5 comments about Five Silent Years of Corrie ten Boom, The.

1. I read this book over ten years ago and purchased it later. It is written by Corrie Ten Boom's personal assistant/caregiver. During Corrie Ten Boom's last years of her life she was trapped inside a different type of prison; she was trapped in her own body from a stroke. My mother lived almost 2 1/2 years after a severe stroke (unable to speak) as well, so it was with even greater personal interest that I read this book. The author takes us into the struggles but also the inspiration and comfort that God provides during difficulties in life. This book is well worth reading.



2. This book actually started me on the road to reading. It is inspiring. I actually read this book before The Hiding Place. It is written by her assistant who walked a journey with Ms Ten Boom that was filled with lots of miracles.



3. The incredible and indefatigable Corrie ten Boom who could and would not slow down was silenced by a series of strokes. This book was written through the eyes of her last companion, Pamela Rosewell Moore, who spent time with Corrie while she was living an active life of witnessing, writing and speaking in Southern California and stayed with her to her Homegoing. Truly these last 5 years were probably the hardest trials that Corrie had to go through. Corrie, the energetic and talkative one became silent and helpless. She could only communicate by gestures and simple yes and no. But even though she was incapacitated her faith remained strong, and she prayed alongside her companions. Sometimes when they could not figure out what she wanted, they would all pray and ask God for help. Minutes later, her friends would get the message and be able to render help to her. Corrie endured her imprisonment (this time inside her own helpless body) with her reliance on the Saviour who never left her. She remained a blessing and inspiration to all those around her and her story stays to bless us even further.



4. Pamela Moore tells us in her own words of her experience as the end-of-life companion for the extraordinarily courageous saint, Corrie ten Boom. I was deeply touched by this little book and was inspired to trust God to take care of His beloved children every single day of their lives on this planet. He has not forgotten us, even in our old age and our lonely or declining years. Our God is an awesome God and this book will have your heart singing praises from the first page.



5. The life of Corrie ten Boom is in one word: amazing. She lived a life completely sold out for Jesus Christ, her Friend and Savior. Having gobbled up THE HIDING PLACE, IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE, and TRAMP FOR THE LORD, I had to know how the story ended. And in THE FIVE SILENT YEARS OF CORRIE TEN BOOM, Pamela Rosewell, the last companion to Tante Corrie, describes the final years of Corrie's life. The result is heartbreaking and triumphant.
   
   Rosewell begins her story when Ellen de Kroon is about to discontinue her service as companion to Corrie ten Boom, and Pamela takes her place. They travel the United States for some time, and finally settle down in Orange County, California. Corrie worked on a few book and film projects, and then the first stroke hit, leaving her without speech. The story is as much about Pamela's own growth in the Lord as it is about Corrie's final moments on earth. Be forewarned: there are moments that will evoke a lot of emotion. A handy tissue box might be a good companion as you move through the book.
   
   Definitely a wonderful addition to any Corrie ten Boom library.

5 comments about Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love.

1. This is one I borrowed from the library but definately will buy to add to my collection. I read this leisurely in 4 days staying up pretty late on the 4th day trying to finish it. It is amazing what someone can get through when God is carrying them. I am astonished and happily excited by a story like this one. Thank You for sharing Mrs. Brookshire.



2. This book was awesome. I read the book in a day in a half. This book was passed to me from my Aunt. I learned a lot from ready this book. Just to wait and listen closely to what Jesus has to say. Don't jump into relationships without seeking Gods face first. From this day forward my life will never be the same. I will continue to be more observant of that gut feeling that we get, they are not always butterflies but Jesus trying to tell us something. LaJoyce Thank You So much for sharing your life with all of your readers. This is definitely what God ordained you to do. I was always taught that God allows us to go through things so that we can help others that may face similar situations and so that we can have a testimony to share with others.
   
   Be Blessed and Highly Favored



3. Tjis is a must read for all females young and old to read. AIDS IS A DEVASTING DISEASE!



4. The writer does an excellent job telling the story, betrayed by a thing called love. It was a difficult book to put down , once starting to read it. La Joyce should be an inspiration of hope and faith to all people especaially women. She really opened up her soul and poured it out in this book. I am amazed that she remembered so much of the hurt, deception and pain that she had gone through. What was so interesting to me was the fact that she continue to love and care for husband right up until the time he died of aids. What she endured was truly faith under fire. It's worth buying and reading.



