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leswag97's reviews
233 reviews
The Epistle to the Hebrews and Christian Theology by Daniel R. Driver, Trevor A. Hart, Richard Bauckham
4.0
I read this volume of collected essays on the Epistle to the Hebrews for a graduate course I took on Hebrews. A few essays in particular stand out to me as exceptional from this collection: "Here We Have No Lasting City" by Richard Hays; "God Has Spoken: Hebrews' Theology of the Scriptures" by Kenneth Schenck; "Exemplars of Faith in Hebrews 11: Abel" by R. Walter L. Moberly; "Rahab Outside the Camp" by Carl Mosser; and "Prophets and Martyrs as Exemplars of Faith" by Loveday Alexander.
There were a number of essays that did not pique my interest, while others that did so in moderation. This is a good resource for anyone interested in the Epistle to the Hebrews and its impact on important topics of Christian theology. It also introduces a number of authors from a variety of theological backgrounds and traditions that some who are new to the world of biblical criticism and theological studies perhaps would not have learned about otherwise; I found this to be true in my case--many of these authors were unknown to me, and I enjoyed a number of them.
There were a number of essays that did not pique my interest, while others that did so in moderation. This is a good resource for anyone interested in the Epistle to the Hebrews and its impact on important topics of Christian theology. It also introduces a number of authors from a variety of theological backgrounds and traditions that some who are new to the world of biblical criticism and theological studies perhaps would not have learned about otherwise; I found this to be true in my case--many of these authors were unknown to me, and I enjoyed a number of them.
The Epistle to the Hebrews by Gareth Lee Cockerill
4.0
Gareth Cockerill's commentary on Hebrews for the NICNT is superb. He does an excellent job at introducing his own take on the numerous difficult questions concerning this Epistle--namely, who wrote it, to whom was it addressed, when was it written, etc. Cockerill's comments on each section and each verses are insightful and astoundingly thorough. I also appreciated his willingness to interact with--both in agreement and in disagreement--many other articles, books, and monographs on the subject from a variety of different authors. Cockerill, rather than simply regurgitating everyone else's insights, comes through with his own unique style, interpretation, and assessment of Hebrews. I would highly recommend this to anyone taking a class on the Epistle to the Hebrews or who is exegeting a passage from Hebrews for a class discussion, church gathering, or the like.
Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews by
4.0
I read this book for a Grad course on the Epistle to the Hebrews, and would recommend it to anyone taking a deep dive into Hebrews. This book compiles the different views of four leading biblical scholars on the topic of the "warning passages" in Hebrews. These passages scattered throughout the Epistle have been the topic of heated debate for centuries, as both Arminians and Calvinists come to these texts with seemingly different perspectives. It is important to recognize that whatever tradition you bring to this text can and most likely will color your interpretation of them. It is best to recognize that these preconceived notions are present, and to try to approach the biblical text with an honest and open mind.
After each view is presented, each other "camp" is able to give a detailed response to the view, pointing out areas of agreement or disagreement. I appreciated this back-and-forth dialogue between the authors, because it allowed for each view to have a right to speak. Ultimately, I found myself more aligned with the Wesleyan Arminian View espoused by Gareth L. Cockerill. Cockerill's view is not too different from Grant R. Osborne's Classical Arminian View, since they are both Arminian, but I found Cockerill much more persuasive in his argument. Randall C. Gleason's Moderate Reformed View is fascinating, as he does not view these passages as speaking about apostasy and about eternal judgment, but about a relinquishing of divine blessings in light of the imminent danger of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70; while Gleason brings up some important points to consider, his overall argument depends too much on the location of Hebrews' audience being in Palestine. Buist M. Fanning (representing a Classical Reformed View) is persuasive, but draws some conclusions specifically about the eternal security of believers that are not conclusive from the Epistle to the Hebrews; it seems to me that the rhetorical strength of the warning passages dissolves if eternal security is in view.
