Book Review - Blown to Bits

Here is my next book review: Blown to Bits.

Blown to Bits was written by R. M. Ballantyne (1825 - 1894). One of Mr. Ballantyne's more well-known books is Coral Island, A Tale of the Pacific Ocean. He was a popular author in the 1800's and influenced a number of people. His stories are beautiful, full of description, and carefully researched. Also worthy of mention is his Christian faith which comes through his works.

Blown to Bits is a story of the volcano of Krakatoa which blew up in 1883. The hero is one Nigel Roy, a mate on his father's ship the Sunshine. After a storm damages the ship, they land in Batavia in Java and are delayed for several months in repairing the ship. Captain Roy gives Nigel permission or perhaps a command to... well, I'll give it to you in his own words:

" 'Well now, this is how the land lies,' said the old seaman, resting his
elbows on the table and clasping his hands before him. 'As Mr. Moor and
I, with the stooard and men, are quite sufficient to manage the affairs
o' the brig, and as we shall certainly be here for a considerable time
to come, I've made up my mind to give you a holiday. You're young, you
see, an' foolish, and your mind needs improvin'. In short, you want a
good deal o' the poetry knocked out o' you, for it's not like your
mother's poetry by any means, so you needn't flatter yourself--not built
on the same lines by a long way. Well--where was I?'

'Only got the length of the holiday yet, father.'

'Only, indeed. You ungrateful dog! It's a considerable length to get,
that, isn't it? Well, I also intend to give you some money, to enable
you to move about in this curious archipelago--not much, but enough to
keep you from starvation if used with economy, so I recommend you to go
into the town, make general inquiries about everything and everywhere,
an' settle in your mind what you'll do, for I give you a rovin'
commission an' don't want to be bothered with you for some time to
come.' "

And off starts Nigel on his adventures. To begin with, he meets a man named Moses, a black man with whom he immediately becomes friends with. Moses happens to be looking for a companion to accompany himself and the hermit of Rakata (a mountain on the island of Krakatoa) on an expedition. He engages Nigel, and they go over to the island to meet the hermit. Shortly thereafter they set off on their expedition across the seas in an ingenious canoe of the hermit's own invention. After an exciting escape from Malay pirates, a fierce storm in a canoe, and ride from a steamer, they reach the island of Borneo. There they meet the hermit's friend the Professor, an eccentric and amusing gentleman whose chief delight is in chasing "booterflies". Frequent escapades with pirates, orangutans, and tigers form a large part of the adventures hereafter until the shocking end of the hermit's enemy, a terrible pirate captain. By now, the rumblings and explosions of the nearby volcanoes have grown to great proportions. The hermit, Nigel, Moses, return to the island of Krakatoa as it is letting off small explosions. They barely make it off the island again with a few possessions before it erupts. The canoe is tossed up on the deck of a ship by the ensuing waves. To the surprise of all, it is the Sunshine with Nigel's father on board. From the ship, they watch the tremendous volcanic eruption of Krakatoa. The Sunshine is cast on shore of Java and wrecked, but no persons are hurt. Nigel's adventures are almost done with a visit to the remains of the Krakatoa island. Then comes the last chapter, but as that is more of an epilogue, I shall not tell what happens in it. You must find out for yourself.


I heartily recommend this book. I have not done it half justice in my review. The descriptions, characters, and humor are things that must be read.

There is one objection that may be raised against this book. That is that Moses is called a negro throughout, but I think it is only because of the time in which it was written, because he is described in the highest terms. The hermit considered him a most trusted friend.

And now I will close this review with a song from Moses. It is best to read it out loud to understand it better.

"GO TO WORK."

Oh when de sun am shinin' bright, and eberyt'ing am fair,
Clap on de steam an' go to work, an' take your proper share.
De wurld hab got to go ahead, an' dem what's young and strong
Mus' do deir best, wid all de rest, to roll de wurld along.

De lazy man does all he can to stop its whirlin' round.
If he was king he'd loaf an' sing--and guzzle, I'll be bound,
He always shirk de hardest work, an' t'ink he's awful clebbar,
But boder his head to earn his bread, Oh! no, he'll nebber, nebber.
Chorus--Oh when de sun, etc.

De selfish man would rader dan put out his hand to work,
Let women toil, an' sweat and moil--as wicked as de Turk.
De cream ob eberyt'ing he wants, let oders hab de skim;
In fact de wurld and all it holds was only made for him.
Chorus--Oh when de sun, etc.

So keep de ball a-rollin', boys, an' each one do his best
To make de wurld a happy one--for dat's how man is blest.
Do unto oders all around de t'ing what's good and true,
An' oders, 'turning tit for tat, will do de same to you.
Chorus--Oh when de sun, etc.

