Barton Books

This was the selected book for November for our Book Club. A typical Gaskell work: 18th century wordiness -- a slow read. Plot was much like current soap operas: just when you think all the problems will be resolved, another twist and turn is thrown in. Just not my cup of tea.

I am a 19th century period drama avid reader and addict. This summer I read every single one of Ms. Gaskell's novels and just love the history she writes in all her novels. In college, I wasn't able to appreciate her writing because I read in a flash, did a review and got my grade. But here I am, years later, reading her novels again and with so much pleasure. Recommend all of Ms. Gaskell's novels if your an period drama reader; then read Jane Austin, Wilkie Collins, George Elliot, Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens, etc.

I ordered the book after watching "north and south" tv adaptation
to another of elisabeth gaskell's book. i was curious to know more from this writer.
but this one was nothing similar:
the plot is slow, including irrelevant and too detailed side stories.
the main characters are not clear and are very distant to the reader,
in a way it's hard to care for them. so it was easy leaving the book in the middle.

After watching the 2005 BBC TV-adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South", I was intrigued to go back and read the novel. I liked it so much, that I wanted to read more, and so found "Mary Barton". In both novels, I was impressed with Elizabeth Gaskell's keen insight into the human spirit - despair, doubt, kindness, love, compassion, hopelessness, loyalty, frivolity, and most of everything in between. She has a rare talent to create believable male and female characters (with their inherent differences in perception and interpretation) at all walks of life, and to inspire compassion and understanding for all her characters' actions. The plot is largely divided between mystery and romance, both of which are done well. This is definitely a book I would recommend to fellow Austen fans!

Compared to the majority of modern novels, her writing has more of a leisurely pace to it and she takes the time to describe the emotional inner workings of her characters as much as she devotes to outward plot development. The frequent historical or literary references not immediately at a current-day reader's fingertips are explained well in this edition's notes at the end for those who want to know (like me).

Historically, this book is a fascinating treatise of the working class toil, life, and death in the mid-1800s in Manchester, England, the rise of trade unions, and the trouble attendant therewith. Gaskell's astute observations about the living conditions of the poor in that day and age make for a compelling and thought-provoking read. It is hard to leave her books not feeling that the two opposite points of view of masters and men can be true, and that compassion might go a long way to bridge the gap.

This book shows the opposite side of life of Gaskell's final novel, Wives and Daughters. Where Molly Gibson (another girl sharing her name appears in Mary Barton, too!) deals with a pettish and jealous stepmother and the perils of moving in society, Mary Barton's father worked the looms that perhaps provided the Gibsons with their fine dresses.
Unlike Dickens in Hard Times, Gaskell does not dwell so much on the physical aspects of Manchester (OK, Dickens didn't actually write about Manchester, but the city he used *was* Manchester) and their symbolism of moral and societal pollution, but she shows the effects of man's inhumanity to man. Her morality is quietly moving, not dogmatic. The workers' agitations and subsequent deadly repercussions are dealt with in a firm but understanding light. While she condemns the act, the motivating factors (i.e. workers' treatment) can be understood.
Gaskell's working class book isn't as slick or symbolic as, say Germinal, but it is effective. Although the love story in itself is moving, we can also see it as the nobility of human spirit no matter where it lives or works. While the novel is titled Mary Barton, Mary serves as a tool to teach us and reprove us.
I highly recommend Wives and Daughters as well--Gaskell has surely matured and her dialogue is sharp and social criticism even more biting.

Emily's debut novel is startling, inventive and gives the reader opportunities to ask new questions and consider our own lives in the context of history and technology.

I can't wait for her next book, due early next year.

I wasn't sure what this book was about or where it was taking me, but as the plot unfolds I couldn't put it down and it's now one of my favorite books. One of the cleverest, most imaginative stories I've ever read, with a great message about our lives today. It's not at all religious, just very thoughtful and thought-provoking. A great book to share and discuss. If you have the opportunity to read this book, or are thinking about, just do it! Can't wait for Ms. Barton's next.

I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Barton's debut. It's a fresh take on an old concept, told in such a way that you don't want the story to end. If Mandragora existed, it would be flocked to by tourists trying peer into the future and the past at the same time. It's the perfect example of how no one can observe without participation.

What a fascinating read! Emily Barton's novel is taut, intelligent and just really, really fun. It has some debut-author unevenness, but those bits are forgivable, as the characters come to life and the plot engrosses the reader. I can't believe this book wasn't a best-seller--I do see that it was NY Times Notable Book, which it richly deserves to be. I would give this book four and a half stars if that were possible; since it is not, I rounded up.

Well worth the time.

Most times, when I read a book that I don't really like, I will pretty much swear off the writer, but I won't do that with Emily Barton. The Testament of Yves Gudrun was ultimately a little too uneven for me and left me with too many unanswered questions; it just didn't make sense, when I think it was actually trying to. To her credit, Barton writes well, is imaginative, has a good ear for dialog, and has a certain uncanny knack for getting in these little zingers that make you think here and there in the narrative. The premise of the novel is pretty interesting. We read about a pre-industrial society that, we soon realize, exists in the current day. They are visited by Ruth Blum, a young anthropologist at the same time Yves invents a few technical improvements which begin to change their society. Barton also tells the story from an interesting point of view (instead of from Ruth's point of view, she tells it from that of Yves'.) But--there are also some problems with this novel. First of all, I just don't think the narrative hung together. It almost struck me as a first draft, one that needs a little work to become something wonderful, which was frustrating. Or perhaps it was a short story, that should have ended at page 30. Some things just made no sense, like why did Yves' wife sing the blues? Why did they focus on Ruth's love of toast? I also think this novel would have been improved with some research. It struck me that she just made things up about how a pre-industrial society would operate. The details just seemed a little too inauthentic. That being said, I think Ms. Barton is talented and will try her next effort.

These retailing stories were fascinating in a horrible sort of way, like watching a montage of people getting hit in the groin on America's Funniest Videos. I've always been a decent customer that never wasted a clerk's time but this book has driven home the importance of being a focused shopper. I have new respect the unsung heroes of retailing and the difficulties they face on a daily basis. While the book didn't have nearly enough graphic sex scenes, it did get me thinking about how it is to be on the other side of the counter. In that regard this book has provided a valuable service to store owners everywhere.

