This was a great book. It had me from the very beginning. It is the first book of the Martyrs Song series. I had read the 2nd book in the series a few years ago, not realizing that it was part of a series. The neat thing about this series, though, is that you don't have to read them in order. It is recommended, but not necessary, so I wasn't lost when reading When Heaven Weeps.
Heaven's Wager is about a man who loses everything and does whatever he can to get what he thinks he deserves in life. It is an ultimate good verses evil book, but is written so well that I just had to know what was going to happen next. It is creepy and edifying at the same time.
I liked it.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor by Brad Gooch
Last fall I read a review of this biography which made me realize that I have never read anything by Flannery O'Connor, so I resolved to read the biography and some of her work.
I started by reading her collection of short stories, "A Good Man is Hard to Find." I wouldn't say that I enjoyed the book, but the stories were well written. The stories were rather depressing and filled with all sorts of horrible events. I wasn't sure what to think.
I then borrowed "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor" hoping that learning more about her life would help explain her writing, and it did.
I really enjoy reading autobiographies and memoirs, but I have found that I struggle with biographies (this one took me about 3 weeks to read). The beginning seemed a little slow and uninteresting, going through her childhood, but once I got about 1/3 of the way through and to where she was writing professionally the book became much more interesting. It was very interesting to see how her life and beliefs tied into the stories she wrote. I would definitely recommend reading this biography in order to better understand Flannery O'Connor and her stories. I look forward to reading her first novel, "Wise Blood" and well as re-reading "A Good Man is Hard to Find."
I started by reading her collection of short stories, "A Good Man is Hard to Find." I wouldn't say that I enjoyed the book, but the stories were well written. The stories were rather depressing and filled with all sorts of horrible events. I wasn't sure what to think.
I then borrowed "Flannery: A Life of Flannery O'Connor" hoping that learning more about her life would help explain her writing, and it did.
I really enjoy reading autobiographies and memoirs, but I have found that I struggle with biographies (this one took me about 3 weeks to read). The beginning seemed a little slow and uninteresting, going through her childhood, but once I got about 1/3 of the way through and to where she was writing professionally the book became much more interesting. It was very interesting to see how her life and beliefs tied into the stories she wrote. I would definitely recommend reading this biography in order to better understand Flannery O'Connor and her stories. I look forward to reading her first novel, "Wise Blood" and well as re-reading "A Good Man is Hard to Find."
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Forger's Spell by Edward Dolnick
I had made a goal to read a book a week this year when I found out about 52 Weeks 52 Books. I started my own blog on the books I am reading, so if anyone wants to check that out, it's at eclecticreader1.blogspot.com. I especially like nonfiction, but I am always looking for recommendations of good books to read.
My first book of the year was The Forger's Spell by Edward Dolnick. I have checked out this book from the library several times, but didn't get it read until this year. What a gem! This is the story of how a painter who had been dismissed by the mainstream art community made $30 million selling his Vermeer forgeries to leaders of Nazi Germany and others. These are the things I particularly like about it:
- short paragraphs make it a fast read
- solid research on every angle of the story
- lots of interesting information on a wide variety of subjects. (For example, do you know how to test a painting for forgery, when plastic was invented or who were Monuments Men?)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
American authors
I have spent the last 2-3 months reading American authors, something I haven't done much of since high school. I started off with The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and East of Eden by John Steinbeck. They were both excellent books. A couple of passages that I really enjoyed from each book were:
from The Fountainhead:
There were a few seconds of silence. Then the thing which happened hit Keating on the back of the head; it was not a sound nor a blow, it was something that ripped time apart, that cut the moment from the normal one preceding it. He knew only shock, at first; a distinct, conscious second was gone before he realized what it was and that it was applause.....
It was a long time before silence came suddenly, as abrupt and shocking as the roar; the loud-speaker died, choking on a high note. Those in the lobby stood still. Then came a voice.
"My friends," it said, simply and solemnly. "My brothers," it added softly, involuntarily, both full of emotion and smiling apologetically at the emotion. "I am more touched by this reception than I should allow myself to be. I hope I shall be forgiven for a trace of the vain child which is in all of us. But I realize - and in that spirit I accept it - that this tribute was paid not to my presence, but to a principle which chance has granted me to represent in all humility tonight."
It was not a voice, it was a miracle. It unrolled as a velvet banner. It spoke English words, but the resonant clarity of each syllable made it sound like a new language spoken for the first time. It was the voice of a giant.
from East of Eden:
"After two years we felt that we could approach your sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis. My old gentlemen felt that those words were very important too - 'Thou shalt' and 'Do thou.' And this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' 'Thou mayest rule over sin.' The old gentlemen smiled and nodded and felt the years were well spent. It brought them out of their Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek."
Samuel said, "It's a fantastic story. And I've tried to follow and maybe I've missed somewhere. Why is this word so important."
Lee's hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. "Don't you see?" he cried. "The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in 'Thou shalt,' meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the most word timshel - 'Thou mayest' - that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if 'Thou mayest' - it is also true that 'Thou mayest not.' Don't you see?"
"Yes, I see. I do see. But you do not believe this is divine law. Why do you feel its importance?"
"Ah!" said Lee. "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. I even anticipated your questions and I am well prepared. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who fell the order, 'Do thou,' and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in 'Thou shalt.' Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But 'Thou mayest'! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win." Lee's voice was a chant of triumph.
