Review: Reptile by Vincent T. Irving

I've been an avid reader of comics since I was a child. After getting married, I decided to replace them with collected editions. This led me to move toward an interest in graphic novels. As I've delved into the genre, I soon discovered that there were beautiful examples of the form and real stinkers as well. More on this in a moment.

The Twitter² Summary:

Thrown off course, the prince of a far-flung planet lands in the garden of an unsuspecting young woman, who chooses to care for what she believes is a burnt egg, not knowing that the day it hatches would be the day her whole life would change. Reptile is Vincent T. Irving’s first foray into the graphic novel genre.

The Low-down:

Okay, back to the beautiful examples and the stinkers. I'm just going to put it out there up front. This one's a stinker. There's nothing wrong with the concept, it's just everything about the execution that's lacking.

The language isn't realistic. The plot is entirely without direction. The pacing is uneven. The language includes curses for no apparent reason. The art does show some promise, but needs practice and time to refine.

The Rating:

1 of 5 Stars (A book I wouldn't inflict on others)

The Links:

The Publisher’s Book Page

Disclosure of Material Connection:

I received this book free from Dorrance Publishing Company. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Review and Giveaway: Healing Your Church Hurt by Stephen Mansfield

I've attended half-a-dozen churches in my three decades and I've been fortunate to leave each on good terms as the circumstances of life moved me on. This is clearly not the case for everyone. Many people have been hurt by the place that they expect to be the most safe. It is to these people that Stephen Mansfield has written Healing Your Church Hurt.

The Twitter² Summary:

If you’ve been part of a church, you have probably been hurt or know someone who has. Stephen Mansfield knows how it feels, but he also knows how to dig out of that hurt. If you’re ready to choose the tough path to healing, Mansfield will walk you through it.

The Low-down:

Mansfield immediately sets the stage for how he will address the topic with a story of a little guy named Timmy. Timmy gets his arm stuck in a vending machine. Crying and bleeding, the boy begs for help, when all along, the boy was clutching onto a Snickers that kept his arm pinned inside. Once he let go of the bar, his arm was set free. Mansfield compares Timmy’s story to the experience of people hurt by the church, but who hold on to the “Snickers” of hurt and anger. While Mansfield doesn’t go so far as to say that the reason for the hurt is irrelevant, but he does stress that our healing can’t begin until we choose to let go.

He stresses that we often have unrealistic expectations of the people we find in church. We expect people to be broken and flawed in the world around us, but for some reason, we expect the people we find in church to have everything all together. With this understanding, Mansfield encourages those wounded by the church to overcome their own hurt and come through their trial with stronger faith on the other side.

Healing Your Church Hurt has previously published as ReChurch. Although it's well written and its content is solid, it just didn't connect with me. I imagine if I'd been through a church hurt, it would be much more impactful.

The Rating:

3 of 5 Stars (A book to check out from the library, but not to own)

The Links:

The Author’s Website

The Publisher’s Website

The Contest:

I’m giving away a free copy of Healing Your Church Hurt.There are two ways to enter: either comment below with your thoughts on how to overcome a church hurt and email me at perplexedpastor@gmail.com or comment below, follow me on Twitter and included this link (http://bit.ly/H7RwzY) in a tweet.

Enter by 11:59 PM Central Time, Friday, April 13 for your chance to win! (Winner will be chosen from all entries by The Little One grabbing your name out of a hat or fishbowl or other suitable item.)

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”