BOOK REVIEW: The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

 

This is the fifth book of the Narnia series of books about a magical land where a huge Lion presides over talking animals and mythological creatures. Into this land four brothers and sisters have been taken to rid the land of evil and become its royalty. This story, however, takes place in the land of Calormen, which is to the south of Narnia, and involves a young boy who runs away from the fisherman who raised him rather than be sold as a slave. With him is a Talking Horse that was stolen from Narnia when it was young, and together they find themselves the only ones who can warn the Narnians that Calormen is about to attack them. In the process they learn their own worth and a little humility.

Though fifth to be published, this is chronologically the third story in the timeframe of Narnia. The author was best known as one of the leading Christian apologists in the 20th century and this novel has definite Christian overtones. However, it is also a great adventure story as a boy who has never had anything in his life, not even love, finds he is more than he ever dreamed he could be. With enough action and tense moments to keep the reader spellbound, this is a definite must for fantasy fans and young people of all ages.

MOVIE REVIEW: Stardust

 

In the town of Wall there is a border protecting entrance to a magical world. A young man dares to enter that world and meets a beautiful girl. They spend a night together and, nine months later, the baby he fathered is left for him at the portal. Fast forward 18 years, and the child has now grown into a young man. He also dares to enter the magical kingdom to retrieve a fallen star for the girl he wants to marry. Unknown to him, the king of the magical land has decreed that the one of his three sons that can find a lost ruby will be the one to inherit the throne. The fallen star, now a beautiful young woman, holds the ruby, and thus becomes the target for the murderous trio of brothers. Add to this an evil witch who wants to eat the heart of the star to obtain eternal youth, and a gay pirate who captains a ship that sails through the clouds, and you have one great romp of a movie.

Claire Dane stars as the fallen star and Charlie Cox plays the young man, but the real treasure of this film is the supporting cast, which includes Michelle Pfeiffer as the evil witch and Robert De Niro as the gay pirate. While there is plenty of sword and sorcery action in this, as would be expected in a fantasy, there is no erotica (unless you count De Niro dancing around in a tutu) and very little strong language. This is highly recommended for family night, or anyone who just loves a wonderful time at the movies.

BOOK REVIEW: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do by David Jeremiah

 

The author of this book is a staple on many Christian radio stations and broadcasting networks. Head pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California, and president of a Christian college connected to the church, David Jeremiah is known as a man who faced the reality of his own mortality when, in 1994, he was diagnosed with lymphoma and had to undergo stem cell transplant surgery to save his life. That experience is one he draws on in many of his sermons and his broadcast ministry, Turning Point.

In this book the reader is taken through the book of James, using the scriptures to teach things like what to do when a person is not feeling confident, when even small decisions seem overwhelming, when we are being pressured to do the wrong thing, and other dilemmas that life always seems to put in our paths. I do have to warn anyone who listens to Jeremiah’s radio or television programs on an ongoing basis that this might seem like simply reading a series of his sermons. However, for those who are not familiar with Dr. Jeremiah and are looking for answers to help them through difficult times, this is an excellent read.

MOVIE REVIEW: He Went That Way

 

This is a low-key thriller based on the true story of an animal trainer who had a run in with a serial killer while on a cross country drive.

Starring Zachary Quinto (of Star Trek fame) as Jim and Jacob Elordi as Bobby, the story follows the two on their drive across country after Jim picks up Bobby, who is hitchhiking, only to learn that his young passenger is a homicidal maniac that has already murdered two men. Jim is transporting a trained chimpanzee named Spanky and is able to strike up an uneasy truce with Bobby that will allow Jim to stay alive until they part ways in Chicago. Quinto's character runs a gamut of emotions from stunned terror to grudging respect while Elordi maintains the tension of a seething volcano about to erupt at any moment. While not recommended for children due to some violent hostage scenes, this is still worth the watch, and all the more chilling to know that it actually happened.

BOOK REVIEW: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

 

This is a classic horror novel by what was then a young and surprising author. It concerns a scientist who, consumed with the lust for knowledge, delves into questions that are perhaps best left alone. The result is that, through means left undescribed in the book, he achieves the creation of a being resembling a man. Whether or not this thing has a soul is still debatable even in this century, but the result is a phenomenon that is endowed with reason, speech, and all the emotional aspects of a human. Having been abandoned in horror by its creator, it finds its way to the haunts of mankind and, indirectly, manages to learn about the laws of civilization, only to find that its appearance is so terrifying that it is shunned and abhorred. So, it approaches its creator with the proposition that he create again, but this time the product of the creation will be a companion for the monster. When the scientist refuses, the monster goes on a rampage of vengeance that ends up costing the lives of those dearest to the man who made it.

Told mainly in the first person, and changing points of view from the erstwhile scientist to the monster itself, this is written in the romantic style of early 20th century story telling. The author was a young woman (a novelty at that period in history) who was known for her romantic involvement with a poet and nobleman of the time. The novel was originally turned down by several publishers as being too shocking and violent for the reading public but was eventually put into print. It was an instant success, and it has been told and elaborated upon by everything from Hollywood to other authors writing their own versions of different viewpoints of the story. But the best is still the first. This book holds a hypnotic effect that is difficult to pin down, except to say that it is a moral tale about what may happen when man becomes willing to sacrifice anything to attain his own desires.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Wall

 

This is a 2012 Austrian film about one woman’s struggle to survive when an inexplicable phenomenon isolates her from the rest of the world. It stars Martina Gedeck as the woman and follows the events of her efforts to first find a way out of her predicament, and then her acceptance of it and the fight to provide herself and several animals with the means to live. This is narrated in English with very little actual dialogue, which is in German and supplied with subtitles when it does occur. It has exceptional cinematography and Gedeck supplies a stunning performance. There is no strong language and no erotica, with only one truly violent scene. There are instances of hunting and butchery, but both are only shown as ways of obtaining food. A story of stamina and determination in the face of hopelessness and despair, this one will stay with you long after it is over.

BOOK REVIEW: Dragon Tears by Dean Koontz

 

*This review contains spoilers*

During a typical day on the police force, Harry and Connie, partner detectives, are forced to kill a man who shoots up the diner where they are having lunch. Shortly after, they find themselves in some inexplicable circumstances when a man who can change shape, throw fireballs, and freeze time targets them for death. With no one to depend on but each other, they must find this maniac who uses his psychic powers to destroy.

Koontz has a way of weaving several different points of view, including that of a dog’s, to keep this story moving quite effectively. However, putting a face on evil is another of Koontz’s gifts, and he does a remarkable job in this. I found myself feeling a bit sorry for this villain. Is he a monster? Yes. Is there any other way to stop him than to kill him? No. But this antagonist also turns out to be a 20-year-old young man who was born to a woman who first abused her child invitro by trying all kinds of alternative measures to abort him, and then subjected herself to self-mutilation rather than being faced with the responsibility of raising him. He ends up living with his grandmother, an older woman who might have had some mental issues of her own and growing up in an atmosphere where the only way he could gain attention was to use his unique powers to cause pain. Given that he never had the chance to learn that fear and love are not the same thing, I found this to be a rather tragic bad guy. A good, if somewhat predictable, story is the result.