Ace of Spades HQ

April 08, 2012

Sunday Morning Book Thread: Easter Edition 04-08-2012 [OregonMuse]
— Open Blogger

I was going to say I have nothing for this book thread, but then I remembered what day it is and I thought how appropriate for a book thread than a quote from the greatest book ever written:

Matthew 27:62-66 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate (63) and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' (64) Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." (65) Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." (66) So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Matthew 28:1-9 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. (2) And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. (3) His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. (4) And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. (5) But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. (6) He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. (7) Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." ( So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (9) And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

Even if you're not a believer, I think you have to admit that there is not one single book that has influenced, shaped, and guided Western Civilization quite like this one has. And to lose it, to ignore it as irrelevant means that our civilization will eventually be replaced by a different one. I don't know what it will look like, but I think I can say that whatever it is, it won't be pretty and we won't like it.

I recently read an old novel set in the early Christian era, Quo Vadis and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. The characters are complex, interesting, and sometimes flawed. I like it how it presented Christianity as a world-changing religion, as it was supposed to be.

The Kindle and Nook editions are cheap, and I believe their are also free eBook editions floating around out there.

This novel has been made into movies twice. The first time was back in the 1950s, Peter Ustinov played Nero, and it doesn't hold up well. Even though you can tell they put a lot of money into it, it looks and feels kind of cheesy.

A better version was made for Polish television in 2005. It is available via Netflix and is well worth watching in its entirety.

So, a happy Easter to all the morons, and to the subset of morons who believe, I say: He is risen!

Tips for this book thread may be e-mailed to aoshqbookthread@gmail.com

Any new books you all would like to talk about this morning?

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:06 AM | Comments (196)
Post contains 627 words, total size 4 kb.

1 I thought that "T and Me" by Dirk Benedict was the greatest book ever written?

Posted by: Truman North at April 08, 2012 07:42 AM (I2LwF)

2 Happy Easter everyone.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 08, 2012 07:43 AM (Ho2rs)

3 He is risen and offers us all salvation.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 07:44 AM (T7eUJ)

4 He is risen indeed!

Posted by: Jade Sea at April 08, 2012 07:49 AM (6kE8K)

5 He is risen indeed! Happy Easterto all from a morom lurker.

Posted by: Lazy eye at April 08, 2012 07:49 AM (SMR16)

I was trying this week to make it through Robert Massie's Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman. Stopped because all the endless court intrigues and pettiness of the leaders were so depressing. Maybe I'll skip ahead a bit and see if things pick up once Catherine is Empress.

All I can say is the way they treated children in that era, including royals, is deeply disturbing.

Posted by: Jade Sea at April 08, 2012 07:52 AM (6kE8K)

7 Finished The Hunger Games that everyone is raving about. I generally avoid books written by chicks or with chick protagonists, and now I remember why.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 08, 2012 07:54 AM (vpe0k)

8 "The Pistoleer" is a book I picked up on my Kindle this past week.

It tells about the life and times of John Wesley Hardin, a Texas bad-boy who came of age right before the Civil War. Bob Dylan sang about him, but put a g on the end of his last name. Hardin was said to have killed 40 men.

I like novels like this one. It is spoken in the first person, each chapter being told by various people who knew or knew about Wes Hardin. The speech and cadences of the nineteenth century was used by this author, and it was done well. Russell Banks did the same in his great novel about John Brown, "Cloudsplitter."

It was the time of "open carry" for sure.

Posted by: Let Me Hold Your Stake at April 08, 2012 07:57 AM (PH+2B)

9 Currently reading-

Jesus of Nazareth:Holy Week:From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection by Pope Benedict XVI

Posted by: Cast Iron at April 08, 2012 07:58 AM (EL+OC)

10 When I was in (public) high school, we read and critiqued one of the three books by the Apostle John as literature. It was really interesting and it was forty years ago. You could not do that now.

Posted by: huerfano at April 08, 2012 07:59 AM (bAGA/)

11 I reviewed an advance copy of Harry Stein's latest "No Matter What, They'll Call This Book Racist" and it is excellent (full disclosure - I am a friend of the author). Ace said he would post it. Release date is next Tuesday, I believe. Considering the impending race war, it's a must-read.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at April 08, 2012 08:00 AM (Af3Wg)

12 In which version of the Bible does Jesus say, "Greetings!"? I think, but am not sure, that I was raised on something similar to the King James Version.

Posted by: t-bird at April 08, 2012 08:00 AM (FcR7P)

13 Well said. Happy Easter to all, including the non believers who have benefitted from this book.

Posted by: Y-not reading the comments at April 08, 2012 08:01 AM (5H6zj)

14 We who worship the Goddess Irony extend our fondest wishes to all who celebrate Easter.

Posted by: eman at April 08, 2012 08:05 AM (SkRNT)

15 It seems to me the burden of proof is on the atheist to show that Western Man can thrive without God. So far, their demonstrations have not impressed. Horrified, yes.

Posted by: Yogi Bear-a at April 08, 2012 08:06 AM (bDYds)

16 Off sock

Posted by: CoolCzech at April 08, 2012 08:08 AM (bDYds)

If one wants to really understand the Bible, pick up a study version. Just reading the Bible cold with no help can be frustrating and dry.

I have a Quest Study Bible that I used during my year long foray into ministry school and it really opened up the Biblical world to contemporary understanding.

I also have the NIV Archaeological Study Bible which really brings things to life. It's full of images and articles of excavations, artifacts and art. It's not cheap though, a copy runs about 50 bucks but well worth it.

Both Bibles are published by Zondervan.

Posted by: ErikW at April 08, 2012 08:09 AM (41/Eh)

18 It seems to me the burden of proof is on the atheist to show that Western Man can thrive without God. So far, their demonstrations have not impressed. Horrified, yes. Posted by: Yogi Bear-a at April 08, 2012 12:06 PM (bDYds) Or without belief in God. We shall see. Belief in God did not prevent WWI. A horrific slaughter if ever there was one.

Posted by: eman at April 08, 2012 08:10 AM (SkRNT)

19 I am currently reading Flashback by Dan Simmons. I'm not very far into it, but a couple of observations:

I don't think he's much of an Obama fan.

He seems quite pessimistic about the world, and the US especially, having a good future. Join the party, pal.

Last week I read a biography of the Colt family titled The Devil's Right Hand by M. William Phelps. I didn't like the author's writing style, but I did learn a few things. Samuel Colt failed and failed again before becoming one of the richest men in the 19th century. It was also interesting to see how different the ethics of the time were from today.

Posted by: GnuBreed at April 08, 2012 08:12 AM (ccXZP)

20 It takes a special sort of person to troll an Easter thread.

Posted by: Lauren at April 08, 2012 08:16 AM (JA+Jh)

21 Finished reading Andrew Breitbart's book "Righteous Indignation," The man was a genius. His ideas to fight the Libs and other scum was brilliant. I try to follow in his footsteps. Have now started reading book 9 in the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, "Dust of Dreams." Just as good as the rest of the series.

Posted by: Ceroth at April 08, 2012 08:17 AM (e1hlg)

Or without belief in God. We shall see. Belief in God did not prevent WWI. A horrific slaughter if ever there was one.

>>>>

To that point, watched the entire series ANZAC earlier this weekend from a Veetle stream. Good gracious, what an utter pointless waste of good men in trench warfare.

