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| 1601788568
| 9781601788566
| 1601788568
| 4.54
| 41
| unknown
| Sep 30, 2022
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it was amazing
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For many years, I’ve been searching for an excellent history of the Christian Church for all ages. In Simonetta Carr’s Church History (2022), I finall
For many years, I’ve been searching for an excellent history of the Christian Church for all ages. In Simonetta Carr’s Church History (2022), I finally found it! I now recommend it for everyone wanting to learn more about the history of the Christian Church and specifically for those looking to educate at home. Not only does Carr provide an effective timeline of events, Church History presents the material in an engaging way that encourages engagement. Strengths of the book are it’s success in documenting the geographic panorama that expands from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in Israel during the Roman Empire to the year 2000. Carr covers both the structures of the church (such as liturgy, buildings and leadership accountability) and ministries of the church (such as pastoral and mission endeavors, institutional establishments -universities, hospitals, etc, and compassionate public assistance). Prompts throughout the book challenge readers to transformational application of theology to life through the church’s development of human rights ethics and compassion ministries. From beginning to end, Simonetta Carr’s Church History presents a biography of the Christian Church in such a way as to encourage thoughtful study. Opening with A Note to the Reader and the Introduction, Carr references the helpful Glossary and thorough Index to invite her guests to begin to not just read, but ponder the analysis presented. In addition to the opening sections and ending reference material, the book also closes with a summary, More Than Conquerers, and Acknowledgements. Carr’s work is presented in 9 parts with thematic titles for each period, a Map of the geography focus, and a Timeline of key events discussed. I thought prospective readers would want to see how the information is outlined. Each section is not uniform in length. While this is clearly a content driven discussion, when working through the book cover to cover, it does mess with a reader’s expectations. In addition, while there are a couple instances the timeline breaks around world events (such as World War I forming the break between Sections 8 and 9), for the most part, these chapters are framed by key events in the life of the Christian Church. Can you identify what those events are? If not (or even if so!) Carr’s book will be an aid to you! Part 1 [12 pages] The Early Church (30-312) Part 2 [26 pages] The Church in Late Antiquity (312-622) Part 3 [14 pages] The Early Middle Ages (622-1000) Part 4 [26 pages] The High Middle Ages (1000-1517) Part 5 [20 pages] The Protestant Reformation (1517-1600) Part 6 [22 pages] A Troubled Century (1600-1700) Part 7 [20 pages] A Time of Revivals (1700-1789) Part 8 [56 pages] A Changing World (1789-1914) Part 9 [51 pages] The Modern World (1914-2000) The entire tour of Christian History is accomplished in 266 pages of a coffee table large format book. Throughout these sections, Church History uses various formats to organize, highlight and supplement the chronology. Red Quote Boxes highlight primary source material. Red text describes photographic images. Great Questions of the Church discusses clarification of Christian theology by scholars and ministry leaders. Paragraph length mini-biographies of missionaries, poets, writers, martyrs and apologists are featured in the Some Men and Women of the [section]… The Think About It segments prompt written or oral examination of practical quandaries faced by practicing Christians. At times, particularly starting out with learning the format, I found the layout a bit clunky, unable to decide whether it is a text book or a coffee table book, but at the same time, these image and textual additions enrich the narrative. My only disappointment was that while Carr has chosen to focus on internal development, conflicts, and even failings of the Christian Church, I thought the coverage of external conflicts between the church and other powers – particularly other religions such as Islam, with governmental conflict receiving a bit more attention – was unsatisfying. However, there is plenty of information here from which to jump into deeper exploration. Prior to publishing Church History in 2022, Simonetta Carr was already the successful author of the outstanding Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. I’m thankful the title of this work wasn’t limiting, as “…for All Ages” would have been more accurate than “…for Young Readers.” I highly recommend that series, which has over 20 titles. But the comprehensive approach of Church History may be a better place to start your reading of Simonetta Carr’s work – though I wouldn’t stop there! I’ve been literally waiting for this book since I started homeschooling in 2009! I’m happy to highly recommend it now that it’s here! Chronologically, the first title in Christian Biographies for Young Readers is: Irenaeus of Lyon (Christian Biographies for Young Readers), Carr, 2017 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For another excellent Church History resource that focus' on the early Church, see Getting to Know the Church Fathers, Liftin, 2007 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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Oct 21, 2022
not set
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Jan 17, 2023
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Oct 21, 2022
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Hardcover
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| 1621570258
| 9781621570257
| 1621570258
| 4.23
| 114
| Jan 01, 2013
| Apr 29, 2013
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it was amazing
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This is one of the most difficult books I have ever read. There is so much suffering, pain, hatred and evil documented here. The ringing of the church
This is one of the most difficult books I have ever read. There is so much suffering, pain, hatred and evil documented here. The ringing of the church bell in commemoration of the death of a beloved, reminded me of reading The Black Book of Communism (another book of bitter medicine), which highlights the slaughter of people around the world by the governmental aspirations of Marxists. The Black Book of Communism, Courtois, Paczkowski, & Bartosek, 1999 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... The difference here is that the wickedness is directed specifically at the Body of Christ, brothers, and sisters, who believe in Jesus. I tried to pray through the items listed, but grew weary at various times, and felt relieved when I was done. To aide me in praying for these countries current needs, I consulted… Operation World, website and app https://operationworld.org/ The gem to mine from this publication is Ibrahim’s comparison of the teachings of Islam, the teachings of Christianity and how they interact, as well as application of these principles to history. After explaining the application of the Conditions of Omar in history and contemporary Islamic society, Ibrahim turns to Sharia Law. “The precarious status of churches and other forms of Christian expression under Sharia law is emblematic of Islam’s innate hostility to Christianity. But Islamic law goes further, denying freedom of speech to all Christians and even freedom of conscience and conviction to Christian converts. Sharia curtails these freedoms by means of three laws that, though separate, often overlap: the laws against apostasy, blasphemy, and proselytism. For example, the Muslim who converts to Christianity is guilty of apostasy. But he can also be seen as a blasphemer, whose very existence is an affront to Islam. And when he speaks about Christianity—as enthusiastic new converts are wont to do—around Muslims, he exposes himself to charges of proselytism. These three Islamic laws effectively ban freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and even freedom of thought. First we will examine the doctrinal background of these three laws. Then we will consider how and why it is that Christians are most likely to break them. And finally we will look at how the Islamic doctrines enshrined in these laws have played out in practice—by examining some historical patterns and then looking at current applications of the laws. Once again we will see remarkable continuity—from one end of the Islamic world to the other, and from the earliest beginnings of Muslim history to today—in how these laws are understood and enforced.” Crucified Again, Ibrahim, 2013, pg. 95-96. He then concludes by examining how the tenets of Christianity place adherents at odds with Muslims. “1. Christianity is the largest religion in the world. There are Christians practically everywhere around the globe, including in much of the Muslim world. Moreover, because much of the territory that Islam seized was originally Christian—including the Middle East and North Africa, the region that today is called the “Arab world”—Muslims are regularly confronted with vestiges of Christianity… 2. Christianity is a proselytizing faith that seeks to win over converts. No other major religion—not Buddhism, Hinduism, or Judaism—has this missionary aspect. These other faiths tend to be coextensive with certain ethnicities. The only other major faith that has as strong a missionary component as Christianity is Islam itself— the one religion that Muslims obviously cannot “apostatize” to…. 3. Christianity is the quintessential religion of martyrdom. From its inception—beginning with Jesus, and followed by his disciples and countless others in the early church—many Christians have accepted martyrdom rather than betray their faith, in ancient times at the hands of pagan Romans, and in medieval and modern times at the hands of pious Muslims and other persecutors. Few other religions encourage their adherents to embrace death rather than recant their faith, as Christ himself did: “But whoever denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:33; see also Luke 14:33)… Plus, there is one other exacerbating factor. More than any other religion, Christianity is Islam’s historical enemy. Converting to Christianity is seen as something of a double betrayal. Not only is the convert an apostate from Islam—which, as we have seen, can be overlooked as long as the apostate keeps his apostasy to himself, as apostates often do—but the open convert is publicly declaring that he has found something better than Islam in its nemesis, Christianity.” Crucified Again, Ibrahim, 2013, Selections from pg. 107-109. I found these three aspects of Ibrahim’s analysis (Condition of Omar, 3 Laws of Sharia, Why is Christianity consistently targeted?) to be particularly insightful. And indeed, it is the thesis of Ibrahim’s book to explain the relationship between Islam and Christianity specifically. He is also advocating for the Western World to notice how and why Christians are denied human rights in Muslim society. As I read in 2021, many of the events referenced in Crucified Again (published in 2013) are dated. However, Raymond Ibrahim maintains a website (https://www.raymondibrahim.com/blog/) that tracks these events on a regular basis to fill the gap. For current news on the state of the church in persecution, Ibrahim also recommends: World Watch Monitor http://t.co/MGePQn9HSC International Christian Concern https://t.co/GlLSrvuJ51 While the current-in-2013-testimonies of individual stories across countries serves to provide evidence for Ibrahim’s interpretation of the contemporary record (and the history preceding), it does bog the read down with recitation of horrific violence. However, as brutal, and consistent as clashes between Christians and Muslims are through history, upon considering these facts to review Crucified Again, it is not only Christians that have been simultaneously targeted and negated by Islamic terrorism. As I was working on this review in October of 2021, three articles appeared, each highlighting the refusal to acknowledge the role of Islamic radicalization in attacking various groups and each claiming the malicious intent of Islam toward a specific group was being ignored, minimized, or covered up. This article examines Muslim violence in the United States. This discussion is instigated by an attack on a JetBlue plane in September 2021, but it also highlights other incidents that have been concealed in our national reporting. The focus here is not attacks on Christians, but attacks on Americans. A JetBlue Jihadist? The Great Press Cover-up by Chris Farrell October 23, 2021 https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17... As Israel closes certain Palastinian NGOs implicated in terrorism, this article examines how NGOs are used to launder terrorist resources to attack the Israelis. It also looks at Muslim anti-Semitism as expressed in the commitment of Muslim NGOs (with passing reference to countries) to the destruction of Israel. https://www.jns.org/opinion/the-human... Published the same day as the above, this article raises the matter of Muslim violence in the United Kingdom against members of the UK. The murder of David Amass, a UK MP kicks off the investigation which also draws on other incidents throughout the UK… https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/10... In 2009 I read The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam by Robert Spencer (published in 2001). This text first aroused consideration of the issue of violent Muslim extremism in my mind. Spencer also documented both the rise of violence and the somnolence of the West in addressing the threat, the same theme that runs through both Crucified Again (published in 2013) and the three articles (2021) I’ve cited above. Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades, Robert Spencer, 2001 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Apparently, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, many Muslims *believe* they are at war against Christians, Jews, and Western society as evidence by their own proclamation and actions, such as enacting and enforcing Sharia Law and the Conditions of Omar in country and sending terrorists abroad. Non-Muslims that live throughout the 10/40 window in which Islam has prominence are daily aware of this conflict, many moderate Muslims and non-Muslims have fled to the West to escape this violence (with radicals arriving congruently with the express purpose of instigating it), but those that live in the West remain ignorant. Sobering reading that makes one want to have their house in order. Ecclesiastes 7 comes to mind… “4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, While the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise person Than for one to listen to the song of fools.” For a different perspective on Christian-Muslim relationship, particularly Muslims in Muslim majority countries having dreams or vision of Jesus and wresting with conversion in this context, see… Dreams and Visions, Tom Doyle, 2012 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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2
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Sep 23, 2021
Sep 03, 2021
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Dec 16, 2021
Oct 2021
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Sep 23, 2021
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0393979261
| 9780393979268
| 0393979261
| 4.06
| 4,289
| 1850
| Aug 22, 2003
|
it was amazing
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"I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." These lines make u "I hold it true, whate'er befall; I feel it, when I sorrow most; 'Tis better to have loved and lost Than never to have loved at all." These lines make up the last stanza of Tennyson's meditation on death and grief. Their statement asserting that it is better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all has been discussed and debated since it's first publication. In August 2021, this question came to mind after experiencing entering into an expected valley of grief in my life. I appreciate Tennyson's musings throughout. It was a comfort to walk these paths with him. This brief article discusses Tennyson, this poem, the poem's history, and it's place in Tennyson's writing. https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/in... The poem begins.... "Strong Son of God, immortal Love, Whom we, that have not seen thy face, By faith, and faith alone, embrace, Believing where we cannot prove; Thine are these orbs of light and shade; Thou madest Life in man and brute; Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot Is on the skull which thou hast made.... You can read the entire poem online here: https://poets.org/poem/memoriam-h-h ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 10, 2021
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Sep 10, 2021
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Aug 10, 2021
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Paperback
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| 1929068034
| 9781929068036
| 1929068034
| 4.10
| 291
| 1894
| Nov 19, 1999
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really liked it
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All of these stories are included in the omnibus publication of Butwin & Butwin's translation efforts, which I have reviewed here.... The Favorite Stor All of these stories are included in the omnibus publication of Butwin & Butwin's translation efforts, which I have reviewed here.... The Favorite Stories of Sholom Aleichem, trans Butwin & Butwin, 1990 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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1
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not set
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Dec 09, 2020
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Dec 03, 2020
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Paperback
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| unknown
| 4.24
| 59
| Jan 01, 1946
| 1946
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really liked it
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All of these stories are included in the omnibus publication of Butwin & Butwin's translation efforts, which I have reviewed here.... The Favorite Stor All of these stories are included in the omnibus publication of Butwin & Butwin's translation efforts, which I have reviewed here.... The Favorite Stories of Sholom Aleichem, trans Butwin & Butwin, 1990 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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1
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not set
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not set
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Dec 03, 2020
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Hardcover
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| 0310329043
| 9780310329046
| 0310329043
| 4.24
| 289
| Mar 2020
| Mar 31, 2020
|
it was ok
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I ordered this book to be shipped to me, with the video companion, as soon as it became available. Through homeschooling, it came to my attention that
I ordered this book to be shipped to me, with the video companion, as soon as it became available. Through homeschooling, it came to my attention that outstanding Church History resources for students are severely lacking. Although Simonetta Carr’s Christian Biographies for Young Readers provides person by person insight into Church History, I’m seeking a resource that ties Church History together, examining its themes, how the church has shaped history and how historical context shaped the church, its failings and triumphs. Challies’ effort seemed to have young people top of mind and I was drawn to order his work over another that had drawn my attention. With great excitement I read the introduction. It wasn’t a complete downpour upon my excitement, but more like clouds on the horizon that threatened rain. Perhaps you will feel the clouds gathering on page 9 when Challies discusses his methodology in a textbox at the top of the page: “A note about my methodology. My focus for this journey was on historical objects, not buildings or locations. I also wanted to avoid statues, markers and memorials that had been constructed after the fact. I wanted to focus on original, historical artifacts. I also wanted to focus on objects that are available to the public, not locked away in archives and available only to scholars or researchers.” (pg 9, Epic: An Around the World Journey through Christian History, Challies, 2020) In the well-crafted introduction, Challies explains the “why” of his “how”: “For the past few years I had felt a deep longing to explore the roots of *my Christian faith* [emphasis added]. I had wanted to *experience the places* [emphasis added] where significant events in the history of Christianity had occurred, to see and hear and touch the objects that continued to serve as reminders of these pivotal moments and key characters.” (pg 7, Epic: An Around the World Journey through Christian History, Challies, 2020) My expectations and Challies’ project do not match up as well as I had hoped, thoroughly diffusing my excitement as I read the book and watched the videos. I think the key might be in Challies statements above. He references “my Christian faith,” and the project reveals that while Challies is concerned about Christianity – the movement arising after Jesus’ death and resurrection –he has little interest in Old Testament artifacts or events even though Christian faith is built upon the Jewish tradition. This is especially disconcerting when he stands in the Israel Museum of Jerusalem and ignores the Assyrian, Babylonian and Jewish objects that testify to 2/3 of the Bible he holds to be God’s Word to men! He doesn’t mention the Jewish faith of the Apostles or Paul, which the New Testament teaches Jesus grew up within and came to fulfill. Additionally, Challies is dismissive of Orthodox and Catholic worshippers in Jerusalem and Rome (particularly egregious in the first chapter of video) without recognizing that both Christian traditions proceed his Protestantism by over a thousand years. What does he think our God was doing in the world before Christ and in the 1500 years between Jesus’ earthly ministry and the Protestant Reformation? Apparently, little that forms “my Christian faith” or connection with the people that lived it out as he manages to identify 5 objects prior to the Reformation. #1 Augustus of Prima Porta #2 John Rylands New Testament manuscript fragment (from the Gospel of John) #3 Alexamenos Graffiti (secular graffiti mocking a believer) #4 Dogmatic Sarcophagus (testimony to the Trinity) #5 Book of Kells Returning to his opening in which Challies states: “I had wanted to *experience the places* [emphasis added] where significant events in the history of Christianity had occurred, to see and hear and touch the objects that continued to serve as reminders of these pivotal moments and key characters.” There is something strongly and strangely millennial about Challies documentation of the “story an object has to tell,” that closes each chapter. Perhaps he feels an apologetic connection to these objects as witness of the life and struggles of believers in ages past? Yet he rejects Eastern Christian experiences with icons and the incredible stories of expansive beautiful heaven brought to earth of cathedrals and other buildings because, why? Because he doesn’t understand them? Because they aren’t part of *his* faith? Because he didn’t have time/ money to dig deeper? The Notes section at the end indicates that some research was conducted (some sources much stronger than others), but many sections are poorly sourced referencing single titles or information gathered through museum displays. These huge blind spots have yielded a view limited to white, European, English speaking, Protestant experience. Challies may have gone “Around the World” but he’s hardly stepped into the river of “Christian History.” In fact, all 33 objects presented are of Euro-American (including Challies Canada in North America) descent. The only non-Euro-American object discussed is Quick Look 15/16 Defiled Tongan Idols, which has a powerful story but is presented in a way hardly representative of the faith the Tongans chose. The faith and history of African Christians is ignored (nothing on the Church fathers, the Roman martyrs of North Africa, etc), but two African Americans received “Quick Looks,” though they are not counted among the 33 objects that form Challies timeline (#22/23 Quick Look Lemuel Haynes’ Sermon Manuscript and #24/25 Quick Look Josiah Henson). Christian believers from Africa, Asia and South America are alluded to only through missionary service of Euro-Americans as indicated in the following objects located outside the European and/or English speaking world: #25 David Livingstone’s Writing Box (mid-1800s) used by the English doctor/ explorer/ missionary to Africa #26 Amy Carmichael’s Plaques (late 1800’s-early 1900s) posted in by the Irish missionary in her Indian home #27 Hudson Taylor’s grave (death in 1905, grave site opened to public in 2018) the Englishman’s commemoration by Chinese believers #29 The Papallacta Dam (1971) built by the American ministry HCJB to fund ministry #31 Nate Saint’s Aircraft (circa 1956) the