After each view is presented, each other "camp" is able to give a detailed response to the view, pointing out areas of agreement or disagreement. I appreciated this back-and-forth dialogue between the authors, because it allowed for each view to have a right to speak. Ultimately, I found myself more aligned with the Wesleyan Arminian View espoused by Gareth L. Cockerill. Cockerill's view is not too different from Grant R. Osborne's Classical Arminian View, since they are both Arminian, but I found Cockerill much more persuasive in his argument. Randall C. Gleason's Moderate Reformed View is fascinating, as he does not view these passages as speaking about apostasy and about eternal judgment, but about a relinquishing of divine blessings in light of the imminent danger of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70; while Gleason brings up some important points to consider, his overall argument depends too much on the location of Hebrews' audience being in Palestine. Buist M. Fanning (representing a Classical Reformed View) is persuasive, but draws some conclusions specifically about the eternal security of believers that are not conclusive from the Epistle to the Hebrews; it seems to me that the rhetorical strength of the warning passages dissolves if eternal security is in view.
Nonviolent Action: What Christian Ethics Demands But Most Christians Have Never Really Tried by Ronald J. Sider
4.0
This work by Ron Sider is an incredible resource, not only for the historic peace churches and Christians committed to nonviolence, but for all Christians, the majority of whom would consider themselves Just War adherents. Sider presents a detailed and insightful look into successful nonviolent movements in the 20th century especially, all of which stand in stark contrast to the bloodbaths of the two World Wars and many other violent revolutions, genocides, etc. Not only does he draw attention to the popular nonviolent movements of Gandhi in India and King in the U.S., but he also focuses on lesser known successful nonviolent movements and revolutions, even in some places where it would be deemed unlikely that nonviolent action could hold any true power, such as in the Soviet Union, Egypt, Liberia, Philippines, and Nicaragua.
Perhaps most helpful is Sider's final section of the book in which he details and lays out what would be required to truly test the far-reaching potential of nonviolent action. While much effort, time, and money has been poured into military campaigns and violent power, the amount of effort, time, and money that has been poured into international and domestic peacemaking pales in comparison. If Christians, and countries and nations worldwide, truly desire world peace, justice, and equity among all peoples, we must be committed to peacemaking whatever the cost. Even within the Just War Tradition, the hope is that war would be the last resort, only after other negotiations and peace-making agreements have been tried and tested. That being said, it is important to make peace-making, seeking of justice by nonviolent means, and even nonviolent revolutions a top priority. This is especially the case, because of the fact that we live in an age of nuclear warfare, which could and would have ramifications that would be deadly not only to combatants, but to non-combatants as well.
Reading this book in the midst of state-wide, national, and even global protests against racism and white supremacy casts it in a totally different light, as well. At the end of May, 2020, I had the opportunity to join in a peaceful protest against racism and in support of Black lives, in Tulsa, OK. On that Saturday, as I was joined by hundreds of other peaceful protesters, we were able to travel throughout the city on foot, even blocking one of the main highways in the city, stopping traffic for well over half an hour. Ultimately, this led to a timely meeting with the mayor of the city, in hopes of having our demands heard and met. On that day, I witnessed firsthand the tip of the iceberg of nonviolent and peaceful protesting, which can and will and has led to powerful change in cities and nations worldwide.
Perhaps most helpful is Sider's final section of the book in which he details and lays out what would be required to truly test the far-reaching potential of nonviolent action. While much effort, time, and money has been poured into military campaigns and violent power, the amount of effort, time, and money that has been poured into international and domestic peacemaking pales in comparison. If Christians, and countries and nations worldwide, truly desire world peace, justice, and equity among all peoples, we must be committed to peacemaking whatever the cost. Even within the Just War Tradition, the hope is that war would be the last resort, only after other negotiations and peace-making agreements have been tried and tested. That being said, it is important to make peace-making, seeking of justice by nonviolent means, and even nonviolent revolutions a top priority. This is especially the case, because of the fact that we live in an age of nuclear warfare, which could and would have ramifications that would be deadly not only to combatants, but to non-combatants as well.
