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"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."

-C.S. Lewis


What we read has such an impact on us, and I am always on the lookout for something that will inspire me to be a better person. Here is a sampling of books that have been in the teetering stack sitting on top of what is rumored to be my bedside table.





Saturday, January 21, 2012

The House on the Corner, by Michael Rains

The House on the Corner, by Michael Rains, is a novel about a boy who goes on a quest ostensibly to fight against a corporation that is controlling people's minds. He joins a group of people who are also working together toward this end.

Honestly, I was very confused throughout much of this book. The transitions between scenes are awkward and sometimes nonexistent. There is a sea of characters, and it's hard to keep track of the relationships between them - or even who they are.  At one point, one of the characters actually says that many things are very confusing.  Having most of the characters be so confused throughout the book doesn't help the reader much.  It was very difficult for me to write a summary of the book because I understood so little of what was happening.

Also, frequent errors in grammar (especially placement of commas) and odd word choices distract from the plot.  There is a good deal of telling instead of showing, which makes the writing style seem a bit trite.

On the plus side, the idea for the plot is interesting. There were moments of clarity when I could see the novel for what it could be. The spiritual allegory is quite promising.  If the author sees this, I'd like to encourage him to keep studying his craft.

One of Five Stars

Disclaimer:  I was provided a copy of this book by Thomas Nelson publishing house in exchange for an honest review.

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