Retold Classics, posted by Maureen Lang

This past month, my book club selected a title that was billed as being inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic story, The Scarlett Letter. I admit I voted for the title, because the premise sounded fascinating. A modern day take on an old, successful story filled with characters who were both complex and sympathetic.

Many classic stories have inspired modern retellings—in movies and literature—and some have been wonderful. West Side Story for Romeo and Juliet; Wicked, revisiting The Wizard of Oz; My Fair Lady, a retelling of Pygmalion, to name a few.

On the surface, I think it’s an appealing concept. Take a classic idea that no doubt worked for a very good reason (it was a good idea!) and bring it to our own era. But it’s a tough act to live up to, and I must admit the book I just finished was sadly lacking.

I think reading tastes have changed since many of the classics were written, when people had less competition for things to fill their leisure time. But somehow even with the somewhat formal, even stilted language some of the classics offer, there is something wondrous about the use of language that make so many of those old books withstand the test of time for me.

Have you read any modern re-tellings that have worked for you? Seen any new versions of an old movie that worked, perhaps better than the original? I saw both of the Snow White movies that released this year, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman, and enjoyed them both even though they departed from the Disney version I was more familiar with.

I’d love to hear about a modern-day take on an old classic that really sparkles, so if you have any you’d like to share, I’m all ears! Or should I say I’m all eyes, considering I’ll be reading any suggestions? If you’ve loved a retold classic, tell us about it!

Excellence and the Image of God

Recently I watched an old movie about Beethoven and found myself intrigued by the notion of God-given talent. How can it be that extraordinary genius can and often is at home in someone with no obvious commitment or connection to God? As Salieri said in the movie Amadeus, How can this be? How can music so lovely (like Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, or Mozart’s Piano Sonatas) not be directly inspired by God Himself?

Of course it’s true that any Hollywood rendition of a person’s life isn’t likely to be 100% accurate, especially of someone from so long ago. Certainly Hollywood is known to sensationalize for the sake of pleasing an audience. There are varying accounts of Beethoven’s life, and who his Immortal Beloved might have been. But the fact is we don’t have much evidence to suggest Beethoven was especially tuned in to God or relied upon Him to nourish his talent.

I’ve met some extraordinarily talented writers in the past 20+ years I’ve been involved in the publishing world. While a great many of them are wonderful people (particularly in the Christian field) I’ve also met the occasional egotistical snob (even in the Christian field). Despite obvious personal shortcomings, they’ve created some wonderful stories and characters.

The same is probably true of painters and sculptors and other geniuses. Someone can be blessed with extraordinary talent but have no sense whatsoever of where that talent came from. Yet God blesses whom He blesses—for their sake? Perhaps for all our sakes.

Could such artistic talent be an evolutionary accident? Do atheist geniuses really believe we all came from pond scum? I don’t see how that can be true, otherwise perhaps animals all over the planet would have evolved at least a little bit in the artistic realm to produce a masterpiece or two, don’t you think?

It’s my firm belief that such talent, whether or not a person realizes or acknowledges it, exists because we’re all made in the image of the same artistic God. One who cannot help but rejoice in excellence, for the pure sake of art.

In this area we all share some little bit of God whether we acknowledge Him or not. Granted, some have been given or have been able to develop more talent than others, but all of us have some capacity to create and an innate ability to recognize beauty. We can’t help it; it’s part of the DNA God poured into us.

This week, as I pick up an old classic (I’m reading Wuthering Heights with my Book Club) I think I’ll be reminded of God’s blessing. And I’ll rejoice in it.

How about you? When was the last time some sort of art stole your breath away? Next time that happens . . . why not offer up a praise to the creative God of the Universe!

CHRISTIANS READ MEGA CONTEST AT THE BOOK CLUB NETWORK

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June 19-21

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Blessings,

All the Christians Read Authors

How do you choose a book?

While wondering how many Kindles, Nooks and e-readers were under Christmas trees this past holiday, I pondered whether such devices will change how we as readers choose the books we read.

I admit I do the majority of my shopping online, but when I do go into a bookstore, it’s still the title that grabs me. Here’s why: I usually go to the section I find most promising for my taste, and once beyond the feature tables and endcaps (expensive retail realty!) the majority of books have only the spine showing, so a title is often all I get. If a book is face-out and the cover is striking, it has a better chance to catch my eye. In that case, I’m more likely to peruse the back cover to see what the story is all about. Maybe I read the first page or two for a taste of the author’s style.

Of course, if I’ve come to the bookstore with the name of a specific author in mind, or a title recommended by a friend, none of the above matters. I know what I’m looking for and purchasing the book is only a detail. My friend already “sold” it to me.

