Fairytale book review

 have been reading Stephen King since I was around 18 years old. I'm 65 now so it's been a minute. I always haunted the Gadsden, Alabama Public Library asking (pre internet days) when the next Stephen King novel was coming out. They would always say "don't worry we already have you on the waiting list." which meant they would hold a copy and call me when it was available depending on where I was on the list.

Back then King was dealing with his addictions and I was dealing with mine. So I would grab my copy and stop for a six pack or in the case of Pony Miller's an 8 pack and spend a bleary afternoon dropping into the world of Stephen King and the haze of Miller Time.

He eventually kicked his bad habits and as for drugs and alcohol so did I. But, I remained a Constant Reader as he calls the "fans" of his work.

In his mid 70's he's lost a little off his fastball but he still serves up a better yarn than most younger writers these days. I lost my constant desire for horror or at least less of it as I aged. Once you get to the age where you check your pee and chit for blood (none, so far Thank God) you don't really spend as much of your relaxing time wanting to ponder horror. 

But, if Stephen King releases a book i'm reading it. Besides I think he's getting less into the horror of his younger books. He keeps dabbling in crime and mystery but, full disclosure? He's no Raymond Chandler when it comes to writing cops and robbers and sultry dames. 

"Fairytale" is a really Well written book told in the first person by a young man named Charley Reade who loses his mother before the story even starts. Almost loses his father to alcohol and finds a German shepherd dog as a best friend. 

Along the way there are dwarfs, princesses, dungeons and giants. Gold and magic crickets and a journey between two world's. A monster straight out of Lovecraft and for a man in his 70's not a bad job of giving voice to a 17 year old teenager. Although for a modern teen the kid sounds a little like a 1960's TV show. But, I'm in my 60's now and I understand the problems I'd have trying to make a character in their teens sound believable.

Hey. You kid's. Get off my lawn!

Sorry. Got distracted. 

The story is excellent. I did the Audible version and the young voice actor does a fine job with narration. The only problem with the Audible version is it says Stephen King is also part of the narration. Well. He is but only for a few lines.

Pro's:

Good story

Likable characters

Hateful characters

Tribute to Lovecraft

Also Bradbury and Piers Anthony

Cons:

One line saying "white race isn't all bad." 

Making sure to be clear that blonde hair and blue eyes aren't all bad but fishbelly white instead of simply pale.

I'm no conservative by any stretch but I take my stories straight. No woke propaganda. Still even as I write this I admit there is very little political snark in this one. 

I also agree that "We" meaning the Human Race have messed up the planet and each other. So I tend to agree with the underlying theme of not wanting to contaminate a new world. 

All in all a well told story. Highly recommended!

Books and worldviews

 I grew up kind of hybrid. I was born in Gadsden, Alabama which at that time was considered a small city. Now I think you would call it a town. My family was from Altoona which is a really small rural area. I was playing in the neighborhood all week and staying in the country at my grandparents all weekend through the first 16 years or so of my life.

 One of the biggest influences on me was my passion to sink into a story. My home life was volatile at times But my imagination was free. Now this isn't going to be an old boomer telling you that the old ways were better. Some were, some were not. If you are a reader try "Boy's Life" by Robert McCammon. If you are a movie person try "Stand by Me" the movie based on a Stephen King book. Otherwise I will part with Boomer growing up nostalgia here.

  My worldview has been shaped by reading. I know these days (shut up Boomer) No, really these days we mainly read links on social media and snarky come backs and stay in our echo chambers. But, in my youthful haunts of libraries I would find a subject and have to think about it on my own.

No internet posse to save me with a link to a snarky debunk. No. I had to actually sit there and debate the issue in my own mind and hunt like a cave man ON My Own for a different opinion. (Okay boomer)

I was thinking of some books that have influenced my worldview along the way. You would think that would be easy but it isn't. I remember subjects and emotions but in some cases the actual title has escaped me. But, these are some of the books, authors and worldviews that have influenced my journey. 