[Got the distinct impression from the series POV that the diggers and kiwis nearly won the entire war singlehandedly.]

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 08, 2012 08:18 AM (4q5tP)

23 In which version of the Bible does Jesus say, "Greetings!"?

ESV. The KJV has Him saying "All hail" in that verse. Is that necessarily a better translation?

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 08, 2012 08:19 AM (yY+8J)

24 Currently re-reading some old SF stuff that I had in paperback here but which were available from Baen for free on the Kindle. It is so nice to be able to adjust the font size.

Next on the agenda is Ben Hur which one of the Morons recommended we read because the movie simply does not cover all of the book. It is available from Guttenburg free. Quo Vadis is also available at Guttenburg free.

Posted by: Vic at April 08, 2012 08:22 AM (YdQQY)

25 Lauren

Are you the Lauren who asked for prayers awhile back because you might be going through another miscarriage?

Any updates? If so, drop me a line at

OregonMuse
at sign
yahoo
dot
com

thanks

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 08, 2012 08:23 AM (yY+8J)

26 OregonMuse -

Perhaps the Polish movie is better because the book was written by a Polish writer - Henryk Sienkiewicz.

Posted by: Grandma Mimi at April 08, 2012 08:24 AM (roHFn)

27 Had to kill some time at the Library the other day. Read the newest "MONK" book, based on the TV show. They're quick little mysteries exactly like the show. Decent time filler.

Posted by: lincolntf at April 08, 2012 08:29 AM (hiMsy)

28 Finished 'Catching Fire' book 2 of the Hunger Games trilogy. The first third was dull with way too much interior monologue and angonizing. Then the plot started to move and enjoyed the rest quite a bit. 3 1/2 of 5 stars. On to book 3 to see how the story ends.

Posted by: waelse1 at April 08, 2012 08:29 AM (y4+t+)

29 I have to disagree about the 1952 film version of "Quo Vadis" - I think it's a terrific sandal epic, emphasis on the epic. The burning of Rome is gorgeous, and so is Marcus Vinicius's triumphal entry into Rome. This is real old-school Hollywood "cast of thousands" movie making. I rank it right up there with "The Ten Commandments" in terms of spectacle. Peter Ustinov is a great Nero, but he's nothing without his Petronius, Leo Genn. SO underrated, that actor, but I don't think he ever gave a bad performance. As far as dated special effects, I'd only mention that the greenscreen work isn't as slick as today's; you can see a sort of purple outline of the actors against the screen. The technology just hadn't developed as highly as it has nowadays; and anyway, it probably wasn't that visible on the big screen, let alone TV. We see it now because we have high-definition dvds and blu-rays. The only thing I'd blame it for is for it's rather anachronistic "social justice" theme - the novel had no interest in the "freeing the slaves" theme the movie brings up, and I suspect it was even less of an issue in 1st century Rome. That's an American thing, though; everything is always about slavery to some people.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at April 08, 2012 08:30 AM (KOHFD)

30 I finished Mockingjay (mentioned this last night). It was teh awesome.

Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at April 08, 2012 08:30 AM (QTHTd)

31 Henryk Sienkiewicz is a Nobel prize winning author.

/in her other life, shibumi is a female of Polish decent who is also Catholic.

Posted by: shibumi at April 08, 2012 08:31 AM (z63Tr)

32 In my version of the Bible, Jesus gives Mary Magdalene a fist-bump. I think it's in the Gospel According To Chad

Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at April 08, 2012 08:31 AM (QTHTd)

33 I finished, just in time, "Death on a Friday Afternoon" by Richard John Neuhaus. Excellent meditations.

Want to know what the world would be like without Christianity? Envision a modern Roman Empire; infanticide, slavery, gluttony, matricide, patricide, pedophilia, crucifixions, scourges, etc.

I should read Andrew's book next.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 08:33 AM (O3R/2)

34 Happy Easter, non-Orthodox 'rons. and blessed Pesach to the Red Sea pedestrians amongst us

Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at April 08, 2012 08:33 AM (QTHTd)

35 The KJV has Him saying "All hail" in that verse. Is that necessarily a better translation? Oh, not really blaming the version, I guess. I'm sure there was a time when 'Greetings!' was more formal. Now it's often used in a more ironic way, to sound humorously-fake formal.

Posted by: t-bird at April 08, 2012 08:33 AM (FcR7P)

36 Perhaps the Polish movie is better because the book was written by a Polish writer - Henryk Sienkiewicz.

Yes, I had thought the same thing. You're probably right.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 08, 2012 08:36 AM (yY+8J)

37 I had the idea shibumi was Japanese

Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at April 08, 2012 08:36 AM (QTHTd)

38 He is risen, indeed!

Posted by: least at April 08, 2012 08:39 AM (GW/GR)

39 Yes, OregonMuse, thank you for remembering me. Things look cautiously hopeful right now. We will know more next week.

Posted by: Lauren at April 08, 2012 08:39 AM (JA+Jh)

40 Buona Pasqua, Morons.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at April 08, 2012 08:41 AM (XebZ2)

Happy Easter, y'all.

There can be little doubt that the Life of one man has influenced the world so much. We even set our watches and calendars according to the date of His Passion. His is God's Divine Inspiration that this life isn't all there is to life: "I have come to give you life, in greater abundance." There is such a thing as Everlasting Life, freely offered and given to those who seek it.

He is Risen!

Posted by: BackwardsBoy at April 08, 2012 08:41 AM (d0Tfm)

42 I finished up the 'Hunger Games' trilogy a couple of weeks ago. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but Katniss is not a very nice person.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 08, 2012 08:41 AM (yY+8J)

43 In my version of the Bible, Jesus gives Mary Magdalene a fist-bump. I think it's in the Gospel According To Chad Posted by: Boulder Toilet Hobo at April 08, 2012 12:31 PM (QTHTd) Most scholars doubt this version is 100% accurate. Instead they agree a "Walk Like an Egyptian" greeting took place.

Posted by: eman at April 08, 2012 08:42 AM (SkRNT)

44 "Rubicon" by Tom Holland tells about the last days of the Roman Republic and the advent of the Empire. All the biggies are here Julius, Cicero, Cato, Mark Anthony, et.al. Holland writes with a novelist's knack. Never lets down.

Posted by: Libra at April 08, 2012 08:43 AM (kd8U8)

45 I finished up the 'Hunger Games' trilogy a couple of weeks ago. I don't want to give out any spoilers, but Katniss is not a very nice person. Posted by: OregonMuse at April 08, 2012 12:41 PM (yY+8J) She had a rough childhood.

Posted by: eman at April 08, 2012 08:45 AM (SkRNT)

46 O/T - sent this to NBC Dear Sir/Madam- Â Â Â Â Regarding the NBC debacle in the Martin case:Â Your company has a problem in the news division.Â And it is affecting your ability to attract viewers.Â Which affects your top line revenues and bottom line profits.Â This purported editing "mistake" as your news division explained it can simply not be interpreted as a mistake.Â If your news division is truly in the business of news, then all information should be reported as discovered.Â If your opinion policy as a network is leftist, then fine.Â Advertise it as such.Â But news should be reported without slant.Â This incident can not be interpreted in any other way than a deliberate attempt to influence your audience to consume a specific narrative.Â That the facts did not support the narrative seems irrelevant, and that is a truly disappointing thing.Â People like me who are disparaged because of our race or sex or "class" in these trumped up racial conflicts are really getting tired of this.Â White hispanic?Â To end,Â I have now stopped watching all NBC owned stations and channels.Â I simply cannot support a corporate culture that has no regard for my opinions and in practice dislikes me.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 08:46 AM (T7eUJ)

47 Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 12:46 PM

Good for you HennyPenney!

