From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #203 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Wednesday, November 22 2000 Volume 01 : Number 203 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 12:48:57 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] ADAMS, _Prodigal Journey_ >By the way, I don't know if I ever properly thanked you, Linda, for the >feedback on my first-draft novel ms. at Worldsmiths >(www.wwno.com/worldsmiths, for anyone else looking for a writing >group--. [snip] Your comments were among the most thoughtful and useful, >and I really appreciate them (I only regret I don't have them through the >ms.'s conclusion!). Thanks, Chris--I've downloaded the rest and plan to finish up (to see how it ends!) but probably won't get around to it until January. :-) Remind me! Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com Writing Page: http://members.xoom.com/adamszoo Little Ones Lost: http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo My new book, _Prodigal Journey,_ is now available online! Go to: http://deseretbook.com/products/4066899/index.html - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 14:56:23 -0500 From: Dean FH Macy Subject: [AML] Re: [AML-Mag] Shaken Faith and Truth This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - --------------8555053409A867323D74FA3C Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Jacob Proffitt wrote: > Frankly, I'm tired of shaken faith stories as a whole. But most particularly > I am tired of the ones that leave you at the bottom of the lost-faith cycle > with no resolution in sight. AMEN!!!! - -- - ----------------------------------------------------------- http://www.mp3.com/stations/epilogue_records_artistshtml - -------------------------------------------------------- "The great danger for humans is that we will walk by the light of our own understanding." (H. Wallace Goddard) - --------------8555053409A867323D74FA3C Content-Type: text/x-vcard; charset=us-ascii; name="deanmacy.vcf" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Description: Card for Dean FH Macy Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="deanmacy.vcf" begin:vcard n:-"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but;- only true friends will leave footprints in your heart." tel;pager:FILM: www.mp3.com/stations/one_christmas_eve tel;fax:603 924-4412 tel;home:603 924-4409 tel;work:603 924-4412 x-mozilla-html:TRUE url:http://www.newenglandtalent.org org:New England Talent, Ltd.;Child Artist Management version:2.1 email;internet:deanmacy@monad.net title:President and CEO note:SPECIALIZING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN IN VOCAL MUSIC adr;quoted-printable:;;14 Granite Street - =0D=0AStudio Five;Peterborough;New Hampshire;03458-1413;USA fn:Dean FH Macy, Lit.D. end:vcard - --------------8555053409A867323D74FA3C-- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 14:11:26 EST From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] MN The Hand of Providence: Deseret Book Press Release From: Deseret Book Press Release To: Mormon News Subject: MN The Hand of Providence: Deseret Book Press Release 18Nov00 A2 Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 23:30:00 -0500 [From Mormon-News] THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE A Novel by Ron Carter Volume 4 in The Prelude To Glory Series SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Continuing his popular fictional Revolutionary War series, Ron Carter reimagines the Battle of Saratoga in THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE (Bookcraft/October 2000/$22.95.) An event that historians believe changed the history of the world, the Batle of Saratoga is brought to vivid life by Carter's winning blend of deftly drawn characters, enthralling adventure, and riveting historical details. THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE reflects the trials and triumphs of war through the eyes of two brave American heroes, Billy and Eli, who give conflict a human dimension. Here we see the brilliant strategies and cunning tricks of men in both armies -- from General Arthur St. Clair, to General Benedict Arnold, to British General John Burgoyne - -- and we learn fascinating facts about the customs of the Iroquois tribes who fought in the Revolution. THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE further illuminates the action with background notes for every chapter, as well as maps and illustrations. Following America's magnificent victories at Trenton and Princeton, King George III orders General Burgoyne and a large army to move south from Canada to take Fort Ticonderoga and isolate the New England states. In this and other battles throughout THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE, Ron Carter's meticulous research comes to life, as he takes us to the front lines, where we learn the strategies of war: "There are three ways to take a fort such as Ticonderoga," General Burgoyne says, "tunnel underneath and set mines, breach the walls with heavy artillery, or place it under siege." One of Carter's most skillfully etched characters, British General John Burgoyne is an enigma: a playwright and ladies' man who is also coldly calculating. Opposing Burgoyne is American General Arthur St. Clair, a brilliant, unpredictable force. Burgoyne takes Fort Ticonderoga in a masterful mission, but he is unprepared for the American retaliation. Now the stage is set for the pivotal