And They Keep Coming Back

As an avid reader and a life-long animal lover, I was anxious to read this book. I was especially interested because it was featured in a local newspaper and I have always looked forward to reading the works of local authors. I ordered a copy of it from Amazon and could hardly wait for it to arrive! Imagine my disappointment to find out that this book was 419 pages of nothing more than the author complaining, over and over again, while making fun of his customers (or as he calls them, non-customers.) By the time I was half way through the book, I was wondering WHY did the author spend over thirty-eight years in this business, while being so utterly miserable! I was also very surprised to find spelling and grammatical errors on nearly every page! Furthermore, the book was not arranged in any kind of order. Combined with the lack of editing, it made the book very unappealing. If you enjoy reading the same old complaints about customers over and over - 419 pages worth - while deciphering spelling and grammatical errors, than this book is for you! If not, save your money and your time. I wish I had. (By the way, I live in a neighboring town and after reading this book, I have decided that I will never even consider shopping at a store that is run by someone who is so miserable working where they do.) To the author: Steve - find a new line of work! I feel sorry for you, the animals, your family, and your customers. A career that makes you this miserable and angry is not worth it.

I enjoyed the Dry humor in the short stories. I kept this book by my chair and read it whenever I needed a "Pick me up"...I had trouble putting it down....So true to life...anyone who cannot see the humor in these reality stories must have been living under a rock some place in East Cupcake, Nowhere. I was never even slightly offended by any of the stories or the truth spoken by the Author. Maybe he should run for political Office, refreshing "Change"

Steve, I loved your book!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book( And They Keep Coming Back ) !! I think you should write another book soon!! Sincerely, Sharon HudonAnd They Keep Coming Back

It was refreshing to read an author who tells the truth without worry of being politically correct. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face. The book should be a manuel for how not to act in public. Very entertaining and hard to put down.

Ibsen is often revered as the father of modern drama, and his influence has been compared to that of Shakespeare's influence in 16th century England. This particular play is a treatise on Ibsen's ideology. In it Ibsen is putting forth his very liberal ideas and he does not spare anyone. Both liberals and conservatives are blasted in this play that points out clearly that any individual does not stand a chance if he tries to go public with his ideas, especially if those ideas go against the majority opinion. Yes, it is a militant play, but it is also a comedy that shows real pathos and warm humour.

Dr. Stockman is portrayed as the protagonist who champions himself as the herioc individual who makes a bleak discovery about the community. He thunders to announce the new discovery against the wishes of his opposition Mayor Peter Stockman. Dr. Stockman is characterized as the man of nobility at the beginning of the play and as the plot begins to unfold the townspeople denounce him as an enemy of the people. Mrs. Stockman's character is portrayed as submissive. Will she patiently await the distruction of her entire family? Will Dr. Stockman sacrifice his personal beliefs for the welfare of his family?

"An Enemy of the People," by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, has been published as part of the Dover Thrift Edition series (that's the version I read for purposes of this review). The Dover edition is a republication of an anonymous translation. The back cover data notes that the play was first staged in 1883.

"Enemy" tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a medical officer for his town's public baths. When he discovers that the baths are contaminated and pose a health hazard, he is led into conflict with his brother Peter, who is the town's mayor. The tension increases as the drama moves towards its conclusion.

"Enemy" is an intriguing piece of literature. While reading it I was struck by how similar the story is to that of the classic film "Jaws": in both stories, a political leader is at odds with an idealistic public servant who is concerned about a danger involving public waters!

The play contains much thought-provoking dialogue. Ibsen looks at the interrelationships among politicians, the press, science, and the general public. His characters question issues of truth, authority, and majority rule. Dr. Stockmann begins as a noble character, but I thought he becomes too over-the-top and in some scenes is reduced to a shrill, dogmatic cartoon (especially when he delivers a bizarre rant about poodles and hens). I honestly wasn't sure what Ibsen was trying to accomplish in some of the doctor's more outrageous dialogue.

Still, "Enemy" remains a compelling piece of art. For an intriguing companion text, try "Inherit the Wind," by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, which has some similar themes and motifs.

Have you ever watched a movie or play, and at the end of it you say, "I don't get it"? ---> But everyone around you says it was the greatest thing they have ever seen... well, I will not pretend to be a pseudo-intellectual. Ibsen was way over my head with this book.

Superficially the book was extremely interesting from the standpoint of: will one man be willing to stand up to a city when he knows what is right? In our story, the protagonist has discovered that the Norwegian baths are filled with a poisonous organism. However, when he voices this, the entire town goes against him because it will cost them economically, and they put the pressure on him to refute that which he knows is correct. From that standpoint - the book is excellent... and we are held to find the outcome.

Where it lost me personally was when Ibsen went on his political diatribe. He further alienated me via his pages of discussion on liberalism in a manner that seemed conservative to me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed these speeches as well, and they admittedly felt more contemporary Republican than Liberal Democrat.

In the end, I would have to recommend this book, but say "Feel free to not understand." It is okay to embrace that not everything is clear, and at times his points are lost on minds as dull as mine. Embrace your ignorance, and enjoy it for what it is

Henrik Ibsen is the father of modern drama and his 1882 drama "An Enemy of the People" ("En folkefiende") was one of his more controversial works. In the play Dr. Stockmann discovers that the new baths built in his town are infected with a deadly disease that requires they should be closed until they can be repaired. However, the mayor of the town (the Burgomaster), who is Stockmann's brother Peter, rejects the report and refuses to close the baths because it will bring about the financial ruin of the town. When Dr. Stockmann tries to make his case to the people of the town, the mayor counters by pointing out how expensive it would be to repair the baths and dismisses the doctor for having wild, fanciful ideas. At the public meeting Dr. Stockmann is declared "an enemy of the people" by the Burgomaster.

