Review: Interesting, imaginative collection
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 23, 2012
This is a nice collection because of the variety of scenes and subject matters. Some of the stories are very imaginative, espacially Pauline Creeden's pieces, "Sanctuary" and "Teacher's Log". In the former, life's struggles are nothing but the effort one has to make to keep out the dogs and the bitten--a little like keeping out the living dead in Night of the Living Dead, but just a little. As a piece of Christian writing, one surmises that Jennie's praying to Jesus for help, and then eventually, after an ordeal in getting to the church just in time, seeing her brother safely there too, her prayers are answered. This was an interesting story, well written and creatively plotted. However, I couldn't help ask the question, exactly what about Christianity derived from this story, the writer wanted the reader to take with him? Was it that prayers can be answered and we should believe, have faith and pray more? I wondered naturally about all those other people who were bitten, whose prayers wouldn't have been answered. There are obviously much deeper questions in this piece that this story begs discussion of. "Teacher's Log" I found to be another very creative piece by Creeden. Her imagination is astounding. The idea of normalization, and future procedures in a future world, even on another planet to which earthlings have access, that would recommend such or even require it so there's an even playing field for all, is brilliant. However, I wasn't sure in the end, whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for the youngboy to reject the procedures and I couldn't be sure whether the story was trying to recommend it or not or what the writer thought the Christian viewpoint was on that. Maybe the intention was for the reader to simply go home and think about it--but in any event, good food for thought and no story achieves a better purpose than making one think about it long after it's been read. "The Fiddler" by HA Titus was also well written, the others in this collection providing insight into and thought about a range of issues touching on the experiences, dealings and moralities of man. Well worth reading.