tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73568834339065979702024-02-19T01:37:21.432-06:00BOOKS: Jordan Reads..."All the books we own, both read and unread, are the fullest expression of self we have at our disposal. ... But with each passing year, and with each whimsical purchase, our libraries become more and more able to articulate who we are, whether we read the books or not." -Nick HornbyJordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-88568086106377877182011-08-01T20:55:00.000-06:002011-08-01T20:55:26.654-06:00I Sold My Soul on Ebay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOKmPyaRg0W2UOXYLorKF4OCjsoj0qUD0RN-GsBBM4ptuIzaO4WFzpavWQmpe17gmQ96dXTVHWcXgCiZbqcKtRWzoZwBenCwG9oZQBBL2QOAzyxm4ZiLLRgOsTkxj8x-Zc5qNc2PMEI6e/s1600/I+Sold+My+Soul+On+Ebay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOKmPyaRg0W2UOXYLorKF4OCjsoj0qUD0RN-GsBBM4ptuIzaO4WFzpavWQmpe17gmQ96dXTVHWcXgCiZbqcKtRWzoZwBenCwG9oZQBBL2QOAzyxm4ZiLLRgOsTkxj8x-Zc5qNc2PMEI6e/s320/I+Sold+My+Soul+On+Ebay.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><b>AUTHOR: </b>HEMANT MEHTA<br />
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<b>DATE:</b> JUNE 2011<br />
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<b>NOTES: </b><br />
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I bought this book for two dollars in a bargain bin at Chapters. The reason that I bought it was almost purely based on the advertised forward by Rob Bell. At the time of purchase I had not read any Bell but the name was familiar. (I am currently wading into <i>Velvet Elvis.</i>)<br />
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The premise for the book is interesting: Hemant Mehta is a self professed Atheist from a Jane background. He posts an add on eBay to "sell his soul". The soul selling was not actually part of the original deal but a magazine used it and it ended up sticking. The real deal was that Mehta offered to attend any religious service as a full participator for a fee.<br />
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A Christian group essentially bought the right to send Mehta to a handful of church services. Mehta attended the gatherings and reported his findings back to the organization in an article format that I presume they published. In this way he was acting a little bit like a secret shopper. Mehta is careful to sell himself in this way throughout the book. He presents himself as the every-atheist. It is this point that causes the book to be a little bit uninspired in my opinion.<br />
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Mehta visits a variety of churches ranging all the way from small suburban venues to Mega churches. He examines the churches based on sermon content, sermon delivery, musical talent, style, length, parking, seating etc. Although this information is very helpful for the specific churches and it is of some general interest to the Church at large I do think it is incomplete. Perhaps the most important thing that Mehta's evaluation highlights is a flaw in perspective that many Christians share with him.<br />
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Mehta is approaching the Church as a purely consumer experience. He is examining the Church as a "drop in guest" that is shopping for a place that is selling the product he wants marketed in a way he likes. The problem with this approach is that Church is a living community. Church, in my opinion, is better viewed as a family reunion rather than a Broadway show. While I can see the value in Mehtma's critiques and I sympathize with his bad experience at some more bigoted places of worship I don't think he is using the proper criteria for a true evaluation of Church success.<br />
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Mehta continually refers to himself as the "target audience" of the Churches he visits. I disagree with him on this point. Firstly, I think it is a mistake to think that the main goal of Sunday service is to attract a "target audience" with the goal of conversion. It is true that a major facet of evangelical belief is the desire to evangelize; however, I do not believe that the primary goal of Sunday service is evangelism. While I would hope that all churches would welcome non-believers to partake or observe a worship service I believe that the primary goal of the service is corporate worship with fellow believers.<br />
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I also do not believe that Mehta can claim, in any real sense, to represent all non-believers or even all atheists. In my limited experience I have met a huge variety of non-believing folks with a vast array of beliefs, personalities, and preferences. The truth is that much of what Mehta found unappealing may be very appealing to another person. This is also a good reason for Church to be thought of less as a shopping experience and more as a family function. If we only go where we like to music and the sermons than our commitment is not a religious one but a decision of entertainment. Their is much more to the Christian experience than a good show once a week.<br />
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</b>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-37748118662496737152011-05-28T23:42:00.007-06:002011-05-28T23:45:05.711-06:00CHRONOLITHS<p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Robert Charles Wilson</p$1></p$1></p$1><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DC9mfX9USOrRxpZHk-iSVy0m52kZZpRTpz8dGJkusaC7xNukUYlfDYY9_hauhKgwqn7sGWNE_ZtnFIvFq7PjIlRnE9hidVDrXjIL6qXQlRWa4z78uWNgHj3DPNpfAvx-A7RnV_O0w3NV/s1600/Chronoliths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DC9mfX9USOrRxpZHk-iSVy0m52kZZpRTpz8dGJkusaC7xNukUYlfDYY9_hauhKgwqn7sGWNE_ZtnFIvFq7PjIlRnE9hidVDrXjIL6qXQlRWa4z78uWNgHj3DPNpfAvx-A7RnV_O0w3NV/s1600/Chronoliths.jpg" /></a><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><strong><br />
</strong></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><strong>DATE: </strong>April 2011</p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><strong><br />
</strong></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><strong>NOTES:</strong><br />
<p$1><p$1>My wife and I walk down to the Moose Jaw Public library a few times a week for exercise and to browse the shelves. I was just returning Spin, which I loved, so I thought I would browse the Sci-Fi shelves. I had thought about getting Axis next but I usually find that the sequel does not measure up and I was afraid of ruining my pleasant Spin memories. Grabbed a stack of other Wilson novels, looked over the covers and read the back blurbs and </p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1>Chronoliths won me over. The thing that helped me decide was the excellent cover art that features a Chronolith jutting out of the surf while two <em>tourist</em> looking people look on dwarfed by its excess. The way the picture is rendered reminded me of the religious pamphlets that sometimes show up in the mail that always look a bit dated.<br />
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<br />
</div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1>The book itself was really interesting. Basically huge monuments start showing up across the globe that memorialize the world conquests of a leader twenty years into the future. Wilson utilizes this unique situation to explore a number of avenues of life including cult worship, government, the science of time travel and so on. I loved the feel of the book. It was set in modern times but it felt a little bit the like the turmoil of the sixties(from what I have seen in film). My only criticism would be of the ending. The mystery that drives a lot of the novel is never really revealed in a satisfying way so the reader is tugged along chapter by chapter expecting a reward and is left empty handed.</p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">u</span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div><div><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1><p$1>After reading two books by Wilson I think I can comfortably say that he holds the top spot in my "favorite modern sci-fi writer" category. His writing is smart and interesting and he is a master at creating oddly believable landscapes and using these landscapes to explore important and interesting issues.</p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></p$1></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-40024049814601735702011-04-21T23:17:00.003-06:002011-05-21T08:06:32.333-06:00SPIN<div style="border-style: none; border-width: medium; text-align: left;"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKykj60Wr5F2yGg99KG1Qgrpfq5AHfZg_bmONDKplV0amEMFFWKRhir6F0pkPZW4-xRtUtEGrP_WTHGGyq6bwdCkECjPGym09OI05_1Vztdnd9k3p7mVZ1W3YrhpLpfkcDiHBT7NzIPDJF/s1600/SPIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKykj60Wr5F2yGg99KG1Qgrpfq5AHfZg_bmONDKplV0amEMFFWKRhir6F0pkPZW4-xRtUtEGrP_WTHGGyq6bwdCkECjPGym09OI05_1Vztdnd9k3p7mVZ1W3YrhpLpfkcDiHBT7NzIPDJF/s320/SPIN.jpg" width="198" /></a><b>AUTHOR: </b>Robert Charles Wilson</div></div><div style="border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>DATE: </b>April 2011</div></div><div style="border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-style: none; border-width: medium;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>NOTES:</b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Robert Charles Wilson writes in a unique style. While this book is obviously science fiction with all the usual elements (aliens, futuristic technology, REPLICATORS (Stargate what!) even space travel) its doesn't feel like traditional science fiction. Almost the entire book is narrated through human experience (with the exception of the one Martian speaker who is essentially human [and not human like all the aliens were human in the original Star Trek; rather, human, with a plausible explanation for the similarities]).</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">The book has a really great mystery at its core and Wilson gives the reader enough answers in each chapter to satisfy while maintaining enough questions to make you want to keep reading. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">The character development was excellent. By the end of the novel you feel as though you know the people from the story and you have distinct feelings about each of them (some you love, some you miss, and some you hate). </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">I really can't say enough about the book. It did have a dry spot about three quarters of the way in that was hard to trudge through (to much information , not enough action) but aside from that it was a really good read. I would probably rank it in my top three favorite science fiction novels. </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">I should also mention that Wilson, like all sci-fi moguls, manages to address the major issues of life in his imaginary future (love, death, religion, politics etc.) </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;">Spin was highly entertaining, enjoyable and thought provoking. I can't wait to see Wilson at this years Festival of Words and I imagine that I will tackle Axis in the near future.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwzKr09wVK0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-60993050653339111032011-02-28T21:30:00.001-06:002011-02-28T21:39:31.775-06:00A Million Miles in a Thousand Years<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Donald Miller <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieANq2v2vm867gy8VU49yKc0ChNnIiuAd3-yAPMoSVo6jhyphenhyphenXaGflTxr1Qnjs8zHiWsY0k5hjk7dacVHOVAFVAzKQ4MzNBQ1nE5flv4p1r_w2AaeGymYg_0DIRj0FIfpPpS_-7dj35eHWbK/s1600/Donald%252520Miller%252520A%252520million%252520miles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieANq2v2vm867gy8VU49yKc0ChNnIiuAd3-yAPMoSVo6jhyphenhyphenXaGflTxr1Qnjs8zHiWsY0k5hjk7dacVHOVAFVAzKQ4MzNBQ1nE5flv4p1r_w2AaeGymYg_0DIRj0FIfpPpS_-7dj35eHWbK/s320/Donald%252520Miller%252520A%252520million%252520miles.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>DATE: </strong>February 2011</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>NOTES: </strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I read this book over the course of a month with my wife, Sarah. I have long been an admirer of Donald Miller. I first read "Blue Like Jazz" as a disillusioned college student and I found hope in it. I even went so far as to email Donald Millers people to ask if I could move in with him. At the time I think I mostly liked that he was a bit shocking and that he seemed to challenge the climate of "staunch morality or else!" that I was finding myself confronted with. At the time Donald Miller understood my feelings of disillusionment and he answered them with hope in a God that is not always angry, that likes art, that cares about the odd people of the world.<br />
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As I read this latest offering I felt again like Miller was speaking to my situation. I am older than I was in college, I have a career, I cut my hair and I wear dress pants and button up shirts to my office job every day. I am overweight and that bothers me and I am not totally satisfied with the life I am living. Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and my house and all of that but I deeply want my life to mean something more than average.<br />
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"A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" is a story about story. Miller frames his narrative around a movie that is in the works about himself based loosely on "Blue Like Jazz". As Don learns about the elements of a good story he sees that these elements can be applied to life itself. He begins to see that he is not living a good story. He, like me, is overweight and living a boring narrative. He begins to take steps to start living a good story, these steps involve risk and danger which any reader will tell you are essential elements in a good book. He embarks on a long and difficult hike, he joins a gym, starts a foundation, looks for his birth dad and takes a bike ride across America. And as usual Don peppers his narrative with stories about the interesting and inspiring people he has met along the way. <br />
