Book Reviews and More

Friday, 14 July 2017

The Profession: Faith, Friendship, Which Would You Choose? - Eric Sammons

The Profession:
Faith, Friendship, Which Would You Choose?
Eric Sammons
Saragossa Press
ASIN B073S6WJGG

This is an incredible short story. And to be honest I really hope it will be part of a larger series. I read one of Eric's non-fiction books half dozen years ago. When I got the chance to get some of his newer writings I jumped at it. It was not until I started it that I realized that this book is a short story. It is very well written and could be the beginning of a series or even between books. The world is so well planned out and crafted.

The description of the book is:

"It's 2049: a union of Islamic caliphates controls Europe, and a similar incursion is reaching the shores of America.

Philip Russell just wants to see the sights in Washington before returning home to his loving fiancée. Instead, he soon finds himself caught up in a violent clash of cultures that quickly becomes personal. With the whole world watching, he'll have to make a choice: faith or friendship."

And in one of those cases where you hope and pray that life does not imitate art, this book sis set in a very different future. In this future an Islamic caliphate controls all of Europe except England. Pope Gregory XVII is in residence in England, and the popes have been in exile since 2037 and the overthrow of the legitimate Italian government. It is the story of a friendship that has lasted nearly a lifetime, it is the story of one man's faith, and it is the story of what might yet be.

I read on average well over 100 books a year. And I love short stories that fit in series either before the main books, or between that as is becoming so popular. This is an incredible short story, and though currently it is standalone the world that Sammons's has crafted could easily stand up for many books on either side of this story. This is a great little read. In fact it was so good that as soon as I finished it I went back and reread it again. I have been thinking about it non-stop for hours and know that it will stay with me a long time. And as soon as I finished this story I started reading one of Eric's non-fiction books and it is just as amazing. I highly recommend this short story and it is available for an amazing price! So give it and try and let me know what you think.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Eric Sammons:
Holiness for Everyone: The Practical Spirituality of St. Josemaria Escriva
Who Is Jesus the Christ?: Unlocking the Mystery in the Gospel of Matthew
The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did
Be Watchful: Resist the Adversary, Firm in Your Faith
The Jesse Tree: An Advent Devotion
Bitcoin Basics: 101 Questions and Answers

Deadly Indifference: How the Church Lost Her Mission, And How We can Reclaim It

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Fiction:
The Profession
Shard of Eden

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Contributed to:
Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue
The Passion of St. Edward, King and Martyr
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Thursday, 13 July 2017

The Magician's Nephew - C.S. Lewis - The Chronicles of Narnia

The Magician's Nephew
Chronicles of Narnia Book #6 Publication Order
Chronicles of Narnia Book #1 Chronological Order
C.S. Lewis
Harper Collins
ISBN 9780064471107
eISBN 9780061974168
ASIN B001I45UF2

I have read this book, and series about a dozen times over the last 30 years. But this past winter my son who was in grade 3 brought it home from school. Sitting at the table after school he read almost the entire first chapter to me and his little sister. He only needed help with some names. I was amazed and we read the whole book in just a few days. After that first reading we alternated pages as we read the book. I did not read this book until my first year of university and it is amazing to be reading it with my children.

I know a number of people who do not like this book. But to be honest I love it. My son loved it also. Asking my son about what he liked best, he loved that a normal horse became a Pegasus, he loved that Digory Kirke on a number of occasions had to choose between an easy way and the right way and chose the right. He also really liked the adventure and even exploring of Digory Kirke and Polly Plummer. The themes in this book are similar to Lewis's Perelandra in that it is a new world and prior to a fall. But in this instance it is damaged and broken by the intrusion of people from our world.

I always wondered why Polly only appears in 2 of the seven books in the series and yet Digory appears in 4. In some ways it seems like Polly was an afterthought. Polly only appears in the last two books in the publication order. Where Digory appears in the first, third, sixth , and seventh volumes. Though I must say Digory is one of my favorite characters, beaten out only by Aslan and Puddleglum, who we only encounter in The Silver Chair.

This book is an origin story. It tells us the beginnings of Narnia and also about the spaces between worlds or passages between them. It is a wonderful fantasy novel. The scene of the creation of Narnia is stunning and I am moved every time I read it. Since the first time I read it, I have hoped to happen upon a lamppost in the middle of a woods, and wonder just maybe.

