Customer Reviews:
A great series.......2007-08-24
For those of you who aren't familiar with his exploits, please allow me to introduce you to Sir Harry Flashman, literature's most unrepentant scoundrel. Flashman (whom some may remember as the bully from Tom Brown's Schooldays), is the hero of twelve (as of 2007) novels by the literate and witty George MacDonald Fraser. The setting for these novels is the Nineteenth Century, a time filled with countless skirmishes and disasters, with Flashman seemingly involved in most of them. Fraser, in an explanatory note, says it best:
"From the day of his expulsion from Rugby School in the late 1830s, Flashman the man fulfilled the disgraceful promise of Flashman the boy; toadying bounder and bully matured into the cowardly profligate and scoundrel, who, by chance and shameless opportunism, became one of the most renowned heroes of the Victorian age, unwilling leader of the Light Brigade, fleeing survivor of Afghanistan and Little Big Horn, tarnished paladin of Crimea and the Mutiny, and cringing chronicler of many another conflict, disaster, and intrigue in which he bore an inglorious but seldom unprofitable part."
Flashman's memoirs were purportedly discovered in an attic in Leicestershire in 1965, half a century after his death at the age of 93. Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, the tenth packet of the "Flashman Papers" to have been edited and published by Fraser, chronicles Sir Harry's second trip to America. The last time around, he was sold as a slave, worked as a plantation foreman, met a young congressman named Abraham Lincoln and smuggled an escaped slave via the Underground Railroad. This time, through misadventure, coincidence, and the consequences of his own cowardice and womanizing, he is forced into acting as John Brown's right hand man, training Brown's followers for their disastrous 1859 raid on Harper's Ferry, the kickoff to the Civil War. Flashman, incidentally, served on both sides during that conflict, the details of which I can only hope will be revealed in a forthcoming volume.
In this age of political correctness, Flashman's bawdy adventures are a breath of fresh air. These books deserve every ounce of the praise they've received over the years---the only drawback of being a Flash-fan is enduring the long intervals between installments. Each novel stands by itself, but if you read one, you'll want to read them all. Sample one and join the ranks of rabid Flashmaniacs all around the world.
Disappointing.......2005-11-02
I enjoy this series and have had many enjoyable hours laughing at the 19th century's most outrageous cad. But this one is a bit thin and takes a lifetime to finally get to Harper's Ferry. When Harry and Co. finally make it there, even then it drags a bit. Not Flashman's best by any means.
FLASH HARRY IS BACK! But not in this book........2005-06-10
I wanted to write a brief review about the twelfth packet of papers in the Sir Harry Paget Flashmen series, but it hasn't been printed in the US, as yet, so I'll write about them here. I purchased the latest novel FLASHMAN ON THE MARCH from amazon.co.uk a few weeks ago. I am very happy to say that the old Harry is back. This time he finds himself escaping the anger of his Austrian companions from aboard a ship after dallying with a 16-yr-old princess enroute to her wedding to a man she has never met. He stumbles into an old Rugby chum and right into plans to carry a large sum of money to Sir Robert Napier prior to the British Army's expedition into Abyssinia. This is the opportunity he was looking for to get out of Trieste asap.
It seems mad Emperor Theodore has imprisoned some of Her Majesty's subjects and Sir Robert needs Harry's "talents" to help locate and free the captives. Using the money, he must secure an alliance with rival Queen Masteeat of the Gallas. Harry is reluctant, of course, and tries to talk his way out of going until he discovers that he is to have a very beautiful guide to help him travel the treacherous and very dangerous landscape of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) during a civil war. True to form, Harry gets into all sorts of life-threatening situations. In one, he manages to save his own skin by kicking his lover guide over a waterfall as she clings to him for aid. He finally meets up with Queen Masteeat and her pet lions, gets drunk on tej the local alcoholic beverage, is seduced by her, kidnapped by some very bad fellows (friends of the ex-guide) intent on "unmanning" him, and rescued by the malevolent Emperor Theodore himself, all in less than 48 hours...and then the adventure really begins. Those of you out there who are true "Flashmaniacs" will be very happy to hear that our anti-hero is back...the same laughable liar, lecher, cad, poltroon, coward he has been for decades. Hurrah for Sir 'Arry!
