Average customer rating:
- Solid Spenser Read
- Fun and solid PI genre
- Solid, early Spenser (an audiobook review)
- Follow That Guinea Pig! (A Culture Is As a Culture Clues & Eats?)
- Silverman Introduced
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God Save the Child
Robert Parker
Manufacturer: Dell
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Looking for Rachel Wallace
ASIN: 0440128994
Release Date: 1987-05-01 |
Book Description
Appie Knoll is the kind of suburb where kids grow up right. But something is wrong. Fourteen-year-old Kevin Bartlett disappears. Everyone thinks he's run away -- until the comic strip ransom note arrives.
It doesn't take Spenser long to get the picture -- an affluent family seething with rage, a desperate boy making strange friends...friends like Vic Harroway, body builder. Mr. Muscle is Spenser's only lead and he isn't talking...except with his fists. But when push comes to shove, when a boy's life is on the line, Spenser can speak that language too.
"Spenser is everyman's fantasy: social critic, gourmet cook, physically fit, sculptor, and of course, unabashed participant in a non-destructive sexual relationship. Parker has taken his place beside Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler and Ross MacDonald." (The Boston Globe)
Customer Reviews:
Solid Spenser Read.......2007-08-05
GOD SAVE THE CHILD is essential for Spenser fans. It is the second novel in the series, and is the first to feature Spenser's girlfriend, Dr. Susan Silverman, who would play a central role in the rest of the books. One of the great pleasures in this novel is reading about their first date.
The storyline of GOD SAVE THE CHILD involves a kidnapping of a 15-year old boy, and Spenser is hired by the parents to discover his whereabouts. The plot is nothing special, but the writing is strong and remarkably clever, as Parker begins to adopt his own voice, as opposed to just imitating Raymond Chandler's style.
This isn't the best Spenser novel, but it is well worth reading. Spenser is still a relatively young man in GOD SAVE THE CHILD (37 years old), and it's fun to watch him develop as a character. It is also enjoyable to travel back in time to 1974, and watch how Parker portrays Boston society during this period. In many ways, it is very similar to modern times.
Overall, this is a fun, quick read, and well worth your time.
Fun and solid PI genre.......2007-05-16
The second book in the Spenser series gives us additional information about the character as well as continuing to show him as a wise-a** with little respect for anyone, unless they earn it.
The book opens with him being hired to find a missing boy (Kevin), whom the parents believe has been kidnapped. They begin to receive bizarre ransom notes and phone calls; the mother - who is a serious drama queen - decides Spenser's time would be better spent watching over her. The trouble compounds when the family lawyer is found dead in their living room.
Spenser tracks down a body-builder named Vic Harroway, with whom several youngsters are living. He learns that Vic is not only homosexual, but prefers "young meat" and Kevin has latched onto him.
I don't want to give away too much of the story itself. I would like to comment on the overall effect of the book - written in 1974, it is like a time machine to that era. Reading this book is almost like being there and while the book is relatively formulaic, it is easy to see how this series has continued over time - the characters grip you and make you want to come back for more. I know I'm going to enjoy getting through this pile of Spenser books, which I have finally managed to accumulate. Anyone who likes a good detective novel will love Spenser.
Solid, early Spenser (an audiobook review).......2006-11-23
Robert B. Parker and Tony Hillerman are the two authors I most consistently check when I go to a library or a bookstore. When it is a great day, one of the two has a new book. When it is a tremendous day, they both have a new one out and I have to decide which to read first!
In the meantime, I am making do by going back over their collected works as books on tape. I have a long drive to work every day and Spenser makes a very good ride-along companion. I have long-since read all of the older Spenser books, but the beautiful thing about a faulty memory is that the plot lines get a bit hazy over time and now I can enjoy them all over again!
Besides, it is always interesting to see how the reader interprets Spenser and the gang. One of the best to capture Spenser smart-aleck comments was Burt Reynolds, although his interpretation of Hawk was pleasurable, but questionable in terms of accent.
The reader for this version was a Michael Prichard. His interpretation of Spenser was neither here nor there, neither good nor bad. However, his reading of the Mrs. Bartlett was right on the money. Here's the scoop on Mrs. Bartlett: She and her husband hire Spenser to find her son. He is missing and a note has been sent to the Bartletts asking for $50,000 for his safe return. Mrs. Bartlett is an insipid, vapid twit of the first order. A woman more concerned with fashion than her child's safety. She hosts a dinner party in her house on the same day that a man is killed in it and during the time her son is missing. She is a woman who believes herself to be an artist because it gives her an excuse for her bad behavior. Prichard nails her so dead on that you wish you could reach through the radio speakers and smack her upside the head on at least half a dozen occassions.
So, how's the plot? Good thriller, although you could see the ending coming as soon as you hear the details of the missing boy's case. Of course, that could be some latent memories from when I read the book 10 years ago...
We meet Susan Silverman.
We meet Healey of the State Police (Prichard nails him too - I never noticed before that Healey was funny, but Prichard reads him as Spenser's straight man foil and I laughed out loud a couple of times).
There's plenty of Spenser's dogged style of detecting and plenty of smart comments.
This listener was struck as to how old Spenser really is - there is a lot of descriptive detail about clothing from the 1970s that reinforce that fact. Luckily, Spenser is forever middle aged but tough enough to take on the world and Susan Silverman is forever ageless and beautiful.
I give this one an A-
Follow That Guinea Pig! (A Culture Is As a Culture Clues & Eats?).......2006-03-30
Follow any mention of the guinea pig in GOD SAVE THE CHILD. It's like a clue-magnet for unraveling character, plot, and purpose (or motives, however you want to call it).