I have read the series in both the chronological order and in the publication order. My older box set has the books in the publication order, and the box set I bought for my son after reading this one has them in chronological order. I prefer reading it in publication order, but as mentioned am reading it with my children in chronological order.

This is a good read an part of an incredible series. And I am thankful my son brought it home and we started reading it together. It is so much more fun reading it with children.

Other Reviews of Lewis's Books.
A Grief Observed
The Four Loves

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The Ransom Cycle:

Out of the Silent Planet

Perelandra

The Screwtape Letters

Screwtape Proposes a Toast

That Hideous Strength

The Dark Tower and Other Stories

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Original Space Trilogy:
Out of the Silent Planet
Perelandra
That Hideous Strength

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The Dark Tower and Other Stories

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Narnia Publication Order:

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Prince Caspian

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Silver Chair

The Horse and His Boy

The Magician's Nephew

The Last Battle

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Narnia Chronological Order:

The Magician's Nephew

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Horse and His Boy

Prince Caspian

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Silver Chair

The Last Battle

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Books about C.S. Lewis:

Planet's In Peril: A critical Study of C.S. Lewis's Ransom Trilogy - David C. Downing

C. S. Lewis Apostle to the Sceptics - Walter Hooper - CTS Biographies

The Man Who Created Narnia - Michael Coren

Further Up & Further In Understanding Narnia - Joseph Pearce

God and Grief - An Essay

Between Heaven Hell - Peter Kreeft

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Wednesday, 12 July 2017

2017 Weight Loss Challenge

2017 Weight Loss Challenge

Over the years my weight has been up and down a few times. Currently I am heavier than I have been in a few years but still a ways from my heaviest. My lowest weight in the last 20 years was 179.8lbs a few years back. My highest was 258.9lbs. At work there is a group of us doing a weight loss challenge. We are putting a little bit of skin in the game, it is $100 buy in. If you lose 10% of your body weight over the 90 days that drops to $25. And person who loses the highest percentage of starting weight takes the pot.

Knowing I was doing this challenge over the past week I have not cared what I ate, or about my exercise. But it is time to get serious. The big 50 is fast approaching. And I need to lose weight, get healthier and stay that way this time. I use two different tools for tracking a Google Doc with a new one each year and also Coach.me.

I am looking forward to the community of this challenge. I have started getting back into juicing of late, and will now start making other small sustainable changes. I am looking forward to re-establishing some of the habits and disciplines. And I will also be using this time to refocus some of the spiritual disciplines at the same time.

You might be inclined to ask why I am writing about this. I have been struggling with this for a while, so making it public will help hold me accountable. I have also been really impressed with my sister-in-law and her writing about her own changes and struggles at ‘Comfort in the Growth Zone’! So following her lead I am putting it out there, that I am starting over again and today is the day. But because it is a challenge ‘may the odds be ever in your favor!’

Note: the above picture is from the Archdiocise of Kingston's Summer VBS Camp! And the two below are from Dynamic Catholic.

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

Daring Do and the Forbidden City of Clouds - A.K. Yearling and G.M. Berrow

Daring Do and the Forbidden City of Clouds
A.K. Yearling
G.M. Berrow
Little Brown Kids
Hasbro
ISBN 9780316406116
eISBN 9780316389365
ASIN B017RQP4AA

My oldest child is a reluctant reader. She does enjoy books, but not the reading. Last year I read to her one of the other books in this series and also one of the Equestria Girls books. Last year these books were beyond her capability. Now after reading together most days over the last year she can rip through this book if she so desires. But typically we read together and we alternate pages and read a few chapters a night.

No as a man in my mid 40's these books would not be on my 'to be read list', if I was not reading them with my daughter. But even with saying that we both enjoy the stories and have now read three of the Daring Do books. This book reads like Indiana Jones, as a female pony. Daring do is a Pegasus pony, which means she is not only a pony but can fly. And those wings have got her out of more than one scrape. A.K. Yearling is a pen name for the main character, and appears in a number of the TV episodes either by reference or in person (pony). These stories are well enough written to keep my attention, which to be honest surprised me. My daughter loved them, so if I am reading them to her or we are reading them together it is a win.

In this book, Daring tries to find a treasure that is not only hidden, but supposedly hidden in a mythical city of clouds. Talk about a mystery wrapped up in an adventure. Can Daring find the city of Cirrostrata? Can she trust the retired adventurer that A.B. Ravenhood director her towards? Or will this just turn out to be clouds and mirrors?

