TEIN IS ONE RELEVANT'S BEST BOOKS OF 2009  

The End Is Now made Relevant magazine's list of the Best Books of 2009. Where did it end up on this list? Only one way to find out. Also some other very good books you should be reading on this list. 

ROB STENNETT NOVELS

Just for the record I am a novelist. Which means that I write books that are not truth, but rather make believe stories that point to much bigger, rewarding, and insightful truths.

My newest novel, is titled, The End Is Now. It is about Goodland, Kansas a town that will be the test market for the rapture. It is not pro-rapture or anti-rapture but simply and exploration of faith and humankind's fascination with The End Of The World. Here is the trailer:

My debut novel is titled The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher. I just did a piece for Relevant with Jason Boyett where he described the novel as "A brilliantly satirical romp in which a non-theistic real estate agent ends up the pastor of a megachurch." That's the best synopsis I've heard all week. Here is the trailer: 

SEX ADVICE FROM ROB STENNETT

Matthew Paul Turner a friend (as he says it we're Facebook friends, but we're also like minded authors in the CBA, I'd like to think of us as the Tito Jacksons of the CBA.) Anyway, I did a guest post for his blog Jesus Needs New PR (Rob Bell was on the morning, and Rob Bell is the Michael Jackson of the CBA). 

I was writing about a controversial topic, but didn't want to give an obvious answer. Would the obvious have been safer? Yes. But people turn off the hearing aids when it comes to obvious answers, and besides I think the question posted on the blog brought up real issues. 

Here's what I had to say at Jesus Needs New PR. 

MY LIST OF SHAME

I did a podcast with Screen Geeks yesterday. The resident comedian on the show, Ethan a guy who has brilliant insight into films AND is from Canada mentioned something that I thought was great. He called it, "His List of Shame." 

The idea is this: It's the list of his movies that he's ashamed to have never seen. The reason is if you're a movie Geek then there are movies that you just have to have seen like 2001, Easy Rider, and Treasure of Sierra Madre. But everyone has their list of shame. Everyone has movies that came out and you somehow missed and everybody talks about but you just smile knowingly because you don't want to admit that you haven't seen it. 

For movies here is my top 3:

1) Schindler's List

I've picked this up at the Blockbuster, had it on my netflix que, and think about renting it all the time. But I alway chicken out because it just seems to depressing.

2) Blue Velvet

How I claim to be in the know with David Lynch but still haven't seen this movie is something I should be ashamed of.

3) Singin' In The Rain

This is number 5 in the AFI all time list. All I know of this movie is from scenes in A Clockwork Orange.

And because I write novels, here are my top three on my list of shame:

1) Ulysses 

This is a masterpiece. And James Joyce is one of the most important writers who have ever lived. (At least for native English speakers like myself). But I'm not gonna lie this book intimidates me. 

2) Atlas Shrugged

I don't even really know what this book is about. I don't know how Atlas is or why he shrugged. I do know that I love 1984 and a Brave New World so it seems like I should read this book.

3) Twilight and (5 and 1/2) of the Harry Potter series. 

Not because these are literary classics necessarily, but just because they are on the cutting edge of pop culture. I write fiction and everybody talks about these books. So I should have read them by now. Shameful.

What's on your list? 

Not gonna lie. I would watch this show.

This review popped up for The End Is Now online. I got a kick out of it. Thought I'd share it with you:

Oh why did this book have to end??

I have four words for you: This book is AMAZING. I don't even know how to describe it to you. I read a review of this book claiming that it was "hilarious", which it certainly is not. Yes, there were some funny moments, but they were 'Smile Inwardly' funny moments, not laugh out loud moments. It's a satire technically I suppose, but I think it would be better described as The Left Behind books for the rest of us. You know, the same thrilling end times story without being forced to endure having the disturbing worldview of premillennial dispensationalists like Tim LaHaye shoved down your throat. To put it in simpler terms, this book is the Left Behind series minus the misogyny, intolerance, glorification of violence, and best of all minus the descriptions of our Lord as a bloodthirsty killer. Ahh I'm going off on a tangent here, but you get what I'm saying, don't you? 

The book is an edge of your seat thriller. I couldn't even pick it up during the day time because once I started reading I could. not. put. it. down. One night after having devoured a third of the book in one sitting, I had to throw it down on the table and run away so I wouldn't stay up all night reading. Some of the descriptions of the events in the story were so vivid and powerful that I got goosebumps. 

One more important thing: I don't think you need to be a Christian to love this book. The book is definitely written from a Theistic viewpoint, but it doesn't preach or force any particular view. I don't know if Rob Stennett actually believes in the Rapture or not. All I know is that his writing didn't insist either way, and that's a pretty remarkable accomplishment. 

