Book Description
In this anthology of four novellas,(three proven favorites and one new delight), "animal attraction" gains a whole new meaning! Four couples discover love thanks to unexpected, sometimes hilarious, and always entertaining assistance. In Cupid's Chase, Reid and Carina try to sabotage the ridiculous romance between her father and his mother -- but Carina's grandmother and her insightful cat have other ideas. A rescued greyhound helps a sociology professor decide if love deserves a second chance in Fool Me Twice. Two bird-watching retirees take on more than they bargained for to save a historic park in Birds of a Feather. And in A Season for Love, an orphaned young woman reluctantly returns to her childhood home to find, with the help of a playful mare, a surprising love.
Customer Reviews:
Light reading.......2003-03-14
Four Inspirational Romance novellas by four talented Romance writers! All four stories have an animal of some sort to help bring the couples together and find love. I cannot choose which of the four I enjoyed the best. You will find humor scattered in this blend along with intense emotions. Suitable for teens and young adults to read as well.
Sweet.......2000-01-01
Four Inspirational Romance novellas by four talented Romance writers! All four stories have an animal of some sort to help bring the couples together and find love. I cannot choose which of the four I enjoyed the best. You will find humor scattered in this blend along with intense emotions. Suitable for teens and young adults to read as well.
Average customer rating:
- A notebook of the past and present
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The Annie Chase Story
Aileen Ridings Bennett
Manufacturer: Behler Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Friendship
| Women's Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1933016310
Release Date: 2005-10-01 |
Product Description
As fireflies jitterbug to cricket music in Linton, Tennessee, the girls prick their fingers, sharing blood. "This makes us soul spirits, Jessie," Annie says, "our secrets are safe with each other forever." Jessie tastes the words; they settle deeply into her being. "Forever," she repeats. In the racially-charged Sixties, Annie Chase places a neatly printed "W" on her birth certificate in the space marked "Color or Race." The decision to become Anne Elinor Bradley changes her life forever, and puts her on the path of exposure. Jessie Tyler, now a journalist with the prestigious Washington, DC magazine, Classic Magazine, receives a plum assignment that could supercharge her career: the chance to interview Anne Elinor Bradley, the potential first lady who some suspect is passing for white. After their reunion, Jessie's childhood vow haunts her as she is faced with a decision that could change the course of history. The Annie Chase Story is a moving exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the secrets people share, sometimes painful to keep.
Customer Reviews:
A notebook of the past and present.......2006-07-25
This story interweaves the present with a troubled time in a city's history. As adults, two women must decide the worth of their childhood friendship in the light of today's careers and families.
An Oak Ridge story that grabs the reader and demands to be read.
Average customer rating:
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Stories from birdland,
Annie Chase
Manufacturer: Educational Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Nonfiction
| Birds
| Animals
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Zoology
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B00087YQGE |
Average customer rating:
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Stories of industry (Books for young folk's libraries)
Annie Chase
Manufacturer: Educational Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Industrial Design
| Industrial, Manufacturing & Operational Systems
| Engineering
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B0008690D4 |
Average customer rating:
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Stories from animal land
Annie Chase
Manufacturer: Educ. Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Nature & Ecology
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B00089EP5E |
Average customer rating:
- "Speaking forsoothly..."
- A graceful, delightful fairy tale fantasy
- And they were just so perfect....
- Quest for a Vanished Prince
- An excellent fairy tale
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Once Upon a Winter's Night (Roc Fantasy)
Dennis L. McKiernan
Manufacturer: Roc Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
McKiernan, Dennis | ( M ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
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Once Upon a Summer Day
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Once Upon an Autumn Eve (Faery)
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Once Upon A Spring Morn
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Silver Wolf, Black Falcon (Mithgar)
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Red Slippers: More Tales of Mithgar (Mithgar)
ASIN: 0451458400
Release Date: 2001-07-10 |
Book Description
The bestselling author of the immensely popular Mithgar books now turns his unique talents to a phantasmic retelling of the classic French fairy tale, "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" in which a young woman enters into a strange, peril-filled marriage to a mysterious prince.
