From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #561 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 Thursday, January 3 2002 Volume 01 : Number 561 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 13:34:52 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: Re: [AML] Do We Have to Like Our Characters? Eric Snider wrote: >Is it possible to have a successful work of fiction in which the=20 >protagonist, through whose eyes the story is told, is someone for whom = >the=20 >author clearly has nothing but contempt? Hitler's Niece. Can't remember the author's name, but it's about the = relationship between Hitler and Geli Raube. Very good, and the main = character's Hitler. Eric Samuelsen, back in the saddle again - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 15:44:25 -0500 From: "Debra Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN 2002 Primary Music Ideas Released: Primary ETC Press Release 29Dec01 US UT SLC I4 (Gee, I wonder how much shipping is for the bonus gift when a dollar is charged for mailing a boolmark? Anyone on the list subscribe to this site? Debbie) 2002 Primary Music Ideas Released BOUNTIFUL, UTAH -- Primary, ETC., an LDS internet resource since 1997, announces the release of it's 2002 Primary Music Ideas. This is a paid subscription ezine featuring fun and effective teaching methods for the songs in the upcoming 2002 Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. Subscribers will access online ideas and visual aids for one song each month from December 2001 - July 2002. Each featured song will come online one month in advance of when it is scheduled to be taught in Primary. Subscriptions are $8.00 plus $1.00 shipping for a bookmark that is mailed to each subscriber. There are some scheduled bonuses along with a few surprise extras along the way - New Year's Eve SPECIAL - all orders received before midnight December 31, 2001 will receive a bonus gift -- see the details at: http://primaryetc.com/2002SongIdeas.html Debra Woods Bountiful, UT Primary, ETC. http://primaryetc.com debra@primaryetc.com Source: 2002 Primary Music Ideas Released Primary ETC Press Release 29Dec01 US UT SLC I4 >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/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 15:50:35 -0700 From: "Steve" Subject: Re: [AML] God in _Lord of the Rings_ on 12/28/01 9:27 PM, Jonathan Langford at jlangfor@pressenter.com wrote: > (One of the things I find distressing about the movie is the way that > the "magical" side of their abilities and nature is emphasized, as in the > staff-blasting scene with Gandalf and Saruman--a complete fabrication.) I agree with your entire post, Jonathan, but this made me chuckle since the entire story the movie is based on is, of course, also a complete fabrication. :-) Steve Perry - -- skperry@mac.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 14:43:19 -0700 From: "Amy Chamberlain" Subject: [AML] Request for Storytellers I hope that this isn't terribly off-topic.... I teach a college-level Freshman English class, and thought that you literary types on this list could help me once again. Do you know any people who are really good story-tellers? I'd love to have someone come tell my class a 10-20 minute story for them to analyze. This would be a good way to teach my students the difference between plot summary and analysis, and would also let us start to discuss the basic tools of literary analysis. It would also let them listen to someone other than me for a change. The specifics: my class is in SLC, and I'd need someone around the beginning of February, once on Monday night at 5 or 6 and then on Wed. night at the same time. I'd be willing to pay (although we're not talking big bucks here. You know what teachers' salaries are like). If it goes well, I'd love to use you each semester. Thanks. Amy Chamberlain [To the Mod: my email is amyc@xmission.com. You could ask people to respond to me directly if you deem this to be an off-topic request.] [From the Mod: If all you are doing is giving names, please sent directly to Amy. If you want to make some kind of larger comment or connection to Mormon letters, please feel free to reply to the List.] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 16:33:45 -0700 From: luannstaheli Subject: Re: [AML] Joann JOLLEY, _Secrets of the Heart_ (Review) The plot you described isn't this author's first novel. I read the first one and it didn't draw me back for the second. You might want to recheck your facts on that one. ; - ) Andrew Hall wrote: > Secrets of the Heart > Joann Jolley > Covenant, 1998 > Suggested retail price: $13.95 (US) > [snip] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 17:08:28 -0700 From: Terry L Jeffress Subject: [AML] Review Archive Update AML Review Archive What a great year for reviews. (And we already have a good start on the reviews for 2002 -- Thank you Andrew.) As far as I can tell, we have one of the largest collections of online reviews and easily the largest collection of reviews related to Mormon letters. Last year I challenged AML-List members to contribute at least 100 reviews to the archive. We easily met that goal with 115 new reviews during 2001. So for 2002 I will issue a new challenge. At this moment, we have 176 subscribers to the AML-List. During 2001, we only had 41 people post reviews to the archive. I know that most of you read at least one book or see one movie related to Mormon letters each year. So here's my challenge for this year: That every list member post at least one review to the archive during 2002. You don't have to give us an excruciating literary analysis; just a few paragraphs about whether you liked the work and why. (Of course, we don't mind good literary analysis -- you just shouldn't consider that a requirement to post a review.) To help keep track of the new challenge, I have modified the review archive generator to include a count of the unique posters on the statistics page . Happy new year, and good reading. New Reviews from December 2001 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D 514=A0Kate's Turn by Cheri=A0J.=A0Crane reviewed by Katie=A0Parker (3=A0December=A02001) 515=A0Falling Toward Heaven by John=A0Bennion reviewed by Scott=A0Parkin (7=A0December=A02001) 516=A0Prophet of Death: The Mormon Blood-Atonement Killings by Pete=A0Earley reviewed by Jeff=A0Needle (7=A0December=A02001) 517=A0The Other Side of Heaven by Mitch=A0Davis reviewed by Eric=A0D.=A0Snider (14=A0December=A02001) 518=A0It's You and Me Lord by Alan=A0Gerald=A0Cherry reviewed by Harlow=A0S.=A0Clark (18=A0December=A02001) 519=A0101 Missionary Stories You Won't Find in the Ensign by Mike=A0Bingham=20 reviewed by Kathy=A0Tyner (20=A0December=A02001) 520=A0House on the Sound by Marilyn=A0Brown reviewed by Darlene=A0Young (27=A0December=A02001) 521=A0Romancing the Nephites by Becky=A0Paget reviewed by Jeff=A0Needle (27=A0December=A02001) 522=A0The Other Side of Heaven by Mitch=A0Davis reviewed by Scott=A0Parkin (28=A0December=A02001) 523=A0The Wine-dark Sea of Grass by Marilyn=A0Brown reviewed by Terry=A0L=A0Jeffress (31=A0December=A02001) 524=A0Red Water by Judith=A0Freeman reviewed by Terry=A0L=A0Jeffress (31=A0Decmeber=A02001) AML-List Review Archive Statistics =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Build date: Thursday, 2 January 2002, 16:19:15 Total reviews: 524 Total reviews in 2001: 115 Most Prolific Reviewers - ---------------------------------------------------- Needle, Jeff 72 (13.7%) Rasband, R. W. 32 ( 6.1%) Martindale, D. Michael 29 ( 5.5%) Clark, Harlow S. 29 ( 5.5%) Hall, Andrew R 19 ( 3.6%) Parker, Katie 18 ( 3.4%) Parkin, Scott 13 ( 2.5%) Jeffress, Terry L 12 ( 2.3%) Samuelsen, Eric R. 11 ( 2.1%) Parkinson, Benson 11 ( 2.1%) Remy, Jana Bouck 10 ( 1.9%) Proffitt, Melissa 10 ( 1.9%) Most Reviewed Authors - ---------------------------------------------------- Card, Orson Scott 33 ( 6.3%) Young, Margaret Blair 12 ( 2.3%) Dutcher, Richard 9 ( 1.7%) Hughes, Dean 9 ( 1.7%) Lund, Gerald N. 9 ( 1.7%) Parkinson, Benson Y. 9 ( 1.7%) Arrington, James 7 ( 1.3%) Brown, Marilyn 7 ( 1.3%) Payne, Marvin 6 ( 1.1%) Johnson, Sherrie 6 ( 1.1%) Perry, Steven Kapp 6 ( 1.1%) England, Eugene 6 ( 1.1%) Holzapfel, Richard Neitzel 6 ( 1.1%) Ryan, Gordon 5 ( 1.0%) Weyland, Jack 5 ( 1.0%) Peck, Lisa J. 5 ( 1.0%) Johnson-Choong, Shelly 5 ( 1.0%) Gardner, Lynn 5 ( 1.0%) Williams, Carol Lynch 4 ( 0.8%) Glenn, Sharlee Mullins 4 ( 0.8%) Gray, Darius Aidan 4 ( 0.8%) Harston, Jerry 4 ( 0.8%) Madsen, Susan Arrington 4 ( 0.8%) Hansen, Jennie 4 ( 0.8%) Udall, Brady 4 ( 0.8%) Richardson, Boyd 4 ( 0.8%) Moon, Elizabeth 4 ( 0.8%) Anderson, Launi K. 4 ( 0.8%) Most Reviewed Titles - ---------------------------------------------------- Brigham City 7 ( 1.3%) Latter-day Daughters 7 ( 1.3%) MTC, The: Set Apart 7 ( 1.3%) Children of the Promise 6 ( 1.1%) Work and the Glory, The 6 ( 1.1%) Testaments, The 6 ( 1.1%) Tales of Alvin Maker, The 5 ( 1.0%) Deed of Paksenarrion, The 4 ( 0.8%) Standing on the Promises 4 ( 0.8%) Trail of Dreams 4 ( 0.8%) One More River to Cross 4 ( 0.8%) Spirit of Union 4 ( 0.8%) Angel of the Danube 4 ( 0.8%) Wine-dark Sea of Grass, The 4 ( 0.8%) Most Reviewed Publishers - ---------------------------------------------------- Deseret Book 108 (20.6%) Signature Books 54 (10.3%) Bookcraft 44 ( 8.4%) Covenant Communications 37 ( 7.1%) Aspen Books 22 ( 4.2%) Shadow Mountain 17 ( 3.2%) Tor 16 ( 3.1%) Cedar Fort 10 ( 1.9%) - --=20 Terry L Jeffress | Never listen to criticism from anyone unless they South Jordan, UT | can sign a check. -- Marion Zimmer Bradley - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 16:25:59 -0800 (PST) From: William Morris Subject: [AML] NORRIS, _McTeague_ (was: Must-Read Lists) > ============================================ > >From bronsonjscott@juno.com Sat Dec 29 11:11:48 2001 > McTeague -- Frank Norris So I was reading through the reading lists various list members had compiled, nodding my head in agreement--agreeing not necessarily with the choices but that the choices seem to fit my perception of each person's reading tastes--and thinking about what I might add, when I stumbled across the title above on Scott's list. Stumbled because it was unexpected. I've read _McTeague_. I like Norris' writing, and since western regionalist lit. is one of my interests and I live in the Bay Area, I read _McTeague_ with great interest. But it's not a book I would recommend. Not because it's not worth reading, but because it just wouldn't come to mind. Mainly because it's an unpleasant book. Of course, it is so on purpose. Norris was very interested in 'naturalism' and was connected to the French author Zola. So I'm just curious as to why you chose to include the Norris novel in your list, Scott? And to open the discussion up to others---if you've read the book, what did you think of it? Or if you've heard of the book---what have you heard about it? The reason I ask this question is that I found that the Mormon part of me was troubled by the novel whereas the 'literary' part of me had no problem with it. So how did you as 'Mormon' readers react to it? And for anyone who wants to read it as an on-line or as an e-text (palm or microsoft reader): http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/Nlist.html ~~William Morris __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send your FREE holiday greetings online! http://greetings.yahoo.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 16:37:41 -0700 From: luannstaheli Subject: Re: [AML] Definitions of YA Lit Marilyn, I asked Dr. Chris Crowe, a BYU professor who specializes (and writes) YA literature. This is his response for you and the list. Hope it helps. For starters, a book is YA if it's written for and marketed to young adults, i.e., readers aged 13 to 18. In most cases, YA novels have protagonists who are about 2 years older than the target audience. Content is also a qualifier: YA novels deal with issues relevant to teenagers: sex, relationships, self identity, separation from parents, school, and other maturation issues. They might also deal with coming-of-age experiences. The style is also important: YA novels need to have a YA voice; that doesn't mean they have to be written in first person, though many are, but that the narrative voice must resonate with today's YA readers. In most cases, the stories have a fast-paced plot with a minimum of extraneous details and almost no meanderings into tangential description or irrelevant characters. People who haven't read much YA often tend to consider the field fluff or 'lite-weight.' This is true for some books published in the YA field, just as it's true for some books published in the adult market. Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War; Bruce Brooks' The Moves Make the Man; Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved; and Louise Sachar's Holes are examples of complex, literary YA fiction. Chris Crowe [Submitted by LuAnn Staheli] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 18:13:47 -0700 From: "Ethan Skarstedt" Subject: [AML] RE: _Fellowship of the Ring_ (Movie) (was: God in _Lord of the Rings_) Jonathon Langford said:=20 "There's a lot to Tolkien that's very different from most of the popular fantasy novels in our day: a lot of thematic depth, and a lot of significance to how his world is created and the rules by which it operates. This depth is what suffers most in the current movie--which displays remarkable fidelity to the details of the original text, for example, in the matter of scenery. Even the structural changes to the plot are mostly defensible as necessary condensations for translating to a movie medium. But at a deeper level, the significance of characters and events has been altered in a way that changes the meaning of the story. The thing that concerns me most is that this is likely to affect not only the interpretations of those who have never read the book (like Sharlee), but those who have read it before and will read it in the future--because Hollywood's interpretations are easier, they are vivid (and extraordinarily well-done in many instances on a cinematic level), they are less challenging and more familiar. And so Tolkien's story becomes remade in the image of its imitators. It makes me very sad." I'm afraid I must disagree with Jonathon's idea that the deep themes present in the books are lacking in the movie. Nearly all of the deep themes that Jonathon and others are lamenting the movie's lack of are no more plain in the book than they are/might be, in this movie. It takes a reading of the appendices to the books and many of the surrounding works to enable a reader to see and then dig up the deep themes in the book and they were not making a movie of the appendices (sp?) they were making a movie of the first book in a trilogy. (that wasn't even meant to be read in three parts originally) Movies take as deep a "reading" as do books and none of us has had time to do this particular movie justice (especially considering the staggering depth of detail that Jackson managed to cram into the piece). To judge this first of three movies as lacking deep underlying themes is, I think, jumping the gun. I suggest that we'll have to wait for the next two movies to come out before we can start making that judgment. There is plenty to work with analytically in this first of three movies and it is obvious, to me at least, that these three movies are meant to be seen as one long story, just as the books were. =20 A true movie trilogy such as this, as far as I'm aware, is a new beast. (I eliminate StarWars as a movie trilogy because all three were designed to stand alone. Had the first flopped, the next two would never have been made. Thus, the first _had_ to stand alone.(add to that the fact that it took Lucas a great many years between movies to get the story out of his system and we see another reason why they had to stand alone)) The movie "Fellowship of the Ring" displays a greater vision for cinematic storytelling. To really get a handle on the feel and "depth" of this cinematic work I'm afraid we'll have to indulge ourselves in a 9 hour marathon, two years from now. Ethan Skarstedt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 19:06:12 -0700 From: katie@aros.net Subject: [AML] Cheri CRANE, _Kate's Return_ (Review) Crane, Cheri J. _Kate's Return_. Covenant, 1996. Paperback, 274 pp., $11.95 Reviewed by Katie Parker In _Kate's Turn,_ sixteen-year-old Kate had made some wrong choices and had friends leading her down the wrong path, but during a coma she mysteriously spent time among her pioneer ancestors and had experiences that led her to change her ways. In _Kate's Return_, she's back at home and must deal with what comes next. I had hoped that this book would address some of the emotional issues involved in Kate's making such a change in her life and subsequently dumping all her old friends. This is touched on a little in passages such as these, also quoted on the back cover: <<<<< Linda glared at Kate. "Do you have any idea how hard it was this summer, thinking you were going to die? Then I hear you've snapped out of the coma. You come home and I think things are going to be fine. Instead, you're like a stranger. You're my best friend and I don't even know you anymore!" >>>>> However, for the most part, Linda is only a caricature. For example, one quote from Linda's point of view goes as such: "(T)hey were all sick to death of Kate's new attitude. The Kate they had known was gone, replaced by a new, horribly improved version" (13). This quote may be a bit humorous, but it does nothing to show Linda's real pain and confusion. And it gives us no evidence that Kate should care about her. The character of Jace, Kate's old boyfriend, is even worse. He has no morals whatsoever, and is