Divine Books

An amazing work. Beautiful writing, captivating story. I couldn't put it down.

I've just finished reading I, the Divine. I bought it only two days ago. it's indeed one of the subtlest and most engaging novels i've ever read, and the most innovative ever. The novel has anything but a chronological order and doesn't abide by one narrative technique; it uses as many as you can imagine..from stream of consciousness, to flash-backs, omniscient narrator here and first-person there. It's entirely written in first chapters where some stories resume pages after they started. Sometimes the same story is re-told in a different style- or language!- the moment you think your mind had shifted far from it. At one point, you get the impression that you're reading more than one novel by different authors!
The characters are intricately sketched, through different points of view. The dialogues are cleverly made, suggestive and most importantly genuine and true. A Lebanese myself, I couldn't but identify with all the Lebanese characters in the story. Amazing!
Rabih Alameddine, we're proud of you.

Just like Adonis noted, this novel is completely on point. The life that Sarah Nour El-Din shares with us is one that is rarely so succinctly shown in public, with such truth - especially since Arabs/Arab American's do not ever like to air their "dirty laundry".

It had me completely addicted - It was as if I was watching glimpses of my family and friends lives...and that I was Sarah.

I could not believe that the book is fiction. I laughed, cried, and felt the terror with Sarah. Sarah has an incredible multi-dimensional story interconnected with every member of her family. All of this while trying to figure out where she belongs. Rabih's story telling style let you gaze through the eyes of key people in the story, making you a willing participant in Sarah's life.

Rabih did an excellent job by guiding the reader through the ups and downs of her life, and bringing forward the intricate quarks of the Lebanese Druze culture and the language.

As a Druze and Arab-American, I connected with Sarah and her family from the first pages until the Introduction at the end. I was glued to the book, which I read in one day, although I am not an avid book reader. I also love the never ending chapter 1.

However there are two parts that I did not favor, chapter 1, pp 192-201 due to violence, and pp 231-240 for the dream/faint sequence. Other than that the book is excellent.

This book was a treat. I picked it up at a "2books for 10£" sale at a book store in London, as a companion to justify my other purchase.

I had vaguely heard of the author, Rabih Alameddine, who I believe has been championed by follow Lebanese, historian/author Edward Said. It wasnt until I read the gushing reviews from fellow authors inside that I realized the author was male.

As everybody knows by now, the book is written in a series of first chapters of a book. It was an interesting approach that did take a little while to get used to. Some of the chapters do indeed read like first chapters, and those validate the unique approach well. Others chapters felt less genuine in this regard and understandably, those felt a little gimmicky.

Overall the author does a good job in fleshing the story of Sarah Nour el- Din's life; a story that is being "written" by the protagonist as a memoir. He stumbles a bit in the beginning, and left this reader initially feeling like he had little clue as to how to inhabit the mind of a female character. After a few rough early chapters, Alameddine does a better job in capturing the neccesary nuances. And it is there that the story takes off.

Sarah's "family" is fascinating-- totally disfunctional but ever so clannish. As the novel builds momentum, it is easy to be drawn into the lives of each of the seemingly periferal characters-- fathers, mothers, sons, siblings and lovers.

Something worth noting:
The writing style in a few of the chapters was contrived and annoying-- but as I finished the book I was left with the impression that this was probably intentional. I think it was an effective way to show us the fits and starts that we all experince whenever we sit down to chronicle our own lives either orally or by pen.

I am looking forward to reading Alameddine's first novel "Koolaids."

These cd's were of great help to me. I have been studing this subject for about 4 yrs. and this is some of the best information I've heard.It was spoken in easy to follow ways and in ways that got me excited!Very well done.I recommend this to anybody.

Michael Bernard Beckwith's Spiritual CD product is offered in a simple and easy to grasp presentation. Although his views are not new nor earth shaking in my opinion yet it provides for a gentler awakening for most who have not yet reached their Higher Light Evolution. He is soft spoken and a patient teacher. He treads between the religious and the metaphysical lines.

