[7]

1965 Chilton Books hardcover first edition book cover of Dune by Frank Herbert, with art by John Schoenherr.

I was looking for a book to read.  There wasn't an excellent opportunity to go to the library, and I couldn't think of a public domain book that I wanted to view, so I checked out the library's app.  I was surprised at the number of ebooks that were available.  The first one to pop up was Dune.  Dune is a sci-fi literary classic, but I had never read it.  

Dune is a beautiful novel.  Herbert must have had a significant influence on George Lucas.  Aspects of Paul translate directly over to Luke.  And Arrakis and Tatooine could be the same planet.  The 'worms' of Arrakis are repeated in the 90's movie Termors. (Does this give Frank Herbert a Bacon number?)

Dune is now one of my favorite novels.  Not just sci-fi, but beloved of all fiction novels.  Herbert developed all the characters thoroughly with a dept that would only be revealed later.  His choice of language and foreshadowing rivals literature's greats.  The book is long, but with good reason.  There is no word filler.  Herbert's words are well chosen, and nothing can be skipped.

Dune is not in the public domain, but most libraries have a copy in the stacks; some like mine may have a digital copy to check out.

Exodus

Exodus is an international publishing phenomenon--the towering novel of the twentieth century's most dramatic geopolitical event. Leon Uris magnificently portrays the birth of a new nation in the midst of enemies--the beginning of an earthshaking struggle for power. Here is the tale that swept the world with its fury: the story of an American nurse, an Israeli freedom fighter caught up in a glorious, heartbreaking, triumphant era. Here is Exodus --one of the great best-selling novels of all time.

"Passionate summary of the inhuman treatment of the Jewish people in Europe, of the exodus in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to Palestine, and of the triumphant founding of the new Israel." -- The New York Times

This book was recommended to me since I enjoy historical fiction.  I found the book enjoyable.  Uris created a great set of characters to tell the Jewish story of the formation of modern Israel.  Other reviewers that I have read have taken great issue with Uris portrayal of these events solely from the Jewish perspective.  Uris, being Jewish, has a far more significant relationship with the Jewish understanding then of an Arab knowledge.  In my reading of this book, the Palestinian Arabs are not portrayed as evil or antagonistic.  In his writing, only the British and outside Palestine Arabs are described as antagonizers.  I am confident that another book could be written from a Palestinian Arab viewpoint of the same events and be as engaging.

I am disgusted that I was not made aware in my history education of the details of the Jewish immigration into Palestine following World War II.  The story makes clear the evil behind the colonial rule.

Tale of The Fall of Gondolin

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the most significant powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military force from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar: he is called the Lord of Waters, of all seas, lakes, and rivers under the sky. But he works in secret in Middle-earth to support the Noldor, the kindred of the Elves among whom were numbered Húrin and Túrin Turambar.

Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvelously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in a heated debate mainly refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo’s desires and designs.

Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo’s designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth, the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes excellent; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon’s daughter and their son is Eärendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.

At last, comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Túrin and Idril, with the child Eärendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Eärendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources.

Following his presentation of Beren and Lúthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same ‘history in sequence’ mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was ‘the first real story of this imaginary world’ and, together with Beren and Lúthien and The Children of Húrin, he regarded it as one of the three ‘Great Tales’ of the Elder Days.

Christopher Tolkien, J. R. R. Tolkien's son, has done great detailed work in evaluating and ordering his father's notes regarding Middle-Earth and the mythology he had created central to it.  This was not easy work.  He has spent years of effort reading all of his father's numerous notes written over multiple years.  Christopher has ordered and deconflicted these many tales.  I cannot imagine the magnitude of this work.

To be thorough in his publishing of his father's thoughts, Christopher recorded in this book the different version of the tale, and he notes his selection of essential aspects of the story that he chose in his telling of the tale.  Christopher's writing of The Fall of Gondolin is engaging and beautiful in keeping with his father's writing style.

I am not taken by the details of Middle-earth mythology.  I skipped over large sections of this book that provided retellings of the story from his father's copious notes.  Christopher had already noted these in his telling.  The myth of Gondolin's fall as told by Christopher was enjoyable and complete.  I believe the son performed due diligence in providing all the notes.

Hitler’s Death

In The Death of Hitler, author and expert Luke Daly-Groves rigorously looks at the question:Did Hitler shoot himself in the Führerbunker or did he slip past the Soviets and escape to South America? Countless documentaries, newspaper articles, and internet pages written by conspiracy theorists have lead the ongoing debate surrounding Hitler's last days. Historians have not yet managed to make a serious response. Until now.

This book is the first attempt by an academic to return to the evidence of Hitler's suicide in order to scrutinise the arguments of conspiracy theorists using scientific methods. Through analysis of recently declassified MI5 files, previously unpublished sketches of Hitler's bunker, personal accounts of intelligence officers along with stories of shoot-outs, plunder and secret agents, this rigorously researched book takes on the doubters to tell the full story of how Hitler died.

Conspiracy theorists are plentiful.  The conspiracies regarding Hitler, even after so many years, are still very active.  These conspiracies are more damaging than those of the flat earth society.  The flat-earthers do not support the growth of evil.  Hitler conspiracies aid the growth of evil.

Daly-Groves has written an excellent book covering the historical evidence in a deeper and academically satisfying manner regarding the time and method of Hitler's death.  He provides previously unavailable documentation the completely closes the question of Hitler's possible survival and the cowardice of his death.

My only problem with Daly-Groves's book is in the first two chapters.  These are obviously from one of his thesis papers.  The writing is stale and uninvolving.  The rigor of the research is very clear in these chapters, but they read very much like a dissertation, not a popular history text.