Parker opens ths second Spenser novel with the P.I. droning in liquid narration, turning fool's gold into the functional lead of realism. Spenser artfully exposes his disgust for the husband/wife clients in his office. His descriptions of the outfits and arguments adorning these two seersucker, suburban bozos become a classic caricature setting for the husband/father's comment that his son took his guinea pig with him when he left home and disappeared.
That single observation, made by Roger Bartlett, that his son came home to get his pet before taking off, lifted him from the miasma his self-absorbed wife had immersed him into, beginning under his skin, continuing outward through the awkward, classless, tasteless clothing she had him don for the interview with Spenser. The only comment which cleared through the putrid artifice of that interview was Bartlett's mention of the guinea pig, which, of course, the wife, "mother" hated.
So, okay, Spenser, you were telling me that the only thing in that home which may have given warmth to this kid was that pet. And, the fact that the father noticed his child's attachment to it without rancor, began to paint the man out of the seersucker and into the quiet, subtle honesty of a man who cared about his son, but had probably not been able to demonstrate it.
The first two chapters were so impregnated with 70's ambiance (hey, yeah, this classic mystery was written then, and is still around to be bought and sold!), so packed with clues and character enrichment, I'm surprised this book didn't birth a horde of ...
Well ... actually, in a sense, it did ...
Decades later Parker's readers have a total of 33 Spenser novels to trudge through with high entertainment diligently dogging their heels.
This novel, along with the pilot, THE GODWULF MANUSCRIPT, felt to have been composed in a more sensual, molasses-type rhythm, gathering more dense, lush detail around settings, character enrichment, and classic mystery dynamics, than Parker's later Spenser offerings. I enjoy the early narrative labyrinth meandering as well as the later smooth, speedy jazz. Mostly I enjoy that Parker's writing style has rhythm. Not all novels do. All novels (by definition) have some sort of plotting, setting, narrative means, and characters. But, actually, not many writers have a discernable syntax rhythm, which draws a reader along on its natural, symphonic momentum, through dialogue and plot machinations. Most novels draw readers through a book more by baiting curiosity than by rhythm-ing their brain waves into a dance through literary prose cast so smoothly the reader might not notice the constantly effective undulations of literary lace. More likely, the reader notices he's collecting an increasing repertoire of questions about what (among a plethora of outrageous or cunning actions or commentaries) Spence is gonna do or say next.
I found myself looking forward to the next time I could pick up this novel, and I noticed that welcome surge of pleasure each time I reached for the book. Some mysteries require me to push through the plot at times, and I don't always feel that spark of anticipation as my hand reaches for a novel I've been into for a few sessions, when I know I'm going to have to force a focus, and reread a few paragraphs or pages prior to being caught up on the book's momentum, when I'm no longer required to apply effort.
Loved the way the local police chief responded to his lack of comprehension of Spenser's use of the
word, "candor." The extended means of coverup of lack of vocabulary easily and expertly exposed the breadth and width of Chief Trask's personality and pumped-up pomp. I'm not sure if I want to say Spenser is good or Parker is good. Sometimes I wonder where to draw the lines between them.
Oh my. Spenser meets Silverman, sets up their date, and moves into a relationship. What could I say but what Spenser did when he met her. Perfect. How cool that Spenser cooked dinner for Susan on their first date. And what a dinner. Maybe Nero Wolfe would have been impressed with Spenser's balsamic gourmet routines. Of course I wouldn't know. But, I know that I wallowed in the cooking prep scenes, and loved when Spenser noted that he hates when someone asks him for a recipe. Maybe he was a precursor to the Discovery Chef shows debuting in the 90's (if I remember the timing correctly) in which the flowing art of cooking took precedence over the craft and, possibly for the first time in cooking class history, no recipes were given, no lists of measured ingredients flashed on the TV screen (though they were made available on a web site for those who wanted that detail).
Just now (in 2006) reading the first Spenser novels, written in the 70's, is a treat of living, breathing cultural history. In fact, from this "now" perspective its easier to see how the Spenser series might be the best type of analog of the phenomenal cultural progression from then to now. It's easier to see why Parker was "set up" and compelled to include multiple tidbits, not only about what Spenser cooked for himself (lots of gourmet tomatoes, including pre-fame fried green ones), but what and how other characters ate, all of which surge into solidity in this second Spenser novel. Each character's eating choices and habits were telling, not only of 70's ambiance, but gave amazingly accurate insight into each plot walker. Not only that, the contrast (and sometimes lack of it) from the 70's to now, in eating habits and attitudes toward food and nurturing is mind blowing.
Eating/nurturing habits and attitudes might expose more about human culture and its historic development than any other significant factor, except possibly policies and proclivities toward sensitivity Vs cruelty.
And, Vic Harroway. His first appearance shows him not as a villain, but as a monster of the first (swamp) water. The way he jumped from his porch and landed, posed in baiting hostility, a few inches in front of Spenser, was so demonic in spirit, horns and tail were only a short nightmare away.
This book captivated me totally. I found myself rereading passages, not merely to seat them into memory, but to savor the flavor. When I arrived at the scene of Spenser beginning his supper prep of a pork tenderloin en croute, pausing to phone Silverman on impulse, and continuing the culinary coups up to and through her arrival at his apartment the first time, I was home. In a detective novel? Yeah.
Some readers have complained that the yummy, homey, cultured parts of Spenser take away from the expected P.I. mystique of the no life, a quarter-inch-away-from low life, lonely, solitary, macho man.
Okay. That's a valid addiction, and the availability of classic P.I. novels is readily enormous. Why should Parker create another one of those when he was obviously born to carry human culture through the transition from reefer madness to a prescription madness in which health is perverted beyond natural boundaries, and the joy of cooking and eating have been condemned into a phobia of the first water when 90% of the human population is suffering from chronic dehydration and related illnesses aggravated by 90% of the medical prescriptions which have become addictive. Many warnings for heart pills indicate that a heart attack will be induced if the pills are discontinued (not because the pill was successful at holding off heart failure, but because it is frighteningly addictive).