Michael is a beautful presence on the planet. He has an incredible speaking voice and wondeful insight into helping people move their lives forward. The music that is included is amazing and deserves its own separate CD. The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that if you've been working with spiritual and personal development processes for a while, some (not all) of the material might be a little basic. However, even then it's a great reminder.

There is nothing here I have not heard before. That alone would probably not motivate me to one star, but as a Christian who believes the warning in Revelation not to change any part of the word of God, it bothers me to hear someone say there is no devil, but quote the Bible often and out of context to suit his own purposes. For example, he uses a verse from Job to make it sound like the law of manifestation at work. Since he doesn't believe in the devil, I guess he has to think Job created his own problems. I fear the guilt and unnecessary self hatred such an idea can cause. I don't think he mentions that all Job's friends mistakenly wonder what he did to incur God's wrath. Of course, some people in the Bible do bring problems upon themselves, but the Bible contains a lot more than just law, it contains the gospel. The wonderful thing about God is that we don't have to do it all ourselves. His ideas probably would not have bothered me so much if he just had not quoted the Bible so irresponsibly. I hate to be negative, especially since that seems to be the biggest "sin" of all to the person I'm criticizing, but I disagree with him and have to say so.

For those people who are both familiar and unfamiliar with Michael Bernard Beckwith's lectures will not be disappointed with this CD series. His transdenominational, new thought ancient wisdom teachings are found within, as well as instruction of the "visioning" process. It is a powerful tool for releasing demons from our past and experiencing life anew. I highly recommend this series.

As the silent author of Living Divine Relationships, I wish to share the impact of writing in the state of Divine Flow. While in the sacred state of Divine Flow, there is a golden channel above my head, guiding my heart to speak of the heavenly truths that are revealed. This is a state of prayer, of service in action, and of Divine Blessings.
To cultivate this channel will open each of us to Enlightenment. Then in turn we must become Golden Beings of Light, filled with compassion and kindness each and every day.Living Divine Relationships

The description of this book encouraged me to purchase it. I was looking for insights into developing meaningful spiritual relationships. However, I was confronted with a long-winded discourse on speaking in tongues. Furthermore, the author advises that every space, comma, period and letter comes with a special divine blessing.
So the reader is left feeling torn (or this one was). Should I continue to read it because "I'm just not spiritually attuned yet"? Or should I say, "Hey, mummy, that man has no clothes!"
Finally I gave my self an uppercut and woke up to the fact that it's not wrong to admit you wasted your money. Just get over it and find a book that does "speak" to you.
Oh...if you love this book...you're not invited to dinner at my place. My life is too weird anyway.

I have not read anything before this book of the real openness that exists between you & the divine. The simple pathway to understand the love,the respect, gratefulness that you offer to the divine to learn to see, converse, feel, hear images, words, and healing from the Divine. These words in this book confirmed all feelings and ideas I had of God, my spiritual guides and experiences I have had that felt holy, sacred. This book can transform wrong ideas that our society have created and start a new beautiful journey with the Divine.(God,Jesus,Mary,Allah,Buddha,all religion leaders/teachers/Gurus)
It gives you techniques to communicate with your spiritual guides and your soul. This loving book can change your whole perspective on all of Nature, Humanity, the Universe, Mother Earth and the holy teachers on the Earth.
As a child I had a repeating dream of walking out the front of my home & asking god to give me a pill, or better brain so I would be grown up and understand things. This book is an answer to lot of my requests. Thank You God

This book's focus is how to get in touch with God as you visualize him (her).
It is beautifully written and is helpful in achieving non attachment to the sedentary world that seems to always be tugging at our sleeves. Another point of view is always helpful in the journey.