1. Bible: Well I was raised in the Bible Belt to a Pentecostal family on one side and Southern Baptist on the other. So, even though I now see the Bible as a series of writings, traditions and ancient evolution of the search for God and meaning. I grew up thinking it was one smooth written account hand delivered to mankind from the desk of The Almighty. I still find great comfort in the Psalms and my favorite books are 1St Samuel and The Gospel of John. Favorite line for personal reasons "All my fountains are in you." 

2. Bed by the Window by M. Scott Peck. 

To be honest I remembered little about the plot of this book. I mainly remember it has a young man in a care facility who is paralyzed. But there is a light about him that draws people and staff. There is a negative person who wants to kill the light. I know this sounds like a Dean Koontz novel. Just throw in a Golden Retriever and you're done. But, it's so much more than that. The description of the inner reality of the soul stayed with me on some level that the story itself didn't. I have no idea if this still holds up. I think this is from the late 70's to early 80's. (okay boomer. I'll be sure to zzzzz.) 

3. The Sleeping Prophet: Edgar Cayce was called the Sleeping Prophet due to entering a trance state while laying down and diagnosing illness in other people. This soon evolved into past life readings and some dubious predictions about the future. Still much of the medical advice proved justifiable and effective. The past life readings interesting and the future predictions a mixed bag at best. So why do I consider Cayce influential?

One reason is I had a memory in childhood of an old man dying. I was watching this from a perspective of being the old man and yet outside the old man. So finding Cayce in the Gadsden Public Library helped put a name to it. Reincarnation. (okay boomer but I ain't buying it and my preacher says you're going to h.e. double toothpicks.)

4. "Strange World" Back in the day we got most of our news from a newspaper (Lawd, this boomer is old) one of the weekly columns was called something like "It's a Strange World." my young eyes after reading the funnies and the Sports page would eagerly devour the latest story of ghosts, vampires and even a little kid who was the reincarnation of President Kennedy who we had lost less than a decade ago. It wasn't a book or a specific author. But it helped my lifelong fascination with the "what if?" and things that go bump in the night.

5. "Out on a Limb" by Shirley McClain. I was going through a time in my young adulthood that lasted from my mid 20's to my early 30's where I began to suspect that belief in anything beyond the solid matter of things I could actually see and feel was superstitious nonsense. Yet here was a Hollywood star who I had seen in movies growing up. This wasn't a backwoods snake handling red neck preacher. I apologise now to my fellow rednecks and I'm a proud Southerner from a long line of redneck, Appalachian hillbillies and there are no finer people in the world. But, I'm describing where I was then

6. "Twenty Cases Suggestive of Reincarnation." by Dr. Ian Stevenson. Want an antidote to the I was an Egyptian Pharaoh in my past life? This is it. Want a quick easy read? This ain't it. This is dense and filled with statistics and years of on the ground research by a University of Virginia Psychiatrist and department head. Dry and academic and wonderful. But I didn't read it word for word. This ain't Stephen King and it's not a fun read. But, it's certainly a legitimate scientific method investigation. I actually wrote to Dr. Stevenson back in my youth. He answered me but in my youthful ignorance I discarded the letter. Oh well. I highly recommend checking out Ian Stevenson if you are interested at all in a serious inquiry into the paranormal.

Honorable Mention:

"Flim Flam" by James Randi. If you only want shiny unicorns and fluffy teddy bears in your worldview stay away from Mr. Randi. He was rude, crude and not above playing loose with the details. He was a true atheistic evangelist of debunking all hope in a god, afterlife or ESP. But, being the curious lad that I was I always at least looked at the other side of an argument.

"CSICOP" Martin Gardner: This isn't a book. Csicop or psi cop as the organization was know is a group of stage magicians like James Randi, scientists like Carl Sagan and others who either hated the thought of a god (James Randi) or was interested but highly skeptical (Carl Sagan.) One of these guys was a science writer named Martin Gardner. What set him a little apart was he was absolutely a skeptic and a debunker but he believed in God (though not the Christian one) and an afterlife. 

Ruth Montgomery: Former reporter for I believe the Washington post she became interested in channeling, reincarnation and communication with the dead. I seem to remember she was  close friends with the psychic Arthur Ford who had some controversial readings with the widow of Harry Houdini.