5. I'm very glad this book exists; it's proof this kind of thing can happen. I read this quickly, not because it's going to win a Pulitzer, but because the reading level is not difficult and the subject is so timely and juicy.
   
   1. THE DL MAN'S FAMILY WAS COMPLICIT IN THE CHARADE!!!! So many women in the Black community think the DL is just another example of lying, no-good men. The author here suggests that her husband's mother and sisters were complicit in promoting marriage and keeping the secret just that. When people receive counterfeit money or foreign coins, they often try to pass it off on other gullible people, rather than throwing it away. This book proves that many families of DL men are more than happy to make a Black woman's life miserable if her presence will be a cover for the family. I always say, "Notice how parents don't want their straight daughters to marry gay men, but they'll tell their gay sons to 'get married and cut all this foolishness!'" This book shows Black women who knew full well their DL relative was having unprotected sex with another Black woman and they did nothing, absolutely nothing, to stop it. So much for womanist unity!
   
   2. THE ACTIONS HERE WERE SPECULATIVE WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. Late in the book, the author says, "I still don't have proof that my husband was on the DL." She even suggests that he wouldn't have been honest about it if she had confronted him. HOWEVER, she never did confront him. Some women are very good doing private investigation; "Divorce Court" shows tons of examples of sistuhs doing that. The author herself never sniffed around. She never asked friends if her man was on the DL. She never went to his HIV-positive ex-wife and asked her for questions.
   There are several books and articles saying, "How to see if your man is on the down low." I think many of them are unscientific, salacious, and homophobic. But here, the author kinda admits that she turned a blind eye. This book will not help women ask those difficult questions. If you want to not see the pink elephant in the room, sometimes you will. So this book didn't tell me more info about DL men. It's kinda scant in a way. The explosion in which a DL man has to come clean never happens here and maybe DL men purposely play women because they know they don't really want to see the truth.

2 comments about St. Francis and the Foolishness of God.

1. I finally bought it, and I'm more than glad I did. This book is not at all what I thought it would be about --- it is so much more. Initially, I thought it would be another book about the life of St. Francis which, of late, I've been quite taken with. This book, though, has more to do with how we can make our faith real --- how we can really respond --- in light of a needy world around us. This is just what the doctor ordered. I say this reluctantly, but reading a chapter is almost better than going to church. I close this book at night with the understanding that I've got to get out there and DO something; I feel like I CAN make some small difference in this world, and that means so much to me. I'm at that point where I WANT to change, WANT to make sacrifices, WANT to be conformed to what God wants me to be. I want desperately not to be an 'average' Christian who longs for the same dusty, lifeless, rusting things the world does. This book reminds me that Francis, in his life, was not afraid to give up personal comfort and familiarity. When he finally overcame the greatest personal obstacle for him --- learning to love the leper -- he was freed from within, freed from that nasty monster that can entangle so many of us. Reflecting on his unique experience, I am compelled to look at my own prejudices, those things about people that keep me from loving them completely. I can't remember the last time a church sermon so compelled me. I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to grow in ways far outside the box.



2. St. Francis and the Foolishness of God is not just about St. Francis, but about themes that touch all of our lives. There are reflection questions at the end of each section and an invitation to share stories. I recommend this book for personal and group reflection.

No comments about For the Sake of the Gospel: Throw out the bathwater, but keep the Baby.

5 comments about The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Vol. 1.

1. St. Teresa of Avila is a great writer of the spiritual life, especially regardingg prayer and striving for mystical union. I liked that the book conatins a few of her writings in one book, especially when you want to cross-reference when you read and study her works.



2. Spirituality development and growth can be difficult in these modern times. St Teresa's life and spiritual journey can easily be taken in small doses and applied daily. Her mystical visions can be understood personaly - a rare treat.



3. Teresa of Avila has three popular books in print that continue to aid the spiritual development, which is impressive, considering she lived during the 1500s. A Christian mystic, the knowledge that she imparted in her writings was esteemed so highly, that she was the first woman to receive the title of "doctor," by the Catholic Church. Religious and political leaders sought her advice. Her ideas revolutionized religious life, particularly with the emphasis on equality of all members of the order, and her teachings on cultivating a spiritual life focused on prayer, transform lives to this day. Other popular works she wrote and that are still in circulation include "The Interior Castle," and "The Way of Perfection," but it is best to start with her autobiography, since these both of other works refer to ideas mentioned in her autobiography.
   
