From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #20 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 Monday, April 14 2003 Volume 02 : Number 020 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 19:50:34 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: [AML] New Deseret Book Catalog Well, my new Deseret Book catalog arrived today. What a shocker! Herein my comments: 1. It's a somewhat larger catalog than before. No wonder -- they've stuffed it with junk and golden oldies, things you never thought would see the light of day again. I didn't know why they were listing Duane Crowther's "Life Everlasting." Gosh, how old is THAT book? And, tell the truth, I can't remember them ever featuring this book in a catalog before. 2. Many books had little snips of reviews attached. Naturally, I searched for any that originated with AML. Total number of AML-related reviews -- zero. Total number written by Deseret Book employees -- I stopped counting. Most were fairly anonymous -- first name and city and state. And it isn't as if AML members haven't favorably reviewed some of these titles. I wonder why Deseret Book essentially gave AML the cold shoulder? Very curious. 3. The layout was rather curious Page 35 is an example. The section heading is "Improving Relationships." Included on this page -- "Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon" from FARMS, and portable versions of the Gospel Library, for hand-held devices. 4. And, the introduction of a slogan at the upper-right portion of the cover page: "What matters to you matters to us." - ---------------- Jeffrey Needle jeff.needle@general.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 21:02:47 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] Artists' Personal Lives - ---Original Message From: Jongiorgi Enos >=20 > You might rail at Moore's documentary "Bowling for Columbine"=20 > depending on your politics, but it is absolutely true what=20 > where Europe suffers shooting deaths with guns by only=20 > handfuls annually, we suffer them by the THOUSANDS annually.=20 I'm going to pick on this point in particular because it is illustrative = of the point I wish to make. You see, even if it is true, the statement is = a lie. If we're going to look at the broader culture (as you have = advocated and with which I agree), then it would behoove us to search for facts = and not perpetuate fantasies no matter their origins--Mormon, U.S., = European, or Moore. Europe has recently surpassed the U.S. in violence with France leading the way. Local constabularies in entire provinces in France = have essentially given up on enforcing the laws. England crime rates have = risen staggeringly in recent years, even before you correct for the drop in = police reporting of crimes (for example, U.S. police record over 80% of = reported robberies whereas the U.K. only record 35%--mainly because the U.K. statistics count convictions whereas U.S. statistics count incidents). = In fact, if you concentrate on what really matters--i.e. actual crime rates--you get a different picture entirely with the U.K. exceeding us = in crime rate for burglary, assault, rape and grand theft (you have to look = at victim surveys to adequately correct for the difference in reporting). = But even more disturbing is that those rates are all rising in the U.K. and falling in the U.S. It doesn't make much difference to the murdered or robbed that the aggressor had a gun or not so why is *that* what you = choose to concentrate on? (It makes a big difference to the robber, though--in = the U.K. almost half of all burglaries are "hot" and in the U.S. it's under = 15%) You're implication is that the U.S. is more violent because we have guns whereas that is wholly unsupported by rigorous statistical analysis. When we were in Germany a couple of years ago, the member family we = stayed with remarked once on how they would hate to live in the U.S. because of = the guns and gangs. We're riding the bus at the time surrounded by rampant graffiti and having heard stories of people they knew who had had = violent encounters. A stark contrast to our home where graffiti is almost = unheard of, and quickly removed when present, and guns only ever encountered by choice. There is a deep disconnect between perception and reality. So for purposes of your argument here, if we are going to try to = understand others' perspectives and background, then it seems to me that an understanding of the context is as important as an understanding of the individual's perception of it. In fact, interesting stories lie in = those areas where there is a disconnect between objective, factual analysis = and subjective personal belief. In the case of Polanski (to illustrate what = I'm trying to say), it may indeed be important to examine what he thought he = was doing. We could look at his actions and contemplate his motivations. = But it's pretty clear, even on a surface examination of the case, that = Polanski was living at least partially in a fantasy if he believed, ever, that = having sex with a 13 year old was good and even *more* so if he believed that = U.S. authorities wouldn't care once it was discovered. Can we afford to = express sympathy with his viewpoint? Does understanding him mean that we have = to allow him to walk free in our society? Is there any way to understand without condoning? It seems to me that the better story will be told if = you have not only a generous understanding of the person, but also an understanding of their society. And I'd say that an even *better* story will include the almost hidden degradation of the soul in sin and the ennobling effects of kindness and service. Examining with a generous heart is a great ideal. It's something we = should strive for always. But a generous heart is going to run into trouble = when it comes to certain fundamental truths. What is a generous heart's = response to murder or rape? What does it mean to have a generous heart towards = the man who molested my sisters, or the man who poisoned his own wife? Are there times when it is more generous to hurt another than to please = them? (my answer: yes, and it's a lot harder, too) > But by stating rhetorical questions in a very one-sided,=20 > judgmental way, how can we expect our rhetoric to instruct or=20 > our debate