Books I Read in 2013, Vol. II

 

ALMOST THE TRUTH: The Blog Archive 2010-2012
Dewey Roth

"Almost the Truth is a humorous, widely-ignored blog that appears weekly at http://www.AlmostTheTruth.blogspot.com. This is your opportunity to have three years' worth of posts all in one place."

I actually DID need to read this to check for proper page breaks and table of contents and all that rot. Of course, it was totally self-serving to make sure I read it at a time that would put it first in this 4-month wrap-up...so its picture appears in my timeline and so I can remind everyone that it can only be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/deweyroth. 

56/5: Steven Spielberg's first blockbuster about a resort town's sheriff hiring a crusty, old snowplow driver to conquer a freakishly large blizzard: Snows (My favorite quote: "You're gonna need a bigger blade.")

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LITTLE CROW: 150 Years after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862
Curt Brown

"At its most basic, this is the story of how some of the Dakota, forced onto reservations, cheated out of money that was due them for the sale of their land, and starving, rose up against the settlers who were remaking the Upper Midwest into a white man's world. Some of the warriors committed terrible atrocities against settlers during the rebellion, before it ended in their defeat. It is also the story about how settlers, Army leaders, and governors exacted retribution by mass hangings, without representation or a real trial."

This eBook is actually a collection of a series of newspaper articles that ran in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. As such, the chapters sometimes overlap each other, but that is a minor nit to pick in the face of this small book's excellent style and obvious care for documenting details of an almost forgotten chapter of American history, overshadowed by the nation's focus on the Civil War.

56/5: Landscape: Little Crow would ride about six hours from his house near the Lower Sioux Agency at one end of the reservation to the Upper Sioux Agency more than 30 miles northwest. Portrait: Seven hundred picked warriors whipped by cowardly whites.

ISCARIOT: A Novel of Judas
Tosca Lee

"The most reviled man in biblical history comes to life. In Jesus, Judas believes he has found the One - the promised Messiah and future king destined to overthrow Roman rule.... But Judas' vision of a nation free from Roman rule is crushed by the inexplicable actions of the Nazarene himself, who will not bow to social or religious convention.... Judas must confront the fact that the master he loves is not the liberator he hoped for...."

A very interesting premise, fleshed out by a satisfying story, with a general historical accuracy that doesn't get in the way of the narrative...there aren't long paragraphs explaining "This is this, and that is that.". As far as Biblical accuracy, there is a LOT taken for granted here, and at one point, the author mentions Jesus' older brother (file under "I don't THINK so, Tosca"), but it's only a novel, not a Bible commentary. I especially liked the section that told about The Last Supper from inside Judas' mind. It has been quite a while since I've read a novel, and Biblical fiction was a good entryway drug for me.

56/5: No, what I'm about to tell you I could be killed for...even hung on a tree.

HEY THERE (YOU WITH THE GUN IN YOUR HAND): A Rat Pack Mystery
Robert J. Randisi

"It’s 1961 and Las Vegas is still the place to be. Eddie Gianelli, pit boss at the Sands Casino, now considers the Rat Pack his friends. And this time, his friend Frank Sinatra wants him to help Sammy [Davis, Jr.]. Someone has an embarrassing photo of Sammy and wants twenty-five grand for it…. At the rendezvous, in place of a blackmailer, Eddie finds a dead body greeting him."

Yes, it looks and sounds like a cheap, dime-store paperback, using real celebrities as fictional characters, but it’s a hardcover published in 2008 (which I borrowed from the library, of course), and a lot of fun to read. In keeping with the time frame, the swearing in the book is kept to a minimum, leaving plenty of room for plot twists and turns, including the presidential family of the era. This is the third in a series of Rat Pack Mysteries; I may need to see if I can find the first two.

56/5: "Don't touch—” I started.

THE FOUR SEASONS OF MARRIAGE: Secrets to a Lasting Marriage
Gary Chapman

"Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the perennial bestseller The Five Love Languages, provides an easy-to-grasp framework to help couples understand their marriage and seven practical strategies for strengthening or improving their marriage relationship. A valuable resource for couples regardless of how long they've been married, this biblically-based book is a reference tool to help couples through every season of marriage."

I read this because I got it for free on iBooks during a special promotion, but I must say it lives up to the (above) hype. The idea of "constructing" a book is very evident here, but that may just be a function of how it truly is a reference tool as opposed to a read-it-from-cover-to-cover tome. Several meaningful insights are on these pages, and I anticipate my own marriage getting stronger as I put some of what I've read into practice.

