Saturday, July 05, 2008 2:32 PM
Kevin Black wrote:
A reader review on I think amazon.com commented on the dichotomous distribution of reactions to this book--loved it or hated it--thus: "'The Book' (a major focus of the novel) was supposed to divide people and families. I think Anne Perry's book does the same."
I read this book over the past couple of weeks and I loved it.
This is a book that is meant to provoke thought. Many of the negative comments essentially could be summarized as "it is boring to think about theology for 522 pages." Many of the remaining negative comments complained that Perry's heroine is "too good"; that you never expect her to actually succumb to temptation. Ironically this is a major theme of her work: that philosophies and works of art are insipid and, more, evil, if they paint Good with all sweetness and light and ignore the struggle with Evil.
Although it is very different from Orson Scott Card's Saints, I think it rivals it for Best Mormon Novel. In my opinion Card is more skilled, perhaps especially at the balance of describing scenery and characters' thoughts versus moving the action, but Tathea is written passionately and I think its more intense discussion of theology is a strong point in its favor.
Interestingly, I am now in the middle of George Eliot's Adam Bede, and I just read the title character's extended comment on his pastor at the beginning of Book Two. Eliot essentially argues through Bede for turning away from doctrines (cf. "of tenets thou shalt not talk," Doctrine and Covenants 19:31) because (a) people don't want to hear it so in the end it is ineffective, (b) it tends to hypocritical judgment of others, (c) it misses the point of charitable kindness toward your neighbor, and (d) it is hubris to think we mere humans can claim to be right about doctrine. She says that mere thoughts don't motivate a change in behavior; emotions including awe and love do. Perry couldn't agree less. Tathea is an argument for the central nature of doctrine in the Christian life. "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior" (Boyd K. Packer, “Little Children,” Ensign, Nov 1986, 16). Without the true doctrine, one would not know what to be passionate about. The fact that no one wants to hear the watchman cry out in the middle of the night does not relieve him of the responsibility to cry out (Ezekiel 33:2,6-7). Without true doctrine, one would judge wrongly what is kindness and what is smothering, cloying paternalism.
I read a very insightful review in something like BYU Studies or on the AML site that summarizes the plot and points out comparisons with the Book of Mormon. I can't find it at the moment but will add the URL if I find it. [See below.]
I think this book is worth your time.
1. Saturday, July 05, 2008 4:08 PM
Kevin Black wrote:
That review pointed out for instance that the book has the same # of pages as the current English edition of the Book of Mormon.
One theme in the book, exemplified on p. 412 in a discussion of other more commonly mentioned traits of good leaders: "... who has the strength to tell the truth when it is hardest to hear, even to be hated for it, and not turn aside."
P. 437: "'He loved the beauty in it above everything,' she replied. 'Even above the truth. On his lips, little by little, it grew softer in the telling. The hard edges of price because blurred and finally so dim as to be ignored.' ... 'We twisted mercy into a softness of the soul that denied the existence of sin. ... We made too few demands. We did not want to exclude anyone or drive them away because we asked more than they wanted to give. We thought they would be unwilling to let go of their old pleasures, so we changed the faith to accommodate them.'"
2. Sunday, January 04, 2009 1:32 AM
Kevin Black wrote:
The review that pointed out the number of pages, and the comparisons mentioned above, was by Richard Cracroft and can be found on pages 159-168 of Dialogue, Volume 32, Number 3, Fall 1999.
He felt as I did that she succeeded in her attempt. A contrary but thoughtful view is given by Darlene Young.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
various books
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:04 AM
Kevin Black wrote:
The Hot Zone, A Terrifying New Story, by Richard Preston. Anchor, 1994.
This book is a fictionalized nonfiction narrative that teaches about Ebola virus by describing the cases of the apparently benign (in humans) Ebola Reston variant found in Virginia in 1989. I liked it. It was a page-turner. A few facts about human disease and monkeys were a little off but by and large it should provoke discussion at any dinner table . . . as long as you leave out the rather florid descriptions of death and dying the author seems fond of.
Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:32 PM
Kevin Black wrote:
Smithsonian Magazine review of _The Hot Zone_, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/book_0695.html
Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen (1814).
I read this book by accident, thinking it was another book from the same period that had something to do with psychiatry. I can't hope to say something new or profound about such a famous work, but here are the things that stood out to me. 1. Characterization. Even the dull Mr. Rushworth becomes more real at the end. 2. Reality. I don't know how to say this except that it reminded me of an essay by Orson Scott Card about Book of Mormon authorship. He pointed out that much science fiction says things like "he waved his hand clockwise so that the motion-sensing door would iris open, powered by the small fusion generator," whereas no one in real life ever thinks about how to open a door. A book would instantly sound false if it said, "he grasped the waist-high doorknob, twisted it a half-turn clockwise, and pulled, so that the door swung open on the hinges that held it to the frame along one side." Anyway, even though the world she describes is almost bizarre to a 21st-century reader, the narrator is steeped in it and makes it feel natural. 3. Even though the plot, if summarized in a few sentences, would sound boring, and even though you expect that in the end true love will prevail and all that, for some reason after I'd started I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened, and in fact the outcome was not at all certain until near the end.
