Sub-Human was an Amazon freebie that I picked up just before Christmas. It is book 1 of the Post Human series by David Simpson. Normally, I read historical romance, but the pickings were probably slim on the freebie list for that on that day, because I think that I found about three to four e-books on dystopian science fiction. Now, having read several stories in this genre, I think that I can say that generally, these books are secular and humanistic in nature. Often, they include the topics of cyborgs, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, nuclear war, ecological destruction, alternative universes, transference of human consciousness into computers, and the collapse of society as we currently know it.
In Sub-Human, almost all of the topics listed above are included, but instead of broaching the topic of transferring human consciousness into a computer, an artificial intelligence (AI) is dumped into Dr. Craig Emilson, a soldier who had died, but had been revived by his former wife, Samantha, and her new husband, Dr. Aldous Gibson. Craig had been dead for 14 years after the end of World War III, which came about because the current leader, President Morgan, wanted to wipe all forms of post-human development in order to preserve humanity in its pure, unadulterated state (i.e. having no physical technological modifications or being threatened by the presence of AI).
However, Morgan and his Purist troops have come to destroy and annihilate the Post-Humans in their hidden base, hours within Craig's revival. The new world is confusing for Craig, who now must adapt to being a Post-Human without any help except from the AI that he is charged with protecting from the Purists who are in pursuit.
This novel troubled me at first because I felt empathy for Craig's character; he has been broadsided by the fact that Samantha, his wife, has moved on. For her, 14 years had passed since his death, but for Craig, it seemed as if only a few hours has passed since he last saw her. The ethics and morality of reviving a person who has clearly died and has been dead for 14 years is questionable, especially since it appears that Samantha and Aldous revived Craig for scientific reasons and because they could do it. I didn't get the sense that they spent much time considering how it would feel for Craig to realize that his wife is no longer his, but to another man whom Craig was suspicious of before he died. Perhaps Aldous did, but Samantha was not intuitive enough to figure out that this would pose a big problem if Craig did return to life.
Also thought provoking: Aldous is chronologically 74 years old, but he now appears to be around 30 years old. His post-human research has enabled him to turn back the biological clock and give him the body of a younger man. He has achieved a form of immortality through the nanotechnology in his body, which can repair aging and diseased tissue. Post-Humans can still die, but it may take longer and be more difficult than killing the average human.
Besides touching the issues of immortality achieved through technological advances, Sub-Human tries to explore what the term itself actually means. In the novel, different groups, factions, and people define it differently, but I want to point out two from the novel. To a Purist like Morgan, the Post-Humans are sub-human because they are no longer "pure" physiologically or cognitively (this coming from a conversation that Aldous has with a doctor from which he is asking help from). For Aldous, a Post-Human, the sub-humans are the Purist forces that have slaughtered and killed billions of people, average or post-human, in order to eradicate the world of post-human development (also described from the same conversation as described in the previous sentence). I also found it a bit ironic that, though the Purists' leaders were trying to protect the purity of humanity, they had no qualms about turning their armed forces into cyborgs in order to stamp out the Post-Humans.
It was difficult for me to like many of the characters in the novel. The one that I was most sympathetic to, again, was Craig, because he seemed to care about people the most. I liked how humane Aldous was until the Purist forces killed Samantha, his wife. The way he threw ethical standards away for vengeance was a bit head spinning, and I didn't really care for that. There was an antagonistic character, a Purist soldier named Paine, who I understood was honourable in a twisted way, in which he wanted to maintain the integrity of the timey-wimey space/time continuum, however, he was a bit over the top in his nastiness, so I didn't like him much either. I totally did not like Samantha; she gave a rather callous response in how she didn't ask for billions of lives to be lost just because her group wanted to continue with their post-human research. In my opinion, "the needs of the few don't outweigh the needs of the many," especially with billions of lives in the balance.
What I find interesting, on reflection, is how the desire for immortality pops up in science fiction, and that in this genre, the desire is sometimes supposedly achieved through the path of technological advances. This is comparable to how this desire to live forever is reflected in some of the vampire or werewolf fiction that I've read elsewhere; a bite from one of these dark creatures may transfer some sort of immortality, but they could still be killed under certain circumstances (e.g. by beheading, stake through the heart, exposure to sunlight, by silver bullet through the heart, etc.). However, in these fictional accounts, this kind of immortality is also limited, and is not absolute.
There is some swearing and violence in Sub-Human.
I have not read the other installments of the Post Human series other than a quick peek at the fifth book in the series which was also offered for free during that Christmas week. However, in my opinion, the novel ends at a point where a reader can stop and leave this fictional universe if there is no more desire to read about what happens next.
