CFRB Book Tour for August: "Best of CFRB"

The Christian Fiction Review Blog (CFRB) has been in operation since January 1, 2007, when the first book toured was Arms of Deliverance by Tricia Goyer. 43 novels have been spotlighted since that time, and there was a feeling that it would be good to recap some of the better titles. Most of the CFRB members weren't there at the beginning; but it's my understanding that quality writing was evident from the outset. This week various members will be reaching into their individual archives to revisit titles that each of them considers top-notch. Since I am not sure just who will be contributing this time, I ask you to look at the scrolling bar--CFRB--on the right side. Current and recent members are listed there, many of whom should be reviewing this week. As for me personally, I have had great difficulty choosing, so I'll be rerunning one review per day. Six still wasn't enough, but choices had to be made.

The Wordsmith Revisited: Names and Pictures Mean Something

Once again,  I found myself paralyzed before the computer because there were too many thoughts competing to be written down. So, I apologize for this blog surfacing so late in the day. I just wish, when I read a book that I enjoy, I could maneuver words well enough to express the spirit of those books. And "spirit" is exactly what I mean about The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux by Clifford Leigh. You might figure that out sooner than I did if you read the book. I was a little dense.

The entire time that I was reading this unusual book, I was struck by two elements in particular: Mr. Leigh's choice of words--especially names--and all the pictures. Therefore, I've decided to focus on these devices.

Ah, what's in a name? Depends. Sometimes names are chosen for heritage, for their sound, and sometimes for their meaning. All three are true in The Wordsmith. At times I was reminded of the fun names in Charles Dickens' books. For example, when Corey has to go to the dentist, Dr. Worell K. Riesen. His nurse has the outstanding name of Pedifoot. Perfectly upside-down for a dentist's assistant. At first I thought the doctor's name was just fuuny, until I said it out loud. Then I heard whirl (like a drill) and caries. 7th graders, fresh from Health classes, will probably pick up on that faster than I did. (Aside: the whole dentist scene reminded me of Dickens for more than the names. It is so funny, very cleverly written. The descriptions of the characters bring them and the situation to clarity in all their ridiculousness, especially the germaphobic, overstuffed, pompous Dr. Riesen. Ah! Just aas I was writing this I realized his name is also a type of candy--more irony?).

For those who are as dense as I am, a character named Ben helps point the way. Corey meets Ben and Benjamin Endben inside The Land Under The Tree, and Ben is quick to snicker at names, even his own. He made me realize the meaning behind Fern and Kosmo Kreechur. Funny names, ridiculous people, but symbolic of much more. See, these two enter the shop of the Wordsmith while Corey, Ben and Benjamin are there. Corey is duly impressed as he watches the Wordsmith's words create something living from nothingness (sound familiar?). The Kreechurs enter the shop and never even see the Wordsmith, yet they are enamored by the creation. Fern is a nature-lover who gives homage to Mother Nature for her own creation while Kosmo calculates (scientifically, of course) that this living creation is 365 days old. To these two, the creature, or creation, was greater than the creator. In fact, they don't even see the creator when He's right in front of them. Sound like anyone you know or have heard about in the real world?

A game filled with children provides all kinds of creativity with names--the game that everyone in New Dragenstoy ( a fun name in itself) played or followed--Darbol. The game itself made me think of the Spanish word for tree--arbol. And, after all, this place is under The Tree. The game was invented by the founder of this city, Coyle Dragenstoy. Think about it. It isn't a nice game, and it doesn't encourage godly behavior. Heritage names show up here, I think, with nods to the founder: Doyle, Boyle, Hoykin, Royzin, etc. Other names have meaning. Benjamin tells Corian that his name meant "some of my right hand", and any of us who have read the Old Testament know the story of Benjamin and of his name. It fits.  I think Corian means something in another language, but I'm not sure. I know a Griffin (his last name) is a mythological beast befitting a fantasy such as this one. Then there are the names Pavo and Cigna (Latin for 'turkey' and 'swan,' repectively) and Loyal that show up later in the tale. You'll probaby notice more that I did. I am a bit dense, after all.