I find it hard to believe buy I enjoyed this book. And my daughter loved it. I will likely read it again in a few years with my youngest, and do so without regret. We have thoroughly enjoyed this book and the three Daring Do books we have read to date. I hope more become available soon.

Daring Do:
Daring Do and the Marked Thief of Marapore
Daring Do and the Eternal Flower
Daring Do and the Forbidden City of Clouds

Monday, 10 July 2017

Three Days The Search for the Boy Messiah - Chris Stepien

Three Days:
The Search for the Boy Messiah
Chris Stepien
Wellspring Publishing
formerly
Beacon Publishing for
Dynamic Catholic
ISBN 9781937509927
eISBN 9781942611103
ASIN B00UCD73O6

I am always a little leery of books that attempt to expand upon biblical events in a fictional way. It is so easy for them to go sideways. But this book comes with a recommendation from Matthew Kelly, and from a publisher that I trust. So even with my cautious approach to reading this book, I was greatly surprised. Once I started reading this book I could hardly put it down.

The first part of the book is preparation for the Passover feast, including the family's travel to Jerusalem. This part of the book can be reconstructed from numerous historical sources about the life and times of Jesus Christ; from sources in the Jewish tradition, from Roman documents and also from other historical documents from the time. It was fascinating to see Jesus in his home setting, whit friends, in school, working in Joseph's shop. To see his friendships, his day to day life was a fascinating insight. The journey and celebration of the feat of Passover was amazing to read. It really brought the historical events to life.

The three days are 100% speculation, from how Jesus was separated from the caravan to what he did. Many of his actions in this imaginative account mirror things he would later do in his public ministry. His few encounters with a younger Caiaphas were interesting even if a big stretch. His interactions with a street thief, slaver, leper were all interesting to read.

All of Jesus's speech in this book is scripture. It was a little weird seeing phrases spoken with new testament references prior to their occurrence. Even if the author wanted all of the words of Jesus to come from the bible maybe footnotes or end notes would have worked better. But even though it is a bit distracting does not hinder the story.

This book was a wonderful read. I found myself transported back and immersed into the events. I highly recommend it.

Books by Chris Stepien:
Three Days: The Search for the Boy Messiah

Dying to Be Happy: Discovering the Truth about Life

Disciples of Doubt: A Journey with the Messiah’s Mother

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Sunday, 9 July 2017

20 Answers Angels and Demons - Fr. Mike Driscoll - 20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers

20 Answers Angels and Demons
20 Answers Series from Catholic Answers
Fr. Mike Driscoll
Catholic Answers Press
ISBN 9781941663899
eISBN 9781941663912
ASIN B01HC83JN2

This is one of two books currently in this series written by Father Mike Driscoll. I found both to be excellent reads. In fact I found his writing so engaging I went and read his fiction book, The Father Capranica Mysteries: Stories of the Strange and Supernatural, as well. Of the 21 books I have read in this series this is likely one of the ones that will cause the most controversy. I recently saw a mem on Facebook that immediately made me think of this book. It stated "talk about angels and nobody bats an eye … talk about demons and spiritual warfare and everybody loses their minds". And from my own experience both in the Catholic Church and evangelical circles over the past 30 years that is true. It amazes me the number of believers that accept angels who deny or want to bury their heads in the sand regarding demons. This book is a great resource for all Christians who desire to understand the true biblical reality of these beings. And though this is a shorter volume it will give a solid ground to all who read it.

The 20 Questions answered in this volume are:

1. What are angels?
2. What is the angels' relationship with God?
3. How do angels interact with one another?
4. What is the angels' relationship with us?
5. Where do we get names for angels and angel choirs?
6. What are demons?
7. What powers do demons have?
8. What are some misconceptions about demons?
9. How do demons attack people?
10. How does a person become possessed?
11. What are the signs of possession?
12. What are the risks of confusing mental disorders and demonic activity?
13. Do demons ever possess places or things?
14. What is the difference between exorcism and deliverance?
15. What does the exorcist do?
16. Does exorcism always work?
17. Is there any connection between demons and witchcraft, Ouija boards, and psychics?
18. What prayers and practices can people adopt for protection against demons?
19. What should a person do if he thinks someone he knows may be possessed?
20. What is the role of guardian angels?

