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Sunday, April 29, 2012

'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Opens Up About Books' Christian Imagery

'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Opens Up About Books' Christian Imagery

The information in this article was no surprise to me.  I started reading the Harry Potter books around the time  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban came out A friend of mine in the Air Force was reading one in the tool shop one day, and I started ribbing him a little bit about it.  He convinced me that the books were really good and I gave them a shot.  I've been a Potter fan ever since.

I- like everyone else- was very curious about how the story would end, but I wasn't worried too much about it, and trusted Rowling to wrap the whole thing up in the right way.

As the Christian themes and allegory became more evident, I was pleased but I wasn't surprised.  Rowling did something that Lewis hadn't done in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and something that Tolkien hadn't done in The Lord of the Rings- she'd actually quoted Bible verses in the text of her prose, without alerting her audience that that's what she was doing.  She was proselytizing Christianity, planting seeds in the minds of eager young readers.  She was telling them the greatest story ever told, just doing it in her own way.

It's true that Rowling admits struggling with aspects of her faith, and it's true that she is not as devout a Christian as some other notable writers, but her books have planted and will plants seeds that God can use to raise up future generations of believers in Christ.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1-5)

I just finished reading Wool Omnibus Edition (Wool 1 - 5) [Kindle Edition] by hugh howey


This book is a collection of the five Wool books, and details the lives of people living in underground silos in an "after the bomb" type world.  We're never actually told that a nuclear war is what happened, and in fact it's hinted at that this may not be what happened, although no life is capable of existing on the surface due to the residual poisonous gasses from whatever happened.

These books are very well written.  The author has a good way of bringing the reader into the scene and making you feel like you're there, and there are plenty of unexpected surprises to keep your attention, even in the drab, isolated existence of silo life.

This collection is a solid addition to the world of sci-fi and I had a fun time reading it.  I'll definitely check out other works by this author.

The Author's website
 http://www.hughhowey.com/



From Amazon:
This Omnibus Edition collects the five Wool books into a single volume. It is for those who arrived late to the party and who wish to save a dollar or two while picking up the same stories in a single package.

The first Wool story was released as a standalone short in July of 2011. Due to reviewer demand, the rest of the story was released over the next six months. My thanks go out to those reviewers who clamored for more. Without you, none of this would exist. Your demand created this as much as I did.

This is the story of mankind clawing for survival, of mankind on the edge. The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they profess to want: They are allowed outside.

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Art of Storytelling: Easy Steps to Presenting an Unforgettable Story

This book contains good and practical advice which can be applied by anyone who desires to tell a better story. The book is written from a Christian perspective, and should help you out a lot with your oral presentation skills.

John Walsh's (author's) website

Book Description From Amazon: Whether speaking in front of a small gathering or a large congregation, public speaking strikes fear into the heart of the bravest person. Plagued by stuttering and resultant school problems, John Walsh still found himself called to be a preacher. He has written The Art of Storytelling to encourage and teach anyone with a fear of public speaking how to speak successfully, confidently, and compellingly. This book is especially relevant for anyone preparing any form of weekly Bible teaching.

The Trees

This collection of short stories was a fun read. I think the author has a lot of potential and would be interested in reading more of his work. The trees was my favorite story in the collection. I also enjoyed Laroche, but would have liked to see this story developed a bit more as I thought the concept was a very interesting one, but as the saying goes, always leave the crowd wanting more. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys clever short stories. Ebook Short Description (From Smashwords) Monsters, legends, and things that we would rather not think about, this collection of three short stories and two pieces of flash fiction will treat readers to a strange and frightening world that lies in the shadows of the Pacific Northwest. Get it on Smashwords