I had not heard of this book but found it in a local bookstore. I did know of Master Sha but was unaware that this book had been published. The book will speak to your soul. If you are wondering if there is a book that gives a clear description of how to truly live divine relationships then this is your book. After reading it I immediately thought of many people to send this book to and also knew that I had just been given divine wisdom. Thank you Master Sha for this beautiful book.

The reason I got this book was because I was drawn in by the Yorky on the cover and the clever title. But I will admit, I was disappointed by the book's content as I was expecting a lot more. This book is very much like the 365 Days of Dogs desktop calendar where they show a fun photo of a dog and show a cute little story about him. Only this book profiles just a few fun loving dogs. Fun photos, cute profiles. Not a whole lot of content.

I ran across this book by accident, and fell in love with it right in the store. It is now my favorite coffee table book, and I enjoy paging through it regularly. I am purchasing additional books to give as gifts.
This book has beautiful pictures and witty commentary. Some of these stories will both tug at your heartstrings and make you laugh all at the same time.

I have no idea what all the other reviewers are seeing and reading, but it certainly isn't "Cat Spelled Backwards." These "portraits" of dogs are snapshots that any dog owner could have taken, and what can be considered no more than one or two-line captions aren't even "cute."

"Lucy D gets wiped out playing games with her brother and big sister in the big yard of their big house."

That's neither funny, nor fun, and laughable in only the sense that I spent 11 bucks on this thing that I will now give away next Christmas.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Selis' enchanting other book, "Dog Bless America", I was delighted to find this hidden gem. I found the dogs in this book to be every bit as adorable as the ones in his other book (Dog Bless America). I especially like the clever title. It took me a few seconds to do the math, but once I did, I HOWLED for two straight minutes! As a cat-owner(hi, Mittens!) I feel slightly guilty for having this book in my apartment. But in my heart, I believe even a cat would have a hard time not liking this wonderful, magical book!! God bless you, Jeff Selis, for your always-adorable dog pictures!

As the owner of my own dog walking company, and someone that it putting together a book of this kind on their own, I would like to give Mr. Jeff Selis a hug (and of course a run for his money, ha ha ha). This is a fabulous book. The pictures are great, and the text is just perfect. I laughed out loud and even got teary eyed a couple of times. I typically feel the bigger the better when it comes to photo books but this is the perfect size for what he's done. Of course we always love more more more, but I definitely feel like I got my money worth (which is definitely not always true). I own about every book of this kind there is (dog pics, with some kind of text) and truth be told, some are a real let down, even though there isn't a picture of a dog I don't adore, some have proven to be, maybe just too simple? Others show a lack of decision making skills (no, I like the descriptive words, no no, maybe quotes, no no wait, just throw it all in...) But so far in my collection, Jeff's book, Cat Spelled Backwards Doesn't Spell God, just overtook Shaff/Blount's If Only You Knew How Much I Smell You (also a good one), to sit in first place as my favorite. :)

Dear Jeff,

WELL DONE.

Ever read something that captures truths you've always somewhat intuitively known in the recesses of your mind...and then someone writes them out and your response is, "Aha! That's it...the truth revealed!" This was my experience with this book. Graham Cooke not only exposes certain truths and realities for the sake of increasing interest in spiritual things, but he carries a practical desire to help rebuild the Church from ruins to riches. He clears away a great deal of fog that's formed over years of the Church making peace with worldliness and does well to bring light that can awaken us to our senses. He loves the Lord and pours it out on nearly every page. You will be glad to own this book.

This book, A Divine Confrontation should be read by every minister of the 5 fold ministry and every Christian. Graham Cooke has the gift of wisdom from God, as he addresses many of the issues the Body of Christ is facing in this age. This is one book that I will not pass on, but buy for my friends, as this is one book I will use as a reference for many years to come. Such insight! Such understanding of the Kingdom of God and where the Body of Christ needs to be corporately and individually! You will not be disappointed, and if you read it slowly with an open heart, God will show you much about His Bride, and about yourself!Pat Gibson, Worship minister, Laurinburg, NC

This is another awesome piece by Graham Cooke. When you have read much and listened much, you start to see the subtle little not-yet dealt-with areas in a ministry. Even in the midst of a good anointing. Very few have allowed God to break them such that these are unobservable. For me, Graham is one of these. Always refreshing. Always imputing grace. Truth that builds up. It is not strange that so many love to hear him speak.

