A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Le Tour - Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Sweet Poison - David Gillespie
On Looking - Alexandra Horowitz
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
The Neapolitan Lovers - Alexandre Dumas
How to find Fulfilling Work - Roman Krznaric
Intuition Pumps and Other Think Tools - Daniel C. Dennett
Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
Mastermind - Maria Konnikova
How Children Succeed - Paul Tough
Sunday, 10 August 2014
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Sofa Spotlight - Chosen by God, R. C. Sproul
What's it about?
This is a book about predestination. It isn't a long book, but it covers it's subject well. In nine chapters it deals with issues such as; God's sovereignty, free will and who Christ died for. Even though the book is short, only 186 pages, it is not a quick read. To fully appreciate all that is in this book you have to take it slow. Thinking is required, as it is not an easy subject to get your head around. Part of the problem is that you are trying to understand an infinite God with a finite mind. But that shouldn't stop us trying. Sproul shows how the Bible helps us to understand God's salvation plan and how His sovereignty is at work in that. From what the Bible says we can see a loving God that is completely in control.
What was good?
Sproul doesn't just write down his theology, tell you to accept it and then walk away. He starts his book by talking about how he held a different view and how he came to change that view. The new view that he holds is what he explains in this book. I think that because he understands different responses to predestination, because he held some of them, he can explain and help the reader to get a clearer picture of the alternatives. What I liked was that he took time to explain what he meant and what impact holding a particular viewpoint would have on your view of God.
What was bad?
It made my brain ache (which isn't really a bad thing).
Who is it for?
All Christians, but only if you are prepared for maybe having your mind changed.
This is a book about predestination. It isn't a long book, but it covers it's subject well. In nine chapters it deals with issues such as; God's sovereignty, free will and who Christ died for. Even though the book is short, only 186 pages, it is not a quick read. To fully appreciate all that is in this book you have to take it slow. Thinking is required, as it is not an easy subject to get your head around. Part of the problem is that you are trying to understand an infinite God with a finite mind. But that shouldn't stop us trying. Sproul shows how the Bible helps us to understand God's salvation plan and how His sovereignty is at work in that. From what the Bible says we can see a loving God that is completely in control.
What was good?
Sproul doesn't just write down his theology, tell you to accept it and then walk away. He starts his book by talking about how he held a different view and how he came to change that view. The new view that he holds is what he explains in this book. I think that because he understands different responses to predestination, because he held some of them, he can explain and help the reader to get a clearer picture of the alternatives. What I liked was that he took time to explain what he meant and what impact holding a particular viewpoint would have on your view of God.
What was bad?
It made my brain ache (which isn't really a bad thing).
Who is it for?
All Christians, but only if you are prepared for maybe having your mind changed.
Friday, 8 August 2014
A swift or swallow problem
Some birds, not sure what sort of bird - could be swifts, could be swallows, built their nest near where I work. Five chicks hatched and have been shuffling around their nest in a very cute fashion ever since. Given what happened next they should have just kept still. Two of the chicks fell from the nest. I am not sure if they overstretched themselves or something more sinister was going on, and that their siblings pushed them. One chick survived the fall, very sadly the other chick didn't.
We named the survivor Sandy and sort of zoned off an area for him, so that he wouldn't be mown down by a passing car. There wasn't much else we could do for Sandy, we left him for the night under the watchful eye of his parents. Next morning Sandy was gone. We can only hope that he was rescued and taken somewhere safe, but I don't hold out much hope. Poor Sandy.
We named the survivor Sandy and sort of zoned off an area for him, so that he wouldn't be mown down by a passing car. There wasn't much else we could do for Sandy, we left him for the night under the watchful eye of his parents. Next morning Sandy was gone. We can only hope that he was rescued and taken somewhere safe, but I don't hold out much hope. Poor Sandy.
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Cycling around with a 107 year old book
This may not have been the smartest idea I've ever had. Last week I tried my cycle to and from work plan again. It worked, I got there and back. The problems came when I tried to get home, and halfway there I ran out of steam. I sort of whimpered on a bit until I found a shop and then proceeded to eat a vanilla slice at record speed.
Fueled I continued and just about made it home. What I had forgotten was that I had my copy of Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales, which is over a hundred years old, in my bag. I'm pleased to say that it is in one piece, although I'm not sure it appreciated being bounced around in my bag for 40 miles.
Being tired I collapsed into bed and was asleep. Phone rang, my sister calling, and while still asleep I answered, told her I was veeerrrrryyyyy tiiiiiired. and that I had been on my bike. Not sure about much after that.
Thus I shall not be doing that again in a hurry. It's not good for books or phone conversations.
Fueled I continued and just about made it home. What I had forgotten was that I had my copy of Wonder Book and Tanglewood Tales, which is over a hundred years old, in my bag. I'm pleased to say that it is in one piece, although I'm not sure it appreciated being bounced around in my bag for 40 miles.