Flashman visits Harper's Ferry.......2005-03-02
This book was my ninth stage in a chronological survey of the life and times of Harry Flashman. While I do agree with fellow reviewers that this book my not offer the very best read in the series, I still liked it well enough for a full endorsement.
Living within an hour's drive from Harpers Ferry, I had been looking forward to reading this book for quite a while. It never ceases to amaze me how important a role this quaint little village with its antique and fudge shops played in the history of this great country.
It's often said that revolutions don't start with great deeds, but with small words. While this book in fact deals with John Brown's "small deed" it does indeed show its fractal butterfly effect on world history.
Apart from giving the reader a detailed and accurate description of the siege of Harpers Ferry and its build up, I considered this book most interesting because of the detailed character study of John Brown. As always Fraser has done his homework to the t's and provides a balanced description of "the Angel of the Lord". While the writer at no moment assumes the air of say an Ambrose -he has never been accused of plagiarism either!- what results is a wonderfully portrait that is made without the customary canonization that Brown receives for setting an important part of the stage of the Civil War.
Due to the seriousness of this portrait, which some dimwits have mistaken for being boring, some of Flashman's customary gallivanting and slapstick humor just seems a tad out of character. Nevertheless, I considered this an insightful and rewarding read that is a worthy part of the eminent Flashman saga.
Signs of Decline.......2003-10-18
I'm a big fan of this series, but I have to say it's in decline. The first book is good, the second is brilliant (yes, it's contrived. It's also a superb comic novel), the next two published: "Flash for Freedom" and "Flashman at the Charge" are both first-rate. The next one published, "Flashman's Lady" wasn't particularly good, and it's downhill from there, with signs of life in "Flashman and the Redskins" but not much else.
I tried to read this book some years ago, and gave it up. I only made it through this time because I was determined, and determination is what you need. There are no less than three plots to get Flashman to help John Brown, by three different groups, and explained, ad nauseum, in three different patois. Characters from previous Flashman books show up: a good thing in the case of John Charity Spring, but fairly pointless in the case of Annette Mandeville and Crixtus. The book has a truncated feel, as if it has been either heavily edited or padded. Or both.
It's still fun to spend time with ye olde Flash, shameless as he is. His lack of political correctness (this was one of things that rescued "Flashman and the Redskins") is still a joy. But Fraser appears a bit tired. The deadpan footnotes that made "Royal Flash" such a knee-slapper are long gone. Too bad.
Average customer rating:
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CCEL Classics CD: works by Saint Augustine, John Calvin, John Donne, Julian of Norwich, Brother Lawrence, Martin Luther, Saint Teresa of Avila, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas a Kempis, John Wesley, and more!
Dr. W. Harry Plantinga
Manufacturer: Christian Classics Ethereal Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
 Mariology | Catholicism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Luther, Martin | ( L ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Augustine, Saint | ( A ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1931848076
Release Date: 2006-12-15 |
Product Description
The most important spiritual writings of Christian history are available on this Classics CD by the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at Calvin College. It contains 118 Christian classics, including three versions of the Bible, several commentaries, Bible dictionaries, readings, spiritual guides, sermons, poems and journals -- all in a convenient, searchable form. Books are available in HTML and PDF formats. The easy-to-use CCEL Desktop software powering the CD enables users to browse and print books and install additional books from the Web. The top-of-class search engine can search for words or phrases in books, in authors works or in the whole library. In addition, it can search for dictionary definitions of words and commentary or references to scripture passages. The interface is a Web browser. The CD is compatible with Windows 2000+, Macintosh 10.3+, and most Linux versions.
