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The Left Hand of God

The Left Hand of God

Posted on January 20, 2013September 20, 2017 by Dot

The Left Hand of GodOne night, during the Christmas break, I was pleased to see the listing of a favorite old movie, The Left Hand of God from 1955. This story features Humphrey Bogart and Gene Tierney, though this is not one of the most mentioned films during discussions of these actors’ resumes.

A man in priestly robes (Bogart) appears at a small Catholic mission in China.  He is presumed to be the long awaited Father O’Shea. Although his demeanor and behavior are different from what one would expect of a priest, his rough tactics prove successful with the local bullies.  (It’s 1947 and China is dissolving into civil war and revolution.)  To further complicate matters, the mission nurse Anne (Gene Tierney) seems attracted to him and he to her.

When he can struggle with this no more, the man confesses his name is Jim Carmody, recently escaped from the camp of a Chinese warlord (played by Lee J. Cobb).  Carmody’s confrontation with (and victory over) the warlord leave the villagers believing he is a saint and this was a miracle.  The Bishop, though not happy at the deception, is more concerned with the disillusionment of the Chinese converts if Carmody is found out. So, ‘Father Shea’ leaves quietly after telling Anne of his true feelings for her … leaving us to wonder if they will ever see each other again.

The novel, The Left Hand of God, was written by William E. Barrett. He wrote several books that dealt with men who were forced to look at their attitudes about faith and God.  Humphrey Bogart was a good choice to play Jim Carmody, since Bogart usually portrayed a hard boiled cynic who in the end shows his noble side.  Reviewers call The Left Hand of God an adventure story with a religious theme; the story of one man’s faith journey.

You may find the book in your local library or chance upon it in a used book sale. Watch for the movie on cable or, while I’m not sure it’s out on DVD yet, it might appear one day in the sale bins of the big box stores.

I recommend both movie and book.

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The Pastor's Wife

Back to My 2012 Reading List

Posted on January 13, 2013September 21, 2017 by Dot

John OrtbergI read 11 non-fiction books during the past 12 months. Four were inspirational genre: What Difference Do It Make by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, Is This Seat Taken by Kristin S. Kaufman, and If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg.

When I’m reading a collection of poetry I like to go slowly, one or two poems a day, to feel the rhythm and think about the meaning.  I finished two compilations in 2012: 100 Best Poems of All Time, edited by Leslie Pockell (I’m always interested to see what “they” consider “the best”) and The Poets Roundtable of Arkansas 71st Anthology, a gift from my friend Pat Laster. Pat, a past president of PRA, contributed several poems to this book.

I love investigative non-fiction and in 2012 I devoured Mara Leveritt’s The Devil’s Knot (don’t know why I waited so long to dig into this story about the Memphis Three) and The Pastor’s Wife by Diane Fanning. Ms. Fanning did well with the story of the preacher’s wife in Tennessee who shot her husband, but for investigative reporting no one holds a candle to Mara Leveritt– in my opinion.

An interesting book for folks living in White County is Images of America — Searcy Arkansas by Patsy Pipkin and Carolyn Boyles, two friends from White County Creative Writers. People who grew up in Searcy will especially love this pictorial history of that town.

Marley and Me by John Grogan is a delightful story about a man, his family and his great big Labrador Retriever. It was made into a sweet movie with Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston (and a big dog).

John Keats - Dorothy ParkerYou Might as Well Live by John Keats is the story of the life and times of Dorothy Parker.  It pains me that many under-fifty types might say, “Who?” She was a popular, successful writer during the Twenties-Thirties-Forties when poets and storytellers could support themselves writing for the popular magazines of the day. She never wrote a novel, but did compile her short stories and poems into collections. These books would be a rare find today in a flea market or estate sale. D.P. was known as a wit and free thinker who always said exactly what was on her mind, unusual for a woman of that time.

Of the 20 books I read in 2012, 8 were gifts and another 3 were recommended by friends who know I like to read.  Indeed I do and I am glad to share my reading with you.

My goal for 2013 is to read four classics and six writers I have never read before. Who knows what else will capture my fancy and be added to the list?

Another goal is to publish my fourth book, a novel-based-on-a-true-story (creative non-fiction?) as yet untitled but really, really close to being finished.  More about that later.

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My 2012 Reading List

Posted on January 6, 2013January 6, 2013 by Dot

After a short break — Happy New Year and Happy 12th Day of Christmas. Today is Epiphany Sunday.

Each year I list the books I have read over the past year and in 2012 I read 9 novels. Wanting to re-read a classic I chose The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  As I read I made notes and  marked good sentences.  (“I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”)

Three novels were young adult genre, The Killer’s Tears by Anne-Laura Bondoux, A Boy at War by Harry Mazer and Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (a Newberry Award Winner).  If you want a quick, clean read that is often also an excellent story, I suggest young adult novels.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows and Another View by Rosamunde Pilcher were both delightful stories set in England, where I have always wanted to visit.

Sold by Patricia McCormick is the story of a young girl from a small village in Nepal who is sold into prostitution because her family is starving. I chose it from the United Methodist Women’s reading list and it is a very heart-wrenching story.

One of my favorite writers is Jodi Picoult and this year I read her Sing You Home.  She has written many books I have not read, because I usually allow myself only one of her novels a year. I love her voice and I fear if I absorb myself in it I could lose my own.

The last novel I snuck under the wire before the year ended was Call of the Cadron by Arkansas writer Freeda Baker Nichols of Clinton.  This book was published earlier this year by my friend and fellow critique group member who is also an award-winning poet.  It’s the story of Jordan Maxey, a young woman who struggles to find herself and her path in life while she feels the pull of tradition, family loyalties and responsibilities, and her own wants and desires.

For more information about Call of the Cadron and Freeda Baker Nichols click on the link under Places of Interest on the right of this page.  That will take you to her blog.

Next week I will review the non-fiction books I read in 2012.

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Fourth Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 23, 2012September 17, 2017 by Dot

The fourth candle on the Advent wreath is the candle of revelation. God’s love for humanity is shown in his love for each man woman and child and he often makes himself known in our lives in a quiet, personal way. So he reveals himself to us, speaking in that still, small voice, hoping that we will hear and enter into the fellowship he offers.

How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still The dear Christ enters in.

-Phillip Brooks, 1835-1893

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Third Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 16, 2012December 16, 2012 by Dot

The third Advent candle is that of proclamation … which reminds us of our responsibility to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sometimes a pink candle is used for the third candle to symbolize the great joy felt at the proclaiming of the news.

The angels gave the news to the shepherds who went to Bethlehem to see for themselves.  Their reaction was to tell everyone they met what they had seen and heard. The tidings the angels brought were not only for the shepherds, not only for Israel, but for the whole world.

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!       -John W. Work, Jr. 1872-1925

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Dot Hatfield

Dot Hatfield

Dot Hatfield is a member of the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame and a Certified Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church. She is the author of 7 books.

Dot’s Books

  • Worth the Candle
  • Did Anyone Read My Story?
  • An Ordinary Day
  • R.I.P. Emma Lou Briggs
  • To Find a Home
  • The Last To Know
  • Every Day a New Day

RECENT POSTS

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    October 5, 2023
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