Reading this book in the midst of state-wide, national, and even global protests against racism and white supremacy casts it in a totally different light, as well. At the end of May, 2020, I had the opportunity to join in a peaceful protest against racism and in support of Black lives, in Tulsa, OK. On that Saturday, as I was joined by hundreds of other peaceful protesters, we were able to travel throughout the city on foot, even blocking one of the main highways in the city, stopping traffic for well over half an hour. Ultimately, this led to a timely meeting with the mayor of the city, in hopes of having our demands heard and met. On that day, I witnessed firsthand the tip of the iceberg of nonviolent and peaceful protesting, which can and will and has led to powerful change in cities and nations worldwide.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
4.0
"The Pearl" is a tragedy and a parable. In this novella, John Steinbeck tells the story of Kino, Juana, and Coyotito: a father, a mother, and a beloved child; they are Steinbeck's Mexican Holy Family: impoverished, forgotten, and marginalized. Steinbeck's short parable explores the complexity of family life, the pervasiveness of greed in the human heart, and the empty promises made by wealth, fame, and the American Dream. As always, Steinbeck seems to be on the side of the poor and the forgotten; he shows the plight of the poor man in Mexico, dreaming of giving his son a proper education, so that one day he could be the savior of their impoverished village. Time and time again, Steinbeck stresses the differences between the village of brush houses where the Holy Family lives and the city of plaster and stone where we find the greedy doctor, the corrupt pearl buyers, and the revered Catholic priest.
According to Steinbeck, the story and its title are meant to recall the parable told by Jesus in the Gospels of the pearl of great price. In Jesus' parable, the man who finds the pearl sells everything he has to purchase the pearl, which is representative of the Kingdom of God. For Steinbeck, however, the Pearl of the World that Kino finds diving in the Gulf of Mexico proves to be not the Kingdom of God, but a cursed and evil token, which brings greed, evil, disunity, and even death to his life and the life of his family.
As always, Steinbeck's characters are believable, complex, and tragically human. When readers of "The Pearl" look at Kino, Juana, and Coyotito, they see themselves. Steinbeck has a beautiful way of drawing his readers into the narrative, in an attempt to expose their own flaws, vulnerabilities, vices, hopes, and dreams; the archetypal and generalized nature of the story also helps in accomplishing this task. Unlike some of his longer and more epic narratives, "The Pearl" is fast-paced, action-packed, and dripping with suspense and emotion.
According to Steinbeck, the story and its title are meant to recall the parable told by Jesus in the Gospels of the pearl of great price. In Jesus' parable, the man who finds the pearl sells everything he has to purchase the pearl, which is representative of the Kingdom of God. For Steinbeck, however, the Pearl of the World that Kino finds diving in the Gulf of Mexico proves to be not the Kingdom of God, but a cursed and evil token, which brings greed, evil, disunity, and even death to his life and the life of his family.
As always, Steinbeck's characters are believable, complex, and tragically human. When readers of "The Pearl" look at Kino, Juana, and Coyotito, they see themselves. Steinbeck has a beautiful way of drawing his readers into the narrative, in an attempt to expose their own flaws, vulnerabilities, vices, hopes, and dreams; the archetypal and generalized nature of the story also helps in accomplishing this task. Unlike some of his longer and more epic narratives, "The Pearl" is fast-paced, action-packed, and dripping with suspense and emotion.
St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography by Philip Freeman
3.0
In Philip Freeman's biography of St. Patrick, he successfully separates the Patrick of history from the Patrick of myth. Freeman tells the story, as best we can piece it together, thanks to reliable sources, archaeology, and historical studies, of Patrick, a British-born son of nobility and status, who at the age of 15 was captured by Irish pirates and taken to Ireland as a slave. For six years, Patrick worked as a shepherd, serving his Irish masters; during this time, he became a deep follower of Christ, and eventually made his way home to Britain at the age of 21, only to return later in life to Ireland, where he would spend the rest of his life, ministering to, living with, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus to those who had once captured and enslaved him.
If anyone is interested in St. Patrick, one should definitely read Freeman's biography. As far as biographies go, it is relatively short, and a very easy read. I personally enjoyed the latter half of the book more than the former half. In the last chapters, Freeman dives deep into the only two written documents still in existence composed by Patrick, and in his Epilogue, Freeman includes the two letters in their entirety in his own translation.