Average customer rating:
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Lightning ju-jitsu,
Harry Lord
Manufacturer: New Power publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007FIQ4A |
Book Description
Why have The Lord of The Rings, Star Wars, the Harry Potter stories, and other tales of heroic fantasy, been so phenomenally successful in the present apparently cynical and disillusioned age? Colebatch argues that the popularity of these works shows the real health of our culture to be more robust than we sometimes believe, and confirms the centrality of "traditional" values which "progressive" thinkers have often disparaged or overlooked.
In advancing this argument, the author also seeks to entertain the many readers who love these works, and to open to them some new vistas of understanding.
Download Description
Why have The Lord of The Rings, Star Wars, the Harry Potter stories, and other tales of heroic fantasy, been so phenomenally successful in the present apparently cynical and disillusioned age? Colebatch argues that the popularity of these works shows the real health of our culture to be more robust than we sometimes believe, and confirms the centrality of "traditional" values which "progressive" thinkers have often disparaged or overlooked. In advancing this argument, the author also seeks to entertain the many readers who love these works, and to open to them new vistas of understanding.
Customer Reviews:
Informative, illuminating, but repetitive........2005-11-20
It is a testament to my own naivete that I neither knew nor could even imagine anyone not loving LOTR, Star Wars, and the Harry Potter series. Colebatch has done all of us a great service by revealing the radical Left's antipathy to these heroic stories. His main thesis is that since the end of the Cold War, cultural conflict has become more important than political conflict. The ideological struggles of the past are now replaced by efforts to use the arts to radically reshape society via a concerted and sustained attack on traditional Western values in virtually every area of life, including art, literature, ethics, religion & personal relationships. All of which explains the radical Left's hostility to LOTR, et al. That these stories are enormously popular signify strong popular dissent from the moral relativism and nihilism of the cultural elites.
I have two minor criticisms of this book. The first is that it is repetitive: Colebatch repeats himself from chapter to chapter; his book could have used a good editor. The second is that the subtitle of the book is deceptive, in that there is very little on Harry Potter.
still waiting for the heroes to return.......2005-05-19
As a fan of Tolkein, Star Wars, and Harry Potter and one who has appreciated a number of analytic treatments of their themes in relation to culture and society, I was expecting something a little different. Perhaps a more accurate title might have been "Defending the Heroes: Debating Critics of Tolkein and Star Wars, with a Little Harry Potter Thrown in."
The larger portion of the book consists of the author cataloging an extensive list of negative criticisms and in turn criticizing the critics for their method and mood. Granted, his arguments make a lot of sense. But there is much less positive treatment of heroic themes and their potential validity and usefulness in modern society, and much repetitive groaning about how mistaken the critics are.
Not only that, the subtitle suggests that three different series will be treated in the book. In fact, Harry Potter is mentioned only briefly, a few times, almost as if his inclusion were meant to capitalize on his current popularity. For the amount of space devoted to Harry Potter themes, he could just as easily (and more accurately) have been excluded from the title. I found this to be misleading.
Stimulating and delightful.......2003-08-29
This is a splendidly stimulating, thought-provoking, slyly humorous and delightful book. The author analyses these great tales from a number of original perspectives and what he concludes is optimistic about the state of our culture and society. His language is easy to read and his great learning, while obvious, is never obtrusive or heavy. To aborb this book is to absorb a political, social and literary education in a fascinating way. All who love The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and Harry Potter should buy this book for its insights. It will deepn your appreciation of these great tales and of others in the same tradtion.
The triumphant return...........2003-08-27
When I first read Hal Colebatch's original discussion paper on this topic (from the early 1990's), I knew I had found a kindred spirit. I found it by putting "Star Wars" and "LOTR" into a library catalogue. I was amazed to find that someone had put the two together in a scholarly work, and I was pleased to discover that it was an intelligent, erudite and remarkably coherent piece of writing that crystallised many of my own feelings that had never had an outlet before. Colebatch has completely revised and updated his original paper so that it stands alone as an excellent academic book on western culture, focussed through the prism of heroic literature and film. This new edition includes material on Harry Potter, as well as a more thorough analysis of the works of Tolkien and Lucas. I thoroughly recommend it to any lovers of heroic fiction, english students and Tolkien/Lucas enthusiasts. Colebatch is a very well-read author with his own output of poetry and sci-fi, and his vast knowledge has been brought to bear on important topics, ensuring that this book is a milestone in literary criticism. You do not have to be a dry academic to enjoy this one; you just have to have a love of reading.
