Frank Wilson points out an article on Christopher Hitchens’ rant against Christianity, and this statement by Henry Newman is worth requoting. He said, “if anything seems to be proved by astronomer or geologist, or chronologist, or antiquarian, or ethnologist, in contradiction to the dogmas of faith, that point will eventually turn out, first, not to be proved, or secondly, not contradictory, or thirdly, not contradictory to any thing really revealed, but to something which has been confused with revelation.”
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Naomi, Ruth, and the Meaning of Words
Speaking of nakedness and the like, here’s a letter from a few months ago which recounts an interesting Bible study on Ruth. About mid-letter, Mrs. Jackson writes, “Ruth, as you may recall, is both listening and following Naomi’s advice to have a kinsman Boaz help them in their impoverished state. Naomi tells Ruth to go to the threshing floor and sleep at Boaz’s feet. This is where the priestess popped out with ‘In seminary, I learned that when feet is mentioned in the bible it means . . .'” You can probably see it coming. (via Videlicet)
Breaking the Laws of Medieval Blogging
Richard Nokes is talking about the Beowulf animation too, saying he must break the second commandment of medieval blogging, which is “Thou shalt not suggest Neil Gaiman is a mere mortal.” He says that Gaiman has Beowulf fight Grendel in the nude. It’s in the poem, Gaiman says, but Nokes can’t quite find it. I need to read this thing again. He concludes:
Regardless, it is disconcerting how often the words “nude” and “naked” are being associated with this new Beowulf movie. If Hollywood is that desperate to have nudity in a canonical work of medieval literature, they might pick something out of the Decameron — it gives lots of options. (via Blogwatch)
(I’m sure this post will up our blog rating. We have been a PG blog for instances of death and murder.)
But getting back to the movie, I’ve always pictured Grendel as a big monster, not a humanoid thing, like this in fact. I can’t read that post, but I think I saw that image of Grendel when I was first exposed to Beowulf. That’s a troll as I’ve always known them.
Skipping
Bird of The Thinklings asks a couple reading questions. “When you read a book, do you EVER skip any pages or whole sections? If you do skip pages/sections, and you get to the end of the book, do you count the book as “read”?”
Commenter Sara raises a good point in her response.
What if you plow through every word of a book (as I did with Moby Dick at age 16) but miss half the point of what’s going on. Have you read it? After I finished Moby, I told my delighted uncle about it–it’s his favorite book ever. (Seriously, his copy is held together with duct tape and has a hand drawn whale on the cover / top page.) Anyway, he gave me copies of some of his favorite literary theorists on the thing, who made a very convincing argument that Melville was doing something very specifically literary with those whale sex organ chapters, and others of that sort. I not only hadn’t caught it when I read the book–I didn’t even have the concept that such a thing could be going on. Reminds me of one of my favorite authors talking about picking up her father’s copy of Animal Farm when she was ten because she liked animal stories and there was a horse on the cover . . .
Wrapping Up a Great Series
Kevin Holtsberry discusses the close of Olen Steinhauer’s Eastern European Series with his book, Victory Square. He writes, “I have to admit that the expectations are high for this one as his last book, Liberation Movements, was one of, if not THE, book of the year for me last year. But so far, Olen has never let me down.”
Hemingway, Party of 123
In other news, Key West, Florida just held their annual Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar.
Points on Taking Criticism
Mary E. DeMuth notes a few thoughts on a Christian response to criticism.
- Examine yourself.
- Consider this may be an opportunity for you to experience and show Jesus to a weaker brother.
- Even if things spin out of control and all sorts of people say half-truths about you and your words, rest in Jesus and cherish the deeper fellowship you’ll have with Him.
- Remember that even if you say-act-do everything correctly (in a way that would make God smile), it may not change someone’s heart.
- Believe in God’s sovereignty.
- Don’t let the accusations wet-blanket your passion for serving Jesus.
Unread First Edition, First Issue
If you catch any Harry Potter news this weekend, you may not catch this detail: Abebooks.com sold “an unread first edition, first issue from the 500 original copies published before anyone knew JK Rowling’s name” for $37,000. That’s the most expensive Harry Potter book they have sold.
Today, a similar book can be purchased for a mere $68785.62. The London-based seller of this edition describes it, saying, “This copy inscribed to the lady who ran the Edinburgh restaurant (Nicolson’s on Clarke Street) where J.K.Rowling wrote the majority of ‘Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone’ ;nursing a single cup of coffee and rocking her daughter to sleep with one hand, writing Harry’s adventures with the other: ‘For Grainne, With best wishes. J.K.Rowling.'”
Rowling is using this latest book buzz to promote awareness of missing and exploited children by having posters of Madeleine McCann, a girl who has been missing for two months, distributed to booksellers for display with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
God is All Satisfying
I’m late to point this out. Jared links to a video presentation of part of a message by John Piper in which he decries the idea that following Jesus will make you rich and trouble-free. That’s a lie, as the book of Acts proves on its own.
Ripping Off Austen Without Notice
David Lassman, the director of the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, England, decided to slightly alter the first paragraphs of a few of Jane Austen’s classic works for submission to today’s publishers. In the Guardian:
After making only minor changes, he sent off opening chapters and plot synopses to 18 of the UK’s biggest publishers and agents. He was amazed when they all sent the manuscripts back with polite but firm “no-thank-you’s” and almost all failed to spot that he was ripping off one of the world’s most famous literary figures.
Mr Lassman said: “I was staggered. Here is one of the greatest writers that has lived, with her oeuvre securely fixed in the English canon and yet only one recipient recognised them as Austen’s work.”
The one who recognised it said, “I suggest you reach for your copy of Pride and Prejudice, which I’d guess lives in close proximity to your typewriter, and make sure that your opening pages don’t too closely mimic that book’s opening.”
I love this kind of experiment, but hasn’t this been done before with another classic author? I don’t remember the specifics, but I think I’ve heard about someone doing this very thing a few years ago.