Edited on January 3, 2017 to add:
There is no room for God in this series. It appears that the concept of god is...post-human. A quick peek into another of the subsequent books (not book five) indicates that some of the testing that the AI had to undergo appears to have much akin to torture. Just reading what I have is a bit bewildering.
I took at look into this genre to see what ideas are being bandied about for spirituality (God) and immortality, but the world being described is pretty dark, depressing, and nihilistic to me.
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1 Corinthians 15:51- 52 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
Monday, 2 January 2017
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Review: Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility - Adapted by Stacy King, Art by Po Tse
Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Stacy King and illustrated by Po Tse, covers the general story arc of Jane Austen's story of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The sisters must navigate through the waters of change when the death of their father forces them to relocate in a smaller home away from the estate that they grew up in. Elinor exhibits a temperament that reflects more "sense" than emotion, while Marianne is more romantically inclined and prone to flights of feeling rather than exclusively being governed by sense. Perhaps it would be better to say that Marianne would rather follow her heart than necessarily do the sensible thing. When I was first acquainted with Austen's original novel, it took me a while to figure out that her use of the word, "sensibility," had more to do with emotions, rather than rational thought. Anyways, the sisters' temperaments guide their thoughts and behavior when prospective suitors appear, and both are not immune to the pain and turmoil that results when their lives do not unfold as they hope.
It took a couple of hours for me to read the book in one sitting, and I enjoyed reading this version. I didn't want to leave the book until it was finished.
Besides the story itself, I enjoyed reading the commentary that was provided on the novel's themes about sensible thought versus emotional reaction. Stacy King mentions that every character had to balance sense with sensibility in their choices. This wasn't something that I had considered before when I read the original novel in the past; I had only considered the choices for Elinor and Marianne, but it makes sense that the other characters also had to wrestle with their own choices. It was also interesting to read about the social habits of the 19th century, especially about how men and women met, and about what acceptable behaviour was. Explanations are given to explain how Marianne's behaviour was so scandalous, for she had violated a number of social rules of propriety.
It was also interesting to look at the Character Design Sketchbook that appeared in a couple of pages at the back (the left side of the book, because, after all, this is truly a manga book which reads from right to left). Po Tse's commentary about how he drew the various characters to reflect certain character traits increased my appreciation of this adaptation while reading it.
Sense and Sensibility is the third adaptation that I've read from Manga Classics, (Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre being the other two,) and I've come to the opinion that this series is a good gateway to get younger readers interested in reading classical literature. For Janeites, apparently, there is also a Manga Classics version of Emma which I haven't read yet, but will be glad to put on my "to read" list. I would dearly love to see other adaptations of Jane Austen's work in the future, particularly for Persuasion, and Mansfield Park.
According to Manga Classics' Facebook page, an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo will be coming soon, so I'll be keeping my eyes open for that in 2017.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility" by Stacy King and Po Tse from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Thursday, 10 November 2016
Review: Manga Classics: Jane Eyre - Adapted by Crystal S. Chan, Art by SunNeko Lee
I first read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre many years ago when I was in grade 12. There was a lot of excitement in the female portion of the class; we were getting a chance to read Romantic literature in English and Mr. Rochester was supposed to be a sigh worthy figure. For some reason, our class didn't get very far with the novel. I think that we were assigned to read it over spring break, and we may have been required to write an essay. However, I don't recall that our class went very deep into studying this novel, probably because of time constraints to make sure that we covered the prescribed curriculum before June arrived.
This is my memory of reading Jane Eyre: it was a dry reading experience for me. The diction might have bogged me down. I seem to recall that there were about two to three pages devoted to a description of a painting. My teenage mind probably stalled upon reading that, wondering why so much space was devoted to that and not to the romance. However, I can't confirm that this is true or if I mixed that fact up with some other novel that I may have read at around that time, because I have not read Jane Eyre since. I also have to confess that I'm not a big fan of any of the Bronte sisters, because one of them dissed Jane Austen's writing. Yes, I'm more for Team Austen than for Team Bronte.
Anyways, Manga Classics will be releasing their own version of Jane Eyre, adapted by Crystal S. Chan, with the art drawn by SunNeko Lee. This graphic novel captured my interest as it described the story of Jane Eyre, a plucky and strong minded orphan who grows up to become a governess for the ward of her employer, Mr. Rochester, who eventually becomes her love interest. However, there are strange and bizarre happenings at Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr. Rochester, which may interfere with their romance.