The redemptive generosity and rightness of the way Spenser brought antithetical elements and ugly character traits to catharsis in the denouement was to stand up, stomp feet, and cheer for.
Then, when Spenser and Susan had their concluding chat, I felt a "right on" slug come out of my psyche as Spenser offered his explanation for Harroway's appeal to Kevin, and for knocking that anti-hero off his pedestal, for the child's benefit.
Though I love Susan's character, her psychologist's hedging didn't have the brilliance of reality's uncompromising weight that Spenser's natural insights had.
From my canned predictions, if Susan's lucky, she'll be gleaning psychological truth not as much through her continued training and careful analysis, but through Spenser's struggles to understand his guilt and lack of it as he "boxes" his way through his P.I. cases. He'll be the one to grasp The Brass Ring of Wisdom. She'll be smart enough to share it, after nudging his elbow the quarter inch he wouldn't have had to reach it. What her training will be worth is its foundation to allow her to know he couldn't have done it without her contributions, and to see that he's right when he snaps the last puzzle piece into his Code of Ethics. Will that happen in # 38 or 39 in the series? In this prediction I'm not diminishing the woman; elevating the man. I'm just honoring the fact that Parker's the boxer/poet who's out there on the front line daily, regularly getting his ego bashed and nose in jeopardy.
The last line was a literary killer. I'm meaning "killer" there in the colloquial sense of being an awesomely appropriate "final sentence" to wrap the second novel in a detective series which would evolve to solidly span 3 decades. Or, would a more accurate description be that the Spenser series constructed a "bridge over (the) troubled waters" of 3 decades?
I'm very much anticipating MORTAL STAKES, Parker's third Spenser statement in the ongoing cultural conversation. I gotta see how his relationship with Susan progresses. Gotta see how his views of life's rights and wrongs continue to purge and clarify. And, it doesn't hurt that his plotting is riveting and his style is smooth jazz. Usually I don't seek books which are toooo riveting. But, how nice to have this one magnetize itself to my fingertips just enough that it flew into my hand each time I reached for it, and the pages began thumbing themselves just as my eyes passed the last word at bottom right. Now, if I can get the book to hold itself up, I'll have it made. Maybe I'll even be on the gravy train (choose your triteness).
Robert B. Parker, you're one heck of a phenomenon.
Linda G. Shelnutt
Silverman Introduced.......2004-09-17
This Robert Parker novel is perhaps best known for the introduction of the continuing character of Susan Silverman, Spencer's girlfriend/companion throughout later Spencer novels. Other than her introduction, this is not one of Parker's best works. The plot moves a bit slowly, and there is a bit too much psychobabble/amateur psychology (perhaps later fixed by the transfer of these plot issues to the Silverman character, rather than the Spencer character.)
All in all, a Spencer to read, but not one of the more compelling Spencer novels.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good.......2007-02-14
My only (big) beef with this book is that the author consistently paraphrases the Bible, then puts the paraphrase in quotes. Perhaps that sounds nit picky, but then again we are talking about God's Word.
Good Doctrinal Study for Children.......2007-01-15
This book has been a great tool in teaching our children the basic doctrines of the Bible. It takes you through What is sin? Why do we sin?, Who is God?, Who is Jesus?, How to become a Christian? Why do we go to church? and lots more. It has a brief story to read, scripture verses to look up, scripture verse to memorize, a prayer and sometimes a hymn to sing. This book is great for nighttime devotions. It is very easy to understand. A great book to use along with the Bible.
An excellent devotional.......2007-01-11
We love this devotional!!! It explains issues like the trinity and other topics. It draws you closer to God and the Children learn more about God.
Perfect at home study for children.......2006-02-24
I have purchased this book as a family devotional for the evenings. I have three little ones ages 7, 5, and 3, whom look forward to hearing the stories each night. It is an older book, however like many things, and oldie but goodie. Each chapter contains a story, scripture, memory verse and questions. I would highly recommend it, especially for those whom have kids ranging in age, as this book has something for everyone!
An exceptional book for teaching foundational Biblical truths to young ones.......2005-11-01
This wonderful book overviews the entire scope of Biblical teachings, from a topical rather than an historical perspective. It is well-organized and explains Bible truths using illustrations and language that are very clear yet accurate for young children. Also, it explains Biblical doctrines in a way that is very oriented toward life rather than just an intellectual exercise.
It would be preferable if the artwork were slightly more up-to-date and the Bible verses and hymn excerpts were in easier language for younger children. But these are certainly not show-stoppers.
I was looking for a book to help me explain the basic truths of the Bible to our 6 and 5 y.o. in a way they could grasp clearly. For this purpose I don't think I could have found a better book than this.
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2007-01-10
This entire series is great for introducing sex in a godly way from a young age. I have found them to be informative, honest and clear about the importance of sex being saved for marriage.
Age recommendations are a bit off.......2006-07-09
I'm not a TOTAL prude, but my NINE-year-old is not quite ready for this book yet, even though it is intended to be for ages 3 to 5.
The majority of the book does talk about just what the baby is doing inside the mother, how he gets OUT, etc., and I'm totally fine with that. I like how they use the proper terminology, although I'm not a huge stickler for that. In our family we use more "childlike" terms, but nothing off-the-wall. It doesn't bother me either way.
But I do NOT feel that a 3-5-year-old is ready for even hints at how the baby got inside the mother in the first place. If the child ASKS for anything beyond "God put him there," that is one thing. But this book plants that idea that there is more to it, and I'm not comfortable with that.
