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Posted via email from jsb

Bonhoeffer--The Thriller

Here's a new biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the young Lutheran theologian in Hitler's Germany who was an early and constant voice of resistance against the Third Reich and who was executed for his involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler. It's called Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Not only is it completely brilliant, but it reads like a thriller. Not only that, but it also happens to have been written by my dear friend, Eric Metaxas.

It's already being critically-acclaimed. And little wonder. Eric has used his incredible gift of storytelling and employed primary sources to bring the story vividly to life--painting scenes so real that you feel as if you were actually there.

Take this (totally creepy image) for instance:

"... Schlabrendorff" Eric writes "recalled the grim spectacle of Hitler at table: 'To see Hitler eat was a most disgusting sight. His left hand he placed upon his thigh, while with his right hand he stuffed his food, consisting of all sorts of vegetables, into his mouth. As he did so he did not lift his hand to his mouth, but kept his right arm flat on the table and brought his mouth down to his food." (p.427)

This incredible biography that reads like a thriller that is written by my good friend is at the same time theological deep and sophisticated.

It's getting stellar reviews in the WSJ and ... (drum roll) a starred review in Kirkus. And THAT'S saying something!

(I haven't yet read the entire book, just portions of it--I'm saving it up for my summer reading! Can't wait.)

Posted via email from s@lly l-j

War Horse

This Christmas I was lucky enough to see the award-winning smash hit War Horse at the New London Theater. Based on the children's novel by Michael Morpurgo, it's a play about a plough horse commandeered by the cavalry and sent to the front in the First World War. It's a story of loyalty, bravery, and the extraordinary bond between a young recruit and his horse.

What is most incredible about this production though is the astonishing way they conjure a horse on stage: so life-like, so convincing, so minutely observed, that you totally forget it's a puppet and believe instead that what you're seeing on stage in front of you is an actual living breathing horse.

And it's not because you can't see the puppeteers. That's the odd thing. You can see them clearly at all times. And there is no effort to hide them. Each seven foot tall horse puppet is manipulated by a team of three actors: one for the back legs and tail; another for the front and neck; and another to guide the model. (In the photo above, for instance, the three on the left are the puppeteers for the young foal Joey.) But because of the realism of the movements (even down to the movement of the horses' ears) and the mastery of the puppeteers your brain simply blanks them out leaving only the horse.

It's astonishing. And magical. And powerfully moving. And of course impossible to describe--you need to see it for yourself. So take a look at this to get an idea and go if you possibly can. (If you can't make it to London, the production apparently will be in NYC sometime in 2011.)

Britain lost close to a million horses in the First World War. This play is a tribute to them. And through that lens, it also gets you to see the tragic human loss of the Great War. And feel it afresh.

(Adapted by Nick Stafford from a novel by Michael Morpurgo. The puppets were designed by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa. Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse opened at the National Theater in 2007 and transferred to the West End’s New London Theatre in the spring.)

interview with David Suchet

David (Hercule Poirot) Suchet speaks to radio host Charles Morris about why he chose to read The Jesus Storybook Bible for audio, how he selects his roles, what his faith means to him, and more... in this fabulous conversation which you can listen to here.

The "new and improved" Winnie The Pooh

Today RETURN TO THE HUNDRED ACRE WOOD is being published in the US and UK: the first authorized "sequel" to A A Milne's 1920s masterpiece. It appears to be the "new and improved" world of Winnie the Pooh--they've made Eeyore less Eeyore (he isn't such a victim, they say, but "more proactive"), they've added a Fancy Nancy-esque Otter (who loves to wear pearls)... which is all very well--but what I want to know is... why? Why is this a good idea, again?



The characters of The Hundred Acre Wood all sprung from actual real life toys that belonged to Milne's little boy... so nothing against otters or Lottie or pearls but he did he actually have an otter with pearls?

None of this bodes well. I should reserve judgment until I read the thing... (perhaps this book will drive children to the real Winnie The Pooh and away from the Disney-fied version which would be a very good thing and I'd be all for it) but apart from assuming we know better now than Milne and Shephard then (call me old fashioned, but new isn't always improved and improved isn't always better), the first question that popped into my head when I heard about Lottie and needing to add a girl character and improving Eeyore was--can you begin to imagine anyone adding a girl character into a Rembrandt painting? Or Shakespeare's Ophelia being "modified" to be less of a victim?

Not so much.

Andrew Peterson's book: North or Be Eaten!