Most of what I know of Jane Eyre is from two visual adaptations, a BBC series starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke, and a movie starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. It's almost embarrassing to admit that I'm comparing the content of the Manga Classics version against the movies that I watched years ago. The graphic novel contains a few pages of commentary about adapting the novel to manga format; some changes were made in the order of the narrative to build suspense at the end of each chapter, and also to strengthen the cohesiveness of the story through foreshadowing. There was a small section about how the manga adaptation was better able to convincingly execute a particular plot point than the television or movie versions (where Mr. Rochester disguises himself as a female gypsy). I had read those notes before reading the manga, and had almost forgotten to check if it was very obvious that a man was trying to masquerade as a woman, so I'll agree that manga is probably more able to carry that deception off.
I'm not a manga expert, but most of the art work appeared to be in the shoujo style. There were probably only a couple of frames in the narrative that contained the chibi style. The dark and brooding mood of the novel might not lend itself to levity and light heartedness that suits chibi drawings. For a plain female, Jane appears to be pretty and cute, but my understanding is that the appearance of plain heroines in any manga story is non-existent. Mr. Rochester looks sufficiently mature, and he's got great hair!
Would I recommend reading this version? I would say, "Yes," for the following reasons: my daughter expressed an interest in reading this version when she saw what I was reading. Who wouldn't want their kids to have a interest in reading classic literature, even though it is adapted? Also, after reading this, I'm thinking about giving Bronte's original version another look. Not even watching the movies was able to move me enough to want to take the novel up again, but this version has stirred up my interest.
Disclaimer: In exchange for a review, I received from NetGalley an e-copy of "Manga Classics: Jane Eyre," by Crystal S. Chan and SunNeko Lee. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
This is my memory of reading Jane Eyre: it was a dry reading experience for me. The diction might have bogged me down. I seem to recall that there were about two to three pages devoted to a description of a painting. My teenage mind probably stalled upon reading that, wondering why so much space was devoted to that and not to the romance. However, I can't confirm that this is true or if I mixed that fact up with some other novel that I may have read at around that time, because I have not read Jane Eyre since. I also have to confess that I'm not a big fan of any of the Bronte sisters, because one of them dissed Jane Austen's writing. Yes, I'm more for Team Austen than for Team Bronte.
Anyways, Manga Classics will be releasing their own version of Jane Eyre, adapted by Crystal S. Chan, with the art drawn by SunNeko Lee. This graphic novel captured my interest as it described the story of Jane Eyre, a plucky and strong minded orphan who grows up to become a governess for the ward of her employer, Mr. Rochester, who eventually becomes her love interest. However, there are strange and bizarre happenings at Thornfield Hall, the home of Mr. Rochester, which may interfere with their romance.
Most of what I know of Jane Eyre is from two visual adaptations, a BBC series starring Timothy Dalton and Zelah Clarke, and a movie starring Samantha Morton and Ciaran Hinds. It's almost embarrassing to admit that I'm comparing the content of the Manga Classics version against the movies that I watched years ago. The graphic novel contains a few pages of commentary about adapting the novel to manga format; some changes were made in the order of the narrative to build suspense at the end of each chapter, and also to strengthen the cohesiveness of the story through foreshadowing. There was a small section about how the manga adaptation was better able to convincingly execute a particular plot point than the television or movie versions (where Mr. Rochester disguises himself as a female gypsy). I had read those notes before reading the manga, and had almost forgotten to check if it was very obvious that a man was trying to masquerade as a woman, so I'll agree that manga is probably more able to carry that deception off.
I'm not a manga expert, but most of the art work appeared to be in the shoujo style. There were probably only a couple of frames in the narrative that contained the chibi style. The dark and brooding mood of the novel might not lend itself to levity and light heartedness that suits chibi drawings. For a plain female, Jane appears to be pretty and cute, but my understanding is that the appearance of plain heroines in any manga story is non-existent. Mr. Rochester looks sufficiently mature, and he's got great hair!
Would I recommend reading this version? I would say, "Yes," for the following reasons: my daughter expressed an interest in reading this version when she saw what I was reading. Who wouldn't want their kids to have a interest in reading classic literature, even though it is adapted? Also, after reading this, I'm thinking about giving Bronte's original version another look. Not even watching the movies was able to move me enough to want to take the novel up again, but this version has stirred up my interest.
Disclaimer: In exchange for a review, I received from NetGalley an e-copy of "Manga Classics: Jane Eyre," by Crystal S. Chan and SunNeko Lee. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Sunday, 30 October 2016
Review: Beneath a Golden Veil by Melanie Dobson
Beneath a Golden Veil, by Melanie Dobson, was a book that stuck with me for days after I read it. The story is set in the years before the American Civil War, and is about slavery, its injustices, and how it divided people, even within the same family. In 1854, Alden Payne is a law student at Harvard, but comes from a prominent family in Virginia. His family intends for him to take over the family plantation after he finishes his studies, but Alden's heart isn't into operating the plantation, especially when it requires the servitude of slaves for it to remain successful and prosperous.