However, if you are in a writing mood, it would be more effective I think to contact the advertisers who are seen during NBC news nationally and locally and tell them you are boycotting them. From what I've been able to observe, networks only pay lip service to disgruntled viewers; however, if the advertisers start yelling, they take action. Because the only reason any programs are on tv is to fill the time between advertisements. IMHO.

Posted by: shibumi at April 08, 2012 08:50 AM (z63Tr)

Just finished two science fiction books. first: The Road of Danger from David Drake. It is a space opera in the Horatio Hornblower or Aubrey-Maturin mold. I like the main characters, although they are definitely affected and driven by their experiences and upbringing.

It is the 9th in Drake's RCN series. You can down load the first for free, "With the Lightnings" at Baen.com. start there. Drake's military-science fiction books are not everybody's cup of tea, he portrays the costs of action graphically, including the human costs.

Posted by: rd at April 08, 2012 08:51 AM (9sUlj)

49 Happy Easter to the Moron Horde! I've got several books I'm reading since I have Book ADD. The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis is a very good summary of the Cold War. I'm making my way through Ameritopia, Mark Levin's newest book. I also firmly believe in "knowing thine enemy" so I try my best to suffer through some liberal books. Right now I'm perusing Rachel Madcow's Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power.

Posted by: Joffen, fucking sunshine patriot at April 08, 2012 08:52 AM (oprjK)

50 37 I had the idea shibumi was Japanese.

Shibumi is the title of a book by a gentleman who goes by the name "Trevanian." Very cool book, I highly recommend it. Basically, I love many things Asian (especially Japanese) and needed a unique nic, so... that's what happened. So yes, I am a white female American posing as a Japanese man. LOL.

Posted by: shibumi at April 08, 2012 08:53 AM (z63Tr)

51 "Great Expectations" is on Masterpiece Classics tonight.

I recently read it. I was supposed to read it back in Jr. High, but I was a really bad English student.

Anyway, did anyone besides me think that Mr. Pip is an idiot? Not safeguarding the "portable property" was just stupid.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 08:58 AM (O3R/2)

52
Were coloring eggs.

Is that raaacist?

Posted by: sickinmass at April 08, 2012 08:59 AM (bcNec)

So yes, I am a white female American posing as a Japanese man. LOL.

>>>>

That's a show!

Posted by: George Costanza, pitching to NBC at April 08, 2012 08:59 AM (4q5tP)

54 Hello and welcome, Lazy eye!

He is risen!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 08:59 AM (SsG4J)

55 Posted by: rd at April 08, 2012 12:51 PM (9sUlj)
---------------

If you haven't read it you will love the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. The first two are available free as e-books from Baen.

Posted by: Vic at April 08, 2012 09:00 AM (YdQQY)

56 Poor Katniss. Y'all clearly have no sympathy for those who grew up piss poor in Appalachia.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 09:02 AM (SsG4J)

In my one and only year of hiding Easter eggs for my siblings, I cleverly hid one each in the washer and the dryer.

However, neglecting to do a count of the discovered eggs, the hidden eggs remained hidden. Until my mom did the laundry. On Tuesday.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth was epic. Biblical, even.

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 08, 2012 09:04 AM (4q5tP)

58 Unfortunately I've been reading lots of drafts of financial statements and tax returns all day every day for a few weeks. That really takes the wind out of the recreational reading sails.

Posted by: Andy at April 08, 2012 09:05 AM (w7xV/)

59 This is not a new book, but it is one of my all time favorites. It is breathtakingly beautiful and moving and poignant. It is "Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson and it won a Pultizer prize in 2005. It is the story of a, elderly dying Congregationalist minister in the 50's from a town the author calls Gilead (Iowa). He is writing a memoir to his young son to because he knows the son will have few memories of him. It is about faith and grace and love and family abd small town connections and breaks in relationships. It is a wonderful read for any person of Christian faith who enjoys novels and particularly for ministers, I think. The author has a companion novel "Home" which was written in 2008 which is also excellent. Happy Easter, all!!. I'm glad for the blessed hope I have in Christ. I am also glad to be through with all the services this week. It was tiring but moving and I'm glad I don't have to do much for preparing an Easter dinner.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 09:06 AM (uMrZl)

60 However, if you are in a writing mood, it would be more effective I think to contact the advertisers who are seen during NBC news nationally and locally and tell them you are boycotting them. From what I've been able to observe, networks only pay lip service to disgruntled viewers; however, if the advertisers start yelling, they take action. Because the only reason any programs are on tv is to fill the time between advertisements. IMHO. Posted by: shibumi at April 08, 2012 12:50 PM (z63Tr) I understand your point. NBC should be trying to be as inoffensive as possible. i just don't think the network cares which is one of the reasons NBC is frequently ranked lower in the major markets than the boutique nets.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 09:08 AM (T7eUJ)

61 However, neglecting to do a count of the discovered eggs, the hidden eggs remained hidden. Until my mom did the laundry. On Tuesday.

My mother once hid an egg in the oven, on a bed of that fake Easter basket grass. She remembered after turning on the oven to pre-heat it. Found eggs were always counted after that little mishap.

Posted by: Retread at April 08, 2012 09:10 AM (joSBv)

62 Count de Monet- I'm glad you hide eggs for your siblings. When my mother was alive she used to hide eggs for me all the way through college years and until I was 23 when she died. I loved it I have heard of egg hunts for adults given by radio stations with items from movie tickets to jewelry, but I have never attended one. I'd just be glad for eggs and chocolates.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 09:10 AM (uMrZl)

63 OT

derbyshire got fired

http://tinyurl.com/6srbk4q

Posted by: SGT Fury at April 08, 2012 09:11 AM (8sCoq)

64 He is risen, indeed! Hope is fulfilled. I love Easter. Even more than Christmas.

Posted by: Dang's wife at April 08, 2012 09:12 AM (BbX1b)

65 There's Widlanski,s 'Battle for the Minds' if you thought Tom Friedman is shallow now, that's been a bug not a feature with him, he bungled his first big story, ultimately putting Israel in the dock, possibly even contributing to the Embassy bombing. And the dissection of Pillar, Schueuer and Tenet, will not leave a warm feeling,

Posted by: Cthluthu at April 08, 2012 09:13 AM (wWgEt)

The second book I finished was Elfhome by Wen Spencer. Another good science fiction book. Wen's Elfhome universe includes parallel Earth worlds that contain magic. Sort of like Heinlein's Glory Road. This magic has logic and rules and is a physical force just like electromagnetism or gravity. There are elves, dragons, winged flying humans and oni (orcish bad guys).

It is the third book of a romance story set in a fantasy/science fiction universe. The main character is a female human genius who falls in love with an elf and vice versa.

My copy of Elfhome was an electronic advanced reader copy, $15 from Baen (if I waited until June it would be $6. Start with the first book, "Tinker," which should be out in paperback or $5 electronically.

Posted by: rd at April 08, 2012 09:14 AM (9sUlj)

The Easter Bunny is a Hopping Lagomorph Of A Friendly Visitor.