battle of Saratoga, where the American and British armies fight brutally, and the Americans -- with less than half the army of the British -- stun the world by defeating Burgoyne, crediting their victory to "the Hand of Providence." Offering a warm contrast to war, THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE also follows the struggles of loved ones left behind: a beautiful widow searching for a new life with an old friend, devoted mothers praying for the return of their sons, a young American woman suffering over her love for a British captain. Here Carter weaves his narrative with high emotion, portraying the pain of separation that is inevitable in wartime. This sweeping saga will stir the imagination and even touch the hearts of readers of all ages, offering colorful characters and breathtaking action at every turn. An extraordinary portrayal of one of the most influential events in American history, THE HAND OF PROVIDENCE is a tale that will be treasured for years to come. # # # About the Author Ron Carter holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University and attended law school at George Washington University and the University of Utah. He practiced law for 25 years concluding his legal career with seven years in research and writing for judges in the Los Angeles County court system. He also served one term as a State Senator in the Idaho legislature. He is the author of fourteen books, including "The Youngest Drover," a title that was placed on the ALA "Booklist," and authorized by the California State Department of Education for use in teaching high school history courses. His other works include mysteries and humor for children, young adults, and adults. He is married to LaRae Dunn Carter, and they have nine children and twenty-three grandchildren. Ron Carter lives in Park City, Utah. See also: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1573457833/mormonnews More about Ron Carter's "The Hand of Providence: A Novel" at Amazon.com >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ Send join and remove commands to: majordomo@MormonsToday.com Put appropriate commands in body of the message: To join: subscribe mormon-news To leave: unsubscribe mormon-news To join digest: subscribe mormon-news-digest - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 13:30:18 -0700 From: "Christopher Bigelow" Subject: Re: [AML] Shaken Faith and Truth (was: Real Life) Responding to Jacob Proffitt: <<>> As managing editor of Irreantum, let me just say that we publish stories = all across the spectrum, including some excerpts from novels published by = Deseret Book. To write off the magazine's fiction offerings because one = story doesn't fit your desired mode would be a mistake. Frankly, we are by = no means swimming in fiction submissions and are publishing at least half = if not the majority of what we receive, and we were particularly honored = to have a nationally prominent author like Paul Rawlins let us consider = one of his stories. <<<"Faith of the Fathers" is well written--well crafted--but I'm not going = to read any more of these stories. And since that was the first fiction = story in Irreantum, I assume that it is representative of what the editors = wanted to present, so I just didn't bother with the others. My apologies to = those authors, but I can't handle the continuing messages about my faith that = are devoid of an active, loving, comforting God anymore.>>> Bad assumption. Like I said, we are covering the full spectrum of Mormon = lit. Tory Anderson is our fiction editor, and I don't know if he's on this = list, but I'm CCing him with this (and forwarding your original message) = in case he would like to respond. >From my editorial in the winter '99-'00 issue: We do not intend to pigeonhole Irreantum as either culturally = liberal or conservative. We want to give orthodox books, authors, and = presses as much attention and respect as we give liberal books, authors, = and presses. We consider ourselves more free to explore a wide range of = Mormon literature than a magazine sponsored by BYU, for example, yet we do = not want to make mainstream LDS readers and writers uncomfortable with our = publication. We are seeking the middle ground, the temperate zones between = the equator of Church-sanctioned publishing and the nether poles. That = zone has room for active Mormons writing orthodox fiction (for example, = Gerald Lund), active or semiactive Mormons writing liberal fiction for the = Mormon market (Linda Sillitoe), active Mormons writing fiction for = national audiences (Orson Scott Card), inactive Mormons writing for = national audiences (Walter Kirn), and members of other faiths writing = about Mormon characters and themes (Tony Kushner). We are interested in = all literature by, for, or about Mormons and in general literature seen = through Mormon eyes. Therefore you will see reviews, essays, interviews, poetry, and fiction in = Irreantum from a wide variety of cultural perspectives. We hope that if = you encounter something in Irreantum that is either too spicy or too bland = for your tastes, you will trust the magazine to offer an overall satisfying= mix as time goes forward. Personally, I am most interested in how Mormon = authors and subjects are breaking into the national literary scene. But I = and other Irreantum staffers are also keenly interested in the large and = healthy industry that publishes products for the mainstream LDS audience, = and we hope Irreantum can influence the developing tastes of those readers = (so far the magazine is carried in about 20 LDS bookstores).