To really appreciate this particular Ibsen play you have to look at it in the context of his previous dramas, because they all represent a conflict between the playwright and his critics. In 1879 Ibsen's play "A Doll's House" ("Et dukkehjem") was produced, wherein the character of Nora pretends to be a silly little wife in order to flatter her husband, who is revealed to be a hypocritical fraud. The idea that a woman would leave her husband and children was seen as being outrageous and basically obscene. Ibsen upset his audience and critics even more in his next play, "Ghosts" ("Gengangere"), an 1881 drama that again attacks conventional morality and hypocrisy. The topic is of congenital venereal disease but the true subject is moral contamination. Mrs. Alving has buried her husband, a degenerate who has left behind a son dying from syphilis and an illegitimate daughter who is probably going to end up being a prostitute. The play ends with Mrs. Alving having to decide if she should poison her son to put him out of his misery or let his agonies persist.

Again, Ibsen was attacked for outraging conventional morality. The following year after "Ghosts" the playwright responded with "An Enemy of the People" and the character that is most identified with representing Ibsen on stage in Dr. Stockmann. The allegory is quite plain when the play is considered within the context of Ibsen's work during this period, although while Stockmann is portrayed as a victim there is a sense of destructiveness to his behavior. At the end of the play Stockman has decided to leave the town, but then changes his mind to stay and fight for those things he believes are right.

As is the case with most of Ibsen's classic works, "An Enemy of the People" speaks to larger issues than those in conflict in the play. The debate is over the bad water pipes at the new baths, but the true conflict is over the clash of private and public morality. Dr. Stockmann is by far the most idealistic of Ibsen's characters, and that fact that he is opposed by his own brother, the Burgomaster, harkens back to Genesis and the fight between Cain and Able. As was the case with "Ghosts," there is an ambiguous ending where what happens next can be seen as going either way given your own inclinations as a member of the audience.

Both of the Stockman brothers are flawed. Dr. Stockman's idealism is at odds with the practical realities of the world in which he lives while the Burgomaster ignores ethical concerns. Ultimately, Ibsen is not forcing us to choose between the two but rather to reject both in terms of some middle ground. The Burgomaster is certainly old school, believing those in authority get to make all the decisions and that the people must subordinate themselves to the society. But he was the one who made the mistake of putting the new water pipes in the wrong place, so even his claims that he is looking out for the welfare of the community are dishonest. Dr. Stockman argues for individual freedom and the right of free expression, but his attempt to fix the problem ignores any effort at persuasion or building public support. He also seems to take pleasure in be able to show that his brother made a mistake. Still, in the end we have to favor the doctor over the mayor because his integrity is clearly stronger, while still recognizing that his idealism is tragically flawed.

I used to look forward to every Beverly Barton book that came out, so I was excited to get this book. What a big disappointment. First, I have a problem with books that are titled "Romance" when nothing happens until more than 3/4 of the book through. I don't need it to be all about the romance, but this was ridiculous. Also, during the book, Lexie kept saying that the man who saved her was her hero and saved her life, and that it wasn't his fault she got shot because she put herself in the crossfire. But as soon as Deke admits it was him, she's mad at him and how could he do that to her? I could see that one coming, very predictable.

Also, I agree with the reviewer that didn't understand why Lexie still had the fundraiser even though she was threatened. She had friends that were KILLED, and she's supposed to feel so bad about it, but she still puts everyone in jeopardy for money? That goes against everything that was supposed to be her character. I know why she wanted to raise the money, but come on, peoples lives were on the line. Just didn't make sense.

I would like to think this is an exception for Beverly, but I read her book "Cold Hearted" and that was even worse. I hope she gets back on track.

I love it when I find a book so good, I almost race ahead of myself (and the story), so eager to turn the page and see what's next. This book, I turned the pages quickly just to get to the end and be done with it. (I'm one of those strange people who, no matter how much I dislike a book, usually have to finish it.) I found myself wondering if this was a first draft. That's how it reads to me. Could have benefited tremendously from a good copyedit. The first thing I had a problem with was the voice. These characters aren't particularly crude in any way, so when the author puts in lines like, "He wanted to drag her over to the bed, strip off her clothes, and scr#w her" or, even worse, "He needed to learn that when he upset her, she wasn't going to hop in the sack with him whenever his d!ck twitched," it sounded so jarring, so nasty, it made me wince. Ick. Then there are the goofy, overblown, over-done lines like, "I need you. I'm not sure I can make it without you." Again. Ick. There was also no suspense for me. I thought it was obvious almost from the character's introduction who the killer was. And so obvious which characters were NOT the killer. And the killer's reason for singling out Lexie just wasn't plausible (even when the author makes sure to have different characters say that the killer is obviously insane and his reason for singling her out would make no sense to a rational person). Boring. Uninspiring. Other bad parts or parts where I thought the words sounded awkward or scenes just didn't work: "Lexie nodded, and then took another sip of coffee. When Cara set a plate filled with French toast and fresh fruit in front of her, Lexie mouthed the words thank you." Ugh. Just bad writing. I also noticed throughout that "Dundee's" is used, which isn't grammatically correct. Especially when in other instances, "Dundee" was (and properly) used. Sorry, English major, lol. And the charity ball. What? Lexie is worried about her own safety and that of her friends, but has no problem with going forward with a ball in which hundreds of *millionaires* will be in attendance? Very implausible scene for me. As is the scene that sets up the letter bomb: a reporter asks Lexie and Cara to pose for a photo op holding up wads of cash? Yeah, that happens. It was a really weak way of setting the scene that follows. Again, poor writing. Then we have Lexie, who on one page accuses Deke of playing her for a fool and then a few pages later can't seem to even breathe unless he's in touching distance, and will simply expire on the spot if he doesn't confess his undying love for her. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Maybe this book would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't read books in this genre by other, smart authors who know how to execute a good story, with solid writing and dialog and plausible scenarios and character development. Having done so, it made this book glaringly inferior by comparison. This is not one for my bookshelf.

I did enjoy the "romance" of the book with the Protectors feel to it. I had narrowed down the potential suspects well before the the books heroes and in the end had it figured out before the guy gets the girl part. Overall a good read.

Great romantic suspense story! Even if you don't follow Ms. Barton's THE PROTECTORS series, you'll really enjoy this emotional story of Deke Bronson and Lexie Murrough.

Great suspense and intrigue, great romance, and some steamy sexual tension!

