New Mormon Books

…from my experience as a Mormon missionary, I have found that virtually every philosophy presented by the world contains at least some truth and can be related to the gospel. This sister, however, decided it would be her job to completely erase everything the investigator had learned from her professors and then replace it with the missionary lessons. The climax of her story came when she finally convinced the woman that secular teachings were derived from the adversary, and that all the truth she needed, she could find in the church.

A summer reading list for the thoughtful Mormon reader
By McKay Coppins
Mormon Times, Jul. 18, 2009.
http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/mckay_coppins/?id=9716
Books by Mormon authors included were:
* The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen
* To Draw Closer to God by President Henry B. Eyring

The success behind the books stems from the ability of Stephenie to convey an array of emotion within each character, mainly Bella, from whose point of view of the books are written, with a few exceptions. Stephenie has written the books in such a fashion that readers don’t simply enjoy them; they climb into the world of the Cullen family. The books span beyond simply an interesting plot; they tug at the emotion and heartstrings of tweens, teens and adults alike.

Twilight Parents 101: Who is Stephenie Meyer?
By Kimberly Sherman, Twilight Parents Examiner
Examiner.com, July 18, 2009.
http://www.examiner.com/x-13198-Twilight-Parents-Examiner~y2009m7d18-Twilight-Parents-101-Who-is-Stephenie-Meyer

Though it might be common for a reader to turn to a commentary in search of a particular doctrine or passage of verses, the two volumes’ construction also gives them a format friendly to reading chapter to chapter. Nyman even suggests portions that might be skipped in each chapter for a reader who is continuing from chapter to chapter.

Monte S. Nyman’s latest commentaries: 2 volumes on the D&C
By Steve Fidel
Mormon Times, Jul. 17, 2009
http://mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/books/?id=9524

In his book, “Juanita Brooks: Mormon Woman Historian,” Levi S. Peterson describes a woman who lived two distinct lives. In one, she was the Bunkerville, Nev., native one or two generations away from early-Mormon pioneer life, bred to be a farmer’s wife and live a life similar to her mother and grandmother. But there were life changes in store for Brooks (1898-1989), a remarkable individual who experienced most of the 20th century. Left a young widow with a baby, she entered academia. As middle age approached, she made another life change. She married a sheriff, Will Brooks, and quickly had four more babies. Had she stayed single, opines biographer Peterson, she likely would have had a distinguished academic career, editing and writing literary criticism. Instead, her return to a domestic life signaled the career of Mormonism’s most tenacious historian. Brooks’ achievements brought much-needed candor to Utah and Mormon history.

Political Surf on biography of Juanita Brooks, Utah historian
by Doug Gibson
Ogden UT Standard’s Political Surf Blog, Jul 17th, 2009.
http://blogs.standard.net/2009/07/17/political-surf-on-biography-of-juanita-brooks-utah-historian/

[Ashby's] speedy rise and spectacular swan dive from Tinseltown’s high board is an old story, but a fascinating read as relayed by Nick Dawson in his scrupulously researched “Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel.” Ashby came reeling into the movie business from a dysfunctional Mormon (!) upbringing, his father’s suicide and the first of five marriages. Editing brought order to his chaos and an Oscar (for “In the Heat of the Night”) and a shot at directing. He directed — to Oscars — Lee Grant (”Shampoo”), Melvyn Douglas (”Being There”), Jon Voight and Jane Fonda (”Coming Home”). He also directed “Bound for Glory,” the cultish “Harold and Maude” and “The Last Detail” — edgy, eclectic, eccentric, like the man who made ‘em.

Author looks at courage of those willing to stand against the Third Reich:
Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel
By Star-Ledger Book Contributors
Newark NJ Star-Ledger, July 17, 2009.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2009/07/author_looks_at_courage_of_tho.html

Lance Allred is a bit of a sentimental favorite around these parts. Not only did he get his first break in the NBA with the Cavaliers two seasons ago, but he’s written a fantastic autobiography covering his youth growing up in a fundamental polygamous Mormon compound, to his deafness, to his struggles at Utah under Rick Majerus, to overcoming everything that had been placed in front of him and realizing his dream of making the NBA.

Keeping Up With Lance Allred.
By Vince Grzegorek.
Cleveland Scene, Jul 7, 2009.
http://www.clevescene.com/64-and-counting/archives/2009/07/07/keeping-up-with-lance-allred

The Actor and the Housewife is completely unbelievable and totally credible. The dialogue is witty, the romantic suspense genuine, and the finale? It ends the way it should.

Chick-lit confections: A shelf full of great summer reads
By Sherryl Connelly, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
New York Daily News, July 5th 2009
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2009/07/05/2009-07-05_chicklit_confections_a_shelf_full_of_great_summer_reads.html#ixzz0Lfi2gdKQ

SOME Mormons have weird perceptions of New York City. In “The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance,” out in October, comic Elna Baker recalls her mother’s horror when Elna chose NYU over Brigham Young, telling her, “The first thing that will happen when you move to New York is you might start to swear, and swearing will lead to drinking, and drinking will lead to doing drugs. And, Elna, what would you do if a lesbian tried to make out with you?” Labeling Manhattan “Babylon,” her mom also begged her not to become an exotic dancer. Writes Baker: “I left thinking, ‘Great, my mom thinks I’m moving to the big city to become a lesbian stripper.’ “

BIG-CITY HORROR
By Richard Johnson
New York Post, Page Six, July 5, 2009.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07052009/gossip/pagesix/big_city_horror_177731.htm

“Trespass” is McHarg’s memoir, following her as she scurries to the outskirts of her Utah homeland. She grew up an insider, a sixth generation Mormon rancher, but finds herself at odds with the predominant culture as she becomes an environmental advocate. As McHarg processes her father’s suicide, she finds herself pushed both figuratively outside the church’s reach and physically outside the Deseret boundaries, in Norwood. It was here, away from the onus of her Utah roots that she was able to finish the book.

Trespass: Living at the Edge of the Promised Land, has won the Colorado Book Award for creative nonfiction. Last year it won the 2008 Orion Book Award and earlier this year it won the Ellen Meloy Fund’s 2009 Desert Writer’s Award.

Norwood novelist wins Colorado Book Award
Amy Irvine McHarg’s ‘Trespass’ honored again
By D. Dion
Norwood CO Post, July 1, 2009.
http://www.telluridenews.com/articles/2009/07/01/norwood_post/news/doc4a4bb64493b06208156066.txt

Since leaving his accounting job last year, Mormon author James Dashner has been spending his days in libraries, bookstores and movie theaters. But he can hardly be accused of idleness. After all, Dashner is producing books that have him poised for arrival on the national youth fiction landscape.

Accountant to author: James Dashner trumps the odds
By Aaron Shill
Mormon Times, July 1, 2009.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705314078,00.html