What is God's vision for His church? Are we building fancy auditoriums expecting God to do the light-show? Or are we one of those who have made a loving God feel unwelcome in our most holy and honorable services?
Money, titles, offices, positions, head-counts, revenues, building programs, TV cameras..etc...etc..etc
One thing is for sure. If God, who so loves us, that He gave His only begotten Son for us, does not find 'loving Him' as our one and only focus, He will look for someone else who will. And He will find them! But not in us.
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
God bless brother Graham Cooke.

I could not believe this was written in 1999. Graham is truly a prophet for this season. This work is easy to read and deals with a lot of the churchy junk that has hindered the church in past and today. The confusion one would get is to try to read a work that is written from freedom when the mind is instilled with tradition and religious strongholds. The chapters on transition and character were excellent. I must say Graham has taken his experience and unfolded it apostolically and prophetically to a generation that is tired of being entertained, consoled, compromised, hoodwinked, conned and kept from the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for a message that is refreshing, intriging, mind changing and illuminating.

This particular book helped explain so many things that have gone on and are going on in my life. What excitement you can have when you understand the processes of transition and the symptoms! It really allowed me to comprehend moments of confusion and frustration in a positive light. Unbelieveably helpful. Four other friends got the book at the same time and it is a blast to understand what each other is talking about when we discuss the book...

The Knee of Listening by Adi Da Dawn Horse Press 621p (1995)

This is one of many editions of the spiritual autobiography of the unique American mystic
Adi Da. The first edition was 1972 and new editions with more material and much advertising about the group continue to appear. I also got the latest one(2004) which was about 3 times the size and weight but the hundreds of pages of new material was more of the opaque prose and advertising. So, I recommend one of the earlier paperpack editions like this one.

The sticker on the cover says `The most profound spiritual autobiography of all time` and this might well be true. I am in my 60's and have read thousands of books and this if one of the great ones. Certainly it is by far the fullest and clearest account of enlightenment I have ever seen. Even if you have no interest at all in the most fascinating of all human psychological processes, it is an amazing document that reveals a great deal about religion, yoga, and human psychology and probes the depths and limits of human possibilities.

As I have read and experienced alot in various religious traditions, I naturally compare his writings with those of others, particularly with the great Indian mystic Osho. Though they clearly agree on the major points of how to prodceed on the path, letting go of the attachment to the spiritual quest etc. their styles are vastly different. Both are highly intelligent and well read(Osho could speed read and read over 100,000 books) and were at home in the spiritual literature of the major religious traditions. However, most of Da's books are essentially unreadable as he struggles to express in language the ineffable realms of the enlightened mind. Even in this, by far his most readable book, he often veers off into pages of opacity as he tries to explain the unexplainable. Osho by contrast is the clearest, most jargon free expositor of the spiritual life who has ever lived. He wrote very little and nearly all of his more than 200 books are transcriptions of spontaneous talks he gave-- with no notes or preparation. They are nonetheless unexcelled masterpieces of spiritual literature. His amazing àutobiography`(actually compiled after his death) has been published by St. Martins by the full version is available online at www.oshoworld.com and other places. Unfortunately, he has very little to say about the exact details of his spiritual progress.

Most of Osho's talks were videotaped and are available on tape and DVD. As Da lives most of the time in seclusion on an island in Fiji it is not easy to get to hear him but the Dawn Horse Press sells a few videotapes on their web page. Da is not a very engaging or facile speaker, unlike Osho who is by turns amusing, shattering and hypnotic. But, as both of them understand, it's what the master is and not he says that is important.