Beverly Barton does a good job of writing suspense books. I've read all hers and their all are great. Love a book you can't put down and this is one of those

I was all ready to dislike this book. I have never before read a book by Beverly Barton and I usually stick to authors that I have read before since I know their writing style and what type of story to expect. The only reason I picked-up this book was because of a good review, and I am glad that I did.

"What She Doesn't Know" begins with Jolie Royale coming home for her father's funeral, the father she has not seen in years because of his marriage to the woman he was sleeping with on the day Jolie's mother and aunt were murdered. The town assumed that it was a murder-suicide, but Jolie knew the man blamed and never believed he was capable of murdering her family.

Jolie comes home to a step-brother, Max, a step-sister, Mallory, and the woman who married her father only 9 months after her mother was murdered. There is a lot of anger and resentment all-around and no one hides it. Jolie and Max decide to look into the murder, and they find that for some, the past is bester left hidden because they all have secrets that they would kill to keep.

This book was so captivating that I finished it in one sitting. It had depth and there were so many different suspects that I had to get to the end to find out who the murderer really was. The relationship between Max and Jolie grew throughout the story, they found that things they once assumed about the other was not right and that they needed each other. I found myself rooting for them.

My only problem was the step-sister and the guy she dates. The jerk leaves her after sleeping with her and she is heart broken. It upsets me that at the very end of the book, we find out that he comes back to town and they are together again. If a jerk left me like he did to her, I would certainly not invite him back in my life!

Overall, this is a very good read and I hope that you take a chance to read it- You won't regret it. :)

As a fan of Beverly Barton....the plot sounded good when reading the
purchased review ....but this falls flat.....not as good as some of her other writings.....the spoiled rich girl/woman line is just too common and
annoying.......if one wants to read about self-center spoiled women..
we can catch the tabloids on Paris Hilton....

What She Doesn't Know centers around a twenty-year-old crime. Jolie Royale is the only survivor of the Belle Rose plantation massacre in which her mother, aunt, and Lemar a close family relation were murdered in what was thought to be a murder suicide. After being shot three times and left for dead fourteen year old Jolie recovered only to be sent away after another attempt on her life.

What she saw and experienced that day has colored her life ever since. Estranged from her father she reluctantly comes home after almost twenty years to attend his funeral. Facing her fathers second family, whom she dislikes and distrusts, opens old wounds and brings to the surface her doubts about what really happened that horrific day in her newly inherited home, Belle Rose. Teaming up with a childhood friend, Theron, out to prove that his uncle wasn't responsible for the slaughter she is determined to put the past to rest.

Forced by circumstances to accept help from her once time crush Max Deveraux, now her step brother, Jolie's feelings for her unlikely alley very from suspecting him of murdering her mother to clear the way for his own mother, to blatant attraction.

Now I like all of the Beverly Barton books I've ever read. This one less then some others. With all the family secrets popping out of the closet they don't really examine the most likely people to have killed her family. They follow the outside clues of missing police files and bribery instead of looking into who actually had the best motive to kill any of the three people murdered. There are plenty of adulterous affairs to supply suspects and Jolie doesn't really investigate any of people involved. It seems strange to me.

But all in all, I liked this book. You have engaging fully formed characters and a story that is fast paced and engaging.

I really enjoyed reading Jolie and Max's story. What I found to be just as interesting were the "mini" love stories of the secondary characters. Along with the book being a good love story, it was very suspenseful and kept me guessing to the end.

At the tender age of fourteen, Jolie Royale had two traumatic events occur that forever altered the course of her life: She witnessed her father's liaison with his mistress, Georgette, and she discovered the lifeless bodies of her mother and aunt in their house (Belle Rose), right before the murderer shot three bullets into her and left her for dead. The police rule it as a double-murder-suicide, stating that Lemar, a black man and long time resident of Belle Rose, murdered the two sisters in a jealous rage because of his love for Jolie's aunt. And to fuel an already precarious situation with his daughter, Jolie's father married Georgette six months after her mother's death. That was enough for Jolie to cut him out of her life.

Fast-forward twenty years and Jolie is now a very successful fashion designer living in Atlanta. She receives news that her father has passed on. Jolie returns home to exact some revenge on her stepmother and her kids, but winds up joining Theron, Lemar's nephew, in his quest to reopen the murder case. Jolie had never believed that Lemar was behind the murders. Almost from the start of their investigation, Theron's and Jolie's lives are threatened, and as the bodies and attempted murders start to pile up, Max, Jolie's stepbrother, steps in to protect Jolie.

So now Jolie has two battles to fight: The person who wants her dead and her overwhelming attraction to Max.

Secrets, secrets, secrets. The plot of this story is rich with secrets and mysteries that will keep you glued to the book until the very end. I absolutely loved it.

Barton is a poet of despair. And here he gives us Darius and Violet, lovers with a story complicated by slavery, death, and guilt.

Darius Murphy is a refugee from an oppressive matriarchy on a decaying orbital colony. After signing up with Standard ARM, one of the most powerful of the corporations that rule man, he meets Violet. She is something of a fox - literally. An animal-human chimera, she is an optimod and property of Standard ARM.

While an ARM soldier, Violet is killed, and Murphy wanders human space meeting interstellar hoboes, becomes a military adviser to rebels against the corporate order and suffers rape both literal and economic before rejoining Standard ARM where he'll help kill millions. And suddenly he is confronted with a choice, a gamble to cease being what he is ...

This is a war novel and a novel of the small bits of sex and simple love that are all that seem meaningful and real in the horrors of Murphy's life. And it is a novel about people constricted and controlled by an economic and political order. But governments, unlike the laws of physics, can be changed. While the novel is sympathetically and effectively narrated by Murphy - Barton is a master of books narrated by not very likeable people, it doesn't give absolution to Murphy or the others who perpetuate corporate tyranny. The many rebellions Murphy fights in - on both sides - may be futile or they may plant the seeds for successful ones.

The novel does have a couple of odd moments. The foxy lady Violet seems too much a pun. And the ludicrous Himerans, introduced in the first chapter, suggest jokes about machines birthing other machines. But these seem more a nod to Cordwainer Smith, to whom the book is dedicated, than attempts at humor. Barton is most definitely not a humorous writer and doesn't try.

With his earlier When Heaven Fell and Acts of Conscience, this makes a sort of trilogy of exploitation, novels with characters locked into slavery by alien overlords or their biology or human tyranny.

