"Holes": A Book Review

 

This picture is from https://www.amazon.com/Holes-Louis-Sachar/dp/0440414806.

I saw this movie with one of my Uncle Kenneth at a curious time, after my paternal grandmother passed away. It was the first time this uncle and I saw a movie at a movie theater, and the only time. I didn't know much about it. I was a university student at the time. I don't remember it having much of an impact on me. But the experience with my uncle was certainly meaningful. I've never forgotten it.

Recently, I read the book. My wife purchased a bunch of books for my 9-year-old son to read. But the problem is, he is not reading them too aggressively, so I've been reading them to encourage him to read them. That's not having a lot of effect so far. Currently he and I are tied.

I have to say, I enjoyed the book much more than the movie. The main character is Stanley Yelnats (You bright ones will notice that his last name is his first name spelled backwards and vice versa). He was at the wrong place at the wrong time and was accused of stealing a famous athletes shoes. 

The judge gave him the choice of going to jail or "camp." He and his parents chose the latter. The boys at this so-called camp have one task everyday, to dig a hole five feet deep by five feet high. Once they dig one hole, they are done for the day and the rest of the time is theirs. 

Child abuse? Of course! And that's why the "camp" eventually gets shutdown. The timing of it is curious. A boy whose alias is "Zero" runs away from the camp. He is actually the boy who stole the shoes that fell on Stanley. A few days later, Stanley worried about him dying in the desert and so he went looking for him.

Surprisingly, he found him and they went up a mountain Stanley was curious about, stayed there for a few days where they found water and then they went down the mountain and returned to camp. While they were gone, a lawyer arrived at the camp to rescue Stanley. 

Stanley could have just left on his own but he was worried about Zero. So it worked out that Zero went with Stanley, thanks to the attorney. While the Attorney General looked for records, he found there were some peculiarities about this camp that go all the way to the Warden. 

Of course, digging the holes wasn't just for building character in the boys but the Warden wanted to find buried treasure. 

There was a white woman who kissed a black man and he got killed for it. Way back when, it was illegal for an African American to kiss a white woman but the opposite was totally legal (Explain to me how that double-standard works out). 

At this time in my life, I had rarely met African Americans as it was prior to my seminary experience in Kansas City. This part gripped me much more while reading the book than what I remember when I watched the movie.

This book reads much like a movie and if you make it to the last five chapters, you will be gripped for the remainder of the book. I haven't read a book that keeps my attention like that for a long time.

This book is highly recommended, though there are a few swear words, which is disappointing given that I  am trying to encourage my son to read it. But aside from that, the plot is good and it will especially grab the typical American boy who likes a story of triumph, where justice is restored.

As for Zero, you'll have to read the book for yourself to find out whether he has to go to jail or juvenile hall or some kind of boys camp for what he wrongfully did. But rest assured, you'll be encouraged.

"American Prophet": A Review

If one wants to read about the political issues during the Donald Trump presidency, this is your book. The main character is a prophet whom God speaks to through dreams. He can tell the difference between a God-initiated dream and a regular dream. It may be the surreal nature of  dreams that sets these "visions" aside. 

Perhaps it's my living in another country that shelters me from the news about the US, but I don't recall hearing any politician talk about the core issues during the presidency of Donald Trump and his responsibility of how he handled those issues. Upon reading this book, the reader will pick up on a progressive Christian perspective. The real names of those involved in leading the country have been changed but the reader will quickly recognize who they are.

The reader is to be warned. There are references to drinking alcohol, and the prophet does commit the sin of a one-night stand. There is occasional profanity, too. Being the tea-totaling Nazarene that I am, I think this book could maintain its message without these things, so take it as you will.

If these things don't bother you, it will be an easy read that puts historical events like the killing of an African American by a police officer, riots, hurricanes and Covid-19 into perspective.

More to the point is that it leaves the reader with a question to wrestle with, what to do when one knows trouble is coming and how to save lives in the immediate. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

It's Okay!

 

Photo by Noel Bauza via Pixabay.

I had the most novel dream recently. I went to my wife's hometown in Chuncheon-City, Gangwon Province in South Korea. I wanted to take pictures of the mountainous area but I didn't get the chance because it rained all weekend. Well, in my dream I got quite the pictures.

