Comments on: Saboteur, by Dean Hughes http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/ Uplifting, edifying, and enriching reading by and for Latter-day Saint Women Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:32:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Michelle http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6773 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:55:27 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6773 Naiah, You have definitely sparked my interest! Thanks for this review. I, too, appreciate that you were up front about what might be sensitive for some readers. Naiah,
You have definitely sparked my interest! Thanks for this review. I, too, appreciate that you were up front about what might be sensitive for some readers.

]]> by: Naiah http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6772 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:28:17 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6772 RoAnn, I have to say that at first I, myself, was guilty of having judged this book by its cover. I've never been one for war stories. I'm not sure exactly how or why I got over my initial prejudice, but I have to say that I am glad that I did. So glad, in fact, that I'm planning to check out Dean Hughes's other works. (The word prolific does not begin to cover it--he's published over 80 books!!!) His characters have such <em><strong>heart</strong></em>, his treatment of social complexities is mature, and the book as a whole was definitely enriching--good fun and good food for thought. I did not realize it until writing this review, but he is the one who wrote the 'Children of the Promise' series. I plan to get those on my queue, now. As for sensibilities, I counted approximately half a dozen scenes in the book wherein some violent act takes place. That's out of 472 pages. Hughes plays them very well, approaching the narrative as base factually as he would a man simply walking across the room. He gives them no more words than he needs for them to play their part in the story. He is neither sensationalistic, nor emotionally manipulative as authors too often are in the context of violence in their stories. RoAnn,
I have to say that at first I, myself, was guilty of having judged this book by its cover. I’ve never been one for war stories. I’m not sure exactly how or why I got over my initial prejudice, but I have to say that I am glad that I did. So glad, in fact, that I’m planning to check out Dean Hughes’s other works. (The word prolific does not begin to cover it–he’s published over 80 books!!!) His characters have such heart, his treatment of social complexities is mature, and the book as a whole was definitely enriching–good fun and good food for thought.

I did not realize it until writing this review, but he is the one who wrote the ‘Children of the Promise’ series. I plan to get those on my queue, now.

As for sensibilities, I counted approximately half a dozen scenes in the book wherein some violent act takes place. That’s out of 472 pages. Hughes plays them very well, approaching the narrative as base factually as he would a man simply walking across the room. He gives them no more words than he needs for them to play their part in the story. He is neither sensationalistic, nor emotionally manipulative as authors too often are in the context of violence in their stories.

]]> by: RoAnn http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6770 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 11:06:02 +0000 http://roxcy.synthian.org/2006/10/23/saboteur-by-dean-hughes/#comment-6770 Thanks for this thoughtful review, Naiah. Sometimes it's hard to tell from a review whether or not one is likely to enjoy the book, because of our differing levels of sensitivity to subject matter, language, etc. "Sensibilities" do indeed differ quite widely, even among active, committed LDS; and yet reviews don't always treat that very real issue. In the case of <em>Saboteur</em>, some readers might automatically reject it if they saw the cover, or if they knew it dealt extensively with men at war. Others (like me) will be intrigued, but want to know <i>how the subject matter is treated</i>. Thanks to your review, I have decided to buy it. I look forward to an entertaining read that is also ultimately inspiring. Thanks for this thoughtful review, Naiah. Sometimes it’s hard to tell from a review whether or not one is likely to enjoy the book, because of our differing levels of sensitivity to subject matter, language, etc.

“Sensibilities” do indeed differ quite widely, even among active, committed LDS; and yet reviews don’t always treat that very real issue.

In the case of Saboteur, some readers might automatically reject it if they saw the cover, or if they knew it dealt extensively with men at war. Others (like me) will be intrigued, but want to know how the subject matter is treated. Thanks to your review, I have decided to buy it. I look forward to an entertaining read that is also ultimately inspiring.

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