[art rampage: sequence]

After a long hiatus for a hectic 19 school hour semester, I am back with a fresh approach at Bilbo's Red Book.

While the reviews will continue, I will begin a more personal, artistic entry series title [indistinct chatter] that will offer an inside look inside me, and the band Will Tell, as we hit the road and experience our first really big record experience.

For now......Some reviews of a different type:
Literature

Adam
by Ted Dekker
Adam is one of those creepy books that sneaks up on you and ends up on your bookshelf without you realizing it. Then, in that dark hour of the night when you can not sleep, you pick it up and read your heart out....literally. The latest thriller by Ted Dekker, Adam deals with demon-possession, NDE's or Near Death Experiences, the occult, and assisted suicide. So....this book begs the question....Is this really a Christian novel? Believe it or not, this is. Disturbing or not, these subjects are generally never tackled by authors and I appreciate the guts that Dekker had to actually do that...and in a disturbing storyline as well. While Dekker has been controversial for years for his books Three, Obsessed and House, this one certainly pushes the limit, with a character named Daniel who is searching for a serial killer who calls himself Eve. Every month Eve kills a woman and Daniel has become obsessed with hunting this killer down. When he is killed however, things come full circle as demon possession and the after life become involved in the plot. While this is not for everyone, Adam is certainly a chillingly good book that as the author himself admits "is no beach read". This book should be approached with a clear mind and interest.....

Music

Ampersand EP
Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken

This EP from the husband/wife team of Webb and McCracken is one of my favorite cds to ever be released. The sound combines honest lyrics with the themes of love and devotion with a sound that is like Jon Foreman and Bob Dylan met Sheryl Crow. At times it sounds more Alison Krauss and sometimes it sounds like Caedmon's Call. One thing is sure though, the melodies on this cd are beautiful, with gentle guitar and certain instruments such as banjo added at times for an almost-but-not-quite-country effect. Check this one out on iTunes.

Stay tuned for more! I have returned!