Making our history one step at a time
Stormlight Archives has spoiled my taste in fiction in that I now expect a profound engagement of philosophical or moral issues. The Cruel Prince didn't engage the reader at quite that level, and I found the protagonist distasteful as she freely uses others as a means to an end.
Retelling the events of Genesis from the perspective the daughter of Jacob, Dinah, The Red Tent is both beautiful and harsh. Dinah's tragic story is recounted in Genesis 34. Dinah is taken to wife by a Canaanite prince. Her brothers, the sons of Jacob do not take kindly to this, and slaughter the entire city in retribution. I feel like I haven't fully seen this chapter, as we usually pass by the uncomfortable parts of the Bible in Sunday School. From an LDS perspective, our efforts to liken the scriptures unto ourselves may blind us to how utterly different the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was practiced. The book clearly relies on much research to try to recreate the setting, but also has to use some creative license to weave together this stunning tale.
If I can't watch a rated R movie, then I can just read the book, right? This book was a hard one to stomach. I thought 1984 was bad.
Rating: 4/5 Stars Genre: YA Fiction Spoilers: No Reading time: Read entire book on a Saturday Goodreads summary Three years ago, Tanner Scott’s family relocated from California to Utah, a move that nudged the bisexual teen temporarily back into the closet. Now, with one semester of high school to go, and no obstacles between him... Continue Reading →
How do you confront the existence of evil in the world? What do you do when those who are supposed to be leaders have weaknesses and failures? Why is there injustice in society, in our institutions and governments? And ourselves too? And do you confront your own imperfections and weaknesses? You're own brokenness? Can you... Continue Reading →
I have moved away from reading fantasy fiction since my high school days, often viewing that period sentimentally as the gateway that really got me into reading, but perhaps also a little condescendingly as of "lesser" worth. Look what I've become-- a literary snob. This book was recommended to me by a fellow graduate student... Continue Reading →
