Sarah's Bookshelf

Angels Watching

2011-02-21T00:04:00.001-05:00

1 Peter 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 11:10 both talk about angels watching us. 1 Peter even says "eagerly watching" and that the angels are very interested in the gospel.
Since I first heard this, maybe 13 years ago, I've been struck by the idea that angels watch us. It is interesting that angels are eagerly watching in matters of the gospel as the Bible indicates that fallen angels cannot be saved. I heard somewhere that they also watch us to know what a relationship with God is like, or what God is like, but I can't find a passage in the Bible that says that specifically.

But all this makes me wonder how they watch us.... do they come to earth and we just can't see them? Do they have some sort of super vision to watch from heaven? It also makes me wonder if they talk similarly to we do. We know that they sing praises to God and other related things, but is it from actual mouths? Some sort of mental communication? Do they even look like humans, just with wings? In describing the cherubim it talks about many sets of wings... how does that work? I often just wonder sometimes about what angels are really like. In some ways it is easier than to think about what God will look like or how he will present Himself to us when we see him. Perhaps because angels seem more... understandable, I guess, as the Bible does talk some about what angels look like, but not much about what God looks like as far as form. Mostly, it talks more about his "presence" or his character. By presence I mean: Holiness so blinding you can hardly look at him, shown on earth as fire on the burning bush, a pillar of fire and of cloud for the children of Israel to follow, a voice from heaven speaking. All this speaks to his majesty, greatness and transcendence, but it makes it a bit difficult to wrap your brain around and think of him in terms of a personal God (not that I disbelieve that he is a personal God, I'm just talking about the limitations of our understanding and lack of descriptors- purposely, I'm sure- about what God looks in the Bible).

Anyway, back to angels. Every few years I reread a series called Chronicles of the Host by D. Brian Shafer. It is a fictional series that tells the narrative told in the Bible from the angel's point of view, both heavenly and fallen. It was a bit eye opening to read the same events from the Bible from an angel's perspective, even though it's fiction. It helps me to see the same stories I've read for years from a different angle, not just skimming, skipping, or overlooking parts from familiarity. It actually starts before the world is made and kind of sets up the scene for the how and why of Lucifer's fall (from the author's perspective, of course, as well as biblical passages). Through the 4 books of the series, it runs from that beginning to shortly after Jesus' death and resurrection. It's interesting to see a potential scenario for how this played out from "behind the scenes", as well as motivations, and pictures of the... character, let's say... of both the heavenly and the fallen angels.

So, if you can, check it out. I wouldn't mind having a conversation or too afterward either. :)

World of Fantasy

2010-08-24T19:48:00.000-04:00

Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Alice and Wonderland, Animal Farm, Charley and the Chocolate Factory, Dracula, Fahrenheit 451, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Invisible Man, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Gulliver's Travels, Legend of Sleepy Hollows, MacBeth, Odyssey, Picture of Dorian Grey, A Wrinkle In Time.

What do all these titles have in common?
They are all classic literature that are fantasy.

It's ok to read classic literature even if it's fantasy (unless you are a very strict legalist), so why is modern fantasy so discarded?

So often I feel pushed to be defensive about being a Christian and reading fantasy.
Not from everyone, and not from every Christian. But enough that I feel like I need to qualify my answers so people will understand. I don't feel as much that way anymore, but it is something I feel strongly about.
Now I don't want to get into a debate with anyone because I have thought about these topics and thoughts long and hard over the past 15 years- I am not going to change my mind. You can share your opinion, but please don't expect to start an argument or debate because your comment will be deleted.

That being said...
A number of people that are very strict in their thoughts on Christianity tend to think and even believe that all fantasy is of the devil and tempts people to witchcraft. While I can understand why they might think this way, I don't and can't believe this to be true. God is a God of creativity. He loves for us to use our imaginations. He loves for us to create and share beauty. What people do with that is something else entirely.
People are fallen and are doomed to a life of sin, pain, and disappointment. Everyone. However, some are redeemed to share the wonders in heaven because of Jesus's sacrifice. Btw, did you know that redemption and forgiveness is a very popular topic in many fantasy novels?