Somewhere about halfway through this book became a real slog for me. The author's stylistic use of brief sentence fragments really started to get distracting and seemed to be a cover-up for lack of substance. Also, despite the passage of many years the narrator never seemed to evolve beyond callow.

Follows is what I wrote to a friend (keep in mind that the context is genre fiction, not great literature. Though, perhaps, Barton may grow beyond genre fiction. He has something to say.):

Another book by William Barton, a science-fiction writer that has astonished me before. I think I mentioned that a previous book was strangely really good but with a taint of pulp sex stuff. This was was sexual and sensual, but more, um, adult or restrained. Which is good, because the story went more smoothly. He still seems like he doesn't quite know how to transcend writing pulpy stuff. BUT. But, the thing is, each of the three books I've read have a way of being simultaneously four things a) not bad character studies (not good, though, he specializes in characters that themselves don't know who they are, and so...); b) some quite original, reasonable postulated future societies; c) there is satire in there somewhere, he's straddling a line, I think, and that's why there's a pulpy feel to his work; and finally, most importantly to me; d) you, the reader are stunned by the casual way in which he describes (and the protagonist does not recognize) the horror and amorailty of this world that is, really, in some scary way, not so different from our own (morally), and then when you've maybe given up on all hope of feeling justice being done, you share in the protagonist's epiphany, the awakening of moral conscience (the first and acclaimed book he wrote was "Acts of Conscience"), in what you've now experienced, from the inside, as a complex, easy to-go-along-with abhorrent cultural norm. This book, as in AoC, speculates a future where corporations are completely unrestrained by any idea of morality or justice -- just legality. And profit. Is our world so different, you might ask?

I finished "When We Were Real" (WWWR) a few hours ago after several hours of non-stop reading. I am still thinking about it. Another reviewer compared WWWR to the classic "Forever War", which is indeed a book which came to mind as I read. Against a background of war and wanderings, both novels consider what happens to sentient people when they are separated by vast distances and spans of time. In WWWR, the technology and the settings are well-plotted and believable, but the book seems to me to be primarily an exploration of the implications of semi-immortality more than anything else. What happens to relationships, fights, and the development of sequential families when such events are teased out over centuries rather than months and years? And how much loss can we bear as our hurts accumulate while our blessings seemingly remain in short supply? The author thankfully does not try to rationalise his decision: it's a dirty world but love, somehow, will save us - shades of Auden's "We must love another or die". Other themes that the author brings up indirectly are what it means to (non)human and the place of corporate organisations in society. I found this to be a convincing, often moving, very human SF novel centered around a believably flawed and troubled man moving through a pan-galactic society irrevocably fragmented by time. Well worth the read.

This was an interesting read, the first of this author's works I've picked up. There were a number of great scenes in this book but they seemed disjointed, with the characters floating between them in a happenstance way. I wish the author had put more effort into the plot and less into describing the genitalia of the female characters.

Dungeons & Desktops is a very rich and detailed look at the history of computer role-playing games. Matt Barton takes us on an extensive journey, beginning with the genre's roots in tabletop games, to its early years on mainframes and BBSs. We're then given a tour of some of the most beloved CRPGs of all time, such as Richard Garriott's Ultima series (a personal favorite) and The Bard's Tale. Barton even explores Japanese console RPGs, as their explosive popularity with gamers in the 90s has had an acute effect on modern CRPGs. The book concludes with the future of CRPGs in the form of persistent massively multiplayers, such as World of Warcraft.

What makes D&D (hah!) a treasure is that Barton doesn't just pay attention to the hits and genre influencers, but also the misses, such as Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (which Barton calls the worst CRPG ever) and games which never got their due, such as the great Planescape: Torment. The MMORPG section could have used some better fact checking (e.g. EverQuest's realm is called Norrath, not Narrath, and Asheron's Call 2 was shut down years ago), but otherwise the book is quite spot on.

Fans of gaming history will really appreciate this book and may rediscover some long-forgotten classics. I know I have. If you'll excuse me, I need to go play some Universe.

A was pretty excited when I heard about this book. Being a very specific topic its rare to find books as this. The book is basically structured as a quite complete enumeration of CRPG grouped by 'ages' or periods of time the author has indentified. Sadly, I miss a more coherent view of the whole. I mean, instead of a gripping CRPG industry story the book looks like an encyclopedia of games, a kind of scholar work. If you are more interested in the people and the context behind those games than the games themselves, I would recommend 'Dungeons and dreamers'by King Borland instead.
Anyway a good reference book.

I would hesitate to call this book a history of CRPGs - a chronology would be more appropriate. Barton is comprehensive - every major CRPG from the inception of the computer is covered, but as another reviewer pointed out it is more of a collection of review summaries - I would liken it to Maltin's capsule reviews of films.

The organization into the different ages is intriguing, and aside from the nostalgic look at games I had forgotten about, it the best part of the book. The author does not do enough to flesh out the trends, technologies, people and other aspects that may have gone in to the different ages. They are all covered piecemeal with the review capsules, and this hurts the coherence.

The jumping from capsule review summaries to personal opinion is a bit awkward as well. I would have liked to have read more of the author's opinions - they were the on the whole more interesting than the reviews themselves.

The decision to include a bit on console RPGs without deviating from the spirit of the book was a good one.

All that said, for those of us who lived through the entire period and remember seeking out judgment day, getting eaten by a grue, or fighting vorpal bunnies it is a trip down memory lane and a nice reference volume, just not the most coherent read-through.

I ordered Dungeons and Desktops hoping for some insight on the development of the computer RPG genre. Unfortunately, after slogging through 436 pages of disjointed, superficial game summaries, I had gained insight only into the book's low quality.

To start, the book has all the professionalism of a photocopied high school book report. Besides being littered with typos, the writing is bland and clichéd: "We've got a lot of great CRPGS to cover in this chapter, so let's ready our trusty Longsword +3 (+4 vs. critics) and charge into the fray!" The book's screen captures are mostly dark black rectangles with some light black highlights, which is a shame--half the captures look like they're supposed to be title screens, and I really wanted to learn more about video game title screens (as opposed to, say, video game interface and mechanics).