Wow; I haven't even started on the pictures yet, and they are essential to the novel. It is only fitting that a man who is a visual artist and an architect by trade should incorporate art and architecture so heavily into his written artwork. (Oh, and by the way, Cliff Leigh is the very apt illustrator as well as author. All the pictures you have seen--other than our logo--on the blogs for the tour are his work.) The weird trip begins when Corey finds some family picture albums, and falls into one of them,  a tree that is decorated with framed pictures of many, many people. It turns out to be an impossibly large tree. But, after all, it is Corey's family tree in a rather literal sense, covered with images of the people who are literally in his family tree. And it is  a very large tree, including all the human race (we all can trace our heritage back to Noah, after all.) In the land under The Great Tree, there  were pictures everywhere. pictures that Corey and the others could step into, become part of, become lost in. Sometimes the picture up front was a facade for what was really happening. For example, one of the pictures shows a family frozen in a family portrait, all smiles and love.Yet when the boys stepped in, they found that only the front was there, like cardboard props. The real family situation was far from the happy scene out front.

Pictures abound throughout, pictures of people, images that recall scenes from scripture, and images that remind us of ourselves and the condition of the world. Then there are some very special pictures that Benjamin carried with him and showed to anyone who would look. Near the end of the book (a tiny spoiler here), someone identifies them as "The Lambskin Pictures." They include a picture of  the kid, but I'm not going to  describe that one. Or the others. The fact is, though, that everyone who saw those pictures were somehow affected by them, and the affect depended on whether or not that person decided to accept what they saw.  For any readers familiar with the Bible, the images of the book and the images portrayed through the words will make you think about The Word and the One who spoke The Word, the one who is The Word.

So much more I could say, but I think I'll end with Clifford Leigh's own words about words, pictures, and his book:

Just one more thing on the use of  pictures: It is said, “A picture is worth a thousand words” but which words?

  As a professional artist I have learned the limitation of pictures and the absolute supremacy of the Word over images. I have exhibited pictures that I labored to express a particular meaning only to have viewers decipher wholly different interpretations from them. Words are a more specific tool to convey meaning. There fore, I opted to write a book of words describing things that no one is viewing, instead of filling a gallery with paintings of these things." (For the rest of this deep explanation about the book, check it out at "Orgins and Meanings" on his website blog.)

Once again, I urge you to find out more about the book and the Renaissance-man-author, Cliff Leigh, by visiting his website at http://www.cliffleigh.com .

Don't forget, someone who comments on the CFRB blogs (including mine) this week will win a copy of The Wordsmith, the Kid and the Electrolux. Since I'm getting this blog up so late in the day, I'm extending the deadline until noon on Monday, January 11.








Purchase The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux at Christianbook.com, Booksamillion.com,
Amazon, Amazon Kindle, or Barnes and Noble.



Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

    

CFRB January Tour: The Wordsmith, The Kid and the Electrolux

The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux
by Clifford Leigh

This month, CFRB presents The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux by Clifford Leigh.

About the Book:
"I was not certain if the whole world I had fallen into was upside-down and I was right-side-up, or vice versa."

Young Corey's secret life began the day his father refused him a cup of coffee. It drew him, again and again, to the coiling dragon on his father's green Chinese box and to the Carnival Surprise of the ice-cream man, Mr. Good. But he had no idea his desires would propel him with a whoosh into the strange, dark closet...or a headlong, terrifying fall and the adventure of a lifetime. It was a strange day...but nothing like the night Corian Griffin met the Electrolux.

Fantasy. Adventure. Surprise. A tale of growing up and growing wise.

About the Author:
Clifford Leigh is an author and illustrator, has had numerous gallery exhibitions in SoHo, and, as “Chief Idea Person” to Pop Artist Mark Kostabi, his work is exhibited in major galleries and museums worldwide. His continuing collaboration with Kostabi most recently produced an illustrated Book of Genesis and pieces for Pope Benedict XVI.

Cliff is also a designer for Evergreene Achitectural Arts, the world’s largest art and historical restoration firm. His design work can be seen in notable buildings such as The Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the White House complex, St. Peter’s Church, San Francisco, the Miami City Hall, Grey Towers Historic Preservation, the Allen County Courthouse, and the Meridien Grand Opera House.