American missionary’s plane that was destroyed in Ecuador and is now housed in memorial at Mission Aviation Fellowship headquarters in Idaho, USA. Though Challies covers some failures of the Protestant faith (such as #24 Slave Bible – rather sloppily as he implies sections of the Bible are not Scriptural – and the prosperity gospel represented by #30 Oral Roberts Hands – which he struggles to condemn while recognizing large swaths of the Christian faith that have embraced these teachings) and the many flavors of Protestantism (Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Presbyterian/ Scottish Reformed, Lutheran, etc) he writes vignettes that do not put these objects into either Christian or secular historical context. His labeling of the different movements is unclear and he doesn’t examine either the historical cultural events that gave rise to these various practices or the problems of multi-denominational (or non-denominational) Protestantism. He seems to either assume his readers are aware of the context or dismiss its importance. I did find one individual whose brief article captured my interest. I had not previously heard of Selina Hastings, The Countess of Huntington, who invested in people and buildings to resource the church while struggling with chronic pain and great personal loss. Challies cites two sources, which I’ve listed below. I also took a trek through GoodReads to seek out additional work on the Countess. Unfortunately, I found Epic: An Around the World Journey Through Christian History to be skimming with the illusion of mastery, possessing knowledge without wisdom, wading in the shallow. The stories of the objects are interesting and some of them were new to me, but overall, I wasn’t inspired or even particularly educated. While I have greatly appreciated Challies work via his blog, the shortened format seems to be his forte. Challies blogs provide an overview for adults, at about elementary level, by introducing facts within simple stories. The longer work lacked depth, nuance, or scholarly examination of the objects he fit into his unclear and incomplete timeline, while being dismissive of other branches of Christianity that lay outside his personal faith narrative. I will continue to search for outstanding resources to teach Church History to upcoming generations. Update: I have finally found a wonderful overview of the history of the Christian Church that I would recommend wholeheartedly. It's from the prolific Simonetta Carr: Church History for Young Readers, Carr, 2022 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For biographies full of depth and context (the Marie Durand title is even referenced by Challies), see Christian Biographies for Young Readers (series of biographies), Carr https://www.goodreads.com/series/8395... For a broader narrative on Christianity around the world in the early 19th century (often alluded to in Challies work), see the wonderful On the Missionary Trail, Hiney, 2001 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Challies notes two books on Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon: The Elect Lady, Kirby, 1972 Selina, Countess of Huntingon, Cook, 2001 ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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not set
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Jul 19, 2020
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0451528956
| 9780451528957
| 0451528956
| 3.83
| 603,676
| Jan 05, 1886
| Sep 02, 2003
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it was amazing
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Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a triumph of craftsmanship. From the poignant subject matter, to the
Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a triumph of craftsmanship. From the poignant subject matter, to the masterful writing, to the structure and plotting, Stevenson devised an idea that has endured because of how it captures the human experience – and it’s not his only idea with longevity. First, the format of the book. The opening chapters are Mr. Utterson’s account of events surrounding his friends, Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Lanyon, with some reference to other individuals that figure into the chronology. Mr Hyde becomes known to him (and us) as the story progresses, but we cannot make sense of him. After Mr. Utterson’s evidence, Utterson shares with us letters from Mr. Lanyon and Dr. Jekyll, explaining what was going on from their perspective. This plotting is simple, but clever. Stevenson uses the popular gothic horror or Victorian spooky ghost story to introduce deep ideas. Second, the core theme: What would you do if you were not accountable? Stevenson posits that all humans have a dual nature. On the one hand, we each want to be honored as good, respectable, and reliable in our communities, like his friend Dr. Jekyll. But on the other hand, we also all want to indulge our craven selves -- everything from murder, robbery and violence to hatred, petty theft and casual sex that uses others for our pleasure. He's also asserting that we all have the capability to look good, and yet be capable of incredible wickedness. Third, another theme Stevenson develops is identity. I found this particularly interesting because in his day identity wasn’t the battle ground it is today. Stevenson discusses the relationship between our actions and identity. A quantity of good actions can generate a quality of goodness that characterizes our identity as perceived by ourselves and others – this is the position of most of the characters at the beginning of the story. Then Stevenson illustrates how identity changes. Indulgence in wickedness becomes out of control as identity begins to shift toward an evil that takes charge of the person and becomes their default identity. Stevenson is illustrating our identity on a sliding scale. Our beliefs shape our actions, which shape our identity, which changes our beliefs, etc. The changes in Dr. Jekyll’s identity, and his actions to try to prevent these changes, was insightful and instructive “show me” writing (instead of “tell me” writing). Reflecting on contemporary times, I think part of what makes our current world so wacky is that secularism has declared it's not the wickedness that's the problem - the violation of God's standards - it's the consequences. If we could only remove the consequences for everyone. But God, who is rich in mercy.... HAS removed the consequences in Jesus Christ. Accessing that forgiveness involves submission to Him, acknowledgement of His standards, and confession of our need of salvation. Therefore, the answer to struggles of the dual nature is found in Jesus, as Paul discusses in Romans chapter 7-8. A simple search on the internet can demonstrate the power of Stevenson’s story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Even my spell-checker contains correction for their names! Ultimately, we are left with the realization that perhaps the greatest horror is this… “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained.” Gulag Archipelago, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1973 To read Stevenson creating a completely different genre, see Treasure Island, Stevenson, 1883 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Gulag Archipelago, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1973 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 30, 2019
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Oct 31, 2019
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Oct 30, 2019
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Mass Market Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 1601787162
| 9781601787163
| 1601787162
| 4.70
| 10
| unknown
| Oct 20, 2019
|
really liked it
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Simonetta Carr’s biography of B.B. Warfield continues all the features of her excellent Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. The summary in
Simonetta Carr’s biography of B.B. Warfield continues all the features of her excellent Christian Biographies for Young Readers series. The summary introduction is followed by seven chapters and dynamic illustrations (by Matt Abraxas). A timeline lists significant events of Warfield’s life. A brief section contains some of his writing in his own words. Since Warfield was known as a writer and apologist, I would have liked to read more of his arguments in the original text. The lively Did You Know section shares tidbits about Warfield and his wife that didn’t make it into the narration. People often wonder how it is that a University started by devote Presbyterians to resist the worldliness of other institutions could evolve into a bastion of rebellion. Surely, the transformation is often gradual, full of step-by-step decisions leading away from the path of founding. Appointed a professor at an early age, Warfield fought against this corruption, by publishing, teaching, and speaking in defense of Christianity, the Bible, the life of Jesus, the miracles of God and other topics that were widely debated. While the life of B.B. Warfield had exciting points, the three defining events of his biography seem rather common, almost mundane. The first was his godly upbringing as a descendent of two faithful families: the Warfields and the Breckinridges. I loved the quote from B.B.’s father, William. Commenting on why he loved managing his Kentucky estate, he said it “…drew the mind away from the ‘cares of life to a contemplation of the course of nature and those laws which God ordained in creation for the ordering and governing of the world.’” (B.B. Warfield, Christian Biographies for Young Readers, Simonetta Carr, pg. 7). The second of three defining events of Warfield’s life was marriage to his beloved Annie for 61 years. He loved her and cared for her even as her mysterious health struggles slowly extinguished her life. “[Annie’s] health continued to worsen, and Warfield stayed home with her as much as possible, leaving only as much as was absolutely necessary. For a while, they took short yearly vacations to escape the hot Princeton summers… By 1913, however, Annie’s condition became so serious that she had to spend most of her time at home in bed… People were touched by how Warfield cared for his wife.” ((B.B. Warfield, Christian Biographies for Young Readers, Simonetta Carr, pg. 47-48) The final defining experience was his teaching job at Princeton University, where he diligently articulated orthodoxy for 34 years. “Sadly, even some Christians started to doubt the Bible. They wondered if it was really necessary to believe in miracles or Jesus’s resurrection. They asked, ‘Can’t we just follow His teachings, whether He rose from the dead or not? Warfield said no… because the Christian religion is not based on some good teachings. It is based on what Jesus has done in history. Warfield believed there are genuine proofs that Jesus rose from the dead and listed them in one of his writings… a religion that can exist without Christ is not Christianity.” (B.B. Warfield, Christian Biographies for Young Readers, Simonetta Carr, pg. 38). And from page 40, “[Warfield] didn’t want harmony if it meant compromising the truth.” As he gently and persistently worked in and around Princeton, Warfield also engaged in the long obedience of ordinary tasks. He loved his wife. He attended and served in his church. He interacted with his siblings, neighbors, and a few mentors, giving himself in service and being served as a member of the body of Christ. If this all sounds like a good life that was rather boring by dramatic standards, it was. Two points stand out: 1) Believers in Jesus still benefit today from the wisdom of Warfield’s writing, and 2) He lived a full life while doing nothing to undermine either his convictions or scholarship. For those who have been hurt by a leader in the church that proved false, point #2 is significant. A study of Warfield encourages themes of obedience, endurance, gentleness, wisdom, scholarship, godliness, fellowship in the Body of Christ, and faithful love for God and others. May more of us be like B.B. Warfield, the salt of the earth, in following Jesus. If you’d like to read Warfield’s writing for yourself, in addition to being published for purchase, I found “The Emotional Life of our Lord” available online. See link: The Emotional Life of our Lord, Warfield, 1912 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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Oct 21, 2019
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Aug 04, 2022
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Oct 21, 2019
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| 0517412942
| 9780517412947
| 0517412942
| 4.23
| 82
| Jan 28, 1858
| Nov 18, 1990
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really liked it