"Then He took a tiny piece of Daddy's body and a tiny piece of Mommy's body, and made YOU!"
"And God made your body private. Mommy and I still help you take a bath, and a doctor might check every part of your body, but except for that your p*n*s and a girl's v*g*na are private. [I'm OK with these sentences but not the next one, not for this age group anyway!] Someday when you marry, your wife will be the only person you won't have to be private with at all."
I do like the fact that bre*stfeeding is expressed as something normal, natural, and good. And as I said, the authors did a great job of explaining what the baby does inside and how he comes out (even a c-section). But because of the 2 sentences I shared, if I were to read this to my child, I would have to do some heavy editing, because my children are not ready for that information yet.
Single parents might need to supplement explanation in the book since their situation is not reflected in the book.......2005-11-15
I bought this book to assist me in explaining the facts about marriage,sex and having babies. I admit the book gives an excellent explanation of how life should be, however as a single parent who is divorced,I naturally had to supplement the explanation to my kids because unfortunately their family life experience is nothing like the child's in the book. Their father is only a part of their life sporadically, he left before the last one was born and the first one was only a little over a year old so they have no recollection of "Mummy and Daddy" as a loving unit. Unfortunately, single parenthood is not the odd occurrence, it is unfortunately becoming the norm these days.What I have done is explain to my kids that although the book does not reflect their life, the book reflects how it should be. God intended for it to be how it is described in the book and also I emphasize the point of marriage first, sex after, then kids.
A good book overall, if prompts my kids to at least ask questions that is even better.
most content ok some scary.......2005-01-16
The main concern I have of this book is the way that it portrays childbirth. The reason we purchased this book is because my pregnancy was rousing questions of where babies come from, how they get inside a womb etc from our 5 year old daughter. The author of the book portrays that a normal childbirth is a scary surgery (complete with drawing) and although our daughter knows that sometimes(rarely) women need surgery we did not appreciate a surgical birth drawn and vaguely described as the only birth info. If I had wanted to educate her on c-sections, there are plenty of books out there written by those who have had them - for women, men, and children.
I would actually reccommend a different book for this age group (3-5)on this topic and I would reccommend the 2nd book in this series (before I was born)very highly. The second book in the series, although for children ages 5-8 (our daughter is in between both of these age groups which is why I ordered both books), not only beautifully and tastefully describes sex between a married couple but also describes and illustrates childbirth as something that mothers bodies are made by God to do and does not focus on what could go wrong. (i.e. some babies are born without brain development but when purchasing a book on normal life, one wouldn't expect to see and read about it there).
Luckily for us, the authors fully stand by the content of their books and our money will be refunded since we weren't happy with it. I hope my review is helpful to those discerning the purchase of this book.
best book in its categoryýbuy this book.......1998-06-19
A little boy asks his father to "Tell me my story again, Daddy," and the rest of the book follows their conversation about how the little boy came to be. The story-within-a-story format prompted my daughter to compare herself and "her story" to the little boy in the book and "his story," and has led to some special, meaningful conversations of our own. An excellent starting point for teaching children about the "facts of life" from a loving, common-sense, Christian point of view. The wording and images are natural, simple, and direct, and turn what could be an awkward topic for some parents into a piece of cake. A lovely and beautifully-illustrated book. Much thanks to the authors.
Book Description
PREGNANCY AND BIRTH-GOD'S MIRACLE OF CREATION ALL OVER AGAIN. Before I Was Born is the second book in the GOD'S DESIGN FOR SEX series, written to be read with children ages 5-8. With an age-appropriate, straightforward text and informative illustrations, Before I Was Born explains sex as a special gift God gives to a husband and wife and covers such topics as: 1) Why God made boys' and girls' bodies different; 2) God's plan for loving marriages and families; 3) The basic facts about intercourse, presented in the context of marital love and intimacy; 4) Conception and fetal development; and 5) Childbirth and breastfeeding. Created to answer the questions inevitably asked by young children, Before I Was Born will help you give your child a vital head start in understanding God's intended purpose for procreation and sex.
Customer Reviews:
Just right for my 8 year old daughter.......2007-09-08
I have been so nervous about talking about this stuff with my daughter. But this book made it so easy! We spent a few minutes reading and stopped frequently when she had questions. Then, it sparked an awesome conversation after we were finished. This book is just the right amount of information at the right time. It has illustrations that are very tasteful and didn't make either of us squirm. (Although she did giggle a bit at the discussion of how a boy grows :-) Like other reviewers, I'm not sure my 5 year old is ready to hear this, but I'm very glad I have the book now so I can pull it out when she does start asking questions. I think it's perfect for the 7-8 year old, boy or girl (it covers both equally).
Tells it Like it is ... in a Good Way........2007-07-11
Some reviews think this book is too graphic. If my children lived in a vacuum I'd tend to agree but, alas they do not. I want them to hear it from me and not some misinformed youth who doesn't have their facts straight as happens with so many children. I was shocked when I learned about it from a friend ... at a much younger age than my parents ever knew or even suspected. If you think you're 6+ year old isn't hearing things you most likely need another think.
Kids at this age (at least my son) are so into animals and biology and nature that they are just sponges. They accept facts at face value without adding all the "dirtiness" associated with sex in our culture. Regarding the intercourse description he just looked at me with a look that said, "are you for real?" I said I was and he kind of went, "oh, okay." It was just another fact of nature to him.
WAAAAAAAY too graphic for the age intended..........2007-01-13
I bought this book for my 8 1/2 year old daughter and after reading it, I couldn't bring myself to give it to her. I was ok with it until they started to describe the sex act. In my opinion this book was WAAAAAY too descriptive for 5 to 8 year old. It, in so many words, decribes an orgasm! "Body parts fitting inside others, semen flowing inside of her and bodies feeling good all over." It sounds graphic and I paraphrased it!!! That's just unnecessary for a parent who desires to teach the basics of sexuality to a young child.