My friend Andrew Peterson has written a fantasy for children that is a page turner. North! Or Be Eaten: Wild escapes. A desperate journey. And the ghastly Fangs of Dang has everything: adventure, cliff hangers, fantastic names (what about "Helba Grounce-Miglatobe", just as a for instance?), great characters, a completely realized other world--and it's filled with truth and suffused with hope--and funny, too. What more could you want? Unless you want lyrical, musical language, do you? You're in luck. That too. Which shouldn't be a surprise to anyone familiar with his work--besides being a talented writer, he is also of course an uber talented award winning singer song writer. And I'm a huge fan. What a voice. You can listen here. How does he do it? I don't know. But I'm glad he does. (As I'm sure many children are too.) He's a gifted storyteller in his books and his songs... So get his album! buy his book! (It's volume two of his Wingfeather Saga. Volume one was On The Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree.) More here and here.

world magazine interview & photo

World Magazine, in their Books Issue, interviewed me and did a fun article about how I came to write in the first place and what brought me to the US. (You can read here.) Which was very nice of them. (Thank you World Magazine and Marvin Olasky!) The photo was taken standing by a window at the Tribeca Barnes and Noble one day last month. The photographer (James Allen) was great--and came with big lights and fancy reflectors and lots of leads and very large cameras to photograph me while I was at an event (I think Barnes and Noble now believe this is how I always arrive, with paparazzi and lights). A friend says it looks like I'm balancing on a building ledge and how did I get there; another says it looks like I have NYC at my feet; and my sister says what's that big round elbow growth you've got? In Other Reviews... HOW TO GET MARRIED turns up as a June pick for the older sibling here (they can't say enough good things about the book so I love them I love them I love them); and THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS is a Summer Reading Selection from none other than Grandparents.com (and they should know) which you can read here. And The Witchita Eagle says of BEING A PIG IS NICE: "dirty, slow, noisy, messy, goofy kids everywhere will love this book" and you can read more here and it's also featured in a piggy round up here.

how to get wedlocked

Just came across this new book "Wedlock," by Wendy Moore: about how a countess escaped a frightful violent dreadful awful marriage. Back in 1700 and something no less. The book is called Wedlock: The True Story of the Disastrous Marriage and Remarkable Divorce of Mary Eleanor Bowes, Countess of Strathmore and you can check out the review in the NYT here. It's not just the divorce that was remarkable. There's something else (for those who haven't guessed) which will make you want to read the book all the more. Or at least it does me. Clue: read to the end of the article. Other clue: she had the same greyish blue eyes.

Fun Finds for May

Thanks to Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine: they included Being A Pig Is Nice: a child's eye-view of manners in their FUN FINDS FOR MAY! read their review here. I found my own fun find of May... some random person I don't know posted this... if you want a laugh check it out here. Ahh, how very timely the release of Being A Pig Is Nice is turning out to be. (Evil violins here.) Yes, coming as it does right at the very peak of SWINE FLU pig season... (maniacal laughter.) (Clever marketing on Random House's part.) (Wait. Did they cause Swine Flu do you think?) But whether or not it IS actually nice to be a pig is up for discussion. can you get pig flu if U R a pig?

"sure to be a hit with ... the Fancy Nancy crowd”

so says SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL in their lovely review of HOW TO GET MARRIED... BY ME, THE BRIDE. Quoted below: LLOYD-JONES, Sally. How to Get Married by Me, the Bride. illus. by Sue Heap. unpaged. CIP. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84118-7; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94118-4. LC 2007037839. PreS-Gr 2—The all-knowing narrator from How to Be a Baby—by Me, the Big Sister (Random, 2007) is back with more advice in this fun-filled guide to finding the perfect mate and planning a wonderful wedding. Using the same step-by-step format found in the earlier title, the precocious little girl shares her observations on what to look for in a spouse (nose picking is not acceptable) as well as what details are important to remember when planning for the big day. The advice is delivered in a running commentary as well as in lists of boxed text. Good places to get married include a castle, up a tree, or your playroom. The acrylic cartoons are filled with fun details that match the lively charm of the text. After the festivities, "the bride" says goodbye to the guests, skips all the way home holding her daddy's hand, and tells him all about her day. This book is sure to be a hit with fans of the first title as well as with the "FANCY NANCY" (HarperCollins) crowd.—Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

little mr red socks

And... The winners of the Big Blog Book Give-away (who get a free copy of Angry Conversations With God) ARE ... SO impossible to choose because so many of you gave such funny stories... But, hard as it is I have to choose, so the winners are: Jennifer, Robyn Blaikie Collins, Maryann MacDonald and Sennie. Please send me your mailing address and email if I don't already have it and I'll get you your book. (Thank you everyone for joining in the fun and sorry we couldn't have everyone win!)

happy quilt

(don't know the name of this one but I like it) (no that's not the name) (really) Quilt by Denyse Schmidt. More here. PS: TODAY is the last day of the Big Blog Book Give-away and your last chance to get a free copy of Angry Conversations With God. More: here.