The Luckiest Man

How do you experience God's intimate, comforting, tangible presence? In The Luckiest Man, John Paine reveals how he found the answer to this most important of all questions--by facing a terminal diagnosis.

At middle age, John Paine thought he knew what it meant to have a relationship with God. He was a successful businessman, a well-respected Christian leader, a Bible teacher, and--outwardly, at least--the spiritual leader of his family. He was satisfied and thought he understood what it meant to know and experience God. But did he?

John's journey into true, mystical intimacy with God began when a neurologist diagnosed him with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and said, "Go home and get your affairs in order." Seventeen years later, John tells his story, recounting the ways God intervened in his life, freeing him from all that prevented intimacy with God, even as John slipped into pain, paralysis, and further toward death.

In stunning, insightful prose, The Luckiest Man points to the God who lovingly, though occasionally painfully, drew John into the richness of friendship. In this profoundly moving memoir, John Paine reveals the secret to intimacy with God and provides hope to all who are in the middle of their own trials. They, too, will understand why John considers himself the "luckiest man." (less) [Thomas Nelson]

This was a difficult read for me.  Mr. Paine is fighting ALS.  I'm battling Progressive MS.  He's from northeast Texas.  I'm from southwest Arkansas, towns separated by about 2 hours.  His father was a hard man.  Mine was not as hard as his, but somewhat hard.  I grew up working on the farm where work was always hard.  We both played football.  Mr. Paine is only eleven years my senior.  Our diseases are different, but the symptoms at onset and speed of regression seem very similar.

Paine was successful in his career and business dealings.  I was pursuing science while working an engineering job to support my family.  I would say that I was average to mediocre at both.  What is meant is that I found myself jealous of Paine in the beginning because of this.  I thought, at least he got to be successful before he was robbed.  Oh, how much more Paine had to show me.

Reading beside my wife in the evenings, I saw myself more in him.  I saw how much I had to lay down and the truth of where I had placed my value.  How much more I was.  Paine painted for me a clear picture of what he was indeed before ALS and who God was making him into.  Paine's transparency convicted me in my battle with MS.  He had come to the point of intimacy with God.  I was too busy fighting disease to listen to God.  I was busy telling God what I needed rather than looking for God to speak into me what I needed to hear.

There are not words enough to recommend this book.  Mr. Paine's writing is excellent, and his message is important, for everyone, not just those fighting disease.  Read it with an open mind, soul, and a humble spirit.  Allow God to convict you.

Moby Dick

The book is sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship Pequod, for revenge on Moby Dick, the white whale that on the ship's previous voyage bit off Ahab's leg at the knee. A contribution to the literature of the American Renaissance, the work's genre classifications range from late Romantic to early Symbolist. Moby-Dick was published to mixed reviews, was a commercial failure, and was out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891. Its reputation as a "Great American Novel" was established only in the 20th century, after the centennial of its author's birth. William Faulkner confessed he wished he had written the book himself,^[1] and D. H. Lawrence called it "one of the strangest and most wonderful books in the world" and "the greatest book of the sea ever written".^[2] Its opening sentence, "Call me Ishmael", is among world literature's most famous.^[3]“Moby-Dick.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Nov. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby-Dick.

This is a ubiquitous text in the West.  We reference it.  We talk about Ahab.  Everyone is familiar with the first line, "Call me Ishmael."  We even visit a coffee chain named after the first mate, Starbuck; but I find that many have not read this text.  I was never required to in secondary or university studies.  Therefore, in keeping with my drive to read books people talk about but haven't read, I read Moby-Dick.

This was a long book.   Herman Melville wrote two books in one from my view.  He wrote an excellent tale with foreshadowing, symbology, and unique language that included a dry and dull text of the details of whaling.  This structure reminded me very much of The Hunchback of Norte Dame.  The clear example of the unrelenting pursuit of a prize regardless the cost is clear.

Had Melville had an editor, I believe he would have sold more books in his lifetime, and his fame may have existed before his death.  The sheer volume of this text likely discouraged many from purchasing.  A book of 135 chapters must have had quite a price tag in the mid 19th century.  My brother told me when I first began reading it that it would remind me of Hugo in the mixture of story and banal information.  It did.

I actually didn't visually read the text.  Since I knew the book to be in the public domain, I first went to Project Gutenberg to download a Kindle version.  While on the site, I saw that an audio version was available.  Rather than loading up my Kindle, I downloaded the audio version which was actually produced by LibriVox.  The version I listened to was read by Stewart Wills.  His reading rivals any professional audiobook I have ever listened to.  Very high quality.

Moby Dick is a book worthy of the respect that it receives.

Sherman Lead

Sherman Lead is the gripping story of a year flying the F-4 Phantom in combat during the Vietnam War, told through the eyes of a US Air Force fighter pilot. Operating out of Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand in 1968–69, Gail Peck and his squadron mates were tasked with flying combat missions into North Vietnam and Laos at this time as part of Operations Rolling Thunder and Steel Tiger.

The F-4 was heavily involved in the air-to-ground mission at this time, with targets being well defended by enemy anti-aircraft artillery and surface-to-air missiles. Gail Peck's arrival in-theater coincided with the beginning of electro-optical and laser guided "smart" bomb combat operations. There were periods of fierce combat interspersed with lulls, and the fighting was intense and unforgettable to those who participated. Some men lived through it, and others died without a clear understanding of why.

Written by a pilot who flew near-daily combat missions, this engrossing book is the story of one man, his colleagues, and his machine--the mighty F-4 Phantom--at war.

