The Four Post Review no. 19

What a great opportunity to catch up on our latest posts. See what we’ve been up to.

What Happy People Know by Dan Baker, Ph.D and Cameron Stauth

Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card

Kindergarten was not the easiest time of my life. I remember being upset with my teacher for taking my friend’s side of an argument in which he falsely accused me of having no muscles. I could not believe she would not agree with me that I needed muscles to move my arms. GAH! I also broke my toy nunchuck on the playground, and another one of my friends was a compulsive liar… It was rough.

However, as much turmoil I had to go through, take a look at little Ender Wiggin. Ender lives in a world that has survived two alien invasions from a species known as the buggers… and a third invasion seems imminent. Ender is the third child of his family, which is extremely uncommon due to population laws. Of course, this opens the door for persecution and bullying by other kids in his class, and when he gets home, supposedly safe from his tormentors, his older brother Peter torments him more than ever. In fact, if his sister, Valentine, did not intervene, it’s hard to say how far Peter would go… Ender does not want to find out.

Gatsby’s Friends; Books on the Big Screen

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has been a box office hit in recent weeks, and it got us thinking… Maybe books have some good stories. Hollywood has figured this out, too, and several big literary productions will be hitting the Silver Screen soon.

See what pieces of literature will be possibilities for your upcoming movie nights.

Asking for a Friend: Christmas Wish-lists

You’ve always heard, “It’s better to give than to receive,” and though we’re not denying that, we say “why not both?” Our authors weigh-in on some late minute add-ons to your Christmas list as well as some stocking-stuffing suggestions.

Bethany Cheatwood

To Give: “Jurassic Park” by Michael Crichton.

This book turned me back on to reading at a time when I felt “burned out,” and in my humble opinion, it’s one of the rare instances of a book and movie being equally great, despite their vast differences. It also was my introduction to Crichton – an author I grew to respect & whose work I absolutely love. There’s never a dull moment with him, and it’s always intelligently written and well researched. I’d love to turn a reader friend of mine onto such an author.

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