instead intent on getting revenge on Kate for dumping him. He's nothing more than a beady-eyed villain. Why did Kate spend the last two years of her life with him? Fortunately, both of these old friends are dealt with fairly easily. Jace causes so much trouble that his parents send him away to live with a relative, and Linda gets herself killed after taking cocaine and then trying to drive home. Kate's pain over Linda's death is depicted reasonably well, except for the fact that Linda never seemed like anyone worth mourning over. Meanwhile, Kate's story continues in a soap-opera fashion: Stuff happens. Girls in Kate's Young Women's group are suspicious of her, and their parents don't want them to associate with her, so for awhile she's in the terrifying position of having no real friends. But one girl comes around quickly, and Kate gives a great talk in Sacrament Meeting about what she's learned. She also has a boyfriend on a mission, Randy, and then starts dating Mike, who has yet to turn nineteen and go himself, so there's another conflict there to deal with. Then she goes away to college, and becomes involved with Ian, a returned missionary in a wheelchair, but she doesn't feel anything when he kisses her. Her aunt also gets her involved in genealogy, and she gets another ancestor's diary to read. Kate feels good about her life as the book ends, but the last words are "TO BE CONTINUED," and her romantic dilemmas are not all completely resolved. As in the last book, the diary entries were interesting and a nice addition to the story, although not as pertinent as they were in _Kate's Turn_. And the "stuff" that happens might be interesting enough for young readers. Romantic entanglements can be fun, and it's nice to see a book about regular old relationships. Nobody's dying of cancer, or experiencing an eating disorder, or anything like that; they're just dating and going to school, and there's plenty of fallout that can come from just dating and going to school. Another important point here is that all of these young men are practicing Latter-day Saints. Some poorly-written LDS young adult pieces that I've read depict a girl having to choose between, say, a returned missionary and an alcoholic, and the story revolves around her making this choice that should be a no-brainer. But the right choice for Kate isn't so obvious. I am grateful that Crane didn't fall into the trap of making Kate choose between a "good" guy and a "bad" guy. How the romantic entanglements are handled still bothers me, though. It seems that Kate is able to become involved emotionally with one guy and then move on to the next with few qualms or repercussions. Her friend Sandi is the same way. It's good that Kate is able to date several people, but she does it as if the guys' feelings don't matter. Or as if she has no real feelings for the last guy that she dated; she only experiences some minor confusion. It's good to show young people that they don't have to commit themselves to serious relationships that they aren't ready for, but they also need to see that "shifting gears," so to speak, isn't always easy. And that people you brush off now might not always be there when you come back. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 21:13:11 -0500 From: "Debra Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN Vote Starts for 2001 Mormon of the Year: Kent Larsen 30Dec01 US NY NYC P2 Vote Starts for 2001 Mormon of the Year NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- Mormon News has opened voting for the 2001 Mormon of the Year, to be chosen by visitors to its website from the 14 Mormons nominated by Mormon News' subscribers. Those who wish to vote put 10 of the Mormons nominated in priority order by by visiting http://www.mormonoftheyear.com/ or http://www.mormonstoday.com/moty/ . The results will be compiled on January 15th and announced the following day. Mormon News announced the poll to its subscribers in early December, and subscribers nominated 14 of the most prominent Mormons in the news during the past year. The poll specifically excludes the current LDS Church prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley, because he would likely be chosen as the Mormon of the Year each year. Instead, the poll tries to identify the most influential Mormon, other than President Hinckley, during the past year. The poll is meant to be an annual event, held at the end of each year, to recognize the