T. J. Smith’s ‘The Harrowing Escape’ (The Quest of Dan Clay, Book 2)

‘The Harrowing Escape’, is Book Two in a Trilogy by T. J. Smith.
(Book One, ‘A World Away’ is reviewed here.)

Back Cover:

Within the hexed walls of the fortress, Dan and his companions are plagued with unsettling questions… questions whose answers will demand a deeper infiltration into the secret recesses of the centuries-old castle, answers which will involve confrontations with the citadel’s animate and inanimate residents, and answers which will entail encounters with the savage beasts of the forest.

Is Dan’s brother, William, alive and a prisoner of the Reclaimers? Will the travelers survive the spellbinding powers of the half-man and half-serpent creatures? Will the rescuers breach the spatial boundaries of the parallel world and return home?

In this second installment, we see the gang of 4: Dan, Sam, Jimmy & Cindy reach the demonic castle and instantly there is a whole host of new characters we’re introduced to. Some helpful, most lethal - but all other worldly in some way or the other.

Though T. J. Smith managed to keep my attention the whole book, I didn’t love this one as much as the first one and found myself wishing there was more action in the castle and less in the forest on the way back. The book has a very satisfactory end, when suddenly a new twist makes way for the third book in the trilogy, which irked me a little.

I however would definetely recommend buying the book (all three at one shot if possible) especially for young adults, as there is plenty of creative imagery, action & understanding of the Catholic faith mixed in the book.

Another great feature I loved, is the e|LIVE code that you get with the book, that allows yous to download your free audio book digital download! Good value for your money spent. Now waiting for the final book in the series.

T. J. Smith’s ‘A World Away’ (The Quest of Dan Clay, Book 1)

‘A World Away’, is Book one in a Trilogy by T. J. Smith.

Back Cover:

“To avert a potential underworld mutiny of horrific proportions, these fifty insurrectionists were relocated through a portal from the pit of hell to the dark Eldritch Forest of another world, parallel to our own. Upon their banishment, the condemned were transformed into half-man and half-serpent creatures.

Thirteen years ago, William Clay—then a mere child—disappeared from a nearby forest, never to be seen again. Only recently, his younger brother, Dan, acquired information on the forest fables from a questionable source. After analyzing fact and legend, Dan suspects that his brother may have fallen through the portal into the parallel world and is being held captive by the fifty fiends. Join Dan and three friends as they embark on an out-of-this-world journey where they are hunted by savage beasts along the footpath to a demonic castle.

The protagonist, Dan Clay is everything a hero shouldn’t be. He’s picked on and mercilessly bullied and publicly harassed in school. However we find out that Dan always wasn’t this way - this retreat into a shell was caused by the mysterious disappearance of his elder brother Willian thirteen years prior.

A faithful Catholic family, the Clays haven’t really recovered from the loss of William. Then suddenly Dan lands himself in a place where he seems to discover the truth of the matter - a parallel world; full of fiends so ruthless that hell wasn’t enough to hold them.

It is to this world that Dan to must journey & we see him and his three friends battle mystical and evil creatures in the dark forest in their quest to reach the castle where William is suspected to be help captive by the fiends.

It’s a dangerous and life threatening journey and it makes for an interesting ride for the reader.

T. J. Smith does a great job in bringing the parallel world alive and skillfully weaving a story of faith, morals & character - and all in a very refreshingly Catholic light.

If you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas for young adults or lovers of sci-fi action, this may well be an excellent choice!

[Will review 'The Harrowing Escape'; the second book in the trilogy shortly. Book three is scheduled for release early 2010.]

Review: “The Clown of God” by Tomie dePaol

Suffer children to come to me and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child shall not enter into it. - Luke 18: 16-17

“Many, many years ago, in Sorrento, there lived a small boy named Giovanni who had no mother and no father. He dressed in rags and begged his bread and slept in doorways.

But he was happy, and he could do something wonderful…

He could juggle.”

So begins the beautiful tale of the boy who escapes poverty through his God-given gift; a gift that propels him to unlikely fame, has him traveling the land, and sought-after by dukes and princes. The highlight of his performance is always the same: a rainbow of colored balls, crowned by a golden one he calls the “Sun in the Heavens.” For years, he leads a life of ease and comfort.

Eventually though, Giovanni finds that he has grown old, and his skills have diminished. He has become poor again. Alone. But this time, he lacks the thing that sustained him in his youth - happiness. He decides to return to the home of his childhood. And it is in the monastery in his Sorrento that he returns to God the only thing that he had left - his gift. And in doing so, he becomes like a child again. Giovanni shows us that it’s not what we give, it’s the love with which we give it that counts.

“For You, sweet Child, for You!” he cries in the dramatic finale.