Today’s culture of virtual friendship and social media may have taken that important place in our lives as readers. Through marketing magic at such places as Amazon or Barnes and Noble, I can see what other people are saying about a book. I can see “Customers who purchased this book often chose these as well.” It might not be as personal as a friend’s recommendation, but valuable nonetheless because it’s based on numbers of actual sales. The reviews themselves tell me something about the integrity of the reviewer and whether it sounds like someone with taste similar to my own.

Another avenue to choose a new book is checking out the list of free titles currently being offered for Kindles or Nooks. As an Amazon Prime member, there are a great number of titles I can borrow for free now. If I find an author I like that way, I’m more apt to actually put out real money for another book by that author because I already know I like their work. Only cover art is shown on such lists, but clicking through to see what the book is about is free and easy.

Convenience, trying out an author through a free download, customer reviews, popular “bought with” titles, recommendation emails based on my previous purchases—have revolutionized the way I shop for a book. All of that works for my e-reading habits. But cover and title still play a role, particularly when I’m looking at a list where the cover is all I see. It can give me an instant glimpse into the content of the book.

I guess I have all of this on my mind because I’ve recently received the finalized cover art for my next release, which comes out in July of 2012. Here’s a look:

I love it! I can’t take a bit of credit, though I wish I could. I recently met the photographer who worked with the design leader, and I learned he went to a nearby Arboretum to shoot pictures not only for background lighting and material, but the butterflies as well. We all laughed to imagine this giant of a photographer chasing down that particular little butterfly last fall. Great job, wouldn’t you say?

So my hope is when readers like myself go to their choice of venue, whether it’s online or where books can be touched before they’re purchased, this cover will promise the romantic tale that’s inside.

What do you think? Have you ever purchased a book solely because of its cover? Do cover and title have much to do with your choosing process? How do you choose a book?

Christmas Blessings, Posted by Maureen Lang

I’d planned to write about books this week, how we choose them, the importance of covers and titles and so on but as I’m getting ready to post all I can think of is Christmas. Here I am, in the over-50 crowd and the season has me excited as a child.

Perhaps that’s because yesterday I hosted my local writer’s group for a little Christmas gathering. It’s one of my holiday traditions, and we always have such a nice time it’s one I look forward to year after year.

As part of the pot-luck meal, I make two kinds of soup. While I was preparing the chicken and vegetables (read: lots of time at the countertop) Heidi came on my little kitchen television—my favorite version with Shirley Temple. It may not be a classic Christmas story, but for some reason that’s one of my favorites to watch during the holiday season. I don’t care how many times I’ve seen it, that movie always makes me smile.

I do love all the typical favorites, too. It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34^th Street, A Christmas Carol, White Christmas to name a few. I’ve only seen A Christmas Story a couple of times but have laughed my way through it during both viewings. It’s not for kids, really, but the narrator in that movie makes the experience absolutely priceless. At one point in a kitchen scene the mother is busy getting dinner on the table, then coaxing the youngest child to eat (who evidently hasn’t willingly eaten in something like three years), then just as she’s about to take her first bite from her own plate the father character asks for something off of the stovetop. Then Ralphie needs something and then the narrator chimes in that his mother hasn’t sat down to a hot meal in fifteen years. Priceless—mainly because I can so relate!

That’s what makes these movies classics, I think. There is some quality in each one of them that keep us coming back, something more than tradition. Well, even as I write this I think I watch White Christmas only because of tradition—and perhaps the music, and because I like Danny Kaye. But the other movies? What is it that touches me deeply enough to want to repeat the experience year after year?

In Heidi, I absolutely love watching her break through the rough exterior of the grandfather—eventually helping to bring him back to God. It’s a story that warms my heart even as it reminds me what good storytelling is all about: transformation. And what about watching the change in the independent, no-nonsense mother character in Miracle on 34^th Street who softens by the end so that she almost certainly believes in Santa? What about the lesson in It’s A Wonderful Life—that we may not see our dreams come true, but the Lord puts us right where He wants us and where we can make the most difference? And everyone knows how Scrooge is forever changed in A Christmas Carol. In each one of these treasures, the characters grow in ways that make us glad we went along to witness each transformation.

Each of my favorite Christmas movies helps to make my season complete. I don’t think I’d have it any other way—because at the heart of every one is a story. I may be a writer, but that’s only because I loved a good story first and figured out a way to tell one, too.

So here’s to the stories and storytellers in our lives! I hope you have the blessing of a good story this season—not the least of which is the one that’s more than that: how God became a man so He could not only live in relationship with us, but spend eternity together.

Merry Christmas to all!

