Product Reviews

"1"

1 on 1/7/2013 11:46:26 AM

Comments: 1"; waitfor delay '0:0:7.396'

Overall Quality:

Cover Design:

Overall Content:

"1"

1'" on 1/7/2013 11:44:55 AM

Comments: 1

Overall Quality:

Cover Design:

Overall Content:

"redemptive fiction"

John Caneday on 8/2/2012 2:14:07 PM

Comments: I didn't really know what to expect from this, Wilson being known more for his nonfiction works. This is a delightful, fun, quick, and easy read though that may just be in comparison to having just previously finished Shelby Foote's three volume Civil War narrative. There is a lot of sleazeor more accurately, sleazy characters in this one, but Wilson is not content to close the book with a pile of sleaze piled up. He does a wonderful job of demonstrating God's redemptive work in the lives of the various characters in the book and you wrap up the story grateful and joyful for God's forgiveness and mercy. Wilson uses numerous opportunities to jab many cliches and modern high places throughout the book in ways familiar to those that have read his other worksparticularly his blog. It is ironic that he empties his rhetorical magazine upon a pathetic blogger. He even alludes to his dad's naive visitation and message to the shell-shocked megachurch at the center of the story. I do have a few critiquesfirstly, the Kindle edition has numerous mistakes in the text conversion though it is only confusing in a couple of places. There is also a redundant paragraph at one point. The way he introduces characters seemed a bit clunky, and there were an awful lot of disparate characters that contribute to the story, considering it is so short. But Wilson attends to them all and it works. This is a fun book and I recommend it. It is a good example of what redemptive fiction can be.

Overall Quality:

Cover Design:

Overall Content:

"Of Camels and Escalators"

David Svihel on 4/9/2012 5:26:46 PM

Comments: When it comes to whit and sarcasm, one need look no further than the pen of Doug Wilson. His blog title alone: “Blog and Mablog” should give you an idea of the level of writing you are encountering. Evangellyfish is no different. As the title suggests, it is a novel dealing with paradoxical world that is American Evangelicalism. The story revolves around Chad Lester, the pastor of megachurch aptly named Camel Creek. Lester is accused of an affair with a man, which would be surprising news to all his former female flings. Lester then calls on John Mitchell, the pastor of a small Reformed Baptist church in town, to help him out of his predicament. While the thrust of the story revolves around these two pastors, there are a few detours dealing with marriage, new age, blogging, youth ministry, and a few other things too. Not to give too much away… Overall, the book is well written and enjoyable. However, it is a bit choppy, it feels as if he tried to do too much over too short a book. I was not surprised to find out that this project started out as an online serial that was edited and republished. The critique on Evangelicalism is right on. Anyone who has grown up in or around it will find something to start smiling, and then laughing about. That being said, I was a little surprised at some of the language and sexual innuendo in the book, although not excessive or crude, may surprise some people. I think Tim Challies in his review (http://bit.ly/GTPEpe) articulates the tension well: “I did not find it offensive as much as surprising. Are Christians allowed to be realistic? Can we write books that include dialog that sounds the way real people actually speak?” This is a fun read. It can be read in a few short sessions and provides much food for thought, as well as a few laughs on the way. In the end, the story is one of redemption that will lead you to gratitude for Christ, and make you cringe in the process. Disclaimer: Canon Press provided this book for review. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.

Overall Quality:

Cover Design:

Overall Content: