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Post by CherieKropp on Jun 24, 2009 6:34:39 GMT -5
Steve: We've love to have you give us a book report when you've finished reading it. Being from Ontario I know who Raymond is and have had short meaningless conversations with him. If I was to list a group of mentors he would be in the top 3. A soft spoken man with a lot of drive, he has helped several "friends" and his own children to become millionaires in the residential market. I remember Mr. Reid sitting by himself in a funeral home when my 21 year old cousin passed away. Daryl spent a great deal of quality time with Raymond and I'm positive his death had a huge impact on his life. Knowing what I do at this moment, If could go back 20 years and instead of walking past him to line up to speak with the family I regret not sitting down with him if only to share his grief in silence. I had no idea until this morning that this book existed.. You can be sure that I will read it as soon as I possibly can.
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Post by nastysteve on Jun 24, 2009 7:26:24 GMT -5
I haven't received the book yet but this paragraph is free from the website.. If I believed in god the way I used to I would make this my testimony in the Sunday morning meeting....
“I really wish you could get my drift.” Alistair paused, the envelopes clutched in his right hand. “When Bill Jones and I butchered that steer before Christmas, I noticed the four parts of its stomach. Now if I were a steer, I’d have to say that only three compartments of my hunger are being fed. An important part is filled by you and the children. My work around the farm satisfies the physical part, and our friends and social life supplies another. But no matter how many good things I squeeze into the first three parts, I still feel a certain emptiness. Something vital is missing.”
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Post by CherieKropp on Jun 24, 2009 13:14:21 GMT -5
The author's note describes the basis for his historical fiction book I have just started reading. What is described below is what I wish RR had used for the setting of his book.
The following is from the Book: Night Fall by Nelson DeMille
"Author’s Note
This is a work of fiction based on fact: the crash of TWA Flight 800 that occurred of Long Island, New York, on July 17, 1996.
The characters in this novel are fictional, though there are passing references to actual persons.
The events of July 17, 1996, that I describe in this book, and the subsequent investigation of the crash, are based on published accounts, as well as my own interviews with investigators who worked on this case, and my interviews with eyewitnesses to the crash.
The official cause of the crash is mechanical failure, though there are conflicting theories that point toward more sinister causes of this tragedy. I’ve tried to represent all sides of this controversy, and to be accurate in regard to the eyewitnesses accounts, the forensic evidence and the details of the subsequent investigation. I have, however, taken dramatic liberties and literary license in cases where there is conflicting evidence."
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Post by kiwi on Jun 24, 2009 14:01:12 GMT -5
Being from Ontario I know who Raymond is and have had short meaningless conversations with him. If I was to list a group of mentors he would be in the top 3. A soft spoken man with a lot of drive, he has helped several "friends" and his own children to become millionaires in the residential market. I remember Mr. Reid sitting by himself in a funeral home when my 21 year old cousin passed away. Daryl spent a great deal of quality time with Raymond and I'm positive his death had a huge impact on his life. Knowing what I do at this moment, If could go back 20 years and instead of walking past him to line up to speak with the family I regret not sitting down with him if only to share his grief in silence. I had no idea until this morning that this book existed.. You can be sure that I will read it as soon as I possibly can. I have read the book steve and I thoroughly recommend it to you, even if it is a fictional book based on characters that have lived you will find something for your soul in the lives and trials of the characters.
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Post by CherieKropp on Jul 20, 2009 6:37:44 GMT -5
I recently noticed that the Pillar of Truth (PTO) website has a letter from Raymond in response to Clay Randall's critique of Raymond's book (critique found on PTO): Introduction: Raymond, who wrote The Gate Seldom Found, was asked to respond to my critique of his book. His response was posted in the thread Re: The Gate Seldom Found (book by Raymond Reid) on November 2, 2004, 3:18 pm, in reply to "Re: The Gate Seldom Found (book by Raymond Reid)". It is posted here on POT because it is considered part of the public domain, since it was posted on the public Internet forum known as the Truth Meetings Board. The only modifications to his post have been re-formatting for appearance.The Gate Seldom Found - Reviews & Analysis www.angelfire.com/ok3/apologia/gate.htmlThe responses are in these titles: "Raymond Responds" and "Poisoning the Well"
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Post by valerie on Jul 21, 2009 22:05:22 GMT -5
I read the first chapter that is at the website. Very good writing!
