When Zachary Beaver Came to Town – Kimberly Willis Holt

©1999  Dell Yearling, New York

Sometimes you read a book and want to see the movie based on it. Sometimes you see the movie first. That’s what happened to me just a few weeks ago. The family and I were watching a really good family film based on Kimberly Willis Holt’s award-winning book. In this kind of scenario, I usually say that the book is better than the movie (when approaching Ernest Gaines’ The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, forget about Cicely Tyson’s career mistake and read the book) with an occasional hiccup where the movie outshines the book tremendously (What the Deaf Man Heard was much better on the screen than its counterpart, Whatthe Deaf Mute Heard). But sometimes, just sometimes, you encounter something that is worth your while in either format because one’s not better than the other – they’re just . . . different.

Consider the nice little film released in 2006 and starring Jonathan Lipnicky (et al). Here we have a superb family film about small-town Texas, and all the quirks that endear it to us—regardless of where we really live. It earned a PG rating for some mild language, but over all you can sit down with even your younger children and a bowl of popcorn and laugh/cry your way right along with the characters. The acting is pretty good. The characters are developed to a point of recognition from the moment they hit the screen. The story flows with most of the events from the book with a few major variations that don’t really damage the plot itself. Some anomalies that hit you over the head are the military involvement of the best friend’s brother, which misses the book’s 1970s setting, and the use of email where Holt’s characters wrote letters. I’d recommend the movie for all ages of film-watchers.

On the other hand, the book is recommended for the thirteen and older group. My ten-year-old daughter is an excellent reader and would sprint through this book like it was water. She’s even quick enough to catch all the nuances of what’s going on in the book. But some of the themes addressed by the book, well, I’m not ready for her to have to tackle them. Even so, this is a well-written, smooth reading book that the YA audience and adult readers alike would enjoy.

Antler, Texas is a widespot in the road where nothing ever really happens. Nothing until Zachary Beaver, the “World’s Fattest Boy”, shows up that is. Follow along with the adventures of Toby and Cal as they learn about love, hate, anger, war, and death, all in the matter of a couple hundred pages. If the development of the characters in this book has any fault it is that the support characters are rather flat and the narrator is too nice—but we’ve all been in his shoes.

Check this book out of you local library, or buy it for your shelf, or find it in e-form—you will want to read this book. You’ll see why it’s on virtually everybody’s reading list. Watch the movie, too. It’s great family fare. Just remember, even with their similarities, they are (almost) entirely different enjoyments. (In other words, if you’re one of those who waits for them movie to watch instead of reading the book—read the book; and if you’re a purist who says you only read the book and don’t like movies based on books—watch the movie. In either case, you’ll be glad you did.) Book and movie—neither is to be missed. Five out of five reading glasses (or popcorn bowls) all around.

—Benjamin Potter July 24, 2012

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Barbara Robinson

©1972 Avon Books (first Avon edition, 1979), New York

Many of you have read (or at least seen the play based on) this Christmas classic. I read it again just the other day. The writing was so good, and the sentiment so perfect, that I’m reading it (a chapter at a time) for the kids’ bed-time story over the next several days.

“The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.” That opening sentence tells it all. The little book tells the story of how these horrible children got involved in and, to everyone’s surprise, did not ruin the Christmas pageant. Everything had gone wrong this year—the regular director broke her leg, and then the Herdmans showed up.

If you’ve never read TheBest Christmas Pageant Ever, you should read it this year. If you’ve never seen the stage play, find a local drama group that’s performing it, and go. If you absolutely have to, you can watch the video of the Loretta Swit version that was produced about thirty years ago (but you’ll be happier if you go to a stage production or read the book).

This book should be on your Christmas read list right along with the Biblical account, and Dickens’ AChristmas Carol (and SomethingSpecial at Leonard’s Inn). Another five-reading glass read.

Merry Christmas—Benjamin Potter, December 9, 2011

The Harry Potter Bible Study – Jared Moore

 

© 2011 CreateSpace

Jared Moore is the pastor of New Salem Baptist church in Hustonville, KY. I am most familiar with the “Ten” lists and other articles that frequently appear on SBC Voices. Recently, when he was offering copies of his new (now just-released) Bible study utilizing the Harry Potter movies as a connecting point, I was both intrigued and interested, so I signed up for a copy.

This study is designed to cover six weeks, and makes use of only the last four of the eight films (the ones based on the last three of the novels starring the wizard extraordinaire). One of the things that I really liked about this book was the outlying concept—instead of lambasting all media, Christians should take an opportunity to measure the media (movies, books, magazines, television, etc.) by Scripture. His admonition—judge the ideas put forth in light of Christ, keep what works, discard what does not. It gives Christians and the Christian community the permission (if that’s a good word) to view/read what their non-Christian friends are viewing/reading and interact with them on a perhaps even deeper level than was originally intended by the creator(s) of the media.

Weeks 1 and 2 provide some background into what Moore is trying to accomplish in the study and are to be read and studied before watching (or re-watching) the movies. He suggests that there is some value in either reading or watching Harry Potter literature/films. He also readily admits that there are some elements addressed in the Potter media that are decidedly not what Christians should espouse or practice (the concept of revenge comes quickly to mind).

The final four chapters deal—one at a time—with each of the final four movies. Those engaging with the books will want to watch the films before reading the lesson—if you’re using the material as a small group study, you will want to watch the movie together then use that viewing as a springboard guided by the questions posed in the study. Moore’s advice: watch the film before reading the chapter dealing with that film because these chapters contain spoilers that might ruin your film viewing.