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Don's book got me excited about life. I sometimes feel like I live in a sea of complaint and bad news. Many people around me seem unhappy with their jobs, their relationships, they fitness etc etc. The news is always about the latest tragedy, protest, murder or missing person. Millers book said that I could work toward a better story. He said I can look for ways to impact people around me in positive ways, I can get fit, I can use my time more wisely and so on. Don painted a hopeful picture of the future and he encouraged me to be an active force in changing my own stories ark. <br />
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The book is not terribly profound in any way. It does not reveal any truth that has not been said before but as usual Donald Miller was able to communicate to me on my level. <br />
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P.S. My wife and I visited Portland a year back and I also liked the few times that Miller mentioned places my wife and I had seen face to face. <br />
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<div align="right"></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-32715145167021396922011-02-12T15:02:00.003-06:002011-02-12T15:10:22.261-06:00FAR-SEER<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD48BIwkrEetXKT0RRWoLMEcNUrvxGGQc-6zPuqK6ze-sao8opt3OfngBnE4IaN-_rsLY0r0_Zie2WZEKKKjZYOn61-P3eDoxMeOoT7fNUWyl2cBu0XTAeTzwU1IDEreMYjfWUIPtUNCz/s1600/far-seer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTD48BIwkrEetXKT0RRWoLMEcNUrvxGGQc-6zPuqK6ze-sao8opt3OfngBnE4IaN-_rsLY0r0_Zie2WZEKKKjZYOn61-P3eDoxMeOoT7fNUWyl2cBu0XTAeTzwU1IDEreMYjfWUIPtUNCz/s320/far-seer.jpg" width="213" /></a><b>AUTHOR: </b>Robert J. Sawyer</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DATE: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">February 2011</span> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>NOTES:</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The "Far-Seer" is wonderful. Robert J. Sawyer is a master at creating a fun science fiction landscape. The reader is transported to an alien world that is populated by intelligent dinosaurs. The dinosaurs call themselves Quintaglio's and they have a society that is developed to the point of steam power, sailing ships, metal working, rudimentary astronomy, the printing press, and complex societal and religious systems. Religion and science play key roles in the story.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Afsan is the main character in the novel. He is a young Quintaglio, a friend of Dybo (the prince of the dinosaurs), and apprentice to Tak-Saleed, the head astronomer in the royal court. The majority of the novel deals with Afsan's coming of age story. The reader discovers that dinosaurs have two major rights of passage in their young lives. The first right is called the first hunt. In this exercise the young join a group hunting expedition to kill a lower dinosaur (quadrupeds). This episode is very important to the story as we see that Afsan is a naturally gifted hunter. I won't share the details because I think the book is worth reading yourself.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The second right of passage is the pilgrimage. In fairly recent dinosaur history a prophet dinosaur emerged named Larsk. Larsk sailed halfway around the world and came upon a large glowing disk in the sky that he took to be the face of God. This signalled the end of one dinosaur religion (the worship of the original hunters) and the beginning of a new chapter in which all dinosaurs are to resist their instincts (sin nature?)Also, all dinosaurs must take at least one boat trip to view the face of God as Larsk did. It is on Afsan's first Pilgrimage that the story begins to take a different direction.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Afsan is given a "Far-Seer"(telescope) on the voyage. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">SIDE NOTE: One major issue I had with the book is that I do not think that a Tyrannosaurus would be physically able to lift a telescope to its eye. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">With the aide of the telescope Afsan becomes a Galileo figure. His most dangerous discovery involves the true nature of the face of God. As one can imagine Afsan's heretical observations cause a significant stir. The rest of the book deals with the tension between science and religion. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The last five chapters of the novel were the most impressive in my opinion as Sawyer introduces an exciting twist that I did not see coming. Throughout the book the reader is introduced to various elements of Quntaglio culture including tapestries, religious rights, various hand signals and words. At the time these items appear to only serve the purpose of developing the novels landscape. However, by the end of the novel Sawyer will use many of the elements in a plot twist that is so interesting that the reader will be compelled to reader the next book in the trilogy. </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">All this to say that Robert Sawyer's "Far-Seer" is thought provoking, interesting and of the highest quality Sci-Fi. Sawyer is also a masterful action scene writer. There are enough dinosaur fights in this book to satisfy the most verocious fan. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">For those who don't have the time to read here is a taste of dinosaur fight action. (try to imagine the T-rex wearing a red sash and speaking in proper english). </span></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span> </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fIDJ-Y-_Dxs" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-91231838490288735612011-01-29T20:27:00.005-06:002011-02-06T11:25:12.793-06:00The Beats: A Graphic History.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y2KivAmvFlhNMjdLX2wBPRsb4wvH_FxZBJROaJiu9pofpMD0ODQ9qzg-M4PKM9k7YQFVBVjq5tbKJGo2njIzZuUxPvyXg50oAJ7v4C-9Ev6Cydv1JVLK3XxjCm_2AHkIX6PviP3huOID/s1600/The+Beats.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0y2KivAmvFlhNMjdLX2wBPRsb4wvH_FxZBJROaJiu9pofpMD0ODQ9qzg-M4PKM9k7YQFVBVjq5tbKJGo2njIzZuUxPvyXg50oAJ7v4C-9Ev6Cydv1JVLK3XxjCm_2AHkIX6PviP3huOID/s320/The+Beats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570444894636062834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">AUTHOR: </span><span>Harvey Pekar, Nancy J. Peters, Penelope Rosemont, Joyce Brabner, Trina Robbins, and Tuli Kupferberg<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ARTISTS: </span>Ed Piskor, Jay Kinney, Nick Thorkelson, Summer McClinton, Peter Kuper, Mary Fleener, Jerome Neukirch, Anne Timmons, Gary Dumm, Lance Tooks, and Jeffry Lewis<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DATE: </span>January 2011<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTES:<br /><br /></span><span>I used to think that I admired the men of the beat generation. The reason that I thought this was because I did not know much about them. After reading this beautifully illustrated history I have changed my view on the subject. At best I acknowledge their moments of genius and pitty their turmultous personal lives. And at worst I am a little bit disgusted by their leud behaviour, sexism, and overall feelings of entitlement at everyone elses expense.<br /><br />One of the things that I really love about H</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span>arvey Pekar's writing is that he cares about th</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span>e story behind art. What I mean is that he loves to chronical the people behind great works rather than just focussing on the works themselves which can create an idealised view of the artist's (I have come to realize that most artists are not as brilliant or inspiring as their greatest works of art at all times). "The Beats" is a disturbing read because of the startling honesty with which the beatniks are portrayed. I don't think that the reader is meant to be disgusted. In fact I think that the book is targeting an audience that would revel i</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span>n the sexual freedom of the beats, the experimentation with drugs, the rebellion against steady jobs, and moral 'rules'. I am not this target audience. I couldnt help but think of all the people that were left dying in the wake of these "visionary</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span>'s" (sometimes literally).<br /><br />Although I was mostly distrurbed there were a few people in the book that I will definantly look into as potential future reading. I was really interested in the story of Kenneth Patchen who wrote "picture poems". He seemed to have some really interesting things to say as in: "Every man's at war who's hungry and hunted whether in Omaha or Tokyo". His art is also very interesting. here is an example of one of his picture poems:<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeyBW0uE966KTFjMvTx7r10tSOun12LXS8vA19bpLzcRCq1gg5_IzcHxHDw2cRqFXTkMwr1yU1Fx-cFxLkMgwDanJ3OQT6ocs3sMUaCVR_yaDyGZglFMNduyjSOqMRwk1hUddsR5T_qzU/s1600/Kenneth+Patchen+Poem.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 432px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeyBW0uE966KTFjMvTx7r10tSOun12LXS8vA19bpLzcRCq1gg5_IzcHxHDw2cRqFXTkMwr1yU1Fx-cFxLkMgwDanJ3OQT6ocs3sMUaCVR_yaDyGZglFMNduyjSOqMRwk1hUddsR5T_qzU/s320/Kenneth+Patchen+Poem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570440917048924162" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span><span>I also appreaciated Joyce Brabners (Harvey Pekars widow) candidness in her contribution entitled "Beatnik Chicks" which appears near the end of the novel. One frame in particular hit me like a breath of fresh air after an entire book of idolizing a group of brash ridiculous men. The frame artfully display's two cars driving back and forth, a hand rolling a joint and a womans back who is obviously in a sexual embrace. the text reads as follows:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">"At the same time I found Kerouac and his cronies loathsome.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> Drive across the country.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> Drive back.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">roll joints</span>, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> roll around with women"</span><br /><br />Joyce did not say it; but I would have added the line: "or roll around with one another".<br /><br />Along with Joyce Brabners contribution and the picture poems I also aquired a healthy love for "the fugs". For those of you who have been living in darkness like me, "The Fugs" are a band of "folk musicians" that appear to stand for non-comformity. They took the idea's that Kerouac, Ginsberg, and Burroughs applied to poetry and novels and applied them to music. Simply put they wrote a bunch of "stream of conciousness" songs that ended up being really interesting and funny and sometimes thought provoking. They also embraced much of the attitudes that bother me about the beats in regards to sexism, drugs, morality etc etc. which sometimes produces songs that seem to be written with the purpose of shocking all but those who are "beat" enough to be hip to that sort of thing.<br /><br /><br />This is one of my favorite examples of FUG music:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/p7VQVzMR4Rs" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-2030402010534224822011-01-15T12:27:00.004-06:002011-01-15T12:59:50.617-06:00World War Z<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFGjbjUjrrs5Yhfb3K5rxmAgjv8ZPNHsAe3qcMskNeXvn5wIXFmu3S4Bv9Y_UluKGiF9UfmuQcXW4gFIYZqYDGwjdMI7BclXRss2otuB5FVBvjW7wI_r7yeSmBYL1wQRMSUyJ2HyhtvMr/s1600/World+War+Z.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFGjbjUjrrs5Yhfb3K5rxmAgjv8ZPNHsAe3qcMskNeXvn5wIXFmu3S4Bv9Y_UluKGiF9UfmuQcXW4gFIYZqYDGwjdMI7BclXRss2otuB5FVBvjW7wI_r7yeSmBYL1wQRMSUyJ2HyhtvMr/s320/World+War+Z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562481202802557362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">AUTHOR: </span><span>Max Brooks<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DATE: </span>January 2011<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTES:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span></span>My good friend Wayne gifted me this book for Christmas. It has been my experience that Wayne has excellent taste so I began reading the book as soon as I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">received</span> it.<br /><br />The book is presented from the perspective of a reporter who interviews people that lived through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WWZ</span></span> which was a global Zombie War. The Zombie plague originated in China somewhere in the mid to late 1990`s. The book is extremely compelling because it uses actual history and the goings on of the day as a backdrop for the Zombie War. In other words, the world Brooks writes about is in many ways similar to the world we inhabit. I know that Brooks has been criticized for hitting to close to home in some cases, (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">particularly</span></span> in the ways he depicts the United States and Israel) but I really think his use of realistic portrayals of the activities of the nations prior to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">WWZ</span></span> make for an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">erie</span></span> and believable read.<br /><br />Constructing the book as a series of interviews allows Brooks to speak from a number of perspectives spanning class, profession, nationality, age and religion. Brooks uses these various prospectives to write a story with amazing depth. By the end of the novel the reader feels as though the crisis actually happened because of the amount of detail that is included. I should warn prospective readers that the detail can sometimes be a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">deterrent</span> as well, especially if you are prone to nightmares or cursed with a weak stomach.<br /><br />The use of voices from all different areas allows Brooks to discuss a number of controversial and important issues as well. He talks about religion from several prospectives including, the issue of souls, eastern religions, evil and good and religion as an opiate for the masses.<br /><br />He spends a lot of time criticising governmental response to the plague. During these discourses he points to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">bureaucracy</span> risking lives, slow response times, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">classism</span></span>, and the government ignoring evidence of an impending crisis (global warming).