Review - Rally Cry 10/10

Rally Cry (Lost Regiment)

Well, when Colonel Kean and his soldiers were somehow transported to this new mysterious land I had my doubts about this story, but I must say that after completing it I not only wanted more, but I bought the second book in the series.  What a great story!

Kean is the consummate hero.  Like other heroes in other stories I have read, he knows how to kill lots of people and lead others in killing lots of people; but unlike other heroes I have read, Kean struggles with this ability and wants to do what is right and hates the fact that he has turned some of his young naive soldiers into ruthless killing machines.  Kean is man of honor, so much so, that even his enemies are amazed at his strength of character.  He is sort of a fictional George Washington.

The surrounding characters are interesting also and even the villains in this story have points about them that you can admire.  The battles are intense and character development is intriguing.

One of the best books I have read this year.

Lost - I Do

Read the recap of the episode here.

 

• John Locke has that little sparkle in his eyes.  I'm glad to see the old John is back.
• It sounds like the table are going to begin to turn for the Lostees.
• I'm still peeved that Echo was killed off.
• I still think there is only one island.
• SPOILER:  I here there is a Desmond episode and in his back-story he also has the ability to predict the future.
• Is the guy with the patch someone else who is hiding on the island?
• I don't like the fact that the writers had Kate and Sawyer gett'n busy?  I think that ruins the tension between them and makes them less interesting characters.

City of God - Book IV

City of God

 

IN THIS BOOK IT IS PROVED THAT THE EXTENT AND LONG DURATION OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE IS TO BE ASCRIBED, NOT TO JOVE OR THE GODS OF THE HEATHEN, TO WHOM INDIVIDUALLY SCARCE EVEN SINGLE THINGS AND THE VERY BASEST FUNCTIONS WERE BELIEVED TO BE ENTRUSTED, BUT TO THE ONE TRUE GOD, THE AUTHOR OF FELICITY, BY WHOSE POWER AND JUDGMENT EARTHLY KINGDOMS ARE FOUNDED AND MAINTAINED.

In this book, Augustine ask the question, "If the Romans thought that one god would suffice then why would they then worship many other gods?  Essentially Augustine concludes that it is a result of their proud will.

"For he cannot be free from infelicity who worships Felicity as a goddess, and forsakes God, the giver of felicity; just as he cannot be free from hunger who licks a painted loaf of bread, and does not buy it of the man who has a real one."

Augustine argues that the Jews never worshipped these gods however they were freed from Egyption bondage and given a land to settle.  Had the Jews continued faithfully worshipping the one true God they would still be living in their land today and also have even more land.

"And if they had not sinned against Him with impious curiosity, which seduced them like magic arts, and drew them to strange gods and idols, and at last led them to kill Christ, their kingdom would have remained. to them, and would have been, if not more spacious, yet more happy, than that of Rome. And now that they are dispersed through almost all lands and nations, it is through the providence of that one true God; that whereas the images, altars, groves, and temples of the false gods are everywhere overthrown, and their sacrifices prohibited, it may be shown from their books how this has been foretold by their prophets so long before; lest, perhaps, when they should be read in ours, they might seem to be invented by us. But now, reserving what is to follow for the following book, we must here set a bound to the prolixity of this one."

Lost - The Cost of Living

See a review of the this episode here.

 

• I CANNOT BELIEVE THEY KILLED OFF ECHO! HE WAS MY FAVORATE CHARACTOR!  I AM REALLY FIRED UP!
• I don't believe that little display that Juliet presented to Jack.  Is Ben concocting some even crazier scheme?
• Paulo is an annoying charactor.  he whines and complains too much.  Hopefully that will change as the season progresses.