My father was an F-4 hydraulic mechanic during the Vietnam conflict until the F-4 was retired.  I grew up with love for the F-4.  When other guys were all about the F-14 due to Top Gun, I still loved the F-4. I was excited to read this book.  Peck did a great job relaying personal stories regarding his flying of the F-4 during the early Vietnam period.

Peck was a USAF pilot rather than Navy, so I was a little disappointed in that as a Navy brat.  Peck still relayed the strength of the jet during this period and its versatile use.  He also clearly shows from the stories how poorly the Vietnam conflict was executed by the US leadership.

I recommend this book to anyone with interest in the history of the Vietnam conflict or in air warfare.

Rise of the Servant Kings

The "how-to-get-it-right" book for today's Christian man--in marriage, family, work, friendships, with God in all of life.

Men are hungry for authenticity and for sound and bold biblical teaching on true masculinity. Every day men ask themselves questions about how to be better fathers, husbands, friends, and men, but it's difficult to find satisfying answers. Rise of the Servant Kings explains that true masculinity is found in absolute surrender to God, which always results in humble character and is expressed in courage and generosity. When a man truly understands God's desires, he will naturally express godly masculinity, Ken Harrison weaves together his experiences as a police officer in one of the deadliest areas of the country, with many years as a business executive and ministry leader, to share deep truths for men direct from God's Word.

After I requested this book from NetGalley, I noticed that the author was the chairman of the board of Promise Keepers.  To be honest, I didn't know that PK was still around.  I thought that the organization had ceased to exist around 2000.  A man taking on the duty of leading an organization from obscurity must have something to say.

Mr. Harrison wrote an excellent book of encouragement to men.  In keeping with PK philosophy and theology, the book encourages men to step forward and not be passive.  He tells numerous stories of his time with the LAPD and the truths he learned there.  Bringing these truths forward, he encourages men to live lives on purpose.

Letters to the Church

If God had it His way, what would your church look like?

The New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Love challenges readers to be the Church as God intends.
 

• Do you want more from your church experience?
• Does the pure gospel put you in a place of awe?
• Are you ready to rethink church as you know it? 

Sit with Pastor Francis Chan and be reminded that you are a part of something much bigger than yourself, something sacred.

In his most powerful book yet, Chan digs deep into biblical truth, reflects on his own failures and dreams, and shares stories of ordinary people God is using to change the world.

Chan says, “We’ve strayed so far from what God calls Church. We all know it. We know that what we’re experiencing is radically different from the Church in Scripture. For decades, church leaders like myself have lost sight of the inherent mystery of the Church. We have trained people sitting in the pews to become addicted to lesser things. It’s time for that to change.”

When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride—even more than for our own lives? Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was … and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be.

This was a quick read but took a lot of processing.  I grew up in church.  All I have ever known is the way the church is done in the southeastern US.  I would default say that is the proper way to do church.  In college, I did take a course that challenged us to evaluate the modern church in light of what we read in the New Testament.  Chan brought those questions back to mind and then some.

Writing his standard get to the point, challenging the default way, that Chan has done in other books, he lays out a strong thesis for a new paradigm for the church.  Actually, not new but a reformation of returning to the old.  He purposefully does not lay out a plan of change or structure.  He places a challenge to the western evangelical church to look at how we are doing things in light of the Scripture.

Why are we doing what we are doing?

Why are we doing things the way we are doing them?

Are we honoring God or ourselves?

Whose kingdom are we advancing?

I was deeply challenged by this book.  I highly recommend this book to any Christian that holds to sola scriptura.

The October Country

Welcome to a land Ray Bradbury calls "the Undiscovered Country" of his imagination--that vast territory of ideas, concepts, notions, and conceits where the stories you now hold were born. America's premier living author of short fiction, Bradbury has spent many lifetimes in this remarkable place--strolling through empty, shadow-washed fields at midnight; exploring long-forgotten rooms gathering dust behind doors bolted years ago to keep strangers locked out.. and secrets locked in. The nights are longer in this country. The cold hours of darkness move like autumn mists deeper and deeper toward winter. But the moonlight reveals great magic here--and a breathtaking vista. The October Country is many places: a picturesque Mexican village where death is a tourist attraction; a city beneath the city where drowned lovers are silently reunited; a carnival midway where a tiny man's most cherished fantasy can be fulfilled night after night. The October Country's inhabitants live, dream, work, die--and sometimes live again--discovering, often too late, the high price of citizenship. Here a glass jar can hold memories and nightmares; a woman's newborn child can plot murder, and a man's skeleton can war against him. Here there is no escaping the dark stranger who lives upstairs...or the reaper who wields the world. Each of these stories is a wonder, imagined by acclaimed tale-teller writing from a place shadows. But there is astonishing beauty in these shadows, born from a prose that enchants and enthralls. Ray Bradbury's The October Country is a land of metaphors that can chill like a long-after-midnight wind...as they lift the reader high above a sleeping Earth on the strange wings of Uncle Einar.

Having checked out the book Dear Fahrenheit 451, I had fond memories of reading the book Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  On the same library display shelf was this book of short stories by Ray Bradbury.  The short stories cover several decades of his writing.  The topics remain similar, but Bradbury's writing still obviously changed over that time.  To the better in my opinion.

Since it has been almost 100 years since he wrote some of these stories, they seem practically humorous to me where they were intended to be suspenseful.  My how times have changed.  Some of the stories were insightful and thought-provoking.  I will allow the reader to determine which ones.

Comparing these short stories to his masterpiece Fahrenheit 451 or to The Martian Chronicles would be unfair.  This is a modest collection of short stories but do not expect the Bradbury of F451.  Expect the Bradbury as a writer of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone.