VAL.
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Post by CherieKropp on Jul 21, 2009 22:45:24 GMT -5
About how many fiction books do you read a year, Val? How many "NY Times Bestsellers" did you read? Just curious. I read the first chapter that is at the website. Very good writing! VAL.
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Post by lin on Jul 23, 2009 7:16:31 GMT -5
The author's note describes the basis for his historical fiction book I have just started reading. What is described below is what I wish RR had used for the setting of his book. The following is from the Book: Night Fall by Nelson DeMille "Author’s Note This is a work of fiction based on fact: the crash of TWA Flight 800 that occurred of Long Island, New York, on July 17, 1996. The characters in this novel are fictional, though there are passing references to actual persons. The events of July 17, 1996, that I describe in this book, and the subsequent investigation of the crash, are based on published accounts, as well as my own interviews with investigators who worked on this case, and my interviews with eyewitnesses to the crash. The official cause of the crash is mechanical failure, though there are conflicting theories that point toward more sinister causes of this tragedy. I’ve tried to represent all sides of this controversy, and to be accurate in regard to the eyewitnesses accounts, the forensic evidence and the details of the subsequent investigation. I have, however, taken dramatic liberties and literary license in cases where there is conflicting evidence." Our little town of Montoursville,Pa. lost 13 students and 5 chaperons on flight 800. A saddening impact on a small town of 4800. we knew all of the students and the chaperone's. There is also a memorial garden in remembrance of the tragedy
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Post by What Hat on Jul 23, 2009 23:19:57 GMT -5
CD, what do you see as the difference between 'historical fiction' and 'fiction'? Just want to see if it matches up with mine, and to understand your comment a little better. (Cherie, I still mean to answer your question about the RR book but have been busy). There are probably a few definitions of "historical fiction" but the way I view it is as a story told with as much historical fact as possible but with many dramatized events included. Ideally, the dramatized events would portray what the author imagines really happened but for which there is no detailed factual account to draw on. In other words, it is accurate history with the blanks filled in by fiction. I wouldn't call RR's book historical fiction. In order to be historical fiction it would have to use all the known facts in story such as the Irish setting and the characters of JL, WI, EC, etc. To me historical fiction is just a story, any story, set against or within a known historical background. I suppose RR is not historical fiction, I agree, since it doesn't do that. I think what you describe is more like historical drama. Ben Hur might be a well known example of historical fiction. The known events are there in the background: Jesus, the Roman Empire, and so on. The story, in this particular case, is about a completely fictional character though. Anyone like historical fiction in general? Didn't James Michener write quite a bit of it.
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Post by Rob O on Jul 23, 2009 23:25:14 GMT -5
Anyone like historical fiction in general? Yep. James Clavell's books about Europeans moving into Asia are highly engaging. Shogun and Gaijin being my two favourites. King Rat was also memorable.
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Post by What Hat on Jul 23, 2009 23:29:25 GMT -5
Anyone like historical fiction in general? Yep. James Clavell's books about Europeans moving into Asia are highly engaging. Shogun and Gaijin being my two favourites. King Rat was also memorable. I read Tai Pan at a very impressionable young age. I still remember vividly quite a few things from it. I really should try the rest of that series now that you mention it.
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Post by Rob O on Jul 23, 2009 23:33:05 GMT -5
Oops, yes. I forgot Taipan. Gaijin picks up with the next generation from Taipan but is set in Japan against the backdrop of Shogun. Gaijin waffles a bit, but is still a great yarn. Shogun would be my favourite.