<br /><br />Brooks deals with individuals as well. Several of his characters criticise citizens for not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">knowing</span> how to fend for themselves without technology and for lacking basic survival skills (like making a fire, packing proper clothing, picking proper provisions etc.). One really memorable scene has an interviewing pointing out people and personal items frozen in the ice. The people in the ice had brought video game systems and wildly insufficient <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Disney</span> princess sleeping bags with them when fleeing to the arctic.<br /><br />Overall I loved the book. It was very entertaining and it allowed me to think about some important issues. It also served to round out my knowledge of Zombie lore. I learned that the military refers to zombies as either ``<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Zack's</span>`` or ``G`s`` which is a short form for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ghouls</span>. I also learned that older weapons proved more effective and cost <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">conscious</span> in killing zombies than large scale attacks. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Zombies</span> don`t <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">breath</span> so they can live under water. Quislings are people who go mad and act as though they are zombies (which causes the government to believe that zombies eat other zombies for a time). There is a zombie martial art that is effective in hand to hand zombie confrontation. I learned all of these truths and a lot more. I am very much looking forward to seeing the film.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-52652670080326097152011-01-15T12:08:00.005-06:002011-01-15T12:26:38.801-06:00Robinson Crusoe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88TzUd77AxWh1oRZMS6_kCJdMlx6QNREavUuhNNrC3PbaveJ-NempeIp1Hp12EKO390NMfm_4uF1-sR0ANknB3w-jPfERFHFcmA06hsoQsSKmbbWFfpqjpo02-kK2VdiTg6NacD8c0Iu2/s1600/Robinson+Crusoe.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88TzUd77AxWh1oRZMS6_kCJdMlx6QNREavUuhNNrC3PbaveJ-NempeIp1Hp12EKO390NMfm_4uF1-sR0ANknB3w-jPfERFHFcmA06hsoQsSKmbbWFfpqjpo02-kK2VdiTg6NacD8c0Iu2/s320/Robinson+Crusoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562479518018396546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:arial;">AUTHOR: </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Daniel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dafoe</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DATE: </span>December 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTES:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span></span>This book was a gift from my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">in laws</span>. My father <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">in law</span> is probably the most experienced woodsman I know. He is the only man that has ever taken me up on a mountain (which he says is the only way to really get to know a man). He can build with anything, he collects old wood, fossils, rocks, and he knows a lot about what it takes to survive in the woods. All that to say that this book reminded me a lot of him.<br /><br />Most people are familiar with the basic story line of this young adult novel. Robinson Crusoe is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">sailor</span>. His ship hits rough seas and gets hung up on rocks near a small island. He is the lone survivor and the book follows his adventures as he makes a home on his deserted island. The ``Making`` portion of the book is the most exciting for the young boy that lives inside of me. Crusoe constructs an entire homestead using material he gathers from the ship (via a raft he builds himself while at sea AWESOME!). He makes friends with animals on the island, constructs tools and cooking devices, he hunts and fishes and makes his own clothing and smokes a pipe. He even defends his land against a tribe of ``<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cannibal</span> savages`` at one point.<br /><br />The book is simply written and I could probably go into a long discussion of how it promotes a type of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">rugged</span> individualism that has been at the center of our culture of privacy and self sufficiency. I am not going to do that though.<br /><br />All in all the book was short and fun. I read it over the course of two evenings and it reminded me of simpler times when I would sit of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">linoleum</span> floor of my parents basement with a pile of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">GIJOE`S</span> and a box of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Lego</span> and imagine myself into worlds and situations that required sharp wits and a creative use of materials to get those ``all American heroes`` through.<br /><br />Also, Sarah and I are pregnant so it got me excited to share the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">joys</span> of imagination with my soon to be born child. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /></span></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-1459592822518358342010-11-18T22:44:00.006-06:002010-11-18T22:56:26.857-06:00Recent Book Deals!I have found four interesting books for very cheap lately and I wanted to brag a little bit.<br /><br />1. Anne Rice - Christ the<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZq67hpMVjX2A88mL3pn6CKN-jVvuncqzLn0od6SQ3YS4pXQuDPQvzTzQTcW0vkCAp24BYFgVP-_2Qld-7uPTydCf7Ux36IvBvg4_WX0W4LDXavBENNmwuz8xJ633GRFEerFms4c1pJBX/s1600/Christ+The+Lord.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZq67hpMVjX2A88mL3pn6CKN-jVvuncqzLn0od6SQ3YS4pXQuDPQvzTzQTcW0vkCAp24BYFgVP-_2Qld-7uPTydCf7Ux36IvBvg4_WX0W4LDXavBENNmwuz8xJ633GRFEerFms4c1pJBX/s200/Christ+The+Lord.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541118625885047938" border="0" /></a> Lord:the road to Cana<br /><br />Price 5.00 at Chapters. I love the Bargain section. Its even a hard cover!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0qmWK2UdO0B2kRZL22bcp5myPdK-Wv1Ne-WBA5pRNHZmd-G5aTyz7tnHVTK2psWm4K0SU3EQVp8L6o-LlYm1nB3CxJdRqUQBzl8vTBVls4MUK9f70JJRG04gOthXoGWXQbUONT205v4o/s1600/ISLAND.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0qmWK2UdO0B2kRZL22bcp5myPdK-Wv1Ne-WBA5pRNHZmd-G5aTyz7tnHVTK2psWm4K0SU3EQVp8L6o-LlYm1nB3CxJdRqUQBzl8vTBVls4MUK9f70JJRG04gOthXoGWXQbUONT205v4o/s200/ISLAND.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541118797264690002" border="0" /></a><br />2. Aldous Huxley - Island<br /><br />Price .50 cents at the Salvation ARmy. The spine hasnt even been cracked and I found a pair of bigfoot slippers in the same trip.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqHuWlz5tGji41RewF5ks19rIe_hPxdBDH2f60vS0S_r_sBk75k5A-ft9DwrRjMal8N-alQaMNq3uMBNlhl0EEX32sKZTQSvf1vy-ljhUFDKXJJUqVlmCxspWsOFhjQEh1E4CTVvVhXOP/s1600/the-curious-incident-dog-in-night-time-Mark-Haddon.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqHuWlz5tGji41RewF5ks19rIe_hPxdBDH2f60vS0S_r_sBk75k5A-ft9DwrRjMal8N-alQaMNq3uMBNlhl0EEX32sKZTQSvf1vy-ljhUFDKXJJUqVlmCxspWsOFhjQEh1E4CTVvVhXOP/s200/the-curious-incident-dog-in-night-time-Mark-Haddon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541119201944873378" border="0" /></a>3. Mark Haddon - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.<br /><br />Price .50 cents at the Salvation Army again<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiRKZ5C7U0ngltC9mS213MNUA5PTesmrNSmUZe2tJCOSXi3A7-E_Rl0AmFaFFcJi1cgGE2mEHL8yueEVJe5WI_t7AzLa-Eyj1LelZkG2hw45yB5CcXMwz6MylWQTe9P08zkg64RaS9K-d/s1600/Pub+Landlord.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiRKZ5C7U0ngltC9mS213MNUA5PTesmrNSmUZe2tJCOSXi3A7-E_Rl0AmFaFFcJi1cgGE2mEHL8yueEVJe5WI_t7AzLa-Eyj1LelZkG2hw45yB5CcXMwz6MylWQTe9P08zkg64RaS9K-d/s200/Pub+Landlord.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541119676145640338" border="0" /></a><br />4. Al Murray - The Pub Landlord's Book Of British Common Sense.<br /><br /><br />Price .50 cents at the Salvation Army again. I really believe in bathroom readers and this little book is a gem in that catagory.Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-73372524793738915332010-11-18T21:55:00.003-06:002010-11-18T22:33:24.299-06:00Hey Nostradamus!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMrsg2M_COgvAPKh6DGbugTz-mAWYX9QeUkRPf-ri6TxTIS-SUdjrqOI4Zn0vgJGi0e5At55JdSqaaxGEvt8sxdFfrZ1IGYqFq4bmvWYasREBJWaPZyEKS6B-6g7z6NxN90UBv2HsZGZj/s1600/hey-nostradamus.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMrsg2M_COgvAPKh6DGbugTz-mAWYX9QeUkRPf-ri6TxTIS-SUdjrqOI4Zn0vgJGi0e5At55JdSqaaxGEvt8sxdFfrZ1IGYqFq4bmvWYasREBJWaPZyEKS6B-6g7z6NxN90UBv2HsZGZj/s320/hey-nostradamus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541113816071575538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">AUTHOR: </span>Douglas <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Coupland</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DATE: </span>November 2010<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTES: </span>This was my first <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Coupland</span> novel. It was donated to our house book shelf by a good friend and his girl after the last Regina Folk Festival. Both of its original owners are x-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Christians</span>. I mention this because it seems to have a bearing on why it was donated to me.<br /><br />I should begin by saying that I really enjoyed this book. Usually I am a very slow reader but I finished this read in less than a week. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Coupland</span> writes in a similar style to my other favorite authors Nick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hornby</span> and Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Chabon</span>. What I mean is that he writes minimally with a real focus on his characters and their voices. He writes the way his characters would talk (this book was mostly first person accounts). By doing this you feel like you get to know the characters personally.<br /><br />An interesting feature of this book is that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Coupland</span> was able to write around a central event from four very different voices. The event was a Columbine like school shooting in which the first speaker, Cheryl, is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">victim</span>. Cheryl ends up recounting her short life story from the after-life. In this first section we find out that Cheryl belonged to a small Christian group at her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">high school</span> and that she had secretly married her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">high school</span> sweetheart to bypass the moral <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">barrier</span> of premarital relations. We also learn that she was pregnant and that she did not whole <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">heartily</span> buy into the predominant feelings of the group regarding faith. She gives the impression that she and Jason were somehow above the group. Cheryl becomes an icon in the aftermath of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">massacre</span> because she had scrolled, "God is nowhere - God is now here" on her binder, by doing this Cheryl effectively became a martyr, although she herself claims that it was nothing more than an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">exercise</span> in mindless scribbling.<br /><br />Jason is Cheryl's secret husband and he gains post <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">massacre</span> fame because he is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">falsely</span> suspected of being the mastermind behind the shootings. The reason that Jason is suspected is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">circumstantial</span> and I don't want to give it all away but I will say that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Cheryl's</span> murder is thought to be the motive. Although Jason is legally cleared he is still suspected by the public and this fact coupled with the death of his unborn child and wife has an understandably detrimental impact on his life. We meet up with Jason ten years after the shooting as he records his story on pink bank receipts.<br /><br />The third speaker is connected to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">massacre</span> through her relationship to Jason. Heather becomes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Jason's</span> partner after a meeting at Toy<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">s</span> R Us (Jason is buying toys for his sons which he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">conceived</span> with his dead brothers wife on the night of his brothers tragic death so that she could claim them as his brothers [the plot thickens]). Heather and Jason create an imaginary world with characters <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">based</span> on toys and animals in which Jason is able to communicate vicariously. Eventually Jason <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">disappears</span> under suspicious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">circumstances</span> and the Heather spends much of the remainder of her chapter consulting a medium who claims to hear the characters voices. You will have to read the book to see what that bit is all about.<br /><br />The last character in the book is Jason's Dad, Reg. Reg spends the majority of the book as a strict fundamentalist Christian. He accuses Jason of Murder after the school shooting and he announces that because Jason's "brothers sons" are twins that one of them is more than likely without a soul. Nearing the end of the novel Reg undergoes a pretty significant change and the reader ends up feeling sympathy for him. Again I will let you read the book to discover what I mean.<br /><br />Like I said, the book was well written and captivating. I think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Coupland</span> is sympathetic to his characters and the world he creates feels realistic. I think that one of his motives for writing this book was to communicate a sort of non-faith that is tempting to readers in my age group. