Showing posts with label Use Discernment. Show all posts
This book is the first of a trilogy and other than the careless use of God's name at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed this book and will follow up with the other two once I've read them.
I would have liked to rate this book Wise, but biblically we cannot view blasphemy as a small thing, after all, the third commandment states: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7, also Deuteronomy 5:11) May we not forget to take this seriously and honor the name of the LORD.
Therefore the book earns itself a Use Discernment rating.
Things Not Seen,
by Andrew Clements
251 pages
Summary: Bobby Phillips wakes up invisible one February morning-- what follows are an array of adventures every teen would love to have, if only. But once the fun runs out, Bobby has to figure out how to be seen again, with the help of a new friend, Alicia.
THEMES: friendship, investigation, self-awareness, identity
FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences
SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): ZERO occurrences
VIOLENCE: none.
SEXUAL CONTENT: none. There are some scenes where you feel the vulnerability of the character in his striving to not be seen and the danger of whether he suddenly were to become visible, but there is nothing objectionable in and of itself.
DRUG USE: ZERO occurrences
BLASPHEMIES: 3 occurrences of God's name used in vain all on page 5 when Bobby's mom realizes that he is invisible. The problem with this is that the Lord's name is used in shock and surprise rather than in prayer, and then He is thoroughly ignored for the rest of the book.
REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD:Again, not mentioned for the remainder of the book.
Read Wisely!
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I would have liked to rate this book Wise, but biblically we cannot view blasphemy as a small thing, after all, the third commandment states: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7, also Deuteronomy 5:11) May we not forget to take this seriously and honor the name of the LORD.
Therefore the book earns itself a Use Discernment rating.
Things Not Seen,
by Andrew Clements
251 pages
Summary: Bobby Phillips wakes up invisible one February morning-- what follows are an array of adventures every teen would love to have, if only. But once the fun runs out, Bobby has to figure out how to be seen again, with the help of a new friend, Alicia.
THEMES: friendship, investigation, self-awareness, identity
FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences
SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): ZERO occurrences
VIOLENCE: none.
SEXUAL CONTENT: none. There are some scenes where you feel the vulnerability of the character in his striving to not be seen and the danger of whether he suddenly were to become visible, but there is nothing objectionable in and of itself.
DRUG USE: ZERO occurrences
BLASPHEMIES: 3 occurrences of God's name used in vain all on page 5 when Bobby's mom realizes that he is invisible. The problem with this is that the Lord's name is used in shock and surprise rather than in prayer, and then He is thoroughly ignored for the rest of the book.
REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD:Again, not mentioned for the remainder of the book.
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The thing that first attracted me to these books were the simple, lovely covers. I didn't know anything about the content, but the covers caught my attention. I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover. Anyway, by the time I received the book from my www.paperbackswap.com wishlist I had a general knowledge of the book's theme. I am not really into vampire novels, so it got shelved while I was busy reading other material.
Then I heard that my young cousin was reading the book, so I decided then was as good a time to start as any.
I will say this for the book: it is well-written, with mostly compelling struggles (albeit in a very fictitious world). The voice of the main character is witty and entertaining so that, as a reader, you don't mind being in her head.
I am glad, though, that I have read three of the books so far before posting this review. The books rise in mature themes and content, therefore I need to mark this with a firm "Use Discernment", and the rating will go up as the series goes on. So keep this in mind if you are considering reading this book. You will most likely want to read the rest and the themes get increasingly questionable. More details follow in the break-down of criteria.
Twilight, (Book One in the Twilight Saga)
by Stephanie Meyer
498 pages
Library of Congress Summary: When seventeen-year-old Bella leaves Phoenix to live with her father in Forks, Washington, she meets an exquisitely handsome boy at school for whom she feels an overwhelming attraction and who she comes to realize is not wholly human.
THEMES: Vampires; High school; first love; keeping secrets; temptation
FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences
SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): 3 occurrences (D-words)
VIOLENCE: This is a vampire novel, so there are "bad" vampires who attack and kill or attempt to kill people.
SEXUAL CONTENT: There are scenes of impassioned kissing, with little restraint. Love is supposed to be the acceptable excuse for why they can hardly control themselves.