These two letters, "Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus" and "Confession," are endearing and enlightening. They expose us to the very real, historical, and human Patrick who would later, after his death, become the Patron Saint of Ireland. Rather than applauding himself, Patrick writes candidly in these letters about his faults and shortcomings: "I am Patrick--a sinner--the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God." He is ashamed of his lack of education--"I have been afraid that people would laugh at the way I write. You see, I don't have much education compared to other people"--but he also sees the hand of God in this, as it is proof to Patrick that it is only by the gift of God that he is able to do in Ireland what the Lord has assigned for him to do: "God chose foolish little me from among all of you who seem so wise and so expert in the law and so powerful in your eloquence. He picked ignorant Patrick ... to go forth with fear and reverence ... to serve the Irish faithfully."
If anyone is interested in St. Patrick, one should definitely read Freeman's biography. As far as biographies go, it is relatively short, and a very easy read. I personally enjoyed the latter half of the book more than the former half. In the last chapters, Freeman dives deep into the only two written documents still in existence composed by Patrick, and in his Epilogue, Freeman includes the two letters in their entirety in his own translation.
These two letters, "Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus" and "Confession," are endearing and enlightening. They expose us to the very real, historical, and human Patrick who would later, after his death, become the Patron Saint of Ireland. Rather than applauding himself, Patrick writes candidly in these letters about his faults and shortcomings: "I am Patrick--a sinner--the most unsophisticated and unworthy among all the faithful of God." He is ashamed of his lack of education--"I have been afraid that people would laugh at the way I write. You see, I don't have much education compared to other people"--but he also sees the hand of God in this, as it is proof to Patrick that it is only by the gift of God that he is able to do in Ireland what the Lord has assigned for him to do: "God chose foolish little me from among all of you who seem so wise and so expert in the law and so powerful in your eloquence. He picked ignorant Patrick ... to go forth with fear and reverence ... to serve the Irish faithfully."
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
3.0
While Orwell envisions a future shaped by hard and forceful power in his "1984," Aldous Huxley sees the future shaped primarily by soft and much more digestible power. In Huxley's "Brave New World," it is not fear which stabilizes, but happiness and pleasure. It is a world where the family structure has been completely annihilated, chastity and self-restraint thrown out the window, and gloomy sentiments and feelings can be easily done away with by taking the drug "soma." What keeps society running and stabilized is a harsh caste-system (ranging from Alphas to Epsilons), a de-emphasis of individual autonomy ("everyone belongs to everyone else"), and strict condition and hypnopedia which begins as early as infancy for the members of the new World State.
For the one character in the story, John the Savage, who has not grown up with this conditioning, who understands life in terms of "beauty" and "truth," and who has grown up reading and memorizing Shakespeare, the uninhibited freedoms and the never-ending pleasure- and thrill-seeking activities of this "Brave New World" force him to question what is best for humanity and what makes life worth living. From the perspective of the World State, John the Savage, by choosing to feel pain, to choose God, and to practice self-restraint, is actually choosing unhappiness; this is a truth with which John is satisfied to live. John craves meaning.
"Brave New World" has withstood the test of time for good reason: it is still thought-provoking and captivating because it is still deemed possible. Hedonism is not a thing of the past, automation and industrialization lead the way in many of our societies, and we are beginning to realize more and more that we are more conditioned than we like to admit (modern advertising techniques do not fall far from the tree of wartime propaganda).
All in all, I think "Brave New World" is an important work. I did not personally enjoy this book as much as I was expecting to, which is why I am giving it a rating of 3 stars, but I still think it was worth the read. The storyline was relatively simple, and the characters, apart from John the Savage, were not too interesting to me. I do think Huxley has a good way with words; his writing style is quick and witty.
For the one character in the story, John the Savage, who has not grown up with this conditioning, who understands life in terms of "beauty" and "truth," and who has grown up reading and memorizing Shakespeare, the uninhibited freedoms and the never-ending pleasure- and thrill-seeking activities of this "Brave New World" force him to question what is best for humanity and what makes life worth living. From the perspective of the World State, John the Savage, by choosing to feel pain, to choose God, and to practice self-restraint, is actually choosing unhappiness; this is a truth with which John is satisfied to live. John craves meaning.
"Brave New World" has withstood the test of time for good reason: it is still thought-provoking and captivating because it is still deemed possible. Hedonism is not a thing of the past, automation and industrialization lead the way in many of our societies, and we are beginning to realize more and more that we are more conditioned than we like to admit (modern advertising techniques do not fall far from the tree of wartime propaganda).
