Prompt Response: Eli by Bill Myers
by Crystal A Murray (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
If you could rewrite any book’s ending, which one would you choose?
First, let me tell you that I loved this book—all but the ending. Eli by Bill Myers is an excellent book, and you’ll see by the 4.8 star average that most people think so. If you visit (via my associate link in the title) you’ll see that it’s on sale with 40% off in Kindle format right now, and 13% off for the mass market paperback.
A Brief Description
Eli is a creative journey into a world where Jesus has not yet been born. Mary and Joseph are hippies looking for a safe place to have their baby, and they settle for a laundry room in an apartment complex. So just by this start, you can see the wonderful and creative mind of the author.
The journey continues into His adult life and includes events like Jesus walking through a tornado in Kansas and bidding His new follower to join Him in the midst of the storm. If you’ve read the Bible, you know the story of Peter the disciple watching YahShua (Jesus) walk through a storm on the sea and asking to be invited to join Him.
Matthew 14:25-30 BSB
[25] During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. [26] When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. [27] But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” [28] “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.” [29] “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
https://bible.com/bible/3034/mat.14.25-30.BSB
The book continues at a nice pace covering most of the events we would expect to see in a world that is yet without a Savior. I thoroughly enjoyed all the creativity and the backstory the author weaves in about the one who is sharing these events as they unfold. I highly recommend the read.
A warning about what is the equivalent of the crucifixion scene…
This is not a bad warning, just a warning for those who are emotionally moved by the pain and sacrifices of our Messiah. I don’t think any of us have seen an actual crucifixion, so even at its most real (like The Passion of The Christ movie,) it’s still not truly familiar. Bringing it into today’s society with cowboys kicking Him with their pointy-toed boots had a realistic feel because of similar scenes in movies and, for some, in real life. Some of the moments with the beatings still bring tears even though I read it probably 15+ years ago. If you want to really see YahShua as a victim paying a price for your sins, this is a powerful way to see it.
Here’s the biblical version with the crucifixion…
Matthew 27:27-31 BSB
[27] Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around Him. [28] They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. [29] And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” [30] Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. [31] After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.
https://bible.com/bible/3034/mat.27.27-31.BSB
Now About That Ending
So the ending isn’t bad. It does not change the focus or purpose of the book or the strength of the story. It just adds an event to the end that I wish was not there. If I were writing it, I would’ve wrestled for another ending that didn’t leave me wondering why it had to go THAT way. But I won’t spoil it for you in case you read it for yourself.
Just know that I would’ve written the hospital scene and the ending with the narrator character with a little more hope. As I write this now, though, I realize the life of Peter in the Bible didn’t have an ending I would write either, so maybe the author used that narrative to guide his ending. But in fiction, you have a little more artistic freedom, so go read it for yourself and then tell me how you think you would’ve written the ending.
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It’s the International Year of Crystallography
Mohawk Mesolite by Flickr User Mike Beauregard aka subarcticmike, CC License = Attribution
Click image to open a new tab/window to view the original image and to access the user’s full photo stream at Flickr.
While you’re there, be sure to look at the album for this image. There are more great crystals there.
I know,you think I’m joking about the title, but I’m not. I don’t know how I missed it, but when I ventured to one of my favorite sites, “Brownie Locks” holidays page, I found the announcement. I don’t know how I’d missed it before. I mean, isn’t it a holiday about the study of me? 😉 Of course, I know better, but I do love anything that sparkles, and that means I’m intrigued by things that crystalize, so this intrigues me. If you want to know more about it, visit About the International Year of Crystallography to read more.
So, in the spirit of all things crystalized, I’m going to do a prismatic post tonight. In other words, I’m going to write on a variety of subjects. For example, today is Simchat Torah which means “Joy of Torah” and it is the time when the annual Torah readings begin again. I was wondering why the readings actually began with Deuteronomy 33 & 34 (Easy to Read version), and I found understanding from a comment posted at Chabad.org (link under Simchat Torah above). The commenter said it shows continuity and the never-ending cycle of the Torah in our lives. I love that because it’s like saying God’s Word is His wedding ring for His bride.
Now I want to talk about special days for October. For writers and readers, we have National Book Month plus National Church Library Month and National Children’s Magazine Month. Of course, for published writers, it’s also National Self-Promotion Month, so get the word out. For those who love to eat, and don’t live on a Kosher only diet, it’s Hog Out Month which coincides with National Pork Month. Oh, and it’s also Pizza Month. No wonder I’ve been craving that.
If you’re into issue awareness, you might already know that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You can visit the Pink Ribbons for Awareness group on Flickr to see some pretty pink images in honor of this month. After you enjoy the images, be sure to stop by The Breast Cancer Site to click the pink banner and help raise funds for research. It only costs you a moment of your time unless you decide to buy something from The Breast Cancer Site store, and then the proceeds go to a great cause. (You can click banners and shop for other great causes while you’re there.)
While we’re talking about awareness, we are just completing Take Your Medicine Americans Week (Oct 10-16), which is interesting since October is also Antidepressant Death Awareness Month. So, take your medicine, but be careful. It’s also Global ADHD Awareness Month, and just so you’re aware, I do have Adult ADD, but I don’t think there’s any hyperactivity except mentally. You may have figured that out from my variety of subjects tonight, and by all the distractions that cause my posts to show up well after midnight. Still, I like what I heard on an old episode of Numbers: I’m not easily distracted, I’m easily fascinated. Maybe that’s why I also noticed that it’s Squirrel Awareness Month and reminded my husband to feed the squirrels that visit our backyard.
Okay, just a few more. If you have a bathroom leak, you should know that October is Toilet Tank Repair Month. I guess plumbers are as busy as the ophthalmologists dealing with those celebrating Home Eye Safety Month or Eye Injury Prevention Month. If you like Science Fiction movies or Jeff Bridges, you’ll be glad to know that it’s International Starman Month. If the movie puts you in the mood for a snack, you’ll also be happy to know it’s National Popcorn Poppin’ Month which may also lead to your awareness of National Dental Health Month. If you top your snack in honor of National Caramel Month, it could get you thinking about National Orthodontic Health Month if you have braces.
For those of my readers who are also writers, I hope you’ve enjoyed this sampling of what you can find out there when looking for writing ideas. There are plenty more ideas at the site above, and there are links to more from there, so add Brownie Locks to your bookmarks. You’ll want to submit articles on these October special days anytime from February to April for those publications that want things six to nine months in advance, so maybe this will give you a head start. For all my readers, I hope I’ve given you something fun to read that makes you want to share my blog. After all, October 12-18th is Getting the World to Beat a Path to Your Door Week.
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