56/5: Landscape: Working through the season of winter may never be "fun" or "exciting," like sledding down a steep hill or a ski trip to Vail, but when couples persevere and begin to take positive steps to improve their marriage, they emerge stronger, more committed, and better able to work through their differences.  Portrait: Jeanette and Sam have been married for twenty-seven years.

Books I Read in 2013, Vol. I

 

SIMPLY JESUS
N. T. Wright

"Bestselling author and leading Bible scholar N. T. Wright breaks down the barriers that prevent us from fully engaging with the story of Jesus in the Bible. By appreciating the historical complexity of reading a 2,000-year-old story and the distorting effect of two millennia of debate over these stories, Wright reveals a breathtaking vision of Jesus that more than matches the needs and complexities of our time."

Wright does a great job of helping the reader understand the historical context of what Jesus did and said, but I spent the whole book holding Wright's words at arm's length. You see, early on, he would put affirmations of Jesus' identity as Son of God and Messiah in quotation marks...as if he had a different definition for those terms. And I practically held my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to clearly state an opinion on Jesus' deity/humanity...but that clarity never came; or else I missed it because of how long it took me to get through the book in spurts and sputters. I certainly think having the word "simply" in the title is misleading.

56/5: He took upon himself (this is one of the most secure starting points for historical investigation of Jesus) the role of a prophet, in other words, of a man sent from God to reaffirm God's intention of overthrowing the might of [the] pagan empire, but also to warn Israel that its present way of going about things was dangerously ill-conceived and leading to disaster.

I LOVE YOU, MISS HUDDLESTON and other inappropriate longings of my Indiana childhood
Philip Gulley

"We are transported to 1970's Danville, Indiana, the everyone-knows-your-business town where Philip Gulley still lives today, to witness the uproarious stories of his young life, including an infatuation with his comely sixth-grade teacher, his dalliance with sin - eating meat on Friday and inappropriate activities with a mannequin named Ginger - and his checkered start with organized religion: 'Sister Mary John had shown us a flannel graph of the apostles receiving the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. They looked quite happy except that their hair was on fire.... I was suspicious of a religion whose high point was the igniting of one's head, and my enthusiasm for church, which had never been great, began to fade'."

Gulley was recommended to me by a friend, and I am truly grateful. He is funny, clean, and writes in short chapters...a perfect combination. This book held particular interest for me because I grew up in the Northeast corner of Indiana, just four years ahead of the author, and there were a truckload of similarities. I'm looking forward to borrowing the rest of his works - both memoirs and light fiction - from the library...you'll be seeing more from me about his guy.

56/5: Then we noticed it smelled nice, so we put it in glass bottles and sold it as aftershave.

MAX ON LIFE: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions
Max Lucado

"In more than thirty years - as an author, pastor, husband, and father - Max Lucado has fielded a lot of questions. Questions born of doubt and pain or just plain curiosity. Big questions about life and faith, heaven and hell. Closer to home dilemmas about sex, managing money, or raising kids. This book gathers Max's responses to the most-often-asked questions. They're vintage Lucado. Simple without being simplistic. Knowledgeable without being know-it-all. Direct but compassionate, honest, and authoritative..."

This was a perfect book for my reading style: one- or two-page answers that stand on their own so I could pick up the book on my way to the restroom or while waiting for my popcorn to pop. But I must admit, while the questions rang true and were able to be related to, the answers were sometimes more poetic than practical. Lucado's chief role as a local pastor really came through, to the point of sometimes taking too much for granted. For example, I don't think any of my atheist friends would get much from his seven-paragraph answer to "How can we know God truly exists?" But for people of faith, with a predisposition for believing the Bible, this is a good resource for some clear ways to think about some real-life issues.

56/5: When you can't sleep, don't count sheep - read Scripture.

Roth Family Christmas Epistle 2012

 

KELLY JO (23) – Well, the picture almost says it all, doesn’t it? Dustin Haug and KJ had been planning their June 2013 wedding for quite some time when they called us on Grandparent’s Day: “We’ve got some Really Good News to tell you. We are both really happy about this…” And so, we are expecting a second grandchild in early April, and Debbie has dibs on holding the two-and-a-half-month-old at the wedding!  Kelly Jo continues to be a well-loved nanny for two families in St. Paul, while Dustin teaches chemistry in a performing arts high school and leads dancing workshops and performs. As an extra creative outlet, KJ has been involved with a project called “The Book of Bartholomew,” writing and performing music…look it up online!

