Posts Tagged ‘book review’

9
Jun

A History of Chinese Civilization

   Posted by: Doug    in Books

In my ongoing quest to gain a general knowledge of China and its history I trudged my way through this exhaustively, comprehensive and scholastic tome. I’m sure the last sentence seems a criticism, when, in fact, I intend it as, well, a statement of fact. I found it full of them. Enough that I imagine that it would serve well as a graduate program text book.

For my purposes, it provided such a detailed look at the trees, I got completely lost in the forest, and sometime forgot I was in a forest – the very thing I was looking for. It is clearly a book that is designed for those who already are conversant with the names and concepts of all of the times and places and peoples of China, without explaining what they refer to. This was hard for me to get my mind around.

Thus, its a good scholastic work – but not for the uninitiated or faint of heart.

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19
May

The Song of Albion

   Posted by: Doug    in Books

The Endless Knot (The Song of Albion, Book 3) The Endless Knot by Stephen R. Lawhead

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have just re-read (for the umteenth time) The Song of Albion Trilogy – and loved it as much as I did the first time.

Lawhead is an outstanding writer that knows how to bring historical fiction to life. He writes as a Christian, without destroying the storyline with awkward Christian-esque metaphors, allegories and evangelical slogans.

In this series one cannot help but think of the main character as a Christ figure, and yet it is set in an alternate ancient pagan Celtic religious context. At various climax points in the Trilogy he lays down his life for his people by performing the hero feat – saving their world from utter destruction. While God is not specifically mentioned, we know that it is the “Sure-Swift-Hand” that saves them over and over again.

For a tale of adventure, virtue and courageous loving leadership – I can’t recommend these books too highly!

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