On a trip back home before his final year of study, Alden stops by to visit his married sister, Eliza, before heading off to the family's ancestral home. Eliza hands over a slave boy named Isaac, telling Alden that the boy is a gift for their father. Alden arrives home with Isaac in the middle of a manhunt for an escaped slave, Benjamin, who Alden had always considered to be like a brother. When Alden discovers that his father murdered Benjamin for his repeated insubordination, and that Benjamin was actually his half brother, he decides to run away from the plantation and takes Isaac along with him. He intends to set Isaac free by taking him to Canada, before resuming his studies in Harvard, but Isaac's master, Alden's brother-in-law, Victor, catches up to them. Instead of running up to the Canadian border, Alden decides that he and Isaac will board a ship to California and finish his legal studies by apprenticing with a lawyer who had already travelled West to establish a legal office in Sacramento.
Isabelle Labrie, a young woman with secrets in her past, operates a hotel in Sacramento. California, at this time, is a free state, although any slave owners who are passing through could still keep their slaves. Her hotel occasionally becomes a hiding spot for slaves who are trying to make their way to Canada. It is here where she meets Alden and Isaac, who are posing as master and slave, even though Alden abhors slavery. They do this in order to prevent Isaac from being kidnapped; there is a history of freed slaves being abducted and sold back into slavery. Alden is taken with the beautiful Isabelle, but she despises him because she thinks that he is a slave owner. He can't reveal what his true intentions are for Isaac without endangering them both, but trouble dogs them in the form of Victor, who has been following them with the intent of reclaiming Isaac as a slave. However, Victor is not only a problem for Isaac; he poses a threat to Isabelle too.
Beneath a Golden Veil touches on the issues about slavery, freedom, and the need to treat every human being with dignity and respect regardless of their skin colour. The novel speaks about dark things that humans can do against each other, and ultimately, against God. The lives and relationships of several of the characters, whether they were protagonists or antagonists, were messed up. However, there was also hope for those who put their hope in the Lord, both in the present world, and in the world to come.
Also, in the novel, the author tells us through the characters that it doesn't matter what people think because the past shouldn't define us if we are children of God. I think that this is such a precious truth. Our identities, as children of God, are based on God's Word and on Jesus' sacrifice for us; it is not based on what happened to us in the past, or by anything that we have done. (John 1:12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God...).
There are discussion questions in the back of the book that I found thought provoking, particularly the one that asked, "The issue of slavery divided the United States of America in the 1800s. What moral issues today divide our communities? How do you fight for what you believe is right?"
The novel is a bit weightier than your average historical romance; however, there is also a happy ending. As I mentioned before, Beneath a Golden Veil made quite an impression on me over its themes and ideas which have stayed with me for days after I finished the book.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "Beneath a Golden Veil" by Melanie Dobson from Net Galley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
On a trip back home before his final year of study, Alden stops by to visit his married sister, Eliza, before heading off to the family's ancestral home. Eliza hands over a slave boy named Isaac, telling Alden that the boy is a gift for their father. Alden arrives home with Isaac in the middle of a manhunt for an escaped slave, Benjamin, who Alden had always considered to be like a brother. When Alden discovers that his father murdered Benjamin for his repeated insubordination, and that Benjamin was actually his half brother, he decides to run away from the plantation and takes Isaac along with him. He intends to set Isaac free by taking him to Canada, before resuming his studies in Harvard, but Isaac's master, Alden's brother-in-law, Victor, catches up to them. Instead of running up to the Canadian border, Alden decides that he and Isaac will board a ship to California and finish his legal studies by apprenticing with a lawyer who had already travelled West to establish a legal office in Sacramento.
Isabelle Labrie, a young woman with secrets in her past, operates a hotel in Sacramento. California, at this time, is a free state, although any slave owners who are passing through could still keep their slaves. Her hotel occasionally becomes a hiding spot for slaves who are trying to make their way to Canada. It is here where she meets Alden and Isaac, who are posing as master and slave, even though Alden abhors slavery. They do this in order to prevent Isaac from being kidnapped; there is a history of freed slaves being abducted and sold back into slavery. Alden is taken with the beautiful Isabelle, but she despises him because she thinks that he is a slave owner. He can't reveal what his true intentions are for Isaac without endangering them both, but trouble dogs them in the form of Victor, who has been following them with the intent of reclaiming Isaac as a slave. However, Victor is not only a problem for Isaac; he poses a threat to Isabelle too.