Other junk I read on vacation:
= Lost City, "A Novel From THE NUMA FILES", by Clive Cussler
= some single-author collection of scifi short stories that was fairly forgettable; one of the short shorts was about some alien culture that visits earth and inspires people with hopes of sharing the alien technology, but soon bores everyone with their ceaseless and somewhat incomprehensible door-to-door proselytizing. Then it gets worse when another alien culture visits, shooting down the boring missionary aliens in the name of their own religious fervor. The Common Man In The Street character closes the story with words to this effect: "I thought it couldn't get worse. We had the Mormons. But now it's the Muslims." (Disclaimer: I know this is politically incorrect, it's not about Islam per se, but radical islamist elements, etc., but after all the thing was written something like 50 years ago.)
= Scent of Magic, by Andre Norton
A typical fantasy novel, okay except for the unsatisfying ending.
Kevin Black wrote:
The Hot Zone, A Terrifying New Story, by Richard Preston. Anchor, 1994.
This book is a fictionalized nonfiction narrative that teaches about Ebola virus by describing the cases of the apparently benign (in humans) Ebola Reston variant found in Virginia in 1989. I liked it. It was a page-turner. A few facts about human disease and monkeys were a little off but by and large it should provoke discussion at any dinner table . . . as long as you leave out the rather florid descriptions of death and dying the author seems fond of.
Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:32 PM
Kevin Black wrote:
Smithsonian Magazine review of _The Hot Zone_, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/book_0695.html
Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen (1814).
I read this book by accident, thinking it was another book from the same period that had something to do with psychiatry. I can't hope to say something new or profound about such a famous work, but here are the things that stood out to me. 1. Characterization. Even the dull Mr. Rushworth becomes more real at the end. 2. Reality. I don't know how to say this except that it reminded me of an essay by Orson Scott Card about Book of Mormon authorship. He pointed out that much science fiction says things like "he waved his hand clockwise so that the motion-sensing door would iris open, powered by the small fusion generator," whereas no one in real life ever thinks about how to open a door. A book would instantly sound false if it said, "he grasped the waist-high doorknob, twisted it a half-turn clockwise, and pulled, so that the door swung open on the hinges that held it to the frame along one side." Anyway, even though the world she describes is almost bizarre to a 21st-century reader, the narrator is steeped in it and makes it feel natural. 3. Even though the plot, if summarized in a few sentences, would sound boring, and even though you expect that in the end true love will prevail and all that, for some reason after I'd started I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened, and in fact the outcome was not at all certain until near the end.
Other junk I read on vacation:
= Lost City, "A Novel From THE NUMA FILES", by Clive Cussler
= some single-author collection of scifi short stories that was fairly forgettable; one of the short shorts was about some alien culture that visits earth and inspires people with hopes of sharing the alien technology, but soon bores everyone with their ceaseless and somewhat incomprehensible door-to-door proselytizing. Then it gets worse when another alien culture visits, shooting down the boring missionary aliens in the name of their own religious fervor. The Common Man In The Street character closes the story with words to this effect: "I thought it couldn't get worse. We had the Mormons. But now it's the Muslims." (Disclaimer: I know this is politically incorrect, it's not about Islam per se, but radical islamist elements, etc., but after all the thing was written something like 50 years ago.)
= Scent of Magic, by Andre Norton
A typical fantasy novel, okay except for the unsatisfying ending.
Rudd, Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 7:35 AM
Kevin Black wrote:
Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930, by Glen L. Rudd. Salt Lake: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c1995.
