Motivational but vague collection of creative writing.
Farrar’s debut collection of poems, parables and devotionals guides readers through present day Christianity, arming them with a spiritual survival kit.
These lyrically pronounced pieces are often full of rhyming triplets, quatrains and allegorical narratives intended to be read aloud. Modeling her writing on biblical scripture, the poet uses verse to lead readers toward moral lessons. In “Friends or Flies,” she anthropomorphizes hippos and flies to show how the intentions of friends might not be always be aligned with readers’ own spiritual journeys. She warns: “It's up to you to discern the difference / Between having friends or having flies.” This motif repeats in “The Wilderness,” where the author confesses, “It had been a long time since / I saw my family and friends / Who decided to disown me / Because I could not live in sin.” Throughout the collection, Farrar grapples with her own faith, sincerely endeavoring to share the intimacy of her experiences. She issues frequent reminders that everyone is unique and refrains from passing personal judgment. Other poems recall youthful memories, such as “Fairytales,” in which she writes: “When I was a little girl / I thought of Jesus as a fairytale / Like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.” But darker terrain lurks around the corner, serving as a stark contrast and fleshing out her spiritual journey; in pieces like “I'm Not Looking Back,” the author struggles to come to terms with her past. Other writings point out the pitfalls of materialism, alcoholism, loneliness and temptation. Farrar often refers to her own painful history but, unfortunately, does not elaborate, leaving the reader stranded in generalities. Whether the vagueness is intentional is unclear, since the author’s mission is to inspire readers to make time in their own lives for a spiritual journey. To this end, a series of interactive questions designed to prompt further exploration is included at the conclusion.
Motivational but vague collection of creative writing.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2012
ISBN: 978-1449737306
Page Count: 268
Publisher: WestBow/Thomas Nelson
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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