"Communion" by Whitley Strieber:

I had read the horror novel "The Wolfen" by Strieber back in the 70's. So when Communion came out purportedly a true story about alien abduction I was ready. This is not an alien abduction story as far as Spaceman and nuts and bolts flying saucers. This is a well documented psychological, paranormal in depth personal account of a man's ongoing journey into the great mystery. Calling it and the rest of Strieber's work a simple alien abduction fantasy is a lie at worst and a misunderstanding of his experience by skeptics at best.  I really enjoy his "Dreamland" podcasts and his recent non fiction work.

"The Other's" by James Herbert. 

A "horror" novel that touches on good and evil. Reincarnation and karma and according to the writer isn't exactly "fiction." at least not entirely. It's a good story either way and I once heard him described as Britain's Stephen King. I won't go that far but yeah. He's a good writer.

"What Dreams May Come" Richard Matheson.

Not the Robin Williams movie. Although that's good to. The book is based on actual worldview and research of the author. It resonated with me and I listened to the Audible version. 

"Return from Tomorrow" by George Ritchie

An account of a young army medic from the Korean war era if memory serves. But don't hold me to that. He is pronounced dead and has a vivid near death experience. He sees Christ as constantly there to help the departed cross into forgiveness and hope. But many souls are so stuck in their own version of hell that they can't see or acknowledge the hope that is always there if they would just stop and listen. This book affected a great deal of Some of the way I view the afterlife.

Well that's it for now. No these aren't my favorite books although a few are on that list. But, these are some of the interests and influences along my journey.

Peace.

First Samuel and a Christian Heretic.

 Just a couple comments before I start.

I titled this a Christian heretic  reads 1st Samuel. I first read the bible in my youth and even into my later days as a born again evangelical Christian. I chose Christian heretic because I can't be a Muslim heretic or a Buddhist heretic or any other kind. Because I'm not Muslim or Buddhist or atheist or any other theist. I was born and raised in the church and I still consider the idea of the source of all being putting on humanity to be the greatest act of love and the most "God Thing" of any of the world's religions.

What this is not: 

It's not an argument of why I left evangelical fundamentalist religion. 

It's not asking the church for permission to call myself a Jesus Follower.

It's not asking atheists permission to still consider myself intelligent without abandoning all hope of love, spirit and meaning beyond chemical firings in a temporary organ located inside my skull.

It's also not an argument to prove I'm right. 

You are free to call me a superstitious idiot for believing in a higher power. You are free to call me a hell bent sinner for thinking for myself. Although the people some of y'all populate heaven with and the angry old wrathful blood thirsty Jehovah would be hell to me. But, I digress.

I read the ebook NIV version from the Bible Gateway App. Two reasons. One is that my 65 year old eyes need the adjustable font and backlight of the kindle. The second reason is the NIV is my favorite version. It's also what I used when Cindy and I attended the Gadsden Vinyard Fellowship. My pastor there who will in some ways always be my pastor  although he certainly wouldn't agree  with my theology once said jokingly "NIV" Necessary in Vinyard.

Anyway 1st Samuel is a fascinating prophetic and very spiritual book. It's also earthy, crude and violent. From gathering foreskins of enemies to killing every man, woman, child and animal in a village it's not exactly a "Christian"sounding book. Because it's not. It's a very Jewish, Eastern crude and even poetic book. I think the parts I always loved were when God calls Samuel. I have felt that quiet voice when you just know it's the real  thing. No, I'm not a prophet. But, taken away from the evangelical rewrite of history the prophet was basically someone who was psychically in tune with pure consciousness. At least in my opinion. 

Reading it at 30 years old from a young man's Christian perspective I remember how I felt about it. It was awesome that I was reading it at a time when the Vinyard movement was still a young movement. Late 80's to early 90''s. I was excited to have found a church that was playing worship songs with a rock beat and talking about prophecy as an intuition and just hanging out and talking with God as if you were having a conversation. The focus was on music, fellowship and I was meeting young professionals who were academics and talked about science fiction and could have a beer without thinking the wrath of God was going to consume us. Although coffee was the brew of choice.

