I can't believe I had never read this! Just because it is such a classic novel. I make no difficulty in the reading of it, as I see many reviewers didI can't believe I had never read this! Just because it is such a classic novel. I make no difficulty in the reading of it, as I see many reviewers did, though compared with, say, Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott (born 30 years either side of Hawthorne) the writing is very wordy and harder to easily read. I believe he was trying to make the language more 'historical' and that is just another case in point for writing history as if your characters were contemporaries; I have never been fond of historical novels 'written forsoothly'.
I commented when I wrote Hester's character up for our 'Cage Fight Match' that from the beginning Hester struck me as being pattered on Mary, Mother of God. Yes, I can see perhaps more Mary Magdalene - and Mary certainly didn't commit adultery with a minister! - but I think that Hawthorne, who apparently was a devout soul, still patterned her that way, as his own beliefs were obviously more forgiving than the Puritans he was writing of - and, essentially, criticising.
Hester was an original 'feisty' woman - and I'll allow that because of the context. (I am usually critical of feisty women in historical novels if they don't fit the context of the times - but Hester does). She was not cowed by every opinion in her circle being against her and refused to denounce her lover. The subsequent tale is of honour, guilt and a vengeance that never came about. Though subsequent events certainly acted against the man she was proudly protecting; how he must have suffered to be hiding behind her. What hypocrisy must he have known in himself! And, from looking like a victim, an object and a sinner, Hester became a winner. Though she is but a fictional character, I likened her to the bravest 'ordinary' people who became extraordinary in unusual circumstances. It is not so common to remain true to your own convictions against what everyone else thinks. And that I see as the ultimate victory in the story of Hester Prynne. That and her own changed beliefs that were more tolerant of human frailty than the society around her....more
I never did read this part of the Narnia series - or if I did, I have zilch memory of it! The Christian message in this book is far more clear than inI never did read this part of the Narnia series - or if I did, I have zilch memory of it! The Christian message in this book is far more clear than in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - although it is a different part of that message. The more you read this series, the more you see the archetypes and the symbolism; written for children, I believe it is just as rich for adults as a result. The White Witch is specifically stated to be "Lilith....not human at all" A representation of the devil. Aslan, of course is God - and includes the Holy Trinity when we come to the Easter story told in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - the 'sons and daughters of Adam and Eve' are faulty human beings making bad choices - or good ones. The animals are innocent apart from when degraded by Evil.
I first read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe aged 4 or 5 and the meaning of it completely passed me by. It was not until my teenage years that I understood it, somewhat. Reading these books again by this age is almost a revelation as both the fantasy element is quite astonishing but the underlying meanings are complex to decipher and left me very thoughtful. Personally, I would see myself as having a spiritual life not a religious one, so the Christian message is more of interest than of meaning but anyone can take the overall basic message that all world religions have at the core - and appreciate the rest as part of my/our heritage of faith. ...more
Written as if for young adults - that is, language and construction a bit childish, which I don't like as it suggests young adults are all about 12 yeWritten as if for young adults - that is, language and construction a bit childish, which I don't like as it suggests young adults are all about 12 years old and not too bright; patronising, in fact. It's an interesting idea though some of the situations arising are dealt with unrealistically - the end scene with the counsellor is unbelievable and the assertions of psychiatric professionals that this or that will now happen are extremely naive. There is evidence of NZ idiom in the dialogue.
Dawkins greatest delusion seems to be that he is right. I thought I might find less ranting than I remembered but I was wrong. I find it hard to underDawkins greatest delusion seems to be that he is right. I thought I might find less ranting than I remembered but I was wrong. I find it hard to understand that someone like Dawkins can't see that he is simply espousing a set of beliefs; that 'science' also constitutes a set of beliefs and the repudiation of God as an entity in any form is also a set of beliefs. Thus, he and I are identical - hopefully without the ranting, on my part. Though he is just the man to bring out my inner ranter, I suspect!...more
I detest being told how to be. The following comes from another reviewer - it says what I want to say better than I could frame it:
"Utter drivel. The I detest being told how to be. The following comes from another reviewer - it says what I want to say better than I could frame it:
"Utter drivel. The book was badly written, righteous, condescending, preachy, and worst of all, the ending was morally questionable. All the fables and stories are stolen from elsewhere, religious ideas and spirituality are badly mixed, and everything is so obvious."
Good thing I read so fast, it only wasted an hour of my time....more
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