The link below is to an article that considers poor writing, including that found in classics.
For more visit:
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/10/28/the-cult-of-the-imperfect/
Tag Archives: poor
John Adams, by David McCullough
I have just finished watching the mini series ‘John Adams,’ starring Paul Giamatti as John Adams and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams. I found the mini series to be difficult to watch, as it was hardly brilliant drama despite the rhetoric on the DVD case. Not being American was perhaps a reason for my lack of enthusiasm for the mini series. I found it to be a disappointment as a viewing spectacle. But how true to the man and to history was the mini series? This is a question that now has my attention – for the portrayal of John Adams in the production was hardly that of a man to be admired.
Adams comes across as a self-centred, vain glorious man, with poor people skills and a terrible father and husband. He appears to seek his own advancement to the expense of those about him and also to be full of envy and petty jealousy. He also appears to be a somewhat poor diplomat and politician overall – even though he held the greatest office in the United States, as second president following that of George Washington.
So now I come to the book on which this mini series was based, ‘John Adams,’ by David McCullough. I am now going to read this book and see just how true to the book and actual events the mini series achieved. I find it difficult to believe that Adams could have been the way he was protrayed in the film – now I will seek out the truth for myself.
Edmund Barton, by John Reynolds
Yes, I have finally managed to put up another post on this Blog – been quite a while I know. I apologise for that – been very busy with other pursuits.
Today’s book review is on ‘Edmund Barton,’ by John Reynolds. This book is the first in a series on Australia’s Prime Ministers by Bookman Press. The Bookman Press series sought to re-publish the best biographies on each of the Australian Prime Ministers to coincide with the centenary of Australian Federation. ‘Edmund Barton,’ by John Reynolds, was first published in 1948.
This book, though about Edmund Barton, is also a good introduction to the process of Australia becoming a federation of colonies to form the modern day nation of Australia. A biography of Barton must be a study of the beginning of Federation as Barton was probably one of the most important players in bringing Federation to pass, which also meant the creation of Australia as one nation. It is a fascinating introduction to just how a modern Australia was born from the federation of the various colonies that were then situated on the Australian mainland and in Tasmania.
As far as reading goes, I found the book to contain much that interested me, as I have not read or studied a lot on the federation of Australia and the process by which it was achieved. For me this has been an important addition to my understanding of Australian history in an area in which my understanding was quite poor. Having said that, I do not think the book is necessarily an easy read, but requires discipline to keep at it.
‘Calvin for Armchair Theologians,’ by Christopher Elwood
I have now started to read ‘Calvin for Armchair Theologians,’ by Christopher Elwood. I have to admit that I come to this book with a very doubtful attitude. The front cover illustration of John Calvin and the many ‘comic-like’ illustrations throughout the book worry me. I just don’t get a sense that this book is a serious treatment of John Calvin. That is the impression that presents when just looking at the book – I hope to be proven wrong for having ‘judged a book by its cover.’ The illustrations in the book are by Ron Hill, who is apparently a freelance illustrator and cartoonist.
I have to admit that the ‘armchair theologian’ part of the title also gives me a poor impression of the book – it sort of gives me the picture of a guy who loves to watch sport on the TV while sitting in his armchair, while not really taking the sport seriously in his actual life – has nothing to do with it in reality, in that he doesn’t play sport. This is the idea that ‘armchair theologian’ paints for me, which is an approach to theology that is far removed from the Bible’s idea of involvement with the truth.
But, as I said, I hope to be proven wrong for having ‘judged a book by its cover.’
Changing the World: November 13 – Food not Bombs
Today’s suggestion for changing the world is to form a ‘Food not Bombs’ group. The theory behind such a group is to gather food from various sources (fresh vegetables running out of shelf life, etc) and to seek to feed the local hungry people – such as the homeless, poor, etc.
These groups also protest against war.
This suggestion is also not for me – but not because I don’t like the idea. It is a great idea and one others may like to pursue. Visit the web site below for more information:
A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ANDREW FULLER
I have now completed placing this work onto my web site at particularbaptist.com. The URL for the book is listed below:
http://particularbaptist.com/library/memoir_fuller_contents.html
My copy of this book is in very poor condition. It was published in 1863 as part of the Bunyan Library, which was a collection of books by ‘eminent Baptist authors.’ It was volume 11 in the library. The book was printed in 1863 by J. Heaton and Son in London, England.
This book is an excellent introduction to the life, work and writings of Andrew Fuller. It includes an account of Fuller’s friendship and partnership in the missionary enterprise of William Carey and the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, in which Andrew Fuller played a major role.
I highly recommend this work and would give it a 4 to 4.5 out of five. It seems to be a very fair and honest portrayal of this early English Particular Baptist.
A MEMOIR OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ANDREW FULLER
I am currently reading ‘A Memoir of the Life and Writings of Andrew Fuller’ by his grandson Thomas Ekins Fuller. I am also placing this work onto my web site at particularbaptist.com. The URL for the book is listed below:
http://particularbaptist.com/library/memoir_fuller_contents.html
My copy of this book is in very poor condition. It was published in 1863 as part of the Bunyan Library, which was a collection of books by ‘eminent Baptist authors.’ It was volume 11 in the library. The book was printed in 1863 by J. Heaton and Son in London, England.
This book is an excellent introduction to the life, work and writings of Andrew Fuller. It includes an account of Fuller’s friendship and partnership in the missionary enterprise of William Carey and the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, in which Andrew Fuller played a major role.
I highly recommend this work and would give it a 4 to 4.5 out of five. It seems to be a very fair and honest portrayal of this early English Particular Baptist.
THE STORY OF THE ENGLISH BAPTISTS: John C. Carlile
I have recently posted on the particularbaptist.com library site ‘The Story of the English Baptists,’ by John C. Carlile. The book can be found at the following link:
http://particularbaptist.com/library/englishbaptists_john-carlile.html
I own the 1905 edition which was printed as a hardcover by James Clarke & Co. in London, England. My copy is quite aged and is in quite poor condition. The version I have placed online is of course in pristine condition and will undoubtedly stay that way.
There are a number of illustrations and photographs in the book – all of which can be found in the online version.
The book provides something of an introduction to both the General and Particular Baptists, and as such is probably a useful book in that it whets the appetite to research deeper into the history of Baptists in England – which in my case is especially true of the Particular Baptists (of whom I am one).
There are some very interesting and useful chapters in the book, though the treatments of some of the ‘big’ names in Particular Baptist history are quite brief – as I say, something of an introduction. Perhaps an overview may be a better way to describe the book.
I don’t think everyone will necessarily agree with all of the conclusions and statements made by the author of the book. For example, there is something definitely hinky about his comments regarding possible unification of General and Particular Baptists. I’m not sure that he really grasps the significance of the differences between the two camps.
Out of 5 I’d probably give the book a generous 3. I think the book has merit, but is yet disappointing.
At the BookShelf 