2022 book 166

 Alice Degan's From All False Doctrine

A fantasy author I like was recommending this book, and since it’s described as “a metaphysical mystery wrapped up in a 1920s comedy of manners,” it seemed up my alley. And the first chunk was so good, I was so invested in the two main characters—an atheist woman graduate student, studying classics, and her love interest, who turns out to be a priest, but the kind that can get married—and their budding romance, and personal struggles, and their two best friends, who get engaged, but then one goes missing! I kept wondering when something magical would happen, since this was billed as a fantasy novel, but I was into it so kept on going, even as I started to suspect this book was … Christian? And eventually /supernatural/ things do get mentioned, but this is very much a story about Christians fighting the devil. Which is fine, but not what I had expected, and honestly I felt a bit misled. I also thought the ending was a bit saccharine, like once it leaned into being super Christian, it had to give some moral lessons. Not super appealing to this Jewish reader, such a bummer. B.

dinosaurs and the bible

This article couldn't be more timely, as this week at my place of work, someone attempted to donate a subscription to this ministry's magazine. (I actually intended to take it home to scan bits and pieces, but the donor wanted it back.)

The most recent issue had a Noah's Ark theme, including a centerfold and proof positive that dinosaurs lived in biblical times AND were passengers on the ark. It also had a letter suggesting that people donate it to their local libraries--mystery solved. I'm not going to get into the rest of the content . . . it sort of makes me laugh and cry simultaneously.

Anyway, I know you all must be bitterly disappointed not to be able to witness this yourself, and I am bitterly disappointed that I cannot share it with you. Maybe you should schedule a trip to the theme park!