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Coupland</span> does not say that there is no God but he does create an atmosphere of scepticism in his novel. The reader is lead to ask where God is during tragedy. Each of the characters struggles with faith and it seems that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Coupland</span> encourages the questioning as an end. The characters in the novel who have firm beliefs are painted as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">naive</span> and in some cases dangerous. It is hard to explain but the novel just leaves you feeling sad and a little bit lost. I think that this was what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Coupland</span> wanted so I would say that he achieved his goal.<br /><br />Over all this was a good read and it has sparked some really good conversation with people I know.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-53397023877769923262010-11-06T11:09:00.004-06:002010-11-18T21:48:20.014-06:00The Great Divorce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Q8MRnKw2dDnsUwhyphenhyphenpBxjKoPqpQIYJFMBoC9snP2z809voYmbJW1ZuHTuPa3QutD8esY8DQ7qPP_X96CKprc_JQ4PvIL4thZGYEwWVJGQd9zW-AlvbjpZ1G__BxTc6cNb0_3e8xZ5ujc/s1600/the-great-divorce.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Q8MRnKw2dDnsUwhyphenhyphenpBxjKoPqpQIYJFMBoC9snP2z809voYmbJW1ZuHTuPa3QutD8esY8DQ7qPP_X96CKprc_JQ4PvIL4thZGYEwWVJGQd9zW-AlvbjpZ1G__BxTc6cNb0_3e8xZ5ujc/s320/the-great-divorce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536497703403948834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>C.S. Lewis<br /></div><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>TIME: </strong>October 2010</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NOTES:<br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I have always been a fan of C.S. Lewis. Unfortunately I was not raised on the <span style="font-style: italic;">Chronicles of Narnia</span> but in my adult years I have had the pleasure of discovering them with my lovely wife Sarah. As a young Christian I was very strongly influenced by <span style="font-style: italic;">Mere Christianity</span>. I have also read The Screwtape Letters, A Grief Observed and the first two installments of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Cosmic Trilogy</span>. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I really enjoyed this little pocket reader and as with all Lewis books it was both entertaining and educational. It was entertaining in that Lewis takes the reader on a bus ride from the grey streets of Hell all the way to the forrests surrounding Heaven. In Heaven the residents appear solid while the vistors are wraith like shadows. The solidness of Heaven is painful to the wisps of Hell. Lewis imaginitive rendering makes for a fun read.<br /><br />During the journey from Hell to Heaven the reader is privy to several conversations between the ghost like people of Hell and themselves as well as their discourse with the solid people of Heaven. These conversations act in much the same way that Dickens' Christmas ghost's act on Scrooge. The reader is invited to consider where they may fit in the scenes and therby where they may require change. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">One of my favorite conversations comes early in the book. I will share a small sample below:</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dick:</span> Do you really think there are no sins of intellect?</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spirit: </span>There are indeed, Dick. There is hide bound predjudice, and intellectual dishonesty, and timidity, and stagnation. But honest opinions fearlessly followed -they are not sins."<br /><br />As this conversation goes on it becomes clear that the Spirit has been mislead by a type of intellectualism that says that all things are equally true if they are truly believed. Some may call this type of thinking, when applied to spiritual matters, "universalism". The problem for the Spirit is that he is being confronted with an objective truth in the form of the foothills of Heaven and his perfected Heavenly friend but his intellectual pride prevents him from submitting himself to that one truth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">SIDE NOTE: </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Lewis himself has been accused of universalism because he wrote a "Talmerine" (sp?) into Heaven at the end of the Last Battle. I can now see how Lewis' theology can allow for this type of thing. In the case of the Spirit he is given one last chance to see the truth even though he was mislead all his life. So, it is noble to follow a belief heroically but it is foolish to hold that same belief when confronted blatantly with a truth that makes that belief false. For the Talmerine is submission to Aslan once confronted with him in person acted as his choice between truth and falshood. </span><br /><br />The book carries on to show people confronted with their own false humility, lust, pride, malice etc. Each time the Spirits are given a choice. Some choose to walk to the great mountain while many others opt for the grey streets of Hell. This allegorical style is very affective in that it gives the reader several moments in time to reflect on. In a way each segment is, for the reader, an opportunity to choose between Heaven and Hell as they are confronted with their own sins.<br /><br />The title of the book is significant because Lewis wants to 'draw the line'. Speaking of the "Marriage" of Heaven and Hell lewis writes:<br /><br />"The attempt is based on the belief that reality never presents us with an absolutely unavoidable 'either-or'; that, granted skill and patience and (above all) time enough, some way of embracing both alternatives can always be found; that mere development or adjustment or refinement will somehow turn evil into good without our being called on for a final and total rejection of anything we should like to retain. This belief I take to be disatrous error."<br /><br />So, in "The Great Divorce" Lewis paints Hell as a small crack in the floor of Heaven. A person, based on their beliefs, choices, and loyalties must choose to accept their invitation to Heaven or to be finally cast into the crack of Hell. This decision is made on a road filled with grace and mercies up to and including a view of Heaven itself and a personal invitation delivered by a trusted friend but in the end it is a true choice with final concequences.<br /><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></strong>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-25657487577361336832010-10-24T18:04:00.001-06:002010-10-24T18:06:01.984-06:00A QUOTE TO START OFF WITH.I was looking for a good Hornby quote for my header and I came accross this gem. It is to good not to post but to long for a subtitle:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Books are, let's face it, better than everything else. If we played cultural Fantasy Boxing League, and made books go 15 rounds in the ring against the best that any other art form had to offer, then books would win pretty much every time. Go on, try it. “The Magic Flute” v. Middlemarch? Middlemarch in six. “The Last Supper” v. Crime and Punishment? Fyodor on points. See? I mean, I don’t know how scientific this is, but it feels like the novels are walking it. You might get the occasional exception -– “Blonde on Blonde” might mash up The Old Curiosity Shop, say, and I wouldn’t give much for Pale Fire’s chance against Citizen Kane. And every now and again you'd get a shock, because that happens in sport, so Back to the Future III might land a lucky punch on Rabbit, Run; but I'm still backing literature 29 times out of 30." </span><br /><br />-Nick HornbyJordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-77301098540203690502009-04-07T12:54:00.003-06:002009-04-07T13:23:43.111-06:00The Moon Is Down<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXdt4MNhaAy6QL_3z3Ls88cEjkc2J77KR0r4j-AuACeFpsfcwl1tNjV5GeAtouzwfEEX5nFt6swM3WOMc_RRGRwO677FlFuBf19Wf5YLdp9h6u78eyAxc0mGwb60Mh9_LpbmcgIN3VP5n/s1600-h/the+moon+is+down.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322032344204583826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXdt4MNhaAy6QL_3z3Ls88cEjkc2J77KR0r4j-AuACeFpsfcwl1tNjV5GeAtouzwfEEX5nFt6swM3WOMc_RRGRwO677FlFuBf19Wf5YLdp9h6u78eyAxc0mGwb60Mh9_LpbmcgIN3VP5n/s320/the+moon+is+down.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> John Steinbeck<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME</strong>: April 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>NOTES:</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">This book represents my first venture into official propaganda. It is also the second book I have read in a row that deals with Nazi occupation. During WWII Steinbeck (Of Mice and Men, Wayward Bus etc...) was working for the precursor for the CIA doing intelligence work. The legend is that he found himself <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">disappointed</span> with the existing American propaganda and decided to publish his own booklet. The booklet now exists as a one hundred page novel. Interestingly, Steinbeck, though allowed to publish, was largely criticised for his work. The main flack he caught was that he had made the German's too human. It wasn't until after the war that the true impact of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Steinbeck's</span> controversial work was known. Evidently, the novel was published in the underground throughout occupied Europe. It was handed out in the streets and translated into at least six languages. Those under the thumb of Nazi invaders felt that Steinbeck had captured the essence of the way they felt. They were also afforded encouragement and hope from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Steinbeck's</span> treatment of the human spirits ability to survive in bleak circumstances.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">"The Moon Is Down" chronicles a fictional town that is betrayed by its own baker. The baker takes advantage of the peoples trust leaving the door open for the invaders to gain control of the town and its abundant coal supply. Although Steinbeck never blatantly identifies the invaders as Nazi's their is significant allusion in the book to draw that conclusion. At first the Nazi's attempt a peaceful occupation. They try to utilize the existing governmental structure in order to keep the people satisfied. This of course does not work as the first execution marks the beginning of strife between the occupied and the invaders. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Because this book is official <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">propaganda</span> there are obvious polemical aspects. The invaders are often <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">referred</span> to as herd thinkers that blindly follow 'the leader' (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hitler</span>) while the democratic occupants of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Town</span> are applauded for their freedom of thought. Democracy becomes a threat to the Nazi's as they realize that no matter how many town officials they kill there will always rise up a new leader (yeah democracy!). Other polemical cues include the nervous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Nazi's</span> vs. the stalwart townies, the ingenuity of the slaves vs. the bumbling of the masters and so on. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The part of the book that Steinbeck was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">chastised</span> for turns out to be the most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">impacting </span>element. The portrayal of the Nazi's as feeling humans with families, hopes, dreams, needs and so on gives the reader hope that they can A.) be defeated and B.) be converted to the right way (democracy in this case). The reader is exposed to Nazi weakness as soldiers are sent home insane, starved for love, longing for their gardens and model trains, and even pleading for relationship with the people they have conquered. The reader is also allowed to see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">German</span> soldiers as normal people. The most glaring example of this is one young soldier who begins to question 'the leaders' ideals at first and his sanity later. The reader sees that some of these young men believed that they were fighting on the right side. They were also trained to believe that the people they conquered would eventually thank them for the 'New World Order' which never arrives and leaves many of the Nazi's in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Steinbeck's</span> world wishing they were the hostages instead of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">guards</span>.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">All in all this was a fun afternoon read. It was informative in its almost poetic portrayal of the occupied peoples suffering. At points I was on the verge of tears as innocent men were killed and families were left undone. It was also interesting to read something so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">purposely</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">obviously</span> polemical. So, its not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Steinbeck's</span> best work but its worth the few hours it will take you to finish.</span></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-39418063468600963402009-04-05T19:41:00.005-06:002009-04-05T22:17:07.062-06:00Slaughterhouse- Five<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0NjQ7WHrIYPvtN7BX92_IWB80gxWRoNQ2p6z0s5tXgxe4S-GCkq8sPdLN_pOWvDHIKhzdF1LR33mHYCz-PnHeKGDIAtpf0eDzh17Bj94Ax6F8lx2EHFLpnrooJc3vFqgpiabirFeJHIi/s1600-h/vonnegut_slaughterhouse_five.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321398440753646594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0NjQ7WHrIYPvtN7BX92_IWB80gxWRoNQ2p6z0s5tXgxe4S-GCkq8sPdLN_pOWvDHIKhzdF1LR33mHYCz-PnHeKGDIAtpf0eDzh17Bj94Ax6F8lx2EHFLpnrooJc3vFqgpiabirFeJHIi/s320/vonnegut_slaughterhouse_five.