People will make decisions for redemption or sin regardless of what type of books are read, music is listened to, and movies/tv shows are watched. If someone if going to be tempted into witchcraft, it will be because of their heart's circumstances, not because of what they read or listen to. Often those that seek witchcraft (and by this I mean the dangerous kind, not Wiccan, which is different though there are some similarities) are those that desire power and control. Those seeking power and control will often end up in some sort of dangerous activity, whether it is theft, abuse, murder or witchcraft (or some combination thereof). Their reading material is, well, immaterial to the state of their heart. Depending on the book it may be a symptom, perhaps, but not an outright slide to wickedness.

Notice I said depending on the book? I've read thousands of books. However, I don't read indiscriminately. Some books I start to read and put down, give away, throw away, etc depending on the subject matter. I have standards that I have been working through for years and finally came to a conclusion on over the last couple.

These are the books I don't read or will not continue to read after starting (and this is only my opinion and preference):
~ Books where vampires are the main character and the good guys while they hurt people, drink blood, like it, etc.
~ Books that focus on sex.
~ Books that purport demons to be good guys.
~ Books that promote witchcraft as exists in the real world.
~ Books describing and promoting homosexuality. (No, I'm not a homophobe, but I don't need to read it either.)
~ Books where the main character goes on power or control trips, hurts people and never realizes this is wrong.

Books I love to read:
~ Ones in which the main character has a lot of personal growth throughout the book/series.
~ Ones in which the protagonist (main character) has a lot of character strengths.
~ Ones in which personal values such as family, friendship, loyalty, kindness, and faithfulness are shown positively. (Patricia Brigg's books are great for this)
~ Ones portraying the battle between good and evil, with the good winning in the end.

Believe it or not, one series that covers all of these and none of the things in the first list is Harry Potter. Harry Potter is one of the foremost fantasy series that has been errr... demonized by many Christians. I myself was on the bandwagon at one point until someone asked me if I've ever read them, and how can I know this (all the things same Christians have problems with) is actually true if I haven't. I thought about it and realized that he was right. I really had no idea what it was about except that it involved magic and that magic was "bad". After reading the first couple books I wondered how on earth many of the Christians that had problems with it got the ideas from. The only thing that would be a "problem" is that it has magic in it. There are no demons, debauchery, drunkeness, etc. The kids stand up to bullies, care for each other, help each other, take a stand against evil and injustice, respect their parents, and encourage each other to be strong when evil is dragging you down, among many other things. Correct me if I'm wrong, but these are all biblical ideas.
Magic is not automatically equal to witchcraft. Much of the "magic" that is used in many stories is more whimsical and not following any of the forms of those that do practice witchcraft.

Regardless, not all fantasy books involve magic. In fact, some of my favorite fantasy books have no magic in at all. Things related to fantasy are merely outside the realm of reality. Fantastical creatures, alternate realities, future possibilities, etc.

To say that all fantasy is evil or bad is similar to saying all politicians are corrupt. While it is possible that many politicians are corrupt, you won't know until you get to know them or their practices better. Likewise with books- you really can't judge a book by it's cover. I mean that both metaphorically and literally. The cover is what draws a lot of people, but the author usually gets very little say on it- it is all at the discretion of the editor, artist, and graphic designer. I feel bad for authors that don't get good cover representation of their book.

Someone told me that I shouldn't read books that pull me away from God- ergo I shouldn't read fantasy. While I love this person very much, they don't know the state of my heart- only God does. Yes, books can bring you up or down, but you can't make a blanket statement saying that all books of a certain genre pull you away from God. (While we are on the subject, there are a good number of "Christian" books that pull me away from God. O.o Who would have thought?) There are a good number of fantasy writers that are Christians, or at the least, Deists. There are many books you can read and know they are writing about God even if they don't name him as such. There have been a number of books that have helped me realize I have a sinful issue in my life, deal with issues I am already aware of, show me another aspect of myself I haven't thought of or pursued, helped me to accept all of who I am as God sees me, and helped me to love others better. None of those were Christian books.