Both of them were utterly honest and uncompromising in their life and teachings and Da omits nothing of relevance, including his youthful adventures with sex and drugs as well as his exposure to LSD, psilocybin and mescaline as a volunteer in government experiments. However, as with many or perhaps all of those destined to become enlightened, he was different from birth and experienced the Shakti energy (which he calls the Bright) from childhood. And, when he entered college, he said his primary interest was to discover what living beings are and what is living consciousness. Clearly not your typical freshman.

A major problem in describing advanced spiritual states is that no criteria or language for them exists in common discourse so mystics have to try to bend language in mostly vain attempts to capture their experiences. It is far worse than trying to describe seeing to a congenitally blind person since they at least have the cognitive structures and experience of the world. But mystics are quite rare and most of them have left little or no description of their mental states.

Unlike Osho, who rejected miracles, paranormal phenomena and all the other nonsense that commonly accompanies religion, Da seems to lack any science background at all and embraces precognition(p120), reincarnation(p555),`meditating` other persons, living on air(p287) etc., and regards the phenomena that I would say are happening in his brain as being `out there`. From comments included in newer editions it is clear that many of his disciples believe he can perform miracles like stopping a raging forest fire at their California retreat. Nevertheless, most of the time he is amazingly levelheaded, going thru over a decade of stress and psychic terrors that would drive most from the spiritual path. Millions of years of evolution have solidified the ego and it does not leave peacefully.

Interwoven with the spellbinding account of his spiritual progress are the details of the minds interaction with the body described in the East in terms of various forms of Yoga(eg., p95-9, 214-21, 249,281-3, 439-40). These few pages are worth more than a whole shelf of yoga books if you want to get to the heart of the mind/body relation in spirituality.

Unlike most who have become enlightened, he had a thorough grounding in Christian practice and made a major effort to become a protestant and then Greek Orthodox minister. Even years later, after he was far along the path with Muktananda, he had an amazing and totally unexpected series of visitations from Mary and Jesus that went on for weeks(p 301-3 et seq.).

Regarding drugs, as is nearly universal among spiritual teachers, he notes that although they may remove certain barriers at times, they do not provide a shortcut to understanding. However, nearly everyone is now aware that they put many on the path to higher consciousness.

He describes in detail the many stages in his ego death or self realization(eg, p72-4, 198-200, 219,20, 238-9, 245, 249, 258-9, 281, 355-65, 368-72, 406). Along the way, he realized the ultimate disutility of all practices and all traditions(337-9) including yoga(281-3) which are all attached to seeking and goals, ultimately winding up in the present. He discovered, as have many others, that seeking and meditation became obstacles and gave them up for devotion to his guru Muktananda(p420-22). His detailed accounts of his interactions with the famous Swami Muktananda and his ultimate realization of his limitations are of rare insight and honesty.

He constantly encounters his attachment to his ego(Narcissus-- eg, p108-110) and asks himself--`Avoiding Relationship?` by which he seems to mean avoiding the divine or ego death with spiritual seeking.

After enlightenment he teaches the 'only by me revealed and given Way of the heart`, finding all other paths to be `remedial` and 'egoic' and merely pursuing God or reality(p359 +) but after a careful reading of this and several other books I never got any idea what that way consists in. Undoubtedly being in his presence helps alot but in other places he has complained about the fact that his disciples just won't let it happen and one wonders if even one has been able to follow him. Of course the same considerations apply to all traditions and teachers and though some of Osho's friends(he disavowed the master/disciple relationship) have claimed enlightenment, nobody of his status has emerged. It looks like you have to have the right genes and the right environment and a very advanced and preferably enlightened guru to stimulate you. The world desperately needs higher consciousness and I hope that someone comes up with an easier way very soon.