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Post by Jesse_Lackman on Jul 24, 2009 15:44:52 GMT -5
Anyone like historical fiction in general? Yep. James Clavell's books about Europeans moving into Asia are highly engaging. Shogun and Gaijin being my two favourites. King Rat was also memorable. I've read some Clavell, my favorite Michener is Bridge at Andeau, it's non-fiction though. Anyone read it? My all time favorite historical fiction author is Taylor Caldwell. The difference between her and say Mitchener in historical fiction is like the difference between Louis Louis L'Amour and everybody else in westerns - (with the exeption of Jack Schaefer's Shane.) She's stunning. Taylor Caldwell wrote Dear and Glorious Physician about Luke the gospel writer, Great Lion of God about Paul, and I Judas about,... Judas. These are interesting because Caldwell had access to the Vatican Library like very few have had. For instance she translate primary source documents like the letters of Cicero for A Pillar of Iron. A do-not-miss- book by Caldwell is On Growing Up Tough, a shorter book about herself.
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Post by Annan on Jul 24, 2009 18:23:37 GMT -5
My all time favorite historical fiction author is Taylor Caldwell... She's stunning. Taylor Caldwell wrote Dear and Glorious Physician about Luke the gospel writer, Great Lion of God about Paul, and I Judas about,... Judas. These are interesting because Caldwell had access to the Vatican Library like very few have had. For instance she translate primary source documents like the letters of Cicero for A Pillar of Iron. A do-not-miss- book by Caldwell is On Growing Up Tough, a shorter book about herself. I could just kiss you! Taylor Caldwell is one of my favorite authors also. I have not read Growing Up Tough, but have read the other books you mention here plus others and have a notebook full of quotes from her books. Her views on God and man are quite astounding. What else have you read of hers? I have read... Captains and the Kings This Side of Innocence Your Sins and Mine Listener The Devil's Advocate Dynasty of Death The Balance Wheel Wicked Angel (probably the only one of her books that I didn't care for) Answer as a Man The Eages Gather No One Hears But Him The Romance of Atlantis (written when she was a teenager) Time No Longer Glory and the Lightning The Wide House Bright Flows the River Testimony of Two Men Ceremony of the Innocent The Arm and the Darkness Tender Victory Grandmother and the Priests I see from googling that there are quite a few books for hers that I have not read. Time to add them to my next book order. *sigh* I could live forever and never be done reading all I hope to read.
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Post by What Hat on Jul 26, 2009 0:13:36 GMT -5
I've been thinking about the critique that Ray Reid's book is dishonest in its treatment of the friends' history.
I don't really agree with that. The book is not historical fiction at all; it's more like a multi-generational account perhaps not unlike 'Roots'. It tells the story of some very ordinary people, not that of the key movers and shakers. History tends to be written around the affairs of leaders as if they govern everything. 99.9% of what actually happens is never told. This book tells a history of a home church fellowship from the point of view of some very ordinary people. If it is to be critiqued then it should be from that point of view, and not because it didn't tell the story about Mr. Big.
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Post by gloryintruth on Jul 26, 2009 6:20:21 GMT -5
This statement represents little understanding of the publishing industry. Although not an "insider", I can categorically state that the chief aim of a publishing firm is to sell books, not to promote or dismantle truth. An author does not have significant control over the title of their work, cover design, or the summation on the back cover - therefore, using the text on the cover of a book to make a jugdgement or assessment about the book itself (or worse, the author) is not at all valid. Hence few scholars, when citing a resource, will cite what is written on the cover. Most researchers understand this.
We would not wish to judge a book by its cover.
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Post by What Hat on Jul 26, 2009 15:26:52 GMT -5
Whoa. Good one. Do you mind if I use that one, GIC?
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Post by ForeverFree on Jul 27, 2009 14:20:34 GMT -5
We would not wish to judge a book by its cover. You're pretty good at passing judgment, GIC.
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