This charming sequel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold complements the first volume beautifully. Its tone matches that of its predecessor, treating of soThis charming sequel to Before the Coffee Gets Cold complements the first volume beautifully. Its tone matches that of its predecessor, treating of sorrow and comfort with a gentle touch. This book expands the world of the first one, explaining a bit more about the way that the magic works, and giving more background on the main characters, and developing them as they grow and change. I am relieved to report that this book does not fall into the trap of over-explaining; it maintains the air of mystery and keeps the tales feeling fresh. Delightful....more
I don't really understand this story. Maybe it lost something in translation, or maybe I just don't get it. I didn't enjoy it but couldn't stop readinI don't really understand this story. Maybe it lost something in translation, or maybe I just don't get it. I didn't enjoy it but couldn't stop reading, even though it was a deeply unpleasant experience, because I wanted to know if everything came out okay. Even by the end, I couldn't tell whether the story was supposed to be disturbing or funny, but I am very sorry I read it....more
"As unyielding as the Holy Spirit is in the matter of maintaining and defending the doctrine of faith, so mild and merciful is he toward men for their"As unyielding as the Holy Spirit is in the matter of maintaining and defending the doctrine of faith, so mild and merciful is he toward men for their sins, as long as sinners repent." A beautiful treatise on justification—on grace, faith, and the goodness of Christ. Luther's writing is clear and powerful, and he draws many parallels between the church's struggles in the first century and the difficulties Luther faced in his own time. (He also suggests that modern Germans may be descended from the people of Galatia, so that's an interesting historical perspective.) He describes Paul's conversion, his interactions with the other apostles, and his disagreements with Peter. Luther explains Scripture by linking it to other Scriptures; here, he puts the epistle to the Galatians in context of Paul's other writings, of the Gospels, and of the Old Testament. An enlightening read that prompts much soul-searching and introspection, but which always brings the focus right where it belongs, on the saving work of Jesus.
A note on the edition: I couldn't find on Goodreads the particular edition I read. I listened to a digital audiobook version, and while it listed a publisher and a narrator, there was no listing of either translator or ISBN. This version made a reference to dollar amounts and mentioned prisoners being executed via the electric chair, so I have some questions about the method of the translator. I would hate to think that the anonymous translator was telling me what he thinks I'll understand, not what Luther actually said....more
This beautiful fantasy story for children weaves together different magical creatures and traditions into a tale that is both timeless and thoroughly This beautiful fantasy story for children weaves together different magical creatures and traditions into a tale that is both timeless and thoroughly modern. At the heart of this story are a dragon and a boy, and their adventure is so much bigger and brighter than I could possibly describe. The characters are all distinctive and richly developed (and some are just downright hilarious!), and I found the story itself to be good fun. A compelling plot, lots of delightful moments on the way, and a climactic struggle that kept me on the edge of my seat. And if you think that sounds wonderful, let me just say that the version I read was even better than that, since I listened to the audio book performed by Brendan Fraser, who reads with such energy and skill that I had a hard time believing he was the only performer. Highly recommended!...more
Utterly charming. Sweet and sad but never maudlin, this cat book is more than it first seems. The novel tells the story of one cat's travels, but the Utterly charming. Sweet and sad but never maudlin, this cat book is more than it first seems. The novel tells the story of one cat's travels, but the book is also a sweeping portrait of human relationships and growth. Love, loss, hope—all the emotional elements are present, yet the story never feels overtly manipulative or hastily cobbled together. Indeed, this book is gentle and thoughtful and ultimately unforgettable....more
Once upon a time there was a life-affirming story about a man on a bridge who was contemplating jumping. That story was the film It's a Wonderful LifeOnce upon a time there was a life-affirming story about a man on a bridge who was contemplating jumping. That story was the film It's a Wonderful Life, and while it has long been a favorite film of mine, even as I child, I recognized that I couldn't wholly relate to George Bailey. He is heroic in a way that most people aren't. So is his life is worth living? Sure! He rescues drowning children, helps people keep their homes, gives away money so others can go to college, and does a whole lot of things that most people never could. It's a great movie, but it has very little to do with ordinary people. What about people who are just grateful not to mess up things for someone else. Where is the life-affirming quirky story for the rest of us?