   There are many interpretations of her writings available on the market, but I have always found Kieran Kavanaugh's editions to be the most insightful. He prefaces the books with a background with background information about Teresa's life, the atmosphere in which she lived, and ideas of her contemporaries. The translations he provides are clear and he adds notes to explain religious and cultural practices which might seem alien to the modern reader. The fact that his work is published through the Institute of Carmelite Studies adds an air of authenticity, since it was the order with which Teresa was affiliated and strived so hard to reform, that other editions lack.
   
   This is no ordinary autobiography, as Teresa was no ordinary woman. Despite her extraordinariness, the book is written in a conversational tone, which makes her ideas easy to understand and remember; one feels as if she is talking to the reader personally. She also conveys ideas and struggles that ordinary people confront, such as not being sure if she has a calling for the religious life (in the beginning, unlike most Christian writers, she say that she never wanted to be a nun), wondering what God's plan for her is, and experiencing spiritual dryness - in which the great teacher of prayer admits to lacking the motivation to pray regularly. How she discerns solutions for these questions is inspirational for any reader.
   
   The extraordinary aspect of her life revolves around her commitment to trying to learn better ways to speak to God and seek God in her life, which was the basis for her prayer life. Witnesses attended her church with the hope of seeing her rise off the floor in an ecstasy, and she does devote some of the book to defining differences between different states of ecstasy and rapture. She also lists different ways in which people may hear God speak to them; some relate to apparitions, which may interest the reader who is interested in these phenomena as they are claimed to exit in the modern day.
   
   But more helpful, for the majority of us, she outlines paths of spiritual development, how sometimes the best of use can only muster enough strength to mouth prayers in difficult times, but that we should continue to persevere, because perseverance will bring spiritual development if out intention is pure. She believes that fundamentally, prayer is nothing more than a conversation with God, and through our practice of talking to God, we will learn how to hear him more clearly and speak to him with more respect and ask better questions. She outlines different sages to prayer that exist, with vocal prayer being the most basic, and mental prayer being the most developed. She articulates that people's approach to the path may vary; different passages inspire people differently, and some religious practices offer more help for some than for others, but this is appropriate, and there are many paths to the same mansion. Through all her advice, she encourages a joyful approach to living one's religion, because we should be happy to serve God with love as he loves us.



4. St. Teresa of Avila, who lived in sixteenth century Spain, was a woman as complex as those turbulent times; yet also, she was simple, as only the greatest saints can be.

   Her writings are discursive, immediately engaging, written in a warm and sometimes disjointed style, like conversation. If you have read "about" Teresa but put off reading the works of the saint herself, feeling it might be too formidable a task, have no fear. She speaks of the highest mystical experiences in terms accessible to 21st century readers. There are some cultural references and attitudes to be filtered, but over all, Teresa's tremendous pleasure in her loving relationship with God, shines through. Do not be put off by the distance of centuries; don't feel that Teresa is too holy to be comprehended. Read the story of her life, and read her descriptions of the stages of a mystical spiritual journey leading to a marvelous knowledge of God, and an ineffable sharing with God.

   Teresa speaks to all of us, wherever we are in our faith journeys, whenever we live, whatever our state. Her writings are classic outpourings of a soul sometimes desolate, sometimes ecstatic, but always, dedicated to God. Teresa defies category or analysis. You must read her to experience her.




5. Teresa de Ahumada born in Spain on March 28, 1515, died October 4, 1582 at the age of 67.

   A woman of warmth, generosity and spiritual awareness. As a young child Teresa was made aware of God's presence and throughout her lifetime made it her mission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to as many as she encountered.

   She journeyed throughout Spain and laid many Foundations to do God's work. St. John of the Cross was one of her spiritual directors as she went forth to build God's kingdom.

   Volume One has two books: " The Book of Her Life" and "Her Spiritual Testimonies. Other collected works of Saint Teresa which are found in Volume Two are " The Way of Perfection" and " The Interior Castle and in Volume Three " The Book of Her Foundations" and " Minor Works".

5 comments about Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile.

1. Pearce's biography of A.I. Solzhenitsyn may leave off the man's rougher edges, but manages to bring to the fore the centrality of Solzhenitsyn's religious convictions. This seems to be Pearce's forte and his mission in life. In today's cultural wasteland, when nearly no one looks past their momentary needs, it is very much needed. Very edifying.



2. Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile is a fascinating look at one of the most unusual and influential writers of the late 20th Century. Marvellously written, it treks through his tumultuous life from start to finish, focusing on the interchange between Solzhenitsyn's faith and his writing and how the lifelong shaping of his beliefs is reflected in his stories and poems. Engaging from start to finish, this biography also contains 10 previously unpublished poems and a collection of 24 photographs from various periods of his life.



3. There are lengthy biographies of Solzhenitsyn by Scammell and Thomas, and specialized studies (e.g. Ericson's). Pearce's book meets the need of public and undergraduate libraries for a very readable, concise, and up-to-date biography of this controversial Nobel Prize winner. Pearce's book includes some otherwise unavailable recent material by Solzhenitsyn -- the prose poems at the end of the book -- so graduate libraries ought to have it, also.

   Individuals who have read Solzhenitsyn's own autobiographical works and open letters might not need this book, but for most readers it will be a good introduction. It has the salutary effect of prompting one to go and (re)read works such as The First Circle. Pearce doesn't go into depth in discussion of Solzhenitsyn's books, but says enough to quicken interest in them.

   Pearce shows affinity between Solzhenitsyn's positive ideas and those of people such as E. F. Schumacher (Small Is Beautiful). The critique of Enlightenment progressivism and positivism isn't detailed, but there's enough to remind me of writers as otherwise diverse as Phillip Sherrard (The Eclipse of Man and Nature), Russell Kirk, and the author of Ideas Have Consequences. I was also reminded a little of C. S. Lewis's prophetic novel That Hideous Strength, where Lewis presents a distinction between Britain and Logres, as I read Solzhenitsyn as quoted by Pearce, on the souls of nations. Familiarity with these writers -- who are often not known, or well known, to persons who presume to speak of their ideas -- can help one to understand where Solzhenitsyn is coming from.




4. Alenandr Solzenitsyn is a man certainly worthy of full scale treatment by a biographer. DM Thomas' biography a couple of years ago was strangely unmoving,and barely mentioned Solzenitsyn's religious views, which are at the core of his beliefs. At one time.AI solzenitsyn was the darling of the right in America,a virulent anti-communist who scorned ANYTHING resembling a welfare state{his attacks on free-market capitalism was soft pedalded by these same people}.Slowly, though, he became more and more removed from the centre of attention, and his novels became more and more obscure{and ,truth be told,rambling and quite boring.The red wheel trilogy...}This Biography places solzenitsyn's religious beliefs front and centre and the core of his being{and the reason he was able to survive the hell of the gulag}. While these are quite interesting, and really have rarely been covered in the West, Solzenitsyn's disdain for the West, his dismissal of pope John Paul II during and audience,his Tsarist tendencies and his almost messianic xenonphobia are not touched{though all are of one piece.] Solzenitsyn in many ways reminds me of Gandhi{without the charm}: wanting Holy Mother Russia to rise again to her greatness without the taint of western Decadence through a spiritual revolution. While he is a moral giant and an extraordiany example of the resilience of the human spirit, he is not served well by fawning, uncritical praise. Alexandr I solzhenitsyn deserves a full ,massive critical biography covering all of his life{his return to Russia has been bittersweet,his tv show was canceled for LACK OF INTEREST.Amazing how short peoples memories are!} This is one small step in the process. Interesting,but...



5. Solzhenitsyn: A Soul In Exile is a new biography of Alexander Solzhenitsyn portraying a complex man of integrity and faith, and whose anti-materialist stance and call for a "moral revolution" are as relevant today as they were fifty years ago. Biographer Joseph Pearce reassess this influential Russian writer who gave voice to the more than sixty million victims of Soviet terror, and who won the Nobel Prize for "the ethical force" of his literary work. Even with the collapse of Communism, Solzhenitsyn continues to be an outspoken critic of Russian leadership's role in that country's economic collapse and consequent rise of lawlessness. This impressive, highly recommended biography showcases Solzhenitsyn's life and work as a courageous stand for truth rooted in Christian and moral beliefs as evidenced in his life, poetry, plays, novels, and pronouncements.

5 comments about Chronicles of Wasted Time.

1. This book is what I call "chewy" - not one to just breeze through in a day or two as you would a bestseller. There is a lot going on here. I think MM had a manic-depressive disorder, and that comes to light in his other autobiographical book (of his diaries) as well. Interesting to read about his
   rocky journey through all the highs and lows, and how he finally finds serenity later in life.