A similarly high-schoolish aspect is the footnotes, which are rare and whimsical. Chapter 8, for example, describes 50 games in 63 pages. Just about every description includes a judgment on the game's quality or a sweeping assertion that "most critics liked this" or "few fans enjoyed that." The entire chapter, however, has footnoted references to just five outside sources. (My favorite is on page 268: It basically says, "For more information on BBS door services, see the Wikipedia article on BBS door services.")

The chapters themselves are organized roughly by game release dates, and they read like detailed descriptions of an Excel Spreadsheet. They feature summaries of the hackneyed plots of game after game after game, even though most of them are just "Go rescue this magical artifact from Lagoth Zanta or possibly another monolithic evil whose name would also earn you 86 points in Scrabble." Also included are lists of each game's character attributes: This one has strength, intelligence, and dexterity; that one has power, wisdom, and quickness; and another one has energy, understanding, and agility. Fascinating.

One solution would have been to focus chapters by themes (say, the evolution of RPG storytelling, or the development of magic systems). The lack of such insightful organization might have been forgivable, however, if I could have trusted the book as a source of raw information. But when reading about games I had played, I frequently got the feeling that the entries were written after skimming the aforementioned Wikipedia. For example:

* The author says that the game play of Secret of Mana is similar to the game play of Final Fantasy except for the battle system. This is like saying oranges taste similar to apples except for their orange-like taste.
* After describing the first two Zelda games, the author says the third allows the chance to collect heart containers on the world map, as if that feature weren't in the previous two. He makes a similar statement about the Dragon Warrior games and battery back-up.
* The author spends a quarter of his Quest for Glory II review describing how each class has various humorous career paths. For example, he mentions that fighters and wizards can become combat instructors and computer programmers, respectively. However, none of these "career paths" are actually in the game: they are just a throwaway gag in the manual.

In all, the stunning depth of research made me wonder why I had paid to read one gamer's ramblings on what he liked and disliked about every computer RPG in history. I have the Internet for that. In fact, a lot of the book is just copy-and-pasted from the author's articles on gamasutra.com (where the screen captures are much clearer).

I suggest spending your money on an actual game instead.

Dungeons & Desktops is a comprehensive and thorough history of the Computer Role Playing Game genre. It's basically a more fleshed out version of the author's earlier four-part series on the Gamasutra website, maintaining the same format of dividing the games into different ages (Dark, Silver, Gold, Platinum) and devoting some time to each game, explaining key gameplay features, release information and sometimes the author's thoughts on the game's merits.

The book's greatest strength is in cataloging both well-known and obscure games in the genre and explaining how each was innovative in some way or representative of a trend in the genre. In this way, the book gives a fairly good outline of the history of this wide-ranging genre. Even hardcore fans of the genre may be surprised by some of the very early examples Barton was able to unearth. As the book moves into the more familiar modern age, it becomes less interesting in this regard.

Although the book covers an impressive number of titles, there were spots were I felt the writing was bogged down by the repetitive nature of looking at game after game, a result of being an expanded Web feature article. Although Barton pauses at times to discuss major trends, I thought this was inconsistent, and the bulk of the book reads like Mobygames summaries of dozens of games. At times, I wanted more about the people behind the games, and voices other than the author's to break up what amounted to a series of opinions on various games.

This isn't helped by some questionable choices in organization and selection. A thorough look at console games like the Final Fantasy and Zelda series should have been reserved for another book, while Gothic, a well-known modern PC RPG series, gets nothing more than a few paragraphs as a footnote to the downfall of the Ultima series (ironically, the author states that the series has been unfairly overlooked). There are also issues that arise from attempts to lump the games into different "ages." Why one game is listed in one age and not another isn't always clear, and it leads to a confusing chronology.

I spotted a number of minor errors in the text, mostly related to chronology. A few examples: Oblivion was not released simultaneously on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Also, Vampire the Masquerade was released before Half-Life 2, and was the first Source Engine game released. While these may be minor, it left me wondering how many more I didn't catch. Also, the printing quality of the screenshots leaves much to be desired. Most look like dark blotches.

Barton's articles, from which much of this book comes from, are still a great read and catch nearly all the key games in the genre. I felt that this book did little more than add games that are of far less importance, and therefore of little interest to most readers. This book may be valuable for those who want a very comprehensive catalog of computer role playing games, but I would recommend that most readers stick with the free online articles.

this book proved a good and insightful read. It informed me as to the life lived by the man john calvin. i found it instructive for me as i desire to be used of God as well as insightful. It adds my study of The doctrine he layed out. I highly recommend it for those who are studying Calvinism and if you already have a good understanding of it, this will only add to it as it teaches you about the man and his approach to the ministries in which he partook. Well done!

Overview

Expository Genius of John Calvin coverThis wonderful book is written as a plea to modern-day preachers and teachers to return to the practice of expository preaching of the Word of God. From Dr. Lawson:

"As we consider Calvin's life and work, we will survey the distinguishing marks of his pulpit ministry, consider the core presuppositions that undergirded his biblical preaching, and examine his personal preparation for the pulpit. Along the way, we will gain an overview of his preaching itself--his sermon introduction, interpretation, application, conclusion, and final intercession. In short, we will explore the distinguishing marks of Calvin's expository genius.

The goal here is not to take a sentimental journey--the hour is too desperate for such a triviality. Rather, the aim of this book is to raise the bar for a new generation of expositors. If you are a preacher or teacher, may you be challenged to a higher standard in your handling of the Word. If you are a supporter of one called to this ministry, may you know how best to pray."

Outline

The book is divided into two parts. The first section gives a brief biographical sketch of John Calvin and the state of the church in Europe during his lifetime. The second section provides the reader with an overview of John Calvin's preaching methods.

The biographical section, while not meant to be complete, is a great introduction for those who have not studied the life of John Calvin. It provides just enough detail to get a sense of what Calvin would have struggled with during his lifetime of opening the Word of God for himself and for others.

The second section, the majority of the book, details Calvin's habits of expository preaching. Dr. Lawson begins with John's thoughts toward what should be said and done in the pulpit and moves on to cover his study habits and how he prepared his sermons. It is interesting to note that Calvin, like many other preachers who spoke multiple times during the week, preached out of an overflow of his studies. He did not have to prepare his sermons in the typical manner because they were already formed in his mind. After pouring over the Scripture passage he was studying, preaching became, to him, simply relating that knowledge back to his audience in a manner that was easily understandable.