influence of Mormons in society and among the Mormon people. The following people were nominated for 2001 Mormon of the Year: Gary Crowton (Nominated by Kent Larsen) As the replacement for famed BYU Coach LaVell Edwards, who retired last year, Crowton only had to do as well or a little better than Edwards had last year to be accepted as adequate. Instead Crowton has led the Cougars to their first undefeated (so far) season since their National Championship in 1984. See: Crowton Will Be Named BYU Coach Today Mormon News 7Dec00 S2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/001208/S2GCrowton02.shtml Eugene England (Nominated by Kent Larsen) Known for his untiring attempts to bridge the gap between liberal and conservative LDS Church members, W. Eugene England died August 17th of brain cancer. His example made a lasting impression for Church members of how to live in a community with conflicting views. See: Remembering England Mormon News 25Aug01 A2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010824/A2EEngland02.shtml Rulon Gardner (Nominated by ) The 12 months since his upset win in the Sydney Australia Summer Olympic Games, Gardner has been everywhere, recieving awards, making endorsements, television commercials, and public appearances. But the changes have been more than a financial windfall for Gardner, who has maintained his standards throughout the publicity. One Year after the Gold Mormon News 27Sep01 S2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010928/S2RGardner01.shtml Darius Gray (Nominated by Allen Johnson) Along with Marie Taylor, Darius Gray was instrumental in getting the Freedman's Bank Records on CD. Darius also published the first of three books "One More River To Cross" during the year and is President of the LDS Church's Genesis Group. As a result there is much activity among the African American community and the Church as been perceived in a very positive light. "I believe that thousands of names have been added to the Church's ancestral files as a result and these souls will now have an opportunity to have their work done for them," says subscriber Allen Johnson. Mormon News 7Nov01 P2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/011102/N4Genesis01.shtml Tom Green (Nominated by Kent Larsen) While not now an LDS Church member, Tom Green has been in the news this past year as much as any other Mormon. The Utah polygamist, once an LDS Church member, appeared in newspapers worldwide during his trial on bigamy charges. Although Green wouldn't see it this way, he gave the LDS Church more opportunity to disavow itself of polygamy than it would otherwise have had. See: Polygamist Green Given Five Years, $78,000 Judgement Mormon News 27Aug01 N5 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010831/N5TGreen01.shtml Orrin Hatch (Nominated by Kent Larsen) Hatch continues to have a major impact on U.S. policies, including his groundbreaking decision to support the use of federal funds for stem-cell research. With Hatch leading the way, all five Mormon senators eventually supported stem-cell research, and the views of many conservatives were moderated on this issue because of his decision. See: Hatch Favors Stem Cell Funding, Draws Pro-Life Ire Mormon News 6Jul01 T2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010706/T2OHatch01.shtml Paula Houston (Nominated by Kent Larsen) Lawyer Houston was named Utah's Porn Czar to handle citizen complaints about pornography and help Utah's local governments draft laws that meet constitutional muster. The unique nature of her new job led to national attention. LDS Church Member, Utah's 'Porn Czarina,' Gets National Attention Mormon News 9Mar01 T2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010309/T2PHouston01.shtml Jon M. Huntsman Sr. (Nominated by Lyle Leavitt) While most wealthy men tend to loss their faith, Huntsman continues to demonstrate an unyielding ability to exercise his religion in his business, community and personal affairs. This is a very powerful example to member and non-member alike. "There are a million bad things he could be doing with that influence but I haven't heard of one." says Mormon News subscriber, and nominator Lyle Leavitt. Mormon News 21Sep01 P2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010921/D4AllianceUnity01.shtml Elbert Peck (Nominated by Kent Larsen) For fifteen years Elbert Peck led Sunstone magazine, despite criticism from conservatives and continuing