Bumbling Bumblebee

I saw a bumbling bumblebee
Try to get some pollen
From a bright pink flower
On a blossoming rhododendron.

Here I am

So, I didn't disappear. I finished school on the second of June, and I'm so glad I've spent this whole week doing nothing but reading and drawing and working with clay. But you can only do that for so long before it gets boring. So this is the end of my week of nothing. I need to start working on certain projects and writing good blog posts and all that.

Actually, it hasn't all been play this week. College deadlines are needing looking after and all my papers need to be set in order. And then there are all the things everyone but family would find uninteresting - like the piano being tuned, or a new dishwasher being installed, or two birthday parties to go to. But mostly I just lay around with my nose in a book.

Did you know that a lot of fantasy writers are compared to Tolkien? Or that all the recommendations on the backs of their works mention how it's the greatest thing since the Lord of the Rings? Or that the plots of these same works have remarkably similar concepts and ideas (just with different names) to those found in Tolkien's books? Or that domestic trials are more thrilling to read about than the most fast-paced adventure story? Or that stories about the volcanic eruption in the 1800's that canceled summer for a whole year could be so funny? And maybe some of you can quote the opening lines of every Curious George book with me? "George was a good little monkey and always very curious."

So that's the end of this really crazy post. Now to get back to posting something of substance...

Book Review - Sylvie and Bruno

Jo and I love reading books together. We have read between two to three books in the past couple months. The last one we read was Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll (the author of Alice in Wonderland). As it is a little known book (indeed I had never heard of it before), I thought I would review it so others may benefit from our reading.

Sylvie and Bruno is a story that amuses children but requires one to be grownup to fully enjoy it, similar to the books Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh.

It is written in first person and switches from the author's trip to the country to the author following the adventures of two fairies. Sometimes it can grow confusing until you realize the author keeps falling asleep and dreaming. At the times when he is dreaming about the fairies, conversation is light and nonsensical. When he is awake, the conversation still has elements of nonsense, but acquires a more serious tone. A rudimentary knowledge of mathematics and logic is helpful to understanding the conversation at times as in this quote:

"'For a complete logical argument,' Arthur began with admirable
solemnity, 'we need two prim Misses--'

'Of course!' she interrupted. 'I remember that word now.
And they produce--?'

'A Delusion,' said Arthur.

'Ye--es?' she said dubiously. 'I don't seem to remember that so well.
But what is the whole argument called?'

'A Sillygism?'

'Ah, yes! I remember now. But I don't need a Sillygism, you know,
to prove that mathematical axiom you mentioned.'

'Nor to prove that 'all angles are equal', I suppose?'

'Why, of course not! One takes such a simple truth as that for granted!'"
I cannot give a neat little summary of the book because it has two pieces and neither quite ends in a definite manner. Here is the best I can do:
Section one is that which contains the fairies' adventures. The two little fairies, Sylvie and Bruno, live in "Outland" of which their father is Warden. There is a plot by the Warden's brother to take over Outland and become emperor. The Warden knows it, but does not let on that he does. Then the Warden leaves and we find out later that he has become king of another land. Sylvie and Bruno join him later. That is really all of a plot for section one. Sylvie and Bruno have a couple of other adventures, but these are not as important.
Section two is that in which the author is awake. Here the author is an old man with heart problems. A young friend of his, a doctor, asks the author to stay with him in a house in the country. On the way there, the author meets a young lady. It turns out the doctor is in love with the lady. He (the doctor) has just inherited some money so he can finally ask the lady to marry him. Before he does so, he wishes to ascertain her feeling towards him. The author tries to do so for the doctor, but never gets very far. In the end, the lady marries her distant cousin who shows up, the doctor goes to South Africa, and the author leaves for business in the city.

I think the chief thing of interest in this book is the conversations. Some are thoughtful, some are witty, some are silly, some touch views of theology (not all of which I agree with), but they almost all have a piece of truth.
I think there was one section which most stood out to me most of all. It has influenced the way I read books ever since. It is as follows:

"'By no means!' replied the Earl.
'What I mean is intensity of thought--a concentrated attention.
We lose half the pleasure we might have in Life, by not really attending.
Take any instance you like: it doesn't matter how trivial the pleasure
may be--the principle is the same. Suppose A and B are reading the same
second-rate circulating-library novel. A never troubles himself to
master the relationships of the characters, on which perhaps all the
interest of the story depends: he 'skips' over all the descriptions of
scenery, and every passage that looks rather dull: he doesn't half attend
to the passages he does read: he goes on reading merely from want of
resolution to find another occupation--for hours after he ought to have
put the book aside: and reaches the 'FINIS' in a state of utter
weariness and depression! B puts his whole soul into the thing--on the
principle that 'whatever is worth doing is worth doing well':
he masters the genealogies: he calls up pictures before his 'mind's eye'
as he reads about the scenery: best of all, he resolutely shuts the
book at the end of some chapter, while his interest is yet at its
keenest, and turns to other subjects; so that, when next he allows
himself an hour at it, it is like a hungry man sitting down to dinner:
and, when the book is finished, he returns to the work of his daily
life like 'a giant refreshed'!'