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The 55 short stories of Tales of Sholom Aleichem illuminate the Jewish culture of pre-revolutionary Russia including Russian culture, pogroms, and cla
The 55 short stories of Tales of Sholom Aleichem illuminate the Jewish culture of pre-revolutionary Russia including Russian culture, pogroms, and clashes among them. There is dark Russian humor, and then there is a level beyond dark Russian humor: Jewish Russian humor. Sometimes it is hard to stomach for those being initiated. Yet the hope and joy found even in the midst of a hard life (and whose life among us is not hard?) is compelling to all who travel here. Seeking the mind and experience of people of another culture and/ or another time is a tricky task. But an even greater obstacle to our joy in discovering life through the eyes of people from a different culture (and time) is the availability of their stories in the language of the reader. For this reader, and I assume you as well, that language is English. This makes translation our initial hurdle. “Everyone knows that translation is treason and translators are unredeemed copyists. Yes, translation is an act of violence. But I say this with utter reverence: Translators are cultural heroes. They are the closest to an ideal reader a text might ever have. Yet the chance they have of being original is as thin as a slice of salami. It couldn’t be otherwise.” Ilan Stavans, “Tevye’s many daughters and other comparisons, Forward Magazine, March 4, 2009 See entire article here. https://forward.com/culture/books/103... My edition includes the wonderful introduction by Francis Butwin, which is a selling point of this omnibus. Once translation is accomplished, we have already lost some of Aleichem’s unique brilliance. Reading in English, we might not realize that Aleichem wrote in Yiddish, nor appreciate that he was first to do so. Aleichem also switched languages and used idiomatic expressions which gave his writing a flavor that is difficult to capture for us English monolinguists. There is this lovely story that Aleichem was called “the Jewish Mark Twain.” The men were contemporaries, who each wrote under a pen name about their homeland using natural dialogue. Also, they both traveled and lectured throughout the US and Europe. When this was mentioned to Mark Twain, he is said to have replied, “Tell him I am the American Sholem Aleichem.” The central figure (through sheer number of stories) of Sholom Aleichem’s work is, of course, Tevye the Dairyman, who has enjoyed wider publication and translation than all of Aleichem’s other villagers. Why do we love Tevye? He is wise but foolish, educated but ignorant, joyful but full of sorrows, compassionate but indignant. Tevye lives in a world that is not as he would wish it to be. There is much about the God of Israel that he does not understand, which causes him to wrestle honestly and openly with God as to why, even while preserving his faithfulness. With mixed results, Tevye loves his family, longs to provide them security and nourishment, and hopes to launch his daughters to find the same in their adult life. He is the best and worst of each of us, enduringly and endearingly relatable. If you read a biography of Sholem Aleichem, you may also find quite a bit of his own life challenges written into Tevye. For a brief biography, see https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/... Sholom Aleichem wrote these short stories over a period of 20 years. Though the stories are set in the fictional village of Krasrilevke and surrounds (based on his childhood home of Pereyslav out side Kyiv in modern day Ukraine), they portray Aleichem as a traveler recording his ruminations on different people/ stories that he encounters. Scattered among the 55 stories are 8 stories about Tevye and his family, all told as if Tevye has encountered Aleichem as an old friend traveling in and out of the region. If you would like to quickly find them, they are titled as such… 1. Tevye Strikes It Rich (also translated as Tevye Wins a Fortune or The Great Windfall) 2. Tevye Blows A Small Fortune (also translated as The Roof Falls In or The Bubble Bursts) 3. Today's Children (also translated as Modern Children) 4. Hodel 5. Chava 6. Shprintze 7. Tevye Leaves for the Land of Israel (also translated as Tevye Goes to Palestine or Tevye is Going to Eretz Yisroel) 8. Lekh-Lekho (also translated as Get Thee Out) Of course, you can also journey with Tevye through the musical The Fiddler on the Roof as either a live performance or through the award winning 1871 film (see review below). These presentations do an excellent job of showing how Tevye’s daughters, and the dying breathes of Tzarist Russia, pull apart his world. As I plodded through the stories over a period of months, about midway through I was all prepared to say that you could easily find a much smaller book that contained only the Tevye stories. But then as I was writing this review, I thought to go back through the stories I had marked as particularly enjoyable and insightful… “’I don’t know what’s to become of the child, what he’s going to grow up into. He’s like a dripping dishrag, a soggy handkerchief, like a professional mourner… A child that can’t stop crying.’ This was my mother talking to herself as she dressed me in my holiday clothes…. Alas for my poor nose when my mother decides to ‘put it in order.’ I don’t know what my nose has done to deserve such a fate. It seems to me that it’s a nose like all noses, short and blunt, slightly turned up at the end, pinkish in color, and usually dripping.” The Purim Feast, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. “The Maiers and the Schnaiers… Actually there was only one Maier and one Schnaier. They were twins and the looked so much alike that there were times when it was impossible to tell which of the two was Maier and which was Schnaier. As babies, the story goes, a queer thing happened to them. They were almost exchanged—and it is possible that they really were exchanged. This is how it happened.” The Inheritors, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. “Once I was a rabbiner. A rabbiner, not a rabbi. That is, I was called rabbi—but a rabbi of the crown. To old-country Jews I don’t have to explain what a rabbi of the crown in. They know the breed. What are his great responsibilities? He fills out birth certificates, officiates at circumcisions, performs marriages, grants divorces. He gets his share from the living and the dead.” Tit for Tat, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. “If the day before Yom Kippur were three times as long as it is, it would not be long enough for Noah-Wolf the butcher to finish his work in time for evening services. And this is his work: he has to apologize to a town full of people for his year’s misdeeds.” The Day Before Yom Kippur, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. “The last time I told you about our Straggler Special, I described the Miracle of Hashono Rabo. This time I shall tell you about another miracle in which the Straggler Special figured, how thanks to the Straggler Special the town of Heissin was saved from a terrible fate.” A Wedding without Musicians, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. “Listen to me, your worst enemy can’t do to you what you can do to yourself, especially if a woman – I mean a wife – interferes. Why do I say this? I’m thinking of my own experience. Look at me, for instance. Well, what do you see? A man, you’d say—just an average man.” Gy-Ma-Na-Sia-A, Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, 1990. The whole of Aleichem’s writing is greater than the parts. Even as I read those tidbits above, I am drawn back into his world. It’s a book you can never really fully walk away from, but always have some inkling to return in the future. It’s impossible to identify one story and say “THIS is him at his best!” Even the musical Fiddler on the Roof focuses on Tevye, but uses tidbits from throughout Sholom Aleichem’s Favorite Tales. For example, do you recognize “If I was a Rothschild”? Yet the Tales end darkly with a pogrom that spreads the Jewish community across the globe, an experience of which Tevye partakes in the story, Get Thee Out. There is a nostalgia, a realization that the world of Sholom Aleichem has been lost. But it did not die. Rather it was reinvented as the Jewish people entered other lands (which Fiddler choses to focus on as a brighter ending). This is an intriguing reality for the children of Israel that Judaism, which refuses to fully assimilate, nonetheless has adapted to variant cultures through the ages. While I might return to Tevye more often through a re-read or the musical, there is a richness to reading all 55 stories presented in this volume, and Francis Butwin’s introduction is also magnificent. I’m glad I read this presentation and recommend it for those wanting the full experience. PUBLISHING NOTE: This edition Favorite Tales of Sholom Aleichem is an omnibus collection of two previous publications by Crown Publishers. If you have Favorite Tales, you have all the stories translated by the Butwins including those appearing in: The Old Country: Collected Stories of Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin AND Tevye’s Daughters, Sholom Aleichem, trans. Butwin & Butwin, Fiddler on the Roof The award winning musical focus’ on the Tevye stories. I love they way the use the meter and vocabulary of The Favorite Tales in the lyrics of the musical, as well as the more obvious Russian cultural scenes and settings. Presented to adults on Broadway and to children through Fiddler, Jr. enthusiasm and revenue for this show broke records. For the Broadway version, see Broadway website: http://fiddlermusical.com/ Fiddler Musical analysis, Chava and intermarriage https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2019/07... 1971 Movie IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067093/ Topol as Tevye is magnificent. It reduces the daughters from 7 to 5, and has a more hopeful ending than the Tales. ...more |
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Oct 19, 2019
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| 9780060140175
| 0060140178
| 4.38
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This review brought Shafarevich's work in The Socialist Phenomenon, and his connections to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, to my attention... https://www.first This review brought Shafarevich's work in The Socialist Phenomenon, and his connections to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, to my attention... https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclu... In particular, this paragraph provided some thought to ruminate.... "In Part Three, the author analyzes what he sees as the four essential features of socialist thought: abolition of private property, abolition of the family, abolition of religion, and a relentless quest for communality or equality. These features appear in different ways and degrees in different socialist experiments, but—so Shafarevich argues—they’re nascent in all socialist thought." But this section, arising in the discussion of Part Two, opened my eyes to background of a movie I have enjoyed... "Fans of Roland Joffé’s film The Mission may be surprised to learn that the Jesuit-run “reductions,” or communities, created by the Society of Jesus for the Guarani Indians were not quite as idyllic as the screen story suggests. As one Jesuit at the time wrote of the compulsory Guarani dwellings, “the stench is unbearable to someone unaccustomed to it.” Most Guarani housing lacked windows and any means of ventilation. Shafarevich notes that despite its significant positives—rest on Sunday, a hunger-free existence, protection from colonial slavers, guaranteed dwellings and clothing—life in the reductions was highly regimented. Discipline was rigorous. Work on communal lands was obligatory. Private ownership and money were virtually non-existent. Flight was forbidden. Travel without an accompanying priest was banned, and the Jesuits controlled marital matches. In the words of the author, the Jesuits’ “almost-successful attempt at reducing hundreds of thousands of people to a life as lived in an anthill seems far more terrible a picture than that of a hard labor camp.” Ironically for a paradise, the Guarani birthrate actually declined in the reductions. As a result, “the Jesuits were compelled to resort to various means of pressure on the Indians in the hope of increasing the population.”" ...more |
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| 0446400165
| 9780446400169
| 0446400165
| 4.02
| 782
| 1970
| Jun 01, 1992
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really liked it
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I can’t believe 10 months have gone by since I read the previous installment of the Felse Investigations. Ironically, my review of Mourning Raga (Fels