Praise for the novels of Dennis L. McKiernan:
McKiernan's narratives have heart and fire and drive. (Katherine Kerr)
Triumphant...grand magical fireworks. (Publishers Weekly)Blends lore and prophesy with vivid battle scenes and emotional drama to create a tale of high fantasy that should appeal to most fans of epic fiction. (Library Journal)Provocative...appeals to lovers of classic fantasy-the audience for David Eddings and Terry Brooks. (Booklist)
Customer Reviews:
"Speaking forsoothly...".......2007-09-27
I think it was Josephine Tey, in her mystery The Daughter of Time, that coined the term "speaking forsoothly". "Speaking forsoothly" refers to using a faux-Shakespearean or medieval-type language. Another term for it might be "Ye Olde Englishe". Shakespeare pulled it off, but what *couldn't* he pull off? But when fantasy/historical writers try to pull it off...
Now, fantasy and historical novels can sin too far in the *other* direction. For example, Garcia y Robertson's Firebird. That (besides the other problems that beset the novel) is steeped in over-modern, slangy language that took me out of the story.
But "speaking forsoothly" can also get between the reader and the story. When the reader tries to envision the characters speaking aloud, it can sound ridiculous and stilted. (And when this sort of language is employed in a *sex scene*...) Worse, in this and the other books in the series, the narrative voice also is sprinkled with Ye Olde Englishe. Which, unfortunately, has the effect of making the writer's voice sound affected, not natural.
And it truly *is* unfortunate, because normally I love novel-length retellings of fairy tales, and there are plenty of elements in this book that stand out--the quest itself, the world of Faery with its four quarters, and many of the fantasy creatures and beings. But I agree with those who think that Camille is just too pure and naive a heroine, despite her bravery in setting out on the quest. And to me, her romance with Alain seemed not to have quite enough buildup. I know that it's supposed to be a reflection of fairy tales, but other retellings of fairy tales have fleshed out budding romances better.
It's a shame, because this fairy tale is a terrific one and the actual *plot* of this novel is quite captivating. But because of the problems with the main character, the central romance, and most of all the issue of "speaking forsoothly", I can't wholeheartedly get into it.
I've read "Once Upon A Summer Day" and haven't gotten to the other books in the series yet; I may do so. But the problem of "speaking forsoothly" carries over into the other books as well, from what I can see. It might have been better if McKiernan had simply let his characters speak in a regular manner--not modern and slangy, but simple English, and let *what* they said establish mood and time period, rather than *how* they said it.
A graceful, delightful fairy tale fantasy.......2007-07-02
Inspired by a fairy tale, McKiernan's novel is written like one, in a lyrical style that produces more eloquence than awkwardness. The poetic prose is the novel's best element. Another strong element is the likable and endearing protagonist, Camille, who is wholly good, pure, and noble. The novel's structure reminded me of The Lord of the Rings: In the same way that Frodo's quest takes him on a journey throughout Middlearth, Camille's quest takes her on a journey throughout Faery. Some of the stops on this journey are superfluous to the primary storyline, however they allow the author to portray his setting and characterize Camille. We learn much about her character through her interactions with the denizens of Faery, although none of it is a surprise, since she is a sweetheart from start to finish. My main qualm is the insignificance of the antagonist: I would have liked the villain to play a more substantial role. Also, I'm not a fan of cliffhanger endings like this one.
And they were just so perfect...........2007-02-26
Following the original (East of the Sun, West of the Moon), Once Upon a Winter's Night is the story of a girl, Camille, who unmasks her true love's face against all warnings, beginning a curse that will change her life. Prior to, Camille had been a poor maiden of the mortal world, one of six sisters (and one brother), children to parents both desolate and hopeless. One night, a large white bear knocks at the door, proposing that if Camille would marry Prince Alain of the Summerwood, the Prince in return would pay a goodly sum to the family for years to come. Knowing that the money was needed to keep her young brother alive, Camille gives her consent and is whisked away to Summerwood Manor on the back of the great bear.