The irony is that this book sat on my desk at church for the last couple of years of my tenure as bishop--unread. Much of the history was somewhat dry, but Bishop Rudd includes 3 chapters that by themselves are worth the price of admission. Chapters 11 and 14 contain numerous quotes from Church leaders, gleaned and carefully stockpiled over a lifetime of welfare work by the author. A number of them were new to me, and every one was useful. Examples: "The principles of the welfare plan, when applied, will lift us out of this worldly life. The welfare plan is the most spiritual program in the Church. It is the final program and preparation for us to live. If and when properly lived, it will usher in the millennium." (Marion G. Romney) "The poor may be poor in spirit, manner, habits or lifestyle. If they are given money, food, or clothing, they may remain poor. They have difficulty handling their money or managing their homes. They are usually remiss in their church attendance. Their needs require assistance from compassionate people, and even then, a long healing process is often required. ... The poor of the Church need leaders who are understanding and patient. Charity, the pure love of Christ, must be in the heart of every bishop and Relief Society president." (Glen L. Rudd) "It is better to feed nine unworthy persons than to let one worthy person--the tenth, go hungry." (Brigham Young). "Men and women of wealth, use your riches to give employment to the laborer! ... embark in enterprises that will give work to the unemployed. . . ." (Lorenzo Snow). "The welfare plan is a permanent plan for the purpose of extending temporary assistance to the individual, so far as his temporal needs are concerned, but permanent benefits so far as his spiritual welfare is involved." (J. Reuben Clark, Jr.) "The love of work is an attitude that members of the Church must develop. Every family should have a plan for work that touches the lives of each family member. . . ." (M. Russell Ballard) "Members who receive Church welfare assistance should be expected to work to the extent of their ability for what they receive. Bishops who do not provide this opportunity or fail to expect it do the recipient a disservice in terms of retaining their industriousness, maintaining their self-respect, and increasing their ability to be self-reliant." (Robert D. Hales)
I opened Chapter 13, "Welfare success stories," with jaundiced skepticism, imagining that they would all say "this poor hard-working chap just needed a chance and now he is a CEO." Rather, these stories almost all started with, "so-and-so was a welfare failure story--had been given numerous opportunities and lots of help but refused to do anything for himself." Yet they are true success stories. Oh, how I wish I had read this chapter 5 years ago!
Strongly recommended!!
Kevin Black wrote:
Pure Religion: The Story of Church Welfare Since 1930, by Glen L. Rudd. Salt Lake: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c1995.
The irony is that this book sat on my desk at church for the last couple of years of my tenure as bishop--unread. Much of the history was somewhat dry, but Bishop Rudd includes 3 chapters that by themselves are worth the price of admission. Chapters 11 and 14 contain numerous quotes from Church leaders, gleaned and carefully stockpiled over a lifetime of welfare work by the author. A number of them were new to me, and every one was useful. Examples: "The principles of the welfare plan, when applied, will lift us out of this worldly life. The welfare plan is the most spiritual program in the Church. It is the final program and preparation for us to live. If and when properly lived, it will usher in the millennium." (Marion G. Romney) "The poor may be poor in spirit, manner, habits or lifestyle. If they are given money, food, or clothing, they may remain poor. They have difficulty handling their money or managing their homes. They are usually remiss in their church attendance. Their needs require assistance from compassionate people, and even then, a long healing process is often required. ... The poor of the Church need leaders who are understanding and patient. Charity, the pure love of Christ, must be in the heart of every bishop and Relief Society president." (Glen L. Rudd) "It is better to feed nine unworthy persons than to let one worthy person--the tenth, go hungry." (Brigham Young). "Men and women of wealth, use your riches to give employment to the laborer! ... embark in enterprises that will give work to the unemployed. . . ." (Lorenzo Snow). "The welfare plan is a permanent plan for the purpose of extending temporary assistance to the individual, so far as his temporal needs are concerned, but permanent benefits so far as his spiritual welfare is involved." (J. Reuben Clark, Jr.) "The love of work is an attitude that members of the Church must develop. Every family should have a plan for work that touches the lives of each family member. . . ." (M. Russell Ballard) "Members who receive Church welfare assistance should be expected to work to the extent of their ability for what they receive. Bishops who do not provide this opportunity or fail to expect it do the recipient a disservice in terms of retaining their industriousness, maintaining their self-respect, and increasing their ability to be self-reliant." (Robert D. Hales)
I opened Chapter 13, "Welfare success stories," with jaundiced skepticism, imagining that they would all say "this poor hard-working chap just needed a chance and now he is a CEO." Rather, these stories almost all started with, "so-and-so was a welfare failure story--had been given numerous opportunities and lots of help but refused to do anything for himself." Yet they are true success stories. Oh, how I wish I had read this chapter 5 years ago!
Strongly recommended!!
Charissa's mission 20080701
Charissa Black wrote:
01 July 2008
Greetings from the MTC, week 6!!!
... as for mail in italy i've been told that it takes about a week and a half, but that you shouldn't send anything of worth because every so often stuff gets stolen from packages. anyway...that would be totally sweet. i cant believe i'm leaving 3 weeks from yesterday!!!
01 July 2008
Greetings from the MTC, week 6!!!
... as for mail in italy i've been told that it takes about a week and a half, but that you shouldn't send anything of worth because every so often stuff gets stolen from packages. anyway...that would be totally sweet. i cant believe i'm leaving 3 weeks from yesterday!!!
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