Happy Easter! HawvlÃ¢n lachma d'sÃ»nkanÃ¢n jaomÃ¢na.
Give us wisdom (understanding, assistance) for our daily need,

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at April 08, 2012 09:17 AM (V6fqC)

The Tomb Stands Empty:

http://t.co/LaM7deNE

Happy Easter to the Moron Horde!

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX at April 08, 2012 09:17 AM (0xqzf)

69 Does " Morning Wood" count?

Posted by: Rich K at April 08, 2012 09:19 AM (X4l3T)

70 @ 69

Too late, it's afternoon.

Posted by: Retread at April 08, 2012 09:20 AM (joSBv)

71 Not only going off topic on the book thread which is bad form, but trying to restart the flame wars from the opening thread.

tsk tsk tsk

Posted by: Vic at April 08, 2012 09:21 AM (YdQQY)

Vic,

I agree Weber's Honor Harrington Series is another good space opera. I think I've read all 20-30 books of it so far. I just wish he'd taken some time and work with John Ringo to work on some more Prince Roger (March Upcountry) books.

Posted by: rd at April 08, 2012 09:25 AM (9sUlj)

73 Well Morons, keep them book recommendations coming. I have to go off to MIL's house. Back tonight. Will review all the stuff then.

Posted by: Vic at April 08, 2012 09:25 AM (YdQQY)

74 Only got one book read this week....The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deavers. Nice break from all the political books I'd been reading of late.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 09:25 AM (SsG4J)

I'm glad you hide eggs for your siblings.

>>>>

That s/b past tense. This event, now we can smile and laugh about it, even my mom, happened over 4 decades ago.

Apologies for going off topic in the book thread. Hereinafter, I shall confine my comments to all things bibliophile.

Posted by: Count de Monet at April 08, 2012 09:28 AM (4q5tP)

76 Hope you folks have a happy day today keeping in mind why we celebrate the resurrection. Even though I'm a white male, racist because I'm conservative, and crazy because I'm a gay guy posting on this site. Got more in common with people who have faith than not, so there you go. You folks please remember the reason for the day. I have faith that God will sort out things.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 09:28 AM (T7eUJ)

77 HenneyPenney, we all have more in common here than not, even if we forget that some times. Happy Easter!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 09:33 AM (SsG4J)

78 64 Â He is risen, indeed! Hope is fulfilled. I love Easter. Even more than Christmas. Posted by: Dang's wife at April 08, 2012 01:12 PM (BbX1b) I love Christmas because of the decorations, but Easter is more important to me because of the resurrection.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 09:36 AM (T7eUJ)

79
Andersonville by Mackinley Kantor is one of ther besy Civil War books ever written, imho. It chronicles the Andersonville prison camp, the prisoners, and it's commandant, one Henry Wirz. A compelling read, right from the first page.

Posted by: irongrampa at April 08, 2012 09:36 AM (SAMxH)

80 I think Pip is also an idiot for being attached to Estella. I never saw the Masterpiece Theatre version from last week; I feel asleep before it was came on. I can't see Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham; She was quite good in "Bleak House" and is a good actress, but she's still too young for the role, IMO and I still have an affection for the old David Lean film.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 09:39 AM (uMrZl)

81 I love Christmas because of the decorations, but Easter is more important to me

I have to admit, I am all about Christmas, I think about it/plan for it all year long, but from a spiritual standpoint, there is no comparison.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 09:39 AM (SsG4J)

82 A. Nothing new, but I am rereading Michael Roberts' history of the early Vasas in Sweden. The War of the Roses had nothing on those guys.

B. I am stuck in an airport and, of course, CNN is streaming. Fareed Zakaria says...and I kid you not..."Energy prices in the U.S. are actually plummeting." What's next? "Dump that salt into your cookies to sweeten them?"

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at April 08, 2012 09:41 AM (egkz7)

83 One non fiction book I read recently which was terrific was "My Thoughts Be Bloody" about the rivalry between the actor Edwin Booth and his brother John Wilkes Booth. I didn't know they had this intense rivalry until I read the book and because I have an interest in theatre and in history I found it fascinating. The author thinks this rivalry played into why JW Booth went down the path he did.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 09:42 AM (uMrZl)

84 69 Does " Morning Wood" count? Posted by: Rich K at April 08, 2012 01 Only if you have a vajajay handy.

Posted by: CoolCzech at April 08, 2012 09:46 AM (bDYds)

85 I recommend Carlo D'Este's biography of Patton. I'm in the middle of Stacy Schiff's bigraphy of Cleopatra and Massie's Catherine the Great. Massie is great on anything Russian. I think I need to read something fiction next.

Posted by: badgerette at April 08, 2012 09:47 AM (Qx1/T)

86 "The Pistoleer" is a book I picked up on my Kindle this past week.

I obtained 13 Classic Western Novels by Emerson Hough (99 cents for the Nook on Barnes & Noble). He was born in 1857.
Included is "The Story of the Outlaw", which covers most of those guys, and gives an interesting perspective on "real" versus "imitation" bad guys. JB Hickok (Wild Bill) killed over 70 people!
Fifty-Four-Forty or Fight is the one worth reading. It turns actual history involving the acquisition of Texas and the resolution of the Canadian border into a romance novel from the perspective of an employee of John C. Calhoun.

Posted by: jwb7605 at April 08, 2012 09:47 AM (Qxe/p)

87 Gotta go out and push a mower around for 3 hrs or so. Couldn't leave without saying shiboooms!! Hope you're well kid. Books - Liberty & Tyranny and Ameritopia, both by Levin are very good. L & T had me constantly stopping and thinking about what he just said. Then reading it again to make sure I understood. Of course, I'm truly much slower than your below average moron.

Posted by: teej at April 08, 2012 09:48 AM (GJ/ww)

88 Miss Tammy, Thanks so much for your response. Happy day to you and any others who read this. I have faith that as much as we let things get messed up, God has our back. I don't ever think he said it would be easy, but I do know he said it would be guaranteed. Not a fanatic and really enjoy my lurking and reading about you folks: SoS, chemjeff, you, and so many others.

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 09:53 AM (T7eUJ)

89 My dad just turned 90. He was the oldest of three brothers, and the middle one really felt it, and was kind of competitive with him. Many tales ensue, most of them kind of sad. Anyway, in the late 1920's, he took all of his gathered Easter eggs, put them in an empty cereal box, and hid them in the coal bin to keep his brother from stealing them. And then forgot about it. About six weeks later, he learned from that experience.

Readers who enjoy accounts of the early days of Christianity actually might enjoy "The Last Days of Pompeii," which has been filmed countless times. It's by the legendary Worst Writer in History, Edward Bulwer-Lytton. In context, I found the prose no more tiresome than Dickens, and the characterizations prototypical of 19th century novels.

I'm the one who's always on about the novel "Ben Hur." Lew Wallace knew his pacers, and was one ass-kicking son of a bitch. VDH wrote a striking essay about him and his writing motivation. If you never read the novel, read the article "Lew Wallace and the Ghosts of The Shunpike."

Posted by: comatus at April 08, 2012 09:55 AM (ZOlM3)

90 But I thought "Dreams from my Father" was supposed to be the greatest book ever written.

Posted by: TexasJew at April 08, 2012 09:59 AM (Bughn)

Chess threads.... book threads... non political threads...

