Review of The Golden Compass (book)

Although I received the same email every other Christian received about how just looking at the cover of The Golden Compass might burn your kids' eyeballs out of their sockets, I decided to walk a short way into Satan's lair and actually read the book in order to form my own opinion. The fact that I'm halfway through book two should either tell you how much I'm enjoying it or how much closer I now am to the Dark Side of the Force.

In my opinion the book explores ideas and thoughts in a very non-threatening way. While the author may claim to be atheist, after reading his book, I find that very difficult to believe. He may have decided he wants no part of organized religion and/or the religion he was taught, but the book is way too spiritual and philosophical for him not be spiritual himself. The book wonders, among other things, if there might be other worlds (ie The Spirit World) nearby with which we might sometimes have contact? Does anybody object to thinking about that?

The main character, Lyra, is a good young heroine for today. I like her much better than Harry Potter because she is brave and doesn't spend any time feeling sorry for herself or her circumstances. She accepts her destiny and moves forward with a purpose. She is humble enough to recognize when she makes mistakes and learns from them.

In book two the author negatively describes The Church and then states that ,"...all churches are the same way." Being an Oxford graduate I would like to know how carefully he chose his words? I could agree with his statement in that I think many "philosophies of men" have been "mingled with scripture" throughout even our church -- on the local level. We know of strange teachings sometimes being taught in Sunday School, primary classes, or even over the pulpit. In that regard sometimes "all churches" can be destructive to the developing spirit. On the other hand, I don't agree that all "religions" are destructive and that is where I would like more information from the author. The Gospel is good news and when a person has a clear understanding of who God is and what His plan is for the individual you can't help but want to follow Him.

All that being said, I don't have any objection to these books -- thus far. I'm really enjoying the quality of writing, the new and inventive ideas and the thoughts they are provoking. I would highly recommend reading them. I will post another review at the end of the third book to see how or if my opinion has changed.

The Cockroach

When I was on my mission in California, our apartment was so overrun with cockroaches that we just learned to live with them. We tried everything to kill them and they wouldn't go away. Every time we would turn on the light in the kitchen we would see a scattering of cockroaches to their respective hiding places. Some became pretty brash and would stay out knowing that we probably couldn't do anything about it. Well, I am having a similar problem with a different kind of cockroach. So, if any of you have had experience with the following, please let me know because I need some practical advice:

A guy I will call Mr. Cockroach keeps showing up in my life. We went on a few dates almost TWENTY years ago, and I can't seem to shake him loose. It only took a couple of dates for me to realize how totally not interested I was and that I would be moving on. I remained friends with him because 1) I was young and stupid and 2) we worked at the same place for a couple of years and I thought it would be mature of me if I didn't go around telling people what a weirdo Mr. Cockroach was. Looking back, I should have. Maybe it would've gotten rid of him. Probably not.


I have tried nicely requesting he stay out of my life. I have tried being extremely blunt, telling him I wanted absolutely nothing more to do with him. I have tried allowing my boyfriends and/or husband to talk to him and tell him to stay out of my life. Nevertheless, he keeps showing up!!! The last time he called, Bret told him we didn't want anymore communication from him -- ever. But, Mr. Cockroach doesn't seem to get it because he sent me a freakin' Christmas card!!! The guy is in Colombia working for the DEA. Does it tell you something about the type of people the DEA will hire? Is it too much or too awful to hope for some kind of kidnapping by the drug cartel down there? Even then, I think he would find a way to keep showing up! Damn cockroaches!!!

I hope none of you have had to deal with cockroaches because they are so extremely annoying, but if you have any advice you have would be great!

You Want me to do WHAT?!

My complaint department has informed me of a few complaints coming in concerning my lack of posts. While these complaints are valid due to my immense popularity as a blogger and prowess as a writer, I must point out that my public persona doesn't always match my private. Of course my public persona always has life together. According to the ladies in my ward, my children are the most well-behaved and most perfect children on the planet. Second, again according to the aforementioned, I am SuperMom because of homeschooling and they're just sure I make all my food from scratch daily, including growing and grinding the wheat myself, sewing my own clothes, all while my children sit quietly for hours reading, writing and expanding their minds in a peaceful and cooperative manner. Wow!

While all of that may be true (in the fantasy world I have created), life is always a little messier, and thus richer, then that. Some of you many people who read this may not know I am pregnant with baby number SIX and that Bret started a new job a few months ago. Between throwing up, taking care of children, and being single Mom because Bret's job required him to give a pound of flesh by working all day and studying all night for a monstrous test, I have been a titch busy. Please refer to my very first post for a reminder and then decrease my "free seconds" by about 100,000 and you'll understand the lack of posts on my blog.

Now that Bret has passed his test (yay, yay, yay) and my throwing up is lessening, I might be able to find a few seconds here and there to get on here. I'm hoping this will appease my fan base. If not, maybe you can come over and grind the wheat while I sit at the computer putting forth my words of wisdom profound thoughts.

You know what? On second thought, thanks for even caring or noticing.