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Kurt Vonnegut<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME: </strong>April 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">NOTES:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I was going to cheat and do research before writing my notes but I decided that it would be against the spirit of my blog. So instead, I want to begin by confessing that I don't get it. The book was funny but it was also terribly sad. It was written by a man who actually survived the bombing of Dresden in WWII (more deaths than both A-bombs combined). I am used too books that contain a thread of hope but I am having trouble finding the thread in this read. I will offer a brief summary of its contents and I will try to express some of my thoughts but I would love to have comments from others who have read this book... maybe someone out there gleaned better than I did. I feel like a deep and heavy thing is in the book but I don't know what it is. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The main character's name is Billy Pilgrim and I am certain that his last name is symbolic. Early on we find out that Billy has been dislodged from time. He travels through time involuntarily (Time Travellers wife?) visiting moments in his own life: past, present, and future. We also know that Billy is an optometrist which is another symbolic item as he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">inadvertently</span> talks about the difference in importance between a frame and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lenses</span>. Also, he sees it as his task to 'correct the worlds vision concerning time'. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">While <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">abducted by Aliens</span> he learns of a fourth dimension which we are told is incomprehensible to the human mind. In a four dimensional view all moments are simultaneously viewable and present. So the Aliens see the stars in a series of moments which produces a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">spaghetti</span> of light as opposed to the dots that we see. They are also fatalists; they believe that all moments are set and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">unchangeable</span>. This means that they know about every disaster before it happens but they make no effort to avert them. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Similarly</span>, Billy's time travelling <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">privileges</span> him with future information but the events always happen just the same anyway. It should be known that Billy does not lead an average life. He was a low ranking American officer in WWII and he was captured and shipped via train to Dresden where he, like his creator, survived the bombing.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">During his POW moments we are privy to gruesome scenes of crowded train cars <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">reeking</span> of human waste, death's by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">firing</span> squad, the loss of dignity, hatred, brutality and infighting even amongst the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">POW's</span>. The vision of war we are handed is gross and cruel (especially concerning the American troops... the Russians, Germans, and English are painted slightly brighter). Furthermore, Billy's understanding of time causes him to seem cold and callous as he repeats the phrase, 'so it goes' following every death in the book. He, like the Alien's doesn't see death as such a bad thing because everyone will die and death does not mean the end as the person continues to exist in other moments simultaneously. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">In Billy's other moments we discover that he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">weds</span> a women that he describes as being overweight and constantly eating. He does not find her attractive but he knows from his time travel that she will be bearable for life. His interactions with women throughout time are colorful as well. He accidentally walks in on a room of teen girls in Dresden while they are showering only to help dig their corpses out of Dresden's rubble following the fire bombing. He also goes to a porn/novelty shop where he notices that everyone has a 'hard on' but he is not interested in the smut, he is interested in science fiction novels by an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">unsuccessful</span> writer. While in the alien zoo he has a baby with a well known actress who was also abducted, and finally he is shown a photograph of a woman and a horse attempting intercourse by several people during the book. The imagery around sex in the book is similar to the imagery of war. Billy paints a 'so it goes' picture but the reader is often taken aback and even a little disgusted by the treatment of sex a an act devoid of love, peddled in smut shops, and put on display in Alien zoo's. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">After reading the book I am not sure what to think of Billy Pilgrim and his story. I know that he found himself silently sobbing at certain moments and that seems to be the tone of the story. I felt sad after it was all said and done. Billy seems to say that nothing really matters. No matter what we do the end result is the same. Anyway, the last sentence in the book is: "One bird said to Billy Pilgrim, "Poo-tee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">weet</span>?" and I ask the same question of the last sentence as I did of the whole book: "what does it mean?"</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-85525554637477263772009-04-05T18:41:00.004-06:002009-04-05T19:17:12.980-06:00A Wizard of EarthSea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1SFhVvhO76Xy6WNCkMDuugNshMIi5gL4paCBX-H5URNLRIp10TXuu_lOWeXeLwwaxx2eTRu3WqsW2csF0C_5TkvVw3_DG0X6m2yTNRJ7wV8Z1dq3HkRNYLySl0M7CRdZCzHpcQ9ouVnI/s1600-h/A+Wizard+of+Earthsea.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321372889442405938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 194px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1SFhVvhO76Xy6WNCkMDuugNshMIi5gL4paCBX-H5URNLRIp10TXuu_lOWeXeLwwaxx2eTRu3WqsW2csF0C_5TkvVw3_DG0X6m2yTNRJ7wV8Z1dq3HkRNYLySl0M7CRdZCzHpcQ9ouVnI/s320/A+Wizard+of+Earthsea.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Ursula K. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Le <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Guin</span></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME: </strong>April 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">NOTES:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Sarah read this whole trilogy and she has been hounding me to read this first installment. I put the book on my nightstand about a month ago and I read the first three pages about 100 times. Eventually I decided that I would start a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">regimen</span> in which I would read one book that someone recommended to me and one classic. This is the first book that was recommended. The second one is Slaughter House Five (which I have also finished).</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">In the first few chapters I was beginning to question Sarah's judgement. The reader is introduced to a poor boy in a small village who has great natural power in the area of sorcery. He is taken in by a wizard as an apprentice and he eventually gets drafted to a very special school of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wizardry</span> on a secluded island. He meets other wizards in training and the adventure begins. (Harry Potter anyone?). I am delighted to say that the story develops deeper layers as it moves along.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The main character is known by two names. His true name is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ged</span> but his common name is Sparrowhawk. In Le <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Guin's</span> universe a things true name is extremely important. in the practice of magic, knowing a things name allows one to manipulate it. A certain amount of dominance is gained by knowing a true name. In the same sense knowing your own true name is a milestone in your journey toward <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wiz</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dom</span>. My wife was very intrigued by this concept and through conversations with her I have gained an appreciation for it as well. In our common lives the practice of naming seems to play a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">significant</span> role. To name something is to take away mystery by 'knowing' it or making it familiar. Life as a human is riddled with names and definitions for things. We name the trees, rivers, continents, animals etc. By naming them we gain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">seminance</span> of control in a universe that is largely mysterious. The idea goes deeper but I am ill <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">equipped</span> to explain it. You could email Sarah if you like, she is writing a paper on the subject.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">SPOILER ALERT:</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The idea of 'true names' plays a key role as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ged</span> spends the majority of his journey trying to find the name of a great evil so that he can defeat it. While at the school of magic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ged</span> is driven by pride to summon a dead spirit (a practice that is dangerous even for the most seasoned of wizards). The spirit he summons does appear however the rift between the spirit world and the real world also expels a shadow monster. The monster tears up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ged's</span> face and leaves him embittered (and physically more bad ass: cool scars, menacing eyes, tortured spirit...). The rest of the book has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ged</span> being chased by the evil which is apparently trying to meld with him in kinda a demon <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">possession</span> sort of a way. Eventually <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ged's</span> original master tells him to turn the tables and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ged</span> starts chasing the shadow which flees him. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The end of the book reveals that the shadows name is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ged</span> which means that the evil that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">sook</span> to devour him was actually in him. I am sure that you can see the significance of this revelation. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Ged</span> is the evil. This brings up a variety of interesting issues. Sarah and I have discussed sin nature, the capacity of evil in us all, and the importance of recognizing that we have shadow selves capable of terrible things. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">So, the book is marketed as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">children's</span> novel but I think its more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">LOTR</span> than Narnia. The story is very dark and Le <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Guin</span> tackles very dark issues. As a fantasy novel I would say that is was exceptional. It has all the stuff that makes my nerd hairs stand on end: dragons, wizards, spells, stormy seas, mysterious evils, and magic. I am taking a Le <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Guin</span> break for awhile but I think I will grab paperbacks with her name on the spine from now on... in fact I have already bought two. </span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-8298041081427051412009-03-17T22:55:00.007-06:002009-03-22T10:11:26.869-06:00The Culturally Savvy Christian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YBvnLNLtCBvgvKQh15mbYJVW9s-mdZ2jG0fDdlBCnQmcU-yu_5jqMsT7QYYQIwQl-_vf9nwFI8ZN_X4jEVqOLkQr8c4KCSPgL9Vnnaieo6XUzC-4gk5J5mL7HdWf6e9SkmHlYGjnAqgG/s1600-h/Culturally+Savvy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314395054774074146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 212px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YBvnLNLtCBvgvKQh15mbYJVW9s-mdZ2jG0fDdlBCnQmcU-yu_5jqMsT7QYYQIwQl-_vf9nwFI8ZN_X4jEVqOLkQr8c4KCSPgL9Vnnaieo6XUzC-4gk5J5mL7HdWf6e9SkmHlYGjnAqgG/s320/Culturally+Savvy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> Dick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Staub</span><br /><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME:</strong> March 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span><br /><strong><span style="color:#000000;">NOTES:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I will get my criticism out of the way right off the bat. Dick <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Staub</span> has a tendency to repeat himself. This repetition includes the use of the same quotations in more than one place. So, reading this book involves hearing the same Jim Morrison lyric many times (which is actually something I enjoy). Secondly, the title and cover of this book stink. I would never in a million years pick this book up based on its exterior. It looks like yet another installment in the "post-modern, 'I have opinions and no research' type books". In truth, the author is very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">knowledgeable</span> about Christianity and the world of popular culture and has even interviewed a plethora of famous pop-icons himself. The one saving grace of this book's dust jacket is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">recommendation</span> by N.T. Wright which reads, <em>"This is an urgent book for our times-and our health". </em>Wright's comment was the sole reason that I grabbed this book of the 'new release' shelf in the library.