Christians in the Age of Outrage

Are you tired of reading another news story about Christians supposedly acting at their worst?
Today there are too many examples of those claiming to follow Christ being caustic, divisive, and irrational, contributing to dismissals of the Christian faith as hypocritical, self-interested, and politically co-opted. What has happened in our society? One short outrageous video, whether it is true or not, can trigger an avalanche of comments on social media.

Welcome to the new age of outrage.
In this groundbreaking book featuring new survey research of evangelicals and their relationship to the age of outrage, Ed Stetzer offers a constructive way forward. You won’t want to miss Ed’s insightful analysis of our chaotic age, his commonsensical understanding of the cultural currents, and his compelling challenge to Christians to live in a refreshingly different way.

I believe this book should be required reading before any Christian walks out their front door or turns on their computer/smartphone/tablet/charier pidgeon.  Dr. Stetzer has written an engaging book on the Christians proper action and role in the culture that exists today.

The culture around us in the West has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.  This is now a post-Christian culture.  The sooner that is understood by Christians, the better their engagement with those that are not Christians will become.  Yelling.  Being purposefully offensive.  Taking offense at everything one disagrees with.  These are not actions of Christ.  Dr. Stetzer explains clearly to the reader the how and the way for loving engagement with all people.

There are no words to express how strongly I recommend this book.  Thank you, Dr. Stetzer!  Well done.
Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World Is at Its Worst by Ed Stetzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Dear Fahrenheit 451

If you love to read, and presumably you do since you’ve picked up this book (!), you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it’s clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end.

In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler’s Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence’s take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature—sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths.

A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book…and another, and another, and another!

I was at my local library for the first time since they had moved into a new building.  By the time I visited though, the building was no longer new.  I think the library had been in the building for about a year. (Don't judge me.)  My wife and daughter were going to be at an appointment for nearly an hour, and I had no desire to stay in a waiting room.  Library for an hour wins by a mile.

The library's front display had this book.  I rank Fahrenheit 451 as one of the greatest works of fiction of all time.  It should be required reading at all schools.  Fahrenheit 451 had such an impact on me that it continues to influence my thoughts on entertainment and censorship today over 35 years later.  When I read this book's title, I picked it up to check out with no concept about its subject.

Ms. Spence had me read her first book in short order.  I laughed at many of her letters and her relationships with books.  I understood entirely and enjoyed her personal reflections on these relationships.  Her relationship with JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit troubled me.  I wanted to argue with her and explain how she was wrong.  How could a man who gets TWO letters for his middle name not write great fiction?

I do have to admit to having developed somewhat of a crush on Ms. Spence in reading this book.  She likes books.  She's funny. She's cute.  Then I realized I didn't have a crush on Ms. Spence; I was projecting my feelings for my wife onto someone like her.  Sorry, Ms. Spence.  I have a beautiful wife.  I'm a dog person.  I like The Hobbit.  I don't think it would have worked out anyway. :)

Smarter Next Year

Contrary to accepted belief, developing and enhancing cognitive ability can be achieved at any stage in life. Smarter Next Year presents the latest scientific information and best practices for increasing intelligence at any age, whether you're 5, 55, or 105. This self-help book provides the tools to take your mind into your own hands and stave off the effects of time.

For the past three years, retired dental surgeon Dr. David Bardsley has been a full-time professional speaker, helping individuals increase their cognitive ability and perform at their highest intellectual level. His primary audiences have been groups of CEOs who belong to several organizations including Vistage.

As with any good self-help book, Dr. Bardsley makes some significant claims.  Unlike a majority of self-help books, Dr. Bardsley is merely applying accepted science rather than pushing an unproven philosophy.  The "8 secrets" aren't secrets at all.  They are peer-reviewed science understandings that have only recently been discovered.  Dr. Bardsley also encourages readers who desire to see if the argued changes have an effect to measure their results with a freely available tool.

As a physicist, biology is always a little wanky to me.  I was very encouraged by Dr. Bardsley's use of peer-reviewed science.  I was also inspired by his desire for readers to take measurements.  My only issue with Dr. Bardsley is that his doctorate is not in neurology or biology.  He is a DDS.  This is not hidden.  He did the work necessary to receive his DDS, but his doctorate is not vital to this research.

Ragnarok Unwound

Prophecies don't untangle themselves.

Just ask Ikepela Ives, whose estranged mother left her with the power to unravel the binding threads of fate. Stuck with immortal power in a mortal body, Ives has turned her back on duty she never wanted.

But it turns out she can’t run from her fate forever, not now that Ragnarok has been set in motion and the god at the center of that tangled mess has gone missing. With a ragtag group of companions—including a brownie, a Valkyrie, and the goddess of death herself—Ives embarks on her first official mission as Fate Cipher—to save the world from doomsday.

Nothing she can't handle. Right?

This work is an exciting and surprising amalgamation of Norse and some Hawaiian mythology.  Jacques uses a simple main character that anyone can relate to as the center of real apocalypse avoiding story.  She does not utilize the tired understanding of Norse mythology to advance her story but instead introduces a story around and through the typical story.

Jacques leaves us with a story that can easily continue and expand to other mythologies and people.  I look forward to what I hope is a series of mixed mythology fiction.