Have not seen a thread about the Marine, who is getting kicked out, for excericising his Freedom of Speech, in what appears to be a manner which does NOT conflict with the UCMJ, EXCEPT for not following an order to give up his Freedom of Speech.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 08, 2012 10:02 AM (lZBBB)

92 really enjoy my lurking and reading about you folks

Well, by all means.....quite lurking, and allow us the pleasure of getting to know you now!

God does have our backs, and for the most part, we have each others's backs here, too, though Lord knows we do fuss alot.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:03 AM (SsG4J)

93 I will have to remember to look for Quo Vadis. I read a vs. of With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz (tranlated in 1898 by Samuel Admas IRRC) and it was a bit depressingly bloody for my girly tastes but still good. I had almost quit reading books but am getting restarted with the kindle. Technical progress is a good thing.

Posted by: Palerider at April 08, 2012 10:03 AM (m+nIW)

94 Freedom of speech is gone. There are topics and words that are not allowed to be uttered. In fact, you cannot utter words or ideas depending on race, gender, religion. This week I am even more convinced that we've passed the tipping point. Hell, it's not even the liberals. It's the right and their reactions. I'm so sad about it.

Posted by: dagny at April 08, 2012 10:04 AM (CMM9V)

95 Posted by: Romeo13 at April 08, 2012 02:02 PM (lZBBB)

I have been wondering about this one myself. And I agree with dagny.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:06 AM (SsG4J)

96 The Bible is not a single book.

Posted by: TexasJew at April 08, 2012 10:06 AM (Bughn)

97 Is this only to be about new books?

Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 10:06 AM (T7eUJ)

98 BTW, I posted it on the other thread but right in the middle of the gun thread I had a shoe crisis and had to go shopping. It's all better now.

Posted by: dagny at April 08, 2012 10:07 AM (CMM9V)

99 Palerider, thanks, I just downloaded it. I have pretty blood-thirsty tastes for a chick, and tend to like that time period overall.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:10 AM (SsG4J)

100

Patriots by John Wesley, Rawles A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse.

Not much of a story, but a good survival book. Of course, assuming you a lot of money or access to people with all kinds of specialized skills. I have neither.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 08, 2012 10:12 AM (vpe0k)

101

Finished Old Habits by Moron author Christopher Taylor. It was different from other swords-and-sorcery type fantasy worlds and I liked how he handled the different characters.

Reading Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength which was recommended by someone here just before the end of Monty's bookthread run. It is literally an answer to prayer as I was chronically ill for about 10 years and had run through all my willpower without finding a way to rebuild it. The book gives a lot of practical tips for building willpower based on decades of psychological studies on teh subject. Given some of the real-world examples I'm guessing that one of the co-authors is fairly conservative.

Reading Agatha H and the Airship City outloud to my kids. It's a novelization of the Agatha Hetrodyne: Girl Genius web-comic and we're enjoying it a lot.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 08, 2012 10:12 AM (tD5no)

102 63 OT

derbyshire got fired

http://tinyurl.com/6srbk4q

Posted by: SGT Fury at April 08, 2012 01:11 PM (8sCoq)

Of course he did. The answer now to everything is "Shutup shutup shutup". There isn't even any discussion of the facts, just.............shut up. This is an old tool of the left and it is even more frightening than isolate, ridicule, polarize etc. It's "kill" if not literally like Stalin and Hitler but in essence. Remember Jimmy the Greek? If you don't, that's why. The right is so frightened that the left is going to figuratively kill them that they start screaming shut-up early. No discussion, no point counter-point. Just shut-up. Name calling. Shut up.

Posted by: dagny at April 08, 2012 10:13 AM (CMM9V)

103 Posted by: HennyPenney at April 08, 2012 02:06 PM (T7eUJ)

Nope.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:15 AM (SsG4J)

104

HennyPenney, what Tami said @92....

Welcome - glad to make your acquaintance! Happy Easter -

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, TX at April 08, 2012 10:17 AM (0xqzf)

105 henny penny delurk.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 08, 2012 10:18 AM (Ho2rs)

106 Polli, I enjoyed Old Habits, as well. Chris comments here quite a bit and I always get a little frisson when I see him, knowing I have his book!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:18 AM (SsG4J)

107 Posted by: dagny at April 08, 2012 02:13 PM (CMM9V)

I do remember Jimmy the Greek, and found his comments unremarkable, since he was a 'book maker' and the comments came from that perspective.

You're right about the rest, too.

So shut up.

Posted by: jwb7605 at April 08, 2012 10:18 AM (Qxe/p)

108 The Quo Vadis ebook is available free via the Gutenberg Project. 19 I am currently reading Flashback by Dan Simmons. I'm not very far into it, but a couple of observations: I don't think he's much of an Obama fan. I don't know how he feels about Obama, but he's been pretty straightforward about how he thinks we should address radical Islam. His short story The Time Traveler is a must-read.

Posted by: LauraC at April 08, 2012 10:18 AM (NUU3Z)

109

Much of what Derbyshire said was true.

And those particular topics need to be discussed.

Posted by: TexasJew at April 08, 2012 10:19 AM (Bughn)

110 Okay, html isn't working out for me... go figure. Here's the link to Simmons' Time Traveler. http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2006_04.htm

Posted by: LauraC at April 08, 2012 10:19 AM (NUU3Z)

111 quo vadis is an exceptional book, however seinkewicz also wrote an even greater trilogy of books called the deluge. telling the story of the ruin of the polish commonwealth by invasion, treachery, and ultimately its great stand against the sultan and Muslim horde. my opinion is they are the very greatest war and adventure stories ever written. faith, heroism, duty, love of country are supplied in abundance. timely very timely for our own prosperous and decadent age. seinkewicz' the deluge was the second most popular book in Poland following the Bible right through the Soviet era as they spoke to an abiding faith in God and country. I could not recommend them more highly.

Posted by: domino at April 08, 2012 10:22 AM (YoBlK)

112 I pointed this out late in the week on the daily headlines thread but want to mention in a book thread that Harry Crews died the week before last. He was a writer every moron should be aware of because he wrote so vividly about cooter, violence and everything that makes the South a unique place.

Posted by: Captain Hate at April 08, 2012 10:24 AM (Qnc5t)

113 Speaking of Quo Vadis, my wife wanted to buy Ben Hur a couple months ago since it was cheap at Costco. I had never seen it before (I must confess that sipping wine made me drowsy and I missed a chunk of the middle) and found it good --the chariot race scene is certainly worthy of the renown-- but damn if that Ben Hur cat was not the Forrest Gump of the Roman Empire, meeting up with the Magi, Jesus, the Emperor, Herod and all those other bigshots.

Posted by: logprof at April 08, 2012 10:28 AM (ykSKg)

114 Posted by: jwb7605 at April 08, 2012 02:18 PM (Qxe/p)

Hello, jwb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:32 AM (SsG4J)

115 Happy Easter. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." And another book - "Mother, Don't Grieve" by Beehive Books. A collection of Confederate soldier's letters, largely from Georgia. Fighting in the mud, sick, little food, wanting to go home and get married.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 10:37 AM (0Db2g)

116 Final pair about to tee off at the Masters. Go Lefty!

Posted by: Y-not at April 08, 2012 10:40 AM (5H6zj)

117 Thanks so much, Skookumchuk, for mentioning Beehive. This Georgia girl appreciates it!

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:41 AM (SsG4J)

118 Just read the article that got Derb fired.
I think Freedom of Speech ran headlong in to Freedom of Association, and the latter prevailed, IMHO.

