Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Wheaton Literary Series)

Amazon.com

Walking on Water collects 12 brief meditations by Madeleine L'Engle on the nature of art and its relation to faith. L'Engle, the beloved author of A Wrinkle In Time among others, has written and spoken widely and wisely about the connection between religion and art. The gist of her understanding is as follows:

To try to talk about art and about Christianity is for me one and the same thing, and it means attempting to share the meaning of my life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory. It is what makes me respond to the death of an apple tree, the birth of a puppy, northern lights shaking the sky, by writing stories.

She believes that "[b]asically there can be no categories such as 'religious' art and 'secular' art because all true art is incarnational, and therefore 'religious.'" And "incarnation," in L'Engle's view, means "God's revelation of himself through particularity." In this book there is some slippage between L'Engle's autobiographical and critical voices. As a result, she often claims Christian significance for works whose meaning is not intentionally Christian. She admits this freely:

[B]ecause I am a struggling Christian, it's inevitable that I superimpose my awareness of all that happened in the life of Jesus upon what I'm reading, upon Buber, upon Plato, upon the Book of Daniel. But I'm not sure that's a bad thing. To be truly Christian means to see Christ everywhere, to know him as all in all.

-- Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

In this classic book, Madeleine L'Engle addresses the questions, What makes art Christian? What does it mean to be a Christian artist? What is the relationship between faith and art? Through L'Engle's beautiful and insightful essay, readers will find themselves called to what the author views as the prime tasks of an artist: to listen, to remain aware, and to respond to creation through one's own art.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2007-05-12

Madeline L'Engle is one of my most favorite authors. After reading this book, I wanted to meet her--that's not usual for me.

She deals with the big questions of faith and art and creation beautifully.

If you are an artist of any variety struggling with your art--read this. If you are a Christian struggling with your faith--read this.

Exactly what I was looking for.......2006-08-22

"Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art" by Madeleine L'Engle is exactly what I was hoping for in a book reflecting on the creative process and what it means to be a Christian Artist. She skillfully mixes musings on Christ, art, faith, service, and imagination. She says, "I learn that my feelings about art and my feelings about the Creator of the Universe are inseparable. To try to talk about art and about Christianity is for me one and the same thing, and it means attempting to share the meaning of my life, what gives it, for me, its tragedy and its glory." Ahh. And then she shares Leonard Bernstein's observation that art is "cosmos in chaos." Order in disorder. Isn't that what God is trying to do in our lives all the time? When we make art, we can appreciate what He is trying to do on a beyond-imagining, grander scale. This is just a taste of the wonderful insights from the writer of "The Wrinkle in Time" and "Arm of the Starfish." I strongly recommend it! Enjoy!

redeeming writing, celebrating art .......2006-08-06

"It is not easy for me to be a Christian," writes Madeleine L'Engle in Walking on the Water, "to believe twenty-four hours a day all that I want to believe. I stray, and then my stories pull me back if I listen to them carefully. I have often been asked if my Christianity affects my stories, and surely it is the other around..."

I can identify with her. I too struggle with my beliefs and have to return to the books that I have written, the stories that I have told to remind myself of what I already know. In this way all writers and all artists find the truths that they base their lives on by searching for them, discover their faith by exploring it, and grow closer to God only when they realize that they are straying once again.

Within her heartfelt musings on art, faith, and life, all those who feel that imagination and mystery are just as important as explanations and definitions will find a welcome companion. Christian fiction is not a sermon in disguise, it is truth wrapped in story--story wrapped in truth. I recommend this book to artists, dreamers, writers, readers, and believers. L'Engle claims that when we finish a book we want to be given illumination. And in this book she offers precisely that.

Breathing New Life.......2006-06-27

Only Flannery O'Conner has written a book on writing with this much spiritual insight and creative freedom. I picked up "Walking on Water" after numerous recommendations from fellow writers. Of course, I was already aware of L'Engle through her novels--I think "A Wrinkle in Time" and "A Wind in the Door" are brilliant--but I was less familiar with her nonfiction.

