Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande. Metropolitan Books. 283 pages. My students would think it a little bit weird if I were to tell them that I just finished reading an exceptional book on death and dying. After all, when you’re 20 years old, you don’t want to think … More Review: “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande
Containment by Christian Cantrell. 47 North. 297 pages. In Rough Writers, the student-led creative writing club at our University that meets every week, there’s an ongoing friction between the fantasy writers and those who are into science fiction. Often the discussion is about magic versus science, but really I think a lot of the conflict … More Review: “Containment” by Christian Cantrell
Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland, by Jan T. Gross. Princeton University Press. 261 pages. Whenever I teach my Persuasion class at Southwestern Adventist University, I start it off by showing a very old film that was an after-school TV special in the 80s called “The Wave.” It’s based on what … More Review: “Neighbors” by Jan T. Gross
“This is the way the world ends….not with a bang but a whimper.” –T.S. Eliot The other night I noticed a trailer for another dystopian movie coming out soon, this one “The Fifth Wave,” a so-so story about an alien invasion that comes in waves of devastation. I got hooked on the storytelling a couple … More It’s the End of the World As We Know It…
Three years ago I wrote a blog entitled, “Is There Such a Thing as Christian Horror?” The premise was that some Christians believe they should not read, discuss or know of anything negative or horrible in the world because of Philippians 4: 8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is … More More Thoughts on Christian Horror
Deepsix by Jack McDevitt. Eos Books, 426 pages. It’s great when you can find an author who can write a really good book. It’s wonderful when you buy a second book from that same author and find it better than the first one. I’m hooked on Jack McDevitt. Jack McDevitt writes hard science fiction. But … More Review: “Deepsix” by Jack McDevitt
I had my usual dream last night. Of course, when you’re dreaming, everything is real. It’s not only real, in fact, it’s common sense. It’s very obvious that if I only concentrate I can raise myself off the floor and float free in the air. Levitation. I’ve had the dream for years in various forms, but … More The Art of Levitation
Life & Death by Celeste Perrino-Walker. Farenorth Press. 252 pages. I decided early on when I started this blog that I was going to be completely honest with anyone who was willing to take the time to read my scribblings. So at the very beginning I have to say that I have a vest interest … More Review: “Life and Death” by Celeste Perrino-Walker
I’m a member of Goodreads, the website that concerns itself with all things related to reading and books. This year, I’ve taken on the challenge of reading 30 books before Dec. 31. Well, I currently have 27 completed and will probably not finish the last three in time, but you can see that I read … More Are We Too Entertained?
I’m sitting–actually standing–in my Writing for Publication class while they sweat out their final project. They are required to self publish something on Smashwords before their final exam next Tuesday. I’ve been warning them of it all semester, but now they’ve run out of time and out of excuses. I’ve told them the project is pass/fail. … More Crunch Time
The Great Adventure 