struggles to keep the magazine growing. In spite of the criticism, Peck has maintained his belief that Sunstone provides a needed and enduring role in the Mormon community. See: Long-time Sunstone Publisher Elbert Peck Resigns Mormon News 14Jun01 N4 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010615/N4EPeck01.shtml Naomi Randall (Nominated by Kent Larsen) A longtime leader of the LDS Church's Primary organization, Randall was best known for authoring the favorite LDS hymn, "I am a Child of God," in 1957. Randall died May 17th at age 92. See: 'I am a Child of God' Author Naomi Randall Dies Mormon News 21May01 P2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010525/P2NRandall01.shtml Mitt Romney (Nominated by Kent Larsen) When Romney took over the Salt Lake Organizing Committee in January, 1999, he became one of the most visible Mormons in the world, known for rescuing the 2002 Winter Olympics from a bribery scandal that could have put it in the red. And since the 2002 Games he is preparing for is in the Mormon heartland, he has also become visible to many Mormons. See: Deseret News Profiles Mitt Romney Mormon News 7Jul00 S2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/000709/N2Romney01.shtml William Sadleir (Nominated by Kent Larsen) Sadleir pulled off one of the biggest Mormon commemorative events in history, focusing the attention of news media on two continents as well as hundreds of thousands of Mormons on a small group of ships commemorating the immigration of more than 80,000 Mormon pioneers from Europe to America. SeaTrek2001 was simply the biggest Mormon event since the 1997 Mormon Trek re-enactment. See: SeaTrek Sails; Commemoration Gets International Attention Mormon News 8Aug01 N6 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010810/N6SeaTrek01.shtml Cary Stayner (Nominated by D. Jack Haycock) Stayner murdered three people in Yosemite park and then plead guilty to a federal homicide charge, getting life imprisonment. He is now awaiting trial for the Sunn-Peloso murders and expected to get the death penalty. His widely-publicised trial brought disgrace to the church and his family. Overshadowed All His Life Mormon News 7Aug99 P2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/990801/L8Stayner02.shtml And Stayner family's woeful history Mormon News 7Aug99 P2 http://www.mormonstoday.com/990801/L8Stayner01.shtml Mark Wattles (Nominated by Kent Larsen) CEO of Hollywood Entertainment has managed to turn around his company and raise its stock price during the year from under $1 a share to a high of $12 a share. See: Hollywood Entertainment Fighting Investor Fears Mormon News 19Sep01 B4 http://www.mormonstoday.com/010921/B4HollywoodEnt01.shtml >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/ - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 20:32:49 -0700 From: "Nan McCulloch" Subject: Re: [AML] God in _Lord of the Rings_ In _The Truth Beyond Memory_by John J. Miller in National Review/December 31, 2001 I read that Tolkien considered this book a reflection of his faith. "The Lord of the Rings is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work; unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision," wrote Tolkien in 1953. "The religious element is absorbed into the story and the symbolism." There are many examples of this, though readers frequently overlook them. The nine companions who comprise _the fellowship of the ring_ begin their fateful mission on December 25 (Christmas), and their story climaxes exactly three months later, on March 25 (in the traditional English calendar, the date of the Fall of Man, the Annunciation, and the Crucifixion). _The Lord of the Rings_, then, is not an explicitly Christian work, but it is entirely consistent with Christianity. This is an essential element for Tolkien. As Joseph Pearce points out in his literary biography of Tolkien, "(his) Catholicism was not an opinion to which one subscribed but a reality to which one submitted." Nan McCulloch Draper, Utah - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 02 Jan 2002 22:00:04 -0800 From: jltyner@postoffice.pacbell.net Subject: [AML] Narnia and Harry Potter Scott mentioned that he thought the Narnia books had aged well, but the Harry Potter books spoke well to a modern audience. I tend to agree with that. C.S. Lewis whether strictly meaning to or not had so much of Christian metaphor in these books you'd be blind not to miss it, but unfortunately