I found the book "Where Do Babies Come From?", by Ruth S. Hummel, more appropriate for my child. It is a kid friendly narrative story with pronuncuations, illustrations, and careful explanations.
I think this book over sensationalizes sex. I'm not prepared to explain ejaculation to my 8 1/2 year old. Some parents may be, but I am not. I believe in keeping children children as long as possible. I am open and honest with my daughter about puberty and sex, and I answer every question that she has, but I think this book can wait until she's 12.
Well Done.......2006-06-03
I got this for my very curious 6.5yo and I agree it is very well done and very tasteful. I do think you will have to be dealing with a mature child if they are 5 & 6 and reading this book. I agree with the others, that this is geared more towards 7 and up. No matter the age, I think it is best that my children learn about sex early and what is about from me. She has already asked a ton of questions and I am glad she trusts me enough to ask.
Informative.......2006-03-09
This book, in the "God's Design for Sex" series is a good book to read with your child. The only complaint I have with the series is that I think the information given is too explicit for the ages recommended. I would wait until my child is at least 8 to read this book with him. The same with the others in the series, I will be waiting until the last age recommended (or beyond). The series did do a good job showing Sex and our bodies as God designed them to be - important to teach, especially if they will be having "sex/puberty education" from the public school system.
Average customer rating:
- Child of Mean
- a dark star, with prose capable of healing the world!
- Mesmerized with every word. Couldn't put it down.
- Hard to Look Away
- Fragmented with no depth
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Child of God
Cormac McCarthy
Manufacturer: Vintage
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0679728740
Release Date: 1993-06-29 |
Amazon.com
"Scuttling down the mountain with the thing on his back he looked like a man beset by some ghast succubus, the dead girl riding him with legs bowed akimbo like a monstrous frog." Child of God must be the most sympathetic portrayal of necrophilia in all of literature. The hero, Lester Ballard, is expelled from his human family and ends up living in underground caves, which he peoples with his trophies: giant stuffed animals won in carnival shooting galleries and the decomposing corpses of his victims. Cormac McCarthy's much-admired prose is suspenseful, rich with detail, and yet restrained, even delicate, in its images of Lester's activities. So tightly focused is the story on this one "child of God" that it resembles a myth, or parable. "You could say that he's sustained by his fellow men, like you.... A race that gives suck to the maimed and the crazed, that wants their wrong blood in its history and will have it."
Book Description
In this taut, chilling novel, Lester Ballard--a violent, dispossessed man falsely accused of rape--haunts the hill country of East Tennessee when he is released from jail. While telling his story, Cormac McCarthy depicts the most sordid aspects of life with dignity, humor, and characteristic lyrical brilliance.
Customer Reviews:
Child of Mean.......2007-10-05
As always, this writer transports you to a vicious world and the reader becomes immersed in it, and somehow fascinated by nasty characters devoid of morals, and the killing reads like poetry.
a dark star, with prose capable of healing the world! .......2007-08-25
One among the many of Cormac McCarthy's luminous early works that created his cult following and positioned him as a modern icon of lyrical precision, Child of God delves into the horrific center of American ignorance and human indignity. An early counter-cultural reflection of two of his most recent and more accessible works, The Sunset Limited and The Road, Child of God casts the utter depravity of McCarthy's character Lester Ballard into an increasing dispossession resonant of the dark core of violence that has always accompanied American life. The title redeems both Lester and the reader.
Mesmerized with every word. Couldn't put it down........2007-08-23
I feel like I have missed out on one of the most incredibly talented authors alive today. I now plan on reading all of Cormac McCarthy's books.
I began with "The Road" because of Oprah. I was then drawn to "Child of God" because of the title. I thought perhaps it was spiritual. To my surprise it brought me inside the life of a poor sad soul who is deeply disturbed and incredibly lonely.I lived in his cave of darkness with him and identified with his morbid existence as I cooked and cleaned house for my seven children and husband. I would look up from the deep dark book in my lap and gaze around at my family. How could I read such a grotesque book? How could I not? I couldn't put the book down. I wanted it to continue when it was over. It was inspirational and led me back to my writing. I admire the mind of Cormac McCarthy. This book let my mind travel down a road I couldn't have possibly imagined traveling on. A must read.
Hard to Look Away.......2007-07-23
To call Letser Ballard an outcast or a loner would not even come close to properly describing him. He is someone totally at odds with society and his fellow man. He lives alone, uses others' property for his own needs and shows little concern for the emotional needs of others. And that is the good side. The darker side is his taste in what companions he does decide to have and how he goes about getting them. CHILD OF GOD is at once an easy read due to McCarthy's writing style yet a difficult read based on the subject matter. At times, one can barely believe the words one reads on the page.
Yet underneath the horror of Lester Ballard's life are some signs of something more. McCarthy refers to him as a child of God early in the novel and, lest we do not get the picture, adds that Ballard is such a child of God just like the rest of us. McCarthy often imbues his writings with religiosity and wants us to know that, despite the extreme differences in behavior between Ballard and the reader, God's grace is present in us all. Indeed, if Lester Ballard is a child of God, then God's love must truly be universal.
That McCarthy portrays Ballard so simplistically adds to this. We know Ballard is in his upper 20s. But besides that, we know very little of him. This universalizes Ballard in a way that makes it more difficult to portray him as the "Other" rather than as a general metaphor for humanity. His status as an outcast can be read as symbolic that we are all outcasts from God unless and until we willingly receive his grace. Ballard's close personal association with death reinforces the notion that the ideas interwoven into this novel are not concerned merely, or even primarily, with this world.