I found the very first edition of this book on a bookstore sale table in 1974. I was captivated by the opening words of the Preface - "Death is utterly acceptable to consciousness and life".

Here is the account of a western-born person who asks all the 'big' questions, but who takes them on at a depth and completeness I never before experienced - not in any source, contemporary or traditional.

But the book does MUCH more than serve up concepts, philosophy and a personal story. I quickly learned that there is a tangible and transforming energy available here, by the simple gesture of giving my attention to this book. In the hours that follow each reading session, I feel filled with light, deeply peaceful and in a remarkable way, blessed.

After several years of private study and growth, I became formally involved in Adidam - the community of Adi Da's devotees. And the Knee of Listening continues to be a fundamental inspiration for me, through all of its editions and expansions.

Adi Da makes a lot of hay in his countless books about a letter Swami Muktananda wrote that supposedly authorized Adi Duh as a spiritual teacher. But he rarely mentions a face-to-face encounter he had with Muktananda later where Muktananda basically referred to him as a low-level sham artist.

I was interested in Adi Da's various spiritual realizations that he describes in this book until I researched his life and ministry. Considering his isolation on Fiji and disturbing claims by past disciples, I wonder if I was deluded by his stories. Ken Wilbur has a glowing accolade on the cover of the book, but in a later review posted on the web http://wilber.shambhala.com/html/misc/adida.cfm/xid,4572/yid,4887247 says that the teacher is now suspect, but that his earlier writings are good. This is one of his earliest writings that keeps being edited and added to.

This is truly a remarkable book that should be read by anyone interested in religion or spiritual practice. If you've ever wondered what life is really about, you need to read this book.

If you'd like your child to actually read this book it may prove difficult. It's a very small version of the book including old English fonts, The s looks like f etc.

The 1777 Primer was the text for the children of Early America. The only book, besides the Bible, that was found in every home and used by every student. The alphabet, prayers and lessons were memorized and studied by all the grades from Kindergarten to six the grade.

The publisher has done an excellent job in reprinting The Primer. After reading the primer we bought seven copies for friends and family. I would like to see a copy in every home again.

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...the Lord's Prayer...the young Infant's or Child's morning and evening prayers...A Dialogue between CHRIST,Youth,and the Devil. The New England Primer, Improved for the more easy attaining the true reading of English. To which is added;The Assembly of Divines, and Mr. Cotton's Catechism.
Wow!
This was foundational material in the educational training of the Founding Fathers.
This is the foundation that God blessed in our nation's history. A totally opposite worldview was instilled in the youth of the past, as compared to what is taught today. What an amazing treasure this little book is.

This is a great reference book to help us learn what the first schools in America taught. This book is referenced in the The Truth Project by Focus On The Family which goes in to much more detail about where our school system started and where it is today. To see how Christianity started the American school system get this book and read it. Hopefully this will provoke more thought about why our government is taking/has taken Christianity out of American schools.

We heard about this small book and have now bought more than 30 or them. When we show it to our friends, they all want one. People have bought them for their children, grandchildren, and as gifts. It is the perfect illustration of the religious and Christian roots of our nation. It is incredible to think that this was a public school text! Buy it, and share it with your family and friends.

This book has an unusual approach to the history of dance. It has lovely photos/illustrations, and thorough notations throughout. I recommend ot for its unique approach to dance, but not for its (sometimes suspect) history. It's an interesting book, with a lot of information.

I can see using this book as a form of meditation I suppose that's as spiritual as you want it to be. There are interesting ideas here, and women who are exploring the meaning and origin of dance will probably find it a good read. As women's studies (which is one of the subjects this book falls into), it's a little lacking. She doesn't really provide enough hard evidence with some of her theories and interpretations to consider this a scholarly work. Women who are interested in the goddess will also find value in this book.

I recommend it as an interesting read, as long as the reader understands that much of what she writes is an interpretation of history, and cobbled together from whatever sources were available. Since much of women's history was never written, interpretation is necessary, of course, but I don't know how much is interpretation and how much is embellishment.

