Okay people, the thing is that I do read books, just slowly and distractedly and I have a hard time finishing them. In the meantime, I read the April issue of The Sun. My favorite part was the interview with Connie Rice, who works with cops and gangs in LA to reduce violence. It was an intriguing and inspiring interview. 48 pages.
-Tamie
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Books I've Read While Housesitting
The Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz second in a series. i think they are fun. (409 pages)All Shall Be Well; and All Shall Be Well; and All Manner of Things Shall Be Well by Tod Wodicka good. (272 pages)
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah Good Story -- follows two women from the start of their friendship in 1974 (as 14 year olds) into the 21st century. I cried several times. Tam, I thought of you constantly while I was reading this -- partly simply because of the span of their relationship -- and thought how lucky you and I are.(479 pages)
Also started but didn't finish The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra (82 pages)
Buffy in Denver
These are the books I've read
"Whitethorn Woods" by Maeve Binchy (449 pages)
"Vargtimmen" by Denise Mina (358)
"mig äger ingen" by Åsa Linderborg (294)
"Växa och upptäcka världen-sju utvecklingssprång under barnets första levnadsår" by Hetty van de Rijt & Frans X. Plooij (263)
For the record, these are the books I've read. :) /Anna
"Vargtimmen" by Denise Mina (358)
"mig äger ingen" by Åsa Linderborg (294)
"Växa och upptäcka världen-sju utvecklingssprång under barnets första levnadsår" by Hetty van de Rijt & Frans X. Plooij (263)
For the record, these are the books I've read. :) /Anna
Friday, April 18, 2008
Catching Up
Jeremy here. I've been so busy reading I haven't had time to post, so I wanted to at least get title, numbers, a one-sentence description, and a review up before I forget them all.
1. Queen of Dreams, Chita Divakaruni. The second-generation daughter of Indian parents struggles with her mother's apparent divinatory powers, her divorce and with her thirteen-year-old daughter, and post 9/11 reconceptions of what it means to be an American. Well-written and insightful but with an unsatisfyingly abrupt and arbitrary ending. 352 pgs.
2. Duma Key, Stephen King. After a construction accident, an ordinary middle-class guy relocates to a mysterious Florida Key and realizes the power for his art to affect reality. An interesting premise, and some heart-stopping moments around page 400 or so, but we'll say 592 pages could have been 200 easily. Once you get famous, evidently you don't need an editor anymore.
3. All Shall Be Well, All Shall Be Well, All Manner of Things Shall Be Well, Tod Wodicka. A wonderful and quirky book about a man who embraces living in the medieval period as much as possible - we learn why as the book unfolds. Hildegard von Bingen, homemade mead, ethnic identity, and freeform jazz. Read it. 272 pgs.
4. People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks. I realize that if a book has anything to do with religion in any tangential way, I can justify it as research. I've actually recommended this one to several of my textual criticism friends - the main character is a book conservator dealing with the (historically real) Sarajevo Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book illuminated in a curiously Christian manner and saved during World War II by a Muslim curator. As she finds relevant artifacts in the book (a bloodstain, a butterfly wing), short stories within the text reveal more of the book's history and its constant interconnection with these three monotheistic faiths. Very nice - and it can go in my bibliography somewhere. 384 pgs.
5. Capote in Kansas, Kim Powers. Buffy asked me whether she should read this book, and I didn't have an answer. It's strange in a way that invites me to sit down and think about it more so that I can answer that question meaningfully, but I'm not likely to do so. Maybe one of you should. At any rate, it explores the fact that Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, and Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood, grew up as friends in the same town, and the influence they may have had on each other's work, as well as issues of their sexuality, of death, o race, poverty and violence. All the great themes here, folks - read it and perhaps we can have a conversation. 304 pgs.
And for my theology colloquium:
1. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. Famous German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, the "father of modern theology," was hanging out with his Romantic friends (he was roommates with Schlegel for a while), and they said, "Fritz, you're a fascinating and charming, intelligent, art-loving guy. What's all this religion crap about?" Schleiermacher wrote this book in response. Nice and lyrical in a way that the later analytical Schleiermacher isn't - religion is "lying on the bosom of the earth" and being caught up in rhapsodic perception of the interconnectedness of all things. I think Schleiermacher has a lot to say to many "cultured despisers of religion" today - if you ignore most of the problematic last chapter. 200 pgs.
2. David Tracy, Analogical Imagination. It may seem strange for a Mennonite theologian to be drawing on a Roman Catholic for most of his work. But I do. Tracy outlines a method for Christian theologians to engage meaningfully in a pluralist society without giving up the very important pieces of their identity, centered around the idea of the "classic" and how it speaks to the questions of existence we all have. This guy will help me write my dissertation (not really - but through his book). 467 pgs.