McCarthy is an excellent writer whose style is probably more accessible than that of other authors in his league. That has the benefit of allowing readers to explore the ideas he presents without struggling too hard with, or being bored by, the actual text. McCarthy has a reputation as being a writer who explores dark areas of humanity. Certainly CHILD OF GOD can be described that way. It may not always be a pleasant read, but it is a recommended one.
Fragmented with no depth.......2007-07-06
This is the first book I have read by McCarthy.The premise was good but he just does not have the talent to flesh it out.The first half of the book was just a conglomeration of mini one or two page shorts.I guess they were to lay some kind of background for the rest of the story or just to fill pages.The rest of the book that could have been a good gore fest was so poorly written it just scans over what could have been a real gorey thrill ride.I found this book at the library while looking for another book of his called THE ROAD.I sure hope it is better written than this one.I now have The Road If you are interested on my take on it check out its reviews.
Book Description
THERE'S MORE TO TEACHING YOUR KIDS ABOUT SEX THAN A NERVOUS DISCUSSION OF THE BIRDS AND THE BEES.
Our children are inundated with messages and information about sex. Everywhere they turn-in our neighborhoods, in the schools, in the media-they are bombarded with discussions, stories, jokes, mixed messages, and debate about sexuality. How can parents have a significant input amid such a din-much of which seems beyond their control?
Stan and Brenna Jones suggest that sex education is really not so much a matter of providing information as it is a matter of deliberate character formation. How our children act in this critical area will not be affected by how much information they have stored away. It won't even be primarily affected by the Bible verses they have memorized, or the warnings we give them. First and foremost, their behavior will be determined by their character. What our children do will be determined by who they are at that particular moment in time.
How and When to Tell Your Kids About Sex will help you to move beyond the "sweaty palms and lump-in-the-throat" approach to discussing sex with your kids. It will give you the tools you need for building the kind of Christian character in your kids that will enable them to stand on their own and make the right choices.
Customer Reviews:
Telling your kids about a most sensitive subject.......2006-11-23
The Jones take the issue of sex and explain why it is important to cover this with our children. As a dad with three daughters, I have to admit how difficult it is to talk to them about this, but I want to be the one who does and not the media, their friends, or ??? It's not necessarily a book you have to read, one step at a time, but the chapters are fairly well labeled, so you can feel free to skip around and read the chapters that are most pertinent to your situation. The approach they take is conservative, and they sometimes give several possibilities regarding issues that are not just black and white. Overall, I recommend all Christian parents read this and at least entertain the ideas given. Whatever method is chosen, the most important thing we can do is something rather than nothing at all.
Finally, a book that teaches sex based on the Bible!.......2002-07-15
I have been looking for help on how to raise my 2 very young children knowing that sex is wonderful when it comes at the right time. RIGHT being the operative word. I found the scriptural references to be solid in their interpretation, and their knowledge about how sex fits in earthly life to be just what we parents need. They suggest teaching children about their sexuality as early as possible so as to avoid embarrasing "talks" that come when it's too late (Most kids learn about sex in school before they learn from their parents). I especially liked their assertations that any kind of sexual activity that deviates from what God has set forth is wrong. IE: homosexuality, sex before marriage, etc. Every type of Christian, Jew or other religious person would be well advised to use this book in teaching their children how their bodies are sacred, special, and sexual.
Book Description
Parents know that kids ask amazing and often difficult questions about God, faith, heaven, and the Bible. Using the thoughtful answers in 801 Questions Kids Ask about God, parents will not be left at a loss for words. This resource from the Heritage Builders, a ministry of Focus on the Family, is a compilation of the best-selling 101 Questions Kids Ask series and includes key verses, notes, and an index of questions to guide parents in developing their answers. Includes playful illustrations children will enjoy.
Customer Reviews:
Spectacular book for ANY new Christian!.......2007-05-17
This book is not only a fantastic resource for young kids, but it is also an incredible tool for any person that is early in their walk with Christ or even for those who are searching. It offers very straightforward answers that are easly to understand and relate to. Both I and my kids have a hard time putting it down each time we get it out. One question leads to another which leads to another. We had some great family discussions with this book. Every family should have one in my opinion.
quit suprised.......2005-02-13
I was suprsied about what kids asked and wondering why I did not think about that answer myself
801 Questions Kids Ask about God with Answers from the Bible.......2001-02-09
Every home should have a copy! This is a fantastic resource to have on hand regardless of the ages within your home. Some of the questions have been verbatim of some my own children have asked. The great treasure of the book is that each answer is biblically based. It has been a wonderful reinforcement for my children to have their own questions answered directly from the Bible. Thank you Mr. Veerman!
Book Description
Imagine you're a young boy—maybe as young as three or four—separated from your family by civil war, traversing deserts and mountains with little food or water, no medical care, and no protection from wild animals. Imagine watching hundreds of boys perish around you from hunger, disease, or attacks by enemy soldiers and wild animals. To most of us, it is unimaginable, but this was reality for "The Lost Boys of Sudan," thousands of young boys who were separated from their families and forced to walk approximately 1,000 miles to reach safe refuge from war and certain death.
For the first time, this award winning book offers readers a chronological timeline of the epic journey taken by these children, beginning in their rural villages of Southern Sudan and ending with their arrival as young men to the United States. Narrated through the voice of Joan Hecht, one of their American mentors, whom they lovingly call "mom" or "Mama Joan;" "The Journey of the Lost Boys" is a compelling story of courage, faith and the sheer determination to survive by a group of young orphaned boys. Because of Joan Hecht's personal relationship with them, she is able to portray their story in a way that most famous reporters and authors cannot. In addition to her extensive research of the political and historical events surrounding the long lasting civil war in Sudan, are the heart-rending personal stories and original drawings of the boys themselves. A must read for anyone interested in the the true story of the Lost Boys of Sudan!