'But suppose the book were really rubbish--nothing to repay attention?'

'Well, suppose it," said the Earl. "My theory meets that case,
I assure you! A never finds out that it is rubbish, but maunders on to
the end, trying to believe he's enjoying himself. B quietly shuts the
book, when he's read a dozen pages, walks off to the Library, and
changes it for a better!'"






I recommend this book for people who are needing a laugh. The Professor's plunge bath, phlizzes, the Other Professor, and the abundance of rhymes and songs are all memorable. And perhaps when you are done, you will wish for a clock that will reverse the whole sequence of events for an hour.

Psalm 103:1-5

"Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Here is a command to bless the Lord with all that is within us; and here are some reasons why. Here is a command to remember what the Lord has done for us; and here is a list of those benefits.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Oh, bless him with all that is in you- your thoughts, emotions, actions.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." We are too quick to forget them. They pass out of our minds as the seeds of dandelions blown by the wind. Do not forget! Remind yourself of them every day! "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Selah" (Psalm 68:19)
"Who forgives all your iniquities..." This is a beautiful statement which grows even more precious as we understand how awful our sin really is. But have you ever stopped to think about the phrase? I mean really think about it so that tears start in you eyes and your heart fills with emotion?
"Who heals all your diseases..." Charles Spurgeon says,"Humbling as the statement is, yet the fact remain: we are all more or less suffering under the disease of sin. What a comfort to know that we have a great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us!" (Morning and Evening; p. 305; "May 31") But He also will heal our physical diseases in His timing.
"Who redeems your life from destruction..." And how great in the destruction that we deserve! But for God's grace, our portion would be that of the self-seeking in Romans 2:8-9: "...but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek." He has redeemed us from this destruction! Oh, lift up your voice to the Lord in joy!
"Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies..." I can write no more concerning this bit. Your own heart can tell you more as it sings and weeps at the goodness of God and His mercies which He has poured out on you!
"Who satisfies your mouth with good things..." Both spiritual and physical food He gives us. His words our that food for our soul without which we would starve. He also provides for our physical needs because He loves us.
"So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." How often we try to lean on our own strength! From His word He gives us strength. It is His strength and not our own. Lean on His strength today and give up your foolish pride that thinks you can do it all on your own.

This is the end of Part 1 - Psalm 103:1-5.

The Quote of Wednesday

This isn't a regular quote from a book but a piece of Scripture.

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1:19-20

Cheesecake

A photograph of cheesecake

One of our favorite cheesecake recipes is Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheescake. I made this for Dad's birthday.


Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

Begin first with the crust.

Crust

9 Graham crackers
1/4 c. of confectioners' sugar
4-5 tbsp. of melted margarine or butter

Put three graham crackers into a sealable bag. Crush them with a rolling pin or have your sister walk all over them. When they are sufficiently crunched, pour the crumbs into a medium-sized bowl.
Stir in the sugar.
Pour the melted butter all over the crumbs. Mix all the butter into the crumbs. Grab a handful of crumbs from the bowl. If they stick together, the crust is done; if they don't stick together, add more butter.
When the crust is ready, press it into a 9-inch springform pan. Press the bottom flat and push the crust up the sides. Don't expect it to reach the top of the pan.

Now you can move on to the filling.

Filling

2 8oz. packages of cream cheese or nufchatel cheese
1 14oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
4 eggs
2 tsp. of vanilla extract

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese until it is soft and fluffy. Slowly pour in the condensed milk while still beating the cream cheese. Add the eggs one by one. Add the vanilla last.
When the batter is smooth and completely mixed, pour a little less than half of it into a medium-sized bowl.
Now melt:

1 c. chocolate chips or 2 1oz. baking squares
1/2 c. peanut butter

Pour the chocolate into the large bowl of batter and stir immediately. Then pour the peanut butter into the smaller bowl of batter and stir.
Pour the chocolate batter into the springform pan. Fold the peanut butter batter in the middle. Swirl the top with a knife.
Bake in a preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 65 minutes or until it is set. Cool the cake.
Store in the refrigerator if you are going to eat it soon, if not wrap in aluminum foil and freeze. Thaw it by taking it out and leaving it in the refrigerator for a couple hours.

Please feel free to experiment with this recipe and come up with your own variations.