The photo above doesn't do justice. I was hiking in snow-covered mountains, going crazy with pictures. I even had a fancy camera (I believe you avid photographers call it a DSLR camera). When lo and behold,  there my deceased Uncle Leland appeared. Naturally, I took a picture of him and then we talked.

Mostly we talked about how everything went south with his intellectual property. To understand this situation, you need to understand the heavy heart I've been carrying. This uncle told me when I lived in the US that he wanted me to be the executor of his estate and apparently he told several other people about it, too. But once I moved out of the US, that was no longer practical. I asked him several years ago about his estate and he said he had made provisions. Well anyway, through all of that drama that happened with his intellectual property (i.e Facebook page, Tumbler account, self-published books on Amazon) either being deleted or books no longer allowed to be published through no choice or action of my own, I carry a heavy heart daily, wishing "if only." 

How nice that I got to express this to him, even if it was in a dream, and tell him how sorry I am that I didn't protect his things better. I told him I was sorry and how bad I felt and he said, "That's okay." 

One would think that would've made me feel better but it didn't. I tried to compromise with those who are in authority on those matters and I lost them, too. And so now it seems a huge loss.

And I carry it with me. No, I wouldn't call it a cross. That's a whole different matter altogether. Needless to say, the dream didn't really settle me. It was more upsetting in some ways that I couldn't really talk to my beloved uncle who was now gone. But I fretted over things more and there are still thoughts in the back of my mind about taking action for justice, but then I think, "What would I gain?" What has been done is done. It's probably best to leave dead dogs lying, as the saying goes.

And so, I go forward, remembering the lessons I learned from Uncle Leland, grateful for the dreams where I get to meet him, grateful for the resources that he left behind that I get access to, that I can read about those parts of him that I didn't know very well. And, as embarrassing as it is to admit, there were lots of things I didn't know about him.

May he rest in peace and "may the Lord of peace himself give [me] peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of [us]. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NRSV 

Bible Reading Plans

 

Photo by [doungtepro] via Pixabay

I wanted to share some ways I read the Bible these days. 

1. Reading the Bible Backwards

One way that is intermittent, is reading the Bible "backwards." I started in Revelation and am currently in Luke. It's been more intermittent recently. I think this works best when reading books of the Bible in one setting. But that's been harder as of late. 

2. "Keys for Kids"

Another way that I've done with my son recently is with "Keys for Kids." Here is the link. Currently, there is a challenge for kids to read the scripture passages and the devotional. This is what got my son interested. The name of the summer reading program is "Word with Zach." Here is the link for that. Upon starting with this, I thought it was a "canon within the canon" where the focus is on Pauline literature but upon further investigation there is also Old Testament and Gospel reading as well. I think it's a good way to get kids interested in the Bible when they aren't interested in reading whole chapters.

3. "Bible Baptist of Belzview"

Another way which I've done hit and miss is with Bible Baptist of Belzview. Here is the link for that. If you are looking for reading from the KJV that doesn't have any roots to the Roman Catholic Church or the Revised Common Lectionary, this could be a good option for you. Or, if you're like me and you get distracted easily and having emails sent to you that remind you to read the Bible, this could be a good resource. As far as I know the chapters and books are not planned according to theme like lectionaries might be. The point is to read the Bible in its entirety.

4. "Revised Common Lectionary"

If you're looking for a more historical approach, the Revised Common Lectionary might be a good approach for you. These readings are matched according to their themes in accordance with the Church Year, which Roman Catholic, Orthodox and more classic Protestant Churches as a whole follow, such as the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Church, Episcopal/Anglican Church et cetera. I prefer the Book of Common Prayer among these but if you're looking for a more neutral resource, Vanderbilt University has a well-organized website. Here is that link. If you want to see my favorite way for connecting with the Church internationally, here is a link to The Online Book of Common Prayer which includes daily readings called the Daily Office Lectionary as well as the Lectionary. Here is the link for that.

5. "Lectio 365"

One more way that I have followed off and on is with Lectio 365, an app provided for free from 24-7 Prayer. This is not to be confused with the International House of Prayer. That's a different organization. The app is available for both Android and iPhones. Here is the link for that. 

I'll update this with other reading plans I find. You're welcome to share your own ideas in the comments. I might look at these different platforms for future review. Let me know what you like and I'll start with that.