Saturday, May 23, 2020

Emma Lazarus by Esther Schor




In her day, she was a strong advocate for Zionism. She was a poet and a critic. She was not one to use 'big words' when she wrote.
She was a prolific writer yet none of her works exist today. She wrote mostly poetry but was also a critic and magazine writer. What remains of her literary output can be seen on the Statue of Liberty in a poem of hers' inscribed there "The  New Colossus" a portion  of which we used to be able to quote--"Give me your tired, Your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.."
But she was more than that.
She was very much looking for the state of Israel to be established. She wanted a separate  Jewish homeland. But I am not sure you thought America was ready for that when she said-"I do not think the Jews of America are sufficiently impressed with the necessity of solidarity and concord among themselves"
She never married. The reason seems to be that she was a lesbian and the nineteenth century was not the time for them to come out.
She only lived 38 years- 1849 to 1887. Hodgkin's disease was what she died of. But in those 38 years she made an impression that we should take time to recognize.
A collection of her poetry is included at the end of the book.
This may not be a major biography but it is the story of a trend setter.
Will be useful for those who want to read about those unknown Jewish American pace setters. 
Name your price on rare, used, and out-of-print book. Visit the Make-an-Offer section on Biblio.com today!
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Thursday, April 2, 2020

If You Are Searching For A Book


I will step back in this posting and inform you I have found a place to go to search for books that are not the best selling book of the week or on the New York Book review. But they are books that you have been searching for and can't seem to find.
Barnes and Noble doesn't carry it. The local library doesn't have it on the shelf nor are they able to locate it in their data base.
  But if it is around you may find it here,  It is a place called Biblio.
Free Shipping on Books at Biblio
Click For Access
 Biblio  was able to locate copies of Irving Wallace books for me. Wallace is the writer of The Man, The Plot, The prize, The Word, among others. I am quite a fan of his. Most of if not all of his books are out of print, I think, but Biblio was able to locate and ship to me. I am sure that they will  be able to locate that book for you.

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The 4 Wills of God by Dr. Emerson Eggerishs


When we think about God, we have to realize there are things that are He  must expect of us. We like to think we are independent creatures and are self directed.
But God does have some expectations of all His creation. And especially of those He has created to be related to Him. But through an act of disobedience, we are no longer capable of  relating truthfully6.
Dr. Eggerichs postulates, using scripture, that God's will for His creation
You can look it up for yourself. Check it out. Search to see if what is being said is actually truthful. Be like a Berean. Check it out. The four passages are found in John 6:40, I Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and lastly , 1 Peter 2:13-15.
They are Believe in Jesus Christ, Abstain from Sexual Sin, Give Thanks in Everything, and Submit in Doing Right.
Simple. But hard to do without God's help. And that is why the first one is the start of the adventure.
The style of writing is easy to understand. A person can spend time reading and reviewing many times over a life time and each time find new insight.
I am sure God has more wills for mankind, but these form a start.
The development of each will is a staring point for every follower of God no matter what denomination  they identify with.
I highly recommend this book.
I was given a copy by my pastor and it was a good gift.
It has the subtitle :The Way He Directs Our Steps and Frees Us to Direct Our Own. That about sums up the purpose of the book.
It is published by the B&H Publishing group in Nashville, Tennessee, copyright 2018 and retails for $19.99.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Constance Baker Motley by Gary L. Ford Jr.


When we look back  on that period in history when the civil rights movement was in the head lines. we think of Martin Luther King Jr,  Adam Clayton Powel, Ralph Abernathy, Rosa Parks, and others. But there was also a very important person whom we never hear mentioned.
Someone had to be behind the scenes writing the laws and making the judgements.
There was Constance Baker Motley also.
Never heard of her? I know chances are you haven't. It was she who defended King in his court appearances.
There is a section of black history that still needs to be written. There are still unsung heroes we don't know about who came through the civil rights period.\
Motley is one of them. She was unique in many ways. First of all, women in her day were not lawyers. And they did not argue cases in front of white men. She helped in the desegregation of schools. She argues cases in court. She was an agent of change. She help get blacks into all white schools.
And she is not mentioned because she was first a black and second a woman.
This book is definitely a good addition to the record of history during the period of time that included 1946 through 1964.
She was a unifying force.
Born of parents who came from Nevis, British West Indies , Constance didn't let her limitations hold her back. She pursued law and became an influence, even if it was not noticed by us now. We need this book to remind us of a period of history and a light that dimly shone.
This is published by The University Of Alabama Press and copyrighted 2017. It is subtitled One Woman's Fight for Civil Rights and Equal Justice under Law. I highly recommend it.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Finding Chika by Mitch Albom


He has written another book. He seems so prolific . Albom tells the true story of his few years with an orphan named Chika.
Chika was born three days before the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. When her mother dies, Chika is sent to the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage in Port-Au-Prince.  This happens to be where Albom and his wife  visit and support.  Have Faith Haiti Orphanage happens to be a Christian run orphanage.
When Chika becomes five she is suddenly diagnosed with a life-threatening disease
"There is no one in Haiti who can help her,". a doctor tells Mitch.
So Mitch takes Chika to the United States to get treatment. She soon becomes a part of the Albom family . It is discovered she needs intensive treatment which would keep  her in America.
Her story is told in the style of Albom. He tends to use a style that you either like or dislike. In order to tell the story he must use the technique of Chika's lingering spirit popping in and out to motivate him to remember  the facts and recount them.
It is a tear jerker of a true story.
It is recommended for those who want to know what Christians are doing to influence the world they live in.
It is a book that Dr. Phil featured on his show.
It is published by Harper Collins.  The cost is $24.99.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Becoming C.S. Lewis by Harry Lee Poe


This is a very good biography. It fills in the early years of the life of a figure highly revered. At least I see him as a person who has had an influence on the world.
Many have read Mere Christianity. It is still read today and may be for many years to come. But what was he like before he became a Christian? That part of his life, until now, was hidden from the public knowledge.
The period covered is 1898 to 1918, just when he entered the war. The author tells what Jacks' life was like as a child and young man. Jack was the name he went by His full name was Clive Staples Lewis.
The author explores how circumstances molded Lewis' early years and helped him to become what he became. Also how his reading formed his view of life.
For a person like me who enjoys true stories of great authors, this book is welcome.
it covers areas as the romances he had and the pressures of life. No one is without warts in his life. Poe , who lectures on  C.S. Lewis tends to be fair .
The writing is good and easy to read.
I recommend this book for everyone. Try to find it in your library.
It is published by Crossway. You can read about it on crossway.org. Retail price for this book is $22.99.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Aristotle For Everyone

If you know it of not , we are all philosophers. We may not come out and call it that, but we all wish to know what is the meaning of life. Where do we come from? Where are we going?
It didn't start with Aristotle who was a student of Plato (You remember your class mentioning the cave. We are in a cave and seeing only shadows. That Plato)
This is  a book back in 1978. The almost dark ages. But it was a time when people were still studying philosophy. Students were taking at least one course in the subject to take care of that requirement. I am not sure what they do today. A course in gender studies? Well, even that is some what philosophical. What gender are we and how do we know it?
Aristotle was the one who postulated classification. Plant, animal, vegetable. Rational or non-rational. Thinking or non thinking. inanimate bodies and living organisms. The three areas of existence. Thinking, doing, being.
Philosophy is not simple.
Our author, Mortimer Adler has written a good introduction to the foundational philosophy of Aristotle.
He points out that Aristotle's wisdom and philosophical insights are grounded in our common  experiences. If this is so, I feel it is very  needed for us to have a foundational  grasp of him.
This is a book to digest. Take your time and slowly devour it.