=20 Chris Bigelow - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 13:17:03 -0800 (PST) From: "R.W. Rasband" Subject: Re: [AML] Real People - --- Dallas Robbins wrote: > One > that has been > fascinating me for the past couple months is the > Jewish-American novel, > which I primarily see in Saul Bellow, Issac Singer > and Phillip Roth. For > the past week I've been reading "The Human Stain," > the latest by Roth, and > have found it fascinatng. There is no pretense, no > gimmicks, no tricks, > just straight forward rich prose giving life to > complicated characters, > dealing with the big questions of life, death, > identity, morality and sex. > I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, but if > you crave for something > honest and real it would fit the bill. > Boy, I couldn't agree more. "The Human Stain" is the best novel I've read this year. Roth presents a dizzying array of wit, satire, tragedy, morality, and compassion, all by the best writer of English sentences now living. That he didn't win the Nobel prize this year is a crime. When I read Roth and Singer (and to a lesser extent Bellow) I feel like I'm reading my cousins in faith. ===== R.W. Rasband Heber City, UT rrasband@yahoo.com __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/ - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 14:36:46 -0700 From: Mike South Subject: Re: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism Thom Duncan wrote: > Why shouldn't Mormon artists be as missionary minded about what constitutes > good art as they are about what constitutes true religion? Ultimately, we believe that our religion is true because we believe it was delivered from God to us. Art, on the other hand, goes the other way -- it is delivered from us to God and to those around us. It is inherently limited by our level of understanding, our sensitivity to the Spirit, and our imperfect ability to communicate what we have learned from Father. The art we produce is a reflection of our understanding of truth. Being so narrow in scope, it will resonate with some and leave others cold. I think the best we can hope for is that it will invite the Spirit and thus persuade others to begin their own investigation of the truth. - --Mike South - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 14:51:27 -0700 From: "Brent J. Rowley" Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Spec. Fiction & Mysteries > > > Those of us who have been bandying the term "LDS speculative fiction" > about generally think of it in the same way: any literature that > speculates about things of an LDS nature that we don't know are true or > know are not true, but we want to imagine what would happen if they > were. It would include LDS science fiction and fantasy, but go beyond > that as well. It could also include theological speculation: something > which isn't science, but we can't call fantasy either, because we > believe in the supernatural nature of our religion. > > LDS speculative fiction is literature which asks the question "What if > such and such were true?" about something which is related to the LDS > religion, theology, or culture, then explores the consequences of that > supposition. In my opinion, this is exactly why LDS Speculative Fiction has NOT been very successful so far. Too many LDS readers are offended when authors (or anyone, for that matter) try to speculate about 'things holy.' It's okay to speculate, as long as you aren't toying with the gospel. The gospel is founded on absolute truth and is sacred and special, and it bothers people if we try to tinker with those truths. Obviously there are MANY LDS readers out there who enjoy speculative fiction (and fantasy), i.e. Star Wars, OSC, Dragon Lance, etc. And there are also MANY (probably the same ones) who equally enjoy LDS fiction. But sparks fly when you try to combine the two. It's offensive to ask, "What if such and such were true" in the LDS setting because members know it's not true, and don't want to hear about any other options. If you do, then your work is immediately suspect because you're trying to 'preach' something that isn't true. It threatens their testimony. Basically having the LDS element involved takes the fun out of it, and turns it into something bordering on sacrilegious. My own books are prime examples. When I originally wrote "My Body Fell Off!" I had no intention of classifying it at SF or Speculative or Fantasy. It was, after all, based on extensive research in an area that I came to consider pretty much documented real life. There really ARE people in the world who CAN astral project. It happens. It's not fantasy or science fiction. My only intention was to depict it, in this particular story, as being a "gift" and something that could be used for good. When Covenant first read and approved the manuscript, however, they all thought it was sheer fantasy -- great fun, and high adventure. By the time the sequel was ready for print, a year later, there had been some feedback, and all of a sudden alarms started going off. I had to revise the manuscript for both books and take out specific wording and references that readers might interpret as being presented as 'gospel truth.' The second manuscript was even passed along to a GA for review, and came back with some very interesting comments. It wasn't