</span><br /><em><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span></em><br /><span style="color:#000000;">As far as I can tell the thesis of this book is that much of popular culture is a money driven, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">soulless</span>, non-artistic, empty shell (or something like that) and that mainline evangelicalism has been impacted more than it has made an impact in this environment. As such, we need to regain our "deep well"-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ness</span> in order to bring glory to God through excellence in art and culture, and in order to be fully human (which is the ultimate goal). The details of how one digs this well are complex and inspiring. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Staub</span> explains that, <em>"the culturally savvy Christian is serious about faith, savvy about faith and culture, and skilled at relating the two."</em> The book consists of a break-down of this statement using biblical evidence and cultural support. The result is a 'putting together' of many scattered popular ideas into a coherent practice (popular ideas: devotion, study, disciplines, the mystics, cultural interpretation, discernment etc etc.). This practice is exemplified in the way that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Staub</span> writes using popular culture and and the Bible in a side by side co-operative manner that does not come off as a cheese festival. </span><br /><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I was most impressed with two sections of the book. The first section was a practical outline of how one might go about implementing the kind of life <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Staub</span> argues for. I was impressed at the simplicity of his plan, the clearness of its presentation and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">overall</span> impression of truth that I got from it. It is refreshing to have someone offer 'practical hope' after a lengthy criticism of the two largest spheres of my life (faith and culture). The second element I liked was his long discussion of discernment. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Staub</span> provides the most complete explanation of cultural discernment that I have come across. He explains that discernment is about more than moral content and even argues that the 'bad stuff' in life is often artistically relevant. Furthermore he suggests that discernment is to be preferred over 'the rule' which is popular in many faith circles. </span><br /><span style="color:#cccccc;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Staub's</span> book left me damaged but hopeful. I was confronted with my own cultural and religious hollowness but I was provided with eyes to see a way out. I look forward to reading more of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Staub's</span> work in the future and I strongly recommend this offering to anyone concerned with culture or faith (in other words: everyone).</span></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-735578526271057102009-02-23T11:53:00.004-06:002009-02-23T12:14:08.623-06:00The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzGWsLiTUh0K_ayjxSBa2cirBglYEnq4vHIA5WZHTqz9IwGeMl6fT8yZXOZCKhXQ6ndZSAN0jJhmX4A3-Ox7gy25u4QwTMuduPTly2n3XsoIx9ekLQdriUx5pERTNZpAcF4J6oWr_hp3u/s1600-h/The+Gunslinger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306057129470865394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 189px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzGWsLiTUh0K_ayjxSBa2cirBglYEnq4vHIA5WZHTqz9IwGeMl6fT8yZXOZCKhXQ6ndZSAN0jJhmX4A3-Ox7gy25u4QwTMuduPTly2n3XsoIx9ekLQdriUx5pERTNZpAcF4J6oWr_hp3u/s320/The+Gunslinger.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Stephen King<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME:</strong> February 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><strong><span style="color:#000000;">NOTES:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">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 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">prallis</span> (it turns out that Logan is quite brilliant and I am a unfounded snob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ie</span>. I often think that I am smarter than I am). The truth is that I have seen many Stephen King films and I have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">type casted</span> 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'.</span></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">In this fantasy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">landscape</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">perceived</span> as a priest and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">messenger</span> of God by many of the people he encounters and yet the Gunslinger <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">casts</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">chronicles</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Roland's</span> journey through a strange dessert and a zombie filled cave with a boy named Jake (whom must eventually die at the Gunslingers hand <em>hint hint: obvious illusions to Abraham and Issac). </em>There are also hints of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">parallel</span> worlds, post <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">apocalyptic</span> landscapes, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">purgatory</span> or something like those three as Jake appears to be from what we would call modern New York City. </span></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">All in all this book was a fun read but I feel unsatisfied <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">with</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">desperately</span> wanting more...</span></div><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div>I guess I will have to buy the next one. </div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span></div>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-87910198318259165102009-02-23T10:40:00.006-06:002009-02-23T11:43:25.083-06:00Becoming Human<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306046232458832114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIVcAvQlTvBDf_2tKgGcSsYyC9LQxMiAdOEEKkYp9KgYYAIMAtFEY72V0SJHb73z6JYwDJ7gWtWplJorZznJ13mpdL6rYW6pFIARWRbU2J0vOAaL7QDhdrFfMkEibdUWM1UANP5zqcgK3/s320/becoming+human+3.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> Jean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vanier</span></span><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>TIME:</strong>February 2009</span><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>NOTES:</strong></span><span style="color:#ffffcc;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">intellectually</span> disabled individuals these past months and the book centers around that sort of thing. For those who may not know, Jean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Vanier</span> founded <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">L'Arche</span> (the Ark) which is a network of communities around the world in which physically and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">intellectually</span> disabled people live in community with non-disabled persons. Jean <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Vanier</span> was a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">committed</span> Catholic so the communities involve much devotional practice and a focus on human growth <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">intellectually</span>, physically, and spiritually.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">If I had to sum up 'becoming human', I would say that it is part devotional literature, part theological exploration and part sociological text. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Vanier</span> uses his background in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">L'Arche</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">intigrated</span> citizens is a given but its not often that someone outlines specific examples of this happening. In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Vaniers</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Vanier</span> is careful not to pity people. The truth is that no one likes to be pitied. In this vein <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Vanier</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">assessment</span> is simply untrue as all humans have a sin nature.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">The sociological aspect of the book is in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Vaniers</span> timeless <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">assessment</span> of our western <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">tendencies</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">tendency</span> can help us to tame it and to have eyes to see the powerful ministry of those who are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">perceived</span> as weak in our social order. The ministry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Vanier</span> 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. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">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 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Vaniers</span> 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 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">significance</span> of the Jesus' love for the marginalized in our midst. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffcc;"></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-29866747140817174212009-01-17T23:29:00.004-06:002009-02-23T11:42:13.031-06:00The napoleon of Notting Hill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aRubwVBAn7hDHAG513T1ukP5-T_f9CnbFjNxpC3tKbjp8FFO_R5Cqc1eVbAcSvHphC_U-d94hukTzNj86B0NmAtckjdszgTj30pnD7IMoeBh3o7Jhu2Z1t5ogfmONsLdx5avTccP38Kh/s1600-h/The+Napolean+of+Notting+Hill.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292501931402515682" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4aRubwVBAn7hDHAG513T1ukP5-T_f9CnbFjNxpC3tKbjp8FFO_R5Cqc1eVbAcSvHphC_U-d94hukTzNj86B0NmAtckjdszgTj30pnD7IMoeBh3o7Jhu2Z1t5ogfmONsLdx5avTccP38Kh/s320/The+Napolean+of+Notting+Hill.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> G.K. Chesterton<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>TIME:</strong> January 2009<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>NOTES:</strong><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><br />I was lucky enough to take a class in college about the life and works of G.K. Chesterton. The class fostered in me a love for Chesterton that I presume will last for my whole life. It also romanticised the idea of a stout ale, a good cigar, and chivalry around the ladies. Because of my background in Chestertonianism I was very pleased to spot a paperback version of this, his first novel, the Napolean of Notting Hill. <em>Sidenote:</em> I found it in a great little book shop in southern Ontario. The guy working the shop was a retired teacher/librarian with a pronounced british accent that seemed to know a little something about each and every book in the store. The store itself was located in a gutted old motel and the selection was amazing and fairly priced. <em>Sidenote two:</em> I hope to do a post about good book shops I have found every now and then. But that will have to wait.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Those of you who have read some of Chesterton's writing will know that he is a bit of a 'one trick pony'. I would argue that the trick is nuanced in a new and exciting way in most of his books but it is non-the-less the same trick. If I am correct, the backbone of Chesterton's life project was to defend fairyland against the onslaught of objectivism (this would include things like scientific fact, modernism, the enlightenment etc.). Chesterton wants his readers to consider that Truth with a capital 'T' is not always best sook with rationality. In fact much of the most </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">important truth in life is a profound farce. Consider the son of God being hung from a tree to die; only to return ushering in life. In Notting hill Chesterton leads his reader on a journey to discover this truth.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">In the TNoNH the reader is confronted with a man who is pronounced King of London seemingly on a whim. This man proceeds to transform london into a ridiculous pagent of color-coded regions each with it's own outlandish dress code. A city code is also drafted that calls for over-the-top pomp and ceremony in everyday governmental affairs. The trick that Chesterton plays on the reader is causing them to judge this new king as a fool only to have them stand whole heartedly behind the values of his farce society in the end. You will have to read the book to see the full mechanics of this shift.</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I have realized that it seems that I never read a book that I don't like so I have decided to include some critique in my 2009 reviews. In this book it is obvious that you are reading an early Chesterton. He drags on at points and much of the novel feels too surreal. I think he has definantly written better stuff. All that said I think this is good book well worth a read. And its short. </span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-45748609604572428862009-01-04T22:37:00.011-06:002009-02-23T16:50:11.426-06:00Haroun and the Sea of Stories<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierFzAbJiL9N4rqlAnpgNxnmuPLBxicq0ii_acTKJn06s0WfYpCtt77T8OEKdoA1ZU-eshyphenhyphenvr4ncepyyHZztTT7OyX0AmI1frPNt1Pacd-VC8yWxFzNaYBUy4E7SE4WylrJczap-zJEeu-/s1600-h/Haroun+and+the+Sea+of+Stories.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287664538367223554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 246px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierFzAbJiL9N4rqlAnpgNxnmuPLBxicq0ii_acTKJn06s0WfYpCtt77T8OEKdoA1ZU-eshyphenhyphenvr4ncepyyHZztTT7OyX0AmI1frPNt1Pacd-VC8yWxFzNaYBUy4E7SE4WylrJczap-zJEeu-/s320/Haroun+and+the+Sea+of+Stories.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>AUTHOR: </strong>Salmon Rushdie<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>TIME: </strong>January 2009<br /><strong><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span></strong><br /><strong>NOTES:</strong><br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br />This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">children's</span> novel was lent to me by my wife. She bought it under the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">recommendation</span> of an interviewing prof. at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Briercrest</span>. The author is, of course, familiar and controversial. He is the very same Salmon Rushdie who was placed under a fatwa after producing the 'Satanic Verses'. I have tried to read the controversial title before but its to surreal for my tastes.