Rae: The Golden Compass

I finished my fantasy read The Golden Compass late last night. I love Fridays and the fact that I can stay up a little later and read...when I can manage to stay awake, that is. I really enjoyed this book. It's kind of a mix between fantasy and sci-fi as it seems to be set in a world very similar to ours. The story revolves around a girl named Lyra, and it is her destiny to save the world basically...although I will have to read the other two books in the trilogy to really see how she does it. Toward the end of the book, I did notice the anti-Church and specifically anti-Catholic themes coming forth, but it really didn't bother me. I have been told that it gets much worse as I read along. I will continue to read over the next couple of months and will report back what I find. Now, I guess I will rent the movie and see how the adaptation plays.

For my science fiction pick in September, I will be reading Saucer by Stephen Coontz (?) for my other book group. I already read an Arthur C. Clarke novel called The Deep Range this month and was sorely disappointed by it. It was very believeable sci-fi but was just a bad novel. Too many plotlines with no resolution or complete abandonment of said plotlines. I found it frustrating but finished it anyway...hoping it would get better. It didn't.

I hope you are each enjoying your reads as well as the transition to fall.

Happy reading!

Lulu: Books past, present, and future

I've wanted to know more about Emma, myself. Liz, I have a bookmark with a painting by (I think) Liz Lemon Swindle, and it's Joseph holding the twins. That story and that painting always bring out some of my strongest emotions. Maybe I'll read one of Aunt Rae's suggestions.

I'm excited about the genres for these reads because fantasy and science-fiction are definitely not the first ones I pull off the shelves! They're....the last. I went to the library today and asked one of the librarians what he would suggest to someone trying out science fiction or fantasy. He had a few suggestions, and mentioned that that's almost all he reads, and then another librarian gave me her suggestions, and they were both quietly excited and helping me peruse the shelves for their suggestions. We put in a request for Ender's Game, a book Kate recommended (and obviously, one she and Michael love!), and also a request for The Host, which I will probably not get for another month. And....what else.....oh, something they recommended. Can't remember. Ultimately, the only two books I actually came home with were Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury (Rae, didn't Bradbury write some short stories? I seem to remember loving something by him....it might have been someone else, though.) and the first three Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich (which the librarian suggested when I told her I loved suspense and mysteries).

When my dad visited, aside from bringing his cheery spirit and smiling face, he brought several "goodies". Among those was the book The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less (Terry Ryan). My mom and Abby both had glowing reviews, and Liz, didn't you enjoy it, too? Well, anyway, I have been reading it aloud to Phill at night after the kids are in bed. We're halfway through (after only two nights reading) and we both love it! I highly recommend it. It's a fast read, too. Oh, and Rae, we so enjoyed that DVD slideshow of your Japan visit. What beautiful photos of an incredibly beautiful place! Is there a particular book you would recommend me to read about Japanese culture or history?

I also just finished a book that I loved, called Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!. I loved this book, and I was sad when it was done!! It's by Fannie Flagg, the author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which I plan to read next. After my six other books waiting in line, of course. :)

Rae: More about Emma

Liz...A lot of people think that Emma fell away from the church because she chose not to go with Brigham Young and the rest of the saints when they traveled west to Utah. She stayed behind to take care of Lucy Mack Smith and she quite honestly didn't get along with Brigham...or he with her. So that animosity created a lot of assumptions. She DID have a difficult life and you should read all about her and make up your own mind about her. After I did that, I realized that I would never judge her one way or tuther...that it was definitely in the hands of the Lord. I know she loved Joseph and her children. Those histories I have read describe her as such a good lady. I choose to remember her that way.

She remarried after a time and didn't really have a happy time back in Nauvoo. There were issues about whether their son was really meant to be the next prophet or not. He became the leader of the RLDS church, now the Community of Christ.

If you cannot find the one book I recommended, I can send you my copy if you will PROMISE me that I will get it back someday! I'm sort of attached to it because it is out of print...hey, maybe I can copy it? Let me know. I definitely think it is worth your while to read about her. She was an amazing woman with great strength. I know I couldn't have made it through her trials. You can do a search for the BYU Studies articles online. I think most of them are free to download.

