Monster- Frank Peretti

MONSTER

by

Frank Peretti

(June, 2000 12:00am Creede CO time/1:00 am Dallas time)

Well I finally finished Monster tonight! After three long weeks, and a 12 hour car ride to Creede CO, I got all the way through! I just haven’t had time to read  with my summer job! When I do, it’s only in small sporadic segments. It won’t take YOU three weeks to read this book; I’m just slow. It’s 419 pages, including the Epilogue, and there’s a super sweet interview with Frank Peretti after that which I still need to go back and read!

            Monster is a book by Frank Peretti ( author of This Present Darkness and The Oath) and one that I’ve wanted to read since I saw it for the first time last summer. It came out in 2005 or 2007, so it’s slightly older, but not ancient.

            It was a good read! Especially the beginning and the end. There were a few points in the middle where the same  thing kept happening over and over and over again and I was trying to decide if I really wanted to finish it, or just move on to a different book, but I had already put in 300 pgs worth, and mom said it got really good from that point on, so I stuck with it. And she was right! Once I reached pg 300 or so I couldn’t put it down! Plus, now I can say I’ve read a Frank Peretti book, and have sampled his writing style.

On his style: He can be pretty scary, obviously, as Christian thrillers are his genre. This book was one of the scarier books I’ve read in my life, which isn’t saying much since I never bother to read scary novels, but my mom, who has read a few of his other books, including monster, says that his other books are rediculously scary, as in having to do with demons and such- a theme I don’t do so well with.  Monster is supposedly one of his less scary novels, and considering, I still found it pretty intense. So I don’t think I’ll be reading This Present Darkness, or House (a Peretti+ Ted Dekker piece). 

             He is really good with figurative language and details, for example he has great imagery, metaphors and similies.

            However, I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t tell you that I almost quit reading it when mom told me that the book was about bigfoot. I thought “Ok seriously? This is a total turnoff”. Now, if you know me, you know that I have an interest in mythical creatures and far off places, however Bigfoot has never been an interest of mine.  This, coupled with the fact that there is a lot of science in the book to follow didn’t promise a fantastic read for me in the begining. By science, I mean as in forensic science which I’ve never really been into. For example, when CSI comes on I leave the room.  But I still decided to commited to the book, since I trust my mother’s oppinion of books and she told me to give it a chance.

            I tried to set that part of the story aside and focus on the other elements  of the novel which provoked my interest; the search for the main character, Beck, who gets lost, a couple’s love that  tries to defy the odds as well as men’s faithlessness. There were also the big picture elements of the novel which held promise: mystery, adventure, evolution vs. fatih, and faith in the unseen.   By the end, even the whole bigfoot theme caught my full interest thanks to the creative and personal way Peretti describes and presents the sasquatches. Yes, that’s plural. There are more than one.

            So, all in all,  it was definitely a good read! Obviously, not my all time favorite, but very creative, extremely suspenseful,  an unpredictable ending, and though it had some cheesy lines, the awesome imagery and inventive plot cancelled out any complaints I might have had about a few lines that could be seen as akward. J I like it. Go read it!

The Last song

Hahahhahahahahahahahaha. Ha! That is my initial response. Man.

 I laughed, I cried, what more can I say? Miley was truly awful. I really wish I could give her mad props for a great and convincing job on her first acting exersion, but nope. Notta. Can't do it.  Everyone else in the movie was spectacular-Greg Kinnear, whom I am growing to love more and more thanks to my mother who has  always been a big fan, Liam Hemsworth, who is quite the looker. I mean those deep blue eyes? Come on!  Of course we can't forget the little boy! He is absolutely precious! He bordered the cute/annoying line, but never really crossed it. I thought he was a fantastic little actor that stole my heart, if not the whole theater's. I thought the story line was pretty good- especially the twist about her dad being sick at the end, and the whole church scandal, and ya, of course I cried a couple of times. Who doesn't when someone dies? It was pretty hilarious at times, thanks to Miley's inability to keep her lips closed. I mean literally...I wasn't the only one who couldn't stop laughing. It seemed like she had a popcorn kernel stuck between her lip and her teeth. And I was hopeful that her acting wouldn't be as bad as I had feared, but alas, the hope was in vain. I don't understand the phenomena in Hollywood that required everyone of any status with a specific talent to plunge head first into other fields of fame. For example: actors become singers, singers become actors, actors become politicians, singers write novels, etc...the list goes on. And not to say that some great movies haven't been produced by people that are mainly known as singers, or great albums made by actors who happen to have a voice, but I just think people should strengthen their talent, and be okay with not being the best at EVERYTHING.  Oh well. It was worth the laughs I guess. :)

Dear John Review- Movie vs. Book

Dear John - movie vs. the book

Characters:

            I feel like Channing Tatum did a really good job and fit the character of John Tyree well. Amanda Seyfreid fit her part as Savannah pretty well also, but for some reason I pictured Savannah a little more passionate about life.