Average customer rating:
- Badly Edited
- Tedious and improbable
- Lord Harry
- Lord Harry
- very tedious story
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Lord Harry
Catherine Coulter
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Hardcover | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Hardcover | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Paperback | Coulter, Catherine R. | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0451208145
Release Date: 2003-01-07 |
Book Description
#1 New York Times bestselling author.
Among Catherine Coulter's first novels, and originally published as Lord Harry's Folly, this rousing and sexy comic adventure of an avenging young lady's deft disguise was rewritten and expanded by the author in 1995, and is now repackaged for her legions of fans.
Download Description
Dear Reader: Lord Harry, one of my first novels, was originally titled Lord Harry's Folly. I've rewritten the story extensively, adding to and changing dialogue, actions, and descriptions, yet the original plot is still here. I'm convinced-and I'm sure you will be too-that the characters are much happier now that they've lived with me for fifteen years and taught me more about themselves. Lord Harry is really Henrietta Rolland, a young aldy who assumed the guise if a gentleman to track down and kill Jason Cavander, the marquess of Oberlon, the man she believes responsible for her brother Damien's death at the Battle of Waterloo. She wants to challenge him to a duel. When he's lying at her feet, then and only then will she tell him why she's killed him, and who she really is. Unfortunately, there's a really big snag. You will laugh at Lord Harry's outrageous adventures. Together, Jason and Henrietta Rolland will touch you-they did me and still continue to do so. Do let me know what you think of my rewrite. Enjoy!
Customer Reviews:
Badly Edited.......2007-03-21
I have just finished reading the original version of this title, and I am incredibly disappointed that, when rewriting, the author or her editor did not correct the forms of address in this book. ONLY a Duke is addressed as "Your Grace"! Lord Monteith would be Harry's father, not Harry!! If one is going to write material with an English background, at least TRY to get it correct. It irritated me so much that I had trouble finishing the title even though the premise was fairly good, and the standard of writing better than most.
Tedious and improbable.......2006-08-03
The main characters fall in love very unconvincingly and the dialogue throughout the book is frequently bad and improper for the period. Overall a bad piece of work.
Lord Harry.......2005-04-11
I've read 75% of Coulter's books and am working on 100% - however, this is her first book that I could hardly get thru. It has a good story line, but drones on and on and I found myself skipping pages just to 'get on with it'. Hetty and Jason don't even meet until half way thru the book - I kept wondering if they ever would. And, when they finally 'fall' in love, it was weak. The ending is a surprise, and not a welcome one, but there was no lead up whatsoever and it left a bad taste in my mouth. By that time, I was just glad to get to the end. However, I'll keep reading the last 25% of Coulter's books - I've enjoyed them up to now.
Lord Harry.......2004-05-14
This book was wonderful! I couldn't put it down. the vendetta "Harry" has against her brother's killer was a mystery. the whole book you are left in the dark about the true happenings of his death. The development between the Marquess and Hetty was interesting. All the time she was trying to hate him she slowly began to love him. It is a great read and I am looking forward to my next!
very tedious story.......2003-11-17
Lord Harry seemed very interesting in the beginning as it's a great idea for a story.
Henrietta dresses up as a man to avenge her brother's death, which she thinks is caused by Jason the Marquess of Oberlon. Henrietta devises various schemes to bring Jason to anger so that he might fight a duel with her. This part took up 2/3 of the book.
It would not have been so boring if Jason had an inkling of who she was. Henrietta was described to be beautiful and feminine. Therefore, I couldn't understand why Coulter couldn't have had Jason see the resemblances and figure out Harry's real identity.
Throughout the first 2/3 of the book, Jason encounters Harry numerous times, each time ending in anger. He also sees the lovely Henrietta three times, once at a masked ball where she is dazzling as they waltz, and two other times when she had deliberately "uglied" herself up to a point where he doesn't recognize her at all.