rejected, but required some careful rewording in order not to offend some people. Again, we're back to that same thing -- you can please some of the people some of the time, yada yada yada. Anyway, three months later, readers were apparently still offended by my material, and enough of them complained to DB about it that they made the decision to pull my books from their shelves. Covenant immediately responded to that by also pulling them from Seagull and dropping my series. I was suddenly out-of-print because I was "promoting occultism and satanism," and speculating about things that LDS readers "KNEW" weren't true. I stepped on their testimonies. It took me a year of painful soul searching, and much study and research and careful analysis to finally come to terms with the fact that this term "LDS Speculative Fiction" had been the real cause of my demise. I've since re-written the books, have recently added a third volume, and am now self-published and back on the shelf. But I first decided that if I was going to save this series, I had to take out one or the other of those two conflicting elements. So, unfortunately, the "LDS" part was sacrificed and is now gone. Even though the stories still take place largely in Utah county, and the protagonists are obviously Mormon teens (at least to an LDS reader), they never actually mention the church by name or use any of our conventional LDS terminology. They became generic. I still accomplish my goal, which is to provide wholesome, enlightening and uplifting entertainment to the youth of the church and beyond. And the books are still exciting and action-packed page-turners. But they're NOT "LDS Speculative Fiction." There was just no way I could succeed in the LDS market that way. Incidentally, Deseret Book higher-ups have read all three of the new, generic, rewritten books, and did not find any problems with them. The Light Traveler Adventure Series is now once again available in their bookstores. And I'm hoping that Seagull will soon see the light and take them on again, also. Most all other LDS bookstores are carrying them, and my fan mail continues to pour in -- full of praise and tribute. The bottom line is: "LDS Speculative Fiction" is a very hard row to hoe. OSC has been successful because he has so carefully disguised the gospel and church elements in his books. Dan Yates' "Angels" series is successful because he DOESN'T include the LDS element at all. So the stories are fun, tongue-in-cheek, generic speculative fiction. Lund only speculates about his fictional characters, not about the known and documented church history behind the stories. (Heimerdinger just got lucky, I think, by getting in so early.) As long as there are enough LDS readers out there who are sufficiently offended so as to cause a recall from bookshelves, LDS Speculative Fiction will not succeed in the general Mormon marketplace. LDS publishers (for the most part) are just not willing to have their names associated with potentially controversial material. And I can't say as I blame them. As much as it hurts, the old adage is still true: The Customer is Always Right. - -BJ Rowley - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 15:04:20 -0700 From: "ROY SCHMIDT" Subject: RE: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism Speaking of Especially for Mormons, I heard a radio ad for Seagull books yesterday. The ad was promoting a CD of all the volumes of EFM, and the copy said that many people considered it the Fifth Volume of Scripture. I didn't know if I should laugh or puke. I chose to laugh. Roy Schmidt >>> Thom Duncan 11/20/00 08:58PM >>> > somehow it's exceptable when someone stands up and reads something from "Especially for Mormons" and has the audacity to call it a poem? - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 16:05:02 -0700 From: "ROY SCHMIDT" Subject: Re: [AML] What We're Reading Right Now I just finished _Sarah_ and throughly enjoyed it. Also completed Ambrose's _Nothing Like It In the World_, a really good read. I am starting to re-read Card's _Stone Tablets_, and am still working my way through Nibley"s _Abraham in Egypt_. Roy - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 17:27:59 -0600 From: Todd Robert Petersen Subject: Re: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism Mike South wrote: > Ultimately, we believe that our religion is true because we believe it was > delivered from God to us. Art, on the other hand, goes the other way -- it > is delivered from us to God and to those around us. It is inherently limited > by our level of understanding, our sensitivity to the Spirit, and our > imperfect ability to communicate what we have learned from Father. I'm a little mixed up. Does this mean that art can not be inspired or that it can't be the result of the spirit? I have a problem here because I think that art comes from a place very much like the place that my faith comes from. I think that the ability to see as an artist, can, in many ways, be a gift of the spirit. One of the big mistakes I think we make is thinking that art is its own thing, that it is set over on one side, away from most of the rest of things. - -- Todd Robert Petersen - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 20 Nov 2000 17:22:12 -0800 From: Jeff Needle Subject: Re: [AML] I'm Back Welcome back! This is an awful situation. I'm diabetic, too, and always fear that I might experience such a thing. Of course, some think I write some of my reviews while in a coma, so maybe it's already happened. Glad you're better! At 03:33 PM 11/20/2000 -0800, you wrote: >For those who have been wondering where the cranky R.W. Rasband posts have >gone (not that I expect anyone to miss them that much) I have been in the >hospital the last four weeks due to a severe diabetic reaction. If you >ever want to have a strange feeling, t >ry waking up from a coma after five days to discover yourself in the >hospital without memories of those lost days. I am feeling better now, so >stand by for more darn opinionated stuff. > > > > >R.W. Rasband >Heber City, UT >rrasband@yahoo.com > > >--------------------------------- >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Calendar - Get organized for the holidays! - --------------- Jeff Needle jeff.needle@general.