Jonathan Langford (Author of No Going Back)

Jonathan Langford wrote a new blog post: The Writing Rookie Season 2, #4: Yes, I’m a Stalker — Er, Writer

The Writing Rookie Season 2, #4: Yes, I’m a Stalker — Er, Writer

This post is cross-posted at A Motley Vision. For the complete list of columns in this series, click here.

A couple of months ago — shortly after m... read more »

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

A Call to Russia: Glimpses of Missionary Life from the Journal of a Mission President in the Russia St. Petersburg Mission
by Thomas F. Rogers

My rating:

Provides worthwhile insights into both LDS experience in Russia, told in a warm and compassionate personal voice.

Jonathan Langford made a comment in the group LDS Fiction — What's everybody reading? topic

"I just recently read the John Wayne Cleaver books by Dan Wells, an LDS author whose first novel (I Am Not a Serial Killer) tied for the 2009 Whitney A...more "

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

I Don't Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, #3)
by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)

My rating:

A devastating and brilliant conclusion to this series. Transcends the genre of teen horror. One of the best books I've read in a long time. For my complete review of the series, go here: http://www.motleyvision.org/2011/dest....

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

Mr. Monster (John Cleaver, #2)
by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)

My rating:

Thoughtful and well-written. The series continues well, as we come to know where Cleaver comes from, his family and his intense desire to protect and strike back against those who threaten what is precious to him. For my complete review of the series...more

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver, #1)
by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)

My rating:

An interesting premise plus excellent characterization gets this series off to a good start. For my review of the complete series, go here: http://www.motleyvision.org/2011/dest...

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

Inuit
by M. Shayne Bell

read in January, 1993

My rating:

I first read this many years ago. This is a story--not really novel-length, but more like a novella--of an Inuit boy living in an artificial satellite that has been created as a place where his culture can preserve their traditional lifestyle. It fol...more

Jonathan Langford made a comment in the group LDS Fiction — LDS Books on Nook? topic

"Most of the titles from Zarahemla Books (including my novel, No Going Back) are available in a variety of electronic formats from Smashwords, for a pr...more "

Jonathan Langford joined the LDS Fiction group.

Jonathan Langford gave

to:

Adventures of the Soul
by Brigham Young University

read in December, 2010

My rating:

A good personal essay is like an evening spent in front of a fireplace with a longtime friend. It’s not about drama and high emotion. Nor is it about polished literary style — though there is a style and a demanding literary craft to writing such ess...more A good personal essay is like an evening spent in front of a fireplace with a longtime friend. It’s not about drama and high emotion. Nor is it about polished literary style — though there is a style and a demanding literary craft to writing such essays well. The essence of that craft lies in the achievement of a clear, intimate, authentic voice, as if the author were indeed a close and trusted friend. The satisfaction we as readers take from the experience springs in large measure from that sense of connection.

The other key to a good personal essay is the quiet insights it provides into ordinary life. Personal essays are the genre of the quotidian, focused into insight and clarity (there’s that word again) through the lens of an author’s mental reflection and then offered up for the reader’s recognition and acknowledgment. The underlying ethos of every personal essay is our essential similarity as human beings. As Jane D. Brady (author of one of the essays published in this collection) puts it: “There’s not a chasm between normal, functioning human beings and the bums on the street with no job and no life. There’s one hair’s breadth. Disaster is one step off the sidewalk. It is one migraine away” (p. 198). Personal essays persuade us of this truth (just as applicable to miracles as disasters) through a combination of narrated occurrence and quiet observation. We ponder the writer’s insights, resonate with the writer’s experiences, and feel that we know ourselves better as a result.

Adventures of the Soul: The Best Creative Nonfiction from BYU Studies makes accessible 25 high-quality contributions to this genre, well suited to the tastes of orthodox Mormons who enjoy thoughtful reflection on what it means to be Mormon and what it means to be human. The essays — ranging from memories of World War II among the Latter-day Saints in an Australian branch to insights interwoven with recuperation from back surgery — are organized into the 4 categories of International Vistas, Family Views, Gospel Reflections, and Introspection. Truthfully, though, all of the essays strike me as being in some sense about family, self, and gospel, each set in its own specific geographical, cultural, and temporal frame.