I do not want to talk about how the author handled all other "sacred dances", but, since I am well-familiar with the Indian classical dance, I do have a clear impression that the author, although apparently quite intellectual, has a very superficial (typical of a western rationalistic mind) idea of what the real classical Indian dance practices are about, and has no idea at all of what is Natya Yoga.

This book offers deeply insightful information regarding the history and symbolism of dance (mostly folkloric and Oriental, not ballet) as it relates to femininity and by extension, feminism in the spiritual, nonpolitical sense of a free self-expression.

The entire book is exceptional and engrossing, but I particularly enjoyed the chapter about the history of percussion/drumming, not only musical history but spiritual, religious, and psychological history as well. The chapter about trance dancing is very informative also, even alluring in its descriptions.

The book's many pictures are stunning (as is the author herself), and certainly every picture enhances already intriguing text.

My favorite picture is a photograph of Russian dancer Vera Morova (who gave up ballet to pursue Oriental dance) in a pose from her Snake Dance - the most exotic costuming and form imaginable!

A generous resource guide, notes section, and bibliography conclude the book.

This book is very informative and wonderfully and intelligently written. I recommend it to any one that is interested in connecting with the ancient art of sacred movement. The illustrations are beautiful. It is wonderful to read books that are embracing the sacredness of the woman! Its time for women to unite and bring peace back into this world..This book is a great place to begin in understanding the importance of this!

This is a wonderful book for any woman who is searching to uncover her own hidden "feminine" gifts thorough dance, or for one who is searching out all woman history to re-build her own. Dance has been changed through out the centuries but the core is still present.
A book that will expand the beginners understanding of how dance is connected to the spiritual. Much substance.

this is a very interesting and sexy book. i was so into it. i never put the book down. i love this book. it kept me excited to see what was next..

THIS IS A CHARACTER YOU WOULD EITHER LOVE OR HATE! This book was off the chain.....Miss Divine aint nothin to be messed with. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading part 2....HURRY PLEASE

This is the worst book, i have ever read. The book was poorly written. Miss Divine is not a diva, she is a fake broken down whore. The whole story is unbelievable. They should have named the book Peyton place, so the nosey neighbors could have saved this book, with all the gossip, then maybe i would have enjoyed this book. This book is certainly 2 thumbs down.

I loved this book. Divine's voiced dripped of that sweet Southern twang like a ripe, hand-crushed Georgia peach. I disagree with a reviewer that the story is unbelivable. It's jam-packed with juicy sex, tragedy and the like. It was hard to put down. Check for The Bristol Ho-Tell One and Two from Ms. Smith if you need some hot erotica in your life. Oh yeah-Ms. Smith is my peeps- I got a signed copy. We might could collabo on some fiction-keep your eyes and ears to the streets. Speaking of the streets, stay on the lookout for Hustle Hard, a novel by Blaine Martin, early 2008.

The is one of the best novels I've ever read. Tri Smith has made an impressionable début in the literary arena. This author truly stands out.

I like the way the writer approaches Lord of the Rings, bringing up Christian ideas in a way not commonly taken. I especially like it that he gives credit were appropriate to certain characters.