CURTIS (25) – Big changes for Curtis this year…after an acting/puppeteering job in a production of Little Shop of Horrors in Florida, he moved back home to Minnesota, where he and The Dad were reunited in the all-new Dakota Chautauqua tent show at the county fair in August. Curtis also did a show with the Minnesota Opera and is breaking records left and right as a server at the local Red Robin. He is also experiencing a spiritual revival and even plans to go on a short-term missions trip to Romania in late June 2013.

SHONDA (29) – With hubby, John, returned to the states after a 4-year stint in Germany and is now living near the Air Force base in Little Rock, Arkansas. John is still a firefighter with the AF, and Shonda is working in the base’s childcare program much as she did in Germany. John had to battle a pulmonary embolism, which has kept them from being able to visit us yet, but things are looking better now, and we hope to see them soon in the new year.

ANGEL (32) –is in her 9th year of teaching first grade, and is learning how to balance the necessity of a paying job with the joy of being a mommy to Jesse, who just turned one December 4th. Husband Phil is also still teaching art, splitting his time between two high schools. Not an ideal situation, but glad to still be employed.

DEBBIE – Vigorous walking and healthy eating has led to saying goodbye to over 35 pounds, with a goal of 20 more to go so she can be as healthy of a Grandma as possible, which she absolutely loves. December 4, 2012, represented 14 years cancer-free and mid-January will mark her 15th anniversary with the school district’s Transition Plus program, working as an aid with disabled young adults.  Debbie enjoys the opportunities she gets with her speaking and singing ministry, Rest in Him, to offer hope and encouragement. In fact, if you’ve got any pull with the women’s ministry of your church or any kind of support group, you should give her a call and let her be a blessing for your friends. (More info at http://www.restinhimministry.com)

DEWEY – Marked 5 years as a Technical Writer with Harris IT Services; 13 (in January) as Actor/Choreographer/Asst. Director with Giant Step Theatre; and had a great time not only performing in the Dakota Chautauqua again but co-writing and co-directing this time around, too. One other change, in addition to the attempt-at-being-humorous blog at almostthetruth.blogspot.com, he started an attempt-at-being-meaningful one at DeweyTruth.blogspot.com. Both can easily be found by going to the www.almostthetruth.com website.

MAY YOUR NEW YEAR BE MERRY AND BRIGHT AND CHRIST-FILLED!

Books I Read in 2012, Vol. III

 

CHOOSING TO SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope
Mary Beth Chapman with Ellen Vaughn

"From the beginning, Mary Beth Chapman's life was not how she planned. All she wanted was a calm, peaceful life of stability and control. Instead, God gave her an award-winning singer/songwriter husband, crazy schedules, and a houseful of creatively rambunctious children. And then, she experienced the tragedy she never could have imagined."

No doubt, my interest in reading this book stemmed from wanting to read how the Chapman family dealt with the tragic death of their adopted daughter (when their son accidentally hit her with a car), but what kept me turning the pages was finding out so much more than just the details of death's aftermath. Mrs. Chapman had a whole lot of life before the loss of Maria, and she shares the whole story, before-during-and-after, with vulnerability, humor, and deep, abiding truth.

56/5: He said that "divorce is not a word in our vocabulary."

VOICE-OVER VOICE ACTOR
Yuri Lowenthal & Tara Platt

"I have never seen such a comprehensive and clear explanation of the ins and outs of the voice industry. Yuri and Tara offer up a book that is not only easy to follow, it's also in-depth, inspiring, and funny at the same time!"

A very enjoyable read, if you're interested in the topic, which I am, and that settles that. The authors have a helpful attitude about auditioning that I found refreshing: "This may sound like common sense, but if you're going to embark on this quest, you need to enjoy acting, because there's gonna be a whole lotta actin' goin' on. And most of the acting you do will come in the form of auditions for which you won't be getting paid - in money.... Remember, though, getting to audition is getting to act, and that's the fun stuff, right?"

56/5: Remember, you are enough.

THE SIGNATURE OF JESUS
Brennan Manning

"This book is offered to Christians who want to live by faith and not by mere 'religion;' for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological; who see Christianity neither as a moral code or a belief system but as a love affair; who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ; who know that following him means living dangerously; who want to live the gospel without compromise; who have no greater desire than to have his signature written on the pages of their lives."