All in all, I think "Brave New World" is an important work. I did not personally enjoy this book as much as I was expecting to, which is why I am giving it a rating of 3 stars, but I still think it was worth the read. The storyline was relatively simple, and the characters, apart from John the Savage, were not too interesting to me. I do think Huxley has a good way with words; his writing style is quick and witty.
The Prophets by Abraham Joshua Heschel
5.0
I first read excerpts from "The Prophets" by Abraham J. Heschel in a class about the Hebrew Prophets in my Junior year at college. I appreciated it, and was fascinated by the points Heschel made, and the way in which he spoke about God and what it means to be a prophet of Israel. However, it was not until now, after I have finally had the chance to read this work in its entirety, that I realize exactly how important and beautiful of a work this is.
Abraham Heschel, a Hassidic Jew from Warsaw, Poland, published his dissertation, "The Prophetic Consciousness," which would later become the acclaimed book "The Prophets," while at the University of Berlin; this was also shortly after the rise of Hitler and Naziism to power in Germany. Soon after, Heschel fled to the United States, escaping from the clutches of the Nazi Regime; his mother and his three sisters who stayed behind in Poland were all killed by the Nazis, fueled by anti-Semitism. He spent the rest of his life in the U.S.A., teaching and writing; he was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, marching alongside of the Reverend and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and also was outspokenly against the Vietnam War. This historical backdrop helps to inform our understanding of who Heschel as a person is, which aids in understanding who Heschel is as a writer, a theologian, and a biblical scholar.
"The Prophets" is one of the most fundamental works to spring up in the 20th century for biblical scholarship and the theology of the Hebrew Scriptures. It continues to bear witness and impact studies and lives today. In countless ways, Heschel shows how the prophets of Israel, unlike prophets elsewhere in antiquity and around the world, are not primarily concerned with their experiencing the divine, or of being possessed by God for their own sake; rather, the prophetic experience exists only because of the divine's concern for humanity and history. According to Heschel, God is attentive to and concerned with the plight of humanity; "it is God's concern for man that is at the root of the prophet's work to save the people" (618). God's pathos is the reason for the prophetic work. Because God is concerned about justice, about the oppression of the poor and the needy, about the events of history, and about His covenant with His people--it is for this reason that the prophets were sent to Israel. God's concern, pathos, and desire for justice is made evident in the spell-binding words and actions of the prophets of Israel.
While there is much more that can be said about this work, one will simply have to read it for one's self to fully unearth the treasures found therein.
Abraham Heschel, a Hassidic Jew from Warsaw, Poland, published his dissertation, "The Prophetic Consciousness," which would later become the acclaimed book "The Prophets," while at the University of Berlin; this was also shortly after the rise of Hitler and Naziism to power in Germany. Soon after, Heschel fled to the United States, escaping from the clutches of the Nazi Regime; his mother and his three sisters who stayed behind in Poland were all killed by the Nazis, fueled by anti-Semitism. He spent the rest of his life in the U.S.A., teaching and writing; he was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement, marching alongside of the Reverend and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and also was outspokenly against the Vietnam War. This historical backdrop helps to inform our understanding of who Heschel as a person is, which aids in understanding who Heschel is as a writer, a theologian, and a biblical scholar.
"The Prophets" is one of the most fundamental works to spring up in the 20th century for biblical scholarship and the theology of the Hebrew Scriptures. It continues to bear witness and impact studies and lives today. In countless ways, Heschel shows how the prophets of Israel, unlike prophets elsewhere in antiquity and around the world, are not primarily concerned with their experiencing the divine, or of being possessed by God for their own sake; rather, the prophetic experience exists only because of the divine's concern for humanity and history. According to Heschel, God is attentive to and concerned with the plight of humanity; "it is God's concern for man that is at the root of the prophet's work to save the people" (618). God's pathos is the reason for the prophetic work. Because God is concerned about justice, about the oppression of the poor and the needy, about the events of history, and about His covenant with His people--it is for this reason that the prophets were sent to Israel. God's concern, pathos, and desire for justice is made evident in the spell-binding words and actions of the prophets of Israel.