I can’t believe 10 months have gone by since I read the previous installment of the Felse Investigations. Ironically, my review of Mourning Raga (Felse Investigations #9 ) indicates I read while battling a cold, and I’m also down with a cold as I finish The Knocker on Death’s Door. The reality is becoming clear; Peters writing is a satisfying escape from physical ailment. The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10) features our beloved George Felse and an intriguing crime in the fictional Midland village of Mottisham that Peters unrolls with her usual skill. I truly enjoyed the characters of Dinah, Dave, Hugh, Alix, and Robert, as well as additional companionship with the professional yet compassionate CID Felse. Complementing these characters with paced plotting, Peters has a wonderful way of crafting her narrative. As I read, I highlighted several passages that struck me as indicative of her voice. I’ve had to bypass those that give away anything. These sections can give a perspective reader a sampling of Peters style. Or, perhaps if you are already a Peters admirer, these passages will pleasantly refresh your acquaintance. “The flat was small, hesitant in style, confused in taste, as if she had composed it in hurried five-minute frenzies between the office and whatever her social life consisted of, and forgotten it all the rest of the time. Quite of bit of money had gone into it, but not much effort or thought, and it must surely have been coming to pieces in sheer discouragement long before [XXX] had got {themselves] murdered in some obscure cause in a far-distant village. Yet there were signs that this woman could have been a house-proud wife and mother if she had ever given herself the chance.” Loc 781 The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10), Ellis Peters, 1970 “Withdrawn, the village moved about stealthily in circles, eyes slanted always towards the profaned place of death, feet always directed assiduously somewhere else.” Loc 989 781 The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10), Ellis Peters, 1970 “Opportunity dazzled him, suddenly turning the tragedies of Mottisham bright side out.” Loc 1438 The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10), Ellis Peters, 1970 “So the end of his journey was incredibly like the beginning. He had made a loop in space-time, and arrived at the very point of his departure.” Loc 2262 The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10), Ellis Peters, 1970 “Sometimes the mind connects too quickly, the body’s energy is used up in a convulsion of awareness. She seemed to hear her own mental processes at work, like listening to a tape recordingof herself, but with an inward ear.” Loc 2546 The Knocker on Death’s Door (Felse Investigations #10), Ellis Peters, 1970 I confess to some discomfort with the ending. While the particulars of the crime are detailed, the story arcs of our principles are unresolved. I enjoyed these characters and wanted to walk them a bit farther into their lives after the traumatic events. Though Peters hints at their future trajectories, these broad strokes don’t present for us *how* they arrive at new stages in their journey. I find myself hoping that crime returns to Mottisham and we can visit with them again. I’m so pleased with this series and already looking forward to the next one! There's more! Death to the LandLords (Felse #11), Peters, 1972 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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Oct 21, 2019
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Jan 08, 2019
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Mass Market Paperback
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| B00AQN0B6E
| 4.15
| 785
| Jun 30, 1969
| 1897
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really liked it
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Recognizing the human rights struggle of my own time, I am taking a look back at the abolition of slavery in the United States to specifically examine
Recognizing the human rights struggle of my own time, I am taking a look back at the abolition of slavery in the United States to specifically examine the response of Christians -- white and black, north and south. Alongside a more theological view, I selected a few biographies to listen to people of the time. Louis Hughes’ Thirty Years A Slave: From Bondage to Freedom is one of those books. The facts of Mr. Hughes life, particularly its early challenges associated with slavery are presented in a rational manner, including the primal wound of separation from his dear mother at a young age, the horrific experience of being sold, his repeated attempts to escape, and experiences of barbaric violence. It is important to note the struggles of Mr. Hughes life *even though* he was owned by a master that provided adequate food, clothing and shelter. It is also instructive to note Mr. Hughes craving for learning, efforts to secretly educate himself, and unfailing commitment to loving and serving God. These are perhaps particularly noticeable when you consider that, under the sway of eugenic ‘science’ AmerEuropeans questioned Africans desire to learn, ability to work in their own self-interest, moral rectitude and standing within the human family. Telling his life story and experience with American slavery is Mr. Hughes primary focus, not theology. Nonetheless, I found his theology interesting. Hughes didn’t fall into depressive grooves of questioning God’s allowing slavery or the struggles of his life. Rather, he laid the blame for slavery entirely on the slave owners and those who helped them (traders, hunters, legislators etc). Hughes looked to God for freedom from slavery and sought to praise Him for every blessing. Hughes recalls the good of his master and his family (thanking God for these blessings in dark days), while also testifying to their violence, and the corruption of violence upon those that administered it. His testimony brought to mind the ideas of another nineteenth century believer who prayed for the end of slavery. Elizabeth van Lew, a southern belle who spied for the Union during the Civil War, observed the corrosive effect of injustice on the *oppressor,* as well as the oppressed. While it may appear that some are broken and overcome while others are strong and triumphant, Van Lew hit upon the destructive impact of injustice upon both individuals and their society as a whole. She observed how the practice of slavery, and its defense through succession and war, corrupted the character of slavery advocates as if each act was nourishing the flower of wickedness inside them. Many slaves lost their lives, but the aggressors lost their souls, and jeopardized prosperity of future generations by bringing about the collapse of the society they sought to dominate. In relation to van Lew’s points, Hughes confirms both the twisting of character through progressive evil that van Lew observed, as well as the inspirational flourishing of Hughes’ own soul after horrific trials. America sacrificed tremendous blood and treasure to end slavery. In Mr. Hughes, we see the burden it was upon the slaves themselves. We empathize with his attempts to protect his family, and also his attempts to escape. Understanding his suffering and the back and forth of the war’s impact on his fears and hopes for freedom, his account of the joy of liberation is stunning. Hughes draws us into his attempts to reunify with lost family members so that we feel his overwhelming emotion when successful and heartbroken isolation when they fail. After liberation, Hughes invites us to join in his logical praise of the Union soldiers who rescued his family, and all soldiers that served to preserve the country while overthrowing the peculiar institution. If you have read extensively on slavery and the Civil War, you might not find much new in Mr. Hughes account. But I encourage it to be read, nonetheless, as a first person testimony regarding what American slavery was like in everyday life from his birth in 1832 through liberation. Through the joy and labor of freedom, and by listening to his endurance through cruelty, you will better appreciate the triumph of abolition for individuals and the country. After exhorting you to take the time to listen to Mr. Hughes’ testimony, his own closing words seem the best way to conclude. “I have endeavored, in the foregoing sketch, to give a clear and correct idea of the institution of human slavery, as I witnessed and experienced it – its brutality, its degrading influence upon both master and slave, and its utter incompatibility with industrial improvement and general educational progress. Nothing has been exaggerated or set down in malice, although the scars which I still bear upon my person, and in the wounds of spirit which will never wholly heal, there might be found a seeming excuse for such a course. Whatever of kindness was shown me during the years of my bondage, I still gratefully remember, whether it comes from white master or fellow slave; and for the recognition which has been so generously accorded me since the badge of servitude was removed, I am profoundly and devoutly thankful.” Louis Hughes, closing paragraph of Thirty Years a Slave, 1897 For more… Southern Lady, Yankee Spy: The True Story of Elizabeth Van Lew, Varon, 2005 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... On a theology of Africa for Africans… Is Africa Cursed?, Adeyemo, 2009 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Mr. Hughes book was written in 1897. Years earlier Harriet Beacher Stowe studied accounts like his and wrote the fictional Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which Lincoln credited with starting the Civil War. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Stowe, 1852 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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Jan 12, 2019
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Jan 24, 2019
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Jan 04, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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| 0375761322
| 9780375761324
| 0375761322
| 4.06
| 4,554
| 1866
| Sep 10, 2002
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it was ok
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Reading the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society lead me to a review of Victor Hugo's life, wherein it was impressed upon me that he lived upon t
Reading the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society lead me to a review of Victor Hugo's life, wherein it was impressed upon me that he lived upon the island of Guernsey, in exile from France, from 1855 to 1870. I appreciate Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, but my highest esteem goes to his masterpiece, Les Miserables, one of my favorite works of literature ever penned. I was surprised to discover that Hugo linked Hunchback (1831), Les Miserables (1862), and this title, The Toilers of the Sea (1866), as a sort of trilogy of this best work! I set out to find it at once! The dedication of Toilers of the Sea hints at these connections: Je dédie ce livre au rocher d'hospitalité et de liberté, à ce coin de vieille terre normande où vit le noble petit peuple de la mer, à l'île de Guernesey, sévère et douce, mon asile actuel, mon tombeau probable. (I dedicate this book to the rock of hospitality and liberty, to that portion of old Norman ground inhabited by the noble little nation of the sea, to the island of Guernsey, severe yet kind, my present asylum, my probable tomb.) Nineteenth century novels tend to be long on description (both events and characters) and slow to develop plot, so I was undeterred by the first 150ish of 642 pages. However, after all the people and locations were in place, the plot began to pick up. It was then, I found… I didn’t care. I didn’t have any affection for Gilliatt, or Deruchette. I wasn’t intrigued by the pirates and outlaws. I could see Mess Lethierry was an honest, hard working man who was wronged, but I wasn’t passionate about discovering how he would be compensated. I found myself thinking more about the characters of Shaffer’s Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society as the descendants of Hugo’s islanders, than thinking about Hugo’s world. Guernsey was striking, yet I would seek other titles – or even better—a vacation, there. The sea was magnificent, and I loved how the author set up landmarks in the sea and then scrambled them all to confusion. I loved the octopus, and that Hugo had to invent the word for the patois (local) dialect! Spring came in my world, turned to summer, and fall burst upon the scene in a morning of dark, cozy thunderstorms. Still I hadn’t returned to Toilers of the Sea. I decided to abandon ship. If I’m to walk with Hugo, I would rather read Les Miserables for the umpteenth time. I would also like to re-read The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I would like to write thorough reviews for both. It occurs to me I was reading an unabridged edition. Stumbling on an abridgement might convince me to attempt a second sailing among Toilers of the Sea. You can read about Hugo’s exile on Guernsey here: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/tr... The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Shaffer, 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hugo, 1831 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Les Miserables, Hugo, 1862 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Random Reading Note: In Chapter VIII there is reference made to a wall hanging created by exiled French Huguenots containing a record of the actions of the Bishop of Meaux. This intrigued me. It seems to be a record of the Bishop’s persecution of Huguenots – not an expression of honor, but one of rebuke. I did some research, and it looks like this gentlemen was the Catholic bishop at the time Hugo references… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques... ...more |