There are a couple of drawbacks that I find to this study (even if I am excited about the concept):

1) The author suggests that you use this study to engage your non-Christian friends in a discussion (and possibly an evangelistic one) about Christ. He even states that he includes strong gospel presentations in the material. Yes, and no. There are questions that are pointedly written to draw a Christ-accepting decision from the participant. The presentation of the gospel message does not always flow from the discussion material at hand.

2) The discussion surrounding the movies themselves doesn’t start until the third lesson. If you are planning on convincing a group of non-Christians, pseudo-Christians, or baby Christians that you want to have meaningful discussion about the movies (which includes a “watch” party, complete with popcorn and soda) it would behoove you to start watching the movies early on.

3) The questions raised by the author are relevant and poignant, but often through the reading of the material one has to scratch his head at why the author is raising such a question.

4) Probably the most glaring of difficulties I had with this goes back to using the material to present the gospel. Most of the questions raised for discussion deal with issues that would only be important to those who are already Christians or are already in (or open to) a Christian environment. If we really want to bridge the gap between Christians and the outside community, there might be better places to start.

Having said this, I think that the concept and the study itself are good to use—mostly in a setting dealing with churched and Christian young people as a means to open discussions about actively living the Christian life. I think that the material will find its greatest appeal among workers with Middle School students to help them address issues such as lying, revenge, and jealousy. With this in mind, I actually wish he had made the study longer and started with the first movie in the series—including them all. I give the study 3 ½ reading glasses out of five.

 

—Benjamin Potter, November 14, 2011

[An electronic form of this book was made available by the author for the purposes of review. I have not been otherwise compensated for this review all opinions are that of the reviewer.]

The Lincoln Lawyer – Michael Connelly

©2005 Grand Central Publishing, New York (1^st Movie Tie-in edition, 2011)

As you know, I’m a sucker for free books. So when I saw an opportunity to put my name in the hat for one of several copies of the movie tie-in book or a poster of the just released film based on Michael Connelly’s book, I did just that (chanting, “book, not poster; book, not poster” for several nights until I forgot about the drawing). Then my book (not poster) came and I just needed to find time to read.

I was sure I’d like Connelly’s writing (though I’d never read it before), and I was right. The Lincoln Lawyer is the first among the novels featuring defense pro Mickey Haller—a twice divorced, son of the star of all defense lawyers (who died when Mick was a boy, but left a legacy of courtroom sleight of hand to match Ben Matlock and Perry Mason).

With the smell of dollars in the air, Haller engages a client who convinces him of total innocence in the murder alleged, and takes the case hoping for it to turn into a franchise (that is a big money-maker that keeps on giving for the foreseeable future). What he discovers is layer upon layer of deceit and pure evil. Mickey will be lucky to get out of this one with his life, let alone his attorney’s license.

Here’s a fast-paced legal thriller that will have you guessing, reading, and rooting for the underdog. You might even want to run down and buy yourself a Lincoln Towne Car to run your office from (or start a Limo service, whichever seems most lucrative). I give the book 5 reading glasses and can’t wait for the movie to hit DVD and Blue Ray so that I can get it into my queue.

And by the way, the new paperback version includes a sneak peak at Connelly’s newest best seller, The Fifth Witness (in stores now).

—Benjamin Potter, May 3, 2011

The Christmas Child – Max Lucado

©2003 W Publishing Group of Thomas Nelson, Nashville

Max Lucado has become synonymous with feel good theology. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes bad. At Christmas when we are looking for stories that tug at our heartstrings, this is a pretty good thing.

Originally published as The Christmas Cross, this little heart-warmer tells the story of a Chicago journalist who takes an assignment in Dallas that keeps him away from his wife—after a series of angry interchanges—on Christmas Eve. From his father’s possessions he has obtained an old photo of the Clearwater Lutheran Church in Clearwater, Texas. Since this is the place of his birth—and the place where he was adopted from—the reporter takes a few extra days for the trip (it also helps him get out of range of the anger of Meg) to find out the mystery in Clearwater.

Upon his arrival he finds a handmade crèche on the lawn of the church with a story that brings him home, reuniting him with Meg before it’s too late.

While the story feels good for the holiday, it doesn’t drag the tears from you as some other holiday offerings do. The movie from Impact Pictures provides a lot of meat for the bare bones of the story. The movie also predicated the re-titling of the book (the new title is not nearly so cryptically attached to the story as the original) and stars William R. Moses and Megan Follows with a cameo by Christian recording artist Stephen Curtis Chapman.

My final opinion: The Christmas Child is good for four sets of reading glasses because it is a quick read with a nice message. For your money—rent the movie and enjoy a couple of hours of wholesome entertainment for the whole family.

—Benjamin Potter, December 26, 2007

Thr3e – Ted Dekker

Twists, turns, suspense, and scares. Not what you’d normally expect from a Christian writer published by a major Christian publishing house. But that’s exactly what you get in Ted Dekker’s Thr3e. Along with mainstays like Frank Peretti and writing gurus like Sigmund Brouwer, Dekker is helping Christian fiction become as good or better writing than mainstream publishers can offer.

Thr3e is the story of struggling seminary student Kevin Parson. He is plagued by phone calls and notes from a homicidal maniac. Who can he trust to help save his life and the lives of those he loves? The FBI, the police, his favorite professor and mentor?

Dekker writes with a smooth gate that leads the reader to a variety of conclusions, all of which are partly right and mostly wrong. As you read this page-turner, you’ll be caught up in Parson’s life, you’ll figure out who the caller is three times before you discover that you were wrong, but you should have seen it. Of all Dekker’s books, Thr3e is the one to start with. Read it and then see the movie.

—Benjamin Potter, March 2007