<br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br />Haroun is the son of the 'shah of blah' who is a famous story teller in a sad town (it is actually home to the factories that produce sadness). His father's wife leaves him in the arms of a man of science and facts. This leaves the shah incapacitated as a story teller and causes significant upheaval as the Shah's main income is derived from speaking at political rallies.<br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br />Amazingly, Haroun witnesses a 'water genie' <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">disconnecting</span> his fathers invisible 'storey tap' and so the adventure begins. I don't want to give too much detail because I think the short story is well worth the time to read. Needless to say that it is a thinly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">guized</span> defence of freedom of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">speech</span> and the power/importance of story. Haroun sets sail on an actual sea of story in search of 'the Walrus' and finds himself instead in the midst of a search for the source of contamination that threatens the wellspring of story itself.<br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br />This whimsical tale is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">reminiscent</span> of Oz, the Never ending Story, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Labyrinth</span> and so many more of the greats. Its a must read for lovers of the Humanities and Children everywhere.<br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-44187069283560145342008-12-19T00:24:00.004-06:002009-02-23T11:40:31.387-06:00Life Together<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczcWQMUs75aaOj14QlkEVVYIyhMouNklmVtzMRX-odiMFPO34jvUjDuIouzS3cS091rFTOZt9nOGfapoh_ejvDHCfH1VWgLyjiVgqyxF8y9UiswanT_5l5hFHHRqbQ6CUjld-BOl09M8B/s1600-h/Life+Together.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281383995075768498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 207px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczcWQMUs75aaOj14QlkEVVYIyhMouNklmVtzMRX-odiMFPO34jvUjDuIouzS3cS091rFTOZt9nOGfapoh_ejvDHCfH1VWgLyjiVgqyxF8y9UiswanT_5l5hFHHRqbQ6CUjld-BOl09M8B/s320/Life+Together.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><strong>TIME: </strong>December 2008<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> Dietrich Bonhoeffer<br /><br /><strong>NOTES:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />This isn't really the sort of book that one critiques. A chapter in it was suggested by Prof. Davidson. I have been asking him to explain to me how he lives in Christian community. More specifically, I am trying to live in the Church which I often find <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">frustrating</span>.<br /><br />Bonhoeffer is a pretty intense read. He was a Christian pastor/theologian etc. in Germany during Hitlers Reign. He chose to go back to Germany and was imprisoned in a Nazi camp. He died in the camp just before the allied forces liberated it. He was executed.<br /><br />In this book Bonhoeffer offers his thoughts on what Christian community is all about. The stinging part for me was that he saw community as a grace. This means that one should approach the Church with an attitude of thankfulness despite its obvious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">shortcomings</span>. He <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doesn't</span> mince words about this idea as he explains that people like me do damage to the Church and basically offend God by our constant complaining, refusal to 'enter in' and so on. He does lighten the blow when he explores what hardens folks like me.<br /><br />It seems that I am unable to 'enter in' because I am not fully living in forgiveness. It's not that God will not forgive me; Instead, the problem is that I have not humbled myself by confessing to another brother in the Church. Because I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">haven't</span> faced my sins in any real mortifying way I am more able to judge others for their faults. The act of telling someone else the things you do in your head or in secret that are sinful is an act of killing your pride. The fact is that God will call us to account for our sins in the end so having them out now is a much more desirable option. By recognizing that one is sinful and unworthy the Church is put in focus for that person. In fact, all humans are sinners offered grace by God. As such I am not to pass judgement on my fellow believers. I can still encourage them and even rebuke them (if the rebuke is meant to help them in the end). However, I am totally unworthy and unable to look with disdain at other humans. Note that this is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bonhoeffers</span> advice not my present state.<br /><br />Bonhoeffer also suggests a lifestyle <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">focused</span> on prayer and structured Bible reading, fellowship, communion, and worship. All of this is good stuff but without the first step its not really that useful. So, I am in the process of figuring out what all this means for me. I am shopping for a confessor and I am trying to be more humble through submission to the Word and to God.<br /><br /><strong></strong>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-30893978450858044862008-12-19T00:05:00.003-06:002008-12-19T00:12:38.152-06:00BIG WIN AT PUB TRIVIA<div align="center"><strong>Big Win At Bobby's Trivia Night This Week!</strong></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BgsSSz2d94DL6vB6dptdtxz89mxhyphenhyphen43wreex_1_vv4tfz1WIHDE5EUaQnB0FoiZhIRcOW1GQQ8grXC0vZ0wO3YWml3T98L14hStmfivCrqsG3itu0y5e3K63UItsziiWKLd-5We9hqlu/s1600-h/HPIM0161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281379102833096770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 298px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BgsSSz2d94DL6vB6dptdtxz89mxhyphenhyphen43wreex_1_vv4tfz1WIHDE5EUaQnB0FoiZhIRcOW1GQQ8grXC0vZ0wO3YWml3T98L14hStmfivCrqsG3itu0y5e3K63UItsziiWKLd-5We9hqlu/s400/HPIM0161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Every week my friends and I head to the local irish pub, which is called Bobby's Place. We go for a time honoured tradition: Pub Trivia. Each week they also have a side contest in which those who buy imported beers are entered in a draw to win one of six sets of awesome beer glasses. I have long desired this set and this week the owner extended the draw to 12 sets. We won the last set! BEST TRIVIA NIGHT EVER!Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-75283425166161697842008-12-12T21:52:00.011-06:002009-02-23T16:55:33.949-06:00Cash: The Autobiography<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKA7G4hm0uxLp4CVQbR9TO2CYzZNCSlekwWlvkQv5_RWvqH5NZfch4pkCZQ0JduAMVsqpMwY21mzsqzh40M7pIC1BSrQvwLPcRyXM-lgNxj0lDGCxpbVxBDqrlwkIbB7Bg28Mf7tes5n4/s1600-h/CASH.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279118116966830882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 197px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKA7G4hm0uxLp4CVQbR9TO2CYzZNCSlekwWlvkQv5_RWvqH5NZfch4pkCZQ0JduAMVsqpMwY21mzsqzh40M7pIC1BSrQvwLPcRyXM-lgNxj0lDGCxpbVxBDqrlwkIbB7Bg28Mf7tes5n4/s320/CASH.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> Johnny Cash<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>TIME:</strong> December 2008<br /><br /><strong>NOTES:</strong><br /><br /><p>After finishing "The Broom of the System" I was in need of a lighter read and I saw this book on one of my shelves. I think that I bought it at a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">yard sale</span> in the summer. I also recalled that it got a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">recommendation</span> in High Fidelity which is a great <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hornby</span> book turned film. In the film Cash by Cash is placed in a top ten list of favorite books by the lead character. </p><p></p><p>Johnny Cash is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">surprisingly</span> good writer (although I am sure he had help from Patrick Carr). The books style is great. It has the feel of a campfire story or a fishing lodge tale. The writing is casual and heartfelt. I was especially impressed with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">humility</span> and wisdom that Cash displayed when he was talking about his darker days. I was expecting to get gruesome details about trashed hotel rooms, vomit filled nights of lechery and the like. Instead Cash chose to highlight a few of his worst days in order to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">de</span>-glamorize his rock star lifestyle. He told one story about him <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">accidentally</span> burning down a good portion of a wildlife refuge and trying to pretend that he <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hadn't</span> noticed by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">faux</span> fishing at a nearby pond. This story was humiliating and though I did laugh out loud it certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">didn't</span> make me want to copy Cash. </p><p></p><p>From a music history perspective the book was really interesting. As you know Cash is intertwined with the greats including Elvis, Waylon Jennings and the Carter family. What you may not know is that his first major tour was as an opener for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Elvis</span>. It was really interesting to hear all the many many stories of the olden days when you could wait on a record companies front steps with a guitar and get a record deal; or when a friend could cover your show if you were to strung out to play. Cash makes the 'good old days' of music seem incredible. He communicates a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">camaraderie</span> between artists that is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">romantic</span> and inspiring. This book is peppered with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">anticdotes</span> about guitars of note, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">sound men</span>, producers, epic shows, the road and songwriting. Any audiophile would be foolish to leave this piece of history unread. </p><p></p><p>As a Christian I was very impacted by the spiritual <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">undertones</span> of the book. Recently I have been getting harder and harder on myself and others about sin. It was interesting to gain Cash's perspective which is influenced much more by grace than my own. One glaring truth of Cash's life is that he made a lot of mistakes. He failed at marriage, endangered a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">species</span>, struggled with drug and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">alcohol</span> addiction to the point of near death and so on and so forth. I think that this had a huge impact on his ability to forgive much. I am reading <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Bonhoeffer</span> right now and he says that our grace and mercy is dependant on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">forgiveness</span> offered by Christ. So, as Cash was forgiven much he was also able to forgive much. Maybe this idea isn't revolutionary to everyone but I have not been able to appreciate it until recently and this book was a big part of that. </p><p></p>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-70566321326025046142008-12-03T18:10:00.007-06:002009-02-23T11:39:27.098-06:00The Broom of the System<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-9RKQURxwB-yEaHuQmjGjNIwG0Nv3_1MCLUqT7WgdhWzqw5KwYz2OFrAh9UVsLXhLLY2KeJiuNmLgHd8LL5nGgWd0Xzk6a79OJLarNXNcrSEzl-h_69ZbvWQOQCntbuB_szNA8k9FqKk/s1600-h/The+Brom+of+the+System.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275740843261503634" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu-9RKQURxwB-yEaHuQmjGjNIwG0Nv3_1MCLUqT7WgdhWzqw5KwYz2OFrAh9UVsLXhLLY2KeJiuNmLgHd8LL5nGgWd0Xzk6a79OJLarNXNcrSEzl-h_69ZbvWQOQCntbuB_szNA8k9FqKk/s320/The+Brom+of+the+System.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>TIME:</strong> December 2008<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> David Foster Wallace<br /><br /><strong>NOTES:</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />I picked this book up because of David Foster <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wallace's</span> recent suicide. I have read a number of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wallace's</span> essays, most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">notably</span>: Consider the Lobster which is available as a podcast and should be listened to by everyone. I was curious to see what his more fictional work revealed about him. This will sound silly but after reading the book I can sorta see why Wallace might have done what he did. (P.S. I am aware of his medication changes just prior to his death and I understand better than most that mental illness is a real thing that can't be easily beaten, especially when your medication isn't doing its part.) The book did have a thread of sadness, a feeling of insecurity, even searching.<br /><br />Let me explain the book a little bit. The basic plot surrounds a beautiful but neurotic woman named Lenore <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Beadsman</span>. Miss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Beadsman</span> went to a really small but good college and studied philosophy. She is now working as a switchboard <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">operator</span> at a small publishing company called 'Frequent and Vigorous'. She is also romantically involved with her boss, Rick Vigorous. Rick and Lenore see the same shrink on an almost daily basis. These separate meetings with Dr. J reveal that Lenore is very troubled in a number of ways. They also show that Rick suffers from a painfully small penis. The penis becomes a metaphor for interaction between the self and others. Dr. J and Rick have long <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">dialogues</span> about Ricks inability to penetrate <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Lenore's</span> membrane.