2. It is almost sixteen years since the death of this great writer, broadcaster, actor, soldier-spy and latterly Christian apologist and his voice is greatly missed, particularly at this time with so many major and controversial issues dominating the news agenda. Because love him or loathe him, Muggeridge always had a unique, and often tangental, view to offer on the significant events of the day.
   Without doubt, Chronicles was his greatest work and should be compulsory reading for anyone learning English literature, for it will be found a totally engrossing read, start to finish. Spanning the early part of the twentieth century, Muggeridge was a master in use of the English language and his love of writing comes out on every page, together with his wit and wisdom. The Malcolm Muggeridge Society is bringing more of his work back into print and I'd like to think that it will be read not by existing fans but by a new generation.



3. While I don't claim to have read everything in English, this is the best-written book I've ever read. I remember hoping not to pass on before I'd finished it. Five stars is not enough for this absolutely delightful book, or rather two books. It was originally published in two volumes, "The Green Stick" and "The Infernal Grove", both included here. This is the first edition to include the remnants of the barely-begun third volume, "The Right Eye" (the Chronicles were to have been a trilogy).
   
   Thanks to the efforts of the Malcolm Muggeridge Society in London, here are all three (or two and a bit) books together. What's more, the introduction is by Ian Hunter, who penned his own riveting bio of MM, Malcolm Muggeridge: A Life, as well as assembling short bits and shreds from hither and yon in The Very Best of Malcolm Muggeridge.
   
   To my view, the Chronicles are the very best of MM. Were he to have some place in the literature of the last century, this is the book that would assure it. Not that he would want a place. He considered himself a journalist, not a writer, or as he loved to quote St. Augustine, "a vendor of words". However, as Ian Hunter reveals, he was not simply an observer but a player on the scene of the most tumultuous century in history. As biographer Richard Ingrams has noted, he seemed to know everyone and be everywhere.
   
   In a sense, there was a third book, called Conversion, which appeared instead of The Right Eye. It's the only book he wrote after becoming a Roman Catholic in 1982, and appeared with various subtitles. It's not, as one might think, about becoming an RC, although it does cover that. Oddly enough it's written in the third person, and subject-wise takes up where his book and TV show, A Third Testament, left off, in chronicling his various inspirations. It's best read after the Chronicles, as he retreads some of the same ground, commenting and adding anecdotal reflections.
   
   As much as one would long to read The Right Eye in its entirety, this is all we have. One imagines him reciting that third book somewhere to rollicking applause, for closing this volume one gets the sense that even after a long and prolific life he left us much too soon, and with music still in him.



4. I have only recently discovered Malcolm Muggeridge's writings, and wow! what a man, what an awesome writer! He can make you laugh, cry, and scream all in the same paragraph. I could not put this book down, even though at first it seemed way too long. Every page was crisp with details of a fascinating life! Truly an inspiring, unforgettable memoir.



5. For those who don't know, Muggeridge was a British journalist - editor of Punch, television journalist, etc. He was raised among some of the most "forward thinking" (an ironic phrase) socialist minded, trendy (naturist, vegetarian, etc.) people in London - very much a Fabian set. In his 30s, after he had been a policeman in India and a journalist in the U.S.S.R., he underwent an awakening to the fraud in much of the "progressive thinking" with which he had been inculcated and by which was completely adopted by all his right-thinking journalistic and political circles. He underwent a religious conversion to a high Anglican church (I think - or is it Catholic?) belief - it was later he who publicized Mother Theresa to the world. He is quite moving in describing his religious beliefs and is among the finest prose writers I've ever read - shockingly out of synch with secular modern ideas, and truly an original. He's terribly funny in his tales of the absurdity of Emperor without Clothes leaders and thinkers of the 20th century - particularly those who believe that collective policies by governments can improve mankind. He is as humorously cynical about man and his pathetic attempts to "improve himself" as anyone you'll ever read. He is also truly a fantastic prose writer - these two successive volumes in one are beautifully written and moving.

3 comments about Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Christian Heroes, Then & Now).

1. If you are looking for books that are in-depth and complex in their evaluation of events in the lives of missionaries, this would not be the one to choose. But if you are looking for an easy read, and want to be inspired reading about the life of a woman who has given her all to serve the Lord Jesus in a foreign land, this will be a great choice. I find this series to be wonderful--simple, informative, and breezy reading, perfect for a lazy afternoon and for sharing with the family. It is great storytelling for all ages. Amy Carmichael's life has been revealed simply yet with enough depth to satisfy everyone who delights in learning about the lives of missionaries in our world.