Beneath a Golden Veil touches on the issues about slavery, freedom, and the need to treat every human being with dignity and respect regardless of their skin colour. The novel speaks about dark things that humans can do against each other, and ultimately, against God. The lives and relationships of several of the characters, whether they were protagonists or antagonists, were messed up. However, there was also hope for those who put their hope in the Lord, both in the present world, and in the world to come.
Also, in the novel, the author tells us through the characters that it doesn't matter what people think because the past shouldn't define us if we are children of God. I think that this is such a precious truth. Our identities, as children of God, are based on God's Word and on Jesus' sacrifice for us; it is not based on what happened to us in the past, or by anything that we have done. (John 1:12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God...).
There are discussion questions in the back of the book that I found thought provoking, particularly the one that asked, "The issue of slavery divided the United States of America in the 1800s. What moral issues today divide our communities? How do you fight for what you believe is right?"
The novel is a bit weightier than your average historical romance; however, there is also a happy ending. As I mentioned before, Beneath a Golden Veil made quite an impression on me over its themes and ideas which have stayed with me for days after I finished the book.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "Beneath a Golden Veil" by Melanie Dobson from Net Galley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Review: Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice by Stacy King, Art by Po Tse
It is a truth universally acknowledged (by my family) that if there's a novel, story, or film with a connection to Pride and Prejudice, I'm going to want to read or view it. Stacy King has adapted Jane Austen's novel for a manga version, with the art drawn by Po Tse. This version retains the general story arc from the original version where Darcy's proud demeanor and Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy present impediments to their romance. However, being an adaptation, there have been some alterations in the story, most of which I can live with, with the exception of Darcy being a poor dancer. (Sorry, in my universe, Darcy probably suffered through lessons with a dancing master, and is probably an excellent dancer; but he just doesn't enjoy the activity.)
Some of the language has been modernized, and is not what I'd expect a person living in Regency times would use, but that would be helpful for those who don't want to slog through archaic expressions in order to understand and appreciate the content of the novel.
Generally, I liked the artwork. The Bennet girls look suitably cute and adorable, Charlotte Lucas and Mary King look sufficiently plain, Bingley has the hair of an angelic choir boy, and Wickham is the best looking man in the crowd. Darcy does have a handsome and noble mien, but personally, I find that the depiction of his hair in most of the drawings...is a bit of a miss for me. There are three locks that seem to wing off in different directions. You kind of have to see it to understand...although I will say: shades of Dagwood Bumstead.
Like the 1995 BBC televised version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, there is a bit of a wet shirt scene in the manga version, although the appearance of Darcy in such a disheveled state occurs at a different point of the story than that of the television series. The manga is clean, although Elizabeth and readers get to see some glimpses of Darcy's six-pack. The Darcy fan-girl in me squeaked a bit! :P
I thought that this was a pretty good adaptation, and I enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this for those who enjoy manga romance but don't want to see anything too provocative, and for those who might find it difficult reading the original text of this classic novel.
Some of the language has been modernized, and is not what I'd expect a person living in Regency times would use, but that would be helpful for those who don't want to slog through archaic expressions in order to understand and appreciate the content of the novel.
Generally, I liked the artwork. The Bennet girls look suitably cute and adorable, Charlotte Lucas and Mary King look sufficiently plain, Bingley has the hair of an angelic choir boy, and Wickham is the best looking man in the crowd. Darcy does have a handsome and noble mien, but personally, I find that the depiction of his hair in most of the drawings...is a bit of a miss for me. There are three locks that seem to wing off in different directions. You kind of have to see it to understand...although I will say: shades of Dagwood Bumstead.
Like the 1995 BBC televised version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, there is a bit of a wet shirt scene in the manga version, although the appearance of Darcy in such a disheveled state occurs at a different point of the story than that of the television series. The manga is clean, although Elizabeth and readers get to see some glimpses of Darcy's six-pack. The Darcy fan-girl in me squeaked a bit! :P
I thought that this was a pretty good adaptation, and I enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this for those who enjoy manga romance but don't want to see anything too provocative, and for those who might find it difficult reading the original text of this classic novel.
Friday, 22 July 2016
Review: Wisdom to Know by Elizabeth Maddrey
Wisdom to Know, a novel by Elizabeth Maddrey, is the story about Lydia Brown, a preacher's kid who falls from grace by getting pregnant outside of marriage. She had given herself to a man who she thought would marry her, but it became apparent that he had no intention in doing so after she slept with him. Pride, shame, and fear prevent her from revealing the truth to her parents and her friends. She decides to get an abortion to cover up her mistake. However, guilt over her actions drives her into drug use to escape the emotional and spiritual fallout of her decision. Lydia also prostitutes herself in order to finance her drug habit.
