My 16-year-old recently checked out “Unleash the Night” by Sherilyn Kenyon from the library. When I noticed it, my mind issued a red flag. Usually I let my kids chose their own reading material by the time they reach this age. I dialogue with them about what they are reading, remind them of important values and encourage them to choose well, but I don’t actively monitor their reading. This one jumped out at me, though. For some reason I couldn’t put my finger on, I was not sure my 16-year-old boy should be reading that author. (It is times like this that I know the Lord is answering my recurring prayer that we will catch the important things as we guide them to adulthood.)

         “Unleash the Night” by Sherrilyn Kenyon is a well-written book, but it is one most Christians would not enjoy. That’s too bad, because Sherrilyn is a gifted storyteller. Her characters come alive, the story world she creates is fascinating and many-layered and the events of the story keep the reader turning pages to the end. But the content of this story has little redeeming value.

         The world of “Unleash the Night” is built on the premise that the Greek gods are real and that their influence is active throughout an elaborate subculture of our modern world. Kenyon masterfully reveals much about this world in dialogue and action within the story. Even more can be learned from the glossary in the back of the book.

         Normally, I do not mind, and even enjoy, the supposition that there is an unknown, mysterious world running parallel and interconnected with this one. Julie Kenner, Shanna Swendson, J. K. Rowling and many others have created parallel subcultures that I enjoy reading. The world of “Unleash the Night,” though, is not one of those. The Greek gods were capricious and cruel, usually demonstrating the worst of humanity. Their selfish, impetuous, inconsiderate actions, combined with their seemingly unlimited power caused numerous tragedies within their ranks and that of humans, who were supposedly, at their mercy. Sherrilyn Kenyon has done a wonderful job recreating that, at best narcissistic at worst malicious, imaginary world. It is not one I enjoy visiting, even if it is only fiction.

         “Unleash the Night” is peopled with the descendents of a group of humans cursed by the Greek gods for an ancestor’s audacity to find a way out of another curse. (True to Greek god form, the recipients of both curses are innocents only tenuously connected to the original “sin” of their forefathers.) This curse created a race of shape shifters and a sub-culture more animalistic than human. Survival of the fittest, doing whatever it takes to get what you want and protecting yourself and yours no matter the cost to others are the mores most revered in this culture.

         There is small spot of light found in the romance that is the central story. The well-written characters of Wren and Maggie learn to love and trust and depend on each other in a way that enriches them both. They face and overcome seemingly insurmountable struggles to become one. They face and defeat inner and outer enemies, forging a lifetime bond quite appropriate between a man and woman.

         Unfortunately, they do so in an extremely promiscuous environment. Both the shape-shifter community and the humans in the story view sex as an animal appetite that should be fed often and with various partners. In fact, the shape-shifters know they found their “mate” when a tattoo appears on them after a sexual encounter. Only then is fidelity considered. At least in that respect Wren and Maggie are different. Even without the mark, they are soon committed to each other.

         It is troublesome, though, that their intimate encounters are so explicit, detailing every move and word. It is also troublesome that the desire they feel for each other seems to be the foundation of their love, not an outgrowth of it. That bothers me. This is the subtle message many romances convey. Sexual attraction equates love. I don’t like that. Romance and true love are hard to find. Sexual arousal, even satisfaction, is easy.

         Since this is essentially a romance between an animal shape-shifter and a human, that might cause a problem for some. After all, intimate relations with animals is abhorrent according to biblical practices. That does not concern me as much as the blatant promiscuity, but for some it might be more of an issue.

         The story of a woman and man who discover in each other a soulmate is wonderfully satisfying. It is why I love reading romances. That need to have someone who accepts you, believes in you and by their very presence encourages you to be more than you thought possible is universal. This book tells that story. I’m just not sure it is worth wading through the muck where resides.

         I certainly won’t be letting my teen read it.

         If you visit this site long, you will eventually realize my opinions are often a lot different from many Christians. (Although in other ways totally conservative. No wonder I feel schizophrenic at times. LOL) Often I find that the current “Christian” opinion of a book or movie seems too radical or too cut and dried or too cemented in the “status quo” of organized religious thought. This is especially true (or I maybe I just notice it more) in the fantasy and science fiction genres.

         And this always surprises me. I accept the Bible as God’s Word. I do my best to live by its teachings. Every aspect of my life is focused on, formed and evaluated by what I know to be truth as taught by God. If that is so, then why do I find myself so often at odds with current Christian thought?

         My first clash in this area was many, many years age and centered around the very first Star Wars movie (A New Hope). Respected Christian leaders insisted no Christian should watch it, that “the Force” was Satanic and viewing it would make you a pantheist. I, in typical fashion, rebelled. I do that a lot. Maybe it is because I was raised in a non-Christian home and came to the Lord in my teens. Whatever the reason, my first response to all those negative opinions was, “Why?” When no one could give me an answer that satisfied, I ignored them. I do that still. As I’ve gotten older, I’m less rebellious and have settled into my own “status quo”, but I still question and prod and search for what is real and true and right.