Once there, Alain is revealed only during the night and even then wearing a mask. Despite, the two fall deeply in love, until Camille returns to the mortal world to visit her family. When there, her mother persuades Camille to light a candle in the night and reveal the Prince's face. Overcome with influence and curiosity after Camille's return to Summerwood, she lights the candle, and upon seeing her fiance's beautiful face, sends the Manor and all within into a whirlwind of magic, leaving Camille deserted in a foreign land. Determined to set all right again, she begins the task to find the place East of the Sun and West of the Moon where her true love lies at the risk of all peril.
Ah, me, to be a romantic. It's all about good adventure and love, yet the story is filled with such annoyances that I can't help but wish someone else had written it. The characters are extremely stereotypical with absolutely no depth (I mean, it's really bad), to the point where sometimes you'd wish something unanticipated would happen, like Camille forgetting a riddle, or one of her acquaintances forgetting about her, leaving her stranded and without aid. (But no, then she'd have to use her brain). It's actually pretty graphic (The sex scenes with all the unnecessary "Oh Mithras".), plus the over abused French (I took French and struggled with the absurdity of some of the phrases). Not to mention those really bad riddles...they weren't difficult at all, but I will refrain from bashing them. I think it was a good story line (obviously, someone else thought of it), but the characters were so lame that it ruined everything. By the end it was kind of funny, because the most interesting thing was the bird (which does not talk).
Having read the Blue Fairy Book, these little slips in the short story are standard. But because this is not just a story but also a novel, it seems quite unacceptable.
I'll admit, I liked the idea of this series, so I did continue the I, just finishing Once Upon a Summer Day the other day, finding that story a lot more enjoyable. (Though still flawed. Hmm...maybe the third book will be better?) Anyways, I have not given up hope. Though I don't recommend this book, it wasn't a complete waste of time. Well...not totally..(if you're into reading shoddy fairy-tales...)
Quest for a Vanished Prince.......2006-11-26
Once Upon a Winter's Night (2001) is the first fantasy novel in the Faery series. It is a greatly extended version of the fairytale "East of the Sun and West of the Moon".
In this novel, Camille and her family are disturbed one winter night by a great pounding on the door of their hovel. At first they do nothing, but the pounding continues. Finally, Camille suggests that Henri, her father, find out who is knocking. When Henri, opens the door, he immediately slams it shut and bars it.
When asked about the knocker, Henri wails "A Bear! A white Bear!" Then once more comes the massive knock and the door shudders under the blow. Finally, Camille reopens the door and invites the Bear to enter. The single room is quite crowded after the Bear comes in and lies on the floor.
A message tube is attached around the Bear's neck. The note within asks for Camille's hand in marriage and offers a sizeable bride-price. It is signed "Lord Alain, Prince of the Summerwood".
Camille's mother Aigrette is convinced as soon as the bride-price is announced. Her five sisters tend to be favorable to the offer, although Lisette complains that she is the eldest and should be married first. Henri and Giles, the younger son, are against the whole idea, but Henri can only drag his feet and insist on more time. The Bear is told to come back in a week.
Despite Aigrette's nagging, Henri is not really convinced to let Camille go. However, Aigrette hits upon the idea of a doctor for chronically ailing Giles and Camille begins to seriously consider marrying Alain. Although Giles continues to argue against the idea, Camille leaves with the Bear after he returns.
After an arduous trip through Faery with the Bear, including a Red Cap attack in Winterwood, Camille finally arrives at Summerwood Manor. She finally meets Alain on the third day after her arrival. He is everything that she imagined, except that he is wearing a mask.
In this story, Camille grows to love Alain and waits patiently to see him without his mask. After a trip back home, however, her mother's insinuations persuade Camille to sneak a look at his unmasked face and a violent wind takes away Alain and everybody within Summerwood Manor.
