Book review of:
"Tangled Vines"
by Diane Noble (also published as Amanda MacLean)
Set in the vineyards of California, this book takes us into the inner circle of a cult group that is on the verge of a mass suicide. Published after such tragic events as Jonestown, this book is sure to stir up strong remembrances and emotions.
I am normally a little wary of novels that deal with such heavy topics, not wanting to feel afterward that I have been "slimed" and left with a nasty taste in my mouth. As I started this book, I was a little concerned with it's direction, but I soon found it to be "palatable".
There are some books that are purely for enjoyment, and some books that reveal truthes. These are the books that I prefer. This is one of those books.
Diane Noble skillfully weaves numerous truths about the psychological tactics used in cults to brainwash and control their people. One of the most interesting, I found, was the degredation of the individual. For example, instead of allowing them to use the pronoun "I", they had to refer to themselves as "it", thus reducing their importance and value. She also touched on subjects such as physical labor (to weary the body), food deprivation, creating a false sense of security within the compound, and creating a heightened and false alarm about the "dangerous" world outside.
If you are interested in the topic of cult worship and the psychologies around how people could get sucked into this kind of a situation, this book does a good job of giving an introduction to it, while lightening the mood with a little romance and friendly banter among the main characters. It also has a mystery feel for those who are interested in that.
Has anyone else come across this book? What did you think?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Gilbert Morris Series Suggestion
Got some feedback from another blogger that the Lions of Judah series by Gilbert Morris is a good one...well researched and interesting.
Does anyone know what age/reading level this series would be good for?
Does anyone know what age/reading level this series would be good for?
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Gilbert Morris
I went to a used book store last week for an author's book signing. While I was there, I came across a couple of titles by Gilbert Morris that I thought I would preview for my students. The first is called "Flight of the Eagles", book #1 of the Seven Sleepers series. The other was "What the Cat Dragged In", #1 in the Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detective series.
They were both good books, but totally different from one another. I think "Flight of the Eagles" would be good for kids who are interested in magic and mythical creatures. I was glad for this. It is hard to find books that will captivate the imagination of a middle school boy without throwing them into the world of witchcraft, sorcery, and spells.
"Flight of the Eagles" is the first episode in the lives of seven teenagers who have been taken out of their world (which is the one we know) and thrown into a post-apocolyptic world (that is one we would never want to be a part of). It is fifty years post-nuclear war and disaster. The world and all of it's inhabitants have suffered terribly from the effects of war, nuclear poisoning, and subsequent anarchy. A new "order" has risen up and taken control and they are not interested in losing it.
"Flight of the Eagles" has veiled spiritual references and foundation, that a discerning reader will pick up, but that is not so obvious that every reader will catch on.
The story ends with the awakening of the seven sleepers and a preview into what their lives and roles in the future will be. Some will be used to change the world. Some will be used to rescue their comrades out of perils and destructions. All will be challenged to rise above who they are not and become what Goel, their spiritual leader, wants them to be.
**What do you think? Good book for young adult readers?
**Any suggestions for other books by Gilbert Morris that would also be good?
More to come on the Seven Sleepers series later....also more to come on "What the Cat Dragged In"
They were both good books, but totally different from one another. I think "Flight of the Eagles" would be good for kids who are interested in magic and mythical creatures. I was glad for this. It is hard to find books that will captivate the imagination of a middle school boy without throwing them into the world of witchcraft, sorcery, and spells.
"Flight of the Eagles" is the first episode in the lives of seven teenagers who have been taken out of their world (which is the one we know) and thrown into a post-apocolyptic world (that is one we would never want to be a part of). It is fifty years post-nuclear war and disaster. The world and all of it's inhabitants have suffered terribly from the effects of war, nuclear poisoning, and subsequent anarchy. A new "order" has risen up and taken control and they are not interested in losing it.
"Flight of the Eagles" has veiled spiritual references and foundation, that a discerning reader will pick up, but that is not so obvious that every reader will catch on.
The story ends with the awakening of the seven sleepers and a preview into what their lives and roles in the future will be. Some will be used to change the world. Some will be used to rescue their comrades out of perils and destructions. All will be challenged to rise above who they are not and become what Goel, their spiritual leader, wants them to be.
**What do you think? Good book for young adult readers?
**Any suggestions for other books by Gilbert Morris that would also be good?
More to come on the Seven Sleepers series later....also more to come on "What the Cat Dragged In"
Monday, March 7, 2011
How It All Started
As a child, I was never really interested in reading. It wasn't until I was in middle school that books truly captured my attention. It was then that I was introduced to a series of books that could keep me up until 4 or 5 every morning during my summer vacation.
As a teacher of students that same age, I long to bring that same love of reading to each and every student...the problem comes in finding the book, or series of books that will take a hold of them the way that mine took hold of me.
In my searching for books that will entice my reluctant boys and hard-to-reach girls, I find myself reading researching, asking, and also reading.
My hope is that I will be able to aid others in their search for good, clean, interesting, and captivating books as well as be aided in my own search for the same.
As a teacher of students that same age, I long to bring that same love of reading to each and every student...the problem comes in finding the book, or series of books that will take a hold of them the way that mine took hold of me.
In my searching for books that will entice my reluctant boys and hard-to-reach girls, I find myself reading researching, asking, and also reading.
My hope is that I will be able to aid others in their search for good, clean, interesting, and captivating books as well as be aided in my own search for the same.
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