         And maybe that is why, even now, at almost 50 years old and after 30+ years of following the Truth, the Life and the Way, I find myself at odds with much common Christian thought. Maybe it is BECAUSE I study the Word, memorize and hid its truths in my mind and compare all I read, all I see, and all I experience to the truth I find there. Maybe the fact that I came to Him as a teen and had to consciously root out wrong thinking and replace it with right thinking keeps me searching the Word, making sure my opinions are formed by His thinking, not just my own. Or maybe it is that, because of all that conscious effort to know and live His truth, I’ve learned to distinguish opinion from principle, fact from favorite teachings.

         That sounds harsh, though. Am I really that different? Surely most Christians read, study and memorize the Word, live their lives by what they learn, form opinions using the Lord’s teachings. Or do they? Is it possible many accept whatever they were taught (or chose in their early years to believe) and don’t expend time and effort evaluating things that don’t interest them? Because of that, they hand out blanket statements, like “any magic in a story makes that story Satanic” or “if Jesus isn’t mentioned at least three times, the story is not Christian”? It IS easier to do that than examine and adjust old opinions, especially if it is an area where you have little or no interest. (Such as, for me, science and politics. LOL)

         Because I enjoy fantasy and science fiction and all things ‘magical”, I have expended a lot of time searching out the Scriptures and discerning what is clearly taught and what is open to opinion and personal preference. Maybe some of my thoughts and observations will help you in the same quest. Hey, who knows? Maybe I’ll even change your opinion on something. Or you will change mine. It’s been know to happen.

         As explained in the About page, the main reason I am creating this blog (and eventually, an entire website) is to create a place where books and movies can be reviewed from a Christian viewpoint. I really have no idea what else will grow from this, which is why it has taken me so long to put up this site. I kept trying to create a vision/plan that would give me a blueprint for growing and expanding. I finally came to realize I need to just act on the idea I already have and let it grow however it will.

         That is how the Lord works so often in my life. When I just do what I know He is leading me to do, it is amazing how I “find the path” and go way beyond the original idea. I’m excited to see that happen here.

         For now the focus of this site is a discussion (I want to hear from you, too!) about finding truth (and Truth) in the books and movies we enjoy. I love reading. I love watching movies (although I don’t love the high price of going to the theater!). And I love the entire experience of immersing myself in someone else’s story for a short time. But when I do, I want those stories to enrich my life, maybe even draw me closer to my Lord. I don’t want to be hit with stuff that will draw me away from Him or lead me toward deceptive philosophies. I want what I read to adhere to Philippians 4:8, to be good, true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

         That is what we’ll be doing here. Evaluating books (and sometimes movies) based on Philippians 4:8. Every Friday I will post a review or a link to someone else’s review. I’ll share my thoughts on how a book exhibits (or not) those qualities and what, if any, value it has to a Christian.

         For now I am only choosing books I’ve read or want to read. That means we’ll mostly be discussing fantasy, usually with romantic elements, some science fiction, maybe even light horror if it has an uplifting theme. (Yes. That can be done. LOL) In the future I might be open to guest reviewers for books and genres I’m not reading. (If you are interested, send me a note.)

         On Tuesdays I will blog about some aspect of Christian thought or practice and how it relates making choices, particularly entertainment choices. In essence, my musings on life, the Bible and merging the two.

         I hope, in the process, to generate a lively discussion that benefits all who participate. Let me hear from you!

Schedule of posts

• Reviews are posted every Friday.
• If the review contains a spoiler, it is password protected.

• The password is the title of the post.
• Stephanie’s musings on various subjects are posted every Tuesday.

The new year is about to begin.

Yes, yes, I know the calendar says it is January 13, almost 2 weeks since the beginning of the new year. I’m referring to this blog’s new year . . . it’s birth year.

My Army son is headed back to post (we had a great visit!) and  life has settled down to what passes as normal here. I am back to preparing this site. I am reading books, writing down my thoughts and finalizing the blog schedule.

As mentioned elsewhere, I will post a review of a book or movie on Fridays. Some reviews will be all my own thoughts on the story; others will reference reviews I find on the web and my thoughts about them.  On Tuesdays, I will blog on various aspects of the Christian life and how that impacts our choices of entertainment.

So get ready! This site will host its first review on January 16, 2008!

See you then!

Hi!  I’m still playing around with this site, trying to make it my special corner of the Web. You are welcome to hang out with me. Soon there will reviews and musings to read. For now, though, I’m visiting with my son who is home from the Army for the holidays.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!