2. Amy Carmichael was an admirable woman who performed great deeds in India. She was devoted to God and did her best to serve him. Although she labored under some misconceptions and ignorance about Hinduism, it is possible to forgive her because she operated from a pure heart and a sincere desire to do the Lord's work. It would not be fair to judge her by today's more knowledgeable and open-minded standards.

   Without wanting to detract from Amy Carmichael's achievements, I wish the authors had taken the trouble to understand the reality behind some of her misguided beliefs. For example, the following statement (from pp. 77-78) is patently untrue: "Buddhism is a religion of many gods and many statues of gods. Buddhists often believe the statue itself is a god and not just an image of a god." A cursory look at just about any middle school social studies book should prove otherwise.

   The authors also depict the British contributions to India in a wholly positive light, although most scholars would agree that their legacy is mixed. Furthermore, their contention that "English rule ... brought roads, railways, industry, and education to India" (p. 96) completely ignores the richness of a great and sophisticated civilization that was the birthplace of some of the world's greatest religions, that gave the world the mathematical concept zero, that had a sophisticated infrastructure already in place (such as the Grand Trunk Road), traded extensively around the world, had a flourishing industry of handicrafts (which were part of the reason the British were originally attracted to India), and so on long before the arrival of the British. The arrogance of such a statement takes my breath away.

   Finally, the author's blanket condemnation of the "devadasi" or temple dancer tradition in South India is ignorant and misguided. From the Columbia University website:

   "The tradition of the ... devadasi in the temples of India, was one of dancer and sexual initiator. It is a tradition found in relatively recent times throughout the East, traditions as old as those in Ancient Greece and Egypt. The Devadasi was often trained in the art of dance from childhood and she would be officially married to the Temple God at the onset of puberty. The dance form was equally erotic and spiritual which is difficult for the western mind to comprehend. .... The Devadasis were not slaves as they are often portrayed but women of high social status, with accomplishment in all of the arts. However because the Western mind could only comprehend the woman as being married or celibate, the devadasi was seen as a prostitute by the British authorities."

   Except that they were not celibate, this is not so different from the position of Christians nuns who are also "married" to the God they serve. Historically, parents in Europe who could not afford to marry off or maintain their daughters also brought them to the church to dedicate their lives to God -- often against their daughter's wishes. I applaud Amy Carmichael for assisting those girls who did not want to become devadasis. But undoubtedly they were many who enjoyed their work and were honored to serve God. Carmichael, who was very much a product of her times and culture could not be expected to understand that. The authors however have a responsibility to be more evenhanded.




3. Amy Carmichael had a huge heart for God, and a huge heart for God's calling for her. She cared for many children and rescued them from a horrible life of being destined to temple prostitution. She made a huge impact on all of the children she raised, and showed them the wonderful love of Jesus. She's also a great example of a woman that wasn't bothered to serve God as a single woman. This book tells about the many ways God used her to reach people who desperately needed to know the freedom of Christ.

5 comments about Joan of Arc: Her Story.

1. This biography is a great choice for both new students of Saint Joan of Arc as well those already familiar with her story. Régine Pernoud was considered to be one of the great authorities on medieval history and Joan of Arc. She spent her life researching Joan of Arc and being French she was able to utilize all of the original source materials that still exist. Her writing style is straightforward and honest and, most importantly, made heavy use of historical documentation.
   
   The one problem I have with this biography is that it is a little tough to read in places. I think the problem comes from it being a translation. The old phrase "loses something in translation" comes to mind. That said if you can get though the dry parts you will have a great understanding of Saint Joan's life as well as some idea about the people in which she interacted during her life. If you read this book and Pernoud's other great biography, Joan of Arc: By Herself and Her Witnesses, you should come away knowing most of the known history of Saint Joan of Arc.



2. I got this book for two reasons: 1) none other than Winston Churchill said that to try to understand the meaning of sainthood one had to read Joan of Arc's trials, and 2) I have become an ardent fan of Regine Pernoud's work. This book disappoints on both fronts: 1) References and quotations from both of Joan's trials are scant, which is truly inexcusable given the wealth of information available, and 2) Mme. Pernoud's incomparably lucid descriptions and illuminating analyses of the Middle Ages are sorely lacking in this book.
   
