So Many Books; So little Time

The Rope Eater

The Rope Eater

by Ben Jones

c. 2003

This book is flat out bizarre. I originally checked it out from the public library for my husband and it’s one of the few he actually finished. He is known for reading a little, some or even most of a book and then returning it unfinished. This one he did finish. It’s also about the arctic so it fits in with my summer reading program so I sat down to read it.

There’s very little language and absolutely no women whatsoever but I still wouldn’t recommend this book to any but the most die hard and strong-stomached of readers. Actually the title has little or nothing to do with the book other than the image of what a rope eater is will stick with you and would give an impressionable person absolute nightmares. I believe it might even have been the reason my husband had a weird dream a couple of weeks ago.

What this book does do is show the depths of human depravity. This is what man will stoop to for greed, fame and when their human sensibilities have taken over their very mind as well as their soul. Brendan Kane is completely directionless and falls in first with a Civil War recruiter then desserts then gets into the New York riots then lands on an interesting looking ship on a mysterious mission with an even more mysterious crew. Through his eyes, we meet Aziz who is a three-handed man with a backstory repleat with a hideous form of greed and Mr West and Dr Architeuthis who have their own forms of greed and human depravity. Add to them the depravity that frostbite and malnutrition can add in the extreme cold and you have a story that is as compelling as it nightmarish.

Only for the hardiest of constitutions.

The Blue Wolf

The Blue Wolf: The Epic Tale of the Life of Genghis Khan and the Empire of the Steppes

by Frederic Dion

c. 1998

Sexual and Violence Situation Warning for this book. Some language.

Meet the man who was Genghis Khan’s right hand, most favored and blood brother. He tells us in his own words the life of Genghis Khan from his youth on the plains of the steppes to his death as Emperor of most of Asia. We meet the women they love and control and are immersed in the culture that makes the men tick. Children are born and people die, some quite brutally.

In seventh grade we watched a three-hour movie of Genghis Khan. This book is true to what I remember of the movie in that this young man of the plains grows up to hate others and takes over the leadership of his own people and then goes on a rampage to dominate his world. He would have dominated the entire world if he had lived long enough, most likely.

This work, done in French and translated by Will Hobson, is well researched with bibliography in the back. The plot keeps moving and you find yourself engrossed in the account of Khan’s blood brother in all that he tells. He is not blind–he sees Khan’s weaknesses as well as his strengths. He lives a real life on the plains and sees and realizes favorites and watches people be abused.

A good historical work but not for either the faint of heart nor for anyone struggling with pornography addiction nor children. If you can handle living in a man’s world for 368 pages with locker-room talk and brutal honesty from the 1200’s, this is a good book. But it’s not for everyone.

Ebola

Ebola

by William T. Close, M.D.

c. 1991

Did you ever listen to the reports of some severe, contagious illness and wonder why the doctors, nurses and others around them let themselves get sick? I did as I was reading this book. The truth of the matter is, it’s impossible to know how a virus is spread or even if you are dealing with a virus when you’ve never seen such a condition before.

And that’s what the doctors, nurses and nuns at Yambuku were dealing with–something they had never seen befoe. They assumed it to be malaria and gave malarial drugs, then typhoid, then some mysterious disease. The natives assumed it was evil spirits. The protestants assumed it was the Catholics not knowing how to worship God properly and so they came over to have a “real” service in their church.

Meanwhile people got a fever, headaches then began to vomit and pass black stools and died. And no one knew why or how to stop it–not the doctors who were also getting it, not the nurses, not even the native medicine men. And so everyone in fear fled to their own villages and refused to let anyone else in.

This is the true story of the first cases of the worst virus known–so far–Ebola Zaire written by a doctor who was there but in novel form. There is nothing technical in here just the plain everyday story of what it was like to be a dedicated nun in the midst of an epidemic of nightmarish porportions. Make no mistake, this story really happened just the way it’s presented in this work–it’s just been fictionalized for the telling.

A decent book with few, if any, objectionable words in it, it will introduce the reader to the world of the Zairian bush as well as mission life and the horrors of living in the midst of an unspeakable horror. This is the only safe way to live with Ebola.

Out to Canaan

Out to Canaan

by Jan Karon

c. 1997

Welcome back to MItford! This is Jan Karon’s fourth journey in to the small North Carolina town where we once again spend time with Father Tim, his lovely wife Cynthia, the lost and found boy Dooley, and all the rest of the gang.

In this volume, Esther Cunningham is opposed in her re-election bid for mayor by a man many question on several levels. Fernbank, which Miss Sadie failed to take exemplary care of is in danger of falling down and must be sold. Someone wants to buy the rectory. Joe Ivy leaves town and Winnie has an offer on the bake shop so she can follow him. And all this adds up to a mystery that leads to the question, has Father Tim made an enemy for life somewhere?

We also spend time with Pauline, Dooley’s recovering mother, and PooBah as Father Tim faces the question of finding Pauline’s other children. Lace brings another friend in to Father Tim’s life but an old and dear friend goes home. And, yes, Barnabas is back–that scripture obeying dog who really wants to do away with that most famous of cats, Violet. Meanwhile, Violet has moved into the rectory–kind of–she lives just out of Barnabas’ reach on top of the refrigerator.