This book certainly lives up to the dust jacket...as I have come to fully expect from Manning. It was published in 1992, but shows no signs of age. Take this quote, for instance: "Writhing in agony on the cross, Jesus says, 'I know every moment of sin, selfishness, dishonesty, and degraded love that has disfigured your life, and I do not judge you unworthy of compassion, forgiveness, and salvation. Now you be like that with others. Judge no one.' ... As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, as if we are what we have, and as if we are what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to the need to put people in their place."

56/5: Landscape: Today many churches attempt to eliminate the risk and danger of this call.  Portrait: We Americans are programmed to be consumers.

Aesop's Fables
Aesop

This volume was a free download in iBooks, made possible by Project Gutenberg, which has the goal to "give away one trillion etext files by December 31, 2001.

I don't know if Project Gutenberg reached their goal, but I'm glad they made the attempt. Not only did I enjoy reading this compilation, but I am looking forward to moving on to Grimm's Fairy Stories. It was interesting to not only read the familiar tales like "The Fox and the Grapes" and "The Lion and the Mouse," but there were SEVERAL I had never heard before like "The Bald Man and the Fly" and "The Milkmaid and Her Pail." Scintillating! Well, not really...but as research for possible future Giant Step Theatre productions, fairly interesting.

56/5: Landscape: He pointed to the truss of hay and said: "What are those two curious things sticking out of the hay?"  Portrait: An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice.

FOR THE RECORD...the reading for the remainder of this calendar year will be focused on trying to finish Ron Chernow's WASHINGTON: A Life, which I said I read sometime between May and August 2011 (see Books I Read in 2011, Vol. II) but of which I still have several chapters to complete.

Books I Read in 2012, Vol. II

 

SQUIRREL SEEKS CHIPMUNK: A Modest Bestiary
David Sedaris

"Charmingly subversive - and funny.... The book is about animals the way George Orwell's Animal Farm was about animals.... Sedaris is a witty, deft observer of the human condition."

It is certainly true that this collection of essays is actually about humans, even though it is populated with animals of almost every sort.  And it is also true that these stories are, in the words of Aileen Gallagher of New York, as if the author channeled "a dark and dirty Aesop." (Definitely a strong PG-13 rating) And it is also true that they are often laugh-out-loud funny.

56/5: I tell you I'm depressed, I tell you I feel cornered and lonely, and your response is "Fine. Now feed me," which is actually very insensitive of you.

PRESENT PERFECT: Finding God in the Now 
Gregory A. Boyd

"After reading classic contemplative authors...theologian and pastor Gregory Boyd longed to experience the presence of God for himself.... What he's learned as a pilgrim on a spiritual journey can help you find true spiritual transformation as you begin to practice the discipline of inviting God into every moment."

I started reading this book to be able to participate in a series of Pastor's Book Club discussions. I really enjoyed the first few chapters and the first discussion session, but my schedule didn't allow me to participate in the subsequent discussions and I ended up petering out of actually finishing the book with two chapters to go. One thing I DID learn from the book, though, is to not beat myself over the head about falling short. That's living in the past. Real life only happens in the present. And perhaps in some present moment that has yet to arrive, I'll finish this thing.

56/5: Allow yourself to rest in that support and realize that every point of contact reflects the truth that you are held in existence each and every moment by the perfect love of God (Hebrews 1:3).

I'M DYING UP HERE: Heartbreak and High Times in Stand-up Comedy's Golden Era
William Knoedelseder

"In the mid-1970s, Jay Leno, David Lettermen, Andy Kaufman, Richard Lewis, Robin Williiams, Elayne Boosler, Tom Dreesen, and several hundred other shameless showoffs and incorrigible cutups from all across the country migrated to Los Angeles, the new home of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. There, in a late-night world of sex, drugs, dreams, and laughter, they created an artistic community unlike any before or since. It was Comedy Camelot -- but, of course, it couldn't last."

The author was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, covering the comedy beat, and this book makes his close connection to the events and the event-makers more than evident. While rated PG-13 (well, actually, probably R for language), it was an easy, interesting read with a ton of behind-the-scenes detail and inner thoughts of the main people involved. Perhaps the most-telling quote is something that Richard Lewis sighed: "The business, by and large, is made up of wallets, not hearts."

