Frog in the Well: a novel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For a book about bunch of bugs fighting wars at the bottom of a well, this novel has stirred up a lot of controversy, especially among the Christian Right. 'Frog in the Well' is about the power struggle between the republicans and the religious fundamentalist factions in the kingdom of the frog; and that has ruffled some feathers. Pat Goltz's review (Jan. 24, 2009) is quite scathing, accusing the book of being subversive. She is clearly bias and deceptive. Her profile-link on Amazon.com shows that she is the co-founder of an influential anti-abortion group in the United States called Feminists for Life.

Ms. Goltz claims that the book is anti-Christian in general and anti-Catholic in particular. However, the author does not mention Christianity or any other human institution anywhere in the fable. Nor is the book against democracy, as Ms. Goltz purports. In fact, the hero of the story, Simon the dung beetle, is a pro-democratic militia soldier who fights against the totalitarian Ecclesiastic Army. Outside of Ayn Rand, this is one of the most pro-freedom books I've ever read.

The author, S. S. Wong, has taken a big risk in his storytelling. He tries to introduce a rationalist theory explaining the existence of God that contradicts the Bible; (thankfully, he does this not in the main text of the novel, but in the Appendix in the form of a short story -- also about bugs). His theory is so controversial that it is now perceived as a threat by some in the religious establishment -- perhaps even more heretical than 'The Da Vinci Code'. In Ms. Goltz's own words on Wong's ideas, "The main danger is that this stuff will be used to influence public policy."

But the most important thing for the reader is whether this novel is well written. And the answer is YES. Given her diatribe, even Ms. Goltz wrote of Wong, "...he has quite an imagination. His writing is vivid and allegorical."

This book is entertaining and is perfectly wholesome and safe for teenagers, and older readers will enjoy its thought-provoking ideas. The book has some violent content but there is no profanity (however, the novel is not any more violent than many fantasy or science fiction novels I've read).

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Product Description:
Welcome to the well! Although dry, the well is a fantastic place. Home to thousands of bottom-dwellers, it is crowded with bustling markets, coliseums, and temples. There are also puddles that are filled with boats and ships, trying to catch bountiful harvests. On the docks and harbors, frantic mercantile activity flourishes. And the hundreds of tributaries that feed into the puddles are crammed with bridges, shops, and cafes. Dwarf tree houses can be seen everywhere, along with thousands of mushroom cottages and mansions. The foot of the interior wall is also riddled with dwellings, embellished by countless little windows and balconies.
In this colorful world lives a humble dung beetle, Simon. Caught in a power struggle between the religious fundamentalists and the republicans, his fate will eventually intertwine with that of the emperor of the world - a frog! To complicate matters, a butterfly from the outside gets sucked down into the well by a gust of wind!
The well has a fascinating history. In ancient times, entire civilizations clashed with one another for survival. They even built the Great Wall to keep out the barbarians! And the epic battles were filled with catapults, siege towers, and charging rhinoceros beetles!
Frog in the Well is an exciting fantasy novel for young adults. But adults will also gain much insight from the story. Peppered with bittersweet humor throughout, it is a timeless parable that raises questions about the meaning of life. More than just a story, Frog in the Well is also a new philosophy - a new movement! The novel hopes to change the way we all view our world and the universe.