Kevin McGregor has been in love with Lydia forever, and sincerely believes that the Lord has told him that Lydia is the woman that he's going to marry. However, he has been repeatedly friend-zoned by Lydia. He is overjoyed at the breakup between Lydia and her latest boyfriend, but senses, along with others in Lydia's family and circle of friends, that she is hiding something important from them.
Although he suspects that Lydia has been physically intimate with her previous boyfriend, he is still open to a future with her. However, the certainty he feels about God intending him to be with Lydia is tested when he finds out the entirety of the depths that Lydia has fallen.
Kevin also doesn't get to discover the entire truth at once; it is unfolded to him gradually over many months while God is working to heal Lydia of the pain in her life. Lydia isn't willing to tell the people closest to her about what she has done because of her fear of seeing their disappointment in her. She also fears being rejected by them. By the time Kevin finds out about the abortion, he has had enough; he feels betrayed beyond what he can bear. Since Lydia has repeatedly acted against the Lord's will, what is it if he rejects the Lord's will over whether he will take Lydia to be his wife?
Wisdom to Know is a story that alludes to the life of Hosea, a prophet who repeatedly took back an unfaithful wife. This is confirmed when Kevin tells the Lord that he is not strong enough to be like the Old Testament prophet, about a third of the way into the novel. I admire Elizabeth Maddrey for writing this story; I don't believe that it is easy to write about the topics that she has covered in this novel. To me, the plot was quite well planned out and developed. She certainly makes the focus of the novel center on the receiving and giving of grace. Lydia struggles to accept grace in light of the mistakes that she has made, and Kevin is challenged to give grace, even when it is difficult for him to do so.
There were a couple of things that didn't work for me about Wisdom to Know which may not matter to other readers. I had a few "show, instead of tell," moments while reading the novel, but those are a matter of preference. Also, there were sections where I found myself stumbling over the dialogue, but I recognize that this could be just my own personal expectations about how people should speak.
On the whole, I was quite impressed with the message of grace in Wisdom to Know. I could understand why Lydia did what she did, and I could also understand the anger and betrayal that Kevin felt when he discovered what Lydia had done. I liked how, in the plot, the Lord prepared Kevin for finding out Lydia's secrets regarding the abortion, because, sometimes, I think that the Lord does this in real life. He'll show His children something so enlightening and absolutely mind-blowing that raises them to the heights, and then they are challenged to actually live it out when they leave the mountain top experiences. In Kevin's case, God showed him the need for ministering to those who have been adversely affected by abortion, and then it became extremely personal when Kevin found out that Lydia was one of those in need. Will Kevin be able to grant Lydia grace so that they can have a future together?
Wisdom to Know is the first novel belonging to the Grant Us Grace Series, which also includes the novels, Courage to Change, and Serenity to Accept.
Kevin McGregor has been in love with Lydia forever, and sincerely believes that the Lord has told him that Lydia is the woman that he's going to marry. However, he has been repeatedly friend-zoned by Lydia. He is overjoyed at the breakup between Lydia and her latest boyfriend, but senses, along with others in Lydia's family and circle of friends, that she is hiding something important from them.
Although he suspects that Lydia has been physically intimate with her previous boyfriend, he is still open to a future with her. However, the certainty he feels about God intending him to be with Lydia is tested when he finds out the entirety of the depths that Lydia has fallen.
Kevin also doesn't get to discover the entire truth at once; it is unfolded to him gradually over many months while God is working to heal Lydia of the pain in her life. Lydia isn't willing to tell the people closest to her about what she has done because of her fear of seeing their disappointment in her. She also fears being rejected by them. By the time Kevin finds out about the abortion, he has had enough; he feels betrayed beyond what he can bear. Since Lydia has repeatedly acted against the Lord's will, what is it if he rejects the Lord's will over whether he will take Lydia to be his wife?
Wisdom to Know is a story that alludes to the life of Hosea, a prophet who repeatedly took back an unfaithful wife. This is confirmed when Kevin tells the Lord that he is not strong enough to be like the Old Testament prophet, about a third of the way into the novel. I admire Elizabeth Maddrey for writing this story; I don't believe that it is easy to write about the topics that she has covered in this novel. To me, the plot was quite well planned out and developed. She certainly makes the focus of the novel center on the receiving and giving of grace. Lydia struggles to accept grace in light of the mistakes that she has made, and Kevin is challenged to give grace, even when it is difficult for him to do so.