56/5: For the first half-hour run-through, the comics included Dreesen, Letterman, Leno, Johnny Dark, and Elayne Boosler, who had just moved to town.

Books I Read in 2012, Vol. I

 

I've started out the year kind of slowly...but this exercise of recording what I've read (now in its second year) is a good motivator to keep plugging away.

THE TRUE ADVENTURES OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST STUNTMAN: My Life as Indiana Jones, James Bond, Superman and Other Movie Heroes
Vic Armstrong (with Robert Sellers)

"From performing stunts in the James Bond movie You Only Live Twice to directing action scenes for recent blockbusters The Green Hornet and Thor, the Academy Award-winning Vic Armstrong has been a legend in the movie industry for over 40 years. Along the way, he's been the stunt double for a whole host of iconic heroes, including 007, Superman, and most memorably, Indiana Jones - as Harrison Ford once joked to him, 'If you learn to talk I'm in deep trouble'."

I suppose the stereotype of a stuntman is someone who loves to drink and do dangerous things. This book did nothing to kill that stereotype. Mr. Armstrong certainly seems to have lived up to it  -  in spades. It's a fairly interesting read, with Vic taking more time with and giving more details for the really big movies he worked on, like Indiana Jones and the Bond films...which is exactly what a fan would want him to do.

56/5: I was watching that night and saw him come out in front of the curtains and give a funny smile, but it wasn't quite the smile of old.

IF YOU ASK ME (And of Course You Won't)
Betty White

"Drawing from a lifetime of lessons learned, seven-time Emmy winner Betty White's wit and wisdom take center stage as she tackles topics like friendship, romantic love, aging, television, fans, love for animals, and the brave new world of celebrity."

On the whole, the book was a pleasant read with many pleasant anecdotes about an apparently pleasant life. The chapter about when the author met Koko the sign-language-using gorilla was actually fairly amazing. It was a rough start for me, though, with the following typo-ridden foreword: "One time I remember hearing someone ask my friend George Burne [I can only assume she means George Burns], of he had read a certain book, current at the time. George said, 'I can't read a book cuz I'm writing one.' We all laughed, but he use absolutely right. Whatever else you may be involved in writing a book take precedence. By my sixth book you'd think I would know better, get once again I was thrilled when..."

And it is signed, "Betty white"

Thankfully, the proofreaders did a much better job with the rest of the book.

56/5: Portrait: We became great and dear friends.  Landscape: I've never, in all the instances I've been nominated for an award, prepared a speech.

HEAVEN
Randy Alcorn

"We all have questions about what Heaven will be like. After years of research, Dr. Randy Alcorn offers answers from the Bible."

Full disclosure...I didn't actually read the book, but a good-sized booklet-thingy that provided "a sampling of the questions and answers found in Randy Alcorn's Heaven, available now in bookstores and online." For me, it was a good way to "read the book"...kind of like watching an ESPN condensed football game, where they only show you the plays where something happened. I'm thinking I got all the answers I need (which, saying it like that...tweren't many) without all the filler.

56/5: Sin has terrible consequences, but God has provided a solution.

AS IRON SHARPENS IRON: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship
Howard & William Hendricks

"Respected authors Howard and Bill Hendricks show that the most dramatic spiritual and personal growth often happens through the influence of a mentor. Rooted in biblical principles, this book is both a profound and practical guide to mentoring relationships for men."

It didn't hit me until I just now typed out the above back-cover blurb, but this book really is focused on MENtorship. But in all honesty, there's nothing in here that wouldn't be good for women as well. Maybe it's one of those things that women tend to be more capable of, so it's the menfolk that really need this kind of practical advice and encouragement. Howard Hendricks is great at giving real-life examples of the principles he's writing about, and that keeps this from becoming a dry, text-booky read.

56/5: Instead, we ask, "What do you think is a realistic goal?"

Books I Read in 2011, Vol. III

MY LUCKY LIFE IN AND OUT OF SHOW BUSINESS: A Memoir
Dick Van Dyke

From the publisher: "A colorful, loving, richly detailed look at the decades of a multilayered life, My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business, will enthrall every generation of reader, from baby-boomers who recall when Rob Petrie became a household name, to all those still enchanted by Bert’s “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” This is a lively, heartwarming memoir of a performer who still thinks of himself as a “simple song-and-dance man,” but who is, in every sense of the word, a classic entertainer."