Camille spends several days cleaning up the mess within the manor, but finally thinks to consult the Lady of the Mere. Lord Kelmot, a Lynx rider, shows her the way. The Lady indirectly advises her to look for Alain "East of the Sun and West of the Moon". She also gives Camille a staff and provides a sparrow as her companion. Kelmot offers to accompany her in her quest to locate Alain, but the Lady has advised her to only take the stave and sparrow with her.
Camille meets many friendly people on the way and a few villains. Her own wit often suffices to thwart the villains, although a word of advice from her friends often becomes useful. She hurries as fast as she can, for she only has a year and a day and another month from the day Alain vanished, and she encounters many delays.
Despite the author's statements, I find it hard to believe that the original bardic tale is a long as this novel. Just reading it aloud would take several days. Add musical flourishes and the telling would take a week or more, particularly if the bard only spoke in the evenings after supper.
Highly recommended for McKiernan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of geases and curses, perseverance and native wit.
-Arthur W. Jordin
An excellent fairy tale.......2006-04-24
I read the other reviews here and wondered what book they had read or had *expected* to read.
This book carefully indentifies itself as a fairy tale from the start. If you are looking for an action-packed modern novel, then go elsewhere.
But if you love fairy tales where the characters are more fleshed out and human than the extremely edited (Disneyfied before Disney!) versions offered by Lang or the Brothers Grimm, then you should read this book. (Andrew Lang did not invent fairy tales he *translated* and *edited* them.) Yes, the themes are ancient. But if you don't like that, don't read fairy tales.
If you don't like unfamiliar words or ways of speaking in your books, I'd suggest that you go watch television instead. One thing I really hate is any fantasy novel that is chocked full of modern slang, cliches and idioms. I don't expect someone from another time and place to sound like truck drivers at the local pub. While I don't think McKiernan really gave it the French flavor he was aiming for I liked his semi-archaic language.
My only criticisms:
1) The mystery about the parents was a bit of a distraction and not really necessary to the main story, but that's a minor complaint;
2) Alain seems a bit too passive at the end;
3) The book should have ended earlier. A bit too much time is spent tying up too many loose ends at the end. The reason some readers felt like there was no "happily ever after" is because the end went on too long.
But those are things *I* would have done differently if I had written it, not reasons to avoid this book. I highly recommend it!
Product Description
4 massmarket paperback Titles By McKiernan - Once Upon a Winter's Night - Voyage of the Fox Rider - Caverns of Socrates - The Eye of the Hunter
Book Description
Alan Scott was the original ring-wielding super-hero known asthe Green Lantern. A member of the Justice Society of America during theWorld War II era, the caped adventurer used his emerald weapon against anamazing assortment of domestic, international, and alien threats. In thisbeautiful volume of classic Green Lantern tales, Alan Scott exposes anauto-race fixing scheme, clears the son of a policeman framed for murder,discovers corruption in a city orphanage, takes down embezzlingcontractors, faces off against the city's most powerful gangster, andbattles the evil genius of Professor Casper.
Customer Reviews:
Classic Reprints of a Comic-book Stalwart.......2005-01-23
When I first started reading comic books, my only exposure to super-heros up to that point had been through other media, specifically the cartoon "The Super Friends". Imagine my surprise to learn that there was more than ONE of nearly every Super Friend in the comic books. Adding to my confusion was the fact that these counterparts lived on a parallel Earth, and that some, like Superman and Batman, were identical to the heroes I knew, but that others, like Flash and Green Lantern, were entirely different from the characters I watched Saturday mornings.
It didn't take me long to figure out what was going on: the heroes of the forties, the more famous revisions in the late 50s and early 60s, and the fact that after 1985, SOME of that didn't matter anymore. The Superman and Batman of Earth 2 were gone, but the GL and Flash remained along side their more famous Silver Age counterparts. And, for the most part, they retain a strong measure of popularity in their own right, co-starring in DC's monthly "JSA", as well as playing supporting roles throughout the comic book line. AND, for the most part, their golden age adventures were still part of continuity.