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Dec 20, 2018
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| 0963020315
| 9780963020314
| 0963020315
| 4.21
| 801
| 1991
| Aug 22, 2018
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really liked it
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"Those who tried to succeed... primarily through federal aid, pools, vote buying, or stock speculation we will classify as *political entrepreneurs.*
"Those who tried to succeed... primarily through federal aid, pools, vote buying, or stock speculation we will classify as *political entrepreneurs.* Those who tried to succeed... primarily by creating and marketing a superior product at a low cost we will classify as *market entrepreneurs.* No entrepreneur fits perfectly into one category or the other, but most fall generally into one category of the other. The political entrepreneurs often fit the classic Robber Baron mold; they stifled productivity (through monopolies and pools), corrupted business and politics, and dulled America's competitive edge. Market entrepreneurs, by contrast, often made decisive and unpredictable contributions to American economic development." (pg 2) I first encountered the myth of the robber barons in my children's history material, which came to mind when I read a review of this title (link below). I was irritated by the coverage of Gilded Age entrepreneurs as greedy oppressors who engaged in philanthropy only to assuage their guilty souls. This Marxian perspective on the nineteenth century was abundantly promoted and abundantly wrong. After learning what this title was about, I knew I wanted to read it - and soon. The work of Mr. Folsom did not disappoint. I could summarize the accomplishments of Vanderbilt, Hill, the Scranton family, Scwab, Rockefeller and Mellon in breaking up monopolies, improving processes and getting goods to consumers at the lowest price, but it would be better for you to read these prescient accounts for yourself. I appreciated that Folsom does not idolize these subjects. They were all tremendously successful as market entrepreneurs, but that doesn’t mean they were perfect, moral or indemnified from life’s struggles. While Folsom sticks to the main topic of their wealth generation and spending, he does touch on errors of judgement, missteps in business, and the challenges of individual personalities (such as Mellon’s shyness) and situations (like Rockefeller’s isolation). Folsom also faithfully accounts how Schwab lost all his wealth and position in society because his personal life was undisciplined. The canvas upon which these entrepreneurs painted is an extensive panoramic of the industrial age. Folsom covers steamship transportation, transcontinental railroads, iron manufacture, steel industry, oil industry, and federal economic policy. The rise of so many men from obscurity to extraordinary success is inspiring. Why is upward mobility from the lower classes seemingly so difficult today in comparison? A welcome, though unexpected, analysis came in the chapter on the Scranton family and the building of their city in a neglected region of Pennsylvania. Folsom uses the rather limited population to analyze generational wealth growth (by all parties including Scranton family members, immigrants to the community, investors, etc) and transfer of wealth by Scranton families to future generations. His findings were intriguing. “By 1920, the sons of Scranton’s 1880 leaders had ample opportunity to succeed their fathers as the pacesetters of Scranton’s business world. Yet they did not. Few went hungry, but most could not come close to matching their father’s achievements… In short, the fathers and sons provide a stunning contrast.” Pg. 57 In fact, his conclusion is essentially that the rich families became poorer in the sons generation as “…the role of parents, lack of business talent, the quest for leisure and problems of family continuity in general all seem to have combined to fragment the Scranton economic elite of 1880.” (pg 60). And yet, this happened even as poor immigrants and businessmen who saw potential in Scranton mined riches, the standard of living rose, and jobs were plentiful – all building upon the foundation laid by the fathers! Folsom concludes, “And so the cycle goes – which means that if Scranton is typical, then two seemingly contradictory generalizations about the rise of big business are both true. First, a small constantly changing group of entrepreneurs consistently held a large share of the nation’s wealth. Second, the poor didn’t get poorer, and the rich didn’t get richer.” Pg. 60 Another particularly impactful topic was the philanthropy of John D. Rockefeller. I have read about Standard Oil on many occasions, but Folsom takes the additional step of examining how Rockefeller’s business principles impacted his giving. “Some historians haven’t liked the way Rockefeller made his money, but few have quibbled with the way he spent it. Before he died, he had given away about $550,000,000, more than any other American before him had ever possessed. It wasn’t so much the amount that he gave as it was the amazing results that his giving produced.” Pg. 97 Rockefeller funded schools and churches across the country (it should be noted that he supported white and black institutions). He gave to evangelists and missionaries, and invested in scientists who found cures for yellow fever, meningitis and hookworm. He gave millions to higher education. Essentially, his giving covered people and communities around the world. “His guide for giving was a variation of the Biblical principle –“If any will not work, neither should he eat.” Those schools, cities, or scientists who weren’t anxious to produce or improve didn’t get Rockefeller money. Those who did and showed results got more. As in the parable of the talents, to him who has, more (responsibility and trust) shall be given by the Rockefeller Foundation.” Pg 99 For prospective on how innovations of the Business Barons improved the standard of living for all, see Boudreaux, Are you Richer than John D. Rockefeller? https://fee.org/articles/you-are-rich... Finally, Folsom closes with a masterful biography of Andrew Mellon. I understood Mellon’s business and perspective better after reading this chapter. Was it because I was building on the foundation of Shlaes The Forgotten Man or because Folsom was far more concise? I tend to think the advantage lies with Folsom. “The key to the success of these industries, and dozens of other Mellon enterprises, was capital – high-risk, venture capital. Somebody had to have the nerve, the money and the vision to back risky ideas that had potential. Mellon had done this so ably that by 1920 he was worth close to a one billion dollars, which ranked him with John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford as one of the three wealthiest men in America.” Pg 105 Mellon’s application of free market economic principles for his own benefit were extraordinarily successful, but his great innovation was applying these principles to government in service to his country. His ideas may sound common to us today, but they were revolutionary in his time. Additionally, they were successful, as after taxes were reduced, the economy generated wealth and government receipts increased. “It seems difficult for some to understand,” [Mellon] wrote, “that high rates of taxation do not necessarily mean large revenue to the Government, and that more revenue may often be obtained by lower rates.” Pg. 103 Mellon’s plan of reducing taxes upon the high and low income brackets, reducing federal estate taxes, and *especially* increasing efficiency in government are like fresh water in today’s desert of Big Government, which is infective, unaffordable, and running deficits to a magnitude that would shock both Mellon and his contemporary critics. Folsom has done a service to those who still hold to the American founding principles of free market economy and limited government. The only disappointment I had was the desire for Folsom to continue his analytics further into the twentieth century, particularly with the development of electricity as a utility. This lead me to his 2008 work New Deal or Raw Deal? I highly recommend this title for students of all ages, particularly those interested in the entrepreneurial engine that raised the standard of living for everyday Americans and brought the world to America for international leadership. Those interested in economic policy that fosters such an innovative culture in business would also do well to study Folsom’s analysis. I can only hope that it is not too late for Americans young and old to rediscover the principles upon which our contemporary life was built. If we are able to recapture that powerful culture, it will be partly because Mr. Folsom and others retained the candle of healthy practices by previous generations. This title is a valuable contribution to the debate. “Studying the triumph of American industry, for example, is important because it is the story of how the United States became the world’s leading economic power. The years when the happened, from 1865 to the early 1900s, saw the U.S. encourage entrepreneurs indirectly by limiting government. Slavery was abolished and so was the income tax. Federal spending was slashed and federal budgets had surpluses every year in the late 1800s. In other world, the federal government created more freedom and a stable marketplace in which entrepreneurs could operate.” Pg 121 The review that added this book to my to-reads... https://fee.org/articles/how-the-myth... Modern Times (Story of the World #4), Bauer, 2005 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression, Shlaes, 2007 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For more by Folsom, I would like to read… New Deal or Raw Deal?, Folsom, 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Additional Quotes I found insightful…. “The share of prosperity which has fallen to my lot,” said Vanderbilt, “is the direct result of unfettered trade, and unrestrained competition. It is my wish that those who come after me shall have that same field open before them.” Pg. 7 “….we can sort out two distinct groups: political and market entrepreneurs… They are two separate groups with different attitudes toward innovation, technology, price-cutting, monopolies, and federal aid. In the steamship industry, political entrepreneurship often led to price-fixing, technological stagnation, and the bribing of competitors and politicians. The market entrepreneurs were the innovators and rate-cutters…” pg. 15 “But there is a nagging problem in this argument. While some of this rush for subsidies was still going on, James J. Hill was building a transcontinental railroad from St. Paul to Seattle with no federal aid whatsoever. Also, Hill’s road was the best built, the least corrupt, the most popular, and the only transcontinental railroad to never go bankrupt. It took longer to build than the others, but Hill used this time to get the shortest route on the best grade with the least curvature. In doing so, he attracted settlement and trade by cutting costs for passengers and freight. Could it be that, in the long run, the subsidies may have corrupted rail development and hindered economic growth?” pg. 18 “Here is the a key point: the gain in social return was only temporary, but the loss of shipping with tan inefficient railroad was permanent. The UP and NP were, as we have seen, inefficient in gradients, curvature, length, quality of construction, repair costs, and use of fuel. This meant permanently high fixed costs for all passengers and freight using the subsidized transcontinentals.” Pg. 31 “Let the good work go on. We must ever remember we are refining oil for the poor man and he must have it cheap and good.” John D. Rockefeller “Some of the oil producers were unhappy, but American consumers were pleased that Rockefeller was selling cheap oil. Before 1870, only the rich could afford whale oil and candles. The rest had to go to bed early to save money. By the 1870s, with the drop in the price of kerosene, middle and working class people all over the nation could afford the one cent an hour that it cost to light their homes at night. Working and reading after-dark activities new to most Americans in the 1870s.” pg. 87 “A nation must believe in three things. It must believe in the past. It must believe in the future. It must, above all, believe in the capacity of its own people so to learn from the past that they can gain in judgement in creating their own future.” Franklin D. Roosevelt as quoted pg 121 ...more |