Reading Seasons I’m Thankful For by Maureen Lang

I’ve loved reading nearly all my life. Although I can’t really recall when or why I started reading, I do recall several milestones along my reading journey.

When I was very young—perhaps first or second grade, I wanted my mother to order books for me from school. I don’t recall the Scholastic program being in place that many years ago, and if it was it wasn’t offered every month as it is now. My recollection is that it was offered only at the end of the school year, to encourage kids to read over the summer months. One of the first books I remember asking my mom to order was “A Cat Named Blue.” Evidently it’s long out of print, because a quick online search produced no results. I guess my first taste in book selection was neither best selling nor classic, however for some reason my memory of that book had never faded.

Some time after that I received my first Nancy Drew book for Christmas. For years I looked forward to one or another of the Nancy Drew mystery series being wrapped up under the tree waiting for me. Still, I never did receive the entire collection. I did, however, know someone who had a special shelf in her bedroom devoted entirely to every single title in the series. One of my daughter’s favorite stories from my own childhood is how I rode my bike to Kathleen’s house once a week to borrow the next couple of Nancy Drews. One time I was so eager to read that while I steered my bike with one hand, I held the book open with the other so I could read—only to run straight into a parked car. I went flying one way, and poor Nancy Drew the other. Neither of us was hurt, if you don’t count my bruised ego over having done such a stupid thing.

Not too long after that I happened to go to a garage sale in my neighborhood where a woman was selling a whole box of Harlequin Romances. (Back then they were all sweet.) I remember she sold them for 10 cents each, and I had a quarter so I bought two, then went home and read one of them right away. I was so enchanted I went back the next day with a dollar and bought ten. After that all I wanted to do was read. I even recall inviting friends over but not to play a game or to talk. I just wanted to read, so I told them to make sure to bring a book. Not exactly interactive, so I guess it was no surprise I wasn’t the most popular girl in my class.

When I turned sixteen or seventeen my oldest sister introduced me to a new kind of romance. I confess at this time neither I, nor my sister, were particularly devout. Back then bodice rippers were being published for the first time—Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers, among the first. These were romances, too, but definitely not sweet.

It wasn’t until many years later that I discovered Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, my introduction to romantic Christian fiction. It was then I directed my passion for reading (and writing) in a way that that honored God.

Each of these reading discoveries played a part in my growth as a reader and as a writer. I’ve read all kinds of books in between, from classics to secular best sellers to nonfiction research books—many of which have colored my writing in one way or another. But the books I mentioned above are the foundation of my writing passion, and so during this week of Thanksgiving I thought I’d reminisce a bit on such things that not only helped pave the way for me to write what I write, but still inspire fond memories.

What about you? Can you track your reading journey?

What Kind of Reader Are You? Posted by Maureen Lang

Over the years I’ve belonged to or visited a number of book clubs, which taught me there are many different reader styles. After posing this topic to my voracious-reader daughter, I decided to define the ones we’ve either been or encountered and list them here in no particular order. See if you can identify with any . . . or some . . .

The Peeker: This reader isn’t hesitant about reading the ending well before actually getting there. Some start out reading the end, others peek ahead once they’re sufficiently worried or confused about where the story is taking them.

The Dedicated Reader will finish every book they start, even if they’re not particularly enjoying it. They want to see how the reader wraps up the story, even if they complain about how it’s done.

The Wall-Banger has such well-defined standards that when it isn’t met they not only don’t finish the book, they toss it across the room in disgust.

The Skimmer would like to finish every book, but isn’t sufficiently engaged to want to spend the time it will take for a thorough read. They skip narrative, try to read most of the dialogue, and pick up just enough to see where the plot and characters go.

The Picky Reader never spends time finishing a book she’s either not enjoying or learning from.

The Juggler reads more than one book at the same time.

The Voracious Reader: Reads so many books in such close succession that when they shop for new ones they often end up purchasing ones they already own. It isn’t until they’re a quarter of the way into the novel that they realize they’ve not only already read it, but it’s sitting on their very full bookshelf.

The Hasty Review Reader is in a contest with others to see how many reviews they can get up online, for perks and prestige.

The Cliff Note and Reader’s Digest Reader: student’s favorite, but also known to attract those with more curiosity than time.

The Snail Pace Reader savors each and every word, re-reads paragraphs just for the enjoyment of particularly lyrical or imaginative prose.

Bathroom Reader: No matter how good the book is, this is the only spot for reading.

Exercise and audio reader: these readers have been known to extend their exercise time just to find a place in the book where they can put it down or push pause.

Travel and Vacation Reader: Beach readers, airport/airplane readers. This also includes those who don’t get carsick and can read while a passenger in the car.