Then, as the long awaited duel finally came, Henrietta is hurt and this is when Jason discovers that she is a girl. He brings her to his home and nurses her back to health. When she first wakes up however, she is still full of hatred for him. Then all of a sudden, after Jason explains his side of the story, Henrietta decides that this "murderer" must be telling the truth and directly proceeds to fall in love with him. And Jason, having met the "real" Henrietta only once at the masked ball, decides right then and there that he loves her. I know that stories are a suspension of reality, but I couldn't do it here. It just seems so impossible that they would be in each other's company for a week, most of that time was spent with Henrietta sleeping, and once she wakes up and hears Jason's explanation, ALL her hatred goes away and they are in LOVE? It's a bit hard to swallow.
Also, the romance was short enough as it was, but it was cut even shorter by unnecessary side stories including one where Harry goes to a whorehouse and saves one of the girls.
There's a sense that Coulter just ran out of interest in the book and finished it as fast as she could. Lots of underdeveloped characters and feelings, particularly between the hero and heroine, and lots of unneeded scenes and events. I was disappointed as it was my first from Coulter. A bit reluctant to read another...
Book Description
Award–winning journalist Richard Abanes clears away the confusion many readers experience over fantasy books and films. He delves into the differences between various forms of fantasy and digs out answers needed by every parent, youth worker, teacher, and student.
The stories of Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling—and films based on them—have touched millions of lives. How are these authors similar...and different? Where do they fit into today’s ever–growing desire for the mystery and magic fantasy provides? Abanes—himself a fantasy and science–fiction fan—helps shed light on this form of entertainment and its effects on today’s youth.
Readers will come away thoroughly equipped to differentiate between stories and films that are harmless, even inspiring—and those containing spiritual dangers.
Customer Reviews:
Book Title Is Slightly Misleading though..........2007-03-21
This book contains a pretty in depth comparison of three influential series of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia however the book as a whole does not fully revolve around these works alone. This is the first Abanes work I have read and I am quite delighted by his depth of research and care for the very influential art forms of literature and visual media. The author demonstrates and sounds a warning bell to parents about the need for greater discernment when it comes to media choices for children.
The book's subtitle, in my opinion, more acurately depicts the content. Direct quotes from a variety of sources are quoted in the copious notes at the rear of the book. A side comment about the notes is the usability of them with page references as well as chapter references. Kudos to the publisher/ editors. One of the more helpful insights I received from this book is the information about how a child develops cognitively and when they are able to best distinguish between fantasy and reality.
Giving the reader as much information as possible about the franchises and how they can be interpreted for good or ill.......2006-03-14
Written by a devout Christian who is pro-literature and pro-fun, yet at the same time aware of the vulnerabilities of the developing minds of young Christian children, Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings: What You Need to Know About Fantasy Books and Movies is a balanced appraisal of the positive and negative influences that popular fantasy novels and movies can have upon the Christian youth of today. Though the text focuses especially on the three franchises in the title, Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings also discusses broader implications of children's fantasy literature in its depictions of the occult, its connections to Wicca and neopaganism, and its usage by corporations to mass-market products and cement a consumerist mentality in young people as early as possible in life. Do not mistake Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings for a book that unilaterally condemns the franchises of its title, fantasy literature in general, or even non-Christian religious beliefs; for example, the author does not denounce Wicca or neopagan faiths as "evil", but rather warns against the relativistic morals of these beliefs (which often follow the basic code that doing harm to others is unacceptable, yet leave the nuances of deciding what is or is not harm to others up to the individual - thereby allowing individuals to justify such actions as sexual promiscuity). Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings devotes itself to giving the reader as much information as possible about the franchises and how they can be interpreted for good or ill, leaving the reader to decide whether his or her children are ready to experience the literature and movies without jeopardizing their spiritual development. Highly recommended.
Must read for parents.......2006-01-09
I read the first four Harry Potter books and enjoyed them, but after reading Abanes book, I've decided not to let my children read them--at least until they're adults and can separate fantasy from reality.