If you're a creative person on any level, and if you wrestle with life's big questions unflinchingly, then you must meet L'Engle in the world of words. This lady is such a unique individual, full of down-to-earth wisdom and to-the-limits-of-the-galaxy philosphical ponderings. With candor and anecdotes, with quotable lines and great grace, this book has the ability to breathe new life into tired, artistic souls. I know. Because it's done so for me.

the best book I've ever read.......2005-08-03

My mother-in-law gave this book to me on vacation this year. As an artist, and just a questioning human being in general, I found this book to be like reading my own thoughts poured onto paper. I couldn't seem to get though the words fast enough, but was a little sad as each page passed by, because it meant I would be closer to the end. This book is must read for everyone. I'm grateful that she took the time to write it, bcecause for me, it is a touchstone.

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The Kuchar Brothers - Truly Independent American Filmmakers

Reflections from a Cinematic Cesspool
George Kuchar , and Mike Kuchar
Manufacturer: Zanja Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0915906341

Book Description

A humorous collection of autobiographical literary low-browsing, low-budget filmmaking philosophy, and tips by the legendary twin, underground filmmakers George and Mike Kuchar; a reflection on their flickering universe and the famous and infamous who drop into it from time-to-time. Original illustrations by Mike and George Kuchar and a selection of never-before-seen photos. Includes filmography, bibliography and index.

Customer Reviews:

The Kuchar Brothers - Truly Independent American Filmmakers.......2000-05-30

This book became a filmmaking Bible for me. The Kuchar Brothers make movies for very little money using a whole lot of their souls in lieu of pecuniary advancements. Their movies are intensely personal, funny and brilliant and they've been making 'em since they were preteens using their aunt's 8mm (well before Super 8) camera inspired by the melodramas of Douglas Sirk as well as any piece of cinema they could devour.

This book gives a little taste of what's behind it all and it's a lot like the Brothers' movies - funny, moving, and whimsical with their own personal dreams, obsessions and demons as fuel. If you're a fan of the Kuchars you'll love this book. If you've never heard of them the book will serve as a timely introduction to their vast ouevre containing unforgettable titles like Sins of the Fleshapoids, Hold Me While I'm Naked and the Wet Destruction of the Atlantic Empire. Whether you know them or not, you will find this book invaluable. Mike's chapter entitled the Metaphysics of moviemaking is one of the greatest pieces I've ever read about making movies.

Even though they're not household names like many of the people they've inspired (Andy Warhol, John Waters, David Lynch), the Kuchar Brothers continue to make movies their own way. Though not as famous as some of their contemporaries, their contribution to American cinema is just as grand. That's why you should read this book...

$My Story as Told by Water: Confessions, Druidic Rants, Reflections, Bird-Watchings, Fish-Stalkings, Visions, Songs and Prayers Refracting Light, from Living Rivers, in the Age of the Industrial Dark$
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Duncan leaves me speachless...

Self-indulgent nonsense

Stereotypical, obvious, pompus

Henry Bugbee

My Story As Told By Water

My Story as Told by Water: Confessions, Druidic Rants, Reflections, Bird-Watchings, Fish-Stalkings, Visions, Songs and Prayers Refracting Light, from Living Rivers, in the Age of the Industrial Dark
David James Duncan
Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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God Laughs & Plays; Churchless Sermons in Response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist Right

River Teeth

The River Why, Twentieth-Anniversary Edition

The Brothers K

The Fly Fisherman's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What a Lifetime on the Water Has Taught Me about Love, Work, Food, Sex, and Getting Up Early (Guides to the Meaning of Life)

ASIN: 1578050839

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

When David James Duncan was growing up in suburban Portland, Oregon, he had no river to call his own, so he would routinely create one by flooding his mother's garden with a hose. He would then revel in his creation until he received the inevitable scolding. The poor kid couldn't help himself: "Running water ... felt as necessary to me as food, sleep, parents, and air," he explains. In time, he exchanged his nozzle for a fly rod and went in search of grander gardens, eventually developing an "interior coho compass" which he has traveled by ever since.