I think it will be lost of much of the children in modern society, many of them having been brought up with little or no formal religious or spiritual training. J.K. Rowling is never expressly religious in the Potter books, but she is not anti-religous either. She has the characters acknowlging such things like Christmas and Easter, but never says anything beyond them singing Christmas Carols or having a school break because of these holidays or having another scene take place in a church graveyard. I wonder if the deliberate lack of religious discussion along with the training and use of magic is what drives certain Evangelical Christians so batty about these books. Not that it doesn't bother some Mormons as well, a friend and I had a roaring argument about whether these are recruitment books for witchcraft or not. (She hadn't bothered to read them by the way). Perhaps one of the things many of us like about both these sets of books is that they draw an obvious difference between good and evil and emphasize the ability to choose between them. That someone isn't fated to do evil or good, they choose it-and that they can change course along the way. (Edmund particularly comes to mind). That is certainly compatible with LDS thinking and theology. Kathy Tyner, Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 09:39:31 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: RE: [AML] Mormon Authors in Nat. Market Responding to Marilyn: <<>> Yes, _God's Army_ is certainly a step in the right direction as a film, but I was talking more about the publishing world. Anyway, the movie got too heavy handed and speer-chul in the second half for any national corporation to take on, and tricking national corporations into publishing Mormon material is what interests me, not independent efforts (as much as I admire them). As I recall, the national notices for _God's Army_ (and _Brigham City_) were overall surprisingly good, although plenty of reviewers pointed out that it was essentially preaching to the choir, if I recall right. (The least favorable review of _Brigham City_ I read was in the _Deseret News_). Chris Bigelow - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 09:30:33 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] Joann JOLLEY, _Secrets of the Heart_ (Review) At 12:21 AM 12/30/01, you wrote: >I don't know if this is really a romance, since not much >"romantic" goes on, in the lovey-dovey sense. But the title, >cover, and style of writing seems to be reaching out to what I >assume are romance readers. I don't think it's a romance. The title should have gone in a different direction. But then Covenant's titles are often sappy. I did like the book very much, though. It had more substance than many books of LDS fiction. The style and the characterizations worked for me. I particularly liked the baptism scene, because I remember quite strongly what I felt at my oldest grandson's baptism as the spirit talked to me of how much Heavenly Father loves that boy. I've needed that memory now that the boy is a teenager who knows everything! barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 10:10:11 -0700 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: [AML] Annual Movie Tabulation Every year before I switch planners, I like to go through the old one and tabulate the movies I've seen. Like so much else of what I post, I probably should just keep this in my personal files, but I can't resist sending it. I would find it fascinating to see others' movie lists for the year. I really have dropped off in my movie viewing during the last half of 2001, because I just haven't been excited enough about the fare. BEST OF THE YEAR Traffic Requiem for a Dream GLAD I SAW The Emperor's New Groove Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Brigham City Best of Show You Can Count on Me State and Main Memento Ocean's 11 Fellowship of the Ring AMBIVALENT On the Waterfront (the old one) What Lies Beneath The Mexican Meet the Parents Hamlet (with Ethan Hawke) The Testaments Me, Us, Them (Brazilian) Monsters, Inc. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Unbreakable WISHED I'D MISSED (the asterisked ones I saw in social settings against my better judgment) Miss Congeniality* Chocolat Charlie's Angels* House of Mirth Planet of the Apes Bridget Jones's Diary The One* Shallow Hal* Chris Bigelow - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #561 ******************************