There were a couple of things that didn't work for me about Wisdom to Know which may not matter to other readers. I had a few "show, instead of tell," moments while reading the novel, but those are a matter of preference. Also, there were sections where I found myself stumbling over the dialogue, but I recognize that this could be just my own personal expectations about how people should speak.
On the whole, I was quite impressed with the message of grace in Wisdom to Know. I could understand why Lydia did what she did, and I could also understand the anger and betrayal that Kevin felt when he discovered what Lydia had done. I liked how, in the plot, the Lord prepared Kevin for finding out Lydia's secrets regarding the abortion, because, sometimes, I think that the Lord does this in real life. He'll show His children something so enlightening and absolutely mind-blowing that raises them to the heights, and then they are challenged to actually live it out when they leave the mountain top experiences. In Kevin's case, God showed him the need for ministering to those who have been adversely affected by abortion, and then it became extremely personal when Kevin found out that Lydia was one of those in need. Will Kevin be able to grant Lydia grace so that they can have a future together?
Wisdom to Know is the first novel belonging to the Grant Us Grace Series, which also includes the novels, Courage to Change, and Serenity to Accept.
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Review: No Substitute by Susan Diane Johnson
No Substitute by Susan Diane Johnson is a title from White Rose Publishing, which is a division of the Pelican Book Group. I think that I've never read anything from White Rose before, so this was a new experience to see what their offerings were like. There are several free e-books offered on one of Pelican Book Group's webpages, so I'll have to check some of those out sometime in the future. What confused me was that the name of this publishing group is very similar to Pelican Publishing, which is a different entity that has the familiar pelican logo on its books. Pelican Book Group, however, publishes solely Christian imprints which mainly focus on fiction, whereas, Pelican Publishing publishes titles belonging to several different genres in fiction and non-fiction.
In No Substitute, Amy Welsh, is a (wait for it...) substitute teacher who is covering for another educator who is on maternity leave. She finds herself teaching a class which Shayna MacMillan is enrolled in. Shayna is not just any girl: she is the daughter of Amy's ex-boyfriend, Quentin, a man who Amy has never been able to let go in her heart.
Quentin, a widower, can't believe that Amy Welsh is back in town. She's the woman who has always owned his heart, and if he can get a second chance with her, he's going to take it. However, Amy is reluctant to pick things up with him again. She left town years before when she found out that Quentin had married another girl three months after he and Amy were supposed to elope when they were teens. Taking on the job in her hometown, Goose Bay, is a necessity since Amy can't find any teaching jobs elsewhere. The short term position is also giving her a chance to take time out to make a decision whether or not to accept a marriage proposal from Jared Parker, a man who is waiting for her answer in Issaquah, Washington, where Amy had built a life for herself since leaving Goose Bay.
Amy and Quentin are thrown together when Quentin requests her help in monitoring Shayna's interactions with a teenage boy, Bradley Baxter, whom Quentin does not approve of. Quentin is feeling inadequate to the task of raising a daughter who is growing up too quickly in his eyes. Spending time together draws our two protagonists together, but Amy still harbors anger and distrust towards Quentin. Why did he refuse to elope with her seventeen years ago even though he claimed to have loved her then, yet turn around and marry another girl so soon after his refusal to marry Amy?
I'd probably categorize this story as one where the protagonists are separated by a misunderstanding, circumstances beyond either's control, and secrets which Quentin does not feel that he can share without hurting his daughter or Amy. After reading the whole story, I wish that I could pick Quentin's brain over a few things. Without giving too much away, I understand why Quentin refused to elope with Amy, and I can confirm that he did love her then. However, I also don't understand why he didn't do a similar type of soul searching with the Lord over the question of whether or not he should have married the other girl as he did over whether or not to elope with Amy. From the novel, it seemed that he agonized with the Lord over doing the right thing with Amy, but we don't really hear whether he struggled in prayer with the Lord over marrying the second girl. Perhaps he did, and we, as readers, could make that assumption, but the vagueness over this point niggles me a bit.
The other thing that I wondered as I read the novel was why Quentin thought that he could actually continue to put off answering Amy's questions about what happened in the past, because we know that he will need to do it sooner or later if he truly wants to be with her. I kept thinking, "The truth will set you free! The truth will set you free!" If Amy loves him, she'll get over it and forgive him, even if she needs time to take it all in. However, Quentin is a man in denial: he knows what he needs to do, but he's afraid to lose her when he tells her. The irony is that he's going to lose her for sure if he doesn't tell her.