Does this mean that because I read fantasy books I won't read the Bible, or any other Christian pursuit? Of course not. However, the books a person reads is a statement on their personality, character, and metamorphosis of thought.

This is me, and this is where I stand. You can take it or leave it.

Midnight's Daughter

2009-08-04T13:11:00.001-04:00

If you are an avid fan of the Cassie Palmer series, you may remember the book of photos that Cassie found in Mircea's room and got jealous over. Well, in Midnight's Daughter we are thoroughly introduced to this lady in question: Dorina Basarab, a dhampir, meaning half human and half vampire. With the same humor in the CP series, and even more of the girl kick butt attitude, Dorina is a strong protagonist. She isn't afraid to get in the midst of danger. However, this latest request from her "dearest dad" is going to test her limits in every way, both with going up against her uncle Dracula and the handsome vampire her dad wants her to work with. I am loving the beginning of this series as much as Cassie Palmer, and will definitely be reading more when they come out!

Midnight's Daughter: ***1/2

Moon Called

2009-08-04T13:10:00.001-04:00

I love these books! I've read thousands but these caught me by surprise. Mercy has fire and passion, but tempers it with stubbornness, determination and fierce loyalty to those she cares about and falls under her wing. She has compassion for others and isn't afraid to admit she is afraid. At least to herself. She is attracted to guys like most other women, and goes through some confusing times trying to figure out what her heart is telling her about two guys that make it clear they are just waiting for her go-ahead. Patricia Briggs does a terrific job making the characters ones you relate to, and Mercy's world real enough that you almost expect to meet them on the street in Tri-cities. This series is one of few that I go back to when I have nothing else to read and want something really good. I think I've read the series 4 or 5 times by now and love them every time. I can't wait for her next one!

Moon Called: ****1/2

Sebastian

2009-08-04T13:09:00.001-04:00

As a bookseller and avid reader I have read thousands of books. Few have touched me as Sebastian and it's second book have. Sebastian's world is different from ours. In this world much of the world is shattered into landscapes, and each is taken care of by a Landscaper and a Bridge that connects the landscapes to each other. This is a beautiful world... and then someone frees the evil that was locked up for centuries. Now Sebastian is pulled into the war that began ages ago and only two people can save him: Belladonna, his rogue landscaper cousin and the most powerful of all of them, and the girl that is his newly found love. Filled with beauty, romance, wonder, mystery, magic, and a bit of humor, Sebastian is one that has kept it's hold on me long after I finished reading it.

Sebastian: *****

The Stepsister Scheme

2009-08-04T13:08:00.001-04:00

I loved this book, and I'm glad a second is on it's way! The Stepsister Scheme blends fairy tales and magic, with some of the attitude of urban fantasy and a quest reminiscent of classic fantasy. Do we really know the tale of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, or was it just rumor? What happened after the wedding bells rang, the Beauty woke, and Snow White left the castle? Hines answers these questions and shows us more of fairy with the three girls in the lead. Their determination, humor and magical and athletic abilities kept me amused throughout the book!

The Stepsister Scheme: ***1/2

Urban Shaman

2009-08-04T13:06:00.002-04:00

I love female protagonists that are funny, quirky and aren't afraid to kick a little bad guy butt. Joanne Walker is definitely one of these! The part she is reluctant about is that, having died and given another chance at life as a shaman, she is now wondering what she has gotten herself into. Can't she give it back? Well, no, and now she has the Wild Hunt to deal with. Can her week get any worse? With a lot of humor, C.E. Murphy has a heroine I keep coming back to. I'm thrilled that her plan is a 9 book series. I can't wait for #4, the Walking Dead, to come out this fall!

Urban Shaman- ***1/2

Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen

2009-07-03T20:12:00.009-04:00

My husband was a fan of Transformers long before the first movie ever came out. I barely knew they existed growing up, let alone a fan. But since seeing the first movie my husband's excitement for it has grown on me. So, of course we had to watch Return of the Fallen.