Well, here. This is it. Anxious People. It's also a life-affirming story about a man on a bridge who is contemplating jumping. It's about a bank robber and hostage drama. It's about "idiots"—Backman's word. It's funny. It's whimsical. It's sad in many respects, but it's also buoyant and hopeful and clever. It gave me a few good belly laughs, and that's always good. The characters are quite memorable, and while it's not perfect, I do think it's excellent. It is quite different from every other book I've ever read, and that's saying something. Here is to be found hope, not just for the George Bailey types, but also for the people who spend their lives trying to do the best they can for the people they love. Sometimes they even succeed....more
First of all, if you haven’t read the blurb yet, don’t! Part of the charm here is trying to figure out who is time traveling and why. I am surprised aFirst of all, if you haven’t read the blurb yet, don’t! Part of the charm here is trying to figure out who is time traveling and why. I am surprised at the information, which unfolded so naturally in the story, being summarized so carelessly in the description. Okay, with that out of the way, on to my review.
This novel in stories tells of a special coffee shop that can send people through time. Each chapter focuses on a different time journey, but since the same characters put in appearances throughout, this book has remarkable versatility. It combines the rich characterization of a traditional novel with the intense focus of a collection of short stories. I was impressed with the nuances given to the characters, as well as with the realistic nature of their problems. This novel is sweet and sad and hopeful, just like real life. Don’t expect the magic to make all the problems go away. Just sit back, enjoy the journey, and don’t forget to read this with a nice hot cup of coffee....more
This oversized book will delight readers with its massive, colorful illustrations and its clear straightforward text. It covers a lot of ground withouThis oversized book will delight readers with its massive, colorful illustrations and its clear straightforward text. It covers a lot of ground without ever feeling rushed; it explains science and history and different cultural traditions without getting too bogged down in details. Informative, fun, and lovely—did I mention lovely?—this coffee table book for children brings a sense of wonder to this nature study....more
Please note: I think I’m reviewing a different edition of this tale. It’s the same author, but not the same illustrator. I’m proceeding on the assumptPlease note: I think I’m reviewing a different edition of this tale. It’s the same author, but not the same illustrator. I’m proceeding on the assumption that the text is the same, and that the particular edition used is comparable to the one listed here.
I greatly enjoyed this fairy tale. As a child, I liked the way that the dead mother was still a powerful force and very much present in the story. I liked that, in contrast to the cutesy and clean fairy godmother of Perrault, the magic here is earthy and mysterious. I liked that the animals themselves were magic. Grownup me can appreciate the villainy of the stepmother, who gives Aschenputtel permission to attend if she can accomplish a simple (and impossible) task. It’s just reasonable enough on the surface to make her seem fair, and it gives just enough hope to be really cruel. Neither kid-me nor grownup-me was surprised that the stepsisters cut their feet to fit the slipper; I still maintain that this was very much in character for them: they were desperate, and willing to sacrifice. It was also in character for their mother, whose pushiness hurt everyone around her, including her own children. Finally, I really like the active role that Aschenputtel takes in her own life. She knows when and how (and whom!) to ask for help. She takes steps to forge a connection with her dead mother, she commands the birds, and she uses magic to create her own fancy dress.