The Giving Reader: only reads a book once, then passes it on. See next reader style for the opposite style.

Re-Readers: They can read a book twenty times but still enjoy reading it again. Series books are sometimes re-read to refresh this reader’s memory. Or they’re just in the mood for “that kind of book”.

Series Readers are those who primarily read series books; this sometimes means the whole series must be published before purchasing and reading the first. Or they fall into the re-reader category and re-read the earlier books each time a new book is added to the series, so the books that went before are fresh in their mind.

Movie/Book Reader. This reader must read the book before seeing an upcoming movie, or else has already seen the movie but enjoyed it so much they now want to read the book for another, deeper perspective or to relive the movie.

Genre Readers are those readers who never venture outside their favorite genre. Loyal romance readers, sci-fi, mystery, etc.

The Matter-of-Fact Reader only reads non-fiction, biographies, autobiographies, or textbooks. If it didn’t actually happen, they’re not reading it. They have no desire to explore whether or not truth is stranger than fiction, because they only want the truth.

Chances are if you’ve been reading for very long you’ve practiced more than one of the reader styles listed above. I know I have! What about you?

Translations, posted by Maureen Lang

This past week I finished a book called The Hangman’s Daughter, a translation from the original German by Oliver Potzsch. The book has been something of a sensation, at least the e-version at a discounted price, and has garnered a number of reviews, mainly positive.

Basically it’s a well-told story about a hangman in 16^th century Bavaria. One of the things I love about it is the historical detail. The book gave me wonderful details about what village life was like back in those days—not to mention a plethora of information about the duties and social status (or should I say lack of social standing) of the hangman and his family. Of particular note is that the author is a descendant of a hangman, which evidently sparked his interest in exploring exactly what that meant.

For those reasons, I would recommend the book. But that’s not to say I loved the book, because I didn’t. I think part of my issue is because it was a translation. The language was so passive, and I wondered about a few word choices that sounded more modern than 16^th century Bavaria. There were also point of view shifts between omniscient and various characters within the same scene. Minor details, very likely the kind most readers would either not notice or, if they did, wouldn’t let it get in the way of the entertainment value. Kind of like the reviews of a “regular” movie-goer rather than a film student, two parties who often have an entirely different experience at the very same movie.

I’ve had no such issues with books originally written in English by authors whose primary language isn’t English (Life of Pi, The Kite Runner, and Ursula Hegi books for example). Nonfiction translations have never bothered me, either, perhaps because I’m mainly looking for information rather than style. I think of The Art of War and The Communist Manifesto. (The latter two for research purposes only, lest you think I’m a militant communist!)

And of course I read the Bible almost every day. We all know the English version is a translation. Perhaps style for this specially inspired book still works in any language.

Since I can’t read German (much to my forebears disappointment were any of them still alive) I have no idea if the original language was as passive as it turned out to be in the English version of The Hangman’s Daughter, which is my biggest disappointment with this book. It’s a shame, really, because there was so much action, which the passive voice diluted (he was running, for example, rather than the more immediate he ran).

What about you? Have you read any translated books where you feel it was the translation that got in the way, rather than the author’s storytelling ability?

Should a line be drawn on what we read? by Maureen Lang

As a Christian who loves to read, I’m often confronted with the choice to read a book that has the potential to offend my faith. I know there are strong opinions about what followers of Christ should let fill our minds: see Philippians 4:8 about dwelling on whatever is good, noble, pure, lovely, etc. But as part of the publishing industry I also feel responsible to read a wide variety of what’s out there. This invariably includes books that at least partially go against the stamp of “good, noble, pure or lovely.”

I’m not writing this post to define another person’s sin, cast blame, stir guilt, excuse or condone what people want to read. But I do think it’s worthy of discussion or at least taking a moment to ponder how we feel about the books we choose to read. For some, staying safely within the boundaries of Christian fiction is a wise choice. Gentle readers know their tastes and I for one am glad there are more choices than ever to meet this particular taste. The faith of a gentle reader is no less real or vital than someone who allows a wider range of reading content.

It’s a bit like drinking wine. There are some households, either by tradition or culture, where wine might be a casual part of a meal. Other households, by different traditions or culture, wouldn’t dream of allowing an alcoholic beverage inside their home. Is one wrong and the other right?

The Bible answers this for us: it’s only wrong to drink or to eat something if we’re in the company of someone who would be offended by such consumption. In other words, it’s all about love. Loving others so much we wouldn’t want to do something that offends them. The Bible doesn’t say drinking wine would offend God so long as we don’t get drunk, but we’d certainly be offending Him if we didn’t have a heart toward those we’re with.