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1
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Jan 12, 2019
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Jan 16, 2019
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Sep 21, 2018
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Paperback
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| 4.47
| 358,904
| Jun 07, 2016
| Jun 07, 2016
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liked it
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This book started for me with a post on a friend's Facebook page: "This is the book you need to read next. This award-winning and important book was w
This book started for me with a post on a friend's Facebook page: "This is the book you need to read next. This award-winning and important book was written and published before the author was 26 years old." It was impossible for me to integrate Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing apart from Alex Haley’s Roots, and in so doing, I find I prefer Gyasi’s work in *almost* every way. Both novels are generational novels spanning some 300 years that attempt to tell the story of the African diaspora in America. But after that, the similarities end. Gyasi’s nuanced approach paints a broad panorama that maintains links to Africa that Haley breaks. As such Gyasi’s story presents a more complicated picture. While Haley rages in anger at the severance of African Americans from their West African roots, Gyasi embraces both sides of her between-cultures existence to tell parallel stories of subsequent generations in which one side of the family tree has been enslaved to America and one side remains in Africa. Perhaps this perspective could only be written by someone who has made the jump from Africa to America in a single life time? No one can doubt that both sides of the family tree are dramatically changed by European penetration into West Africa and the Atlantic slave trade that developed, however, Gyasi preserves tension without trying to force an obvious better/ worse, love/ anger, peace/ fear, acceptance/rejection paradigm as Haley did. At 320ish pages compared to Roots 910ish pages, Gyasi is not attempting deep characters as Haley did. Her early Africa chapters lack the poetry of the Kunte Kinte’s narrative, but instead breathe life into the Asante and the Fante, their animosity toward each other, mutual embrace of Anansi the Spider tales, and contrasting strategies in dealing with the Europeans stationed among them at Cape Coast Castle. There is no ideal path. Hardship abounds for those who integrated with the Europeans through trade (in slaves, goods, etc) and marriage, those who struggled to remain apart, and those who were enslaved and sold across the ocean, forced to forge a different path on another continent. This process of working through parallel generations forces the reader to constantly refer to the genealogy that leads off the book, and can seem fragmented at times. I have seen it criticized in other reviews, but my feeling is that the whole is greater than the parts, the accomplishment of the overall narrative far superior to the difficulties of following the story. It should also be noted that Gyasi’s work is not encumbered by Haley’s mendaciousness. One can sense that Gyasi is far more content with herself, her lineage, her fellow Americans and Ghanaians, and her own story. As the book moves closer to our time, it loses some power. Gaps emerge as one begins to notice themes of African American experience that are outside of Gyasi’s personal narrative. While we roar through 1920s Harlem to the beat of jazz throbbing through nightclubs, join workers unions as blacks emerge from unjust confinement in the mines of Pratt City Alabama, join up with the NAACP, hear of others exploring Black Islam, and take a tour through drug induced poverty, the final characters (Malcolm and Marjorie) attain a high socioeconomic status as shown through their lifestyle and attendance of exclusive colleges. Although these final characters are confronted for “acting white” by peers that reject them, there is little exploration of the tensions within the African American culture in regard to assimilation with white American culture and socioeconomic success. Our final pictures are illustrative of typical middle class black Americans, rather than those caught in violent inner city neighborhoods. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, as middle America African Americans (how am I even supposed to state that correctly) do not get enough representation generally, but in a work that takes such broad strokes to touch upon many converging factors of history and identity, it is noticeable that some common to our current time period are absent. I liked the symmetry of the family uniting in the friendship between Marjorie and Malcolm (who seem to represent different aspects of the author herself), and their trip to Ghana together. But I especially appreciated that while the author developed this sense of return, she didn’t belabor it with overbearing symbolism or laborious story line tie ups. There is one difference in this modern novel that I felt lacking as compared to Haley. It’s not a fault unique to Gyasi, and stood out more so for my having read other recent, popular titles (throwing shade at you Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng). This book contains several graphic sexual encounters. I prefer a narrative with more discretion. I don’t need to read a scene of sexual intercourse between two people to understand the relationship between them as passionate or destructive. Truly, sex is a powerful force for unity or abuse. However, love and marriage are far more dynamic than sex, though depth of relationship seems lost on those embracing sexual freedom as a high form of actualization. Because of the number of characters spanning generations, Gyasi’s Homegoing, especially in earlier chapters, seemed particularly burdened by this soft pornography that is seeping into titles aspiring to be considered for adult audiences today. Not only is this lazy writing (tell and not show), but it limits the audience. I WANT great literary works that can be shared, discussed and absorbed across generations. I’m not saying adult themes should be curtailed, but graphic descriptions of sexual encounters should be limited in number and detail to those absolutely necessary for moving the story forward. On this basis, I would caution parents, educators, and those who simply don’t want to take the time to work through steamy interludes, about this title. Honestly, I’m annoyed by this caution. I enjoyed this narrative and believe it offers a valuable voice, yet I cannot unequivocally recommend it for all, and reduced what would have been 4-5 stars down to 3 because of this forced caution. Roots, Haley, 1976 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Everything I Never Told You, Ng, 2014 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For one man’s autobiographic look at African American identity, I loved The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother, McBride, 1996 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For a fictional examination of racial tension in South Africa, see the beautiful: Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... or the powerful, A Dry White Season, Brink, 1978 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... If you are interested in the themes of Homegoing, you should also check out an excellent book that served Haley as source material for Roots, Jubilee, Walker, 1966 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... If fiction inspires you to non-fiction investigation, I found this history to be excellent, The Fate of Africa, Meredith, 2005 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 20, 2018
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Sep 09, 2018
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Jul 05, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 0590451561
| 9780590451567
| 0590451561
| 4.14
| 169
| 1988
| Feb 01, 1993
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really liked it
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If your child brings you a book and says, "This book is great! I learned so much! You should read it and write a review to tell everyone about it. It If your child brings you a book and says, "This book is great! I learned so much! You should read it and write a review to tell everyone about it. It looks like maybe there are other books, too. Can we get more?" You read it. You write a review. And you tell everyone what makes it excellent. What makes it excellent? - Information is given in a concrete and fact based manner. As an educator, I especially appreciated the "Note to the reader about slavery" that proceeded the text. Three paragraphs put slavery in the context of world history, educating children that slavery has been with us a long time (I would have liked an additional sentence that went one step further that slavery is illegal the world over today, but it is still a problem). The map provided in this section gives context to the Atlantic slave trade, helping kids understand where the slaves came from and where they were taken. Well done! - The table of contents lists the heading question of each page. This helps kids go back and look up information they forgot or need to accurately report in written work. - While question and answer books play to the author (they get to choose the questions and the answers), this book was laid out in a thorough and conversational manner. My student felt his questions were getting straightforward, concrete answers. The clarity helped make learning fun! - The text references personal historic examples, giving the person's name, a date, their experience and how it fits in with the text. These examples are not bogged down with citations (Good), but I would have liked to see some references to encourage students to additional research (unfortunate). Students are directed to museums in Cincinatti, OH; Memphis, TN; and Baltimore, MD at the end of the book, leading to the assumption that additional information about the individuals referenced could be found therein. - I am put off by the tone of the "You wouldn't want to...." series (also by Scholastic). I prefer the educational, fact based tone of these books. Now to find more of these titles for our home library! For the educator, I recommend two books that each have a chapter on slavery. Slavery in America... The 10 Big Lies about America, Medved, 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Slavery in context of world history... Race & Culture: A World View, Sowell, 1995 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 26, 2018
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Jun 26, 2018
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Jun 26, 2018
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Paperback
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| 1935442007
| unknown
| 4.16
| 922
| 1965
| unknown
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None
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Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 24, 2018
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Aug 08, 2018
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Jun 24, 2018
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Imitation Leather
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| 0756608341
| 9780756608347
| B00CF5ZDA0
| 4.14
| 261
| Jan 03, 2005
| Jan 03, 2005
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really liked it
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I purchased this book for my children at a Lincoln site in Springfield, IL, but it was me who read it on the way home! This series is excellent, combi