After thirty years, this simple retelling of an old French miracle story still leaves me choking back tears as I read it to my own children. Sometimes as adults living in a hostile and jaded world, it’s easy to forget that God loves each and every one of us, and especially so the lowly, the bankrupt and defeated. Overtly mimicking “Le Jongleur de Dieu,” with its message of the naively-genius spirituality of Saint Francis, you’ll also find this story engulfed in the theology of Saint Therese’s “Little Way.”

Simply written, and lovingly illustrated with sensually soft watercolors, The Clown of God is Tomie dePaola’s own gift to us that should be a treasured part of every child’s library. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself returning to its pages even more often than your child.

The Clown of God (ISBN 978-0156181921), first published in 1978, is still in print and available through many outlets, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Books Worth a Second Look: “The Secret Archives of the Vatican” by Maria Luisa Ambrosini

“Secret”: From the Latin, sēcrētus; meaning something that is kept hidden.

This little word inspires more distrust – and mischief – than similar or more forceful words like “prohibited” or “private” or “confidential.” It’s ambiguous. “A secret?” we ask ourselves, “what could that mean? What are they trying to hide, anyway?” What is it about our human nature that refuses to leave any stone unturned?

And using the word as an adjective only deepens our wonder. Secret message. Secret agent. Secret hideout. The mystery of the unknown. It’s romantic. It’s alluring. Tempting.

But when the word is used in combination with “Vatican Archives,” the proverbial goo begins to fly. Conspiracy aficionados appear out of nowhere to enlighten us on all the knowledge that is being suppressed. All the horrible truths that will one day come out to reveal the masters and movers of the earth. The truth behind UFO’s and alien visitations. The damning evidence about Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Rumors grow into legends and legends into lies. There is apparently no limit to what the Pope has been concealing from the world for two thousand years.

Happily, some sanity prevails.

Shortly after the Second Vatican Council, in which Pope John XXIII “threw open the windows of the Church,” a young woman wandered into the Secret Vatican Archives hoping to find information on some statuary in the Italian countryside. What she found instead, over the course of several years, was a world of wonder contained in 85 kilometers of dusty shelves and bookcases. Every subsequent visit took her deeper and deeper into an epic adventure which she turned into one of the most compelling books to have been written about the Church.

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Joyce Meyer’s ‘The Secret to True Happiness’

I have just completed reading Joyce Meyer’s latest book - the Secret to True Happiness.

I say “reading”, but the truth is that I took my time studying the book. I devoured every page of this book slowly and meticulously - underlining, highlighting and making notes - each page was a goldmine of ideas and facts written in Joyce’s straight talk and humouress way.

I think the best thing about the book, is that it is Simple and Practical. Each of the 28 chapters bring out truths which Joyce explains so simply, yet so powerfully, that I guarantee it will change your life if you truly follow them.

I have recently ordered Joyce’s Battlefield of the Mind, which I’ve been told by tons of people is also worth it’s weight in gold. Will review when I’m done.

Meanwhile, I’m placing this book in my top 3 Christian books (the other two being Fulton J. Sheen’s ‘Life of Christ’ & Merlin Carothers’s ‘Power in Praise’) that you MUST read - and re-read regularly - in order to fully absorb the wealth of information and truth and in order for them to change your life for the better.

More information on the book here.

Scott & Kimberly Hahn’s ‘Rome Sweet Home’

A Book about a Christian Pastor & his wife’s journey to Catholicism, this book was life changing for me. For one thing, it changed my view on contraceptives - I never understood why the Catholic Church did not allow it and agreed with the Christians on this point, till I read this book.

Most Catholics I know do not bother to find out why the Catholic Church has certain viewpoints on issues. I was one of those Catholics. This book, though not comprehensive, at least whet my appetite for research on NFP. Starting reading the CCC because of this book.

Absolutely worth reading for many other reasons which every person who reads will undoubtedly find. I could not put it down until I finished it & it also had me in tears quite a bit.

And at the end of the day - It’s a excellent testimony!!

Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s ‘Life of Christ’

It seems fitting that the very first book I should review here be Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s masterpiece’s ‘Life of Christ’

I absolutely loved this one. The first time I read the book, I was stunned by the depth of the Bible. The Archbishop in easy to read & understand language, explains the many levels of the Life of Christ through verses I had heard so many times in church, but not fully appreciated until I read this.

Each subsequent time I’ve read the book, I’ve been blessed with a closer understanding and love for Christ.

In my opinion, it’s not a book not to be lent/borrowed; rather one should buy a copy for oneself and then use it as a textbook in studying the God/Man Jesus.

Almost every line of every page is highlighted or underlined in my book. Be aware though that it’s not light reading - so don’t start it unless you’ve got the time/ inclination to finish it.

Critics, Christian and Catholic alike have always given full marks to this book and I find no reason to differ. If you love Jesus and want to understand Him more, get this ASAP.