When the sugarcane’s burning and the rabbits are running, look for the boys who are quicker than flame. Crouch. Stare through the smoke and let your eyes burn. Don’t blink. While cane leaves crackle and harvesters whir, while blades shatter armies of sugar-sweet sticks, watch for ghost in the smoke, for boys made of blur, … Continue reading Boys of Blur
Outlaws of Time III: The Last of the Lost Boys
“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.” - C. S. Lewis Reflecting on that C.S. Lewis quote, I cannot think of any exceptions to that rule. In Death By Living, N. D. Wilson writes: “...I write for children because I have read more … Continue reading Outlaws of Time III: The Last of the Lost Boys
Leepike Ridge
“What poetry does is represent nature. That can be handy because nature is big and changing and various and hard to look at. Whereas with somebody with a great eye and a big soul, they could explain it to you.” I heard Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, say this in a lecture … Continue reading Leepike Ridge
Modern Day Inklings
A few years ago, I had never heard of Jonathan Rogers, S. D. Smith, N. D. Wilson, Jennifer Trafton, Doug McKelvey, Andrew Peterson, or A. S. (Pete) Peterson. Anyone who reads enough of my reviews or who follows the threads I comment on in our Facebook book club, will notice that I have a strong … Continue reading Modern Day Inklings
Outlaws of Time
Outlaws of Time is Louis L'Amour's Lonesome Gods meets Doctor Who told through the voice of a modern Flannery O'Connor for boys - set in the sticky Arizona desert. And just to make it a little more of a tilt-a-whirl, reminiscent of Doctor Who and Flannery O'Connor, every name and every symbol has layered meaning. … Continue reading Outlaws of Time
100 Cupboards: American Magician’s Nephew
"They (the books) are scary, because the world is scary. This is a scary place. If you want to raise weaklings and who fold the first time they meet an obstacle then give them hero stories that never face a real obstacle... (instead) you want to read about people who are actually facing intense challenges … Continue reading 100 Cupboards: American Magician’s Nephew