Thursday, September 13, 2018
Watching the Clock
by Christopher L. Bennett
I picked this one up to read on a flight from Chicago. It's been awhile since I read a Star Trek book. Alas, this one didn't make me want to pick up another anytime soon. Watching the Clock is not a tale of one of the TV series, but rather focuses on two characters from an episode of Deep Space Nine, who are agents of the Department of Temporal Investigations. It's a rambling tale consisting of various subplots that culminates in a shootout of sorts involving a variety of time travellers. Mr. Bennett managed to include a reference to every time travel episode from the franchise. I admire his research, but overall the book was unsatisfactory. I wouldn't necessarily toss it into the Elbe River, but I doubt if I'd fish it out if it happened to fall in.
LibraryThing link
I picked this one up to read on a flight from Chicago. It's been awhile since I read a Star Trek book. Alas, this one didn't make me want to pick up another anytime soon. Watching the Clock is not a tale of one of the TV series, but rather focuses on two characters from an episode of Deep Space Nine, who are agents of the Department of Temporal Investigations. It's a rambling tale consisting of various subplots that culminates in a shootout of sorts involving a variety of time travellers. Mr. Bennett managed to include a reference to every time travel episode from the franchise. I admire his research, but overall the book was unsatisfactory. I wouldn't necessarily toss it into the Elbe River, but I doubt if I'd fish it out if it happened to fall in.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ChristopherBennett, StarTrek, TossIt
Saturday, October 31, 2015
The Book of Mormon
by Joseph Smith
This is my second attempt at reading this book. I bailed on the first attempt, many years ago, as I found the book, ah, uninspiring. Now and then, I thought about giving it another go, but never bothered to until a couple months ago. I got into a conversation with a couple of Mormon missionaries and felt a bit ashamed that I had rejected their views based on such a cursory reading. So I dusted off the book and tried again. This time, with determination, I persevered and was able to read it through.
This time I found the book, ah, uninspiring.
The cover of my copy of The Book of Mormon proclaims it to be "Another Testament of Jesus Christ". As I read the book, I had in mind the other testaments, namely the Bible. I was especially mindful as to how well the three testaments fit together. The problem was, The Book of Mormon never quite fit. It tells the tale of Lehi, an Israelite from one of the tribes of Joseph. He is a righteous man, living in Jerusalem around 600 BC, soon before the Babylonians will come and destroy the city and take the people into captivity. God calls Lehi to take his family and leave Jerusalem, which they do, and head towards a new promised land across the waters. They settle in this new country, but troubles arise even as they leave Jerusalem. Sons Laman and Lemuel go along but are not totally on board with Dad and his spirituality. The younger Nephi, however, is a faithful son and heir to his father's faith. The reader is then treated to about a thousand years worth of rebellions and revivals among the children of Lehi, punctuated by prophecies and then a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ.
So that kind of sounds like the history of the children of Israel, right? Well, compare my pedestrian prose above to the rich text of the Old Testament, and you can start to understand my big beef with The Book of Mormon. Except where it quotes the Bible, the text of The Book of Mormon is very bland. Instead of the thought provoking imagery of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel detailing the transgressions of Israel, you get a regular refrain of "Repent ye, repent ye!" over a generic set of sins. Instead of complex characters like David, Ahab or Nebuchadnezzar, you get guys like Nephi or Ammoron who come across as complex as 1950s television characters.
Of course, beyond that, there's the theology. I'm a Lutheran Christian, so I was raised hearing that we're saved by faith in Jesus, not by our own good works. In The Book of Mormon, it's all about the good pious people versus the nasty rebels. Jesus will forgive you, sure, but only after you turn yourself around and start behaving. It goes against what I've been taught. And since The Book of Mormon doesn't read like it's in the same class as the Bible, I'm not inclined to question my current beliefs.
Just toss it into the Elbe River.
LibraryThing link
This is my second attempt at reading this book. I bailed on the first attempt, many years ago, as I found the book, ah, uninspiring. Now and then, I thought about giving it another go, but never bothered to until a couple months ago. I got into a conversation with a couple of Mormon missionaries and felt a bit ashamed that I had rejected their views based on such a cursory reading. So I dusted off the book and tried again. This time, with determination, I persevered and was able to read it through.