BIG BLOG BOOK GIVE-AWAY: Angry Conversations with God

OK. I've never hosted a give-away. But here goes. My brilliant friend, Susan Isaacs, has a fabulous new book hitting the shelves this very day. And you can get a copy by doing two things: a) signing up for my blog (if you haven't already); and also b) answering a question (see end of post). The give-away will last through March 25th and the top 4 will get their very own copy of the book (sorry, only available in US and Canada). So spread the word to All and Sundry ... Here's what Publisher's Weekly said in a rave review about her book: "God in couples counseling? Sounds sacrilegious, but in the adept hands of comedian, writer and actress Isaacs, it’s a success. Isaacs reached bottom at age 40: no job, no boyfriend, no home. Of course, she blamed God. So off they went to counseling with the ever-patient therapist Rudy ..." Originally staged as a solo show in New York and LA, Susan's book is a cheeky spiritual memoir and a page turner--startlingly honest, profound, refreshing, unique and very, very funny. It's snarky (as she herself admits) but even at its most scandalous, it's still an affirmation of faith. By the end Susan writes... “I saw now all too clearly why I had married God: for the power and the glory. For the money.” Publishers Weekly says: "Isaacs goes on a Job-like search for explanations from God, but instead finds the problem to be her. She’s funny, biting, earthy and brilliant." And gives the book a star. Quite right, too! I loved it. You can buy the book here. Or you can win your copy: tell me what is the funniest thing you've heard a child say (could be a made up word, a phrase, etc.; could be your child, someone else's child, you as a child...). The funniest will be the winners. I'll keep reminding you of this give-away until the closing date of 25th March...

Discipleship Journal recommends...

With so many bible storybooks for children how do you choose the best? In the March/April edition, Discipleship Journal, has developed a list of questions to help parents and teachers in choosing, recommending or selecting gifts for students and their families: --What stories are (and aren't) included? --How is the gospel addressed? --Do the stories accurately reflect biblical accounts? --Does it help children see how the stories fit together?

LH page: Before you Buy >> March/April 2009

The article mentions only one children's storybook bible by name, from the over 60 surveyed. The Jesus Storybook Bible.

picture books: words and pictures together

Two really cool picture books (The Snow Show and Snow) are reviewed in the Times this week. But it's the review, written by a Prince of Children's Books, Paul O. Zelinsky, and his words about how a good picture works that struck me. He says (among other great things): "In any good picture book, words and pictures complement each other, each of them necessary and neither sufficient." Working on picture books, you must check your ego at the door. At least if you want a good picture book. It's what one of my publishers calls, "Breaking through The Author Barrier": where you suddenly find that what you're most concerned with is not keeping all of your words, but making the best book. Even if that means, as Faulkner said, murdering "your darlings." (Those pieces of text you are so fond of and think are so wonderful and the very apex of your literary skill usually are the very things that must go. Because in order to keep them you make everything else work around them and end up forcing things. And that, as far as I can tell, never works in books and stories anymore than it does in life.) Putting the book first--not your words--takes the focus off you (and saves you from that awful self-indulgence and thinking it's all about self-expression) and puts it where it belongs: to thinking first of the reader and asking not "Am I a good writer?" but, "Am I telling a good story?" Read more here.

"one of the funniest books of the year"

No, it's not just me saying it. Radio 4 said it. Honestly. And they know things. (Radio 4 is the high brow radio station of the UK--for the benefit of non-Brits) In FRONT ROW'S round up of the best books to give younger readers this Christmas, How To Be A Baby: by Me, The Big Sister was in the list! And that's when they said that thing about it being "one of the funniest books of the year" (sorry, did I already say that?) Listen here if you feel like a bit of Brit Radio... Front Row.

It's Time to Sleep, My Love

my dear dear friend has a magnificent talent and a glorious new book out to prove it. Stunningly illustrated by Uber NYT Bestseller Nancy Tillman. Eric's poem is heart-stoppingly beautiful. There's even an incredible tune (composed by Sally Taylor, the daughter of James Taylor and Carly Simon no less!) that's available on CD. what company he keeps! (CAUTION: before listening be sure to be ready for bed. it will send you straight to sleep.) (Better buy it first.)

Psychologically Sound Picture Book

Kate Kellaway, in a review of Children's picture books, 2-5 years (which appeared in the Observer on Sunday October 26 on p25 of the Features and reviews section) called How To Be A Baby: By Me, The Big Sister "the most psychologically sound, entertaining story to shore up the dented ego of an older child faced with a new baby." The Professor would certainly agree. The review is also in the Guardian online and you can read it here.

world magazine article

Susan Olasky very kindly came and interviewed me and wrote an article and you can read it here.