Unlike many books in this series there is no introduction or forward it jumps right it. Fr. Mike states:

"Angels are purely spiritual beings created by God. Strictly speaking, the word angel (from the Greek for "messenger") refers to their office, not their nature. In other words, the good spirits who interact with human beings are called angels, whereas those who operate strictly in heaven are more precisely called spirits. However, it is traditional and acceptable to call all of them angels. They are not eternal in the way that God is, that is, existing before and outside of time. Rather, they are eternal in the same way human souls are: once created, they exist forever. Because they do not have bodies, they do not experience the separation of body and soul which we call death."

And that is our introduction. Then in chapter 6 he gives the definition of demons:

"Demons are purely spiritual beings created in the image of God. As such they possess intellect and free will, as do human beings; unlike humans, they have no physical body, never grow old, and never die. God created all angels good, but some made a free and permanent decision to disobey and reject him. The creature known as Satan, or Lucifer, is the leader of these evil spirits. He is also called the devil, and the angels who followed him in rejecting God are called devils or demons. Both these English words come from the Latin diabolus, meaning attacker, slanderer, or accuser. This connotation is seen in the words of Jesus, who called the devil a murderer, a liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44), and in the book of Revelation, when the devil is driven from heaven and a celestial voice cries, "The accuser of our brethren has been thrown down" (12:10). At the time of creation, Lucifer may have been the closest to God of all the angels; therefore it may have been a sin of pride that was his definitive act of disobedience. A figurative reading of the prophet Isaiah supports this idea: "How you are fallen from heaven, O day star . . . You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven . . . I will make myself like the Most High'" (14:12-14)."

He also states:

"Because they have no physical bodies, angels are quite different; they essentially have two powers, the intellect and the will. This actually makes them more powerful than humans rather than less so, for they perceive things without the use of the senses, can move from one place to another without the use of limbs, and can move material objects without physical exertion. But they would not be angels if they did not have the use of their intellect and will, which are the powers that constitute the image of God in angels (as well as in human beings). This explains why God does not annihilate the fallen angels, i.e., make them cease to exist. Intellect and will are inherently good, godlike powers, so he does not wipe them out of existence even when they are misused by angels and humans."

The speaking to types of attacks he says:

"Demonic attacks can be divided into ordinary and extraordinary; the ordinary attacks are commonly called temptations. Temptations can come from the world and the flesh, as well as from the devil (Catechism of the Council of Trent part IV, petition 6). Temptations of the world include wealth, popularity, and power; temptations of the flesh include sex, food, alcohol, and drugs. The temptations of the devil are intertwined with the other two types: they give added enticement to those sins (CCC 2846-54). Temptation by demons is not much different from temptations that come from other people. Just as people can say things to tempt others to sin, so too demons, in a nonverbal way, can give evil thoughts and provoke emotions that can lead to sin."

I hope that those three extended quotes will help you see the balanced approach that Fr. Mike takes, and inspire you to give this book a read. This is one of the most important books in this series. And though it is written as part of the Catholic Answers 20 Answers series I really believe that every Christian would benefit from reading this book and gaining a deeper understanding of these truths. The only drawback I can find is that there is no bibliography at the end of this book to take the reading further. I believe that many people would read this book and want more. I also feel it could have been split into 2 separate books, or better yet have 2 more books in this series that take us deeper on Angels and Demons, but that is something only time will tell.

This book is one of the best in the series. I have read 21 of the 23 currently available books in this series. Another great book in a great series!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2017 Catholic Reading Plan!

Note 2: Currently this series of books is being offered at a 50% discount so get it while you can. That is right you can get all 23 physical books or all 23 eBooks for just $39.95! If you want a way to go deeper this year give this series a try!

#20AnswersChallenge

20 Answers: Relics & Sacramentals - Shaun McAfee

20 Answers: The Communion of Saints - Karlo Broussard

20 Answers Eastern Catholicism - Father Daniel Dozier

20 Answers Anti-Catholic Myths - Jimmy Akin

20 Answers The End Times - Jimmy Akin

20 Answers The Rosary - Tom Nash

20 Answers Seasons & Feasts – Michelle Arnold

20 Answers New Age - Michelle Arnold

20 Answers Catholic Social Teaching – Mark Brumley

20 Answers Prayer – Hugh Barbour O. Praem and Sebastian Walshe O. Praem

20 Answers Faith & Reason – Christopher Kaczor

20 Answers The New Testament – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Protestantism – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Marriage & Sex – Todd Aglialoro

