Conservative Book Talk

When I travel, I usually stop by the library and pick up a few audio books to “read.” I need something to help me stay awake when I’m on the road for 10-15 hours straight. When I get to the library, I always have the same problem: which book is worth listening to? I usually pick authors I know; after a while, that doesn’t work since the books may be checked out or the library doesn’t have them. Ergo, I pick from books that look clean and interesting. If I have heard of a book, that helps immensely otherwise I make a judgment call. Sometimes, I choose wisely while at other times, I choose poorly. This was not one of the former.

This story started out well, with a great plot idea: Isaac Newton and Ellis, his rough and tumble side-kick / bodyguard seek out the source of counterfeit coins. Think Sherlock Holmes and Watson. They aren’t a complete copy as they have many differences. Newton is a better man then Holmes, but Watson is a much better man then his Ellis. The story is intriguing and well written and Newton easily applies the latest scientific knowledge of his day to the case.

The problem revealed itself from an unlikely source. I had been telling someone about the book and they checked up on a few reviews. This is when I wish that I had had internet at the library while browsing the books. Apparently, there was an objectionable scene in the book. I figured that I would just skip the scene and keep moving as it would take to long to get a new book on my iPod for the trip. Besides, with so few objectionable elements so far, how bad could it be? Heh…. Famous last words. Really, I thought they kept this kind of material in a different section of the library. I stopped the book.

There are two minor objections left (the prior being the *big* one). One would be the mild profanity. The other was the portrayal of Netwon as a heretic. Literally, Kerr has Newton denying the deity of Christ:Arianism. Newton’s assistant, Ellis, (from whose perspective the story is told), goes further to reject his belief in any God at all as a result of Newton’s science. I find this troubling as it was completely unnecessary to the plot. The point of Newton’s heresy was building as a tool for his enemies to take him down with. The assistant’s heresy? Completely out of line with the plot and felt preachy.

Now I was of the understanding that Newton was a genuine Christian. Does anyone know anything to the contrary? Or is this merely an attempt to strip Christianity of one of its greatest scientists as he seriously undermines the teaching and philosophy of modern scientists?

Tags: Dark Matter, Historical Fiction, Isaac Newton, Matt Gardenghi, Philip Keller, Science

Plot: Our hero is an ever-good lad, trying to reach knighthood, and his constant companion is a monk who cannot abide his chosen style of life. Together they live in the fifteenth century, during a war between Wales, Scotland and England. The two do not meet until Oswald, our hero, is accepted in the service of Sir Henry, also known as Hotspur. Oswald meets Roger, our dear bad monk, when he wishes to take some reading and writing lessons, which are taught to him by Roger.

Oswald is recruited as an esquire; his main duty is to run messages to other people for Hotspur. One of his first missions includes taking a secret message to a lord in Scotland, with Roger by his side. Though quite dangerous, Oswald performs it well and escapes when nearly caught. It is soon after this daring mission, that Hotspur obtains leave of monk hood for Roger and sends him to a neighboring lord as a man-at-arms .

Several months later our daring hero is sent to Hotspurs brother-in-law, Mortimer, for short period, in which he may, with the help of twenty men-at-arms and his uncle and Roger, assist Mortimer against Glendower. The Welsh have started an uprising to support Glendowers claim for the Welsh throne; Glendower does have royal blood after all. Only a few weeks after arriving, Mortimer captures Glendowers castle; he soon finds that Glendower escaped upon seeing their approach. Much to his disappointment Mortimer cannot find any of Glendowers daughters; after posting guards around the grounds, Mortimer goes to his home to await the news of whether or not Glendower will try and recapture his castle. Oswald and Roger are on duty together, when they see two figures rise from some bushes and run toward the forest. Catching them quickly Oswald demands they surrender, only to find they are women, daughters of Glendower; they offer the men jewels in return for their freedom. Oswald declines their offer, declaring such a thing would not be honorable; after several moments of discussion with Roger, he decides to let the girls go free. His only reward being a small charm which he could show to any Welshman, should he find himself in need, and they would take him to the girls. Oswald and Roger return to their posts, no one being the wiser for their doings, since he did not want the girls to go to an English prison for many years.

Oswald performs his battles well during the Welsh uprising and highly praised by Mortimer when sent back to Hotspur.

Positive: When one reads a G.A. Henty, it is sometimes difficult to get into the story, not so with this one. In the first chapter he draws you and keeps your nose in until the end. Mr. Henty gives a lot of information about the time period, and does an excellent job in describing the battles and scuffles our good people get into.

Negative: I can’t say much of anything negative about it, no bloody descriptions, no swearing. So this paragraph is rather small, but that’s good!

Overall: I thoroughly enjoyed this Henty book, it kept my nose in the pages after the first paragraph. The history is fun to learn, and completely worth the time spent reading it. I highly recommend it to all ages.

Other Henty reviews.

Tags: G. A. Henty, Hannasus, Historical Fiction, Over the Border, youth