New Review by Janette Fuller
Janette Fuller published a new 5-star review of Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty last week – check out her comments here. I really appreciate Jannette’s comments! A reviewer named Red Haircrow reviewed the book last week as well, and gave the book only 3 or 4 stars (depending on which review site.) He doesn’t like spiritual books, and readily admits he was probably not the right reviewer for this book. I greatly appreciate that he took the time and energy to review the book even though it’s not a genre he normally reviews.
This points out to me again, (and Janette Fuller mentions this too in her 5-star review), that this is a book that some people will love and some people won’t. I suppose that’s the case with any book, but in this case, the subject matter is quite intertwined with our spiritual outlook. There are lots of folks in the world who want nothing to do with discussions of a spiritual nature, and often become angry and offended when any sort of spiritual discussion emerges. I think those folks aren’t going to like the book.
This is unfortunate, as when I wrote the book, it was my hope to reach out to some of these folks. I wanted to let these folks know that asking questions and wondering wasn’t the same as adopting and accepting dogma and doctrine. There’s lots of mystery in the world, and finding peace with the uncertainty surrounding that mystery is a good thing.
So, thanks Janette for the excellent review, and thanks Red Haircrow for taking the time and energy to review a book that clearly falls outside the realm of the sort of book you enjoy and want to review!
Thank you for your kind comments, Neil.
Book reviewing is really a special kind of writing. People will always judge a book in different ways, depending on the past experiences in their lives. It is really hard for a person to put all their preferences and prejudices aside while they are reading a book.
Neil, I could relate to your writing and I understand many of the emotions that you expressed in your book. I have also experienced a near-death experience (in a head-on car wreck with a drunk driver) and I lost my father less than a year ago.
We will all have to let loved ones go. Your book shows how to move from denial to acceptance.
Thanks for the comment Janette. I agree with you that it’s hard to put aside personal preferences and prejudices when we make judgements of anything – books are certainly no exception to that. I suspect that for someone to review as many books as you do, it’s a constant battle to discern where you’re judging the content, and where you’re judging the actual writing itself.
I’m sure glad you enjoyed the book – it really means a lot to me when people connect with it.
Thank you for your kind comments, Neil.
Book reviewing is really a special kind of writing. People will always judge a book in different ways, depending on the past experiences in their lives. It is really hard for a person to put all their preferences and prejudices aside while they are reading a book.
Neil, I could relate to your writing and I understand many of the emotions that you expressed in your book. I have also experienced a near-death experience (in a head-on car wreck with a drunk driver) and I lost my father less than a year ago.
We will all have to let loved ones go. Your book shows how to move from denial to acceptance.
Thanks for the comment Janette. I agree with you that it’s hard to put aside personal preferences and prejudices when we make judgements of anything – books are certainly no exception to that. I suspect that for someone to review as many books as you do, it’s a constant battle to discern where you’re judging the content, and where you’re judging the actual writing itself.
I’m sure glad you enjoyed the book – it really means a lot to me when people connect with it.
“You don’t have to disrespect and insult others simply to hold your own ground. If you do, that shows how shaky your own position is.”
— Red Haircrow
I’ll quote myself as a reply. I am Native American. I do not call myself “Red Haircrow”, it is the name given me by my elders of my tribe. Also to twist the name into an insult “Red Scarecrow?”
So very curious this disparaging post was created is very much different than the comments Neil Hanson posted on my site that display my review along with all discussion and comments from Mr. Hanson, myself and another.
This yet again highlights why I do read religious materials privately and often enjoy them, but do not review them on my site. Without exception, ANY Christian person whose work I happen to disagree with resorts to this kind of behavior. It really doesn’t recommend their religion or themselves.http://flyingwithredhaircrow.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/peace-at-the-edge-of-uncertainty-by-neil-hanson/
My most sincere apologies to Red Haircrow for getting his name wrong, and for not realizing that this is his actual name and not a name he has taken for use as an author and reviewer. A careless mistake on my part, that has obviously caused you to feel insulted Mr. Haircrow.
Please forgive my blunder. It was not intentional, and certainly not meant to cause insult. It was simply a dumb blunder on my part. And it certainly had NOTHING whatever to do with religion or belief or anything else.
Best of luck to you!
“You don’t have to disrespect and insult others simply to hold your own ground. If you do, that shows how shaky your own position is.”
— Red Haircrow
I’ll quote myself as a reply. I am Native American. I do not call myself “Red Haircrow”, it is the name given me by my elders of my tribe. Also to twist the name into an insult “Red Scarecrow?”
So very curious this disparaging post was created is very much different than the comments Neil Hanson posted on my site that display my review along with all discussion and comments from Mr. Hanson, myself and another.
This yet again highlights why I do read religious materials privately and often enjoy them, but do not review them on my site. Without exception, ANY Christian person whose work I happen to disagree with resorts to this kind of behavior. It really doesn’t recommend their religion or themselves.http://flyingwithredhaircrow.wordpress.com/2011/07/01/peace-at-the-edge-of-uncertainty-by-neil-hanson/
My most sincere apologies to Red Haircrow for getting his name wrong, and for not realizing that this is his actual name and not a name he has taken for use as an author and reviewer. A careless mistake on my part, that has obviously caused you to feel insulted Mr. Haircrow.
Please forgive my blunder. It was not intentional, and certainly not meant to cause insult. It was simply a dumb blunder on my part. And it certainly had NOTHING whatever to do with religion or belief or anything else.
Best of luck to you!