The only part of the story I don’t like is the very end, (SPOILER ALERT!) when retribution comes for the stepsisters. The birds peck their eyes out. This always seemed to me to miss the point. The stepsisters have already suffered plenty: Physically, their feet get cut apart; Romantically, they lose out on the prince; Financially, they have limited prospects for anyone else; Socially, they’ve missed out on a long-term relationship with Aschenputtel because their mother had prevented them from treating her as family for all those years; and Morally, well, just look at their mother. (She gets off scott-free, by the way.) The blindness addendum didn’t exist in early versions of the story; it was only added by the Grimm brothers to a later edition of their work in order to make the story more appropriate for children. I think that if they were trying to instill a sense of justice by punishing the wicked, they should have left the children alone and gone after the stepmother. This is the only misstep in an otherwise wonderful story. On the whole, a beautiful fairy tale that doesn’t shy away from themes of family, loss, and love....more
Loved this! This celebration of Christmas can be enjoyed on a personal level or shared as a pageant. The book itself is beautiful, with printed music,Loved this! This celebration of Christmas can be enjoyed on a personal level or shared as a pageant. The book itself is beautiful, with printed music, lavish illustrations (all monochrome, at least mostly) featuring the full libretti, and decorative illuminations. It feels both new and vintage at the same time. The introduction explains the origin of the words, music, and illustrations, and how the original German lyrics came to be translated. Reading this book felt like discovering a previously unknown treasure. The work is followed by instructions for producing the program as a pageant.
The musical work itself is divided into three sections: the first tells of the first Christmas from the point of view of certain inanimate objects (e.g., the stable, the manger); the second describes those who were involved (e.g., the shepherd, the wisemen); and the final section broadens its focus to encompass all people and times. Perhaps part of what makes this book so distinctive, for me, at least, is that it is so very different from every other Christmas book and song I know. One of the pictures of Jesus in the manger is framed in a “straw” motif that foreshadows the crown of thorns, and the lyrics make reference both to the crucifixion and to the straw from the wheat fields whence came the bread for the last supper.
Other songs in this collection have equally surprising lyrics. One says, “Then when comes my own beloved [. . .] with my kiss impressed upon him his heart knows Thy heavenly fire.” The song about the candle says, “Then let my wax drip [. . .] Only when I am no more will I be everything.” Interesting ways to look at things, and great attention to detail. Even the music is a bit unusual for Christmas; lots of interesting harmonies, shifting meters, and minor keys. I have read many other Christmas books and music books, but I’ve never read anything like this. Deeply moving and full of heart....more
I don’t quite know what to make of this little collection of poems. I would love to know more about the process by which the poems were selected: obviI don’t quite know what to make of this little collection of poems. I would love to know more about the process by which the poems were selected: obviously, these poems all involve cats in some way, but if there was anything else at all that guided the process, I can’t figure out what it is. Not all the poems even seem to have been written by people who liked cats. Some of the poems are beautiful, but others are disturbing, and few are just odd. I also can’t seem to find any sort of intent or continuity with regard to source. There are some modern poems, and some from the 18th and 19th centuries; I don’t know if there are any older than that. There was no information given about the poems or the authors (except to list a translator) so all I know of the poem’s ages comes from my own background knowledge. A few poems have been translated from other languages, but there doesn’t seem to have been any particular effort to include a broad sample or a certain number of countries or regions.
There is one children’s poem, “The Owl and the Pussycat,” and I was delighted to find it so unexpectedly. By the time I reached the end of the volume, however, the poem about the dead cat, the poem that gives a sad reimagining of a classic nursery rhyme cat, the poem about the person who is disgusted with cats, and the poem about the cat-owner who would like to kill her cat had all dampened my enthusiasm considerably. I understand that this poem book isn’t meant as an ode to cats, but rather as a collection of various depictions of cats in different countries, centuries, and languages; but the bizarre nature of the collection and its overall effect were a bit disappointing. Sometimes anthologies take bits and pieces from all over and craft them into a meaningful, beautiful, poignant whole. Here, however, the many pieces seem disjointed, and they don’t seem to make more than the some of their parts. Something feels lacking overall....more
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD: I won’t say anything specific. No worries!
There are two episodes of The Twilight Zone that seem perfectly joined in this story. MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD: I won’t say anything specific. No worries!