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 19:51:39 -0500 From: "Tracie Laulusa" Subject: RE: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism I must say I'm not a huge EFM fan. But, I know lots of people who are-my daughters included. It helps them express things that they don't seem to be able to express in other ways. Maybe they'll grow out of it, but I'm not holding my breath. They also read Shakespeare for entertainment, BTW, so it's not just a lack of education. They love it (EFM). It fills a need they have to express the things they are feeling and learning that they haven't found the words for yet. The books haven't sold all these years because nobody likes them. And though writers may find the verse somewhat lacking in style, the average Mormon person seems to find them understandable. I have read discussions about what poetry should or shouldn't be. Or what literature should or shouldn't be, for that matter. I don't have any answers. I *do* feel that it does absolutely no good to ridicule what others find entertaining and enlightening. I have tried reading a variety of poets over the past year-many Mormons among them. I'm afraid I find most of it inaccessible. I just don't understand it even though I very much want to. I wish more fine Mormon writers were writing on a level that can be understood by more people, instead of just to the 'intellectual' element amongst us. Tracie Laulusa - -----Original Message----- Speaking of Especially for Mormons, I heard a radio ad for Seagull books yesterday. The ad was promoting a CD of all the volumes of EFM, and the copy said that many people considered it the Fifth Volume of Scripture. I didn't know if I should laugh or puke. I chose to laugh. Roy Schmidt - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 25 Sep 2000 10:30:26 -0600 From: "mcnandon" Subject: RE: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism Renato, you are most certainly *not* stupid. You are delightful. Your comments have added so much to the discourse. You are insightful and sensitive and you communicate very well in English. Keep reading and keep writing e-mails. Your point of view is important to me and to the list. Nan McCulloch - -----Original Message----- [snip] I=B4m 30 now...and I=B4m reading (in English) - The Portrait of the Art as a Young Man - James Joice...All the time I need the dictionary to understand some "strange" words that I need to Know to understand the context. When I read pocket books (trash) I don=B4t have this problem... I think my Eglish has a poor vocabulary...a high school vocabulary...and I=B4m in the processo of learning it... Am I supid? Renato Rigo renatorigo@ig.com.br - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 19:49:12 -0700 From: LuAnnStaheli Subject: Re: [AML] What We're Reading Right Now - --------------31E0CDB0174DE20DDCE940D0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sharlee: I can't agree with you more about the titles of YA lit you recommend. I'm finishing up a fellowship project about contemporary YA lit and Joan Bauer is one of my favorite authors. Also included on that list Carol Lynch Williams (LDS), Margaret Peterson Haddix, Christopher Paul Curtis, Will Hobbs, Kimberly Willis Holt, and (need I say this) J. K. Rowling. I also must agree about the last little bit of Poisonwood Bible. I felt she got to the climax, then just kept going on too long. Buy, overall, I really enjoyed the book. As for other books, I just finished Margaret Truman's Murder in Foggy Bottom. I've just discovered her political novels (she's the daughter of Bess and Harry S Truman) and they are great if you are into Washington D.C. intrigue. I also read Chris Heimerdinger's A Light in the Storm (sort of reminded me of the Mormon folklore about the hitchhiker's warning to gather food storage) and Anita Stansfield's A Star in Winter. Anita is a friend of mine and I envy her publishing history, but I think I need the main character, Helen, is a bit like Annette was saying about the character in Linda's book, a little too good to be true. I really wanted Helen to do something that made her relationship with Shayne hazy for awhile. I wanted more tension between them. Lu Ann Staheli - --------------31E0CDB0174DE20DDCE940D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sharlee:
     I can't agree with you more about the titles of YA lit you recommend. I'm finishing up a fellowship project about contemporary YA lit and Joan Bauer is one of my favorite authors. Also included on that list Carol Lynch Williams (LDS), Margaret Peterson Haddix, Christopher Paul Curtis, Will Hobbs, Kimberly Willis Holt, and (need I say this) J. K. Rowling.