Cliff lives in New York with his wife and three sons. The Wordsmith, The Kid, and The Electrolux was entirely written and illustrated during his daily three-hour train commute. He is currently working on its sequel, Islandship River.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

Visit the author's website and the WKE Blog.
Purchase The Wordsmith, the Kid, and the Electrolux at
Amazon, Amazon Kindle, or Barnes and Noble.   

Book Trailer for TCTMNSA

As a little teaser to whet your appetite, enjoy this short book trailer for The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again.





I'll be posting a review tomorrow and interview on Tuesday. For now, I want to say that this may be a children's book, but the message and the clever writing definitely will appeal to adults as well.


Pleas visit the author's website.

Purchase The Cat That Made Nothing Something Again at
Amazon or download for FREE from the Author's Website
Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

ANGEL OF WRATH Rates High on the Creepy Scale

CFRB is touring Bill Myers' latest novel, Angel of Wrath, in June. Let me say right off the bat that this one is high on the creepy scale, so for all of you who like spiritual thrillers, you will probably like this book.

The adventure involves three characters who had appeared earlier in the novel The Voice, but that doesn't mean you can't follow this story if you haven't read The Voice. Bill Myers drops in pieces from that story to let us understand more about the three main characters. His writing skills are such that this doesn't end up as an information dump, but scattered nicely throughout the tale. These three are very imperfect (read normal) people with emotional scars that color their perception of the world, yet three who God cares about and who are in the process of healing even as their story unwinds. Charlie Madison is a former Special Ops guy haunted by some of his past, wanting to serve the Lord now in all he does. Charlie is partnered with Lisa Harmon, a former FBI agent who apparently bent a few too many rules when she was in the agency. Charlie asks Lisa to marry him at the beginning of the book, but Lisa isn't ready for that right now. This daughter of a preacher suffered some abuse as a child that has kept her enchained in many ways, unable to deal with men or God very well. Finally, there's Jazmin, or Jaz, Charlie's teenage niece who became his charge when her parents were killed by terrorists. Not only was she orphaned in a rough way, she's deaf! Jaz has the unfortunate attitudes of many teenagers, which include a good bit of rebelliousness and rash actions. Yet she has a gift of "hearing" that doesn't involve her ears: she gets sensations of warmth, evil, coldness, and God, especially in music. So even though she can't hear the music in a physical sense, there is a supernatural sense that ends up being very important to the story.

It seems that Lisa's brother Thomas is the pastor of a thriving megachurch, and his members are being murdered in really freaky ways. The book opens with a doctor putting his daughter to bed. This doctor performs abortions, and earlier in the day he had received a cryptic note on a church bulletin: THOU SHALT NOT KILL. He apparently dies from a heart attack brought on by fright, but the words THOU SHALT NOT KILL also appear on the daughter's wall. The next victim is a businessman whose car stereo suddenly plays the song "Money" on every station, and whose car stalls out on the railroad tracks. The doors lock and he can't get out. When the train comes rolling towards him, he can not escape. On the seat beside him is a note on church stationary: THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.

So Rev. Thomas Harmon calls on his sister and Charlie to help find whoever is killing his church members. Meanwhile, there is also a cult going on in the woods: teenagers in the town are gathering, sacrificing cats, and calling on some forces that they don't understand. The guy who is behind the cult teaches that Jesus and Satan are acting together to bring revenge. These rituals in the woods call up something no one expected.

The book is teaming with supernatural occurrences, and the hair on the back of my neck bristled more than once. It definitely held my interest all the way through. There are so many stories going on at the same time and lots of baggage that needs to be unloaded, lots of problems that only God can handle. I can't say I am in complete agreement with some of the theology, but it gives a reader plenty to think about. Hopefully it will not only entertain the readers, but bring them closer to God in the process. It certainly made me think a bit more about certain areas I need to pray about more. It also should make us think about the power of worship and praise, and the need to really mean it when we sing those powerful songs to the Lord. I feel like the power of prayer is downplayed a bit too much in order to emphasize what true praise and worship are, but , nevertheless, some good points are made.

With an emphasis on teenagers, this book certainly qualifies as Young Adult, but it is most assuredly a good one for adults, too.

Bill Myers is a prolific writer with many books for adults, teens, and even kids. You can find out more about him and his work at his cool website here.

