To Progressives, both academic and amused,

To Progressives, both academic and amused,
I understand that we both wish to lay claims to certain famous historical figures, presenting them as supporters of our causes. Because our aims are mutually exclusive, I have formatted a proposal that would end the fighting and benefit both of us.
In the three areas we debate the most—art, history, and literature—we shall each choose the figures we prefer and then allow our opponents free use of their choices, as we may freely use ours. For example, in the arts, I offer you Dali, Matisse, Warhol, Pollok, and their contemporaries. We shall keep Michelangelo, Monet, and Jacque Louis David. The rest shall be divided in a similar manner.
As we turn to the history books, I offer you Genghis Khan, Confucius, John Smith, Harding, Roosevelt, and Karl Marx—we request George Washington, Queen Elizabeth I, Phyllis Whitley, George Washington Carver, Ronald Reagan, David Livingstone, Amy Carmichael…and while I’m thinking of it, you may have the Kennedys too. All of them.
Finally, authors. You can have John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kate Chopin, William Charles William, Stephanie Meyers, and Tennessee Williams. We claim Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Mark Twain, Shakespeare, and Ted Dekker.
Do whatever you wish with your share of the past, but keep your sexual interpretations away from our side. I have my sword drawn and my pen in hand, and I shall defend their honor against all comers, be they fanfic writers or feminist, homosexual activists or humanists. I shall maintain the purity of friendship and the value of absolutes with every breath I take.
Sincerely,
A young conservative citizen.

Story Engineering

I have precisely two books about writing fiction: Bird by Bird and No Plot? No Problem?, so I picked up Story Engineering by Larry Brooks with excitement--until I read the prologue online.
Anyone who's been writing for a while will have glimpsed the two extremes on the planning spectrum--meticulous outliners and seat-of-the-pants-writers (pantsers). Brooks comes down firmly on the side of outliners. When he does acknowledge pantsers, it comes across as throwing a teething ring at a toddler to shut him up while the 'adults' get serious. He also doesn't allow for multiple protagonists, unhappy endings, or non-protagonist main characters. Furthermore, I found his use of Top Gun and Da Vinci Code examples extremely exasperating.
I give this book no stars because I disagree with it (and therefore am reluctant to finish it), but it was well-written and easy to follow.
I received this book for free as part of Thomas Nelson’s Blogging for Books program, but was not required to write a positive review.

To Be Pefectly Honest

Veteran author and speaker Phil Callaway is no stranger to daunting challenges. He has been laughed at—repeatedly—by large crowds of people from Halifax to Hong Kong. He fathered three children in three years, spent much of last year on airplanes built by the lowest bidder, and flipped an out-of-control ATV, which doesn’t mean he sold it for a profit. So who better than Phil Callaway to boldly accept a challenge that would make the average person run and hide?

Phil promised to tell the truth for an entire year, and he wasn’t joking. Twelve months later, his journal was crammed with successes, near-successes, and outright failures. During his year-long experiment with veracity, he made a disastrous financial investment, fielded hundreds of intrusive questions from friends and strangers, attended a thirty-year class reunion, and waded into possibly the most revealing—and hilarious—situations he has ever documented.

Find out what happens when a follower of Jesus does his level best to always tell the truth. There is no doubt you’ll be entertained. But don’t be surprised if you are left with a question: how might your life be changed if you sold out to the truth—with no exceptions? The premise of this book drew my attention right away--the author agreed to go without telling a lie for a whole year. I found a quick, amusing read--not a theological book for any means, but a good conversation starter for people of any belief system.

Breath of Angel

When the young priestess Melaia finds a winged stranger in the courtyard, myths and legends come to live before her eyes. It’s hard to classify this novel: is it sci-fi, fantasy, or supernatural thriller? It doesn’t fit into a neat little category, and isn’t any worse for that.
Its main fault is the complex web of plots Meleia falls into. It’s difficult to keep track of character’s motives and alliances, and some of Meleia’s history is slightly cliché, but I found Breath of Angel to be an enjoying read. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book through Waterbrook Media’s Blogging for Books program, but was not required to write a positive review.

Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas

Unsinkable: A Young Woman's Courageous Battle on the High Seas
“Do Hard Things” is the title of the Harris twins’ bestselling book, but it could also be the summery of Abby Sunderland’s story. After her older brother Zack sailed around the world, Abby decided to follow in his wake. Even though her attempt ended when a wave rolled her boat and snapped her mast, it didn’t mean the end of her story.
The book is written in three points of view: Abby’s, a third-person narrator, and that of the crew that came to her rescue. The different sections are marked by icons and easy to distinguish, creating a nice balance between wide-angle views and intimate details. The sections written by Abby are gripping, full of enough details for even a Midwestern landlubber to feel the salty spray of the towering waves.
The book also makes it clear that this was Abby’s idea, not a fame-attempt by her parents. I was thoroughly impressed by her determination and energy. This is one girl you who wouldn’t be satisfied with a trip to the mall—she’s ready and eager for more.
I received a free copy of this book through Thomas Nelson’s booksneeze program, but was not required to write a positive review.
“Do Hard Things” is the title of the Harris twins’ bestselling book, but it could also be the summery of Abby Sunderland’s story. After her older brother Zack sailed around the world, Abby decided to follow in his wake. Even though her attempt ended when a wave rolled her boat and snapped her mast, it didn’t mean the end of her story.
The book is written in three points of view: Abby’s, a third-person narrator, and that of the crew that came to her rescue. The different sections are marked by icons and easy to distinguish, creating a nice balance between wide-angle views and intimate details. The sections written by Abby are gripping, full of enough details for even a Midwestern landlubber to feel the salty spray of the towering waves.
The book also makes it clear that this was Abby’s idea, not a fame-attempt by her parents. I was thoroughly impressed by her determination and energy. This is one girl you who wouldn’t be satisfied with a trip to the mall—she’s ready and eager for more.
I received a free copy of this book through Thomas Nelson’s booksneeze program, but was not required to write a positive review.