Beginning:  

I liked the beginning of the book and how it was a glimpse at the end: the reader understands from the beginning that they don’t end up together. I feel like that would’ve translated well on screen, and been a good intro to the movie maybe just because I could picture it in my head.   But the movie opens with John reading a letter he wrote about the last thing he thought of before he blacked out after he was shot. The letter wasn’t in the book, but it didn introduce the importance of the coins in a fresh way, I suppose.

Things added to the movie, not in the book:

            They added a lot of scenes to the movie that weren’t in the book. Why? I’m not sure.  For example: I really liked what was probably the best scene of the movie, when John goes to see his dad in the hospital and reads him the letter, however, it was not in the book. In the book, the last time he sees his dad, John tell him how much he loves and appreciates him and he’s sorry that he’s been gone so much and that he had given him such a hard time. To this speech, his dad responds with a single word- “Okay”, which John says he “can’t help but smile at.” That to me is pretty sweet, but the scene in the movie where Tatum reads the letter to his dad in the middle of a hospital hallway is so emotional, and sweet you can’t help but love it and feel John’s burdensome love for his dad.

 In the book, there are a few people at John’s dad’s funeral, but I guess in the movie they decided to only show John at the funeral to exaggerate the situation.

The whole scene where John and Savannah try to bring his dad to her parents house and he has a panic attack in the car never happens in the book, but it was a dramatic depiction of how his father has Adult Autism and how that affects his life, as well as John’s.

This is super nit picky, but in the beginning when John and Savannah meet, John never stepped in the fire at the beach house, and rather than him just randomly asking her out the next day, she had asked him if he could teach her to surf. They never had the thing where they would say “ I’ll be seeing you” back to each other. That was just for the screen.

Things in the book not in the movie-

            But there were a lot of things they left out of the movie as well- such as when John comes home after his dad passes away and finds the filth in his dad’s bed, and cans of soup piled high in the kitchen. In the movie, they sort of show John coming home to the dirty kitchen, but it isn’t explained, and you don’t see how infuriated he is. John is so upset by this he almost makes an impulse trip out of pure anger to the neighbor’s about why they didn’t look after his Dad, but rather he decides against it and sits down and cries. It’s the first time he cries in the book, and from what the narrator tells us, in a long time.  

            The fact that the other reason his dad loves that one special coin as much as he does, is because the only picture that existed of John and his dad was made after they discovered this coin.

The fact that his dad didn’t ever talk about coins after a certain point didn’t just devlop out of nowhere- at one point in the book, John yells at him and tells him how much he never wanted to talk about coins again.

I also feel like they could’ve given more of a background on John’s bad years where he went to the bar a lot and could’ve cared less about the life he was living.

Where did the knife fight come in the book? Don’t remember that OR the 2 bullets he took to the shoulder. There is a dramatic war scene in the book, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t get shot.

The part where Savannah is sitting by the beach in the movie and John comes up behind her is different in the book as well. Savannah’s reason for being upset is because she knows she has to tell John about his Dad, and she ends up giving John a book on adult Autism at the pier, which John refuses to take.  Tim coms to John’s house to give him the book later, where John apologizes for punching him in the nose.  John actually spends a whole day reading it and putting two and two together about his dad and seeing that he really might have adult autism. This was vital in the story because it changed the way John saw his dad. He appreciated him more that he had before and their relationship was better from this point on.

Another part that they left out was that the only friend who came to visit John after his dad dies is John’s ex girlfriend.  They talk for along time and he ends up telling her all about Savannah, against his initial hesitancy. But I guess this part is not essential to the storyline, except that it sort of explains his timing in driving to Savannah’s house to see her.

ENDING:

The ending is probably the biggest difference in the two. In the book Tim lives, and John decided to leave forever, and leave Savanah alone, even though they both love each other. Savannah has to live with the decision she made to marry Tim, and it is a really bitter-sweet ending.

In the movie, they change it to where Tim dies after a couple of months and John and Savannah spot each other in the street and embrace, leaving the viewers to think that all is well and they end up together- a happy ending- or at least more favorable to the book’s. It sort of makes Tim’s character just seem very unimportant and that Savannah doesn’t have to deal with her decision. It’s more unrealistic, but I think it will definitely please audiences more than the books’ ending.