You can buy Angel of Wrath at many Christian and regular bookstores, or online at Christianbook.com , Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Booksamillion.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

ANGEL OF WRATH by Bill Myers: CFRB Tour

Angel of Wrath
by Bill Myers
This month, CFRB presents Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers.

About the book:

Thirteen-year-old Jazmin, her ex-Special Ops uncle Charlie, and former FBI agent Lisa are reunited in the second of the Voice of God series to stop a an assassin driven to murder members of a megachurch led by Lisa's brother. This assassin has drawn in a coven of teens toying with satanic practices to support his efforts. The naive youth engage in ceremonies that appear to usher in the death of each of his victims. When their rituals open a portal into the spiritual realm, a terrifying and mysterious entity crosses over to our world.
The battle culminates with the capture of Lisa's father as the next target and a Black Mass requiring both their deaths as a sacrifice. The team will, once again, have to rely on all their wits, strength, and faith to survive in this action-packed, unearthly warfare.

About the Author:

Bill Myers is a popular and prolific writer who has authored nearly eighty books, has over two dozen screenwriter/director credits, and holds several national and international awards for his work. Myers holds a degree in stage directing from University of Washington and has studied at the Italian State Institute of Cinema in Rome. He was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in theology from the Institute Theologique de Nimes in France, where he taught. When not writing and directing, he enjoys acting, speaking at various schools and colleges, and working with the youth of his local church. Myers lives in California with his wife and two daughters. You can visit his Web site at Bill Myers Books.

Purchase Angel of Wrath at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

SAVE MY CHILDREN: THE STORY OF A FATHER'S LOVE

Save My Children is “the fictional retelling of a true story, made possible by the generous time and energy of certain individuals, not the least of whom was Harvey Jespersen.” (from the introduction) A small band of Canadian Christians gathered together, feeling the call of God, and built an orphanage in the fields of Alberta on some donated land and out of three army barracks given to them by the Canadian government. Thus began the quiet yet worthy ministry of Bethany Homes for Children in 1948. For the 60 year anniversary, they wanted to share their story with the world. And so Emily Wierenga began researching, interviewing Harvey Jespersen and others in order to write a slightly fictionalized account of the history. I think the fictionalization may be to respect the privacy of real individuals.

The style of this novel is quite different from most books I have reviewed recently. Much of it is like a biography of Harvey and Elsie Jespersen, interspersed with vignettes from the lives of children who came to know love and hope at Bethany. There was Jimmy, whose father had deserted him long ago and whose alcoholic mother killed herself. He came to Bethany feeling it was somehow his fault. Then there was little Eva, who at 12 found herself stealing and leading her nine little sisters and brothers to find shelter because the men who visited their mother abused the children if they went home. At Bethany, they found lots of love and food and learned to trust adults. Children who grew up in the cold city streets squealed with delight at the pigs and playing on the farm with “Dad” Jespersen. Children from Toronto, Saskatchewan, little victims of hardship and neglect, Native-American waifs and frightened orphans—they came to find a center of security, safety, and love at the Bethany Homes for Children. The Jespersens became Mom and Dad to all of them, at least for a period of time.

Save My Children is truly a moving story that demonstrates the lasting effects of God's love pouring through the lives and actions of his servants. Although most of the stories are left unfinished, this is as it really is in life. We touch lives briefly and never know what happens to those people in the future, but in our encounters with them we can make an everlasting impact if we let God work and speak through us. Some of the stories do reveal later lives of "Mom" and "Dad" Jespersen's children, children who may never have known Jesus or His love if they hadn't gone to Bethany.

The dedication of the book reads, "This book is dedicated to all children hungry for a father’s love. May this story make you believe in a better future." I hope it will do the same for all who read it.

Save My Children by Emily Wierenga
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Castle Quay Books (September 5, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1897213352
ISBN-13: 978-1897213353

For more information on the author, the book, and Bethany Homes for Children, see the author's website at www.emilywierenga.com .

You can purchase Save My Children through Castle Quay Books , Target , Amazon, or directly from
Bethany Homes for Children . All proceeds go to Bethany Homes for Children.

Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.

Also http://bibliophilesretreat.com and Virtual Book Tour de Net .