It's probably no surprise for you to know that I have a soft spot for stories that involve teachers. I enjoyed reading No Substitute, although at times, I wanted to strangle both protagonists at certain points for their stubbornness. You already know about what I thought about Quentin, but I haven't mentioned much about Amy. I liked her character. As a former teacher, it was a bit amusing to read about her experiences in school, because yes, kids sometimes act like the way they are described in the book. They can be silly, sassy, smart alecky, sly, fun, and fragile, although, probably not all at the same time. I liked Amy's patience with both students and adults (in other words, parents, and namely Quentin), but I wanted to shake her shoulders when her anger and hurt got the better of her when Quentin finally got around to talking to her about the past. Her reactions are not surprising, and it lent to the drama, but I was thinking, "Come on, Amy...he's finally going to tell you everything after putting you off for sooooooo looooonnnnnnggggggg...and you're going to walk out on him before I can find out what he's going to say!"
As I mentioned before, I liked reading No Substitute. I'd consider reading more from Susan Diane Johnson in the future.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "No Substitute" by Susan Diane Johnson from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
In No Substitute, Amy Welsh, is a (wait for it...) substitute teacher who is covering for another educator who is on maternity leave. She finds herself teaching a class which Shayna MacMillan is enrolled in. Shayna is not just any girl: she is the daughter of Amy's ex-boyfriend, Quentin, a man who Amy has never been able to let go in her heart.
Quentin, a widower, can't believe that Amy Welsh is back in town. She's the woman who has always owned his heart, and if he can get a second chance with her, he's going to take it. However, Amy is reluctant to pick things up with him again. She left town years before when she found out that Quentin had married another girl three months after he and Amy were supposed to elope when they were teens. Taking on the job in her hometown, Goose Bay, is a necessity since Amy can't find any teaching jobs elsewhere. The short term position is also giving her a chance to take time out to make a decision whether or not to accept a marriage proposal from Jared Parker, a man who is waiting for her answer in Issaquah, Washington, where Amy had built a life for herself since leaving Goose Bay.
Amy and Quentin are thrown together when Quentin requests her help in monitoring Shayna's interactions with a teenage boy, Bradley Baxter, whom Quentin does not approve of. Quentin is feeling inadequate to the task of raising a daughter who is growing up too quickly in his eyes. Spending time together draws our two protagonists together, but Amy still harbors anger and distrust towards Quentin. Why did he refuse to elope with her seventeen years ago even though he claimed to have loved her then, yet turn around and marry another girl so soon after his refusal to marry Amy?
I'd probably categorize this story as one where the protagonists are separated by a misunderstanding, circumstances beyond either's control, and secrets which Quentin does not feel that he can share without hurting his daughter or Amy. After reading the whole story, I wish that I could pick Quentin's brain over a few things. Without giving too much away, I understand why Quentin refused to elope with Amy, and I can confirm that he did love her then. However, I also don't understand why he didn't do a similar type of soul searching with the Lord over the question of whether or not he should have married the other girl as he did over whether or not to elope with Amy. From the novel, it seemed that he agonized with the Lord over doing the right thing with Amy, but we don't really hear whether he struggled in prayer with the Lord over marrying the second girl. Perhaps he did, and we, as readers, could make that assumption, but the vagueness over this point niggles me a bit.
The other thing that I wondered as I read the novel was why Quentin thought that he could actually continue to put off answering Amy's questions about what happened in the past, because we know that he will need to do it sooner or later if he truly wants to be with her. I kept thinking, "The truth will set you free! The truth will set you free!" If Amy loves him, she'll get over it and forgive him, even if she needs time to take it all in. However, Quentin is a man in denial: he knows what he needs to do, but he's afraid to lose her when he tells her. The irony is that he's going to lose her for sure if he doesn't tell her.
It's probably no surprise for you to know that I have a soft spot for stories that involve teachers. I enjoyed reading No Substitute, although at times, I wanted to strangle both protagonists at certain points for their stubbornness. You already know about what I thought about Quentin, but I haven't mentioned much about Amy. I liked her character. As a former teacher, it was a bit amusing to read about her experiences in school, because yes, kids sometimes act like the way they are described in the book. They can be silly, sassy, smart alecky, sly, fun, and fragile, although, probably not all at the same time. I liked Amy's patience with both students and adults (in other words, parents, and namely Quentin), but I wanted to shake her shoulders when her anger and hurt got the better of her when Quentin finally got around to talking to her about the past. Her reactions are not surprising, and it lent to the drama, but I was thinking, "Come on, Amy...he's finally going to tell you everything after putting you off for sooooooo looooonnnnnnggggggg...and you're going to walk out on him before I can find out what he's going to say!"
As I mentioned before, I liked reading No Substitute. I'd consider reading more from Susan Diane Johnson in the future.
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of "No Substitute" by Susan Diane Johnson from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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