That’s the line at The Daily Beast, and they’ve asked some authors to rewrite Mr. Obama’s story. I think I need a drink before I read the rest of this.
Have a Simeon Christmas
What follows may look, to start with, suspiciously like a pity party. I understand why you might think that, since I haven’t been above such fishing expeditions in the past. But I’m going to do my level best to avoid “poor me” games here. I mean to address, not my own situation, but that of others.
Lindsay Stallones over at Evangelical Outpost has posted a meditation pretty much guaranteed to bring us all down. In We Need a Darker Christmas, she notes that the true Christmas story is not a merry and bright Claymation special: Continue reading Have a Simeon Christmas
Advent Ghost Stories
Loren Eaton’s Shared Storytelling: Advent Ghosts 2010 is coming up Friday. I have a couple short-short stories (only 100 words) to post, which I plan to do early and mid-morning. Loren will have links to everyone’s stories, and I’ll link to his index post once it’s up.
Flaherty on Lewis in the Wall Street Journal.
I don’t remember who pointed this out to me, but Micheal Flaherty at The Wall Street Journal offers a brilliant defense, both of Sarah Palin and of C. S. Lewis, against Joy Behar’s ignorant dismissal of the great Oxbridge scholar and Christian apologist as somebody who wrote children’s books.
An amazing slip-up on the part of someone who, we seem to be constantly assured, is one of the great minds of our time. I suppose I could say I was Surprised by Joy’s Ignorance.
Church's Latest Intense Mystery
Torie Bosch reviews James Church’s latest novel, The Man with the Baltic Stare
“Church’s real gift lies in intensifying that mystery,” Bosch writes, “presenting to us a nation of living and conniving people, not brainwashed ciphers. In his fourth volume, he sheds more light than has been ever before on the puzzling mix of motives that lurk in the North Korean who stays put.”
"On Christmas night all Christians sing"
Let sin depart, while we His grace,
And glory see in Jesus’ face;
For so shall we sure comforts find
When thus this day we bear in mind. (from the old lyric of “The Sussex Carol”)
Iranian Filmmaker Jailed, Banned from Filming
The Guardian (UK) reports:
The acclaimed Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi was sentenced to six years in prison today, and banned from directing and producing films for the next 20 years, his lawyer said.
Hamid Dabashi, a professor of Iranian studies at Columbia University, said: “What Iran is doing with the artists, is exactly similar to what Taliban did in Afghanistan. This is exactly like bombing Buddha statues by the Taliban, Iran is doing the same with its artists.”
Early warning on Erling's Day
December 21 is the anniversary of the death in 1028 of Erling Skjalgsson, hero of my Viking novels.
I know what you’re wondering. “How do I express my condolences?”
The best way I can think of is to order a copy of West Oversea.
Even if you already have one.
I know it’s what Erling would have wanted.
Film review: "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"
(If you’ve seen the following review already posted at The American Culture, you may be wondering why I posted it first there, which is not my usual practice. The reason is that I was asked specifically by Sam Karnick of TAC to write this review last weekend, but was prevented by the weather from getting to the theater. So after I’d viewed the film yesterday, I made haste to post it for TAC as quickly as possible.)
The big question you’re bringing to this review, I’m pretty sure, is, “Is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader worthy of its source? Is it more like the first movie, which we loved, or the second movie, which we didn’t even bother to see?”
I’m happy to report that for one C. S. Lewis geek at least, the movie was very satisfying and provided an extremely good time at the movies. (I saw it in 3D. I don’t know if that matters or not; you’re on your own on whether to spend the money. Personally, I’m a sucker for flashy magic.)
It should always be borne in mind that books and movies are different species of story. What works for one may not work for the other (though it’s nice when they do). I ask just three things of a film adaptation of a beloved novel. First, it should make some effort to follow the general outline of the original (extra points for dialogue faithfully carried over). Second, it should hit most of the dramatic high points. And third, it should deliver something like the same emotional impact.
For this particular viewer, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader succeeded. Very well. I’m not sure yet, but I might even like it better than the first movie. Continue reading Film review: "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader"
Santa Don't Play That
Now hear me, children. When Santa Claus comes down Santa Claus Lane, he’s gonna be looking for right-thinking children this year. D’you hear me? Orthodoxy. I mean you’d better have your doctrine right or Santa’s gonna put your name on the Naughty List.
Santa’s getting back to his roots this year, and that mean fighting Christian heresy. You got those seeker-shmeeker churches in your town? Those entertainment-driven dives posing as churches? Or you got those preachers who tell you to clean yourself up, pull up your own boot-straps before coming to God for forgiveness? Santa don’t play that. You got that junk going down in your house, and Santa will lay the Holly-Jolly upside your face.
So, you better watch out, punk.