Being tired I collapsed into bed and was asleep. Phone rang, my sister calling, and while still asleep I answered, told her I was veeerrrrryyyyy tiiiiiired. and that I had been on my bike. Not sure about much after that.
Thus I shall not be doing that again in a hurry. It's not good for books or phone conversations.
Monday, 4 August 2014
Someone can't count...
I may be five stars behind EG but there was satisfaction today. EG has spent the last few months lining up her stars on the chart, in a manner that she thought was very careful. I observed that she had lined them up in rows of eight, and although I thought it odd that she had said that she was planning to line them up in rows of ten, I said nothing. Today it transpires that this was not deliberate. The neighbours are now probably aware that EG has not read the thirty two books she had thought she had read, but instead has only read twenty six. What makes it worse is that EG has been telling people that she has read thirty two. I may be losing but I am smug.
Sunday, 3 August 2014
What's on the Shelf?
A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Le Tour - Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Sweet Poison - David Gillespie
On Looking - Alexandra Horowitz
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
The Neapolitan Lovers - Alexandre Dumas
How to find Fulfilling Work - Roman Krznaric
Intuition Pumps and Other Think Tools - Daniel C. Dennett
Wonder-Book and Tanglewood Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
Mastermind - Maria Konnikova
Chosen by God - R. C. Sproul
How Children Succeed - Paul Tough
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
A Life's Ambition - Alexandre Dumas
The Journal of Madame Giovanni - Alexandre Dumas
The Prince of Thieves - Alexandre Dumas
Le Tour - Geoffrey Wheatcroft
Sweet Poison - David Gillespie
On Looking - Alexandra Horowitz
Time Warped - Claudia Hammond
The Neapolitan Lovers - Alexandre Dumas
How to find Fulfilling Work - Roman Krznaric
Intuition Pumps and Other Think Tools - Daniel C. Dennett
Wonder-Book and Tanglewood Tales - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Digital Fortress - Dan Brown
Mastermind - Maria Konnikova
Chosen by God - R. C. Sproul
How Children Succeed - Paul Tough
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Sofa Spotlight - Wonder Book & Tanglewood Tales, Nathaniel Hawthorne
What's it about?
This is two books in one, where Nathaniel Hawthorne retells the Greek myths for children (or as the book says, young people). Part of me wishes I knew more about the Greek myths so that I could do a better comparison. Both books are narrated by a character called Eustace Bright who tells stories to his younger cousins. The classic myths of Hercules, Jason and the Argonauts and King Midas are all here, and they are told in a way that has a light humour to it. From reading these stories I came away thinking that in Ancient Greece all the young men walked around looking for dragons to kill or other such adventures, and were not satisfied until they had risked their lives doing something noble.
What was good?
Of all Hawthorne's books this was the most readable. The heroes were lovable, and the nature of the stories made them compelling to read. Hawthorne did a good job in his retelling, it was easy to get lost in the story. I suppose that not knowing the stories that well to begin with, meant that I enjoyed them more, as I was not always aware of what the outcome would be. For that reason The Pomegranate Seeds became my favourite story, and to my surprise King Pluto my favourite character.
What was bad?
Eustace Bright appears a little bit at the start of Tanglewood Tales but the interaction between himself and the children when he is telling the stories is missing. Somehow that commentary made the stories more fun. Also I feel that in Ancient Greece all little girls should have been warned not to play with, or enter into conversation with, mythical creatures that come out of the ground, or appear out of nowhere. It never went well for them if they did.
Who is it for?
The book says that it is for young people, but I reckon anyone would enjoy these. It would be a nice book to read slowly and absorb.
This is two books in one, where Nathaniel Hawthorne retells the Greek myths for children (or as the book says, young people). Part of me wishes I knew more about the Greek myths so that I could do a better comparison. Both books are narrated by a character called Eustace Bright who tells stories to his younger cousins. The classic myths of Hercules, Jason and the Argonauts and King Midas are all here, and they are told in a way that has a light humour to it. From reading these stories I came away thinking that in Ancient Greece all the young men walked around looking for dragons to kill or other such adventures, and were not satisfied until they had risked their lives doing something noble.
What was good?
Of all Hawthorne's books this was the most readable. The heroes were lovable, and the nature of the stories made them compelling to read. Hawthorne did a good job in his retelling, it was easy to get lost in the story. I suppose that not knowing the stories that well to begin with, meant that I enjoyed them more, as I was not always aware of what the outcome would be. For that reason The Pomegranate Seeds became my favourite story, and to my surprise King Pluto my favourite character.
What was bad?
Eustace Bright appears a little bit at the start of Tanglewood Tales but the interaction between himself and the children when he is telling the stories is missing. Somehow that commentary made the stories more fun. Also I feel that in Ancient Greece all little girls should have been warned not to play with, or enter into conversation with, mythical creatures that come out of the ground, or appear out of nowhere. It never went well for them if they did.
Who is it for?
The book says that it is for young people, but I reckon anyone would enjoy these. It would be a nice book to read slowly and absorb.
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