Bookwi.se – Page 160 – A few thoughts about books, kindles and Christianity

Cashelmara by Susan Howatch

July 29, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A multi-generational family drama based around the Irish estate Cashelmara.

Cashelmara was originally published in 1974. It is a good example of the importance of the digital book market. Open Road is a publisher that mostly focuses on former bestsellers that are now out of print.

After reading Susan Howatch’s Church of England Series this spring, I have decided to pick up anything written by Susan Howatch when it goes on sale.

I was surprised that Cashelmara was told in a very similar format to the Church of England series (just compressed into one very long book.) Both have six sections, each with a different person narrating the story from their perspective.

Hourglass by Myra Mcentire

July 28, 2013 by Adam Shields

I am reposting this review because this book, and the following book are on sale for $1.99.

Summary: Emerson discovers that she is not just a messed up kid that people think is crazy. She is actually a time traveler.

I am not sure why Young Adult literature seems to attract me so often. Maybe because the themes are often so clear, or that they are often quick reads or that I usually actually like the characters (unlike so many of the adult oriented fiction that I have read recently.)

Regardless, this is the opening of a series that I mostly liked. Emerson is a 17 year old girl that has spent the last few years trying to escape from two things. 1) Her parents died. And 2) she can see ghosts. She has been treated by a variety of mental health professionals and quacks. Her brother (her guardian) has found yet another person to work with her. And being that this is a young adult book, he (Michael) is hot, and just a couple years older than her.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

March 5, 2025July 26, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A utopian future that realizes it dystopian potential.

If you are impatiently waiting for the Hunger Games movie, you should pick this up. It is a trilogy as well, but only this first book is out. The second book will be released May 1, 2012.

The main character Beatrice, is part of a faction devoted to selflessness. As she approaches her time of choosing which faction to join (the others are devoted to bravery, knowledge, truth telling and peace) she realizes she is not nearly as selfless as she should be to continue to live with her family’s faction. The factions were established to keep peace and create the perfect society after the last great war. However, the tentions between the factions are increasing.

Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus in His Stories and Prayers by Eugene H. Peterson

July 26, 2013 by Adam Shields

Cover of "Tell It Slant: A Conversation o... — Cover via Amazon

Takeaway: If theology was taught like this more often, it would not be such a bad word for so much of the church.

I am a fan of Eugene Peterson. I think he is the best living narrative theologian out there. Others write about narrative theology and using story to communicate the gospel. Peterson writes as a pastor and doesn’t just write about theology, but shows us how to read scripture and how to understand the gospel. He does theology.

Tell it Slant is another in Peterson’s recent series of books. I listened to this one on audio as I have the others. Peterson is best, at least for me, on audio. Grover Gardner is a great narrator and give just the right voice to Peterson.

Peter Pan by James Barrie

July 26, 2013 by All Old Users

I have always loved the Peter Pan story. I didn’t realize how much I loved it until I found myself watching those new Tinker Bell movies on Netflix with my son for the 47^th time and not wanting to gouge my eyes out. I began wondering more and more about the mythos behind Tinker Bell and decided that it was time for me to take a look at the original ideas thought up by James Barrie so many years ago.

The book Peter Pan, which interestingly enough was actually first written as a stage play in 1904 and then adapted and expanded into a novel in 1911, was originally given the title Peter and Wendy and over the years became retitled to what it is known as today. I fell in love with Peter Pan’s story when I first saw as a little girl a VHS recording of the stage musical staring Mary Martin. I have since then seen Kathy Rigby play Peter Pan and I practically have every minute of the musical memorized.

After reading the book, I have discovered that of all of the adaptations of the book that I have seen that the musical is bar far the closest to the original novel. There are, however, some aspects to Disney’s 1953 animated movie version of Peter Pan that are not in the musical but are directly from the book and there are some aspects (few though they are) that are apparent in the movie Hook that are found in the novel. For example, the rescue of Tiger Lilly is more accurately portrayed in the Disney movie than in the musical and complexities of Captain Hook are more clearly witnessed in the movie Hook than in the musical. Also, it should be noted that Peter has a darker side, which has been portrayed more recently in the television series Once Upon A Time.

New Bookwi.se Category – Book and Movie Reviews

July 25, 2013 by Adam Shields

A couple weeks ago Emily Flury (regular contributor at Bookwi.se) suggested a new category for Bookwi.se: Book and Movie Reviews. These reviews will review both the book and the movie adaptation. Or at least compare the way they different mediums tell a similar story. The first official post is tomorrow post about Peter Pan. But … Read more

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

July 25, 2013 by All Old Users

I am pleased to report that Eleanor and Park By Rainbow Rowell is another book that can be included in a list of books that is redeeming the young adult genre. No vampires. No fights to the death. No flying witches. This story is about two individuals who both have home lives that could be better (that is an understatement for one of them) and yet they find friendship, love and an escape with each other.

Offsite: 7 Lesser Known CS Lewis Books Worth Reading

July 23, 2013 by Adam Shields

This is the 50th Anniversary of CS Lewis’ death. That is why McGrath’s new biography of Lewis was released along with his even newer academic treatment of Lewis’ intellectual life (The Intellectual World of CS Lewis). After reading McGrath’s biography I decided to read through a number of Lewis books. But for those that have … Read more

Westmark by Lloyd Alexander

July 22, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: A young adult coming of age book in a fictional 18th century setting.

Lloyd Alexander is known for his Prydain novels (The High King, Book of Three, etc.), but he has written a number of other books. Some of my favorites were the Westmark series. I read them several times as an early teen and was feeling nostalgic and decided to track them down. They are not available on kindle, so I found an old paperback copy.

Westmark is a fictional monarchy in a world that seems very much like 18th century europe. It is a relatively small kingdom. But it has seen better days. The king, since his daughter disappeared (and presumably died), has become despondent and reclusive. In the eight years she has been gone, one of the king’s advisors has slowly taken over the kingdom and turned it into a tyranny.

The Other Wind by Ursula Le Guin (Earthsea Cycle #6)

July 19, 2013 by Adam Shields

Summary: The final book of the Earthsea Cycle.

Urusula Le Guin is one of the classic authors of young adult fantasy. I read the first three books in this series as a teen, but the later books were not published until I was older. This last book was published 33 years after the first in 2001.

I re-read the first book in the series last year (The Wizard of Earthsea). The last book in the series (The Other Wind) was on sale a while ago and I decided it would be a good beach read.