The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

AUTHOR: Stephen King
.

TIME: February 2009
.

NOTES:

.

Years ago a friend named Logan was reading this series and he loved it. I had supported his love but secretly scorned his lack of literary prallis (it turns out that Logan is quite brilliant and I am a unfounded snob ie. I often think that I am smarter than I am). The truth is that I have seen many Stephen King films and I have type casted the author as the penmen behind clever thrillers and horrors but not as the writer of legitimate epics. In my mind I had filed this little gem alongside all the other books with dragons on their covers that I have passed by in the used shops. After reading this first installment I am not sure what to think. On the one hand I was captivated by Kings minimalist style and his mastership of the 'cliffhanger'. On the other hand I am not sure what the underlying message is supposed to be and I am still bewildered as to 'the point'.

.

In this fantasy landscape we are introduced to a Gunslinger named Roland who is on a quest to overtake 'the man in black'. The man the Gunslinger seeks is perceived as a priest and a messenger of God by many of the people he encounters and yet the Gunslinger casts a shadow of evil in his depictions of the man. Another curious aspect of the story is that the reader feels inclined to take Roland's side because we see through his senses but a more objective look shows that the 'man in black' leaves a trail of healing while Roland leaves a trail of sexual misconduct and death. The majority of the book chronicles Roland's journey through a strange dessert and a zombie filled cave with a boy named Jake (whom must eventually die at the Gunslingers hand hint hint: obvious illusions to Abraham and Issac). There are also hints of parallel worlds, post apocalyptic landscapes, purgatory or something like those three as Jake appears to be from what we would call modern New York City.

.

All in all this book was a fun read but I feel unsatisfied with it's ending. The dust jacket claims that the novel can stand alone but I would suggest that unless your up for a seven part series you should leave this one alone. The story is engaging but simple, the landscape is intriguing and mysterious, the characters are very well developed... but the ending is a huge cliffhanger that leaves one desperately wanting more...

.

I guess I will have to buy the next one.

.

Becoming Human

AUTHOR: Jean Vanier
.
TIME:February 2009
.
NOTES:.
.
I borrowed this book from a good friend because I had heard such great things about it. It was originally a Massey Lecture, so the book was produced by the CBC which increased my intrigue (I am a big supporter of the CBC). The reason I was interested in this book is because I have been working in a group home for intellectually disabled individuals these past months and the book centers around that sort of thing. For those who may not know, Jean Vanier founded L'Arche (the Ark) which is a network of communities around the world in which physically and intellectually disabled people live in community with non-disabled persons. Jean Vanier was a committed Catholic so the communities involve much devotional practice and a focus on human growth intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
.
If I had to sum up 'becoming human', I would say that it is part devotional literature, part theological exploration and part sociological text. Vanier uses his background in L'Arche to explore some of Jesus' more difficult teachings. He talks about the weaker brother, the first being last, the marginalized and so on and so forth. In all of this he continually emphasize the value if disabled people to the Kingdom of God. In my line of work the idea that disabled people are valuable and should be fully intigrated citizens is a given but its not often that someone outlines specific examples of this happening. In Vaniers book he does just this. He offers concrete examples of people who don't speak or hear giving love to their care providers in such a deep and profound way that the impact of their ministry lasts well beyond there lifespans (as evidenced by this book). I should note that Vanier is careful not to pity people. The truth is that no one likes to be pitied. In this vein Vanier presents his disabled companions as whole people he does not try to say that they are simply 'cute' or 'always loving' etc. this sort of assessment is simply untrue as all humans have a sin nature.
.
The sociological aspect of the book is in Vaniers timeless assessment of our western tendencies toward strength, power, prestige, success and so on. He rightly highlights our over emphasis on these things explaining that we often overlook the power of the weak because it does not present itself in a business suite. Recognizing this tendency can help us to tame it and to have eyes to see the powerful ministry of those who are perceived as weak in our social order. The ministry Vanier discusses is real and significant. He does not need to exercise pity or to give inflated praise to showcase examples of his 'weaker friends' acting as vessels of Christ's love and power.
.
I really cannot think of anything negative to say about this book. I came away strengthened and better informed in my opinions. I really feel that it would be valuable for any person in our context to read and consider Vaniers words. The truth is that we as a society are only recently learning to practice what our national documents preach (Human Rights Charter) and we as Christians too often overlook the real life significance of the Jesus' love for the marginalized in our midst.