As any reader of The River Why knows, Duncan is a master of the art of writing about fishing--which is also to say life, since the two for him are indelibly linked. But these essays deal with far more than leaky waders and rising trout. Part memoir, part activist treatise, My Story As Told by Water is Duncan's love song to wild places and the creatures which inhabit them. The book's highlight is his powerfully convincing essay "A Prayer for the Salmon's Second Coming," in which he argues that saving salmon is crucial to both man and fish alike: "A 'modern Northwest' that cannot support salmon is unlikely to support 'modern Northwesterners' for long," he writes. In this elegant demand for the removal of four Snake River dams (out of 221 on the Snake/Columbia system), Duncan declares the wild salmon "a holiness, a divine gift," a role model rather than a resource: "Salmon are a light darting not just through water, but through the human mind and heart. Salmon help shield us from fear of death by showing us how to follow our course without fear, and how to give ourselves for the sake of things greater than ourselves."

He also ruminates on the true meanings of "place" and "home"; offers a fable on the 1872 Mining Act, "the most anachronistic and devastating piece of 'corporate welfare' in the world"; and details how Montanans rallied to prevent a giant mining company from extracting gold near the Blackfoot River, the setting of the Norman Maclean classic A River Runs Through It. All in all, My Story As Told by Water is a moving collection by an exquisite writer endowed with wit, compassion, and the rare ability to appeal to both emotion and reason in equal measures. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

In this remarkable collection of essays, David James Duncan, award-winning author of The River Why, braids his contemplative, activist, and rhapsodic voices together into a potently distinctive whole, speaking with power and urgency about the vital connections between our water-filled bodies and this water-covered planet.
The twenty-two essays in this collection swirl and eddy around the author's early-forged bond with the rivers of the Pacific Northwest and their endangered native salmon. With a bracing blend of story, logic, science, and humor, Duncan relates mystical, life-changing fishing adventures; draws incisive portraits of the humans and wild creatures who shaped his destiny; attacks the corporate greed and political folly that have brought whole ecosystems to ruin; and meditates on the spiritual and practical necessity of acknowledging our dependence on water in its primal state.

Customer Reviews:

Duncan leaves me speachless..........2006-02-26

The conflicted fiction and non-fiction writer delivers a masterpiece. Thank you David.

Self-indulgent nonsense.......2005-08-12

Duncan is a masterful wordsmith; this no one can reasonably dispute. But over the years, he has become so full of himself, so pretentious and self-important, that to me he is almost unreadable.

I give the book two stars because of a little bit of excellent fly fishing content, and because of Duncan's undeniable writing ability. But before you buy it, you should read Donald Miller's hilarious send-up of Duncan (whom he labels Trendy Writer) in "Blue Like Jazz." Don Miller -- now there's a guy who has something significant to say on metaphysical themes. Duncan is merely showing off; Khwaja Khadir indeed!

Stereotypical, obvious, pompus.......2004-04-03

Duncan's textbook rants are so predictable I found myself mouthing the next sentence before I read it. As someone who's work and life is submerged in environmental, water use, and preservation issues I find this type of stereotypical ranting more detrimental to the issues that concern me than most G.W. policies. Duncan preaches to the choir, but his preaching is so over the top it is a turn-off. While I agree with virtually every theme and policy he promotes, his pompus diatribes push me in the other direction. If this book were written 40 years ago it might strike a radical tone and inspire action. In these times it is merely a rehash of the new-age mumbo-jumbo that is so easy for the opposition to tear down.

This book will apeal to two audiences: new-age sheep, and right-wingers looking to bash environmentalists. The rest will find it harder to wade through than Columbia.

Henry Bugbee.......2004-03-06

For those who are interested in the life and teaching of Henry Bugbee, Duncan's account of Henry's last days makes this book worth reading.

My Story As Told By Water.......2003-11-06

My Story As Told By Water by David James Duncan was a confusing and overly political way to express the author's love for water. HIs diliverey is good, but he should keep in mind that his readers are reading for entertainment, not to hear about our government's poor decisions.

Beside Quiet Waters: Reflections on the Psalms in Our Everyday Lives

Average customer rating:

Thought Provoking!!
Titanically enjoyable!
" Beside Quiet Waters " an inspirational book on the Psalms
A must read for the Oprah book club!