Long fascinated by the much-loved tale of The Lord of the Rings, I disappointedly find that most non-fiction books cashing in on its religious aspects to be simplistic illustrations of Biblical truths using Tolkien's story. No 'meat and 'taters' as Samwise Gamgee might say. Rutledge's book is very substantial and spiritually nourishing in many ways. She subtitles it 'Tolkien's Divine Design in The Lord of the Rings,' an apt clue to the direction of her well-researched and superbly structured analysis. There are occasional mis-steps, namely irrelevant interjections of her political views while discussing Tolkien's view of 'good v. evil', and mini-critiques of the Jackson films revealing an ignorance of the demands of cinematic drama. But this imperfect vessel - and sister in Christ - produces an overall entertaining, enlightening, and educational read. She follows the narrative storyline of the book, which makes for an enlightening journey through the story. Tolkien once wrote, 'The religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism.' (Letters, #142). This comment has long fascinated me as I re-read the story for clues to what this might mean. Rutledge's book is not a Cliff Notes retread, but an innovative means of illustrating Tolkien's concept to those who've read the book. Rutledge, an Episcopal priest, seems to have discovered clues to what Tolkien meant. The few over-labored Biblical connections used to support her interpretations of the Bible are not enough to sour the entire book. Consider them a side trip down the Withywindle, if you will, pending your timely return to the main path by Tom Bombadil. But thank God she was led to write this book. This is an especially satisfying read for those drawn to the story by its spirituality. Her analysis of the scene at the Grey Havens is very well done.

Rutledge's book is essentially a series of short meditations followed by a Biblical reference.

She starts at the beginning (i.e The Hobbit) and goes on chronologically, paraphrasing an episode in her own words, then giving a Biblical insight--often quoting a specific Biblical verse-- to show how Tolkien's book harmonizes with the Bible.

What annoyed me was the literalness of the interpretations, and the Protestant approach to salvation. There are discussions of how evil exists in all men, and the need for God's grace. We are told that since all are evil, we should hesitate to fight in war or call those seeking to kill civilians "evil". I even ran across references to "total depravity" of men who need grace to save them, which is not quite the same as the Catholic concept of original sin, where men are good, containing the grace of God, but with flaws that can destroy the best of men...but that God's mercy is so vast that it will extend even to those we see as "evil".

And although most of the Biblical references are valid, some of them seem to stretch the point. One example is Pippin's complaints of inadequate food in Minas Tirith is compared to the disobedient Israelites wanting the fleshpots of Egypt (not, as I saw it, a wry description of growing lads with bottomless stomachs). And when Sam in Mordor sees the star above and remembers that hope exists high above despite his troubles, it is compared to God telling Job that He, God is a bigshot so stop complaining...I myself see the young soldier finding hope in the beauty of a star above the trenches of World War I--and most old fashioned Catholics would remember the hope expressed in the hymn Ave Maris Stella, to Mary, the helper of wanderers here below.

Indeed, what is lacking is what sociologist Andrew Greeley describes in his book "The Catholic Imagination": "....we (Catholics) see the Holy lurking in creation...objects, events, and persons of daily life are revelations of grace". By trying to place each event into a literal biblical straightjacket, the end result is to flatten the joy, wonders and the revelations of grace in Tolkien into dry dogmatism.

However, if you are a dogmatic Biblical Christian who needs literal explanations of why Lord of the Rings is a Christian book, you may enjoy this scholarly work.

Like nearly every other Protestant commentator (with notable exceptions such as David Wells) Rutledge just doesn't get it. It makes one wonder.

Is it that most evangelicals (and I'm an evangelical) don't know enough about Catholicism or English literature to understand what Tolkien is doing?

Is there something flawed and inadequate with the -American- evangelical worldview that shows up when they try to understand something Catholic?

Rutledge is not alone in this failing, I don't think it is a unique personal flaw. There are other Protestant books out on Tolkien due to the movies, and they share the same shallow, technique-y understanding of life, the universe and everything that makes them so clueless in understanding the depth and layers to the Tolkienan corpus. When there is a pattern, you start wondering what it means.

David Wells is an exception. Perhaps because he is an English prof. Perhaps because he loved the books before they became popular.

Thoughtful, very well written, intelligent and highly readable exposition of the spiritual substructure of TLotR, focusing on its not named, mostly hidden, yet still primary character: God.

A notable, valuable addition to the growing body of literature on TLotR, one of the better books approaching the subject from a Protestant context. Definitely much worth it. Excellent source of potential Tolkien sermon illustrations.