20 Answers The Early Church – Jim Blackburn

20 Answers The Old Testament – Jimmy Akin

20 Answers Judaism – Michelle Arnold

20 Answers The Sacraments – Father Mike Driscoll

20 Answers St Thomas Aquinas - Dr. Kevin Vost

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Other Books from Catholic Answers:
Hard Sayings: A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties - Trent Horn
A Daily Defense: Apologetics Lessons for Every Day - Jimmy Akin
The Apostasy That Wasn't: The Extraordinary Story of the Unbreakable Early Church - Rod Bennett
Answering Atheism - How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity - Trent Horn
Persuasive Pro Life: How to Talk About Our Culture's Toughest Issue - Trent Horn and Fr Frank Pavone
The Protestant's Dilemma: How the Reformation's Shocking Consequences Point to the Truth of Catholicism - Devin Rose
Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines - Tim Staples
Handed Down: The Catholic Faith of the Early Christians - James L. Papandrea
Demons, Deliverance, Discernment: Separating Fact from Fiction about the Spirit World - Fr. Mike Driscoll
Navigating the Tiber: How to Help Your Friends and Family Journey Toward the Catholic Faith - Devin Rose
100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura - Dave Armstrong
The Drama of Salvation: How God Rescues You from Your Sins and Brings You to Eternal Life - Jimmy Akin
The Truth is Out There (Brendan and Erc in Exile Book 1 - Brother Amadeus and Amadeus
...Memorize the Reasons! Defending the Faith with the Catholic Art of Memory - Kevin Vost
Marching Orders: A Tactical Plan for Converting the World to Christ - Dan McGuire
The Fathers Know Best - Jimmy Akin
Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love - Trent Horn
The Old Evangelization: How to Spread the Faith Like Jesus Did - Eric Sammons
...

Saturday, 8 July 2017

The Life Cycle of Stars (Ignition) - Barry Lyga - A Short Story

The Life Cycle of Stars (Ignition):
A Short Story
Barry Lyga
Barry Lyga LLC
ASIN B073LLQ4CL

This book, this short story is Barry Lyga's July offering in his year of short stories. After the November 2016 Presidential Election Barry Lyga wanted to do something, so he decided to dust off some short stories and publish one a month with the proceeds going to the ACLU. You can read about why he is doing this here. For fans of his writings, of fans of short stories; it is a chance to see some stories that have never seen the light of day.

My introduction to Lyga's writing was the anthology Geektastic, since reading that book in late 2009 early 2010 I have read almost all of Lyga's published writings. And I have loved some of the short stories in this series. Some of them were amazing reads especially Four Minutes. Part of what makes this series so great is the introductions and back stories. Lyga gives us a peek into his process, how these stories came about and what he was working from. And so fat I have thoroughly enjoyed all the stories up until this one. In fact I read it twice because I was sure I was missing something. The impetus for the story comes from a scribbled not in a Lyga's sophomore or junior year at Yale course. After writing the line he saw a great pun and used it in this story.

I will be honest the story is very well written, but the plot left me wanting. It is the story of a woman who is married and with a growing child, who goes back to university. She ends up meeting a younger man, and having an affair.

Having seen so many broken marriages amongst my parents and their friends. And now among friends my age. The devastating impact on all involved especially children in these situations. This story seems to make it ok, because the woman is more fulfilled and excited about the younger man who shows some interest in her. The story just left me sad.

I am glad the proceeds of this story are going to a good cause, and I eagerly anticipate next month's instalment. This one was just not to my taste.

Books by Barry Lyga:

I Hunt Killers:
I Hunt Killers (2012)
Game - I Hunt Killers #2 (2013)
Blood of My Blood - I Hunt Killers # 3 (2014)

Every Hunter is Hunter (2026)

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I Hunt Killers Short Stories:
Down Time (2018)
Lucky Day (2014)
Career Day (2012)
Neutral Mask (2013)
Blood Boy (2014)

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Before the Hunt (2025)

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Brookdale High:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (2006)
Boy Toy (2007)
Hero Type (2008)
Goth Girl Rising (2009)
Bang (2017)

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Archvillian:
Archvillain #1 (2010)
The Mad Mask - Archvillian #2 (2011)
Yesterday Again - Archvillian #3 (2013)

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The Flash Series:
Hocus Pocus (2017)
Johnny Quick (2018)
Tornado Twins (2018)

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