In terms of giving you an entertaining movie to watch, the movie definitely delivered. There was action, humor, awesome transforming by those stars of the movie, and of course a new Decepticon hell bent on revenge, in the title character "The Fallen." However, there were a few things I would have done differently, were I the director. They weren't movie killers for me, just annoyances.

The first was in the realm of acting, particularly on the part of Megan Fox. We got used to the tough girl persona during the first movie, something I have heard many guys were glad to see. I do not know who's decision this was, Megan's or Michael Bay, but that tough girl edge she had is mostly gone in Fallen. She was a typical teenage girl simpering for her boyfriend. Maybe you guys out there liked it fine, but for me it was annoying! Where's the gumption that got her to drive an injured BumbleBee in to help save the military unit? Ok, I'll leave this right here before that's all I'll talk about.

The rest of the acting was right in line with the cast of the first Transformers, with Ramon Rodriguez as Leo an amusing but rather superficial addition. I found the military unit a great watch with their determination and humor as they try to hold on while waiting for Shia and the Transformers to save the day. Like the real military, they are the best unsung heroes, in my opinion. I have to admit that John Turturro as Simmons has grown on me. He seems to have lost his stick and really endeavors to do his part in saving the day. There definitely would have been a lost element if he had been left out of the cast.

The main criticism I have for the movie itself is in the story line. There was some unecessary crude humor in a couple places that could have been done without, and I was wishing for a little bit more involved in the plot. It ended up pretty straight forward almost to the point of being predictable.

The best part of the movie, though, really is watching those huge Autobots and Decepticons battle it out. Without giving too much away, I was growing sad when one of the main Autobot characters died, and was glad there was some happy resolution in the end. Bumblebee was a bit underutilized in the movie, I think, particularly as he tends to be a fan favorite. His personality is well developed for not having much of an actual voice to use! Megatron and the rest of the Decepticons were appropriately menacing. Also brought in the movie was an original series Decepticon called Devastator. The director and crew did well in coordinating the actors so that the special effects fit right in.

With the Decepticons, they introduced a new model that seems to be able to imitate a human's looks. Scary! And the result of this particular Decepticon when discovered tended to be rather freaky, in the shuddering category. Perhaps we will see more of these Decepticons in the next movie they so obviously have set up with this movie's ending.

All in all, would I watch it again? Definitely!! As I said, it definitely delivered on the entertainment. It is going to be an addition to our library as soon as it comes out. My husband wouldn't have it any other way! ;) Hopefully, though, if they do make another Transformer movie they focus just as much on the plot as they do on the action. We need some substance with all that pizzazz, Mr. Bay!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- ***1/2

Angels & Demons

2009-05-25T11:14:00.006-04:00

So... regardless of people's opinions about Dan Brown and his books, you have to admit that they are at least partially popular because of the controversy in the ideas surrounding his last two books, "Angels & Demons" and "The DaVinci Code". Aside from the controversy, he definitely tries to fill his books with suspense and mystery.

The same could be true for the movie based on the book, "Angels & Demons." Obliquely set as a sequel to the DaVinci Code, rather than a prequel as the books were, the movie definitely delivers the suspense and mystery aspects. There were some definite departures in the movie from the book that those having read the book recently may notice. However, the movie had a sense of the original story and gave it fairly well.

The cast was rather well chosen and acted with a few exceptions. For those that haven't seen Ewin MacGregor since Star Wars episode 3 came out (such as myself), it was interesting witnessing the passion he conveyed in his speeches, particularly to the conclave. I think MacGregor was really the focal point of the movie, rather than Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. There were two issues I had with Tom Hanks and his character. Maybe I'm just spoiled with actors like Johnny Depp who completely fall into an entirely new persona with each film. In this movie, and to some degree the DaVinci Code, Tom Hanks doesn't really do that. He is pretty much himself acting out direction. He also didn't do nearly as much "heroics" as Robert Langdon did in the book. It kind of makes his part in the movie semi-superfluous. The only things he really does in the movie is "find the clues" and rescue the cardinal from drowning.