I'll be happy to share anything else about her if you can't find much. Check your ward and stake libraries as well. And ask older people in your ward if they have that book. I actually found it at a used book sale up here...

Happy searching and reading!

Liz: Why Emma-&another question

Thanks, Rae, for the book titles and suggestions.

I recently read a chapter (19, I think) in our RS/Priesthood Manual about trials and tribulation. I have learned of the story before but when I read about the mob that came in the night and tarred and feathered Joseph while his infant twins were inside sick with pneumonia, I cried. I found myself wondering about Emma. I know that one of the babies died five days later, and I wonder what else Emma would call a trial in her life. Surely there were many!! So I am just seeking more information about what she went through, as well as hopefully a good account of what felt and did. I have an impression, maybe incorrect, that she fell away from the gospel. Is that true?

Thanks, again,
Liz

Rae: Answering Liz

I have read quite a bit about Emma...good and bad. There aren't too many books written just about her that do her justice but there's a lot of information in BYU Studies articles and within other biographical books. What specifically are you looking for?

A fair book about her is called Reflections of Emma: Joseph Smith's Wife by Buddy Youngreen. It was published in 1982 and might not even be in print anymore. There's also quite a bit about her in Rough Stone Rolling which is Bro Bushman's fairly new book on Joseph.

Does this help?

Lynness: Fantasy read

    I read Brandon Sanderson's Elantris, recommended by my sister.  I didn't realize he was LDS until I got the book and noted that he taught at BYU and found a familiar idea in the pages- better for one man to suffer than an entire nation be destroyed because of unbelief.  I liked it overall: I liked that the story progressed from 3 different viewpoints, it was well written, the characters were strong, the story moved along even though it was a large book.  I was engrossed enough to read it the day I got it.  However, there's a lot of political intrigue, which made for a good story, but I dislike not know who's REALLY good or bad.  Maybe it's simplistic, maybe it's just that there's enough duplicity in the world already, but I don't like being tricked or played- even by characters in a book.  I've never really been one for mysteries b/c I can never figure out "whodunnit."  Perhaps this is because I am usually unable to see past whatever face people put on- even with real people.  I don't have much of a gift of discernment.
    Also, the other main thing I was discontented with was that the mechanics of the magic that the main character was trying to figure out- and did- are never really explained to the reader.  I was reading something about writing science fiction recently (actually by Orson Scott Card, relating to the Book of Mormon- how incredibly hard it would've been to write if Joseph Smith were just making it up) about how readers don't usually want to know the details about the mechanics of the warp drive, or whatever, and that it often detracts from the feeling of reality that you want the reader to get (e.g., if one of us were to write a story in which the character drives to the post office, we don't describe the procedure of driving- we just take it for granted that everyone will understand).  I see the point there, but when the aim of the protagonist is to figure out how it works, I want to find out as he does, not just see the beginnings of the answer starting to come together, and then WHOOSH- everything is solved.
    Still trying to figure out my sci-fi read- I'd better do it soon!  September is almost here, and Ruth's naps are getting shorter, which means it'll be all seminary prep when the baby's down once school starts.

Liz: A question

Hi ladies,

Has anyone read anything on Emma Smith?

Thanks,
Liz

Lynness: Sci-fi and fantasy reads

Well, I think my fantasy read will be "Elantris" by Brandon Sanderson,
recommended to me by my sister, Kate (who, incidentally, found this blog
through my blog and has read it and has been commenting to me via email-
she went to the Governor's School, too). We have fairly similar tastes,
so I think I will enjoy it. I'm not so sure what I will read for
sci-fi- I loved The Host, I enjoy most of Connie Willis, I've read
Eragon and Eldest, I have read Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, etc.,
some Terry Pratchett, anyway... If you're loking for some sci-fi to
share with kids, I remember thoroughly enjoying Janet and Isaac Asimov's
books about a robot named Norby when I was in elementary school.