Beside Quiet Waters: Reflections on the Psalms in Our Everyday Lives
James D. Capozzi
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Meditation | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Prayer | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0826411452

Customer Reviews:

Thought Provoking!!.......1999-07-09

This work of art opens your eyes to hidden meanings behind actions, reactions and unconscious behavior. After reading each passage and defining each story from my own perspective, I now examine the actions not only of myself, but of others in certain situations. A person of any background will surely be able to relate to many of the situations discussed in the book. This is a definite winner. A book that can be read over and over and still create new meanings. Great job!!

Titanically enjoyable!.......1999-06-17

The relation of the psalms to real life was a satisfying feeling for me to read. Once I started to read, I didn't stop. Pretty soon the 200 pages was over, and I wanted more. Let's hope Dr. Capozzi shares more of his metaphorically rich works. Pure self-serving motivation!

" Beside Quiet Waters " an inspirational book on the Psalms.......1999-04-27

I read a different Psalm in this book each day. No matter who you are or what walk of life you come from this book will reflect some of your daily views of life or values. I find some of the authors quotes about the psalms to be very comforting in times when I am down. He uses everyday life to reflect on the Psalms and bring them to life. All in all i enjoy reading a different Psalm and passage each day to give me a bright outlook on the new day ahead. Sometimes it just inspires me to press on when every thing seems so bleak and dim. I'll reflect on a funny story the author brings to life and i'll smile. I think that if your in for a great book look no further than " Beside Quiet Waters "

A must read for the Oprah book club!.......1999-04-10

This book brings the Psalms into our everyday lives. The book can be used for daily reflections or as simple readings to meditate on. I found that the vast majority of the reflections pertained to things that happen to me in my everyday life. I felt as if the author was speaking to me personally. This book realates lines in the Psalms to things that happen everyday to us. For example, he writes about family, jobs, friends, illness, politics, and sports. I never knew that the Bible could be applied to such a wide variety of topics. In short, this was one of the most soothing books I have read!

The Guide's Guide Augmented: Reflections on Guiding Professional River Trips

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Guide's Guide Very Informative

The Guide's Guide Augmented: Reflections on Guiding Professional River Trips
William McGinnis
Manufacturer: Whitewater Voyages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

Rafting | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0977277402

Product Description

The definitive--and only--how-to book on professional river guiding, The Guide's Guide Augmented presents a comprehensive philosophy and a wealth of detailed methods for creating "Deep Fun:" Life enhancing river trips which entertain, inspire, educate, thrill, heal & delight! Used by guides, outfitters and trip leaders worldwide, The Guide's Guide Augmented covers every aspect of the multifaceted art of river guiding: People, leadership and conflict-resolution skills; all aspects of a guide's role in creating fun, uplifting, learning-filled trips; safety talks; guide training; signals; knots; high-water safety; swiftwater rescue; emergency evacuation & coping with accidents; minimizing liability; expedition food planning; nature interpretation made fascinating; boatloads of hilarious river, land & bus games which really bring people together; and much, much more!!

At 316 pages, The Guide's Guide Augmented includes a completely updated version of the original 1981, 140-page Guide's Guide contents, plus a wealth of new material. Some of our guides think we're crazy to sell The Guide's Guide and crazier still to sell The Guide's Guide Augmented because they feel these books give away our trade secrets, our competitive edge, the philosophy and methods which distinguish the trips of Whitewater Voyages from those of other outfitters. I really believe, however, that the safer and better all rafting trips and outdoor recreation experiences, the better for all of us. The more people who return home in one piece, thrilled and delighted with their river trip or outdoor outing, the more river rafting and outdoor recreation in general will be seen as a great thing to do and the more all outfitters, the recreating public and our rivers, forests and other recreation resources will benefit.