 Which ending do I prefer? As sick as it sounds, I think I prefer the ending in the book. Ya, it’s sad, but I think it’s what has to happen. Life isn’t always easy, and people do have to deal with the decisions they make. As a romantic, this decision is not a norm for me, but I’m at a point in life where I’m beginning to be able to appreciate Realism. So yes, I like the book’s ending better. J

The End.

Dear John

2 am – 1/18/10

Dear John

A sweet story. And when I say sweet, I guess I mean bittersweet, the ending isn’t disappointing and it doesn’t make me hate my life. It’s just…. right. ya know? It wasn’t predictable…I didn’t and could never have predicted the outcome. The main character, John, does the right thing. He makes the right decision. The only way, I guess, which ended up being an option I didn’t even see coming. Maybe I’m just oblivious, but it wasn’t at all a predictable story to me. It was nothing like I thought it would be, going into it. The story line had more depth, and it was good. It was slow at first, but it began moving along after a few chapters, and at some points I couldn’t put it down. So,  I’m glad I read it, and I definitely don’t feel like it was a waste of my time, but I also know it’s not one that I will  recommend to friends  as “an ABSOLUTE must read!” I will recommend it , because it’s a sweet, sad, story about love, the  sacrifices people make for love, right and wrong timing, and dealing with the unfair things that are hurled our way in life.  Now I can also say I’ve read a Nicolas Sparks book!!! That’s a plus J.  Sorry guys, I’m making it sound like an awful book and that THAT is the only thing I got from it. NO that’s not the case at all. I liked it a lot and I’ll probably read it again someday when I have time- which may not be for a long time….. But it was good. I was disappointed that Savanah was supposedly a Christian, and she didn’t think it was that important to wait on sex. I’d like to have a talk with Sparks about that, just so he knows that we believe it’s a beautiful thing to wait on, and that it could be a more attractive way to present the story. I think he still could’ve achieved what he wanted in the story without that, and it would’ve reeped the same benefit. How cool would it have been if Sparks HAD presented the story that way? He would have been glorifying God and not have even known it!!! OBut ya, that was kind of disappointing. Eh, I guess if Sparks doesn’t know Jesus, there’s only so much I can expect. If he was a Christian and wrote that, I’d definitely have a few things I’d like to write to him about, haha.

            And you know, I didn’t think his writing style was amazing? It was just okay; somewhat poetic, but just very commercialized. It was good ENOUGH that it didn’t bother me, but it was riding that line.  I mean, granted the dude has published more books than I have (haha= 0) or ever will, and has a huge fan base, so he’s obviously successful, but just as a personal preference, the style wasn’t my favorite. I will give him storyline and character props though. I loved mostly all the characters. They were very real, and you could see different facets of them revealed through relationships with other people. For instance, like how Savannah reveals to John halfway through that he has adult Aspergers. Savannah, Tim, and John were all very genuine and relatable as well. It was funny though, because I kept imagining Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried as the characters! I think they did a fairly good job at casting those parts for the movie coming out…except that Savannah’s hair and eyes are supposedly brown.  Oh well.

             It was a great story line and I was grateful that he didn’t create more drama and tension by creating an affair in the end. I guess I knew nothing would happen, because of the thickness of the pages in my right hand as I neared the end- there was no room for all of that to happen.  Of course, like every story I read, or every movie I watch, I became emotionally involved with the characters for example: I cried when John’s dad died.  I just adore their relationship, and the description of his dad. Their relationship had so many relatable facets to it, which I guess is why I became attached!  

It was a good book and I’m glad I read it. J Thanks for buying it for me Kaitlin! 

Night!

-Me

Song of Songs

So while I was reading Reedeeming Love, I decided to read Song of Soloman because Micheal Hosea references it so many times. This morning I was reading Soloman's words, and having a hard time concentrating. So I closed my eyes and asked God to enrich my focus and that every word would connect and flow together and I that I would be able to focus soley on his Word. I opened my eyes and actually ended up reading to the end of the book!  I was expecting it to be alot longer than it was, and granted it was only 6 or 7 chapters, but I got through it!
     It is truly a beautifully written book, except for some of the analogies Soloman makes such as comparing his brides' temples to halves of pomegranates, and her nose to a tower....what a way to flatter a girl! Haha, but no, it's really interesting because it goes back and forth in a sort of script form, saying "He: " and then what the man says, and "She:" and then what the woman says, and it even includes "friends:" and gives the input of the friends.  I also noticed that besides being an extremely sensual book (probably the most open about sex in the Bible) it repeats itself three times when it says " Daughters of Jerusalem I charge you; Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires", meaning love will come when it comes, and it s dangerous to take things into your own hands- something I try to do all too often! I always take control, and forget that God has control of all things, especially when love will awaken in my life, and when that special someone will choose to arrive. :) Thanks for that special reminder Lord. You're awesome.
Just thought I would share this with everyone, as it is a book and I try to share about all the books I read on here. :)
Blessings!
-Alyson

