Silent Servants...

Silent Servants...

... of the Used, Abused, and Utterly Screwed Up.

A Secular Franciscan looks at the world...
with a more jaundiced eye than ever...
and lots of ellipses for you to fill in the missing text...
(with thanks to Thomas S. Klise for the title)



Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

I believe


that if Jimmy Akin and I were to get together, we'd have a great deal to discuss from a common position on much fiction literature.

Ten Top Books: Fiction Edition

We share a lot of favourites...



Friday, January 22, 2010

But how many really are?


Dennis Quaid Says Apocalyptic 'Legion' Won’t Be On 'Vatican’s Must-See List'

I've read the graphic novel. I think the first thing people need to understand is that IT'S FICTION, FOLKS! It's not theology, it's not history, it's not anything but fiction. The only relationship to Christianity it has is that they both contain God, people, angels and devils. That's pretty much it. I'm not going to argue the author's right to freedom of speech (or drawing, or both), but people have to remember that there is something called fiction. The lines between fiction and reality have been blurred in recent years, with things being published that are obviously works of fiction but that some people take as truth. Then there's the whole 'historical fiction' genre, which is, even in its name, a contradiction. So, I'm just going to repeat it for anyone who missed it the first time: IT'S FICTION, FOLKS!

Thank you.


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A film

that I really want to see one day...

Where the Wild Things Are

I was never a fan of the book as a child as it wasn't published when I was young as far as I know. I was brought up on classics, for the most part. Another generation had the privilege of living in Max's world with Max. I'm sorry to have missed it. I was able to appreciate the art of 'The Wild Things' and loved the imaginative creatures that populated that world. I'm old, but I still love to see these things, so this film is on my list...





Wednesday, August 05, 2009

An interesting review

about what appears to be an interesting novel...

Gerard Manley Hopkins: Prophet & Exile

I enjoy Hopkin's poetry. Even the Liturgy of the Hours in the 4 book format includes some in it's poetry section. None-the-less, and without any negative connotations attached to this book, I do struggle with the 'historical novel' no matter who it concerns. I understand what the authors of these novels are doing, but somehow I just can't set aside my love of fact for the idea of fictional representation of historical individuals lives. (Despite the fact that I enjoy film, comics and graphic novels. If I applied this attitude to everything I wouldn't watch anything but documentaries or read anything but non-fiction. I never said I was logical...)

Friday, June 12, 2009

Fiction,

and fun. Good.

Kaddish Clearance Sale

It has the voice of some of the characters in John R. Powers' books about growing up Catholic in Chicago...

Saturday, August 02, 2008

This is really interesting!


Top 10 Fantasy Worlds In Literature

There's no limit on imagination. This is a pleasant list to read...

Sunday, June 15, 2008

I don't know


Ron Howard filming another Dan Brown novel

I'm sure I won't rush out to see this. The Da Vinci Code was a good yarn, despite it's obvious errors and Mr. Brown's attempts to paint it as the complete truth even though it was based on very, very suspect legend and history. I think that that deliberate deceit was the most negative strike against the book. The film was good, but not perfect, and certainly didn't deserve the blockbuster release it received. I haven't read the book this film is based upon as the reviews I've read were more negative than positive, so I'm sure I won't go out to see it. When it hits the $5 or $6 bargain bins in DVD I'll probably pick it up...

Monday, January 28, 2008

Literary characters


A life of their own

"From Jane Eyre to Jean Brodie, David Copperfield to David Brent, whether solidly realised or lightly sketched, fictional figures can be as vivid to us as real people. But just what, exactly, is a character, asks James Wood "
Perhaps this is part of the reason why I love The Last Western so much.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

The Snakebite Letters

On Spiritual Warfare
"Taking his cue from the new literary genre invented by C. S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters, Peter Kreeft has gathered together fifteen spicy letters from Satan's agents below that allow the reader to spy into Hell's inter-office communication."


Kreeft is a good writer and has a terrific mind. I enjoy reading his books.