   The proceedings from both of Joan of Arc's trials have survived almost intact. As a result, there is no other saint (and almost no other historical figure for that matter) of whose life we have such meticulous firsthand documentation. This book gives such shorthrift to coverage of the trials, that one will need to seek elsewhere for a glimpse of Joan's brilliance.
   
   I'd venture to speculate that since this book was published close to Mme. Pernoud's death, she did not have much of a hand in its' writing, but her co-author did. Pernoud's name was left on the cover to capitalize on her prestige, which is why I'm calling this book a ripoff.
   
   If you know absolutely nothing about Joan of Arc you might get something out of this book, but I advise potential readers that a better bet may be Pernoud's other book on Joan of Arc which has no co-authors.



3. Regine Pernoud was a rare type of author: equally respected among scholars and laymen. As conservator of the Archives of France she brought a great deal of documentary information within reach of the general public, enhanced by her own impeccable research and insightful analysis. She is remarkably fair to divergent historical theories, yet not shy about calling some ideas patent nonsense and then demonstrating in plain language why they fail to stand up to analysis. Her prose style is witty and sharp, well preserved in this translation, and you may laugh out loud as she deflates a few fringe theories.
   
   I confess a preference for "Joan of Arc by Herself and Her Witnesses" as my favorite Pernoud book. Joan of Arc: Her Story is among Pernoud's final works and the narrative portion is slender. The exceptionally rich indexes are the real treasure. If you've ever looked at Joan of Arc's name and wondered, "Where the heck was Arc?" you'll be surprised and engrossed by the discussion of her name. If you're familiar with the outline of her life and wondered what became of all those other people she encountered, you'll find biographical essays on every significant figure.



4. This historical research about one of the most incredible events in human history, establishes its analysis on many authentic documents. We go step by step, accompanied by the relevant papers and letters, through the short tragic history of Jeanne D'arc. This method gives this book a tremendous reliability; the reader feels almost at hand with Jeanne, and as he proceeds reading, he enters deeper and deeper into her soul. By the end, you feel that you have lost a friend, a true person of high spirit and blazing convictions.



5. Despite having lived such a short life, much has been written about the life of Joan of Arc. This work presents itself as the superior story of "Joan the Maid", and in many ways it is.
   
   The actual story of Joan of Arc is only about half of the actual text. The remainder is a thorough index of important people in Joan's life with explanations as well as another index of important objects and events in her life with explanations. This is important because the authors often get bogged down in names and details in their storytelling. The indexes serve as a supplemental reference to the main text. Many readers may not be concerned with the siginificance of each character, but those who are interested in these details will be pleased.
   
   Joan of Arc lived a life of devotion to God and to her county. With the turmoil of a war with England that engulfed France, the country seemed destined to fall until a peasant girl stepped to the front. Her devotion to seeing a new king of France crowned saw her overcoming dubious odds. Unfortunately she was unable to see the conflict to its end as she was captured and tried for heresy. Her crime was not blasphemy, but dressing in men's clothes during battle. It was only when she cried out Jesus's named during execution while keeping her waning moments of life focused on a cross that her detractors were able to see that Joan was carrying out a mission from God.
   
   The writing of the story often moves slowly and seems hopelessly stalled by details. While it is an interesting and informative book, it is just not a fun read. I would suggest any person looking for a thorough story of Joan of Arc to obtain a copy of this book.

5 comments about Brother to a Dragonfly.

1. If you were raised in the south as I was, have an interest in the civil rights movement, or want to enjoy one of the most irreverent Christian curmudgeons ever to irritate the church, then read Will Campbell (b. 1924). Campbell was born and raised in the rural and very poor deep south of Amite, Mississippi, "ordained" by family members at a local Baptist church when he was seventeen, and, in a delightfully improbable life, played a central role as an activist and agitator on behalf of African Americans. But to leave it at that would badly misrepresent him.
   
   After World War II Campbell studied at Tulane, Wake Forest, and Yale. He served as Director of Religious life at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), but left after two years because his controversial views attracted death threats. He then did a stint for the National Council of Churches where he worked with most of the civil rights luminaries. In 1957, Campbell was one of four people who escorted the nine black students who integrated Little Rock's Central High School; and he was the only white person to attend the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. So, how did he come to sip whiskey with the KKK and get hate mail from the left?
   
