Will I Ever Release "Faith And..."? Will I ever finish writing it?
I'm working on a non-fiction book--"Faith And..." where I look at how God's relationship to mankind is so much than "faith alone" or "scripture alone." I've been working on it for years, off and on, and just maybe this will the year I let it out the door. Or not. It depends on time and timing--time to write, and the right time to release. Who knows, I may even brave the agent's path--I do so long to have an agent. So I follow authors, read their roads, and dream their victories. Meanwhile I read.
Recently I've enjoyed some intriguing non-fiction books---some that puzzled, some confused, and some even annoyed; but yes, they all intrigued me. I apologize to anyone still awaiting reviews from me, and I promise I'll catch up, some day... (Maybe I'll even have a desk of my own in a space of my own to catch up in, when we finally restore our basement.) But for now, here are reviews of books about success, writing, faith in self and in spirituality, and even getting the kid to bed! Enjoy.
But first, put the water on to brew some coffee.
I'm usually annoyed by Bible Code type books--as far as I'm concerned God guided people to write His words in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, not in code. But The Chamberlain Key by Timothy P Smith claims to disagree with the Bible Code, so I thought I'd give it a try. It turned out not to disagree as strongly as I'd have liked, and it reads like a cross between memoir and a spiritual journal, liberally spiced with persuasive argument, unpersuasive math, and many dreams and visions. For myself, I ended up believing that the author believed his tale, but unconvinced by any of his conclusions. Still, if you like the Bible Code I'm pretty sure you'll love this book too. Enjoy with some seriously intense five-star coffee.
Spirit of the Earth, edited by Michael Oren Fitzgerald and Joseph A Fitzgerald, offers a gorgeous blend of full-color photography and Indian Voices on Nature. With text and images beautifully paired, showing wilderness, nature, animals and birds, and classical Indian poses, the book reads like a cross between and song and a prayer, which, perhaps, is exactly how it is meant to be read. "We who are clay, blended by the Master Potter," should all find inspiration in the world's beauty and the peoples' wisdom, whatever our religious persuasion. Enjoy this one with some elegant, richly brewed four-star coffee and keep it on your coffee table.
With even more pictures and fewer words, Uvi Poznansky's The Last Concubine continues her David Chronicles Inspired By Art series - an accompaniment to a wonderful collection of novels that portray the life of King David. The story has inspired art through the centuries, and the art in this collection, as in the others, is both intriguing and inspiring--a really enjoyable visual treat. Pour some elegant four-star coffee and browse some familiar and unfamiliar artists inspired by David.
Goodnight, Jeremy by Stacy White is a more traditional picture book, designed to be read with small children. Technically it's fiction rather than non-fiction, but it feels like real life and it fits in this collection with its very realistic depiction of a small child struggling to fall asleep--and of that minor guilt evoked by failing to do as his mother has asked. It's a sweet tale redolent with everyday life and illustrated in pleasing pastel shades. Enjoy with some lively easy-drinking two-star coffee.
Filled with a very different sort of pictures is Puzzle Box Volume 1 by Peter and Serhiy Grabarchuk - a perfect coffee table collection of brightly colored, inviting puzzles of all types and levels, beautifully collected for family fun. A social treasure to be enjoyed with some lively two-star coffee and good company.
The Six Month Novel Writing Plan by Caitlin Jans is more about words than pictures, and offers nice advice on how to start, keep going, and stick to a timetable. Novels go through multiple drafts, but completed novels don't go through infinite numbers of revisions - and they do go from start to finish. With advice on plotting, workshopping, critiquing, character and more... it's well organized, easy to navigate, and good on those so-easily-forgotten details, like who should narrate the novel or the scene. Read, drink easy-drinking two-star coffee, and write!