While there is much more that can be said about this work, one will simply have to read it for one's self to fully unearth the treasures found therein.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum
4.0
Dr. Tatum's work, originally written in 1997, and revisited twenty years later in 2017, is an incredibly important work on the issue of racism and also of racial identity development in both people of color and in white individuals. Tatum's insights into the development of children, into adolescence, and then into adulthood is interesting and very insightful; while she is herself a black woman, and can more easily and personally address the experiences of black men and woman growing up in America, she also lays forth helpful perspectives and thoughts on the development of white people and other groups and peoples of color in America, such as Latinxs, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Middle Eastern and North African persons.
What I found especially helpful as I read through this book was her insights into the understanding of race and identity for children and adolescents. As early as three years old, children are recognizing and noticing differences between people, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. While it may seem strange to address issues of race and even racism at a young age, it is important to take up this job for our children, as they will grow up to be the leaders of our country in due time; the cost of silence is more than the risk of talking about the reality of racial identity and the presence of racism in our world and our country.
Her chapters devoted to the identity of white people in regards to racial identity were also insightful and helpful. It is easy for me, as a white person, to think of myself as "raceless," in a way, because whiteness is the norm in my environment and in this country. Because of this, it may be rather difficult for me to recognize racism, to understand the offense of racism, and even to be blinded to the effects of racism on not only people of color but on my own life. It is important for white people to realize that racism will and does have a negative effect on their own lives, as well as on the lives of people of color, albeit in different ways. We are all in this together.
All in all, Tatum's book is helpful. It is a must-read when it comes to better understanding racism and racial identity. It opens us up for more capacity and ability to break silence, to have dialogue about these difficult and important topics, and to become anti-racist presences wherever we go.
What I found especially helpful as I read through this book was her insights into the understanding of race and identity for children and adolescents. As early as three years old, children are recognizing and noticing differences between people, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features. While it may seem strange to address issues of race and even racism at a young age, it is important to take up this job for our children, as they will grow up to be the leaders of our country in due time; the cost of silence is more than the risk of talking about the reality of racial identity and the presence of racism in our world and our country.
Her chapters devoted to the identity of white people in regards to racial identity were also insightful and helpful. It is easy for me, as a white person, to think of myself as "raceless," in a way, because whiteness is the norm in my environment and in this country. Because of this, it may be rather difficult for me to recognize racism, to understand the offense of racism, and even to be blinded to the effects of racism on not only people of color but on my own life. It is important for white people to realize that racism will and does have a negative effect on their own lives, as well as on the lives of people of color, albeit in different ways. We are all in this together.
All in all, Tatum's book is helpful. It is a must-read when it comes to better understanding racism and racial identity. It opens us up for more capacity and ability to break silence, to have dialogue about these difficult and important topics, and to become anti-racist presences wherever we go.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
4.0
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a brilliant writer and storyteller, and "The Water Dancer" definitely does not disappoint or fall short of the hype. Coates' first full-length novel truly feels like a masterful blend of fact and fiction, of history and legend, as he weaves the story of the Underground Railroad and the legendary work of Harriet Tubman with a tale of love, pain, and beauty that is fictitious and make-believe, but does not change or alter its legitimate impact on the reader.
As I read through Coates' work, I could not help but note his influences. Pulling from the likes of such writers as James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison (especially "Beloved") and Octavia Butler (especially "Kindred"), Coates has created a unique and telling story of his own, which is set in an age gone by, but still has much to say today. The horrors of slavery are evident throughout the story, but ultimately, this story is a story of freedom, and of what true freedom meant for Black men, women, and children, and not only for them as individuals, but for whole families and communities. "The Water Dancer" is a great story, keeping the reader engaged throughout, and the story Coates tells is important and timeless for all readers.
As I read through Coates' work, I could not help but note his influences. Pulling from the likes of such writers as James Baldwin and Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison (especially "Beloved") and Octavia Butler (especially "Kindred"), Coates has created a unique and telling story of his own, which is set in an age gone by, but still has much to say today. The horrors of slavery are evident throughout the story, but ultimately, this story is a story of freedom, and of what true freedom meant for Black men, women, and children, and not only for them as individuals, but for whole families and communities. "The Water Dancer" is a great story, keeping the reader engaged throughout, and the story Coates tells is important and timeless for all readers.