Dr. Lawson continues and describes how Calvin began his sermons with a brief review of the previous sermon (Calvin preached verse-by-verse each week, continuing right where he left off in the previous message) and then gave his audience an overview of the text before preaching on the text itself. The book then discusses how Calvin went about his exposition of the text and how he crafted his words towards his audience and delivered his message. John Calvin's sermons would end with an explanation of how to apply the text to their lives and, finally, a plea to his audience to take God's Word to heart and live it in their daily lives.

Summary

Dr. Lawson's work accomplished its goal, to call on preachers to return to a faithful exposition of God's Word in the pulpit, and gave a wonderful example of one man who did just that. You may ask why a layman would want to read this book if they may never stand before a congregation. My answer would be that they would gain a valuable guide in what to look for in good preaching as they seek out a church to belong to. In that light, I would recommend this book to all audiences, not just preachers and teachers of God's Word.

I end with a description of the faithfulness John Calvin had to continually preach the Word of God above all things:

"Upon his return, Calvin hit the town preaching. Reassuming his pulpit ministry precisely where he had left off three years earlier--in the very next verse of his earlier exposition--Calvin became a mainstay, preaching multiple times on Sunday and, during some weeks, each weekday. His verse-by-verse exposition of Scripture, week after week, even day after day, would make Geneva a shining beacon of truth."

The Expository Genius of John Calvin

Steven Lawson

160 pages

Reformation Trust (2007)

Recommend: Yes

Genre: Preaching / Biography / Church History

Introduction:

Steven Lawson, the author of the series, A Long Line of Godly Men, will, I think, contribute much to our understanding of the wonderful truths of the Bible. Separate from this book, yet in the same series, Lawson has embarked on a five-volume series on the doctrines of grace, as they're commonly referred to. I'm midway with the first volume (Foundations of Grace) and I am in immense gratitude for this piece of work which has expanded and taken me deeper and deeper into the wonderful doctrines of the sovereignty of God in all of human affairs -- salvation included-- and the great grace we experience because of His good pleasure.

Despite our thoughts of John Calvin (1509-1564), one cannot dismiss his impact on the church -- effects which we still feel today. While many have written on Calvin and his life, few have written solely of him and his preaching; Lawson seeks to do just that.

It is no understatement to say that preaching today is on a downgrade within the evangelical church. Lawson points out:

"Exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performances, doctrine with drama, and technology with theatrics. Desperately does the modern-day church need to recover its way and return to a pulpit that is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and life-changing" (p. xi).

Future books in this series will delve into the ministries of such men as Martin Luther, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards (which is to come out in September of 2008, entitled, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards), Charles Spurgeon, and others. It is no lie that my anticipation for this series is high and I'm sure I won't be let down.

Book Structure:

The book covers everything in preaching -- from core foundations to all the practical nuts-and-bolts of the preaching development to the concluding remarks of the sermon.

Here are the chapter titles:

1. Calvin's Life and Legacy
2. Approaching the Pulpit
3. Preparing the Preacher
4. Launching the Sermon
5. Expounding the Text
6. Crafting the Delivery
7. Applying the Truth
8. Concluding the Exposition

In the chapters, Lawson breaks into very practical observations from Calvin's preaching methodology (e.g., persuasive reasoning, vivid expressions, simple restatements, loving rebuke, climactic prayer, and many more -- 32 in all).

The book as a whole is easy to read and follow. It's a small (5.25 x 7.5) and relatively short.

[From publisher: pdf file of table of contents and sample chapter]

Notable Quotes:

* "The greatest seasons of church history--those eras of widespread reformation and great awakening--have been those epochs in which God-fearing men took the inspired Word and unashamedly preached it in the power of the Holy Spirit" (xi-xii).
* "Calvin's high view of preaching was undergirded by a high view of God, a high view of Scripture, and an accurate view of man. . . . Where are such men of God today? Where are the preachers like Calvin, who will preach the Word with unwavering commitment? Where are the pastors who believe that God is uniquely with them as they mount their pulpits for the exposition of His Word? Where are the shepherds who have prioritized the preaching of the Word in public worship? Where are the expositors who will preach entire books of the Bible consecutively month after month and year after year?. . . . It is desperately essential in this hour that preachers recover a soaring vision of the supremacy of God. Life-changing, history-altering preaching will come only when pastors reclaim a high view of God's blazing holiness and are overshadowed by His absolute sovereignty. Towering thoughts of God's transcendent glory must captivate preachers' souls. May you be one who leaves the lowlands of trivial thoughts about God behind. A low view of God leads only to mediocrity. But a high view of God inspires holiness and a resolute spirit. May you ascend to the heights of the mountaintop and behold, as Calvin did, the breathtaking glory of God." (pp. 34-35, 51).
* Calvin: "We must all be pupils of the Holy Scriptures, even to the end; even those, I mean, who are appointed to proclaim the Word. If we enter the pulpit, it is on this condition, that we learn while teaching others. I am not speaking here merely that others may hear me; but I too, for my part, must be a pupil of God, and the word which goes forth from my lips must profit myself; otherwise woe is me! The most accomplished in the Scripture are fools, unless they acknowledge that they have need of God for their schoolmaster all the days of their life" (pp. 41-42).
* This is where application must begin in every sermon-- with the preacher himself. Before any expositor looks outward
to the congregation, he must first look inward. One finger points out to the people, but three point back at his own heart. No preacher can take his people where he himself is not willing to go. May God give His church in this day humble and holy shepherds who practice what they preach" (p. 116).

Conclusion:

Some might say, "There's really no point in reading a book such as this if I don't preach." -- Nothing can be further from the true. While preachers will benefit greatly from a work such as this, I believe that ordinary folk who sit on the pews on Sunday mornings will reap great rewards from this work. We should all walk out saying, "We truly have heard the Word of God preached and proclaimed."