From me: A review I read online kind of complained that Van Dyke goes into more detail about his personal life (struggles with alcoholism and divorce) than about the roles that made him famous. I can't say I disagree with that, but honestly, as I was reading this, the thought never crossed my mind. I simply enjoyed practically every page. There are lots of anecdotes and plenty of soul-baring and I was sorry to read the final page. The author quotes himself to open the book, and it's a good summary: "If I'm known for giving people decent entertainment and raising good kids, that's all right. I'll have lived a good one."

Page 56/Sentence 5: Portrait: He told me to relax, it was going to be a good meeting. Landscape: "At least she died like a man," said Thursday.

THE GOD DELUSION
Richard Dawkins

"A preeminent scientist - and the world's most prominent atheist - asserts the irrationality of belief in God and the grievous harm religion has inflicted on society, from the Crusades to 9/11."

Okay, I didn't actually read this book. I only finished the first four chapters. You can read why in a note I posted in September. Suffice it to say that I was not overwhelmed by Dawkins' flawless logic...and I was distracted by his spider-webbing from thought to thought instead of laying out a clear, linear argument for his beliefs.

56/5: What expertise can theologians bring to deep cosmological questions that scientists cannot?

FIRE AND RAIN: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970
David Browne

"Fire and Rain tells the story of four landmark albums of 1970, the intertwining personal ties between the legendary artists who made them, and the ways in which their songs and journeys mirrored the end of one era and the start of another."

It's been who-knows-how-long since I've read a book in the same year it was published, but I was looking forward to this from the moment I read a review in Entertainment Weekly. And I was not disappointed. The author apparently had excellent access to all the players involved in the tale and has made a good case for 1970 being a pivotal year...not only in popular music with the demise of the three groups mentioned in the title, but on college campuses and political backrooms as well. I realize that makes this sound like an academic treatise, but it is anything BUT that.

56/5: Kortchmar didn't think Taylor would actually call Asher; his friend already seemed battered by his experiences in life and the music business.

THEY THOUGHT FOR THEMSELVES: Ten Amazing Jews
Sid Roth

"Author Sid Roth was instructed in a dream to find and interview people who had broken through the mold of their previous experiences to achieve their destiny. These are the people he interviewed. These are their stories and this is your time for your breakthrough."

This book had been sent "out of the blue" to my dad, and I read it during a week of vacation Back Home Again in Indiana. A few of the stories involved talk of supernatural healing and appearances of white lights that make me kind of suspicious, but hey, the people say it happened to them...who am I to call them liars? Particularly interesting were the multiple times the book documented Jewish people who held on to their religious traditions but who did not really believe in God at all...until the truth of Jesus as the promised Messiah got through to them.

56/5: My upbringing was very Orthodox.

WINNIE-THE-POOH
A. A. Milne

This space is usually a quote from the dust jacket or promotional website, but seriously, does anything need to be said here about one of England's greatest exports?

This came pre-loaded as a free gift in my iPad's iBooks app, and I couldn't have been happier. It was a real treat to read these stories again after Who Knows How Long and delight in just how positively clever Milne was. Normally, I would put a relevant quote from the book here...to prove my point...but methinks it would serve the reader better to just read this whole book for oneself.

56/5: Landscape: "I was just beginning to think," said Bear, sniffing slightly, "that Rabbit might never be able to use his front door again." Portrait: "It reminds me of something," he said, "but I can't think what."

GOD IN THE DOCK
C. S. Lewis

"Forty-eight essays and twelve letters written by Lewis between 1940 and 1963 [the year of his death]. Here the reader finds the tough-minded polemicist relishing the debate; here too the kindly teacher explaining a complex abstraction by means of clarifying analogies; here the public speaker addressing his varied audience with all the humility and grace of a man who knows how much more remains to be known."

I've liked Lewis for a long time. First, because of Narnia; then the Space Trilogy and The Screwtape Letters; but more deeply for Mere Christianity as he found ways to say exactly what I thought but didn't know how to express. He does much the same here, and I'd like to find a copy of this book to purchase, preferably an e-book I could carry with me in my iPad. Listen to just this small snippet about Jesus: "We may note in passing that He was never regarded as a mere moral teacher. He did not produce that effect on any of the people who actually met Him. He produced mainly three effects -- Hatred -- Terror -- Adoration. There was no trace of people expressing mild approval."

56/5: The man may be thinking about winning a war; he may be wanting to be a General because he honestly thinks he has a good plan and is glad of a chance to carry it out.