Children need to know that God is the only one who can guide and direct their lives, and they should turn to Him for guidance in all areas of their lives. Harry and His friends practice the magic arts, which is an abomination to God. Children will come to believe they can cast spells or do other things to solve their problems when the only one who can solve their problems is Jesus Christ.
Please do not let your children read the Harry Potter books. The books are just an opening for Satan to take hold of them and draw them away from God.
Well written book and very enlightening. But I think many readers will say, "Don't confuse me with the facts when my mind is already made up." I think in the next few years we're going to see the effects Harry Potter has had on our children when the kids reading the books become teens.
I dislike seeing reviews by folks who obviously haven't read the book. If God blesses Abanes with profits from the sales of this book, then let it be so. It is profits well deserved.
Abanes challenges to be discerning.......2005-11-09
Harry Potter, Narnia, and the Lord of the Rings by Richard Abanes is a dissection of three of the greatest fantasy phenomena around today. Is fantasy harmful? Can we learn from it? Are there different types? How does fantasy affect us?
These are just a few of the questions Abanes answers in his informative book. As a mildly interested reader and watcher of fantasy, this book surprised me as it disclosed the impact that reading or observing fantasy can have on a person--especially a child or teenager. Yet parents are often very lax in supervising what their children read or watch, resulting in a decline in morals as well as an increasing interest in the occult.
Abanes compares the three above-named fantasies to show what each is preaching or teaching. With the Narnia and Lord of the Rings series, he shows how Christian values and morals can be taught through the fantasy medium.
With Harry Potter, he raises a few questions. Some in the Christian arena have said it teaches Christian morals. Abanes disputes this by asking: Do we have a clear-cut example of good and bad in Harry Potter? How can we call the hero "good" and yet watch Harry lie, cheat, and steal? What about all the occult spells and paraphernalia explored in the books?
In the last chapters, he shows how television and movies are delving more and more into the occult, including horror movies and even prime-time weekly television programs. "Children are big imitators," asserts Abanes. Many of the crimes being perpetrated today--especially by children and teenagers--are copycats of scenes watched in movies or television.
Harry Potter, Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings is enlightening while remaining highly readable. Abanes challenges Christian authors and pastors in a friendly way, but calls us all to be discerning of what we put before our children and grandchildren. ..
just what I think.......2005-11-05
Instead of doing a good cristian thing (and if he wants to PROTECT children) and write how to be a good parent, raise your child to become a good person, he invest his time on debunking Harry Potter .. WHY??? because he makes more money this way..
I wouldn't let my children read ANY Abanes book, maybe they'll turn into narrowminded persons like this man, who in my opinion are what's wrong in this world.. (Just kidding, I think children are smart and deserve the same respect as adults, as JKRowling thinks. And Richard Abanes clearly doesn't. I woudl let my children read Mr Abanes' books I would just sit with them and explain how and why some people are like that)
Book Description
Christians have always engaged the world around them and reflected upon the connections between faith and culture. Faith Journey through Fantasy Lands engages popular culture in the hugely successful stories of Harry Potter, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. Author Dalton guides the reader through these contemporary fantasy stories, illuminating them with light from the Christian faith journey. The book opens doors to faith-sharing, particularly with young people, while also taking on the issues within the stories that have led some Christians to reject them.
Customer Reviews:
A Review Of Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands.......2007-03-10
Few discussions will provoke opinions among believers as heated as whether or not Christians ought to enjoy works of popular fantasy.
On the one hand, some claim believers should avoid these realms of the imagination. On the other, there are those Christians so desperate to justify their interest with a veneer of spirituality that they try to establish one to one correlations between these entertaining stories and Holy Scripture.
"Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands: A Christian Dialogue With Harry Potter, Star Wars & Lord Of The Rings" by Russell Dalton endeavors to provide a balance between these competing outlooks.