This book is just as funny and down to earth as the first three and is almost enough to make you want to move to Mitford. Yes, there is romance in here and Father Tim acquires two new nicknames that make his heart soar. He also still fights with his diabetes and also with a teenager who wants to learn to drive. But the age-old question is also answered–will Esther Bolick take the Orange Marmalade Cake recipe to her grave?

Just lots of fun and the gospel too. Look for old friends to come back and memories to be shared. There is nothing so wonderful as being reunited with old friends. If it’s been a while since you’ve visited Father Tim, this volume will warm your heart with laughter and tears.

The Secret Supper

The Secret Supper

by Javier Sierra

c. 2004

translated by Alberto Manguel

The Secret Supper is a historical novel of the painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. Unlike another more popular book this book takes place in 1497 in MIlan, Italy. The narrator is a priest from Rome who is sent to the Dominican monestary where The Last Supper is a work in progress and has been for nearly 3 years. He goes there to solve a riddle that will lead him to a “Soothsayer” who has been feeding information to Rome on the heretical beliefs of Leonardo da Vinci.

This book took three years of research into the Cathars and the beliefs of da Vinci before being written in Spain. Each of the characteristics of the beliefs of the Cathars and the idiosyncracies of da Vinci are taken into account in the writing of this novel. You won’t look at the Last Supper the same way again. The painting is featured on the endsheets and I found myself referring to them often as the characters study the work in progress.

Sierra presents parts of the painting that most people miss–the one knot on the tablecloth on the far right, the dagger in Peter’s hand, the absence of the cup and the hand of Christ and the hand of Judas reaching for a piece of bread. The characters also note many missing things in addition to the cup. They note that gone is the passover lamb and instead a fish is on the table. He also suggests certain fictional people for the faces of the disciples in the painting. He also suggests that da Vinci never intended the painting to last but to be copied many times as a way to convert the populace.

Interesting concepts, well researched, and interesting characters but it’s not exactly a page-turner. It leads to a lot of questions as to the true beliefs of the Cathars and da Vinci. It also brings to light the Gnostic Gospels and the lengths the Catholic church in Rome would go to to fight any opposition to its power. It also shows the edges of the corruption among the wealthy in the late 15th century.

Not controversial which is probably why it’s not as well known as a certain other work which we have all heard of and which was made into a movie. In my opinion, this would make a better movie.

At Home in Mitford

At Home in Mitford

by Jan Karon

c. 1994

I’m probably the last person in America to start the Mitford books. I was at an ABW Rally this past winter and the lady asked to do devotions had never done one before and had no idea what was expected of her.

God Bless her and whoever asked her to do the devotions.

(Need a hint on spicing up a worship? Ask someone who doesn’t know how to do what you’re asking and don’t let anyone tell them.)

She brought to the pulpit “At Home in Mitford,” her favorite book and by reading pages and talking about the book, introduced us to the characters (they really are) of Mitford.

Father Tim–here’s an anomaly for you. His mother was a devout Baptist, his father was a bad Episcopalian and he is an Anglican Rector. Go figure! He’s sixty for most of the book, never been married, walks everywhere (he gave his car up for Lent 8 years ago), develops diabetes, has friends in all places, dotes on his flower garden, and hasn’t had a vacation in so many years there’s probably a pool at the diocese.

Barnabas–a large dog who assaults Father Tim on the first page. He comes out of nowhere and has the most interesting traits, you wish he could talk. He loves Father Tim, he can be disciplined only with scripture, and he is a great judge of character.

Puny–Father Tim’s forced housekeeper. Her grandfather was a pulpit pounding Baptist preacher. Puny cared for him and she’s going to take care of Father Tim as well. She’s outspoken, shocks Father Tim for weeks with everything from her cooking to her decisions about his underwear. The book’s worth the read just to meet Puny.

Emma–Father Tim’s secretary. She was a Baptist then came over to Lord’s Chapel (the church Father Tim pastors) and has an interesting twist or turn in her life over the course of the book.

Olivia–a newcomer to Mitford. She’s hiding something and someone knows something about her they aren’t telling as well.

Sadie–the old maid who becomes benevolent–but not for nothing. She has a secret too!!

Miss Rose–the most eccentric woman you can imagine. You think you’ve seen them?? Meet Miss Rose.

Uncle Billy–Miss Rose’s husband. Talk about the patience of a saint!!

Absolom–a minor character with a big roll.

Dooley–a teenager who stirs up lots of lives but not in the way you might imagine.

All these and more are awaiting you in Mitford along with a potentially valuable painting, a mystery, ashes of all sorts, and romance of the lightest kind.

If you haven’t been to Mitford yet, come join me–I’m just getting started there myself. Oh, did I mention the plan of salvation is in the book and there’s a reference to God on every page?? But my library doesn’t have it in the Christian fiction section. Hmmmmmmm.