"The word 'no' is the way you keep your commitment to the people you have already said 'yes' to."
- Phil Schroeder
Saturday, July 17, 2010
It's been (probably) a year since the last one.
So: Whatcha readin'?
My current reads:
Vermont: A History by Charles Morrissey -- I love this book because it's not a textbook, nor even a straight-forward narrative history. It's a social sketch, very conversational and anecdotal, very specific but also lots of coverage of the "contours" of the people and places in Vermont.
Seeing with New Eyes: Counseling and the Human Condition Through the Lens of Scripture by David Powlison -- I was only cursorily familiar with Powlison but seeing him speak at a recent conference turned me on to get into his stuff. This book, which is actually a collection of some of his essays from over the years on biblical counseling, is excellent. Full of pastoral wisdom for the cause of pastoral wisdom.
The Passage by Justin Cronin -- In a not-too-distant future (Jenna Bush is Governor of Texas), a military experiment goes wrong, unleashing a viral apocalypse. The world's only hope (apparently) is a little orphan girl and her rogue FBI agent protector. This book combines my love for zombies, conspiracy thrillers, and stellar writing. It's basically The Stand meets The Road for the post-9/11 age, and even the style manages to combine King-like pacing/characterization with McCarthy-like depth and substance. This book even comes with Stephen King's glowing endorsement. (Author Justin Cronin is a New England native who is currently a professor of English at Rice University in Houston.)
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Comments on "Literacy Check!":
2. MzEllen
- 07/17/2010 7:27 pm CDT
Biblical Case for An Old Earth by David Snoke
The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology by Ray Kurzweil (will make your brain hurt)
The Ten Commandments by Thomas Watson
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
3. Raindream
- 07/17/2010 7:48 pm CDT
gospel in life: Grace Changes Everything by Tim Kellor. We are studying this book in Sunday School for the summer.
The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Man in the World, by A.J. Jacobs. It's an entertaining memoir/fact of interest book. I love one of the endorsements. Jon Stewart says, "The Know-It-All is a hilarious book and quite an impressive achievement. I've always said, why doesn't someone put out a less complete version of the encyclopedia? Well done."
Flannery O'Connor stories
4. Bill
- 07/17/2010 8:31 pm CDT
Inklingstar - I love that book! Let me know what you think of it.
I'm currently on a kick of reading old, public domain books - generally on an ebook reader.
- The Idiot by Dostoevsky. This has been a long read for me, but I'm nearing the end and savoring it.
- The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
- Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster. We're studying this in our Friday night College/Young Singles home group at our house.
- (started, but just barely) Ben Hur
5. Sherry
- 07/17/2010 10:03 pm CDT
The RIver of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard
8. MzEllen
- 07/17/2010 10:18 pm CDT
The RIver of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Sherry, are you enjoying it? I'm on the hunt for biographies (etc.)
9. kenleonard
- 07/17/2010 11:11 pm CDT
This summer, I'm apparently doing French lit. Not by design, but it worked out that way.
I started rereading "Les Miserables" a couple weeks ago, though I haven't made a lot of progress. I love the opening chapters about the Bishop. I hadn't even remembered those. (I first read it in the summer between 9th and 10th grades.)
When I went camping last week, I wanted something smaller (pocket-sized) and grabbed "The Phantom of the Opera."
Other than that, my father-in-law has three short stories in a compilation of vampire stories called "Vampire Dreamspell," so I picked up a copy of that.
I guess that one breaks the pattern, huh?
10. Dave
- 07/17/2010 11:30 pm CDT
Just finished Quantum by Manjit Kumar. Superb. Am now about 1/3 way through The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly. Am also reading a few pages a week a book on the work of Ray Harryhausen, written by Ray Harryhausen and am about 1/3 way into Carry Me Home, by Diane McWhorter. Also reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan for our small group. In my spare time I drink coffee and live life.