   Campbell came to distrust all movements and institutions, especially the church (he once referred to television preachers as liars, frauds, and "electronic soul molesters"). He dismissed all politics as impotent. It was less than Christian, he realized, to agitate for the oppressed but to hate the oppressor. No, one could not preach what Luther called a "fictitious grace." God loves the redneck Klansmen as well as the disinherited blacks. For the most part, Brother to a Dragonfly tells the story of Campbell's deep love for his brother Joe, and how the latter's tragic demise to alcohol, drugs, and domestic violence led to his premature death. But it was through Joe and an overtly pagan family friend that Campbell had a conversion later in life. Without realizing it, he recalls, his twenty years of ministry had become one of "liberal sophistication. An attempted negation of Jesus, of human engineering, of riding the coattails of Caesar, of playing on his ballpark, by his rules and with his ball, of looking to government to make and verify and authenticate our morality, of worshipping at the shrine of enlightenment and academia, of making an idol of the Supreme Court, a theology of law and order and of not only denying the Faith I professed to hold but my history and my people--the Thomas Colemans [who murdered two civil rights workers]. Loved. And if loved, forgiven. And if forgiven, reconciled." There was all the difference in the world, he realized, between being a "doctrinaire social activist," however laudable, and a follower of Jesus. The key? "I came to understand the nature of tragedy. And one who understands the nature of tragedy can never take sides."
   
   Christian renegade, preacher, author of twenty books and plays, farmer, country musician, friend of Thomas Merton, and agent provocateur, Will Campbell loves a good chew of tobacco and will strike many as enigmatic. Not everyone will appreciate his rapier wit. But PBS profiled him in their documentary "God's Will," in 2000 President Clinton honored him with a National Endowment for the Humanities medal, and Brother to a Dragonfly won numerous literary awards.



2. Brother to a Dragonfly is the story of 2 brothers who, in their own way, idolize each other. Will looks up to his older brother Joe. Joe is the protector. He always wants to make things right. And Joe knows that Will is destined to have a mark on the world. But Will D. Campbell has written more than a memoir in writing about growing up with his brother Joe in rural Mississippi. He has captured a piece of America's past. This book reads like a novel - poverty, war, race relations, the civil rights movement, drug addiction, domestic violence - it's all there. Occasionally Campbell makes an awkward jump in the story, but this some how enhances the voice and reminds the reader that this is life. Life doesn't always flow like we would like it to. While telling the story of his brother, Campbell paints a portrait of southerners (himself) during the civil rights movement that don't always get the recognition they deserve. I was surprised by the insights he had 40 years ago about both sides of the civil rights movement. I was even more surprised to find that I had bought into many of the southern stereotypes, and I'm southern!
   If you are interested in southern literature, coming of age stories, family relationships, American history from 1930's to 1960's, or the Civil Rights Movement, you need to add Brother to a Dragonfly to your list of reads. Will D. Campbell gives a first rate account of his experience. While it is only one man's view, it is a rich one!



3. I've read this book several times, and it never fails to move me. I don't think I've read a more powerful book. Oprah needs to get on this one.



4. This book sets the standard for brotherly love: through the joyous days of youth, through sickness, through the reversal of who worships who, each standing up for the other no matter what.

   This book also wrestles with faith, guilt before the law versus guilt before God, examines stereotypes and throws them away.

   "Suddenly I knew a lot of things I had not known before. I knew that I had been caught in my own trap. (In a discussion with a Klansman) Suddenly I knew that we are a nation of Klansmen. I knew that as a nation we stood for peace, harmony and freedom in that war (Vietnam), that we defined the words, and that the means we were employing to accomplish those ends were identical with the ones he had listed."

   Follow Will Campbell in his journey with his brother and your horizons will be broadened.




5. Brother to a dragonfly, Will D Campbell's brilliant,evocative, nostalgic luminous memoir teels the story of his family in the pre-tva rural south. Though much much more then a simple coming of age story,it is the story of 2 brothers,their lives amid the greatest change in this ountry since the civil war. Will D Campbell and his brother Joe stories are told so movingly,and with such deep power that ,by the end it will move you to tears. It is the sory of a man,family,RELIGION,the south,race,addiction,love and death. It will shatter any preconcieved notions and stereotypes,for Will D Campell is a true iconoclast. I run out of superlatives to describe this book. Read it.