to be insightful? >=20 > Mary Aagard's questions are serious questions, and they=20 > deserved to be explored, and I think they can be instructive=20 > to the AML-list. But only when couched in a genuine struggle=20 > to understand the issues in depth can anything of merit be gleaned. I agree. But then, we have obvious differences in what it means to understand issues in depth. So what happens when my understanding of an issue (like, say, guns in society) differs vastly from yours? Can you = only produce art for the like-minded? Can you understand an opponent's = position and still disagree with them? And more usefully, can you understand an opponent's position, still disagree with them, and yet communicate with = them in a useful way that doesn't require their conversion to have efficacy? = Is there a way to dig deeper and find a universal truth somewhere? Again, I'd say that the answer is yes, it is possible. I'd further = claim that Mormons do it better than any other group I can think of, but that we're still learning how to do it well. In fact, I'll embarrass Eric Samuelsen again by saying that he's extremely good at exactly this. You could say that he and I differ in our view of the world and in our philosophies. Yet some of the most valuable and profound plays I've = seen recently are his ("The Way We're Wired" particularly stands out). I'd = like to see a production of "Gadianton" because reading it was a powerful experience and an instructive one. The Dollmage was similarly deep and enriching (though I've no idea of the author's politics or philosophy--I only know that she's LDS). I saw "Stones" last night and I'm still digesting it in wonderful and rewarding ways. And I don't dare leave Richard Dutcher out (with whom I mainly agree, with occasional rough = spots :) for his bravery and ability to show that it can all be done with = film, too. Sympathy and generosity are vital to good art. But there's a deeper = reality behind the purely relative and infusing that into our art is a powerful = and enriching endeavor. There are some harsh realities inherent in an environment built to test our faith. One effect of making it possible = to choose salvation is that we can also choose damnation. It's important = that we don't forget the reality of sin as we seek to love and understand the sinner. I guess what I'm saying is that we have an important framework = that is pretty far-reaching. In reaching out to others, it is important that = we not loose our grip on those things that are deeply important and = relatively absolute. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2003 23:05:03 -0600 From: Kim Madsen Subject: RE: [AML] Books on the Bedside Table Sharlee Glenn wrote: "Just curious--does *anybody* read _Irreantum_?" I didn't include the magazines and other subscription stuff in my list, just the books. I purchased several back copies of Irreantum at the recent AML conference. I enjoy reading "companion" articles. For instance, the interview with Brady Udall in the winter 2001 issue was enlightening to read as I finished THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT. I keep the autumn 2001 issue by my beside always, because I find Eugene England's stuff so compelling and I like to revisit a snippet now and again out of the issue where so many shared movingly of how he affected their lives. The spring 2001 issue feature my friend, Robert Kirby, and I always get a kick out of comparing what he'll confess to in a public forum as opposed to real life. Yes, I read Irreantum. I need to break down and actually subscribe instead of purchasing them at a whack once a year. It's on my list of "to do" things that I expect to get around to any day now. Irreantum floats between my bedroom and my bathroom. I often share my copies with people in my book groups. I also have the Ensign, three seed catalogues and a few of the 6 different gardening magazines I subscribe to on my side of the bed. My hubby hates the stack I keep on the floor there, but one likes to be able to choose at night, depending on one's mood. It probably speaks volumes about me that the one I skim the fastest is the Ensign. The others I devour. (Hey, I know it's weird to intently read about the characteristics of seven different antique tomato plants, but what you gonna do?) Kim Madsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2003 08:11:49 -0500 From: Jonathan Langford Subject: [AML] re: Professional Editing Query (Comp 1) [MOD: This is a compilation post.] - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Todd Temple" > To One and All, > > Where can I go to have a novel I've written professionally edited for relatively > little money ($50 per hour for a 20-hour job becomes quite expensive) prior to > submitting it to a publisher? Any assistance that might be provided would be > appreciated. > > Kevin T. Temple > REPLIES >From sammiejustesen@msn.com Wed Apr 09 23:36:44 2003 Kevin, > I'm a member of the AML list and a professional editor from Providence, > UT. My usual charge is $4 to $5 per double spaced page, or $25 per hour. > My editing web site is www.doingitwrite.com. I'd be happy to do a sample > edit for you and discuss your novel. > > Best Regards, > Sammie Justesen > sammie@doingitwrite.com > - ------------------------------------------ >From fcp@email.byu.edu Thu Apr 10 20:03:48 2003 > > Many of the people on the AML list have been in the editing racket at one time or another, and many still are. Of course calling yourself an editor doesn't necessarly make you one--or at least a very good one. At the lowest level it is hack work, and at the highest it is a noble and divine calling. After all, Mormon spent a lot of time working as an editor on a certain book, trying to get it right and trying to not let the thing get too long and heavy. His boy tried it for a while also, but he finally just put it away in a box. I've heard that the guy at Writing Specialists (in Orem, 801-225-5401) is pretty good, fast, and not too expensive. As Caliban said of Prospero, "He gave me language." I believe firmly that a guy needs an optimistic lawyer, an inspired welder, and a good editor. It's a beautiful thing. Fred Pinnegar - -------------------------------------- - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #20 *****************************