So it was with great eagerness that I picked up and read "The Golden Age Green Lantern Archives". And I must say I am pleased. Now, there are some basic caveats that go along with reading comics from the golden age. Character development is minimal; plot rules all. Art is mostly simple and cartoony. Narration is always needlessly elaborate (don't say in one word when you can say it in seven). Continuity is negligible. Taken in that spirit, the Golden Age Green Lantern is a treat.
For those not familiar, Green Lantern is really Alan Scott, the lone survivor of a train wreck, saved by a magical lantern. This lantern originally came to earth as a meteorite, which was molded by a Chinese lamp-maker into a lamp. It made its way across the centuries, before landing in Scott's lap, bringing first death (by killing the superstitious peasants who murdered the lamp-maker), life (restoring sanity to an asylum inmate), and finally, to Alan, power, in the form of a ring which responds to Alan's will, allowing him to do anything he can imagine. It's only weakness is wood. In this way, Green Lantern is unique among golden age heroes, as he actually has a well-thought out origin.
The team of Bill Finger on writing and Marty Nodell on art is, for the most part, a winner. Finger, co-creator of Batman, knew how to tell a story (he was also guilty of overwriting narration). Nodell's art started particularly cartoony, often looking rushed, and out of proportion, and even awful. As the volume (and the months) progress, however, Nodell's artwork improved noticeably, becoming cleaner with some nice instances of detailed line work. Not often, but it is a noticeable improvement.
One of the problems I had with "The Golden Age Starman" was the science fiction hero being saddled with mundane crooks and thugs as villains. Green Lantern has this problem to a minor extent, but it doesn't seem quite as bad. Alan was created from the start as a "people's champion" so to speak. He starts out as an engineer. A gangster is responsible for the train wreck that indirectly gives Alan his powers. Later, Alan joins a radio station, and, rather like Clark Kent, is privy to corrupt politicians, power brokers, loan sharks, and the like. It seems far more intrinsic to the character to battle mundane crooks than it does with Starman.
Alan did have some unique qualities. While Alan was in competition with himself for the affections the lovely Irene, Alan himself was no sop, often tangling with crooks in his civilian identity. Further, like other heroes, he gained a sidekick, but NOT a teenage Robin. Rather, his partner was tough middle-aged cab driver, Doiby (derby) Dickles, who often charged in swinging to a fray while mangling the English language.
Alan continues to be a prominent force in the DC Universe. I'm looking forward to future volumes in this series, particularly the stories that introduced real super-villains. As a continuing stalwart, he deserves it.
Even better than the first volume!.......2003-12-04
I have always made it a habit to tell people about the DC Archive Edition reprints of Golden Age comicbooks. They are a veritable MIRACLE! Without them, it would have been impossible for me to ever read comicbooks from the 1930s and 1940s. You see, time was when comicbooks were not dutifully collected and kept in Mylar bags like today. In fact, they were little more than "read-once-then-use-for-fish-wrappers". More than this, many of these Golden Age comics had very low print runs and were printed on inferior paper due to the paper shortage during the War Years. The DC Archive Editions therefore exist to collect these gems of American Pop-Culture into durable and elegant reprint editions for us today.
The second volume of the Golden Age Green Lantern Archives gives us more stories of Alan Scott (Green Lantern) and his bumbling sidekick, Doiby Dickles. We see in this volume a more confident Alan Scott, who is a lot more comfortable in his role as a mystery-man who helps out. The highlights of this volume are the great, epic four-parters (from GL#2 and GL#3). Book-length stories were very uncommon in the Golden Age. Usually editors get their writers/artists to produce short stories that are usually kept in drawers as "reserved-material". And usually a comic book is made up of four such short stories. Therefore, the editor has a lot of freedom packing in stories from his "reserved-material" should a writer/artist fail to turn in stories in any given month. However, the rare book-length epics (like those collected here) really allows the writer and artist to strut their stuff. Bill Finger and Mart Nodell gives us a great crime mystery in GL#2 and a whimsical adventure to an El-Dorado-like paradise in GL#3.