The pulpit, and the preacher who stands behind it, are one of the most important -- if not the most -- aspects of a church body. It is from this dynamic that God has set in place where the people of the Lord hear the Word and commit to obey. The pastor shepherds the flock, and one of the ways he does that is by leading the sheep into the marvelous truths of Scripture, in order for us be fed by it and grow in regards to salvation. Furthermore, with such insights gleaned from this book, one will be able to support and pray for one's pastor; knowing that the call is no easy task, but one which requires the preacher to bow the knee before the Lord and His Word and then, in the power of the Spirit, proclaim it to a lost and sinful world in desperate need of the truth.

All that to say that I warmly recommend this book to both preacher and congregant alike -- both will greatly benefit.

As a recently ordained minister, I have been making it a point to study the lives and methods of great preachers of the past, seeking to learn their strengths, weaknesses and how their lives were shaped by both. Although I was not familiar with Dr. Steven Lawson, the title of his book "The Expository Genius of John Calvin" intrigued me and I greatly anticipated reading it for myself.

As a primer on ministerial rhetoric, the book mostly succeeds. We get some very helpful hints on preparing and delivering the expository sermon. Unfortunately, however, the book's positive points are often overshadowed by the author's rose-colored exaltation of Calvin himself.

It is certainly appropriate to honor our forefathers in the Faith. But like many Calvinistic apologists, Dr. Lawson comes dangerously close to deifying the man. For example, Chapter Three opens with a quote from B.B. Warfield which asserts that "No man had a profounder sense of God than he; no man ever more unreservedly surrendered himself to the Divine direction." Similarly, the closing chapter is headed by a quote from Charles Spurgeon which states that "Among all those who have been born of women, their has not risen a greater than John Calvin; no age before him ever produced his equal, and no age afterwards has seen his rival." So by these statements are we to assume that Calvin was on par with the Apostle Paul, with Peter, James and John, or even the Lord Jesus Himself? I am sorry, but this smacks of idolatry.

Calvin was certainly a brilliant man who has contributed immeasurably to the history of the Christian faith. Yet he was also a deeply flawed man who was unfortunately influenced by the excesses and abuses characteristic of the day in which he lived. While Dr. Lawson rightfully commends Calvin for providing refuge for persecuted Protestants, he conveniently never mentions the name of Michael Servetus, who was not so fortunate as to escape Calvin's own wrath. The Servetus incident is a black mark on Calvin's legacy that no amount of flowery biographies will ever be able to erase.

Finally, Dr. Lawson's work makes frequent use of the same fallacious language which, again, is all too characteristic among those of his persuasion. At various points in the book, he uses terms such as "sound doctrine" and "Biblical truth" as if they are automatically synonymous with Calvinism, which they are certainly not! Similarly, he describes the modern church as being "spiritually bankrupt" and a "whitewashed tomb." While the church certainly does have its problems, such broad generalizations are both unfair and inaccurate. Although Dr. Lawson does not explicitly state why he believes this way, one assumes that it may be because they simply are not Calvinistic enough.

Overall, I do believe this book was well intended and I did gain some important insights from it. But the author's blind and rigid allegiance to Calvinism greatly hinders his ability to view these issues objectively. While there is much to learn from Calvin and other giants of the past, we must remember that they were still imperfect, fallible humans whose weaknesses can teach us as much as their strengths.

I was given this book as a gift from my pastor. And, on my second attempt I managed to read it (all in one sitting, during a flight across the Atlantic from the States to Ireland).

Although I appreciate the spirit in which Erik Raymond wrote his review, I find the Calvin presented in this particular book to be a polished-up version of what most of today's pastors are (or aspire to be): a better-than-average rhetorician who crafts his "sermon" from 1 oz. Gospel, 1/2 cup Law, 1 pound personal opinion and just a dash of theology and/or original language. The result may be a religiously inspiring talk, but it isn't what ministers of the Word are called to do.

From what I know of Jean Cauvin, I don't get the impression that he was about the business of producing an expositional sermon. Rather, I think his focus was on placarding Christ before Christ's Church so that it could and would intelligently worship the Triune God through the Son and His finished substitutionary work on their behalf. This Calvin did by carefully and methodically examining the Scriptures in front of his congregation(s).

Maybe I missed the author's point. Maybe this book does see a 1:1 correlation between one's theology and one's preaching. Did I miss it? If so, the problem is mine and my agenda.

Or perhaps, any time we attempt to dissect a frog into its parts and then put all the similar parts together, we run the risk of producing a dead monster rather than understanding the living animal. If my analogy holds, then maybe the author's intent was to perform an autopsy. If so, then I should apologize.

The real Calvin, from what I have read of his work, was thorough, typically clear-sighted, aware of his detractors, loved his congregation(s) and was (first and foremost) committed to loving God in gratitude for the saving work of Christ on his behalf. And, because he correctly understood the relationship between the Law and the Gospel, he was also aware that he was a wretched sinner (not just theoretically, but in reality) who was saved by Grace alone both in his justification and in his sanctification.

All that being said, if you truly desire to be a "great" preacher, don't expect that reading this book will permanently change your life and ministry. Instead do what Calvin did: dive into a good systematic theology (e.g. Berkhoff), outline the books of the Bible as you read them, memorize lengthy passages of Scripture so that you can meditate on them while you cut the lawn ... and by all means, buy and study a good introduction to logic.

Allow me to repeat what you already know - there is no other way to become a "valuable" preacher than to devote a few decades to learning Scripture and learning how to think clearly. Don't read about how others excelled at baseball - get out there and get down on your hands and knees so you can taste the clay.

What do you expect when "Oxford" is in the title of the book?This is a large, heavy and intimidating book. However, this is its only drawback. It is a wealth of information; it contextualizes the scripture in a concise format and presents a multitude of expert scholars' opinions in a verse-by-verse format.

This is an authoritative reference: I highly recommend this for anyone interested in a modern commentary of canonical books. Well researched, well written, with a wide range of scholars input.

I was looking for a source of detailed biblical information that is scholarly, and without nuance towards any particular persuasion. This commentary has met my needs admirably. While it may have been written with the needs of the practicing clergyman in mind, for a lay person like myself it's not difficult to read. Indeed for me it has provided a totally new level of biblical insight. I've been most impressed and can recommend it to anyone who wants to extend their biblical knowledge.