This time I found the book, ah, uninspiring.
The cover of my copy of The Book of Mormon proclaims it to be "Another Testament of Jesus Christ". As I read the book, I had in mind the other testaments, namely the Bible. I was especially mindful as to how well the three testaments fit together. The problem was, The Book of Mormon never quite fit. It tells the tale of Lehi, an Israelite from one of the tribes of Joseph. He is a righteous man, living in Jerusalem around 600 BC, soon before the Babylonians will come and destroy the city and take the people into captivity. God calls Lehi to take his family and leave Jerusalem, which they do, and head towards a new promised land across the waters. They settle in this new country, but troubles arise even as they leave Jerusalem. Sons Laman and Lemuel go along but are not totally on board with Dad and his spirituality. The younger Nephi, however, is a faithful son and heir to his father's faith. The reader is then treated to about a thousand years worth of rebellions and revivals among the children of Lehi, punctuated by prophecies and then a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ.
So that kind of sounds like the history of the children of Israel, right? Well, compare my pedestrian prose above to the rich text of the Old Testament, and you can start to understand my big beef with The Book of Mormon. Except where it quotes the Bible, the text of The Book of Mormon is very bland. Instead of the thought provoking imagery of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel detailing the transgressions of Israel, you get a regular refrain of "Repent ye, repent ye!" over a generic set of sins. Instead of complex characters like David, Ahab or Nebuchadnezzar, you get guys like Nephi or Ammoron who come across as complex as 1950s television characters.
Of course, beyond that, there's the theology. I'm a Lutheran Christian, so I was raised hearing that we're saved by faith in Jesus, not by our own good works. In The Book of Mormon, it's all about the good pious people versus the nasty rebels. Jesus will forgive you, sure, but only after you turn yourself around and start behaving. It goes against what I've been taught. And since The Book of Mormon doesn't read like it's in the same class as the Bible, I'm not inclined to question my current beliefs.
Just toss it into the Elbe River.
LibraryThing link
Labels: TossIt
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Count of Monte Cristo
by Alexandre Dumas
Here's a book that I both want to put on my shelf and toss into the Elbe River. Why? Because I was really enjoying the book until I discovered that the copy I had purchased and was reading was an abridged version of Mr. Dumas' classic tale. I felt cheated, I felt shame at reading a lesser version rather than delving into a (reported) big, fat, honking, 19th Century novel. So if you are at the book store and see the 441 page Bantam Classic version--don't buy it! Hold out for the real deal. Accept no version that you can easily carry with one hand.
Unless, of course, that's the only version you can find. Even though I was a victim of poor packaging, I had to finish reading the book--puny as it was. The Count of Monte Cristo is the tale of Edmond Dantès, a young man facing a bright future. Even though he is barely twenty, the young sailor is looking forward to rapid promotion in his job and a joyous marriage to the love of his life. Unfortunately Edmond has rivals for each and these men conspire to get him out of the way. Through their actions, Edmond is falsely accused of conspiracy and imprisoned. Years pass and life passes Edmond by. Eventually people assume that he is dead. The truth however, is that Edmond eventually escapes imprisonment and finds the means in which to prepare an elaborate revenge. I truly enjoyed the story, though it was a bit disillusioning to discover that Batman, the Shadow and Captain Christopher Pike weren't quite as original as I thought.
LibraryThing link
Here's a book that I both want to put on my shelf and toss into the Elbe River. Why? Because I was really enjoying the book until I discovered that the copy I had purchased and was reading was an abridged version of Mr. Dumas' classic tale. I felt cheated, I felt shame at reading a lesser version rather than delving into a (reported) big, fat, honking, 19th Century novel. So if you are at the book store and see the 441 page Bantam Classic version--don't buy it! Hold out for the real deal. Accept no version that you can easily carry with one hand.
Unless, of course, that's the only version you can find. Even though I was a victim of poor packaging, I had to finish reading the book--puny as it was. The Count of Monte Cristo is the tale of Edmond Dantès, a young man facing a bright future. Even though he is barely twenty, the young sailor is looking forward to rapid promotion in his job and a joyous marriage to the love of his life. Unfortunately Edmond has rivals for each and these men conspire to get him out of the way. Through their actions, Edmond is falsely accused of conspiracy and imprisoned. Years pass and life passes Edmond by. Eventually people assume that he is dead. The truth however, is that Edmond eventually escapes imprisonment and finds the means in which to prepare an elaborate revenge. I truly enjoyed the story, though it was a bit disillusioning to discover that Batman, the Shadow and Captain Christopher Pike weren't quite as original as I thought.