Other highlights of this volume includes Doiby Dickles discovering GL's secret identity for the first time. The battle against the modern-day Napoleon is collected here also (this is where we learn that Alan Scott's middle name is Wellington). We also see Alan and Irene's first kiss. Overall, the stories in this volume should bring a smile and an occasional tear to you as you read them. They are so simple and yet so endearing.
Irwin Hasen is the regular artist on the All-American comics collected here while Martin Nodell is busy turning in all those four-parter book-length stories in GL#2 and #3. The foreword to this volume is written by that pioneer of Golden Age Fandom, Jerry Bails.
The Original Green Lantern's Debut.......2003-11-08
Artist Martin Nodell created the Golden Age Green Lantern after seeing a railway lantern one night. The stories in this volume are written by the very talented Bill Finger - the "O. Henry of American comic books". This volume includes the very first appearance of the Green Lantern, Alan Scott, in All-American Comics #16 (July 1940) as well as his early stories in that same title and in his own book Green Lantern #1. Includes the first appearance of Irene Miller and Doiby Dickles. See Alan flirt endlessly with Irene and develop a true friendship with Doiby. This volume also includes an essay by Dr. William Moulton Marsten on Will-Power. Marsten is also the inventor of the lie detector and the creator of the original Golden Age Wonder Woman.
One thing that I especially like about the stories in this volume is how most of them are about "real" issues and crime. No super-villains here. No cosmic mumbo-jumbo. Just a person with a gift of power who wants to be helpful to the public. In the 1970s, Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams came up with a series of "Relevance" stories starring the Silver Age Green Lantern and Green Arrow. Those stories were considered revolutionary because by then comics was all about fighting the super-villain of the month. Suddenly, there were stories about real crime, corruption, drugs, religious fanatics and the sort. But then, "Relevance" stories have always been in comics in the 1940s. Especially these Bill Finger penned classics here. Moreover, they appear less "forced" here than in the 1970s works (although I love those Hard-Travelling Heroes stories a lot also).
Interestingly, Alan Scott is still a vital character in today's comics, appearing constantly in the current Green Lantern and JSA series in his original persona (unlike the revamped Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman). Today, he appears very much as a guide and a source of wisdom for the new generation of heroes. Reading about his heroic exploits in these early stories, it's not difficult to see that he is more than qualified to guide us all today to higher aspirations.
Original Lantern gets Green light.......2003-04-09
O.K., O.K. the storyline is a little, well, little. But when the original Lantern goes into action, this book comes alive and is pretty exciting. Even for 1st time readers.
The original green lantern - still the best outfit.......2000-08-28
It was wonderful to see the first stories ever to show the original Green Lantern. Gotta love that costume, particulary odd looking when he is trying to hide in the shadows with that gaudy delight of an outfit.
The art is primitive and generally unimaginative and the stories also show as little imagination, at the beginning at least. They do grow a little more imaginative in the portrayal of the use of his power (generally underused considering what he must have been capable of doing). He needed a powerful and interesting villain, or two. Adding Doiby Dickles seemed to help spice up the stories, though.
It was still wonderful reading these stories as I had never seen a story with the original Green Lantern before the 1960's, outside of his adventures alongside the Justice Society of America. An interesting selection for the DC Archives Series.
Book Description
Explores anthropology's contributions to the better cross-cultural understanding of epistemology, globalism, urbanization, church planting, spiritual warfare, and more.
Customer Reviews:
A Strong Start, Then Some Pitfalls.......2006-04-22
Paul G. Hiebert is a well known anthropologist and missiologist. He begins this book, unusually, with a prototheological phase -- a careful investigation of epistemology, or the theory of knowledge. "Most Christians," he writes, "do not examine their epistemological foundations." Thus he describes six major approaches to epistemology, methodically applying these to theology and missiology.