Redeeming Love

Redeeming Love-

(this post is about a week late, sorry guys)

I finished Redeeming Love last night at 3:30 am. This was my second time to read the novel and I am more convinced than ever that this is my favorite Christian romance novel. To say that it is my favorite book is a dangerous thing- what about all the others? And you know me, I’m so indecisive, even with which books I award places to.

            Rivers really astounds me. I wrote her a letter actually. Rather than writing a “review” or journal immediately following my completion, I ripped out a college ruled sheet of paper from my journal I keep by my bedside and wrote her a letter, thanking her for being an obedient servant of Christ and allowing Him to speak through her writing. Whether she will read it or not, I have no idea, haha, but she is a big name in Christian writing and I felt like I have a duty to encourage other writers- like she needs it with such a successful book haha.  It is such a powerful, emotional, and extremely relatable-to-life book. I read her author’s note at the end of the book which talks of her process of writing it. She gives a few details about her walk with Christ, and  gives Him full credit for everything accomplished in the novel- the details, names, place, time, characteristics. She tells how her own testimony is nothing like Angels- almost the complete opposite.  She grew up in a Christian home, and though she initially believed she was a Christian, it was a very long process in understanding what this meant and truly grasping the concept of grace.

            She says writing was her escape, her control. After her conversion, and re commitment to Christ, she says that He asked her to give up writing for a period.  She didn’t know if she would ever write again. But she did and she says she commited all of her writing to the glory of Christ and in furthering His kingdom. And she has. I love that I can connect with this book in a new way every time I read it. Whatever stage of life I am at, I can come to this novel knowing that it can still relate to me- even if I’m seventy.

             I have decided to make reading Redeeming Love a Christmas tradition, and I couldn’t have picked a better book to read annually. I wrote to Rivers that one can rediscover the concept of grace by walking alongside the character Angel, as it is such a hard concept to grasp and I’m not sure if I ever will. But I love trying, and I love seeing a breathing interpretation of Christ in Micheal Hosea- how he forgives, how he loves Angel relentlessly, how he refuses to associate her sins with who she is. As a single woman, this novel points directly to Christ and reminds me He is all I need and my portion forever rather than leaving me desperate and lonely for the perfect man as many love stories do.  Reading it this second time has truly drawn me into Christ once more, opening my eyes to His beauty and majesty. It draws attention to the gifts He so willingly gives that we all to often take for granted- friendship, the earth, sunrises, sounds of nature, the good in people, the state of brokenness, forgiveness, mercy, His Son.  Wow. I am so in awe of you Father.

            There’s a different reason Angel leaves each time she does- resistence, fear of being vulnerable, pride, and the last an attempted act of selflessness for Micheal. In the last time that she flees, God tells Micheal that he has become her idol, her god, and that she has to find him in this last retreat. I had completely forgotten the part in this final retreat where Angel has the dream about Christ, and it brought me to tears. I thought I would put it up here for you to see:

            She looked up and saw Micheal standing before her. A small flame burned where his heart was. No, Beloved. His mouth hadn’t moved, and the voice was not his. The flame grew larger and brighter,spreading until his entire body was radiant with it. Then the light separated from Micheal and came the last few feet toward her. It was a man, glorious and magnificent,light streaming from him in all directions.

“Who are you?” She whispered, terrified “Who are you?”

Yahweh, Al Shaddai, Jehovah- Mekoddishkem, El Elyon, El Olam, Elohim…

Th names kept coming, moving together like music, rushing through her blood filler her. She trembled in fear and could not move.  He reached out and touched her and she felt warmth encompassing her and the fear dissolving away. She looked at down at herself and she was clean and clothed in white.

“Then I am dead.”

That you may live.

            Blinking, she looked up again and saw the man of light covered with her filth. “No!” she wept.  “Oh God. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’ll take it back. I’ll do anything….”  Yet even as she reached out, the defilement disappeared and he stood before her perfect again.

 I am the way, Sarah, follow me.