Customer Reviews:
The tragedy of the children of Sudan.......2007-03-31
I can only summarize my comment about this book in a few words. The author Joan Hecht did a wonderful task in narrating the frightening and heartbreaking experience of the thousands of lost boys of the Sudan,Africa's largest country. Their dangerous journey involving thousands of miles in a very hostile landscape is incredible. The author's very kind heart,sincere consideration and admiration for these children is worth more than all the gold of the world. Very highly recommended for young and old.
Learning about Sudan? START HERE.......2006-10-15
This is the book you need to read if you are unfamiliar with the background of the issues in Sudan, the Lost Boys, and the issues faced by refugees who come to America. Ms. Hecht might not be an " academic", but she is the person with an enormous amount of first hand information on these subjects, and she breaks it down into managable pieces. Even if you are knowledgable on these subjects, this book is still useful as a clarifying tool. Ms. Hecht is also very committed, and that comes through on every page.
OUTSTANDING BOOK .......2006-08-11
Readers of this book will be touched by the stories of these incredible young men, who, at an early age, were separated from their parents and families. The atrocities witnessed by the boys are unspeakable. The author has provided the readers with stories that make those who have lived a life without fear take a new appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States.
A good term paper.......2006-07-26
The endless conflict in Sudan is another calamity that the press should have been bombarding us with daily for years. A tragedy of such dimensions should torment our collective conscience. This is exactly why it deserves a better telling than Ms. Hecht is able to offer us. The writing is amateurish and the text cries out for the editing it appears not to have been subjected to. Easy streamlining and the correction of some grammatical errors would make the book more readable and more powerful. Ms. Hecht's devotion to the cause of the Lost Boys is clearly sincere and praiseworthy, however, and she does deserve thanks for contributing to making us aware of the atrocities that go on in the world while we turn the other way.
An accurate, heartfelt and well-written account.......2006-06-28
Joan Hecht's "Journey" is in this reviewer's opinion the most interesting and accurate book available on the topic of the Lost Boys. As a former foster father to one of the lost boys and a fellow author and researcher, I recommend the book without hesitation. It presents an extraordinarily complicated situation in a manner that is comprehensible, fascinating and accurate. It gives the reader a true sense of the horror, courage and hope that has gripped a generation of young Sudanese men.
For its rare photos, clear and organized presentation and sincere prose, I highly recommend this informative and inspiring book and thank the author for her outstanding efforts.
Product Description
Parents will help children identify the beauty and hope in all cycles of life as they follow two insect friends, Lea and Nym, and the struggles one of them endures when her friend disappears. This is a tender story about loss and change, written to help parents express their views about life and death. The book may serve many purposes, such as comforting a grieving child who has lost someone close or providing facts about dragonflies to inquisitive minds. Lea's transformation into a dragonfly may even be used as a metaphor for life-after-death. The Dragonfly Door is beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson. The book is cherished by parents, grandparents and teachers. It was recently brought to life as a mini-play in Alabama to help children cope with the loss of their classmates. The following is an excerpt from the book: While Nym slept, she heard Lea's voice saying, "Follow me, Nym. I'm going to show you where I am." "Will I see you again?" Nym asked. "Only when it's time for you to die too," Lea replied. "You won't see me in the marsh ever again. But let me show you what I will look like the next time you see me. Here, close your eyes." Nym closed her eyes. "Now look at me," Lea said. Nym opened her eyes and saw ...
Customer Reviews:
The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson.......2007-09-07
The debut children's picturebook of author John Adams, The Dragonfly Door dares to confront serious topics - of loss, death, grieving, and transition. Nym and Lea are two close insect friends, but one day after Nym yells at Lea, Lea disappears. Nym searches everywhere for her missing friend, and can't find her. At last Nym falls asleep, grief-stricken, and finally hears Lea's voice one more time. "'I died and went to this special place,' Lea said, her voice full of love. 'But I didn't want you to leave,' Nym pleaded. 'I'm sorry I yelled.' 'I know you're sorry,' Lea assured her. 'I left because my water nymph body died while I was picking flowers in the reeds, not because you yelled.'" The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson illustrate this highly recommended picturebook for sharing the bittersweet realities of life with young people.
Jewel's Reading Excellence Review: Helps children understand nature's life cycle.......2007-05-10
John Adams brilliantly invites the reader into the world of Nymphs and Dragonflies to explore the changes that take place when Nym's friend goes to a special place.
When I had lost a family member I had read a wonderful story called, "The Water Bug Story." John Adams adds a fresh approach to this story by focusing on friendship loss and giving a voice to his characters. With the help of Gibson's eye-catching nature illustrations, "The Dragon Fly Door" answers general questions surrounding loss, such as feelings about loss, what happens to the nymph's body when he dies, and how a nymph is transformed into a dragonfly.
Adams creatively normalizes typical friendship rivalry and takes the reader on a nature journey to discover that one chooses to resolve conflict, loss, and changes in different ways. Adams concludes the book with uncomplicated educational facts for the inquisitive science mind.
This is a great educational tool for parents, grandparents or professionals to use to help explain the uncontrollable life cycle changes and loss.
Reviewed by Jewel Sample, MS
Award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses(2006), also translated: Besos y Abrazos Al Aire(2006, Spanish edition) and Flying Hugs and Kisses Activity Book(2007)
A Message of Hope for Children Who Are Grieving.......2007-02-26
As President of a nonprofit organization that reaches out to those who are grieving, I was very pleased to read a book such as The Dragonfly Door. This book provides a much needed way to offer children (and adults) a message of hope following the death of a loved one.