Adam said, "Do you believe that, Lee?"
"Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, 'I couldn't help it; the way was set.' But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. There's no godliness there. And do you know, those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too interested to die now?"
Adam said, "Do you mean these Chinese men believe the Old Testament?"
Lee said, "These old men believe a true story, and they know a true story when they hear it. They are critics of truth. They know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any age or culture or race. They do not believe a man writes fifteen and three-quarter verses of truth and then tells a lie with one verb. Confucius tells mean how they should live to have good and successful lives. But this - this is a ladder to climb to the stars." Lee's eyes shone. "You can never lose that. It cuts the feet from under weakness and cowardliness and laziness."
Adam said, "I don't see how you could cook and raise the boys and take care of me and still do all this."
"Neither do I," said Lee. "But I take my two pipes in the afternoon, no more and no less, like the elders. And I feel that I am a man. And I feel that a man is a very important thing - maybe more important than a star. This is not theology. I have no bent toward gods. But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed - because 'Thou mayest.' "
from The Fountainhead:
There were a few seconds of silence. Then the thing which happened hit Keating on the back of the head; it was not a sound nor a blow, it was something that ripped time apart, that cut the moment from the normal one preceding it. He knew only shock, at first; a distinct, conscious second was gone before he realized what it was and that it was applause.....
It was a long time before silence came suddenly, as abrupt and shocking as the roar; the loud-speaker died, choking on a high note. Those in the lobby stood still. Then came a voice.
"My friends," it said, simply and solemnly. "My brothers," it added softly, involuntarily, both full of emotion and smiling apologetically at the emotion. "I am more touched by this reception than I should allow myself to be. I hope I shall be forgiven for a trace of the vain child which is in all of us. But I realize - and in that spirit I accept it - that this tribute was paid not to my presence, but to a principle which chance has granted me to represent in all humility tonight."
It was not a voice, it was a miracle. It unrolled as a velvet banner. It spoke English words, but the resonant clarity of each syllable made it sound like a new language spoken for the first time. It was the voice of a giant.
from East of Eden:
"After two years we felt that we could approach your sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis. My old gentlemen felt that those words were very important too - 'Thou shalt' and 'Do thou.' And this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' 'Thou mayest rule over sin.' The old gentlemen smiled and nodded and felt the years were well spent. It brought them out of their Chinese shells too, and right now they are studying Greek."
Samuel said, "It's a fantastic story. And I've tried to follow and maybe I've missed somewhere. Why is this word so important."
Lee's hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. "Don't you see?" he cried. "The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in 'Thou shalt,' meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the most word timshel - 'Thou mayest' - that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if 'Thou mayest' - it is also true that 'Thou mayest not.' Don't you see?"
"Yes, I see. I do see. But you do not believe this is divine law. Why do you feel its importance?"
"Ah!" said Lee. "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. I even anticipated your questions and I am well prepared. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who fell the order, 'Do thou,' and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in 'Thou shalt.' Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But 'Thou mayest'! Why, that makes a man great, that gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he has still the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win." Lee's voice was a chant of triumph.
Adam said, "Do you believe that, Lee?"
"Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, 'I couldn't help it; the way was set.' But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. There's no godliness there. And do you know, those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too interested to die now?"
Adam said, "Do you mean these Chinese men believe the Old Testament?"
Lee said, "These old men believe a true story, and they know a true story when they hear it. They are critics of truth. They know that these sixteen verses are a history of humankind in any age or culture or race. They do not believe a man writes fifteen and three-quarter verses of truth and then tells a lie with one verb. Confucius tells mean how they should live to have good and successful lives. But this - this is a ladder to climb to the stars." Lee's eyes shone. "You can never lose that. It cuts the feet from under weakness and cowardliness and laziness."
Adam said, "I don't see how you could cook and raise the boys and take care of me and still do all this."
"Neither do I," said Lee. "But I take my two pipes in the afternoon, no more and no less, like the elders. And I feel that I am a man. And I feel that a man is a very important thing - maybe more important than a star. This is not theology. I have no bent toward gods. But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed - because 'Thou mayest.' "
Thursday, January 14, 2010
THURSDAY READ!
We had a great discussion today at the THURSDAY AFTERNOON READ! BOOK CLUB.
Our next meeting will be on February 11 at 1:30 - the title is Ivan Doig's This House of Sky.
Everyone is welcome, if you need a copy of the book let me know.
Elaine
Our next meeting will be on February 11 at 1:30 - the title is Ivan Doig's This House of Sky.
Everyone is welcome, if you need a copy of the book let me know.
Elaine
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
HELLO FROM ELAINE
Sorry it has taken me so long to send your "invitation" to join. Now you should be able to do your own posts! If you didn't receive an invitation let me know and I will add you to the list.
Regarding the rules - there really aren't any. The library staff are not going to question what you read, how you "read" it - (of course audio books count) or even why you read it!
52 weeks 52 books is really a self-guided book club meeting, as it were, on line.
Thanks so much for the great start. I hope to have some events along the way to let us meet face to face.
Elaine
Regarding the rules - there really aren't any. The library staff are not going to question what you read, how you "read" it - (of course audio books count) or even why you read it!
52 weeks 52 books is really a self-guided book club meeting, as it were, on line.
Thanks so much for the great start. I hope to have some events along the way to let us meet face to face.
Elaine
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