This was a fascinating fictional treatment of the conversion and martyrdom of Antipas. The book contains a lot of background on first century life in This was a fascinating fictional treatment of the conversion and martyrdom of Antipas. The book contains a lot of background on first century life in Rome. The only irritation, which was not small, was the use of CE on the dates. Still, quite good....more
A lot of action in this one, bullet holes everywhere. The thing that makes the book worthwhile is that Schlichter inverts the normal dystopic pattern.A lot of action in this one, bullet holes everywhere. The thing that makes the book worthwhile is that Schlichter inverts the normal dystopic pattern. Here the tyrants are tyrants, but they are also incompetent, and are economic imbeciles. The background of the novel is the break up of the United States into "red" and "blue" sections a few decades hence, and take it from there....more
I read a chunk of this while writing a review for Chronicles magazine, and decided to finish it. In addition to what I said in the review, I will justI read a chunk of this while writing a review for Chronicles magazine, and decided to finish it. In addition to what I said in the review, I will just say here that the thing is as cluttered as the wardrobe warehouse for a stage company that specializes in plays about brave knights and ladies fair....more
Young fans of N.D. Wilson's fantasy fiction, once they find out about the pending release of this book, will be jumping up and down with barely contaiYoung fans of N.D. Wilson's fantasy fiction, once they find out about the pending release of this book, will be jumping up and down with barely contained excitement. In some cases, it won't be barely contained. It will be unbridled glee. In other instances, perhaps, it will be untrammeled joy. Whatever it is, The Door Before is releasing on June 27, 2017.
The Door Before is a prequel to the 100 Cupboards trilogy -- 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King. But wait . . . there is way more than that. It also weaves this Cupboards backstory together with the world of the Ashtown Burials -- The Dragon's Tooth, The Drowned Vault, and Empire of Bones. A fourth installment on that series is still pending, entitled The Silent Bells. Without getting into the Byzantine world of New York publishing house decision-making, those who have been wanting an interim Ashtown fix can get it here -- even though the book is technically a Cupboards prequel. Don't you get what I am saying? This is a Prequel, people.
Hyacinth Smith is the heroine of this story, and she comes from the Smiths of Ashtown fame. She has the gift of summoning growth out of living things, which lands her in the dangerous position of opening up ways between worlds. What with one thing and another, she teams up with Caleb and Mordecai Westmore, who tumbled into our world from Hylfing as part of their fight with Nimiane the witch. Before we are done, we are briefly walked through Henry, Kansas, we meet Rupert Greeves as a young boy, we spend time on an island full of raggants, and once again learn from the heroism of dogs. Whatever it is you think, dogs are more important than we realize.
This book is truly a satisfying read. Lots of little pieces clicking into place. I wouldn't want to bind anyone's conscience on this, but only wicked people haven't preordered it yet....more
Listened to this on Audible and really enjoyed it. For some reason, although I knew bits and pieces from wherever, I had never read the whole. Really Listened to this on Audible and really enjoyed it. For some reason, although I knew bits and pieces from wherever, I had never read the whole. Really good....more
This is a kid lit book from the late forties that I saw reviewed recently in a magazine, and decided for some reason to read. It is quite good and reaThis is a kid lit book from the late forties that I saw reviewed recently in a magazine, and decided for some reason to read. It is quite good and really satisfying. If you have kids who roar around the house looking for reading material, you might try this one on them. After all, it has the mother of all blurbs on the back cover -- "A masterpiece of childhood literature" -- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II...more
I read this book one other time, many decades ago, probably in high school or when I was in the Navy. All I remembered about it was that I had read itI read this book one other time, many decades ago, probably in high school or when I was in the Navy. All I remembered about it was that I had read it once, and that it was a political novel about a Senate confirmation battle in Washington, which could be guessed from the title. Well, I read it again and enjoyed it thoroughly. The novel was originally published in 1959 and won the Pulitzer in 1960. Drury does a masterful job of writing a novel about post-war America with a complete fictional cast of characters, and he really does capture a number of timeless elements about representative democracy. The only part that clanked was his treatment of the race to the moon, which was understandable because that part was still a decade in the future when he wrote. His treatment of that was really off. The rest of it was gripping....more
Wodehouse is always fun, but this one was different. This is a "boys at boarding school" story, but with a mysterious stone from India and criminals tWodehouse is always fun, but this one was different. This is a "boys at boarding school" story, but with a mysterious stone from India and criminals thrown in. In other words, this is an adventure story, not a light comedy in the style of Wooster. Still fun....more
This book is a collection of three loosely related novellas about the "cure of souls" in Lutheran Sweden. It is all very good, and parts of it are gloThis book is a collection of three loosely related novellas about the "cure of souls" in Lutheran Sweden. It is all very good, and parts of it are glorious. I think it would be particularly encouraging to pastors involved in the hard slog of pastoral care....more
I love Chesterton's non-fiction, top drawer stuff. But I must confess that I sometimes find his fiction tedious and contrived, with fun spots here andI love Chesterton's non-fiction, top drawer stuff. But I must confess that I sometimes find his fiction tedious and contrived, with fun spots here and there. Oh, well....more
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