The Faith of the Early Fathers

Compiled by William A. Jurgens, I just finished volume 1 of the 3 volume set. "It is a source - book of theological and historical passages from the Christian writings of the pre-Nicene and Nicene eras." Jurgens also did the translation of the writings. It begins with the Didache, then St. Clement of Rome, an Apostolic Father writing about A.D. 80 while he reigned as Peter's 3rd successor as Pope. Volume 1 ends with Pope St. Damasus I, who reigned from A.D.366-384.

I've been reading this as part of my morning devotions. Many of the writings were to fight heresies. There is nothing new under the sun. The same beliefs still exist, it seems. Many people today are so busy making Christ "relatable" they forget His divinity. A few go the other way; so busy with an unreachable pedestal for Christ they forget the Incarnation. Denying either side of Christ is a heresy and anathema. There are so many more heresies that had to be battled. Has the Church weakened? For now no anathemas are pronounced. It would be intolerant. We apparently need to live and let live. Of course, it's a different world. Evangelization is different. Then, the only Christians were Catholic.... No. The Church hasn't weakened. Just gentle as a dove and sly as a fox.

I have been reading this for some time, since I only read and pondered one reading a day. Some were very exciting and I would wish Jurgens had included more in the book ( these are mostly just excerpts of larger works). Occasionally he included pieces so long I would have to break them down. All in all, a satisfactory addition to my devotions.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

A play, by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, and Jack Throne, this book picks up the Harry Potter saga nineteen years later with the Potters' second son, Albus Severus Potter, beginning at Hogwarts. Albus has a checkered record there, making dubious friendships and getting sorted into Slytherin and not following in his father's footsteps at all. He doesn't even like quidditch! Finally, at age 14, the tension between Albus and Harry comes to a boil, causing Albus to embark with his best friend on a time-turning escapade to right Harry's greatest wrong, with disastrous repercussions.

The play, of course, is not a vehicle for Rowling's rich descriptive prose. The dialogue is short and terse. I'm not sure how the actual play was staged; the changes of scenery are many and vastly diverse. Each scene is relatively short, too. Tried my patience a bit, but the story is still strong enough to carry you along in spite of the mild irritations. The spells are left bold here, though. I think without additional words to cushion them... if all the books were in play form I don't think I would have yet allowed my children to read them. What is read stays in the head.... I don't know.

The Sense of an Ending

This is a stream of consciousness novel by Julian Barnes. Tony Webster, middle aged, divorced, retired, is forced to review his life, his friendships, and his relationships when he receives a bewildering legacy from the mother of a former girlfriend.

I didn't particularly like the book. He reviews his life but makes no changes to it. No growth occurs. The twist in the story is the only insight he reaches. In my opinion, the book doesn't merit the hype on its cover. It won the Man Booker Prize in 2011 apparently. I am left wondering, "how"?

The Red Hat Club Rides Again

This novel by Haywood Smith is just a fun, quick read, especially for ladies "of a certain age". This is a follow-up novel to The Red Hat Club, but you do not have to read the first one to fully understand and enjoy this one. It's told from the perspective of Georgia Baker, one of a group of women who have been friends since they were all involved in a sorority-type club in highschool called the Mademoiselles. There were six of them, however Pru Bonner lost her way through drugs and alcohol. In her recovery she lives out of state. The other five are now red-hatters, over fifty and ready for adventure. They get plenty when Pru falls off the wagon and is endangered in Las Vegas, so the ladies rush to her rescue. Teeny is a gazillionaire, so ready cash makes the difference in staging a kidnapping. Of course there's more "mundane" adventures, too. A mid-life pregnancy test, a health scare, the perils of internet dating, and a surprise celebration. Through it all the friendship remains strong with the help of their twelve rules.

The Red Hat Society, an international organization with chapters worldwide, does not endorse either of Haywood Smith's books about a group of women in one Red Hat Club.

Tuck

The final installment of the King Raven Trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. This one was probably my favorite. Friar Tuck helps Rhi Bran to his rightful place as king of Elfael. He brings spiritual support to the band of merry men, as well as translation services and care of the wounded. Tuck, the bandy-legged friar, is instrumental in suing for peace between the Norman King William Rufus and King Bran, the Welsh lord of Elfael. The story resolves satisfactorily. It also tells how Alan A'Dale joined the group, the wandering minstrel with translation ability. Part of the text is in verse, supposedly from Alan, telling of the exploits of King Raven and his men. A good read.

Scarlet

This is Book II of the King Raven Trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. William Scatlocke, better known as Will Scarlet, has lost everything to the Normans. He has heard the tales coming from Wales of the exploits of King Raven (who modern readers know as Robin Hood) and decides to join his band of loyal followers. However, during a bold adventure Will is captured. He is subsequently rescued by his friends. And he has uncovered a plot to overthrow the Norman king William the Red. They rush off to warn William Rufus, hoping he'll be grateful enough to return the land of Elfael to King Raven.

Her Fearful Symmetry

This is a novel by Audrey Niffenegger. Julia and Valentina Poole, spoiled mirror-image twins from the suburbs of Chicago uninterested in college or employment receives a letter from a London solicitor. Their Aunt Elspeth Noblin has died of cancer and left them her flat. They must live in it for a year and their parents may not enter it are stipulations of the will. They did not know Elspeth; she and her twin, their mother Edie, were estranged before they were born. The estrangement is shrouded in mystery. The twins get to know their new neighbors; Martin, intelligent crossword puzzle creator trapped in his apartment by severe OCD; and Robert, Elspeth's lover and a historian writing his thesis on Highgate Cemetery. Then there's the Cemetery itself, a character in its own right, just behind the apartment building.

This is an outright ghost story, so if you're not a fan of the paranormal this book is not for you. I wish I had had that warning; I wouldn't have wasted my time. Niffenegger hit it out of the park with her first book The Time Traveler's Wife and I guess I was expecting something on an equal footing. This wasn't even close.