While highlighting the parts of these works that appeal to enduring values, Dalton also admits that neither are these stories themselves Scripture. Rather, he writes, "This book takes an approach that goes beyond a `thumbs up' or `thumbs down' evaluation of fiction and film. It gives the reader a chance to reflect whether or not the behaviors and beliefs of the characters in today's fantasy stories are consistent with the Christian faith, but it also looks at the questions these stories demand of our faith by entering into a dialogue between these fantasy stories and the Christians story (7)."
Rather than condemn The Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, or even Harry Potter, "Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands" prudently counsels that the problems that arise in reference to these stories often lie not so much in the stories themselves but in those that read them. For example, most that read Harry Potter are not going to end up sacrificing goats or taking oaths of unending allegiance to Satan. Thus, Dalton suggests, parents must decide for themselves how much exposure to Star Wars, Harry Potter, and The Lord Of The Rings their children should receive.
Though for the most part balanced in his approach, the reader will no doubt detect a hint of political correctness seeping into Dalton's exposition. For example, he does not use the phrase "Kingdom of God" but rather "The Reign Of God." Likewise, Dalton does not refer to Jesus as "the Son of Man" but rather as "the Son of Humanity".
Dalton also gets all maudlin that the characters in these stories are primarily White. But since Middle Earth is said to correspond to some kind of pre-historic Europe and Hogwarts is a British alchemical school, what does he expect?
If Aragorn had had such vacillating attitudes, Sauron would have still been ruling over Middle Earth by the end of the third film.
Even if one disagrees with the conclusions drawn by "Faith Journey Through Fantasy Lands", one has to admit Dalton approaches the issue in an overall even handed manner carefully respecting the opinions on each side.
by Frederick Meekins
Excellent!.......2003-10-12
This is an excellent analysis of a most important modern "miracle" - the religious reasons behond the huge success of these epic tales of high romance in a culture that too often seems fixated on the squalid. I would recommend to go with it Hal GP Colebatch's "Return of the heroes: The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Social Conflict." This is a literay, political, historical and religious study, full of information and insight. The two books go together to make essential reading for the culturally literate in the 21st Century.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Short Stories.......2005-05-13
Regardless of whether these stories are biographies or bio-fictions, Mr.Caudill shows excellent writting skills in his
story telling. Sitting at the knees of story-tellers in the
south there was always some fiction thrown in with the truth.
Each story was as enthralling and detailed of the lives of
hard working mountain people as the next. With Mr.Caudill
being an attorney, some stories told the legal hardships people
endured.
I found it to be a quite exceptional book and I have dozens and
dozens of "Mountain People" books to compare it to. I did feel
like I was sitting on the porch, after dinner clean-up, with
a story teller. Yes, I enjoyed this book very much and I
would recommend it to anyone who likes to hear stories of the
Appalachian people. He zeroes in on particular counties around
the southeastern part of Kentucky and he mentions places that
some of us know all too well.
My absolute favorite short story in this book was the title
"The Mountain, The Miner and The Lord" which showed me great
strength, determination and grande love that we each should
practice. There are times when I feel weak, I think about that
particular story and it truly strengthens me with the "I can
do this" driven attitude.
Some good, some bad.......2003-08-09
Mr. Caudill's stories about the people of the hills and their times had a few problems. As I was reading the book, I came across a story regarding my great-great grandfather and his demise. The story was told in the third person by someone claiming to be a grand-daughter of the person in the story. I did a little research of my own and found that the person used to tell the story was not a family member of the main person (my great-great-grandfather)and, in fact, was not related to our family at all. When I brought this story up at a family reunion, I was told the author "took creative liberties" with the story to make it a better story then it was.
In short, be careful what you read.
Harry M. Caudill's "The Mountain, the Miner and the Lord".......2001-09-03
I think this book is an excellent and accurate account of the stories and traditions of this area. Having been associated with south-eastern Kentucky all my life,I can attest to many of the characters and nearly all the places he mentions. Who of us with close ties to Appalachia hasn't heard of the wild politics of Kentucky mountain people, not just 150 years ago, but in recent years as well? His account of why life is as hard as it is for these people (and was for their ancestors) is right on target!
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