Posted by: navybrat at April 08, 2012 10:43 AM (/eSN8)

119

Final pair about to tee off at the Masters.

Go Lefty!

Posted by: Y-not at April 08, 2012 02:40 PM (5H6zj)

Yep! Mick has a good shot at winning his fourth green jacket.

Posted by: ErikW at April 08, 2012 10:45 AM (41/Eh)

120 It's a sad and wonderful book, Tammy. Difficult to find a Southern soldier's perspective. I'm way off in the other corner - in the Pacific Northwest. My wife has never seen the South and it might be time for a little trip...

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 10:46 AM (0Db2g)

121 >>but damn if that Ben Hur cat was not the Forrest Gump of the Roman Empire, meeting up with the Magi, Jesus, the Emperor, Herod and all those other bigshots.

*lol*

Posted by: Radish A. Radish at April 08, 2012 10:46 AM (hO8IJ)

122 @119 I'm a little afraid they've jinxed him by talking him up so much since yesterday. lol. I confess I had not realized that Jack Nicklaus had 6 green jackets. Wow. 'Going to watch the Masters while cooking up some dinner - cream of broccoli soup, roasted beets, and rack o' lamb. A thread would be nice...

Posted by: Y-not at April 08, 2012 10:47 AM (5H6zj)

123 The quo vadis exchange cuts your heart like few other things will.

Posted by: toby928© at April 08, 2012 10:47 AM (GTbGH)

124 I think the PGA and Augusta lost some of their "traditions" cred when they didn't kick Tiger off the course after all of his temper tantrums. Some traditions are more important than others, apparently.

Posted by: Y-not at April 08, 2012 10:48 AM (5H6zj)

125 "quo vadis is an exceptional book, however seinkewicz also wrote an even greater trilogy of books called the deluge."

Thanks! I've downloaded Quo Vadis and The Deluge from gutenberg.

Posted by: microcosme at April 08, 2012 10:52 AM (zcC+d)

126

Posted by: Y-not at April 08, 2012 02:47 PM (5H6zj)

I think Mick will be okay. He knows the course pretty well. It'll be fun to watch as they head into the back 9.

And the dinner menu sounds tasty!

Posted by: ErikW at April 08, 2012 10:53 AM (41/Eh)

127 My wife has never seen the South and it might be time for a little trip...

Please please please do not take your beautiful Pacific Northwestern bride to visit the land of my fathers in the summertime! We do Fall and early-to-mid Spring pretty well down South, but your window is rapidly closing for comfortable weather!

Seriously, though, let me know when you're ready to plan a trip, what you're interested in seeing, and what the Mrs. likes.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 10:55 AM (SsG4J)

128

Wow Double Eagle for Oostenhosen or whatever his name is.

I am truly getting old, watching golf.

Posted by: Reichsfuhrer Holder at April 08, 2012 10:57 AM (vpe0k)

129 Tammy: Yeah, she doesn't like humid. But she does like gardens. I understand there are some famous ones in Georgia. I've been told the names but they slip my mind at the moment. And beaches. And she wants to see Charleston and Savannah. Hills and mountains. Countryside.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 10:57 AM (0Db2g)

130 ..and then he tossed the ball to a fan.

Posted by: USS Diversity at April 08, 2012 10:59 AM (vpe0k)

131 Another good one by Sienkiewicz iz The Deluge. I devoured all his books I could find when I was a teenager.

Posted by: Grandma Mimi at April 08, 2012 11:03 AM (roHFn)

132 Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 02:57 PM (0Db2g) The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia are up here outside of Athens -- about 90 min. from Atlanta. If you're near Charleston there's Brookgreen Gardens on the way to Myrtle.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 08, 2012 11:04 AM (1Rw2p)

133

Wow Double Eagle for Oostenhosen or whatever his name is.

I am truly getting old, watching golf.

That was big, this is going to be fun.

I love golf. I even love watching the the senior tour events. And yes, I live a rip-roaring life.

Posted by: ErikW at April 08, 2012 11:06 AM (41/Eh)

134 In the South, one must learn how to stand arms akimbo, without appearing angry.

Posted by: toby928© at April 08, 2012 11:07 AM (GTbGH)

135 There are indeed a great many famous ones in Georgia, and I think she'll enjoy them, provided she likes formal styles. She'll no doubt want to go during azalea season, but I would caution her to temper her enthusiasm, as I have been to the Pacific Northwest and y'all are no slouches in the gardening department.

Charleston and Savannah are always my first suggestion for visitors....gorgeous homes, lots of history, and some killer antique shopping and food, too. Beaches, obviously!

I'd plan a separate trip ( or one long one!) if you want to work the mountains into it. My own heart lies in the mountains; I was raised on the border of GA and NC, and am extremely biased towards the area, though I admit beyond scenery there isn't necessarily a lot going on. Asheville NC and the Biltmore Estates would be a fun destination. (NC is getting overrun with Yankees, and Liberal ones at that but it's still a great place to visit) The Shenendoah Valley in VA is also awesome, lots of B&Bs and some cool gardening things.

And some day you must do the Mississippi River thing....New Orleans on up to Vicksburg, etc...battlefields, historical homes, the whole deal.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:11 AM (SsG4J)

136 I was raised Catholic, but for a variety of reasons, have failed to pursue my faith or go to church much, primarily because my weekend activities are pursued miles away from "civilization". Church of the mountains, so to speak.

So I take my 89 yo father to mass this morning at the Cathedral. High Mass. Choir. Mozart. Trumpets. Cute little kids in Easter Regalia. (Golly, they even changed some of the responses. Are they trying to "out" us non regulars? Yikes.)

So we're singing "I am the Bread of Life" during communion and I literally broke down in tears, shaking when the first refrain hit:
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up,
And I will raise you up on the last day.

Smeared my mascara and everything. I can't tell you how utterly powerful I find faith in God to be. I may have nothing but blind faith, but every so often it strikes me down and reminds me that God will win in the end. Makes me weep with joy.

Happy Easter.

Posted by: Derak at April 08, 2012 11:12 AM (VEhDR)

137 Posted by: chemjeff at April 08, 2012 03:03 PM (7FadD)

chemjeff, I can recommend several, I'll get a list together.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:12 AM (SsG4J)

138 Tammy, the one I'm thinking of is (I think) outside Atlanta and has the name of some rich guy who died and his wife opened the gardens to the public.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 11:18 AM (0Db2g)

139 While the Ben Hur movie is good, the book is even better. The Roman played by Stephen Boyd doesn't die. He is crippled and lives on. And financially ruined. But that's mid-way through the story. I like how the slave(Tirza's father) makes Ben Hur establish his identity and right to the fortune.

Welcome Henny Penny, Happy Easter. We are all sinners and yet, God loves us anyway. Go figure. I am grateful.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 11:20 AM (O3R/2)

140 Henny!

Sorry to go O/T, but thanks for posting and welcome. Like you, I'm just a poor hapless sinner happy for God's grace. Stick around these parts.

Enjoy the day!