<br /><br />Lenore comes from a rich and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dysfunctional</span> family. Her Father owns and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">operates</span> a baby food empire that competes with Gerber. There is also a grandmother in the family (Lenore Sr.). Lenore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sr</span>. is housed in a retirement complex that is owned by the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Stonecipher</span> company (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Lenore's</span> Dad's baby food company). It is interesting to note that Lenore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sr</span>. was a student of Ludwig Wittgenstein and much of the story is spent exploring some of his theories of identity and meaning. Anyway, Lenore Sr. mysteriously disappears from the old folks complex with over a dozen staff and fellow clients. It is hinted that she is somewhere working with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Gerber. The idea is that she is</span> revealing a family secret in order to hurt Mr <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Stonecipher</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">dysfunctional</span> family right). The story is framed around the missing Grandma and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Lenore's</span> search for understanding regarding her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">disappearance</span>.<br /><br />The main plot is easy to grasp. The book is written with a series of side stories. We are privy to manuscripts from CEO meetings and psychiatry appointments. There is also a connected narrative concerning a bird that was gifted to Lenore by Rick. The bird is named Vlad the Impaler. Vlad begins speaking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">english</span> very well after being slipped some of the 'family secret' (the same secret that Lenore Sr. is potentially leaking). The secret is an ingredient that, when added to baby food, causes babies to speak far earlier than is natural. The bird is taught Bible versus by <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Lenore's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">roommate</span> who wants the bird to stop repeating details of her sex life. Vlad is then recruited by a televangelist who uses Vlad to make <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Lenore's</span> landlord a lot of money.<br />The story is also set in 1990 which is a couple years in the future from the time it was written. As such Wallace is able to take some creative licence. This licence results in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Gilligan's</span> Island themed bars in which a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Gilligan</span> look-a-like bar tender is paid to hurt himself every hour. There is also the Greater Ohio Dessert (GOD); which is a man made dessert, with jet black sand, designed to offer <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">wilderness</span> and danger to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">largely</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">sub-urbanised</span> world. Also, the story is often drawn back to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Wallace's</span> own college where we are introduced to Lenore's devilish, drug addicted brother with a wooden leg. This brother is affectionately known as the Antichrist. Another important character is Wang Dang Lang who becomes the antithesis to Rick Vigorous. Lang has a very large penis and becomes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Lenore's</span> solution to non-fulfillment.<br /><br />All in all the book is hilarious, witty, brilliant, confusing, and impossible to put down even in the wee hours of night. One warning I do offer is that the book is very sexual. If that sort of thing is an issue for you your probably not going to enjoy this read... That said, I would encourage any serious reader, especially a college age reader to try this title. It is like an onion with several important layers of meaning. I feel as though I will need to read it several times to really 'get' some of it. I also feel as though I could read it every week forever and I still <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">wouldn't</span> mine all the depths it offers. After finishing I feel more than ever the tragedy that losing Wallace while he still had so much to offer was. May the Lord have mercy on this troubled but gifted soul.Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7356883433906597970.post-90005385788626271382008-12-03T10:53:00.012-06:002009-02-23T16:57:09.554-06:00On Stories<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_UJHbSzGMGHeSVfswqDJnv7R2bjDTyv-nZcajLEeYKI7GSBJ73CCN1Kc8iaFdeYkuwcN5NBxvBsdk2tfaWAA9q44TF3bYOyZU8vfMhKWlgPTWUO_7DU4amR4YjgCjla3xFqdMFTFhtCP/s1600-h/On+Stories.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275609031179225490" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 233px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_UJHbSzGMGHeSVfswqDJnv7R2bjDTyv-nZcajLEeYKI7GSBJ73CCN1Kc8iaFdeYkuwcN5NBxvBsdk2tfaWAA9q44TF3bYOyZU8vfMhKWlgPTWUO_7DU4amR4YjgCjla3xFqdMFTFhtCP/s320/On+Stories.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>TIME:</strong> November 2008<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><strong>AUTHOR:</strong> Richard Kearney<br /><span style="color:#ffff99;">.</span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><strong><span style="color:#000000;">NOTES:</span></strong> </span><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><span style="color:#ffffcc;">.</span><br /></span>This was a De-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ja</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Vu</span> book for me on a couple of fronts. Firstly, many of the Humanities <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">professors</span> at my college read this book years ago and it has influenced what they teach greatly (whether they know it or not). Also, many of my friends have read or partially read the book. Lastly, the idea of narrative or story being an important avenue of truth has always been popular in Christianity to some extent; (beginning with Jesus and his parables) but has become even more popular in recent history with the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">coming</span> of the 'emergent Church' and a more <em>arty</em> crowd. Like De-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ja</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Vu</span> everything seemed familiar in this read but it was much clearer this time around.<br /><br />Kearney works to outline the importance of narrative in this book by defining five main <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">categories</span> of 'use'. I hesitate to use functional language because I think part of what Kearney is doing is kicking against the enlightenment shrines built around 'absolute truth', function as king, and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">empirical</span> fact. At any rate, The book covers five main elements of narrative that make it vital to our existence.<br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><strong><span style="color:#663300;">One:Plot (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">MYTHOS</span>)</span></strong><br /></span>This element was the hardest to understand for me. Essentially, I think it is dealing with the basic form of human life and the fact that making <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">conscious</span> story of it is very helpful in achieving life abundantly. Kearney points to the fact that all human life is essentially a plot line. We all have a beginning, middle and end. All of our stories are peppered with climax, conflict, emotion, characters and so on. We are all stories waiting to be read and interpreted. By <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">consciously</span> seeing ourselves as such we are able to examine our plot lines, placing ourselves in the greater story and interpreting our lives in light of the history and projection that story offers. I feel sure that my brief explanation has done injustice to Kearney's complex thought but as an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">amateur</span> reader I am trying to communicate what I gathered rather than what would have been gleaned by my superiors.<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">As a side, I could not help but think of the implications of this understanding of life for the thoughts of a Christian. It is <em>Evangelical speak</em> to say that we are all written into God's story and that we are all playing our roles as assigned by God... However, I could not help but reflect on the deeper meaning offered by this book. It is true that we all have a plot; so why should the universe not have the same? Also, I can't help but think that as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">conscious</span> players examining and being enriched by our autobiographical roles we are helping to write the greater script in some small way?</span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663300;"><strong>TWO: Re-Creation (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">MIMESIS</span>)</strong><br /></span>This element is the one that is always present in fiction. Kearney is careful not to use the word "imitation" because he wants to avoid 'servile <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">connotation</span>'. That is to say he does not want to limit or oppress <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">MIMESIS</span> with the idea that it must be empirical fact. The Re-creation of a story or event into a written, filmed, or told form is an effort to capture its essence in a way. Kearney speaks much of the use of parody of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">caricature</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">MIMESIS</span> reveals important truth to us by the telling. It is self reflective like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">MYTHOS</span> but this is a bit different because it can be any story , not just our own. This is why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">MIMESIS</span> is sometimes present in the telling of History as well. The historical aspect is touchy though as there is some debate over whether History should be 'just the facts', which is impossible of course but non-the-less valued by some. There is a sizable section in the middle of the book dealing with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">different</span> Holocaust representations which is helpful in more fully understanding this element.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#663300;">THREE: RELEASE (CATHARSIS)</span></strong><br />In Catharsis we are able to 'live a day in another mans shoes'. Kearney explains that this element involves both sufficient distance from events and persons as well as a type of sympathetic closeness. Most Christians will have experienced something like this in the arena of 'testimony' or perhaps in certain types of meditation involving the imaginative placing of oneself in a character of bystander in biblical stories. This element allows us to empathize with the other. I believe that it can also serve as a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">therapeutic</span> aide to those actually involved. In story, we are able to live in a situation otherwise foreign to us, we can experience the pain, fear, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">distress</span>, joy etc. of a character and empathize with them. This is not true with all accounts. Take for example the difference between an autopsy report for a murder victim and a biography about the victim who owned the body before it was dismembered. The one would hold much more empathetic weight than the other... perhaps this is why <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">CSI</span> is so popular?<br /><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><strong><span style="color:#663300;">FOUR:WISDOM (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">PHRONESIS</span>)</span></strong><br /></span>Number four is a bit confusing to me as was number one. To the best of my knowledge Kearney is pointing to a unique function in fiction (although it spills into non-fiction in a complex overlap). This function is its ability to respect individuality in story while still interacting with universality. So, 'wisdom' is imparted through story in a way that is universally applicable to the human condition. A type of truth (wisdom) which is not empirical fact can be communicated through imaginative narrative that in fact, cannot be told through an autopsy report, a list of the dead, or even a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">purely</span> objective view of an event.<br /><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;">I think this is probably why Jesus used the parable so much.</span><br /><span style="color:#33ccff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#663300;"><strong>FIVE: ETHICS (ETHOS)</strong><br /></span>In this bit Kearney briefly talks about narrative as conversation. He says that in all story there is a teller, a story, a listener, and a real or imaginary world. In the interplay of these elements ETHOS is worked out. By allowing us to traverse in common worlds with one an other we are able to experience the other. This interplay creates and maintains a viable arena for the telling of truth, and empathizing even with our enemy. We find common ground in the story.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">The untold life is not worth living</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">-R. Kearney</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;"></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">My post about Homer seems relevant here</span></li></ul>Jordan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07244012492673540157noreply@blogger.com0