LibraryThing link
Wednesday, September 24, 2003
VALIS
by Philip K. Dick
Ah, what to do with this book? It was a science fiction book recommended to me by the host of Unearthed Ruminations, so I really wanted to like it. But I didn't. It's a very spiritual book, and I ended up disagreeing with what it had to say. It's the tale of a man named Horselover Fat who goes crazy and has an encounter with God. The book covers his attempt to make sense of it all, which leads him to discover God's attempt to rescue the world from the mad deities who have screwed it all up. That's a way too simplistic recounting of the book, but for me the plot really was a secondary hing. I was reading the book looking for something, anything, that I could praise about it. About the only nice thing I can say is that it does come across as the author's legitimate search for God. (or at least meaning in life.) But he seemed to find that meaning in Gnostic Christianity. Throughout the book the reader is given snatches of spiritual observations and teachings, but in the end the "truth" is revealed to be that "you will have no gods but yourselves." Feh. If I'm such a god than why can't I write better book reviews? It's an old, old lie and hardly entertaining. So with apologies to the Unearthed Ruminator, I'm afraid I'll have to toss this one in the Elbe river.
Labels: TossIt
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
Dark Passions, Book One
by Susan Wright
This is the first book I'd like to toss in the Elbe River without any real passion. It's not evil, it's not heretical, it's just dull. The background of the tale stems from the original Star Trek series on TV. In an episode called "Mirror, Mirror", Captain Kirk and three other crew members found themselves in an alternate universe where everyone was cruel and selfish. The story follows the quartet's attempts to get back home and maintain their cover without compromising their morality. Years later, the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did a sequel, titled "Crossover". This was less a morality tale than a chance for the actors of the series to ham it up playing bad guys. Dark Passions is a two novel prequel to the latter episode. It lacks the moral dilemma of "Mirror, Mirror", as well as the broad acting of "Crossover". It even lacks the eroticism hinted at by the title and cover illustration. (A trio of lether clad, female Trek characters.) What's left is a rather bland tale of political manuverings and the slight pleasure of catching the similarities between the alternate universe and the "real" one. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by.
LibraryThing link
This is the first book I'd like to toss in the Elbe River without any real passion. It's not evil, it's not heretical, it's just dull. The background of the tale stems from the original Star Trek series on TV. In an episode called "Mirror, Mirror", Captain Kirk and three other crew members found themselves in an alternate universe where everyone was cruel and selfish. The story follows the quartet's attempts to get back home and maintain their cover without compromising their morality. Years later, the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did a sequel, titled "Crossover". This was less a morality tale than a chance for the actors of the series to ham it up playing bad guys. Dark Passions is a two novel prequel to the latter episode. It lacks the moral dilemma of "Mirror, Mirror", as well as the broad acting of "Crossover". It even lacks the eroticism hinted at by the title and cover illustration. (A trio of lether clad, female Trek characters.) What's left is a rather bland tale of political manuverings and the slight pleasure of catching the similarities between the alternate universe and the "real" one. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by.