Another Name for Every Thing

Richard Rohr, one of the world's most influential spiritual thinkers, delivers his long-awaited book on Jesus. In this radical message of hope, Rohr shows how "Jesus" + "Christ" reveals the divine wholeness at the heart of things--and what that means for every one of us.
In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped hundreds of thousands realize what is at stake in matters of faith--and it is not religion as usual. Yet Fr. Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus Christ. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus's last name? Too often, declares Rohr, our understandings have been held captive by culture, nationalism, and Christianity itself.
Drawing on history, theology, and psychology, Rohr articulates an exhilarating and ultimately more sensible view of Jesus Christ as a portrait, so to speak, of how God works. "The whole of creation is the beloved community--the child of God--not just Jesus," he writes. In a world where religion too often divides, Rohr's understanding of the Incarnation changes not just the significance of Christmas, but how we read history, relate to nature and each other, and find our highest purpose each day.
Fans of Rohr's earlier works will find here a synthesis that reveals the broadest, most hopeful vision for humanity imaginable. Newcomers will be drawn to a science-friendly spirituality that feels both modern and timeless. All will value Rohr's practical insights on mindfulness, prayer, and enlightened social action.

I started this book with high hopes.  The title was very engaging.  The introduction was wonderful.  The first chapter concerned me.  The second chapter was heretical in my opinion.  Fr. Rohr has excellent theological training.  I was shocked.  Christ is the tile of Jesus as the promised Messiah not a loosely understood concept.

No one but the only son of the Father is the incarnation of God.  Seeing the mark of the Creator in all people and creation is beautiful.  Saying all people are an incarnation of God is completely contradictory to Scripture.

I cannot recommend this book at all.

The Vikings

The favorite image of the Vikings is of tall red-headed men, raping and pillaging their way around the coast of Europe, stopping only to ransack monasteries and burn longships. But the violent Vikings of the 8th century became the pious Christians of the 11th century, who gave gold crosses to Christian churches and in whose areas of rule pagan idols were destroyed and churches were built. So how did this radical transformation happen, and why? What difference did it make to the Vikings, and to those around them, and what is their legacy today? This book takes a global look at this crucial period in Viking history, exploring all the major areas of Viking settlement. Written to be an accessible and engaging overview for the general reader.

I visited far northern Norway in 1996.  Norway brings to mind Vikings.  The coast, fjords, architecture, and the language drips with the thought of Vikings.  Many people are enamored with the view of Vikings.  I am not one of those people.  The subtitle of this book is what interested me.  How did the Norse people go from being raiders to Christian in a relatively short period of time?  Martyn Whittock and Whittock tell the story of these people well.

Reading a history textbook does not sound enjoyable.  Most times it is not fun.  The tale of the Vikings becoming a Christian people is interesting.  Whittock and Whittock performed yeoman's work in research.  Their presentation goes beyond a research book.  There are few, if any, stories of individual Norse people but it is easy to view these people and the change their world must have gone through.

This book is an easy read for someone with interest in Viking history.  I believe this book would make an excellent addition to an academic course in any medieval history of Europe also.

We Are Not Refugees

Never in history have so many people been displaced by political and military conflicts at home--more than 65 million globally. Unsparing, outspoken, vital, We Are Not Refugees tells the stories of many of these displaced, who have not been given asylum.

For over a decade, human rights journalist Agus Morales has journeyed to the sites of the world's most brutal conflicts and spoken to the victims of violence and displacement. To Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Central African Republic. To Central America, the Congo, and the refugee camps of Jordan. To the Tibetan Parliament in exile in northern India.

We are living in a time of massive global change when negative images of refugees undermine the truth of their humiliation and suffering. By bringing us stories that reveal the personal pain and the global scope of the crisis, Morales reminds us of the fact and appeals to our conscience.

I still wonder why I picked this book to read from those suggested for me by NetGalley.  A book about refugees?  That sounds fun.  Then I remembered that several of my ancestors would have been refugees if they had wanted to go home rather than immigrate.  Those who fled Islamic radicalism and government exclusion.  These are my roots, and I have a long forgotten connection to these people today.

Morales invited me into the lives of these people, like me, running with their families from their homes.  They have no desire to run.  No desire to leave.  They love their homes, countries, and neighborhoods.  War has forced them to leave.  Their homes were taken from them.  And, they have nowhere to go.  Closed borders, distrust, and dangerous routes have made them residents of inhuman "refugee" camps.

These are not stories that are heard in the news.  These are not stories that are told by politicians in the United States.  These are people that I have been shown to fear.  These are the people that the United States, and by extension, I, are preventing from protecting an providing for here; the land of opportunity; the nation of immigrants.

What is truly interesting about this book is that Morales so pulled me into these lives that I, a right-center individual, would want to bring as many of these fleeing people as possible into my country, into my town, into my house.

The Psychology of Time Travel

In 1967, four female scientists worked together to build the world’s first time machine. But just as they are about to debut their creation, one of them suffers a breakdown, putting the whole project—and future of time travel—in jeopardy. To protect their invention, one member is exiled from the team—erasing her contributions from history.

Fifty years later, time travel is a big business. Twenty-something Ruby Rebello knows her beloved grandmother, Granny Bee, was one of the pioneers, though no one will tell her more. But when Bee receives a mysterious message from the future reporting the murder of an unidentified woman, Ruby becomes obsessed: could it be Bee? Who would want her dead? And most importantly of all: can her killing be stopped?

Traversing the decades and told from alternating perspectives, The Psychology of Time Travel introduces a fabulous new voice in fiction and a new must-read for fans of speculative fiction and women’s fiction alike.

The title of this book intrigued me.  The author, Kate Mascarenhas, is a first-time novelist.  I actually entered the book with meager expectations.  Most authors error in attempting to do time travel fiction; even those with numerous works behind them.  This work appeared to take a completely different approach to the oft-attempted plot device of time travel; Ms. Mascarenhas did and didn't disappoint.