It is my hope that The Guide's Guide Augmented will be helpful, even inspirational, to guides, trip leaders, outfitters, government agency river and recreation managers, private boaters and adventure travel companies of all sorts. Any individual, company or group which practices the philosophy and methods presented in this book is welcome to consider The Guide's Guide Augmented their own staff manual. Although the myriad users of this book are independent, far flung adventurers, guides, private boaters, outfitters, tour operators and recreation resource managers, at the very same time, ideally, we are all working together to enhance the quality of life on--and win friends for--this planet! The highest purpose of this book is to contribute to this broad, growing, wonderful effort--which is, after all, an ongoing quest of planet-saving proportions.

Customer Reviews:

Guide's Guide Very Informative.......2005-12-21

As someone in the process of starting a rafting company, RiverIndia.com, I needed a book with thorough, dependable information covering all aspects of whitewater rafting. The Guide's Guide suprised me in its completeness and in-depth treatment of everything from knots, guiding, cooking, forms, games, and more! William McGinnis, one of California's whitewater pioneers, should be commended on this meisterwerk. It is a great help to those of us who hope to follow in his footsteps.

H2O and the Waters of Forgetfulness: Reflections on the Historicity of Stuff

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H2O and the Waters of Forgetfulness: Reflections on the Historicity of Stuff
Ivan Illich
Manufacturer: Dallas Inst Humanities & Culture
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0911005064

Book Description

In the course of this brilliant essay the author traces the way water has been shorn of its mythic associations and reduced to an urban cleaning fluid. The histories of medicine, art, mythology, architecture, technology, and conceptions of the afterlife come into play as the changing role of water in our lives is revealed.

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A fantastical Venice with a gripping and mysterious plot
On par with Jonathan Stroud or Garth Nix
I "Heart" Venice ...
Clever, But Ending is Unsatisfying
Fresh new fantasy...

The Water Mirror (Dark Reflections)
Kai Meyer
Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Elsewhere

ASIN: 0689877870

Amazon.com

Kai Meyer's engaging fantasy portrays Venice as a city alive with wonder--stone lions pad with heavy paws on the canal banks and sometimes fly (as steeds for the Venetian Guard); the canals are full of mermaids with wide shark jaws, and the island city has been under siege by Egypt for 36 years. Only the power of The Flowing Queen, the mysterious spirit of the waters, has kept the city safe. But now the essence of the Queen has been stolen by traitors within the government, and the powers of Hell are offering a blood treaty. Two orphan girls, Merle, 14, and blind Junipa, 13, have become apprentices at the workshop of Arcimboldo, the maker of magic mirrors. He treats them kindly and restores gentle Junipa's sight by replacing her eyes with two round silvery bits of mirror. Merle soon emerges as the more adventurous of the two, and experienced fantasy readers are not surprised when she is given a quest to save the doomed city. American readers of this German bestseller will be reminded of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord, by the intriguing mix of actual Venetian locations and a fantasy underworld, and also Neil Gaiman's Coraline, by the matter-of-fact acceptance of grotesqueries. In this unusually short (for fantasy) initial volume, Kai Meyer has planted enough backstory, hints, foreshadowings, and unanswered questions to fuel several sequels. (12 and up) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

In Venice, magic is not unusual. Merle is apprenticed to a magic mirror maker, and Serafin -- a boy who was once a master thief -- works for a weaver of magic cloth. Merle and Serafin are used to the mermaids who live in the canals of the city -- beautiful creatures with hideous mouths that split their faces from ear to ear -- and to the guards who patrol the streets on living stone lions. Merle herself possesses something magical: a mirror whose surface is water. She can reach her whole arm into it and never get wet.

But Venice is under siege by the Egyptian Empire; its terrifying mummy warriors and flying sunbarks are waiting to strike. All that protects the Venetians is the Flowing Queen. Nobody knows who or what she is -- only that her power flows through the canals and keeps the Egyptians at bay.

When Merle and Serafin overhear a plot to capture the Flowing Queen, they are catapulted into desperate danger. They must do everything they can to rescue the Queen and save the city -- even if it means getting help from the Ancient Traitor himself.

Kai Meyer's bold, original fantasy conjures up a land of magic and menace as Merle and Serafin begin a journey to unimagined realms in the extraordinary world of Dark Reflections.