A cast member that wasn't played up as much in this film as in the book was Vittoria Vetra. In the book she is with Robert Langdon the majority of the time and they talk a lot more about the symbols, who these sculptors, artists, and scientists were and what the Illuminati was up to. Without these in the movie, you really aren't able to interact with the ideas as much as even in DaVinci Code. There is a brief mention and off we go to find the next clue. It disappointed me both in this and in the use of her character, as I think there was a lot more that could have been done with her character. Instead, we only saw brief glimpses of someone I personally wanted to know more about.

The supporting cast was chosen well. I liked the characters of the Inspector Olivetti, Cardinal Strauss, Chartrand, Claudio Vincenzi, Commmander Richter and Cardinal Baggia. They added a lot to the movie in their space on the screen and played their parts well.

As a movie, it had a lot of great suspense and action parts. In making an action/adventure movie, they did well and it is fun to watch... well, most of the time if you are slightly squeamish. However, I'm not entirely sure they did justice to the main material of the book. Perhaps they wanted to downplay parts of it to make sure that the Catholic church did not come out in a bad light (I heard the church called A&D harmless, so they succeeded in that). It seems like they explained only the parts to help you understand what was going on and threw out the rest.

If you have not read the book, Angels & Demons will probably be a satisfying movie for you, and you will perhaps be surprised by the ending. For those having read it, you may find yourself wanting to read it again after watching the movie, to fill in the places that were glossed over.

At the end, they come back to the main issue at hand in Angels & Demons- how effective is religion? I love the moment this comes up in Cardinal Strauss' conversation with Landon when he says, "Religion IS flawed. But that is because men are flawed. All men, even myself." As they allude earlier in the film, it is not the Catholic church that is necessarily important, but a person's belief in God. The framework by which we come to understand him may be flawed because of man's flaw, but that doesn't negate God's importance. For me, this was the best part of the movie.

Angels & Demons - ***1/2

Star Trek

2009-05-21T11:09:00.004-04:00

I watched Star Trek this past weekend, and I have to say I was impressed. I grew up on Star Trek (the original, then next generation, then deep space nine.) since my dad was a fan. Watching reruns of the original always got me thinking, "Wow.... that looks so not real..." in the bad special effects category, not the sci-fi world aspect. I kept wishing there were better special effects done to make it look so much cooler.

Admittedly, my interest in Star Trek has waned over the years since then, particularly because I am soooo NOT a fan of William Shatner. That would take up an entirely other blog in itself to rant about that, so suffice it to say that I am not fond and not a fan.

So, with the new Star Trek movie, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was trying not to expect too much. They had newer actors on the set, with few that many would recognize before this, so I wasn't sure how well it would come together.

I thought the acting was actually well done by most of the cast, and LOVED how they put Leonard Nemoy into the movie. I think he was one of my favorite parts, actually. I was intruiged with the portrayal of young Spock by Zachary Quinto. I heard some criticism from other people that he showed too much emotion. I was surprised to hear towards the beginning that Vulcans experience a greater depth of emotions than humans, and so use logic as their means of controlling that emotion. I had always thought they were just very emotionless logical creatures. For me, it makes sense for young Spock to show emotions as he did since he is still learning to control those emotions and he just lost his mother and home all in a 5 minute period. I liked how "Spock Prime" (Leonard Nemoy) put it when he is talking to young Kirk, "Jim, I just lost my home. Believe me, I am feeling very emotional."

I thought it interesting that rather than focusing just on young Kirk, they also focused on Spock, possibly because Spock has become just as popular as Kirk in the previous Star Trek films. While Chris Pine was a very convincing and less annoying Kirk, it was actually Spock that I found myself more interested in as the movie went on. Kirk was good, but predictably Kirk. Young Spock had more internal tension going on throughout the movie, which made for a more interesting character.