Posted by: Contemplative Lobster at April 08, 2012 11:20 AM (+rBDt)

141 Posted by: chemjeff at April 08, 2012 03:03 PM (7FadD)

Sunset Western Garden Book
American Horticultural Society Encylopedia of Garden Plants
Michael Dirr's Manual of Woody Landscape plants
Square Foot Gardening (for vegie production)

Those are my "green" bibles. I love Dirr, it is surprisingly witty. Every entry for every plant has a recap of pests and diseases, so you have a fair idea why stuff starts biting the dust in your yard. If you get the companion with photographs, its much easier to identify stuff.

Posted by: Derak at April 08, 2012 11:20 AM (VEhDR)

142 Derak, Yes there is a new english translation of the Roman Missal. you can read all about it at usccb.org.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 11:22 AM (O3R/2)

143 Derak, I think they changed the responses within the last few months. (Thor is Catholic and I have heard him and his brother talking about it)

I am in no way as religious as I was brought up to be, but Easter still gives me a deep joy. I love the huge vibe in the air of joy and hope.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:22 AM (SsG4J)

144 The new english translation of the Roman Missal started at the beginning of Advent (late Nov. early Dec), the beginning of the church liturgical year. If you only go to church on Easter, this is what you get.

btw, please consider attending Mass more often.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 11:26 AM (O3R/2)

145 Skook, all big public gardens pretty much answer that description!

She might like Callaway.

chemjeff is in the Upper Midwest, and while I myself thing the Sunset books are the best, I don't think they'll be as helpful as stuff geared to his climate extremes.

On the other hand, basic maintenance doesn't vary too much region to region, it's more a matter of when to do it, I guess.

chemjeff, what do you have in your yard plant wise? Trees, shrubs, lawn? Do you know the names of any of them?

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:27 AM (SsG4J)

146 Callaway! That's it.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 11:29 AM (0Db2g)

147 Callway is a destination in and of itself. Oh, man, if you're doing Atlanta....hmmmmm. So you're thinking Atlanta, Charls/Svannah all at once?

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:34 AM (SsG4J)

148 A bunch of us were in a bar and a drunk from Louisiana told me about how to plan a Southern garden trip. It's a miracle I remember any of the conversation...

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 11:34 AM (0Db2g)

149 No Tammy, not all three. We have to choose. My vote is to skip Atlanta on the first trip anyway.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 11:35 AM (0Db2g)

150 I just read "Fifty Shades of Grey." What a waste of time. "Arcadia" is shaping up to be an interesting read though. I will not waste any more time reading the book selections from my Entertainment Weekly.

Posted by: no good deed at April 08, 2012 11:37 AM (mjR67)

151 Okay, I am letting the thread get OT.

Will think about garden advice and southern trips and post on an open thread at some point! Skook, do you ONT?

chemjeff, your hostas will likely miss the trees, but we can talk later. Paving over might be the way to go.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:40 AM (SsG4J)

152 Tammy, Yeah, sometimes. Lately I'm been working my tail off, six, seven days a week so going to bed early. But I'll do my best.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at April 08, 2012 11:42 AM (0Db2g)

153 I think I've mentioned before that I'm an atheist. And I've known for a long time I want to live in a society informed by Christianity. All the great features of our civilization are Christian in origin. Separation of Church and State? Goes right back to Christ's "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's." Property rights? "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's ox." The Christian concepts of individual salvation and responsibility underlie freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and equality.

Atheists who claim to hate Christianity should be deported to places where there isn't any.

Posted by: Trimegistus at April 08, 2012 11:45 AM (w4QuJ)

154 Skook, don't you worry about staying up late; you should get your rest. If nothing else, I'll post here again next week, promising solemnly not to let it get out of hand.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 11:48 AM (SsG4J)

155 Forgot about Callaway Gardens -- very nice if you're closer to Alabama. If you go there, try the muscadine grape jam.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 08, 2012 11:55 AM (1Rw2p)

156

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 02:18 PM (SsG4J)

He managed to surprise me a few times in the story and after 30+ years of reading sci-fi/fantasy that's something I appreciate.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 08, 2012 11:55 AM (tD5no)

157 I appreciate your comments, Trismegistus. I'm not an atheist and in my younger and less intelligent days I stupidly used to argue with militant atheists on religion forums. There were a few who said that I and every person who was a Christian should be put in a concentration camp so as not to "infect" the rest of the non believing population. They also never complained about Islam but only Christianity or Judaism. I am glad you see the danger of such people. Fortunately, the Atheists in my own family who I am closest to feel the same way you do, but they live in a country (England) that within 20 years will be subsumed by radical Islam.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 12:08 PM (uMrZl)

158

Posted by: no good deed at April 08, 2012 03:37 PM (mjR67)

What is it with the big interest in submission porn lately? Is it femenists longing for the real man they'd hate IRL? Seems creepy to me.

Posted by: Polliwog, Hobbit Teahada at April 08, 2012 12:09 PM (tD5no)

159 There is a "Gardening For Dummies" book, which like the rest of the "Dummies" series books is actually quite informative.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 12:18 PM (uMrZl)

160 I don't know, Polliwog. It truly is baffling to me as to how this book is getting as much good press as it is. It was poorly written, and it is about as deep as a thimble. I'm not above reading a bodice ripper, but this was just a creepy, obsessive "romance."

Posted by: no good deed at April 08, 2012 12:20 PM (mjR67)

161 Posted by: Trimegistus at April 08, 2012 03:45 PM (w4QuJ)

--Let the atheists, agnostics, and otherwise irreligious say, "Amen!"

Posted by: logprof at April 08, 2012 12:27 PM (ykSKg)

162 Christianity is zombie worship. As for submission porn, read Roissy. The God of Biomechanics will not be denied.

Posted by: Rollory at April 08, 2012 12:49 PM (kFIsy)

163 Thank you for this post. It was sweet, and full of nibblets.

Posted by: sometimes need a reminder at April 08, 2012 01:03 PM (HOOye)

164 I am currently reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic "The Cost of Discipleship". Bonhoeffer was the German pastor who was active in the resistance movement against the Nazis, was involved in the plan to assassinate Hitler, and was ultimately executed by the Nazis in the concentration camp where he was interred, shortly before the end of the war.

The cost of following Christ was not an abstract concept to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It is a very humbling read.

Posted by: mama winger at April 08, 2012 01:11 PM (P6QsQ)

165 Mamawinger- I am rereading that too-very slowly; It is a wonderful book. I decided to read it again after reading a powerful biography of Bonhoeffer called something like Bonhoeffer, pastor, theologian martyr and spy" by Eric Metaxas.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 01:19 PM (uMrZl)

166 Mamawinger-This is the correct title for the Metaxas biography of Bonhoefffer: http://www.amazon.com/Bonhoeffer-Pastor-Martyr-Prophet-Spy/dp/1595551387

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 01:23 PM (uMrZl)

167 theologian martyr and spy" by Eric Metaxas. Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 05:19 PM

That one is next on my list.

Posted by: mama winger at April 08, 2012 01:23 PM (P6QsQ)

168 Is there some kind of intelligence test we can give trolls before they are allowed to post. That Christianity is "zombie worship" sounds like something either a stupid person, a very poor quality troll, or a preteen comes up with. They obviously don't even know what the scripture actually says about Jesus' resurrection body is like. And no, I'm not going to respond to them after this. They got their little troll treat for the day.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 01:34 PM (uMrZl)

169 I am so very late, but wanted to pop in and say HE is Risen Indeed!!! God bless all of you today, through His son, Jesus Christ. For those of you who don't adhere, my love to you and thanks for being morons! What a wonderful group of people you are!!!!