There are two episodes of The Twilight Zone that seem perfectly joined in this story. The first is the episode “One for the Angels,” in which a man makes a deal with Death to save a dying girl. The other episode is “And When the Sky Was Opened.” If you’ve seen these two episodes, you’ve seen absolutely everything in this tale, and then some. Sadly, this book has only a vestige of the heartwarming and uplifting mood of the former episode, and none of the existential horror of the latter. Even the big twist (which was already somewhat predictable) has been softened so considerably that it might just as well have been left out. There’s nothing really wrong with this story, except that there’s not really much there. The writing itself is fine, and the length is perfect for this kind of fable. I just think that if Backman wanted to have Death request a weighty sacrifice, he could and should have done something a little bit stronger than this. This audiobook is 47 minutes long, and yet Rod Serling told a similar story in 25 minutes, and he didn’t pull any punches. I finished this book feeling that if only Backman had been a little bit braver, he might have written a much more powerful story....more
This book was amazing. Stapert offers an in-depth analysis of the theological content of Bach’s music as understood through the lens of the HeidelbergThis book was amazing. Stapert offers an in-depth analysis of the theological content of Bach’s music as understood through the lens of the Heidelberg Catechism. For clarity’s sake, I’ve separated my review into sections that address different elements of Stapert’s work.
Scope The book’s scope is massive, and it covers a lot of ground. Stapert takes his time in setting up Bach’s music, and a lengthy introduction describes the different types of musical pieces that Bach wrote. A music glossary in the back defines musical terms. I think the intention was to make a book that would be readable even by people who are unfamiliar with Bach and with classical music. For the most part, I think he succeeded, although there were several places where, if I had not had a musical background, I think I would have struggled to understand. That said, the broad themes that he traces will make sense even if a few of the details are lost, and the introduction to Bach’s works was phenomenal. Stapert really packed a whole lot of information into just a few pages.
Theology As for the theology itself, I have to say I was surprised and impressed by the premise of analyzing a Lutheran musician by a Calvinist document. There have been so many divisions in the Church, so much discord and separation, that I am always glad to find a book that actively tries to make connections between different denominations. The only other book I know that tries something similar is C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Stapert even refers to that book specifically, mentioning the common ground for all Christian denominations. Stapert says, “What unites the various branches of the Christian faith is far more extensive and runs far more deeply than the history of our divisions, quarrels, and animosities would indicate.” This book, then, takes three different sections of the Calvinist catechism and illuminates them with selected passages from Bach’s music. The result is a beautiful, almost reverent, meditation on a specific theological concept. These sections read almost like mini devotionals, and although the focus is perhaps different from Bach’s own Lutheran tradition, the theological statements themselves are on point.
Libretti The libretti are given in their original German, along with an English translation that strives, whenever possible, to maintain the original syntax. In this way, readers can see exactly how the ideas are stated in the music, and they can tell which parts of a sentence are emphasized in the score.
Music I was glad to see the music itself given in-depth analysis. From the Easter music in a minor key to the angelic symbolism of the trumpet—even the strings’ musical “halo” given to Jesus’ lyrics in the Passions—so many different musical qualities are examined in great detail. He examines modulations into different keys; he contrasts various sections as they play the same phrase. He shows certain rhythmic patterns that convey certain emotions, tracing each individual motif across many different iterations. He even goes so far as to trace earlier uses of a single melody across Bach’s many works. If you’ve ever wondered what a Lenten tune was doing in the middle of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, look no further!
How it could have been better This is a very minor point, but I would have liked more historical context for some of this. For example, at one point, he reminds his readers that Bach’s soprano would have been a boy. I’m not clear on which soprano he means—all of them? Or just one, for a particular piece of music? I’m also not clear as to why. Was that a common practice for Bach’s time? Was it a personal preference of his? Or did it come from the church? If so, would it have held for all the churches where he worked over the course of his career, or just the one who employed him at that specific time? Would things have been different for concert performances? As I said, it’s a minor point, but I was very curious. I was interested to know how the music would have been experienced in Bach’s own time.
All in all, a wonderful book, meticulously researched. Informative and uplifting....more
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