Reading it some 30 or more years later as an older adult. I still enjoyed it. That's rare for me to say about a book of the bible.Especially an old testament book I remember even in my youth falling asleep part way through Deuteronomy. But, First Samuel has a lady being made fun of for not having children. Then God blesses her with children especially the first one who turns out to be Samuel an eventual prophet of God. Then Israel wants a king and God says "That's not a real good idea" but if they want one I'll give them one. 

Then comes Saul who is flawed and then comes David and the evangelicals don't even want to talk about David and Jonathan and Jonathan stripping naked and the love that was more than the love of women. Yeah I know. If like me you were raised in the church one of the Southern seminaries explained all that away. But, reading it as an older man who doesn't have to read it like a good Christian youth I'm able to step back and say hmmm. But, I digress. 

Then you have David slaying Goliath and God sending an evil spirt of God to Saul. And Saul acting like a vengeful killer one moment and stand up guy the next. Again, my Christian upbringing was to ignore the killing and the fact that God can't do evil but the bible says the evil spirit on Saul was from God. I understand these days that translations and ancient times can't be put in modern day terms word for word or meaning for meaning. 

Then you have David. Raiding villages and killing men, women and children so that no witness remains. Holy Sopranos Batman! Again, as a young Christian I just accepted that God had his reasons and I couldn't judge. But, these days I don't see that as a good excuse for killing kids. 

Eli, who was Samuel's mentor, had sons that disobeyed the Lord and so Samuel was raised up. Samuel's sons also committed the same sins and met the same fate. I also noticed the boundaries that  were set where God was said to protect the people. It brought back the idea that the God of the desert to the Jews at that time was a territorial God and not depicted as the Almighty father that those of us who grew up in the church were taught. 

David would not be a Sunday School attendee. If he wanted a woman he would take her. This "one man, one woman" thing of the modern American church wasn't something the ancient Hebrews would have agreed with. First Samuel is very much an ancient Jewish writing. 

My take away:

I absolutely love First Samuel. It's human and mystical and gritty and blood and guts and emotion. As a spiritual person it gives me reason to get quiet before the mystery that is the connection between flesh and spirit. Just to get quiet and wait on that still voice and be in awe of the interaction. 

However, if I were still a fundamentalist the problem of thinking God literally told these people to kill men, women and children would be horrible. There is no way to read it as a fundamentalist and not have to condone and make excuses for murder. Sorry, That's just the way it is. 1 plus 1 equals 2. However, read as part of a journey of a people who lived and died in the mud and gore and not taking it as the literal absolute will of God. I can read it as I honestly think it stands I'm not a scholar of ancient Hebrew or ancient peoples. So, I won't pee up your leg and tell you it's raining. I don't understand a lot of the details. I don't think God sends evil spirits on people. I don't think God kills or is pleased when people kill women and children. Or men for that matter. 

But, I do think people get caught up within themselves. I do believe the same person that listens for that still voice of God is also capable of walking away from that experience and still being consumed by their own fear, lust and anger. It's the human condition. 

So, my feeling is I'm really Spiritually encouraged by the voice of Deity in the still quiet moments. I'm also pleased that I can be human and still find hope and purpose. 

1st Samuel is like most of the Old Testament. It's a tough read if you take it as the absolute will of God.In that regard it's not quite as hard on me now as it was in my younger days. But, it's still hard. On the other hand it's more like what we are as humans even in this day. We can love and hate. Birth and kill. Nurture and destroy. 1st Samuel is really about religious scribes and authorities making God in their own image. Religion is great at that.

We do the same thing to not only our idea of God but also our idea of country, politicians and even our approach to science. We want what we want and we want it now.

So, I'm not mocking the bible or faith. I'm not mocking anybody or their idea of who and what they are or God is or isn't. I'm coming to the mystery quietly and with my ears open and my mouth shut. I hope if God says my name I'm able to listen. I might not listen as a religious dogmatist. But, as a person and as an aware being I anxiously and hopefully listen. 

Peace.