Posted by: moki at April 08, 2012 01:39 PM (dZmFh)

170 Youngest blogger is smarter than Obama who didn't know where his heart was. Why knows what Obama was pledging allegiance to when he placed his hands near his crotch? He's also much cuter than Obama.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 01:41 PM (uMrZl)

171 Oops; Wrong Website.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 01:42 PM (uMrZl)

172 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at April 08, 2012 01:44 PM (7W3wI)

173 mama winger,

compare and contrast Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Betsy Ten Boom (The Hidding Place).

Bonhoeffer came up with a Theological justification for the assassination of Hitler. He subsequently was executed and broke the heart of his beloved.

The Ten Boom sisters would not even pass along the name of a collaborator, deciding that to do so would put blood on their own hands.

Both died. Besty Ten Boom's body did not decay. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's body rotted.

The moral of the story is simple. Go back to the sermon on the mount. Offer no resistance to evil. Yes. I know that this is hard to accept. We "Christian soldiers" really hate to hear that. On this Easter Sunday, we Christians really have to be ready to be crucified.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 02:21 PM (O3R/2)

174

Uhhh...

"Betsy Ten Boom's body did not decay"?????

This is the kind of thing that gives Christians the unfortunate reputation that we have in some circles...

Please explain.

Posted by: Old Tom at April 08, 2012 02:44 PM (dnnsp)

175 ...by the way, as a Christian I'm totally ok with the idea of assassinating Hitler.

Posted by: Old Tom at April 08, 2012 02:46 PM (dnnsp)

176 How about that, a guy named BUBBA won the Masters in of all places Georgia.How Fitting indeed.

Posted by: Rich K at April 08, 2012 03:50 PM (X4l3T)

177 Read "The Hiding Place" . Betsy Ten Boom is a modern day Protestant Saint. Her body did not undergo corruption.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 03:53 PM (O3R/2)

178 Old Tom, What do you mean?

Did you not read "The Brothers Karamasov?" There is a long history in Christianity of judging the "saintliness" of a person by whether or not their body decayed.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 03:59 PM (O3R/2)

179 LOL, the Italians went so far as to bury their "saints" in underground grottos that were famous for their lack of decay.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:00 PM (O3R/2)

180 Betsy Ten Boom: "no hate. Only love."

what part of this don't you understand?

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:02 PM (O3R/2)

181 The Ten Boom sisters were wonderful Christians. I don't think, however, I would want to be judging the "saintliness" of Bonhoeffer on whether his body remained uncorrupted. I can only go by what he wrote and what others said about his behavior in the concentration camps,. As opposed as I am to murder, I can't say that I wouldn't make the same decision given the kind of evil man Hitler was.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 08, 2012 04:05 PM (uMrZl)

182 I thought her name was Corrie ten Boom? Probably sisters.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 04:18 PM (SsG4J)

183 Corrie Ten Boom was the one that survived and wrote the book. The sister, Elizabeth, was the saint.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:22 PM (O3R/2)

184 Ah,thanks, Jimbo. That was an awesome book. I rememebr being more moved by it even more than Anne Frank. Both made a huge impact on a young girl, though, let me tell you.

There's another book that impacted me, had nothing to do with WWII, was written by a young Russian Navy man, I think, who became a Christian after being raised in the USSR . His name was Sergei.

Dang it, what was the name of that book...

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 04:26 PM (SsG4J)

185 Read "Bonhoeffer" by Eric Metaxas and make your own judgement.

Having read both, and the "Sermon on the Mount", I choose Betsy Ten Boom's path. I will offer no resistance. I will carry my cross to Calvary and be nailed upon it, if it be God's will.

Bonhoeffer's resistance was futile. God used other means.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:27 PM (O3R/2)

186 Only got one book read this week....The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffrey Deavers.

Oh, Tammy, I glanced at this earlier and saw Jeffrey Dahmer. I thought, hmmm, interesting read?

Posted by: no good deed at April 08, 2012 04:28 PM (mjR67)

187 Other means? Yes, George Patton for example.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:29 PM (O3R/2)

188 LOL, no good deed! I'd have read a book about him.

I truly think he was legitimately whacked. I had a certain amount of....sympathy is not the right word, but I felt for him in a way I normally do not feel for monsters like him.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 04:32 PM (SsG4J)

189

Here's a link for the free ebook...

http://tinyurl.com/bsz3dhx

Posted by: MitchM at April 08, 2012 04:36 PM (ofp2w)

190 Gotta love Google.

The Persecutor, by Sergei Kourdakov

Full disclosure, I read this book in about the 3rd grade. I have no idea if it stands up to the test of time, but it moved me deeply then. He was a young Communist and tells about the awful things they did to Christians.....he eventually converted himself and defected.

Posted by: Tammy al Thor at April 08, 2012 04:36 PM (SsG4J)

191

Jimbo-

What I mean is simply this: when you die, your body decays at a normal rate based upon predictable variables such as temperature and humidity. It has nothing to do with how "saintly" you were in life. My faith is not based upon silly Byzantine myths.

Betsy Ten Boom may have been a wonderful woman. But she died and her body decomposed like anyone else. If you believe differently it just makes the Christian faith appear foolish to non believers.

Clear enough?

Posted by: Old Tom at April 08, 2012 04:47 PM (dnnsp)

192 Old Tom,

You may be right. But the old tradition that saints bodies do not suffer corruption is not "byzantine". It is far older than that. It goes all the way back to the apostles.

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:51 PM (O3R/2)

193 One more thing, which is harder to say: Your sins are forgiven. Or. Get up and walk.

Which is harder to believe on this Easter Sunday? That some Christian's bodies do not undergo corruption. or that Jesus rose from the dead?

Posted by: Jimbo at April 08, 2012 04:57 PM (O3R/2)

194 19 gnubreed, Looks like I will have to read Flashback, preferably on a day when I am not seething to the point of a stroke about SCOAMT. Â Have you seen this essay by Dan Simmons? http://tinyurl.com/wultw It's a few years old, but good. Â I have my own guess what the three whispered words are. Currently working on the Saxon Trilogy by Bernard Cornwell. Â Definitely good moron material, lots of good dark ages fighting.

Posted by: Delayna at April 09, 2012 03:14 AM (Vpydg)

195 Just got Quo Vadis from Gutenberg. Ironically or otherwise, I'm reading Ben-Hur and the Douay-Rheims Bible from Gutenberg right now.

Posted by: Ken at April 09, 2012 06:39 AM (7yb9x)

196 Speaking of books written by chicks about chicks, I just tried to read a book called Ithaka by Adele Geras. A pointless waste of time. Lots of yakking, interior monologues and mooning over romantic interests. Rinse lather repeat ad nauseum. No action. The book is about Penelope and her long wait for Odysseus. I liked the Penelope character and admired her loyalty and faith when I read the Odyssey, but there is good reason why the original work is not focused on her wait but on Odysseus adventures. Duh!

So I have moved on to The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K LeGuin. I am not exactly sure what I am getting into not knowing much about her politics but so far it is really good reading.

If anyone knows a good reason why a good moron like me would not want to read the book, I ask you to keep it to yourself okay? I gotta read something to get the bad taste of that other book out of my system. As long as its well written and plotted I don't care what the ultimate message is :-)

Posted by: Peggy at April 09, 2012 08:37 PM (FIimA)

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