Children can relate to the playful nature of Nym and Lea who are the two young nymph friends, the sorrow of Nym when Lea dies, and the comforting feeling when when Nym realizes that he will one day see Lea again as a dragonfly, when he too has made his transformation into a dragonfly.
Our nonprofit organization recommends this book so highly that we have decided to make it available for purchase at all of our events.
-Valerie Marquardt
Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve.......2007-02-18
I received this wonderfully beautiful book on the 8th anniversary of my son's graduation to Heaven ... that evening, I was able to read it with his daughter, who is now 9... I believe she gained another understanding of her Very Own Daddy in a beautiful place that we have not seen just yet ... and though she already knew he is waiting for her, this was another good reminder of that ... I was unaware of the dragonfly's life cycle and was so blessed to see how it seemingly parallels this life and the next. Thank you, John, for a wonderful way to help us all in our continuing journey with grief and the Hope we can have.
Book Description
Every parent who has lost a child has dealt with disturbing, haunting questions. Why my child? Where is my baby now? Will I ever see my child again?
Renowned Bible expositor John MacArthur tackles the question of infant death (in the womb or following birth) in his trademark style-with detailed attention to Scriptures that hold the answers. No death occurs apart from the purposes of God, MacArthur assures readers, just as no life occurs apart from the purposes of God.
With a pastor's heart, he leads readers to an understanding of the eternal destination of these precious little ones. His conclusion: Babies-and anyone else who has not reached the condition of accountability-go to heaven when they die, and there will, indeed, be a time of blessed reunion with these souls.
This comforting book is certain to bring consolation to those experiencing this most painful loss.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-09-26
This little book was a great comfort to me after the death of our unborn son. It is not a touchy-feely book but rather a real look at scripture which offers the only REAL hope and comfort. I am planning on buying this for any of my friends that go a loss in the future.
excellent.......2005-12-10
I have never had a doubt in my mind that babies and young children that die go to heaven. To me, it has always been a matter of common sense. Just knowing about God's character has always been proof enough for me. His divine grace knows no bounds. His mercy is greater than His wrath. Coming to earth in human form to die for our sins, even though we don't deserve it, is the greatest proof of this. Therefore, I have always believed that His grace covers those that have not yet developed the intelligence to distinguish between right and wrong. However, I wanted my beliefs to be based on more than just my own intuition. I wanted Scriptural proof beyond the concepts of God's unfailing love and all encompassing grace. Unfortunately, I am no theologian. As such, I often need help in looking for the answers I seek within Scripture. Thankfully, John MacArthur has published this well-researched and theologically sound book on the subject of infant death.
MacArthur points to Scripture after Scripture that prove that infants instantly go to heaven when they die. If you had any doubt on this subject before, your doubt will fade away after reading this excellent and comforting book.
Of course, there are those that have the opposite opinion. Some believe that since we are all born into a sin nature, that if we have not had a chance to except Christ into our hearts, then we are lost forever. This, of course, includes children. However, this totally discounts the saving grace of God. God's grace is so much bigger than we ever realize. It is not limited to our feeble understanding of His ways. Personally, I can't imagine being under leadership within a church that espouses the teaching that infants who die go directly to hell. It is unfathomable to me how anyone can believe this. It seems very contradictory to what Scripture shows us to be true.
Then, there are those who have decided that Scripture does not say anything on the subject. Therefore, the truth of the matter can not be known to us. We are to just trust that God will do what is right. However, it seems to me that this is just a cop-out. While it's true that we should always put our faith in God to do what is right (he is a good God!), He has also given us His Scripture for study and meditation. He does have something to say to us on this subject and it is our responsibility to diligently study His Word to know the Truth. Even if this means we must go outside of ourselves and seek guidance from those that have more wisdom on Scriptural concepts than we do.
Hope.......2005-10-22
My wife and I lost our precious daughter Hope after only thirty mintues with her. I knew a little about what the bible teaches on the subjects and where to find the basics, so I knew that she was with God. I still I found this book to be extremely helpful in fleshing out the whole topic and answering some questions I could not find the answers to on my own. I especially admired how Dr. MacArthur relied on Scripture for his entire argument. There was no wishful thinking in this volume just sound biblical teaching.
A warning: If you have recently lost a little one this book is hard to read because of the sad stories.
A plug: However, this book is worth reading when you are ready.
Wonderful, but has some views that are clearly Protestant.......2005-08-12
As a Catholic trying to cope with the loss of a child, I'd say this book is 99% wonderful and 1% that I'm not in agreement with. This is clearly biblically Protestant in which there are "missing links". Although I completely agree that the Lord is merciful towards babies and innocent young children, I do not agree with what he states about instant Heaven with adults and older children. If you are Catholic or Orthodox, take this into mind and discernment that this is not in junction with the teaching of our Church. Otherwise its a wonderful tool in knowing that our babies are very much alive in Heaven waiting for their families.
Faith and Hope from Heaven.......2005-08-10
I was given this book when my 4 1/2 month old son passed away and I can honestly say that this book has brought me comfort for the fact that I know my son is up in Heaven with God, his great grandparents and other children who have left this earth much too early. John MacArthur lets us know, through scripture readings, that God turely holds these babies and children safe with him in Heaven. I know that one day I will be reunited with my 4 1/2 month old son (along with my other children) in Heaven and I will never have to leave them again. I look forward to the day when I can join them in Heaven, but until then, John MacArthurs book reassures me that they are safe and perfect and that nothing can ever hurt them.
If you are looking for a book about the truth of God and Heaven for little ones, then this is it. You will not be disappointed with this book at all!
Books:
- Goodnight Moon
- Grace Under Fire: Letters of Faith in Times of War
- Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
- Harem: A Novel
- Here Be Dragons
- Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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