Then, if success seems slow to come, (ah doesn't it so), read Finding Success In Balance, my journey to the cheerful mind by Apryl Zarate Schlueter. It's a memoir (so I'm bookending this collection of reviews on the same page). But it's also a self-help manual, inviting readers to examine their lack of success or cheerfulness and be ready to "start anew." You might want a more serious coffee with this one, but don't go too dark. Enjoy a well-balanced three-star cup with a book that balances advice and memoir quite pleasingly.
Recently I've enjoyed some intriguing non-fiction books---some that puzzled, some confused, and some even annoyed; but yes, they all intrigued me. I apologize to anyone still awaiting reviews from me, and I promise I'll catch up, some day... (Maybe I'll even have a desk of my own in a space of my own to catch up in, when we finally restore our basement.) But for now, here are reviews of books about success, writing, faith in self and in spirituality, and even getting the kid to bed! Enjoy.
But first, put the water on to brew some coffee.
I'm usually annoyed by Bible Code type books--as far as I'm concerned God guided people to write His words in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, not in code. But The Chamberlain Key by Timothy P Smith claims to disagree with the Bible Code, so I thought I'd give it a try. It turned out not to disagree as strongly as I'd have liked, and it reads like a cross between memoir and a spiritual journal, liberally spiced with persuasive argument, unpersuasive math, and many dreams and visions. For myself, I ended up believing that the author believed his tale, but unconvinced by any of his conclusions. Still, if you like the Bible Code I'm pretty sure you'll love this book too. Enjoy with some seriously intense five-star coffee.
Spirit of the Earth, edited by Michael Oren Fitzgerald and Joseph A Fitzgerald, offers a gorgeous blend of full-color photography and Indian Voices on Nature. With text and images beautifully paired, showing wilderness, nature, animals and birds, and classical Indian poses, the book reads like a cross between and song and a prayer, which, perhaps, is exactly how it is meant to be read. "We who are clay, blended by the Master Potter," should all find inspiration in the world's beauty and the peoples' wisdom, whatever our religious persuasion. Enjoy this one with some elegant, richly brewed four-star coffee and keep it on your coffee table.
With even more pictures and fewer words, Uvi Poznansky's The Last Concubine continues her David Chronicles Inspired By Art series - an accompaniment to a wonderful collection of novels that portray the life of King David. The story has inspired art through the centuries, and the art in this collection, as in the others, is both intriguing and inspiring--a really enjoyable visual treat. Pour some elegant four-star coffee and browse some familiar and unfamiliar artists inspired by David.
Goodnight, Jeremy by Stacy White is a more traditional picture book, designed to be read with small children. Technically it's fiction rather than non-fiction, but it feels like real life and it fits in this collection with its very realistic depiction of a small child struggling to fall asleep--and of that minor guilt evoked by failing to do as his mother has asked. It's a sweet tale redolent with everyday life and illustrated in pleasing pastel shades. Enjoy with some lively easy-drinking two-star coffee.
Filled with a very different sort of pictures is Puzzle Box Volume 1 by Peter and Serhiy Grabarchuk - a perfect coffee table collection of brightly colored, inviting puzzles of all types and levels, beautifully collected for family fun. A social treasure to be enjoyed with some lively two-star coffee and good company.
The Six Month Novel Writing Plan by Caitlin Jans is more about words than pictures, and offers nice advice on how to start, keep going, and stick to a timetable. Novels go through multiple drafts, but completed novels don't go through infinite numbers of revisions - and they do go from start to finish. With advice on plotting, workshopping, critiquing, character and more... it's well organized, easy to navigate, and good on those so-easily-forgotten details, like who should narrate the novel or the scene. Read, drink easy-drinking two-star coffee, and write!
Then, if success seems slow to come, (ah doesn't it so), read Finding Success In Balance, my journey to the cheerful mind by Apryl Zarate Schlueter. It's a memoir (so I'm bookending this collection of reviews on the same page). But it's also a self-help manual, inviting readers to examine their lack of success or cheerfulness and be ready to "start anew." You might want a more serious coffee with this one, but don't go too dark. Enjoy a well-balanced three-star cup with a book that balances advice and memoir quite pleasingly.
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