Customer Reviews:

A fantastical Venice with a gripping and mysterious plot.......2007-09-23

This Venice isn't a tourist's Venice. It's a puzzling, magical Venice at its most extreme, a perfect mythical setting for the first of Kai Meyer's trilogy. The Water Mirror is targeted at teenagers, but like other successful trilogies such as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, many adults have become increasingly attracted to Kai Meyer's work.

I read this in one sitting, thrilled to the bone by what I read and imagined. It's nothing like what I've read before. It's evocative, it's mysterious, it's deliciously dark, and it doesn't shy away from the grotesque, reminding me vaguely of the the computer game, "American McGee's Alice", in which a children's story becomes warped and sinister and extremely enticing.

On par with Jonathan Stroud or Garth Nix.......2007-04-16

I found this to be a very engaging beginning. I know Kai Meyer is doing just fine with being a bestseller in Germany and published in many other countries, but I'm surprised this doesn't have a larger readership here in the U.S. It should, and you won't be disappointed if you give it a try.

I found it to be well-written and inventive. Meyer's Venice is both grounded and surreal. At times it has touches of magic realism. Like with the mermaids that open the book. Instead of mermaids being something to feel awe about, they're essentially enslaved by Venetians and treated harshly. Basic human nature uncovered. I don't think that's that far from a type of fantastic/reality that Gabriel Garcia Marquez would recognize.

But without a doubt this is a fantasy adventure that's deservedly on par with the work of Jonathan Stroud -The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) or Garth Nix -The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set. Like those author's works, this if YA that can hold an adult's interest. What's actually more enjoyable about is that the main characters, Merle and Junipa, are very likable and sympathetic. They're smart, make reasonable decisions, and deal admirably with the challenges thrown at them.

You might as well know that the novel doesn't really end with any sort of completion. It cries to be carried on in the next volume. I, for one, will be happy to do so.

I "Heart" Venice ..........2007-01-02

It seems Venice has become a hot commodity in children's literature ever since Cornelia Funke's "Thief Lord" appeared. But Kai Meyer gives the ancient city a new, dark twist in "The Water Mirror". Filled with sharp-toothed mermaids and flying stone lions, the "Water Mirror" is a satisfying begginning in this new series.

Merle and Junipa are two orphan girls who live in an alternate Venice, one which is under seige by the powerful Egyptian Empire and its mummy armies. Magic is not unusual in this Venice, as mermaids swim through the canals and the city is patrolled by flying stone lions. But only the Flowing Queen, who is said to be the very water herself, can truly protect Venice from the Empire.

One day for reasons unknown to them, Merle and Junipa are whisked away from their orphanage and apprenticed to the mysterious magic mirror-maker, Arcimboldo. Here is where their adventure starts, and Merle learns that her water mirror, the one she's had since she was a child, is mysteriously linked to the Flowing Queen. Soon, Merle along with her new neighbor boy Serafin, learn of a plot in the Venetian Council to betray the Flowing Queen to the Pharaoh. If Merle has any hope of saving Venice, she knows she must first save the Flowing Queen.

"The Water Mirror" is an exciting fantasy, richly detailed and interesting. The characters are believable and the magic is enticing. Venice is the true star of this story. The city is alive with magic and detail, yet there is also an extremely atmospheric foreboding about its fate. Meyer manages to keep the reader interested long enough with mermaids, flying stone lions, and political intrigue until they reach the ending where the story truly picks up. The book ends in mid-adventure hinting at more to come, but Meyer skillfully leaves the reader wanting more by revealing a bigger plot at plan than what was originally shown before.

While stopping in mid-adventure, "The Water Mirror" is still an interesting and magical read. It's the most original story I've read in a while, and the sudden new plot details revealed in the end left me and I'm sure will also leave readers wanting more. Highly reccommended, "The Water Mirror" is not to be missed if you are looking for high fantasy with a dark twist.