11. Quaid
- 07/18/2010 7:47 am CDT
Just read The Awakening by Kate Chopin yesterday (public domain).
Just started reading Smith's The Prophets as Preachers
And I hope to read either Gladwell's Outliers or Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo before Summer's end.
12. Whitney
- 07/18/2010 8:00 am CDT
Just finished reading Not God's Type by Holly Ordway.
Wrote a brief bit about it
http://theevolutionofme.wordpress.com/
It's not a long read, I did it in 2 days with 3 kids ages 4 & under. :)
I also have intentions to read the Harry Potter series (finally), but don't know when I'll actually have time to start that up. I'm afraid I'll get "hooked", and neglect my more pressing responsibilities! :)
13. Bobbi
- 07/18/2010 11:31 am CDT
I'm reading books left at my house by my relatives. I'm reading the fiction my daughter had to read for a Literature degree at a secular university. So far I've found each one depressing with no hope in them. The one I'm reading now is called, "The Lover," by Marguerite Duras.
Next I'm going to read, "Eternity," by Joe Stowell. It was left here after my parents passed away.
14. Andrew
- 07/18/2010 11:51 am CDT
I just finished Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. Loved it. One of the best contemporary novels I've read.
I didn't read it, but I got to see Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia in Dublin last week, and I was very impressed.
I'm in Summer School right now, so I have a lot of books for that. The most interesting first-time read was Dorthy Sayers' The Man Born to Be King.
15. Granny in the Pew
- 07/18/2010 2:38 pm CDT
C S Lewis Mere Christianity... no comment but Andrew knows my feelings on this book.
The Reason for God Tim Keller...great especially chapter 14 the Dance of God, I've shared this chapter with lots of folks.
Radical David Platt...love his passion for real life.
Currently reading June Buy by Chris Fabry and his retellling of Les Miserables. So far very engaging light reading perfect for a summer read.
17. jen
- 07/18/2010 3:30 pm CDT
I recently read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova - vampiry without being gory. Actually, I commented on my blog that it was more like reading eastern European history with vampires thrown in for interest. I listened to the unabridged audio book and I liked it.
I've also read the first two Marshall Karp's Biggs & Lomax detective novels - The Rabbit Factory and Bloodthirsty. He's hilarious and I'm now reading his 3rd (Flipping Out) and have his new one (Cut, Paste, Kill) on hold at the library. These have been the actual books, which means that I'm not watching TV at night. I'm still deciding if this is a good thing or not. ;-)
I'm now listening to The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan on my commutes and I have to admit that I am enjoying it a lot. I have the next one in the queue, too. Reminds me some of Harry Potter, but it's not quite as richly written. However, the narrator is awesome.
18. Evan
- 07/18/2010 7:57 pm CDT
It probably has been almost a year, and I've had Bill's recommendation of Watership Down sitting in my book pile for most of that year while other books and duties kept coming up.
But last night I finally started reading it, and after this week, I have a week of vacation were I hope to be able to read it all.
20. Mandi
- 07/19/2010 6:25 am CDT
A God of Our Many Understandings? by Todd Miles. Just started it, but liking it so far.
Raised with Christ by Adrian Warnock. First book I've ever read that took an in-depth look at the resurrection and what it means. It's a great book.
I'm planning to start The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.
21. salguod
- 07/23/2010 8:49 pm CDT
I'm a one at a time book reader. CurentlyI'm nearing the end of Max Lucado's 3:16. Good stuff, in that typical Lucado staccato style.
Next up is Abide by some guy named Jared Wilson. :-P
22. Karl
- 07/28/2010 10:07 pm CDT
"Hatteras Blues: A Story From the Edge of America" by Tom Carlson
"Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions" by Rachel Held Evans
All Fishermen Are Liars, by Linda Greenlaw
Deep Shadow, by Randy Wayne White
Bird - stick with "A Severe Mercy"
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C.S. Lewis - Till We Have Faces. One of the few Lewis books I have not yet read, until now.