When reading time travel fiction, I'm expecting the author to fall into the trap of paradoxes and plot holes.  Mascarenhas avoided creating any glaring ones that I caught and "black boxed" the ones that inevitably are created when doing science fiction.  I enjoyed her nonlinear time in writing and the beautiful symbolism to the plot.  I found myself in a time fog jumping from time to time attempting to follow the characters.  This is not bad writing IMHO, but the excellent and unexpected use of the craft of writing.  The effect that time travel could have on the psyche is an epistemological unknown.  Attempting to have a reader experience the result was creative and genius.

Well done Ms. Mascarenhas.  I look forward to your follow on novels.

Accessible America

A History of Disability and Design
by Bess Williamson
Description
A history of design that is often overlooked—until we need it Have you ever hit the big blue button to activate automatic doors? Have you ever used an ergonomic kitchen tool? Have you ever used curb cuts to roll a stroller across an intersection? If you have, then you’ve benefited from accessible design—design for people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities. These ubiquitous touchstones of modern life were once anything but. Disability advocates fought tirelessly to ensure that the needs of people with disabilities became a standard part of public design thinking. That fight took many forms worldwide, but in the United States it became a civil rights issue; activists used design to make an argument about the place of people with disabilities in public life. In the aftermath of World War II, with injured veterans returning home and the polio epidemic reaching the Oval Office, the needs of people with disabilities came forcibly into the public eye as they never had before. The U.S. became the first country to enact federal accessibility laws, beginning with the Architectural Barriers Act in 1968 and continuing through the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, bringing about a wholesale rethinking of our built environment. This progression wasn’t straightforward or easy. Early legislation and design efforts were often haphazard or poorly implemented, with decidedly mixed results. Political resistance to accommodating the needs of people with disabilities was strong; so, too, was resistance among architectural and industrial designers, for whom the accessible design wasn’t “real” design. Williamson provides an extraordinary look at the everyday design, marrying accessibility with aesthetic, to give an insight into a world in which we are all active participants, but often passive onlookers. Richly detailed, with stories of politics and innovation, Bess Williamson’s Accessible America takes us through this critical history, showing how American ideas of individualism and rights came to shape the material world, often with unexpected consequences.

Most would look at a book about the history of design in America as strictly an academic text for research or design courses.  And this book is an excellent resource for both research and teaching.  I am neither a researcher in disability design nor a student of industrial design.  Though I am not a member of the apparent intended audience, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

A am an American with a disability that requires that I use a wheelchair.  I have benefited and continue to benefit from the history of accessibility in the United States.  It may be due to my imposed passion for accessibility that this book was so impactful and meaningful to me.  This book educated me about those who paved the curb-cut and reasonable sloped road that I now get to travel down.  These individuals are no longer unknown to me but are people I am now thankful to and for.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde’s only full-length novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” was first published in 1890 and is the classic tale of the moral decline of its title character, Dorian Gray. While Dorian has his portrait painted by Basil Hallward he is lectured to by Lord Henry Wotton, who espouses a hedonistic worldview. Dorian is drawn to Wotton’s belief that beauty and sensuality are the only things in life worth pursuing and wishes that he would stay young while his portrait changes instead. In the years that follow Dorian pursues a life of vice and debauchery, committing unspeakable acts along the way. With the passage of time, Dorian’s wish comes true, as his age and withering moral character are reflected in his portrait instead of himself. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is arguably one of Wilde’s most popular works, which caused quite a scandal in Victorian England when it was first published, for its glorification of decadence. A chilling tale, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is at once both an intricate character study and a sharp criticism of the improprieties of the Victorian age.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very dark and philosophical. Wilde is so descriptive of the setting that you can become lost in it.

View all my reviews


This is quite a disturbing book.  I did not know what the book was about when I began reading it.  Wilde's description of Dorian Gray as observed by Basil is so sensual, I was sure that the book was going to be about some gay attraction in Victorian England.  As I read farther, I realized the centrality of Dorian Gray's physical perfection to the plot.

It was easy to become lost in the setting of the book.  Wilde painted clearly the context at every turn.  The color of each flower.  The sound of each particular insect.  The tint of the reflection off of windows given the hour of the day.  I do not believe I have ever read a book with such attention to detail.  This symbolism becomes evident only after reaching deep into the story.

Though Wilde's tale was written in Victorian England, his work could have been penned today by King or Koontz with the same characters.  We as a global society are so consumed with beauty that the worth of the soul (the person) has become secondary.  I encourage everyone to read this book and take an in-depth look inside themselves.  What counts?  Would you sacrifice your soul for physical perfection?

Learning to Speak God from Scratch

As America rapidly becomes a pluralistic, postmodern society, many of us struggle to talk about faith. We can no longer assume our friends understand words such as grace or gospel. Others, like lost and sin, have become so negative they are nearly conversation-enders.

Jonathan Merritt knows this frustration well. After Jonathan moved from the Bible Belt to New York City, he discovered that whenever conversations turned to spirituality, the words he'd used for decades didn't connect with listeners anymore. In a search for answers and understanding, Jonathan uncovered a spiritual crisis affecting tens of millions.

In this groundbreaking book, one of America's premier religion writers revives ancient expressions through cultural commentary, vulnerable personal narratives, and surprising biblical insights. Both provocative and liberating, Learning to Speak God from Scratch will breathe new life into your spiritual conversations and lure you into the embrace of the God who inhabits them.

I encountered this book in an odd location for me to find reading material.  Listening to the Bad Christian podcast, they had Jonathan Merritt on discussing this book.  I was very intrigued by the discussion and the topic of the book.  Planning on launching a church focused on outreach to people who are not familiar with church, this book seemed a must read.