Clever, But Ending is Unsatisfying.......2006-08-06

This book started out fantastically. I was excited by the characters and plot, and could not wait to find out what happened next. I thought Serafin was a very rich and detailed character, and I liked the slight creepiness of Junipa's mirror eyes. However, as it got nearer and nearer to the end, I thought the book began to unravel a bit. It was like Kai Meyer got bored of writing the story and decided to hurry it along a bit by adding unrealistic plot twists. I know this is the first book in a trilogy, so I can only hope that Mr. Meyer manages to get this wonderful story back on track in the next two books. Even though the ending to The Water Mirror is unsatisfying, I would still recommend buying the book, or at the very least, getting it out of the library.

Fresh new fantasy..........2006-02-08

As a fan of the fantasy genre, I was very happy to read this innovative book, which finally breaks free of the tired conventions authors have been following for years.

From the very start, the setting (a magical Venice, in the early 1900s) is a change from the standard Middle Earth ripooffs and medieval castles. Main character Merle is a well-rounded character who acts quite a bit more like an actual person than any heroine in recent memory. And the supporting cast is no slouch, either; in this well-crafted universe, even standard archetypes have been transformed into fresh new personalities.

As is required for any magical world, the fantasy Venice is sprinkled with all kinds of mythical objects and creatures, from stone lions and mummy warriors to "mirror phantoms" and mermaids. All of these are described in a way that makes them seem like they could really exist.

The constant stream of unique ideas only helps to drive an intriguing plot. Since this is the first in a series, the ending leaves plenty of loose ends for readers to ponder until the translation of book 2.

This book's pretty cover art drew me in, but its strong plot hooks and great writing will keep me coming back until the series concludes.

The Moon Appears When the Water Is Still: Reflections of the Dhamma

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Whereabouts - Here and Now

The Moon Appears When the Water Is Still: Reflections of the Dhamma
Ian McCrorie
Manufacturer: Pariyatti Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1928706177

Book Description

Drawn from the Buddha's teachings, contemporary literature, and the author's own life, this collection of stories, anecdotes, and aphorisms provides inspiration and refreshment for practitioners of meditation. A sympathetic, observant, and compassionate voice drives these narratives, offering practitioners guidance and strength in their pursuit of eternal bliss. The anecdotes pair lasting truths with contemporary concepts, pointing to Dharma in all things, from a shoe repair shop to the World Wide Web. With one story, poem, or aphorism per page, Buddhism's ancient wisdoms are presented in an easily digestible format.

Customer Reviews:

Whereabouts - Here and Now.......2004-04-09

As a person who occasionally reads poetry of ancient hermits, monks, and nuns who have marveled at the changing beauty and suffering of life, I find this poetry to reflect those attitudes and yet be the voice of a lay person integrated into the modern world.

With the right word, turn of a phrase, or observation, the poet reveals gems of wisdom encrusted in sand of the mundane world. He uses mindfulness cultivated through Vipassana meditation to gently brush aside the sand so we can share his "aha."

Book Description

In this book, Father Thomas Keating explores the tragedy of September 11 from the perspective of Christ-consciousness and its continuing emergence in the world. Even as he describes the attacks of that day as the culmination of all of the last century's growing violence and disregard for life, he shows us how to recognize the resultant suffering as an expression of the agony of Christ on the cross that is extended to all humanity.

In the second half of the book, Father Keating tells the story of the Marriage Feast at Cana in the gospel of John. Here, the ordinary is juxtaposed with the extraordinary, for it is at this feast that Jesus performs his first miracle, turning water into wine and thus revealing his divinity to the people.

How does the joyful story of Christ's first miracle address our suffering in the wake of September 11? Both situations demonstrate the potentialities and possibilities of Christ revealing himself within the world. As Jesus' divinity became apparent even in the humble setting of the marriage feast, so ordinary people's lives can be transformed by the global experience of Christ's incarnation, suffering, and resurrection—bringing us to new consciousness, understanding, and love.

Madeleine L'Engle Walking on Water Reflections on Faith and Art
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Madeleine L'Engle Walking on Water Reflections on Faith and Art

Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts

A Circle of Quiet

Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art (Wheaton Literary Series)

ASIN: 0553209388

Product Description

Religion and Inspiration. Madeleine explores the awesome relationship between Christianity and Art. She writes that true art is incarnational. The artist is a servant willing to be a birth giver.

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