The rest of the cast filled in well with the traditional angst of McCoy, and the amusing antics of young Scotty by Simon Pegg. Bruce Greenwood provided a great mix of mentor and humor as Captain/Admiral Pike, with his line, "Did you take off the parking brake?" to young Sulu causing me to laugh out loud. Sulu and Checkov were appropriately cast. I have to admit, the romance between Spock and Nyota Uhura surprised me. Perhaps I just misremember my original Star Trek, but I don't remember that being a plot line before.

Speaking of plot, I think they did fairly well in working all the elements together. I was amused at how they looped the history of Star Trek such that it made sense in making the movie and provided reason to continue should it be successful. (Trying not to give away the movie, here). I wondered how they would incorporate this and the creativity of it impressed me.

If I have one criticism, it is that the director definitely didn't "play up the bad guy" very well. Eric Bana was a convincing Nero but forgettable, and the whole Romulan ship and crew was more menacing in presence and effect than the characters themselves (again, trying not to give away the movie). There definitely is more that could have been done with this dynamic.

Those fans of the original Star Trek may not have liked it as much (my dad had some issues with where they took it), but this is Star Trek for a new generation. I think they did that well, and found myself interested in seeing where they take it next.

Star Trek - ****

Die For You

2009-05-20T16:12:00.004-04:00

I just finished Lisa Unger's newest book "Die For You", due out in June. I found the main concept of the idea intriguing from the first time I picked it up- How well do you know someone, particularly the person you love?

Lisa Unger paints a story of a successful author married to her husband of five years, happy and content with her life. Then her world comes crashing down the day her husband leaves for work and never comes home. Izabel starts inspecting the pieces of her life, coming to realize that the man she thought she knew and loved, she never really knew at all. Her quest becomes figuring out the puzzle of her husband and the life she thought she had, even if it means risking her life. Weaving through all this is the story of two sisters, Izabel and her sister Linda, and the paths they took as a result of the tragic death of their father. The meaning they made from that event and their inability to understand it defines them in such a way that it becomes intimately entwined with the current issues at stake.

Lisa Unger writes a story about longings, love, perspective, lust, betrayal, and abandonment. Ultimately, the story is about who a person is and what makes them that way. I found myself completely engrossed, captivated by thoughts, ideas and questions I'm still mulling over.

Die For You- ****1/2

Lie To Me

2009-05-14T21:34:00.006-04:00

This was the first season of Lie To Me that shows on Fox.
The premise of the show is that it is scientifically possible to determine whether a person is lying by their facial and body expressions. "The average person tells three lies in ten minutes of conversation." I've always been intrigued by shows that have a psychological element to it. As soon as I started seeing advertisements for Lie to Me I knew I wanted to watch it.

With each episode we learn a little more about the Lightman Group team that works the cases that come in. Whether a case comes from the FBI, the mayor or the District Attorney, they work as hard as they can to determine the truth of the situation.

They try to show more of Lightman's background with each episode, but not so much that there isn't still mystery as to who he really is. For me, though, I'm having a hard time connecting to his character because I still don't get what drives him. There are hints and half said clues, but it still doesn't really give me much of a connection. Every time I think I'm getting somewhere, usually at the end of a show, it ends and I'm left going, "Oh. Ok. Maybe they will continue this next episode." But they don't. So, I'm confused about this part.

What they do well is portraying all the different types of situations in which this type of approach is helpful in law enforcement investigations and interviews. A kid kills her friend and tries to hide it in order to keep her college entrance. A serial killer orchestrates an apprentice from within prison. The range of cases are as interesting as they are varied.

Throughout he show, I wish they focused a little more on the life issues the characters are facing themselves. A show is a lot about the premise and plot of the scenario, but it is also about the characters. I think they could have done a little bit more to flesh out the relationships between the characters.

The episode of the season finale was appropriately suspenseful and climactic. The ending of the season seemed almost like a regular episode. There was no ending suspense that would cause me to say, "Hey, why did you have to cut it off there?! I need to see more!!" (Such as with the Castle finale). It ended as a complete episode but with several places I think they could have ended it better.