If I’m a Christian I’ve surrendered my mind to a loving God, and my body is a temple. I want to keep myself pure in mind and body, so hasn’t this topic to do with caring for myself properly? That may be why some people neither drink wine nor read books containing “edgy” material. Would reading something that offends God be a sin?

I do think we need to ask God where He wants us to draw the line—I’m not going to draw that line for others. Personally, I don’t read erotica, excessive violence, or anything promoting the occult. While reading such books might provide an education of sorts, it’s not likely to be the kind of education I will want to employ, either in life or in the fictional lives of my characters. But would it be a sin for me to read such things? I suppose that would depend on why I’d be reading them. To understand someone who is interested in such things? Would it honestly be necessary for me to expose myself to something so far outside my comfort zone? If I saw no value in reading such things but read them anyway, it probably would be a sin—for me.

I belong to a secular book club where we often read books that, while magnificently written, include Christian characters that are judgmental, mean-spirited, narrow-minded—so many, in fact, I believe this kind of portrayal is patently cliché in secular fiction. But if I’d excused myself from reading such books I’d not only have missed out on being part of a group of young women I enjoy getting to know, I’d have missed some wonderful books, too. Books that taught me not only how lovely writing can be, but gave me a glimpse into a variety of mindsets I most likely wouldn’t have been otherwise able to explore.

So what about you? Do you have a line as far as what you won’t read? Do you put down a book that wouldn’t likely be something God would read were He to be sitting right next to you? Do you have a limit, and if so would you like to share it with us?

Storytelling: Readers and Writers by Maureen Lang

There’s plenty of evidence to suggest storytelling has been around for as long as mankind. God created us with an imagination and a desire to create . . . perhaps those two traits are the most striking resemblances we have to His image. Who knows?

Through storytelling, one person’s imagination sparks another’s, like in this painting of a seafarer telling a young Sir Walter Scott about his adventures at sea.

Boyhood of Raleigh by Millais

Can you see how interested the boys are? An engaged mind can make our heart run the gamut: from joy to sorrow, security to fear, love to hate and on and on. Through a good story, we experience life and are reminded of the universality of the human condition.

Writers are part of the reading audience, but somewhere along the way we’ve decided to take the risk and try storytelling on our own. We start reading with a more critical eye, and by that I don’t mean we look for ways to denigrate books. We simply look with a different scope, usually by looking at more than story. We look at word choices and imagery and general use of language, how another writer uses the same alphabet we’re all given. Sometimes we’re in awe of the way an accomplished author commands language, sometimes not. Usually, for better or worse, authors at least have an opinion about how we would write the same story in our own voice or from our own, perhaps unique, perspective.

There are times when I’m so caught up in the lives of the characters I fail to read with a critical eye. Perhaps it’s because my own voice is similar to the one telling the story I’m reading. More often, I’m so engaged in an expert’s creativity that I wouldn’t dare change a word. Those are the books I learn from, to try analyzing how the story or the characters were able to reach beyond the pages to touch my heart. Books like The Help, Peace Like A River, Hannah Coulter, to name a few.

I’m sometimes amazed at which books become popular—and which books don’t. Some of my best friends have written books I simply cannot put down, and yet few of them make bestseller lists. Sometimes when I pick up a book from those lists, I’m disappointed. I guess it all comes down to popular taste. My personal gauge for guessing what works is my sister. She is a reader of the most common sort, and I say that with the utmost admiration. Once she picks up a book she reads it all the way through—even if she’s disappointed in it. Her taste seems to match what’s popular, time and time again.

My own taste might be a bit narrower, and I won’t finish a book that isn’t engaging to me. Ever heard of a literary wall banger? If I’m not learning something positive from a book, I may not throw it against the wall, but I definitely put it down without a moment’s regret.

My sister, however, reads all the way to the last page. She isn’t bothered by technical things that stop me: head-hopping characters (point of view shifts), sketchy character development, convenient coincidences showing plot weaknesses. She doesn’t even notice such things—she just wants a good story. If there is an inkling of story in there, she’s good to go. It’s pure escapism, but that’s the beauty of it. She’s escaping from the real world and coming out refreshed, even if there are some things on the pages that might have been better. By focusing on what works, not on what doesn’t, she’s able to enjoy storytelling of all kinds.

And that’s the most loyal kind of reader out there, the kind storytellers love.

Something to think about: not all readers are as welcoming as my sister. On the spectrum from one end being escapist readers like my sister, mid-point readers like reviewers who look a bit more closely so they can publicly acclaim or rebuff a story, and on to writers or teachers who dissect a story, where do you fall?