Merritt does a fantastic job writing an engaging book about a topic that one would assume is a snooze fest.  In one chapter I actually found myself weeping.  Those who are familiar with church lingo are lost in speaking to those who are not.  Isn't it the job of the church to reach out to those who are not in the church?  To share the good news?  This book explains quite clearly to those in the church that the words that we are used to using are no longer useful.  We must learn to speak God anew.

The Ape that Understood the Universe

The Ape that Understood the Universe is the story of the strangest animal in the world: the human animal. It opens with a question: How would an alien scientist view our species? What would it make of our sex differences, our sexual behavior, our child-rearing patterns, our moral codes, our religions, languages, and science? The book tackles these issues by drawing on ideas from two major schools of thought: evolutionary psychology and cultural evolutionary theory. The guiding assumption is that humans are animals, and that like all animals, we evolved to pass on our genes. At some point, however, we also evolved the capacity for culture - and from that moment, culture began evolving in its own right. This transformed us from a mere ape into an ape capable of reshaping the planet, traveling to other worlds, and understanding the vast universe of which were but a tiny, fleeting fragment.

I was very excited to read this book given the title and the excellent reviews that I had read.  The first chapter did not disappoint.  The second chapter, likewise, was an enjoyable read.  Beginning in the third chapter, it seems that Stewart-Williams lost the premise of the book and focussed on human sexual development more than other aspects.  The imagined alien became solely interested in sex.  There is so much more to the human animal than sex, but Stewart-Williams did not address those attributes.

A German Officer in Occupied Paris

Ernst Jünger was one of twentieth-century Germany’s most important—and most controversial—writers. Decorated for bravery in World War I and the author of the acclaimed memoir from the western front, Storm of Steel, he frankly depicted the war’s horrors even as he extolled its glories. As a Wehrmacht captain during the Second World War, Jünger faithfully kept a journal in occupied Paris and continued to write on the eastern front and in Germany until its defeat—writings that are of major historical and literary significance.

Jünger’s Paris journals document his Francophile excitement, romantic affairs, and fascination with botany and entomology, alongside mystical and religious ruminations and trenchant observations on the occupation and the politics of collaboration. Working as a mail censor, he led the privileged life of an officer, encountering artists such as Céline, Cocteau, Braque, and Picasso. His notes from the Caucasus depict chaos and misery after the defeat at Stalingrad, as well as candid comments about the atrocities on the eastern front. Returning to Paris, Jünger observed resistance and was peripherally involved in the 1944 conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. After fleeing France, he reunited with his family as Germany’s capitulation approached. Both participant and commentator, close to the horrors of history but often hovering above them, Jünger turned his life and experiences into a work of art. These wartime journals appear here in English for the first time, giving us fresh insight into the quandaries of the twentieth century from the keen pen of a paradoxical observer.

Ernst Jünger (1895–1998) was a major figure in twentieth-century German literature and intellectual life. He was a young leader of right-wing nationalism in the Weimar Republic, but although the Nazis tried to court him, Jünger steadfastly kept his distance from their politics. Among his works is On the Marble Cliffs, a rare anti-Nazi novel written under the Third Reich.

I had never before heard of Junger.  The book is mostly a collection of his journals over his stationing as an officer in Paris.  Given that, it reads like a diary.  Since I was not aware of Junger before reading, the book did not engage me.  Reading the journal of someone I don't know isn't interesting.  What was very interesting was his view as a German officer in the war.

I do not believe that Junger was a Nazi, but a German.  Many times in his journals it was clear that he did not support the fascist ideals. Knowing that he had burned many of his letters, he was likely cautious with what he recorded in his journals.

This book is an academic collection and is an excellent resource for history students an researchers.  For entertainment reading, I cannot recommend.

The Razor

Description
J. Barton Mitchell's The Razor is a riveting science fiction thriller about a man struggling to survive the chaos on a prison planet.

Brilliant engineer Marcus Flynn has been sentenced to 11-H37 alongside the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals. A hard labor prison planet better known as the Razor, where life expectancy is short and all roads are dead ends.

At least until the Lost Prophet goes active…

In a few hours, prison guards and staff are evacuated, the prisoners are left to die, and dark mysteries begin to surface.

Only Flynn has the skills and knowledge to unravel them, but he will have to rely on the most unlikely of allies--killers, assassins, pirates and smugglers. If they can survive each other they just might survive the Razor…and claim it for their own.

It has been some time since I've read or reviewed any sci-fi/fantasy books.  This was a welcoming reintroduction to the genre.  Mitchell did a great job with the world he created and remained consistent with it.  As a scientist, his setting impressed me and I kept waiting for him to err. So many authors do.

J. Baron Mitchell is new to me.  I looked on Amazon and saw that he is a prolific writer.  The Razor is not his first rodeo and it shows in his plot and character development.  Some aspects were predictable but much of it was surprising.

I don't want to say too much in the review to reveal anything that would be a spoiler.  What I will say is I can highly recommend this book.  Buy it as soon as it is available.

On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the necessary tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

I bought this book after walking through a local brick and mortar bookstore.  This book was listed as required reading for a high school creative writing class.  I was quite surprised that Stephen King had written a book on writing and that the book was needed for a high school class.  My interest peaked, I bought it.  I was not disappointed.

King provides an autobiographical portion as his C.V.  From this, I came to understand King and his writing.  All authors, like all characters, have a backstory.  His is not pleasant.

He also provides excellent help for fiction writers, the pitfalls to avoid, and an encouragement for writing.  His directions for first steps for the author desiring to be published are invaluable.  I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys writing fiction for personal enjoyment and to the aspiring professional fiction writer.

Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life

The #1 bestselling author of Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther explores miracles in an inspiring response to the “New Atheists” 

Not since C. S. Lewis in 1947 has an author of Eric Metaxas’s stature undertaken a major exploration of the phenomenon of miracles. In this groundbreaking work, Metaxas examines the compatibility between faith and science and provides well-documented anecdotal evidence of actual miracles. With compelling—sometimes electrifying—evidence that there is something real to be reckoned with, Metaxas offers a timely, civil, and thoughtful answer to recent books by Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris. Already a New York Times bestseller, Miracles will be welcomed by both believers and skeptics—who will find their minds opening to the possibilities.

I do not generally read "Christian" books.  I find that they tend to be poorly written, especially the attempts at fiction, and trite.  This book was recommended, on Facebook by my pastor from college.  A man that I have a lot of respect for.  After investigating Metaxas some, my interest was peaked.  An author who has come to be known for his biographies of great people wrote a book on the subject of miracles?  He must have an exciting view.  I was not disappointed.

Metaxas covers the philosophy, theology, and metaphysics of miracles while also writing accounts from people who experienced miracles.  In writing about miracles, Metaxas provides his own reasonable definition.  This provides a good foundation for the rest of the subject.  Metaxas delivers an excellent metaphysical reason for why some may experience a miracle, and another does not.

I cannot recommend the book enough.  If you have any curiosity concerning miracles or what some may have claimed as miracles, this is a must-read.  If you believe that all who think miracles have occurred are kooks, this is the book for you.

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (French: Notre-Dame de Paris, "Our Lady of Paris") is a French Romantic/Gothic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1831. The original French title refers to Notre Dame Cathedral, on which the story is centered. Frederic Shoberl's 1833 English translation was published as The Hunchback of Notre Dame which became the generally used title in English. The story is set in Paris in 1482 during the reign of Louis XI.

By Luc-Olivier Merson (1846–1920) (Here) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is such a ubiquitous piece of literature, I have felt required to read it to consider myself well-read.  Being only somewhat familiar with the story to start with, a lot of things surprised me that I think most who have not read the book assume wrongly to be true.  Hugo wrote this book as a story focusing on the architecture of Paris.  It is interesting to read a historical fiction book written in the 19th century about the 15th century.

The architectural focus of the book becomes apparent in a few chapters.  These chapters bored me.  They read like a history textbook.  It is not often that Hugo fell into this writing, but when he does the story suffers a long pause.  I did not know the history of the book until I read the history on Wikipedia.  These long story breaks then made sense.  I must confess that if I had known, I would have skipped the architecture sections like I did the Hobbit's songs in The Lord of the Rings the first time I read it.

I did love the read.  As a modern reader, Hugo's writing reminded me of Ernest Hemingway in his use of symbolism throughout that is difficult to overlook.  The story evoked memories of Stephen King in its complex character interactions that end in dread and pain.  The only drawback to the story is some of the predictability.  The revealed relationships were always expected, but I am a modern reader.  Much of what I have read before has likely been affected by Hugo causing me to expect the revelations.

The Kindle version I read was developed by Project Gutenberg.  Project Gutenberg has numerous public domain book available in ebook and audiobook formats.  Before paying for a public domain ebook or audiobook, check Project Gutenberg.  Instead of supporting the overprice of public domain ebooks by retailers, you could download the Project Gutenberg book and donate the retail price to them.

A River in Darkness: One Man's Escape from North Korea

Born in 1947 in Kawasaki, Japan, Masaji Ishikawa moved with his parents and three sisters to North Korea in 1960 at the age of thirteen, where he lived until his escape in 1996. He currently resides in Japan.

Mr. Ishikawa engagingly told his story.  I kept wanting his circumstances to improve as the book went on even though I knew they would not.  The life that he and his family had to live in the DPRK and the way that was fooled by numerous governments at the time to move to the DPRK is disgusting.  The cruel way that his family was treated in the DPRK is disgusting.  What is even more horrific to me is that Mr. Ishikawa's story is not unique.

Bohemians of the Latin Quarter

A classic novel, by Henry Murger, of Bohemian life. The story is a collection of loosely united chapters beginning with the first meeting of the four main characters and ending with their departure from Bohemia in favor of bourgeois life, published in 1851. Although it is commonly called a novel, it does not follow standard novel form. It is a collection of loosely related stories, all set in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s, romanticizing bohemian life in a playful way. Most of the stories were originally published individually in a local literary magazine, Le Corsaire. Many of them were semi-autobiographical, featuring characters based on actual individuals who would have been familiar to some of the magazine's readers.  The version I read was provided by Project Gutenberg.  

Project Gutenberg offers over 57,000 free eBooks. Choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. You will find the world's great literature here, with focus on older works for which copyright has expired. Thousands of volunteers digitized and diligently proofread the eBooks, for enjoyment and education.

La bohème is an opera in four acts, composed by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on this book.  The world premiere performance of La bohème was in Turin on 1 February 1896 at the Teatro Regio, conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini; its U.S. premiere took place the following year, 1897, in Los Angeles. Since then, La bohème has become part of the standard Italian opera repertory and is one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide.  The current musical Rent is based heavily on this opera.

I am a huge fan of the musical and movie Rent.  Given that, I felt compelled to read the original basis story.  It was fun to read and rather than attempt the correct pronunciations of the names, I just used the rent character's names in my head.  Of course, not all the characters crossed the stories, but it still worked for most.  Mimi was one that didn't change.  What I found interesting in the stories is the leaving of the bohemian life by all the living characters.  It was very much a coming of age story in that way.  The book really showed the bohemian life as a young life that cannot last.