     I also must agree about the last little bit of Poisonwood Bible. I felt she got to the climax, then just kept going on too long. Buy, overall, I really enjoyed the book.
     As for other books, I just finished Margaret Truman's Murder in Foggy Bottom. I've just discovered her political novels (she's the daughter of Bess and Harry S Truman) and they are great if you are into Washington D.C. intrigue.
     I also read Chris Heimerdinger's A Light in the Storm (sort of reminded me of the Mormon folklore about the hitchhiker's warning to gather food storage) and Anita Stansfield's A Star in Winter. Anita is a friend of mine and I envy her publishing history, but I think I need the main character, Helen, is a bit like Annette was saying about the character in Linda's book, a little too good to be true. I really wanted Helen to do something that made her relationship with Shayne hazy for awhile. I wanted more tension between them.
    Lu Ann Staheli
  - --------------31E0CDB0174DE20DDCE940D0-- - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 21:29:41 -0700 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] Anti-Intellectualism renatorigo wrote: >I=B4m 30 now...and I=B4m reading (in English) - The Portrait of the Art >as a Young Man - James Joice...All the time I need the dictionary to >understand some "strange" words that I need to Know to understand >the context. When I read pocket books (trash) I don=B4t have this >problem... I think my English has a poor vocabulary...a high school >vocabulary...and I=B4m in the process of learning it... > >Am I stupid? Are you willing to accept that a word you don't understand may have=20 meaning to someone else, even though you don't understand it at this=20 moment? Are you able to understand that a single word can have more than one=20 meaning, and that it's a good thing to know multiple word meanings,=20 even if you only use one meaning in your own speech? If you answered "yes" to either question, then you're not stupid. As others have pointed out, there's a difference between uneducated=20 and stupid (though many alleged intellectuals don't seem to have=20 figured that out). There is nothing wrong with being uneducated, but I think there *is*=20 something wrong with refusing to learn new things. And I think=20 there's something *very* wrong with assuming that your refusal to=20 learn somehow makes your view of the world "purer" or more valuable=20 simply because you make no attempt to learn. And make no mistake about it, this unwillingness to learn is a=20 problem for both the educated and the uneducated. I know many people=20 with a great many facts in their heads and extraordinary mental=20 capacity who still refuse to learn any new thing, or are unwilling to=20 accept that other perspectives are also valid. One can be stupid and educated at the same time. Many are. As with every discussion of this kind, people rush to their favorite=20 extreme and recall every instance where a stupid person has made=20 their life hard, or has insulted them for their opinion. But remember, it happens both ways. Education no more makes someone=20 intelligent than a lack of if makes someone stupid. The question is,=20 are you willing to learn? To me, that makes all difference--especially in this forum. Scott Parkin - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 01:13:39 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Mormon Spec. Fiction & Mysteries "Brent J. Rowley" wrote: >In my opinion, this is exactly why LDS Speculative Fiction has NOT been very successful so far. Too many LDS readers are offended when authors (or anyone, for that matter) try to speculate about 'things holy.' It's okay to speculate, as long as you aren't toying with the gospel... >My own books are prime examples. When I originally wrote "My Body Fell Off!" I had no intention of classifying it at SF or Speculative or Fantasy. It was, after all, based on extensive research in an area that I came to consider pretty much documented real life. There really ARE people in the world who CAN astral project. It happens. It's not fantasy or science fiction. My only intention was to depict it, in this particular story, as being a "gift" and something that could be used for good. I can only speak theoretically, because we don't have enough collective experience to know for sure. But I would be reticent to generalize your experience to LDS speculative fiction generally. Two reasons: one, you speculated in an area that is considered occult (read: anathema to Mormons), and two, you didn't classify it as speculative fiction, which left open the possibility that you were really trying to promote occult ideas (which in a way you were, since you accept astral projection as a reality). I would have to question whether the same reaction would occur if the book was clearly labeled as speculative