LibraryThing link
Thursday, March 15, 2001
The Powers That Be
by Walter Wink
Stand back, I'm gonna toss this one in the Elbe river. But before I do, I suppose I should mention the two very good points about this book. The first is the thought that everything has a spiritual dimension to it. Not only do people have a soul but also our organizations -- church bodies, corporations, nations. These are the "powers" referred to Ephesians 6:12 and a few other scripture passages. The second point is that these "powers that be" have a good, God given purpose, even if they've been twisted beyond redemption. (For example, Germany still needed a government after the Nazis were removed from power.) Okay, those are the two very good points. He also makes a good case for pacifism and non-violence. But I'm also sympathetic to that point of view, so I'm not as critical as one might be. So what's wrong with this book? What evil has the author done that makes me want to take his handiwork and dunk it? Well, basically, Walter Wink is, in my opinion, a bad theologian. He has developed a nice theory about a supreme evil power, the Domination System, and seems to interpret the Bible according to that theory. Those passages that fit in well with his theory are held up, those that would raise questions are either not mentioned or explained away. To be fair, the main thrust of the book is not to show how the Bible supports his theory. (Condemning violence, especially in combatting the evil of this world, stands out as the main point.) But for such a lover of scripture as I am, the sin of twisting scripture is nigh unforgivable. I can't really take any of his statements seriously, knowing that they are built, at least in part, on an interpretation of God's Word that I cannot abide. So this one's gone. (Oh, and I should mention that this book is a condensation of a trilogy of books previously written by Wink: Engaging the Powers, Unmasking the Powers, and Naming the Powers)
LibraryThing link
Stand back, I'm gonna toss this one in the Elbe river. But before I do, I suppose I should mention the two very good points about this book. The first is the thought that everything has a spiritual dimension to it. Not only do people have a soul but also our organizations -- church bodies, corporations, nations. These are the "powers" referred to Ephesians 6:12 and a few other scripture passages. The second point is that these "powers that be" have a good, God given purpose, even if they've been twisted beyond redemption. (For example, Germany still needed a government after the Nazis were removed from power.) Okay, those are the two very good points. He also makes a good case for pacifism and non-violence. But I'm also sympathetic to that point of view, so I'm not as critical as one might be. So what's wrong with this book? What evil has the author done that makes me want to take his handiwork and dunk it? Well, basically, Walter Wink is, in my opinion, a bad theologian. He has developed a nice theory about a supreme evil power, the Domination System, and seems to interpret the Bible according to that theory. Those passages that fit in well with his theory are held up, those that would raise questions are either not mentioned or explained away. To be fair, the main thrust of the book is not to show how the Bible supports his theory. (Condemning violence, especially in combatting the evil of this world, stands out as the main point.) But for such a lover of scripture as I am, the sin of twisting scripture is nigh unforgivable. I can't really take any of his statements seriously, knowing that they are built, at least in part, on an interpretation of God's Word that I cannot abide. So this one's gone. (Oh, and I should mention that this book is a condensation of a trilogy of books previously written by Wink: Engaging the Powers, Unmasking the Powers, and Naming the Powers)
LibraryThing link
Labels: TossIt
Saturday, July 08, 2000
Tijuana Bibles
by Bob Adelman
Finally, a book I can toss in the Elbe river. (That's a reference to what the theologian Martin Luther wanted to do with a book he had disagreed with.) However, I feel a bit guilty making such a recommendation. Heck, I feel guilty for checking the book out in the first place. Let me explain: "Tijuana Bibles" were cheap little pornographic comics that flourished in the thirties, forties and fifties. I knew about them and had seen some reprinted examples of their content. Then I stumbled across this book at the Library (!) and even though I knew what Tijuana Bibles were, I checked the book out. Mostly, the book reprints a number examples of the genre. There is about a magazine article's worth of history and analysis, but it really didn't justify my perusing of this volume. (Of course, I didn't have the good sense or willpower not to peruse the pornographic examples.) So anyway, even though I looked at the book myself, I would recommend that you don't. 'Tis a hypocritical review, perhaps, but more than any other of my reviews, I think it's sound.
LibraryThing link
Finally, a book I can toss in the Elbe river. (That's a reference to what the theologian Martin Luther wanted to do with a book he had disagreed with.) However, I feel a bit guilty making such a recommendation. Heck, I feel guilty for checking the book out in the first place. Let me explain: "Tijuana Bibles" were cheap little pornographic comics that flourished in the thirties, forties and fifties. I knew about them and had seen some reprinted examples of their content. Then I stumbled across this book at the Library (!) and even though I knew what Tijuana Bibles were, I checked the book out. Mostly, the book reprints a number examples of the genre. There is about a magazine article's worth of history and analysis, but it really didn't justify my perusing of this volume. (Of course, I didn't have the good sense or willpower not to peruse the pornographic examples.) So anyway, even though I looked at the book myself, I would recommend that you don't. 'Tis a hypocritical review, perhaps, but more than any other of my reviews, I think it's sound.
LibraryThing link
Labels: TossIt
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
