A Very Strange Book Meme: The Answers Edition

I’m identifying the books from which the sentences in the book meme came.

Ten fifth sentences from page 56 of ten books

1. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. This one comes from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Threegirldad identified this for you. This is pretty much the perfect sentence for distinguishing this book, since it’s part of what some call the “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord” argument that Lewis is famous for. Clue #3 went with this sentence because I know for sure that Tim Challies is reading this book at present.


2. They will always send you free books. This is from Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman. The sentence seems oddly appropriate, don’t you think? The clue that goes with this is clue #4. This book is from the used bookstore, actually. I have it for the same reason I keep other strange out-dated things—I love history, particularly social history.


3. Whatever happened, he must take some action, or else … This sentence is not a very good representative of this book as a whole, but it’s from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and guessed correctly by threegirldad. Hint #5 applies to this.


4. “I lost ten for passive-voice, too,” Maya said. This is from David Heddle’s own novel, Here, Eyeball This! Clue #2.


5. Only in recent times (and the rumors I had heard were vague) his star at court had waned, he had had to leave Avignon, and the Pope had this indomitable man pursued as a heretic who per mundum discurrit vagabundus. From The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco.


6. I’m sure you would rather turn around. From Leaving Home, Garrison Keillor. Candy guessed the author of this. Clue #6 for this.


7. He looked around for the bird now because he would have liked him for company. Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea. I really thought someone would get this one. The sentence is very Heminwayish, and I thought the mention of the bird might identify which book.


8. Accordingly, the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of redemption, historically, stand or fall together. This is from B. B. Warfield in Biblical and Theological Studies. I didn’t expect anyone to get this and I was right.


9. O’Kane climbed the ladder from the conning tower to the bridge, where he soon stood beside Bill Leibold, whom he regarded as his “extra pair of eyes.” From Escape from the Deep, Alex Kershaw. Historical and not fiction. Two of my kids are WWII buffs, so my library is full of these kinds of books.


10. God’s Word in the Old Testament is his creative utterance, his power of action fulfilling his purpose. John got this one: Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I love this sentence, BTW.

Five hints (I’ve updated by giving the numbers of the lines the hints go with)

1. You would expect someone from Minnesota to have at least one book by this author. (6)
2. You would expect David Heddle to have at least one book by this author. (4)
3. I know at least one person who is reading this book right now. (1)
4. I think this book is stolen. (2)
5. Yes, it’s by a Russian. (3)

Sunday's Hymn

We sang this 5th century hymn in church this morning. We did not, however, sing all these verses.

Of the Father’s Love Begotten

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

—Aurelius Prudentius

You didn’t know this hymn could be cute, did you?

I suppose I should post a more soberminded version, too.

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• My People, Give Ear at Hiraeth
• The Lord Is My Shepherd at Field Stone Cottage
• Lord’s Day 49, 2008 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Great God, Whose Universal Sway at joythruChrist
• Comfort, Comfort Ye My People at Conjubilant with Song
• O Son of God, We Wait for Thee at The Happy Wonderer
• Hark the Glad Sound! at Nova Scotia Scott
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon: Spurgeon’s Lament at Pyromaniacs
• O Perfect Love at Whatever Things
• Update: Of the Father’s Love Begotten at Tapestry of Grace

Have you posted a hymn today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

A Very Strange Book Meme

I’ve been tagged by David Heddle for this meme. I am compelled to follow these instructions.

Take ten books, and transcribe the fifth sentence from page fifty six.

In keeping with the 5, 56 thing, Make sure that at least five books are fiction, provide five hints, and pass the meme on to six other bloggers.

So here goes:

Ten fifth sentences from page 56 of ten books

1. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell.
2. They will always send you free books.
3. Whatever happened, he must take some action, or else …
4. “I lost ten for passive-voice, too,” Maya said.
5. Only in recent times (and the rumors I had heard were vague) his star at court had waned, he had had to leave Avignon, and the Pope had this indomitable man pursued as a heretic who per mundum discurrit vagabundus.
6. I’m sure you would rather turn around.
7. He looked around for the bird now because he would have liked him for company.
8. Accordingly, the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of redemption, historically, stand or fall together.
9. O’Kane climbed the ladder from the conning tower to the bridge, where he soon stood beside Bill Leibold, whom he regarded as his “extra pair of eyes.”
10. God’s Word in the Old Testament is his creative utterance, his power of action fulfilling his purpose.

Five hints (I’ve updated by giving the numbers of the lines the hints go with)

1. You would expect someone from Minnesota to have at least one book by this author. (6)
2. You would expect David Heddle to have at least one book by this author. (4)
3. I know at least one person who is reading this book right now. (1)
4. I think this book is stolen. (2)
5. Yes, it’s by a Russian. (3)

I hate tagging people, but it would ruin the pattern of the meme if I didn’t, wouldn’t it?

• Brandon Watson
• Dorothy
• Kim in Ontario
• Rey
• Catez (As a means of soliciting a post.)
• Scott McClare (Because he should post more, too.)