It was Hiebert who first introduced the term "excluded middle" to theology. This is originally a philosophical term which refers to the exclusion of "middle cases" between logical alternatives. The theological "excluded middle" has been a pervasive characteristic of the Church in the West. The Church has had "a theology of God in cosmic history", and "an awareness of God in natural history", yet it has tended to exclude "a theology of God in human history". This may refer either to God's present acts in "human history and . . . personal biography", or to the reality of "the spirit world". Thus Western missionaries have frequently found themselves in situations where they have been unable to address questions of "the middle level", to relate the gospel e.g. to the need for divine guidance or demonic influences.
In Hiebert's view, in order to contextualise the Christian faith, one needs to begin with two certainties -- at least, with two "maps". He proposes the necessity of a "metacultural grid" and a "metatheological truth". Once one has established these two universal systems, one may begin to "compare and translate", with a view to changing "old beliefs and practices". His universal "maps" are possible because, he writes, "no people confuse cows with pigs". That is, we may establish (by and large) objective universals for our task, since these reliably refer to reality. Yet things are surely not that simple. One may worship cows on the one hand, or create beef stroganoff with them on the other. This being the case, one surely would require something more radically transformative than "maps" for the task of translating culture.
One of the highlights of the book is an analogy that Hiebert draws between the Church and set theory. A set is essentially "a group" of things. However, the nature of sets can vary significantly. Two types of set receive particular attention, namely the "bounded set", and the "centered set". A bounded set, as the term suggests, has well defined bounds, while a centred set "groups things on the basis of how they relate to other things". Therefore in terms of a bounded set, we would classify the Church as a people who are "all the same in essence", while in terms of a centred set, "the church would be defined by its center, the Jesus Christ of Scripture". The trouble with the former, writes Hiebert, is that this may become too exacting and exclusive, while an advantage of the latter is that Jesus Christ becomes the focus of all that the Church is and does.
At the "heart" level, a lot of this book resonated with me. At the "head" level, I felt that Hiebert's arguments, after starting out strongly, began to fray. Further, his emphasis is clearly on "beliefs" rather than "faith" -- and on "practices" rather than "fruit" -- giving the overall impression of a scrupulous anthropologist working piecemeal at his task, rather than the power of a transforming relationship with Christ.
Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues.......1999-12-30
This is a collection of essays by one of the best missiologist/anthropologist writers of our day. Paul Hiebert provides lucid and stimulating papers on epistemology (also see his "Missiological Implications of Epistemological Shifts" (Trinity Press, 1999) Critical Contextualization (see also "Introduction to Folk Religion" co-authored with Shaw and Tienou (Baker 1999) and other great pieces on critical issues in cross-cultural ministry -- relevant not only for the overseas missionary or development worker, but also for people working in multicultural contexts in Europe, Canada and USA.
Excellent for those who are mission minded........1999-12-16
An excellent book which has helped me to look at aspects of culture which I never noticed before. Raising new, interesting questions and providing a deep insight into them, very much focused on the bible. Also a book from which you can get loads of quotes.
Books:
- Vecindarios excéntricos
- War with the Newts (European Classics)
- What It Takes to Get to Vegas
- Zane Grey's Laramie Nelson: Other Side of the Canyon (Gunsmoke Westerns)
- A History of Christianity (2-Volume Set) (Volumes 1 & 2)
- After the Funeral: The Posthumous Adventures of Famous Corpses
- America 2014: An Orwellian Tale
- Anna in the Afterlife (Library of Modern Jewish Literature)
- Arturo's Island: A Novel (Italia Series)
- Beautiful Inez: A Novel
Books Index
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- Brazil Company Handbook 2000-2001
Not Exactly Eden (Palisades Pure Romance)
Hi Honey, I'm Home (Palisades Pure Romance)
It Had to Be You (Palisades Pure Romance)
Paper Moon (The Moonstruck Series, Book 1)
Fiesta Moon (The Moonstruck Series, Book 2)