Keep on goin', fellow readers!
1. Queen of Dreams, Chita Divakaruni. The second-generation daughter of Indian parents struggles with her mother's apparent divinatory powers, her divorce and with her thirteen-year-old daughter, and post 9/11 reconceptions of what it means to be an American. Well-written and insightful but with an unsatisfyingly abrupt and arbitrary ending. 352 pgs.
2. Duma Key, Stephen King. After a construction accident, an ordinary middle-class guy relocates to a mysterious Florida Key and realizes the power for his art to affect reality. An interesting premise, and some heart-stopping moments around page 400 or so, but we'll say 592 pages could have been 200 easily. Once you get famous, evidently you don't need an editor anymore.
3. All Shall Be Well, All Shall Be Well, All Manner of Things Shall Be Well, Tod Wodicka. A wonderful and quirky book about a man who embraces living in the medieval period as much as possible - we learn why as the book unfolds. Hildegard von Bingen, homemade mead, ethnic identity, and freeform jazz. Read it. 272 pgs.
4. People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks. I realize that if a book has anything to do with religion in any tangential way, I can justify it as research. I've actually recommended this one to several of my textual criticism friends - the main character is a book conservator dealing with the (historically real) Sarajevo Haggadah, a Jewish prayer book illuminated in a curiously Christian manner and saved during World War II by a Muslim curator. As she finds relevant artifacts in the book (a bloodstain, a butterfly wing), short stories within the text reveal more of the book's history and its constant interconnection with these three monotheistic faiths. Very nice - and it can go in my bibliography somewhere. 384 pgs.
5. Capote in Kansas, Kim Powers. Buffy asked me whether she should read this book, and I didn't have an answer. It's strange in a way that invites me to sit down and think about it more so that I can answer that question meaningfully, but I'm not likely to do so. Maybe one of you should. At any rate, it explores the fact that Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird, and Truman Capote, the author of In Cold Blood, grew up as friends in the same town, and the influence they may have had on each other's work, as well as issues of their sexuality, of death, o race, poverty and violence. All the great themes here, folks - read it and perhaps we can have a conversation. 304 pgs.
And for my theology colloquium:
1. Friedrich Schleiermacher, On Religion: Speeches to Its Cultured Despisers. Famous German theologian Friedrich Schleiermacher, the "father of modern theology," was hanging out with his Romantic friends (he was roommates with Schlegel for a while), and they said, "Fritz, you're a fascinating and charming, intelligent, art-loving guy. What's all this religion crap about?" Schleiermacher wrote this book in response. Nice and lyrical in a way that the later analytical Schleiermacher isn't - religion is "lying on the bosom of the earth" and being caught up in rhapsodic perception of the interconnectedness of all things. I think Schleiermacher has a lot to say to many "cultured despisers of religion" today - if you ignore most of the problematic last chapter. 200 pgs.
2. David Tracy, Analogical Imagination. It may seem strange for a Mennonite theologian to be drawing on a Roman Catholic for most of his work. But I do. Tracy outlines a method for Christian theologians to engage meaningfully in a pluralist society without giving up the very important pieces of their identity, centered around the idea of the "classic" and how it speaks to the questions of existence we all have. This guy will help me write my dissertation (not really - but through his book). 467 pgs.
Keep on goin', fellow readers!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Just Barely Staying Between Phoenix and Jeremy!
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
Lovely story about a woman who is taken from Africa as a 12 yo, sold into slavery in S. Carolina. Throughout the book she travels to Canada, Sierra Leone, and England. Ends with her as an elderly woman living in England. Good story. 487 pages
Instead of Education: Ways to Help People Do Things by John Holt
from the back cover: "Holt lays out the foundation for un-schooling as the vital path to self-directed learning and a creative life. . . . packed with examples of how to create learning opportunities outside the established educational structure, as well as fascinating stories of people who choose to self-educate, non-compulsory schools . . . Holt's most direct and radical challenge to the educational status quo and a dramatic appeal to parents to save their children from schools of all kind." This book was first published in 1976 (the year I was born) and I wonder if that is part of the reason I don't find it the most interesting book I've read on this subject... Still good, though. I also read it in two halves, with several weeks separating the reading, that probably didn't help....222 pages
Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days: An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest ... Came to Live with Us for Three Months
Meh. This was okay. I don't really recommend it. 113 pages
~buffy in denver
Lovely story about a woman who is taken from Africa as a 12 yo, sold into slavery in S. Carolina. Throughout the book she travels to Canada, Sierra Leone, and England. Ends with her as an elderly woman living in England. Good story. 487 pages
Instead of Education: Ways to Help People Do Things by John Holt
from the back cover: "Holt lays out the foundation for un-schooling as the vital path to self-directed learning and a creative life. . . . packed with examples of how to create learning opportunities outside the established educational structure, as well as fascinating stories of people who choose to self-educate, non-compulsory schools . . . Holt's most direct and radical challenge to the educational status quo and a dramatic appeal to parents to save their children from schools of all kind." This book was first published in 1976 (the year I was born) and I wonder if that is part of the reason I don't find it the most interesting book I've read on this subject... Still good, though. I also read it in two halves, with several weeks separating the reading, that probably didn't help....222 pages
Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific Ninety Days: An Almost Completely Honest Account of What Happened to Our Family When Our Youngest ... Came to Live with Us for Three Months
Meh. This was okay. I don't really recommend it. 113 pages
~buffy in denver
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Welcome Aaron!