Personal essays in venues such as Dialogue and Sunstone often explore what it’s like to be in the boundary areas of Mormon experience. The essays in Adventures of the Soul, in contrast, stay away from the edges but drill down deep into what it means to be a thoughtful mainstream Mormon in a range of life circumstances. There’s no controversy, but plenty of fodder for reflection and sharing.

The presentation of these essays matches the quality of their content. The book is beautifully composed and typeset, featuring grayscale photographs of waterfalls that harmonize with the thoughtful and reflective tone of the content. Overall, it’s an ideal gift for the thoughtful, believing Mormon on your Christmas, birthday, or Mother’s/Father’s Day list who may not care for fiction but who likes to read and think about human experience.(less)

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	No Going Back 385 avg rating — 52 ratings — published 2009 — 3 editions	My rating:
	The Latter-day Saint Family Encyclopedia by Christopher Bigelow, Jonathan Langford (Goodreads Author) 400 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2010	My rating:

Jonathan Langford wrote a new blog post: The Writing Rookie Season 2, #4: Yes, I’m a Stalker — Er, Writer The Writing Rookie Season 2, #4: Yes, I’m a Stalker — Er, Writer This post is cross-posted at A Motley Vision. For the complete list of columns in this series, click here. A couple of months ago — shortly after m... read more »
25 de Abr 17:06 · like
Jonathan Langford gave to: A Call to Russia: Glimpses of Missionary Life from the Journal of a Mission President in the Russia St. Petersburg Mission by Thomas F. Rogers	My rating:
Provides worthwhile insights into both LDS experience in Russia, told in a warm and compassionate personal voice.
24 de Jun 13:24 · see review
Jonathan Langford made a comment in the group LDS Fiction — What's everybody reading? topic "I just recently read the John Wayne Cleaver books by Dan Wells, an LDS author whose first novel (I Am Not a Serial Killer) tied for the 2009 Whitney A...more "
27 de Abr 23:06
Jonathan Langford gave to: I Don't Want to Kill You (John Cleaver, #3) by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
A devastating and brilliant conclusion to this series. Transcends the genre of teen horror. One of the best books I've read in a long time. For my complete review of the series, go here: http://www.motleyvision.org/2011/dest....
21 de Abr 04:36 · see review
Jonathan Langford gave to: Mr. Monster (John Cleaver, #2) by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
Thoughtful and well-written. The series continues well, as we come to know where Cleaver comes from, his family and his intense desire to protect and strike back against those who threaten what is precious to him. For my complete review of the series...more
21 de Abr 04:34 · see review
Jonathan Langford gave to: I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver, #1) by Dan Wells (Goodreads Author)	My rating:
An interesting premise plus excellent characterization gets this series off to a good start. For my review of the complete series, go here: http://www.motleyvision.org/2011/dest...
21 de Abr 04:32 · see review
Jonathan Langford gave to: Inuit by M. Shayne Bell read in January, 1993	My rating:
I first read this many years ago. This is a story--not really novel-length, but more like a novella--of an Inuit boy living in an artificial satellite that has been created as a place where his culture can preserve their traditional lifestyle. It fol...more
12 de Abr 20:19 · see review
Jonathan Langford made a comment in the group LDS Fiction — LDS Books on Nook? topic "Most of the titles from Zarahemla Books (including my novel, No Going Back) are available in a variety of electronic formats from Smashwords, for a pr...more "
4 de Feb 13:12
Jonathan Langford joined the LDS Fiction group.
20 de Ene 09:05 · see group
Jonathan Langford gave to: Adventures of the Soul by Brigham Young University read in December, 2010	My rating:
A good personal essay is like an evening spent in front of a fireplace with a longtime friend. It’s not about drama and high emotion. Nor is it about polished literary style — though there is a style and a demanding literary craft to writing such ess...more
27 de Dic 13:20 · see review

Jonathan Langford

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