fiction and the speculation was over something less alarming than synthesizing occult concepts into the Gospel. To many Mormons' minds, what you did was a mild version of speculating, "What if God were really Satan?" You tried to mix things which are holy and which are evil and make them fit together (remember, I'm trying to imagine the point of view of offended readers--I'm not expressing my personal judgment on your beliefs about astral projection). I'm sure calling astral projection a gift of the Spirit seemed to be exactly that to many readers. Hopefully, speculation on a less polarizing subject would have a more receptive audience, although I'm sure we've got some work ahead of us to build that audience and to deal with the onslaught of those who will be offended by even the most harmless speculation about Gospel matters. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 15:29:26 -0200 From: "renatorigo" Subject: Re: [AML] Shaken Faith and Truth (was: Real Life) > Jacob wrote: > are we willing to do in order to sell our work? Are you willing to restrict your art to the dark elements in our society if that is what sells? Personally, I'm tired of "modern realism". Mormonism is a small society (0,18% of the global society). Of course that , we members of this society should transfer elements of it to our art but we can=B4t forget of the other caractheristics of our "telestial" world... For Example: I=B4m now reading a book called : Widow for a year... John Irving (I don=B4t know if it=B4s the real name in English. I simply translated the title of portuguese version into English). I really liked the book...In this book we have some scenes that isn=B4t proper to our faith...but a good writer has to sacrifice some of himself to show the truth... You don=B4t need to think about "marketing" or "selling" but you need to have an appointment with the truth... We don=B4t have to censure the bad things , we have to eliminate the bad things....After this , the censure should=B4t be useful anymore... Only my opinion...respecting yours... Renato Rigo renatorigo@ig.com.br - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2000 12:35:22 EST From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] MN BYU university professorships named for prominent founders: BYU Press Release From: BYU Press Release To: Mormon News Subject: MN BYU university professorships named for prominent founders: BYU Press Release 21Nov00 D3 Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 23:15:00 -0500 [Excerpts from Mormon-News] BYU university professorships named for prominent founders PROVO, Utah (November 21, 2000) - A new program of naming university professorships after prominent founders of Brigham Young University has been announced by the Academic Vice President's Office. "All of these founders of BYU are worthy of our recognition, and we are pleased to be able to remember them through this program," said Richard N. Williams, Assistant to Associate Academic Vice President James D. Gordon III. "Their legacy is reflected in each of the professorships, just as the recipients' own accomplishments will reflect positively on them," he said. Previously, recipients of university professorships were allowed to name their professorship after someone of their own choice. The new program will allow continued remembrance of those who sacrificed much to make BYU possible, said Williams. The names of the professorships and the faculty members who currently hold them are: [...] * Susa Young Gates. Another daughter of Brigham Young, she was skilled in shorthand and served as secretary to her father. In 1878, Karl G. Maeser appointed her head of the Music Department at the academy, where she also organized the Domestic Science Department. She served on many Church boards and was the founder of the Young Women's Journal. Her legacy will be honored by [...] Robert Marshall, visual arts; [...] * Warren N. and Wilson H. Dusenberry. The brothers were born to pioneer parents and were the founders of Provo High School. Their other creation, the Timpanogos Branch of the University of Deseret, while short-lived, proved that a school could succeed in Provo and contributed to the founding of Brigham Young Academy. When the academy was chartered in 1875, Warren Dusenberry was the first principal during its experimental term. The Dusenberry legacy will be remembered in professorships held by [...] Todd Britsch, humanities, classics and comparative literature. [...] -###- >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ Send join and remove commands to: majordomo@MormonsToday.com Put appropriate commands in body of the message: To join: subscribe mormon-news To leave: unsubscribe mormon-news To join digest: subscribe mormon-news-digest - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #203 ******************************