I purchased this book for my children at a Lincoln site in Springfield, IL, but it was me who read it on the way home! This series is excellent, combining photos of artifacts, locations, and paintings, to illuminate it's subjects. The Lincoln installment is no exception. The details of Lincoln's life are presenting in chronological order, with concern to be as concrete and fact based as possible about Mr. Lincoln and his world. While Lincoln has been lionized by history, his wife has been generally vilified. I appreciated the careful attention paid to Mrs. Lincoln to help the reader understand the numerous pressures upon Mary Todd Lincoln, as well as accurately present her struggles and flawed responses to her life's extraordinary challenges. Overall, Tanya Lee Stone's work, and DK Photographic Biography provided an excellent summary of our Springfield trip and a valuable addition to our home library. If you can't make the educational trip to Springfield, IL, this book will get you as close as possible apart from the immersive experience of being there. Highly recommended. Less visual, more in depth.... Abraham Lincoln's World, Foster 1944 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... A different view for adults... The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage, Epstein, 2008 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... And if you make it to Springfield, and love amazing food, check out Augies Front Burner, where a waiter named Gabriel took wonderful care of us for two days! http://augiesfrontburner.com/#thefron... ...more |
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1
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May 2018
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May 04, 2018
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May 01, 2018
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Paperback
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| 1556615213
| 9781556615214
| 1556615213
| unknown
| 4.06
| 734
| Feb 01, 1986
| Jul 1994
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liked it
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Improbable plots, one dimensional minor characters and shallow main characters continue to abound. And yet, the resolution of Maggie & Ian's story is
Improbable plots, one dimensional minor characters and shallow main characters continue to abound. And yet, the resolution of Maggie & Ian's story is rather satisfying. What is NOT satisfying is the discombobulated almost ridiculous route by which Joanna gets to Scotland. There is nothing objectionable here, and a love for Scotland and for trusting in God's plan are both apparent. The ending ties up rather nicely. But there's not much laudable beyond that. A wholesome read for middle schoolers and up that isn't satisfying to adults. I think I will pass these on, but before I can finally decide, I need to read the next set: Stranger at Stonewycke, Phillips & Pella, 1987 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Review of that series: The Stonewycke Legacy, Phillips & Pella, 2000 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
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1
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not set
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Nov 2017
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Oct 12, 2017
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Paperback
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| 144225694X
| 9781442256941
| B01NBWQTJT
| 4.49
| 101
| Mar 01, 2017
| Feb 16, 2017
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it was amazing
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In 1948, Jennifer Lin’s grandfather, a third generation Christian serving as an Anglican Bishop, was able to launch two of his four children to Americ
In 1948, Jennifer Lin’s grandfather, a third generation Christian serving as an Anglican Bishop, was able to launch two of his four children to America before the Chinese Civil War concluded with Communism walling off China from the world. The family managed to maintain cautious connection, passing information and money through the veil of Communist scrutiny for four decades. These were years of terror in China that claimed the lives of Lin’s grandparents, but prosperity for the Chinese who who had become Americans and their offspring. In 1979, when the door opened for her father to return, Lin and accompanied him to China to meet her family, and Jennifer Lin’s fascination with her family story began. While panoramic in breadth, Lin’s family story is a personal account that fits the narrative non-fiction genre well. Through 30 years of diligent research, documented by copious footnotes and a voluminous biography, Lin has captured her roots. Beginning with the first Chinese convert in her family, a man whose life course was altered by the missionary movement of the late nineteenth century, Lin wrestles with her progenitors through the entanglements of colonialism and opium, as well as the transition of missionary lead movement to local ministers, and how revolutionaries successfully used that transition as a wedge to attack Christian churches as foreign influences. She chronicles their engagement with Christianity through the Anglican practice of her grandfather and the independent house church movement of her Great-Uncle (Watchman Nee/ Ní Tuòshēng) and his sister, her Grandmother. The suffering of all Chinese through the Cultural Revolution, the persecution of Christians for their faith, and the tenuous familial relationships with outsiders, are all gently illuminated. The family’s relationship with America is filtered through educational experiences of some members, and ultimately the geo-political negotiations between Mao and Nixon that allowed both the reunification of the family in China and their eventual departure from China to the USA and Australia. Jennifer Lin has captured the heart of China, telling the history of a Chinese family in a Chinese way. Earnest, yet restrained, she presents their testimony with Confucian brevity. The student of China today will recognize many themes that continue in our days. After I finished Shanghai Faithful, I was reminded of another book that delves into great pain and beauty to present the heart of a people who have come through deep trials – Alan Paton’s Cry, the Beloved Country. And yet, Lin’s work has the greater impact of being non-fiction! I have two regrets about this book. The first is the subtitle. Sensational in nature, “Betrayal and Forgiveness in a Chinese Christian Family” fails to communicate the broad themes of the memoir. Lin captures that survival was the overarching goal, but the betrayals are handled cautiously and the forgiveness (in typical Chinese fashion), is largely offered through acceptance, not open reconciliation. If these concepts couldn’t be developed within the commitment to a non-fiction account, I would prefer a different subtitle that captures the excellent themes of the work, or no subtitle at all. My second regret is that this is not an easy book to acquire, especially troubling since its quality is worthy of the widest readership! Released in February of 2017, I had to pay $32 on Amazon for it in hardcover in the spring of 2017, and the price has ticked up slightly since ($36 for hardcover, $24 for Kindle in spring of 2018). I am thrilled to have this copy to pass onto my children, particularly valuable to us in understanding China. If you are at all interested in memoir, genealogy, China, Chinese American relationships, Chinese American immigrants, Christian mission, Christian persecution, Mao’s Cultural Revolution, Shanghai history, or simply reading a glimpse into a world traversed by others, I highly recommend Shanghai Faithful. Finally, if anyone thinks the horrors of humanity ended with the Second World War, you need to pay attention. Observing my own self-censoring in the writing of this review, I can only imagine the censoring Lin did in the writing of the book. And yet, for the darkness clearly defined, Lin’s account contains an optimism, a hope for the survival of future generations, the grace of breaking skies after storms passed, the testimony of lives lived well through torturous valleys, and the comfort of an everlasting rest that is worth it all. For more on the book, see the website: https://www.shanghaifaithful.com/q-and-a For more on China…. … about the missionary movement, see City of Tranquil Light, Caldwell, 2010 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For a fictional account of twentieth century China, see The Middle Heart, Bette Bao Lord, 1996 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... …Pulitzer Prize winning fiction set in China, written by the child of missionaries, The Good Earth (Good Earth Trilogy #1), Buck, 1931 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... For a glimpse of the soul of South Africa, see the fictional Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton, 1948 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Perhaps, you’ll want to check out the writing of Lin’s Great-Uncle, Watchman Nee. I’m told this is a good place to start: The Normal Christian Life, Nee, 1957 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... Or, a biography of Watchman Nee, Against the Tide, Kinnear, 2005 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 13, 2017
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May 2018
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Jun 13, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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Ebookwormy1
>
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history-nineteenth-century
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| 4.54
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it was amazing
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Jan 17, 2023
not set
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Oct 21, 2022
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| 4.23
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it was amazing
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Dec 16, 2021
Oct 2021
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Sep 23, 2021
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| 4.06
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it was amazing
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Sep 10, 2021
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Aug 10, 2021
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| 4.10
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really liked it
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Dec 09, 2020
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Dec 03, 2020
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| 4.24
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really liked it
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not set
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Dec 03, 2020
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| 4.24
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it was ok
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not set
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Jul 19, 2020
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| 3.83
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it was amazing
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Oct 31, 2019
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Oct 30, 2019
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| 4.70
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really liked it
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Aug 04, 2022
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Oct 21, 2019
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| 4.23
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really liked it
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Dec 03, 2020
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Oct 19, 2019
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|
| 4.38
|
not set
|
Sep 04, 2019
|
||||||
|
| 4.02
|
really liked it
|
Oct 21, 2019
|
Jan 08, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 4.15
|
really liked it
|
Jan 24, 2019
|
Jan 04, 2019
|
|||||
|
| 4.06
|
it was ok
|
not set
|
Dec 20, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.21
|
really liked it
|
Jan 16, 2019
|
Sep 21, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.47
|
liked it
|
Sep 09, 2018
|
Jul 05, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.14
|
really liked it
|
Jun 26, 2018
|
Jun 26, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.16
|
Aug 08, 2018
|
Jun 24, 2018
|
||||||
|
| 4.14
|
really liked it
|
May 04, 2018
|
May 01, 2018
|
|||||
|
| 4.06
|
liked it
|
Nov 2017
|
Oct 12, 2017
|
|||||
|
| 4.49
|
it was amazing
|
May 2018
|
Jun 13, 2017
|
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