Welcome Aaron -- you have a great start! (though I must ask -- is there really such a thing as a gratuitous amount of reading?)
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place in the World by Eric Weiner
Another great non-fiction read. Author is an NPR correspondent and self-described grump. Very interesting, the discussion of what makes happiness. Each chapter describes his visit to a different country (India, Bhutan, Qatar, England, etc) Iceland is one of the happiest places on Earth -- who knew? 329 pages
The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon
This is the companion book for the Outlander series (It feels a little redundant to say that.) Some parts were more interesting to me than others -- like any good companion book, probably. I didn't read the last part, which was excerpts of books I haven't read yet. Given the chance to do over, I probably wouldn't read this one. 402 pages read.
Buffy in Denver
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Place in the World by Eric Weiner
Another great non-fiction read. Author is an NPR correspondent and self-described grump. Very interesting, the discussion of what makes happiness. Each chapter describes his visit to a different country (India, Bhutan, Qatar, England, etc) Iceland is one of the happiest places on Earth -- who knew? 329 pages
The Outlandish Companion by Diana Gabaldon
This is the companion book for the Outlander series (It feels a little redundant to say that.) Some parts were more interesting to me than others -- like any good companion book, probably. I didn't read the last part, which was excerpts of books I haven't read yet. Given the chance to do over, I probably wouldn't read this one. 402 pages read.
Buffy in Denver
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
I Am Far Behind Dawgs!
Well sorry it has taken so long to post but this is Aaron. If this does not work I am sorry as I don't know how to work this confounded thing as my life philosophy is anti-myspace, anti-facebook, and anti-blog. As for those of you who have read gratuitous amounts I must encourage you to keep reading, as reading is good, but for everyone's sake stop reading. Thanks. Lets get on to business.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson- A laid back read that overall I enjoyed 256 pages Baby!!!
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- Depressing but good 226 pages
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss- Best book on turtle stacking ever 72 pages
Open Your Eyes and Soar by Cuban Women- Great stories written by Cuban women 102 pages
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut- Amazing, go read it now 135 pages
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver- 2nd read and still awesome 400 pages
Gig by Jon Bowe- Americans essays about their jobs from garbage collector to doctors 49 pages
The Prince by Machiavelli- Ahhh Machiavelli 71 pages
A Collection of Primary Documents by Spikard- Collection of great historical writings 133 pages
1491 By Charles Mann- Good Book on Native American's impact on the enviroment 40 pages
Total that is 1444 as of now. I may have forgotten stuff and if I did I will add them later. Also if any of my professors happen to glance at this page I have read Woodrow Wilson by Thomson, The Cuban Missile Crisis by Munton and Welch and A Concise History of Modern India by Metcalf and Metcalf along with various other writings and primary documents.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson- A laid back read that overall I enjoyed 256 pages Baby!!!
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah- Depressing but good 226 pages
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss- Best book on turtle stacking ever 72 pages
Open Your Eyes and Soar by Cuban Women- Great stories written by Cuban women 102 pages
Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut- Amazing, go read it now 135 pages
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver- 2nd read and still awesome 400 pages
Gig by Jon Bowe- Americans essays about their jobs from garbage collector to doctors 49 pages
The Prince by Machiavelli- Ahhh Machiavelli 71 pages
A Collection of Primary Documents by Spikard- Collection of great historical writings 133 pages
1491 By Charles Mann- Good Book on Native American's impact on the enviroment 40 pages
Total that is 1444 as of now. I may have forgotten stuff and if I did I will add them later. Also if any of my professors happen to glance at this page I have read Woodrow Wilson by Thomson, The Cuban Missile Crisis by Munton and Welch and A Concise History of Modern India by Metcalf and Metcalf along with various other writings and primary documents.
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