All this being said, I watched every episode and was disappointed when I couldn't watch it as it showed (rather than online, though I would often watch then again online even if I saw it). I hope the show is back next season with even better scenarios and correcting some of these issues I mention.

Lie To Me - * * * 1/2

Fire is on fire!!

2009-05-14T15:36:00.009-04:00

My first on site book review!!

So, I have a new favorite author- Kristin Cashore. I loved reading her first book "Graceling." It was imaginative, creative, and one of those books I jealously wish I had written myself.

However, her second book (which sadly isn't out yet, but will be in October) is called "Fire." Fire is a loose prequel set about 30-40 years before Graceling, and encompasses the land to the east of the setting of Graceling. (Which is cool, because when I looked at the map in Graceling, I always wondered what was over in this area.)

This land contains not just people but monsters. These monsters are of all types and sizes, from raptors to mice. The unique things about them are their colors. They can be blue and silver, or purple and yellow, or any variety of colors. They are beautiful and sometimes lure animals and people through their beauty. They also can control people's minds if they choose and are typically smarter than other animals. There have been human monsters- in the shape of a human but also multi-colored and with the ability to sense and control people's minds. Fire is the last of the human monsters. (Which, when reading I often found weird when Fire is described that way because she isn't really monstrous- but that was just what they call them.)

Fire's hair is gorgeously multi-colored in all the colors of a sunset. She is beautiful as well and people can't help but admire her beauty. Of course, with that beauty comes all the jealous women, men that seem to have certain unattractive thoughts about her, and those that just want to touch and admire her. And, of course, those suspicious that she will control their minds. Oh, and did I mention that the other monsters want to attack her and gobble her right up when they see/smell her? Really. Her life is so easy. (Read: Not!)

Anyway, so Fire describes her journey from country recluse to having a unique and important place in the kingdom through a series of events that draws you into Fire's world and pulls Fire into your heart. At least that was my reaction. She meets people along the way that both strengthen and discourage her, causing her to come to terms with what it means to love, and what her abilities can be used for. Chief among these people are those in the royal family, particularly Prince Brigan who isn't slow to express his hatred when he meets her. Also, he's suspiciously resistant to her mind sensing ability. What's that all about? The tenuous friendship they develop as they work through these issues is wonderful to witness throughout the book.

A key relationship that is revealed throughout the story is Fire's relationship with her dead father, the repercussions her father has had on the kingdom and the people she encounters, and how to reconcile past actions so as to strengthen, rather than destroy oneself.

If you've read Graceling, a character we discover the origins of is Leck, who also plays a role in Fire's story. Can I tell you, this kid is rather creepy? He gives new meaning to the term "born evil".

You may not be all into the fantasy genre. Even so, Fire is a book about the characters, life, and learning how to accept oneself and be able to love freely, even through fear.

I found myself enjoying Fire even more than Graceling, though Graceling is awesome in it's own self and I highly recommend it! (i.e. Go read it now so you can read Fire in October!)

Fire - * * * * *

Welcome!!!

2009-05-14T12:13:00.001-04:00

Welcome to my bookshelf!!
Well, I don't just have one, I have many, but you know what I mean. This is my site where I review and talk about what I am reading, watching and discovering. I may also throw in bits of my life and how these have impacted me.
Our lives are about stories and how each of our stories intersect with others. When these intersects happen, our lives are changed in some way, big or small. Some intersects may big big, bold and monumental. Some are small, and almost non-existent. In any case, books and movies are two mediums that often intersect my story and cause me to think about myself and life differently in some way. If it hasn't done that, for me it's an interesting story, but it doesn't have a lasting impact. The really great books and movies are ones that grab you and keep you thinking long after you have read or watched them. They may even cause you to come back and view them again and again.
There is an anonymous quote that dovetails what I mean about stories and life: "Their story, yours and mine - it's what we all carry with us on this trip we take, and we owe it to each other to respect our stories and learn from them"
Life is about stories and life is about learning. So, my friends, let's learn!