[Stylist] Notes of Interest about Books I'm reading

Wed May 23 12:49:59 UTC 2018

Thanks for sharing this Shawn.
As I read it, I thought that you can expand on what you have here by giving exact examples from the text, and make this into a good book review.
Give concrete evidence for your thoughts - quote the text as your primary source.  
I have never read this series, but I have read many other works by Lewis which are treasures to me. My favorite book, by Lewis, or probably overall, is  - Till We Have Faces. Now that you brought Lewis to my attention today, I think I would like to read it again. I own the book and I have a copy of a study guide that was written as a companion to this book.  The book covers one of my favorite Greek Myths - really brings it to life and is so memorable. I would have read it for the first time around  mid-70s but have read it several times since then. One of my colleagues at Geneva College is a Lewis expert and writes tremendous  academic work on his life and books. I've heard her give a lecture on Lewis that was outstanding. Lynda

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jacobson, Shawn D via Stylist
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2018 8:13 AM
To: Shelley Alongi <queenofbells at outlook.com>; Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jacobson, Shawn D <Shawn.D.Jacobson at hud.gov>
Subject: Re: [Stylist] Notes of Interest about Books I'm reading

I just finished "That Hideous Strength", the third book in C. S. Louis' Space Trilogy.

I had thought of these books as science fiction, but really they are medieval fanacy done up in modernistic threads.  I found it past ironic that the author sets paradise on the surface of Venus given what we now know of the planet.  God must have had a good time with that one.

There is some good writing in this book; there are other stretches where the author gets way too didactic.  There is also some sketchy, at least extra-biblical theology.  I really wish people wouldn't insist that they know the gender of the all-mighty.

Anyway, here's to good reading.

Shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: Stylist <stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Shelley Alongi via Stylist
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2018 5:38 PM
To: stylist at nfbnet.org
Cc: Shelley Alongi <queenofbells at outlook.com>
Subject: [Stylist] Notes of Interest about Books I'm reading

Hello Listers,

Several times the subject has come up about books people are reading and enjoying. So, I thought it might be time to chime in and put a few notes out there. I’ll tell you about one book I have read three times.

Some of you may know about Anne Rice and her interest in gothic horror. I admit to not being a fan of this. A year ago one of the members of one of the churches I provide music for told me about her 2007 Christ the Lord series, fictional accounts of the life of Jesus. Being interested in this subject in a fictional venue I decided to pick up these two books Christ the Lord out of Egypt and Christ the Lord the Road to Cana. I spent most of last year reading classic novels with this particular subject. In my experience, these two books, the most non traditional are probably two of the best books I’ve read surrounding the fictional life of Jesus. My particular interest is Christ the Lord The Road to Cana. I read the book three times. I don’t read any book three times. Maybe the only books I’ve read three times are mine. I’ll read a book two times, but generally not three times. The poignant picture presented in this book is compelling, especially the handling of the forty days temptation in the wilderness, chapters 21 and 22. I read chapter 21 four or five times and I may actually purchase a copy of this book for my personal library. The compelling parts are (1) emotional analysis, (2) a character in the book that I absolutely couldn’t stand, (3) resolution, (4) the very concept of humanity verses divine existence in one person in a particular place in time. I decided not to reread the first book because I am familiar with a lot of the history covered in it and I simply couldn’t stand to go through all of that conflict a second time especially since the character I couldn’t stand starts to show up there and is integral to the development of the story. No, I said, it was fine the first time.

I think if you are at all interested in this subject you may like this book. Anne Rice handles the supernatural themes quite well. I read parts and said ok I wish I had said that. There are great lines. Remember this book is a great deal non traditional but very worth the read. I think in the first book she talks about her reasons and how she came to write the books and the theology she uses. Intriguing. You have to trust me on this one.

Now, on a second subject, our local bookclub is reading The Red Tent by Anita Diament, an author that I have not yet discovered. So I’ll do that this weekend for Tuesday’s meeting.

I post my book reviews on Goodreads.com. I have set a goal of reading 105 books this year. I’m at number 28 with one more to log and currently working on two. Some of them are rereads from last year. Between this and working on my fourth publication, and learning new music and working on teaching myself the harpsichord parts for some Messiah choruses I’m pretty occupied. And loving on my supposed terminally ill cat who keeps eating like crazy.

These are the activities that are occupying me in north Texas.

That’s all from the peanut gallery for now. Have a great day and keep dreaming and writing.

Shelley, Queen of Bells Out!
First Vice President, NFB Writers' Division Editor, Slate and Style

List of self-published books
Angel Hug
Walk through Jesus' agony in Gethsemane.
HTML><META HTTP-EQUIV="content-type" CONTENT="text/html;charset=utf-8">
Angel Hug by Shelley Alongi <A href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/angel-hug/id1342868999?mt=11"
target=_BLANK>https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/angel-hug/id1342868999?mt=11</A>

Brave Pilot
One man becomes the pivotal link between two families who must avert a looming tragedy.

https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Pilot-Shelley-J-Alongi/dp/1974398730/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1523039143&sr=1-3&keywords=Brave+Pilot

Trespasser
A railroad engineer must deal with a painful secret before forming a relationship.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/queenofbells712

Link to ebooks
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1205074000

Facebook page
http://www.face book.com/shelley.alongi

Stories
http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smshowauthorbox.cgi?
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