DRUG USE: ZERO occurrences
BLASPHEMIES: ZERO occurrences
REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD: God is very decisively avoided, although the lead male character comments: "I decided as long as I was going to hell, I might as well do it thoroughly." (pg. 87)
OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE: The following details are concerning...
The relationship between the main character and the male lead is presented as very romantic and something to be sought after, but, besides the fact that he is a vampire and she is human, there are some very unhealthy roots to their relationship.
Bella, the main character, has the classic bad-boy syndrome. She is enthralled with the idea that her romantic interest could be dangerous but chooses not to be. She also has a very unhealthy view of Edward, the male lead. Repeatedly she refers to his "perfection" and that he is a "godlike creature" (pg. 256). It seems that her affection for him closely resembles obsession, and not in a poetic way.
There is a scene on page 103 where Edward displays odd outrage and controlling tendencies and this is never apologized for or resolved, just forgotten. He also sneaks into her room via the window (without her knowledge) and watches her sleep. Creepy-- but it is presented as very endearing because of his curious and protective intentions. After she finds out about this, he continues-- with her permission now-- all the while deceiving her father. Although they do not actually have sex, they are "playing married" with their emotions and intimacy and successfully pretend she is alone and sleeping when her dad comes to check on her. Again, this is all supposed to be romantic, and excused because of their uncontrollable "love" for one another.
Time and again, Edward speaks of not having the willpower to stay away from her although he knows that it is in her best interest, safety-wise, to do so. And she lacks the strength to maintain self-control when she kisses him, and instead pushes the limits.
Hopefully this information will help you in making a decision about this book. Keep in mind, also, that this is the mildest in subject matter of the first three of the four books. I don't want young Christians to feed into the notion that this is the way to love someone, or the way to be loved.
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I think the idea for this first book in the series is very clever: Brother and sister go to Grandparents' estate to find out that they are the caretakers at a preserve for mythical creatures. Magic and danger ensue-- much of it tied to whether the kids obey instructions or not. The struggle to protect family, Fablehaven and perhaps even the world begins.
There are, however, a few precautions I want to make to the Bible-believing reader in the References to and General Attitude Toward God section, so I rate this book with Use Discernment.
FABLEHAVEN
by Brandon Mull
Ages 9-12
351 pages
Library of Congress summary: When Kendra and Seth go to stay at their grandparents' estate, they discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures and that a battle between good and evil is looming.
THEMES: Magic; Grandparents; Brothers and sisters; obedience
FOUL LANGUAGE: ZERO occurrences!!
SOFT LANGUAGE (heard on cable TV): ZERO occurrences!!
SEXUAL CONTENT: ZERO occurrences!!
BLASPHEMIES: ZERO occurrences!!
DRUG USE: ZERO occurrences!!
REFERENCES TO AND GENERAL ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD: I think young readers can be protected if they know what issues in their book are Biblically wrong, and situations such as these can be a good tool to strengthening their faith if they see the correction in a Biblical light.
For instance, the preserve is said to be "consecrated ground" but God doesn't seem to be especially welcome there so how could it be consecrated ground? "Then [God] said to [Moses], 'Do not come near here; remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.'" (Exodus 3:5)
And there is a shrine to honor the Fairy Queen and that "similar shrines abound on [the] property, and all can be dangerous" (pg. 78). If you take into consideration the danger of kindling God's wrath against those do no homage to the Son (Psalm 2:12), but allow pagan shrines to abound, then yes, I agree, their presence would be very dangerous.
There is a witch on the preserve who is unsavory and not depicted with any glamour when she is bound, but, though still evil, she appears very attractive when she is set free. The Bible tells us something similar: "No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
One of the main characters, Kendra, says a silent prayer when they are facing danger, (pg. 286)but the prayer is pointless if it is not directed to the One True God, from the mouth of one who is His own.
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
The biggest concern I have is when the housekeeper states on page 114: "No mythology or religion that I know of holds all the answers. Most religions are based on truths , but they are also polluted by the philosophies and imaginations of men." That is true of all but one. The one, true Christianity that God has revealed to those who are His through His unchanging, abiding Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