So, in conclusion, read this book. Better yet, buy 20 copies and pass them on to everyone who you love so that they can be so blessed as well! Then come back and find me and we'll form a Rob Stennett fan club. What are you waiting for?? Go!!

THE TOP TV THEMES OF ALL TIME

We don’t have time for theme songs anymore. We want a quick opens like LOST and Heroes. But a good ballad that give you the whole premise of the show AND makes you feel good, that’s for yesteryear. 

Well, I for one miss it. I miss ballads that are sung over a montage of clips. So in honor I’ve decided to make a list of the top TV themes of all time. And I've decided to only include sit coms for the purpose of this list. I didn't want a list filled with the themes from MASH and ER. Where's the fun in that?

Just to be clear, I am not judging the show. This is purely a list based on the music that plays in the 60 seconds before the show begins. So now, in order, once and for all, the list of the top 5 greatest sit com themes of all time. 

5. (a)  Gilligan’s Island
   
This probably should be higher on the list. But this show was before my time. Still, this song gives the whole premise to the show, introduces and gives the occupations of the entire cast. Pretty impressive way to spend 60 seconds.

5. (b)  Mr. Belvedere
This song is epic. “According to our new arrival, life is more then their survival.” This song not only gives the premise to the show but also the theme of the show.

4. Perfect Strangers

The Perfect Strangers theme accomplished something that was rampant in 1980's--a sense of hope and purpose if we live life together (other shows TV themes that did this Family Ties, Growing Pains, Lavern and Shirley). And while all of those other shows maybe better TV shows, nothing was more sweeping and hopeful then the this theme.

3. Fresh Prince Of Bel Air

The Fresh Prince Getting a sit com. It was to good to be true. And this opening was shot just like a Fresh Prince and DJ. Jazzy Jeff music video. It had the same magic of Parents Just Don't Understand and Nightmare On My Street to this TV theme.

2. Friends

Now, I don't even like this song. It pains me to put it this high on the list. But seeing everyone playing in water fountains and acting so wacky and over-expressive defined the mid 90's. Coffee shops were at their height and it all started with a little tune from the Rembrandts.

1. Cheers

There aren't any clips of characters in the cheers theme. Most of it is just sepia 1800's looking photographs of guys with mustaches and top hats. But the lyrics, "Making Your Way In The World Today Takes Everything You've Got...Sometimes You've Got To Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name." There has not and will not be a better TV theme song then that right there. The end. Goodnight. 

RETURN POLICY a Michael Snyder Novel

Nick Hornby convinced me to get married.

Now, I’ve never met Nick Hornby. I probably never will. But High Fidelity was such a spot on exploration of the endless cycle of “get to know you,” “love you,” and then “hate you in explosive breakup” types of relationships that at the end of the book Rob (great name for a character) decides that he wants to experience something deeper. That there has to be something more to a relationship then what he’s experienced, and maybe, just maybe, it’s time to take the plunge.

I had always subscribed to Paul’s theory that it is best not to marry (assuming that I wouldn’t burn) until I read Hornby. He challenged me. Changed my views on marriage. And I also happened to meet the most incredible girl in the history of girls. But that’s another blog.

Hornby also changed my views on literature. Before Hornby, I either read classics like Twain, Dickens, and Hemmingway or I read contemporary greats like Kurt Vonnegut, Tim O’Brien, Stephen King, and Phillip Roth. It did not occur to me that simple stories of normal people had inherent value until I met Nick Hornby.

Well, there is now a novelist that reminds me of Hornby. He has his own voice to be sure, but for me pop culture discovery has always been one thing linked to another: Star Wars to Star Trek, Wes Anderson to The Coen Brothers, Nirvana to Pearl Jam, and so on…

Michael Snyder’s new novel hits the shelves today. You’ve got to read it. It’s the seemingly simple story of three characters whose lives intertwine in the most unique of ways, but it’s literate, funny, thoughtful, a great read and a redemptive story.

I won’t spoil the plot, or give you a synopsis, the promotional copy does a much better job of that then I ever could. But I will say, that like Hornby, Snyder is interested in coming of age stories. This story involves three characters who came of age, were struck by tragedy, and now seem lost and incapable of a second chance. Mike writes each character in the first person (and as I writer myself, I can say writing so confidently in the first person takes a lot of talent, yet Snyder seems to do it effortlessly) as they tell their stories, explain their pasts, and get involved in a Robert Altman like journey of intertwining paths.

Return Policy is fun ride, the dialogue snaps, and the characters jump off the page. Get a copy of this book, it’s great for the beach or a rainy summer afternoon with a hot cup of coffee. Just don’t drink the hot coffee to fast and remember to wear sunblock SPF 15 or higher before you get sucked into the story. 

Want to get the book. Get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Return-Policy-Michael-Snyder/dp/0310277280/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243911673&sr=1-1