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| Posted By : Nathan Jerpe - 4/9/2008 1:44 PM | | Don't laugh, I haven't read any of them! I plan to, just one of those things I haven't gotten round to doing...
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| Posted By : Lyn - 4/9/2008 7:30 PM | Also finally getting to A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Read Kite Runner and saw the movie - both good.
Update: Our local book club is reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. So I'll be starting that soon. Plus I did just finish Strange Worlds of Lunacy - the Galaxy's Silliest Anthology! lol
Lyn from ResAliens
Own a copy of Strange Worlds of Lunacy - Galaxy's Silliest Antho today! |
| Posted By : Lyn - 4/13/2008 9:50 AM | My brother and I are considering reading Replay by Ken Grimwood and was wondering if anyone else had read it and if it's a good read. (My brother and I will occasionally read a book and talk about it - sorta sci-fi book club over the phone as he lives in CA and I'm in KS.) I didn't see any review at SFReader - so if we go for it, I may have to write a review! lol
Lyn from ResAliens
Own a copy of Strange Worlds of Lunacy - Galaxy's Silliest Antho today! |
| Posted By : Lyn - 4/22/2008 1:45 PM | Update: Just finished Replay by Ken Grimwood - a clever time-travel a la reincarnation tale that raises some great questions without being pedantic. A very entertaining read. I'll have to submit a review to Uncle Pete about it soon. I give it 8 of 10 (4 stars).
Lyn from ResAliens
Own a copy of Strange Worlds of Lunacy - Galaxy's Silliest Antho today! |
| Posted By : RHFay - 5/5/2008 5:58 PM | HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Sorry, couldn't resist.
I remember when I used to sell my art at the local medieval fair, back when there was a local medieval fair, people asked me repeatedly if I liked Harry Potter. I would look at then with a puzzled look, shake my head, and say no. I hadn't even really heard about it before that.
This was back right before it became Harry Potter mania everywhere.
"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!"
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions
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| Posted By : Lyn - 5/6/2008 9:05 AM | Almost done with HP7 - (I read it in snippets before falling asleep, lol) - and I have to say that, other than my usual complaint of too many words (reminds me of Amadeus: "too many notes" lol), Rowling's plotting is actually very compelling, imo. I think that's one reason why they're so popular, she knows how to tell a story - maybe not in a polished, literary sense, but man can she juggle the elements and provide a story arc that can truly sustain itself over 7 books.
Another reason I believe these books are so popular is that the series is very "Christian" - both in its core message and in its overarching world view. And, I know I'm biased, but I believe the Christian mythos is the most compelling and fully satisfying storyline put forth through the ages; and any well-written snapshot of that story will resonate with people. (We all know the power of LotR, for example.)
More once I'm done. 
Update: Finally finished the series. Whew! Very satisfying conclusion. Enjoyed it as a whole.
Lyn from ResAliens
Reviewing Zines at The Fix
Reviewing Short Stories at My Blog
And Promoting Strange Worlds of Lunacy |
| Posted By : RHFay - 5/9/2008 1:20 AM | So, you disagree with those Christians that called for burning the books, then? (wink wink - another bad joke back at ya, Lyn.)
Harry Potter as a Christain story is an interesting viewpoint. Makes one wonder.
"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!"
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions
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| Posted By : Lyn - 5/9/2008 9:18 AM | I disagree with burning books, yes. lol I'm a fan of Bradbury's But I'm all for the constituents of local libraries complaining about books - that's the democratic free market at work. Censorship is when the government bans the publication of books on principle (and I'm against that, generally - obvious examples excepted, like "How to Make a Nuclear Bomb in 3 Easy Steps").
So petitions to "remove that book" aren't censorship. However, it can result in bad PR, which I think the early-in-the-HP-series Christian opposition engendered. This has more to do with the general tension between fantasy fiction and faith than with HP specifically, imo. Although because Rowlings didn't come right out and tie her story to the Christian mythos (a la Lewis' Narnia), HP became a lightening rod for much of our pent-up confusion.
(BTW, the most intelligently argued and cogent apologetic I've read of the positive connection between faith and fiction is offered by R.L. Copple as a bonus commentary in the back of his novella-length collection of short stories titled, "Infinite Realities." My review of his book should be at SFReader soon. And I'm seeking permission to re-print that column at ResAliens in the future. Many nonChristians could give a hoot, but it's still a huge issue in many of our circles.)
That being said, let me provide just one example of why Harry Potter should be read as a Christian story. And if there's interest in the topic, we can continue to hijack this thread for our discussion. First and foremost (most compelling, in my estimation) is that HP (an 'every man' figure that also serves as a 'Christ figure') dies and is resurrected in every book. Harry may not literally die (although in #7 it seems he does), but he comes to the brink of death and is restored. I don't have chapter and verse (page numbers!) but if you're familiar with each subplot, HP faces a crisis in every book and overcomes. I can share more, but that should suffice to begin a conversation if people are interested.
Thanks for asking. lol
Lyn from ResAliens
Reviewing Zines at The Fix
Reviewing Short Stories at My Blog
And Promoting Strange Worlds of Lunacy |
| Posted By : ScrewMoonshine - 5/9/2008 1:13 PM | I've only read the first book in the series, but Harry struck me as far too judgmental and narrow-sighted to serve as a Christ figure.
Robert Orme
Out now:
"More Than One Way to Protect" in Lords of Justice (www.carnifexpress.net/)
"Time in a Capsule" in Unparalleled Journeys II (www.journeybookspublishing.com/)
"On the Tree Top" in Ultraverse vol.3 #5 (www.ultraverse.us)
"The Scab, the Man, and the I.V." in Mount Zion Speculative Fiction Review #3 (www.mountzionpress.com)
Coming soon:
"Replacing Someone" in Aoife's Kiss #26, September 2008 (http://samsdotpublishing.com/aoife/main.htm) |
| Posted By : Lyn - 5/9/2008 4:08 PM | He's an "every man" (or "every woman") in the first book for sure, but throughout the stories and despite the lying and trouble he gets into, Harry has a noble character and seeks to destroy Voldemort but with no thought of gain for himself. HP is always giving the enemy a chance to repent, allowing for mercy, second chances, etc. But I'm with you, Robert, I almost gave up after book one - it wasn't the dark magic that I objected to, it was the character traits of the main characters - like you I didn't think they were particularly role-model worthy. So while not a true Christ, Harry the every person matures and becomes Christ-like.
Lyn from ResAliens
Reviewing Zines at The Fix
Reviewing Short Stories at My Blog
And Promoting Strange Worlds of Lunacy |
| Posted By : bleacheddecay - 5/11/2008 12:58 AM | I didn't see Harry as a Christ figure but then I wouldn't be looking at things in those terms regardless. I did like the last book the best. In it Harry takes less garbage from everyone!
bleacheddecay |
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