Book Review: Go Set a Watchman

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee
2 of 5 stars

This book was very odd. It wasn't what I expected at all, and so I think that is part of what left me disappointed with it. I can understand why Lee's publisher told her to write another book before releasing this one. This book doesn't even come close to comparing with the beauty of To Kill A Mockingbird. A lot of the thought processes of Scout seem erratic. There were many obscure references that a decently educated person could understand but I think if this book was intended to be read by a larger audience most readers would be discouraged from reading because of them. 

Lee's depiction of Atticus completely destroyed my beliefs about TKAM. She used Atticus' character to make a point through the view point of Scout, but I think she greatly destroyed his character to make some points that were out of character. She wrote him so well the first time, I think she shouldn't have written any more about him. Some characters are too good to be messed with. 

I think the only point that seemed really relevant and important to today's political atmosphere was Scout's realization that she was a strong supporter of states' rights. This is a hot topic in a time in which executive order and Supreme Court rulings are taking a lot away from the 10th amendment giving all other rights and decisions to states. Some of the political moves being made today are going through states rights (legalization of marijuana) and others are not (SCOTUS ruling on homosexual marriages). I think this book could start some interesting discussions about the power of the federal government and its interaction with the power of state governments.

Book Review: The Prophet: Amos

The Prophet: Amos by Francine Rivers
4 of 5 stars

This was one of my favorites out of the Sons of Encouragement series so far because it took a book that most people can't even fathom or understand, including me, and fleshed it out into a story that people can connect with. We see more of the man behind the prophesies and are able to understand the world he was living with. I reread Amos after reading this book, and had an entirely different perspective. In a culture in which people are very conscious of judgment for anything on anyone, it was interesting to see into the world of a man sent to tell the world of God's judgment and then to witness the types of persecution he was willing to endure for God. It was an encouraging story for a modern Christ follower, especially a missionary sent to proclaim the Good News. Inspiring.

Book Review: Mansfield Park

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
4 of 5 stars

Jane Austen has always been fun to read, and this is no exception. You can't help but love Fanny and desperately wish throughout the book that her cousin would finally realize her value. My only disappointment was the allotment of this realization to a few pages at the end. I would have liked to see more of how her cousin finally came around. Great book!

Book Review: The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5 of 5 stars

I read this classic in ninth grade for the first time, but was recently able to read it again due to an untimely sick day (as if those are ever timely). I understand why many of the classics are required reading for public schools in high school. But with some books, I feel like I missed a lot when I read them, this being one of those books. I had forgotten what lovely prose Fitzgerald used throughout this book. His descriptions are unlike any other writer, which is obviously what sets him apart. This is a story that is so relevant for our current culture. The American Dream can become the American Nightmare.  So many people still chase dreams of wealth and fame and money, and Fitzgerald knew then that the pursuit of this would not bring happiness. Fitzgerald also deserves acclaim for this book for its original point of view. Not many writers have dared use a narrator in the first person that is not the protagonist of the story. For this particular story, it was the very best choice and I marvel at how he came to that conclusion for himself. This is a book I would advise everyone to read or reread. I put off watching the new The Great Gatsby movie until rereading, so I'm interested to see how it will line up with the story. Another great classic that deserves its acclaim.

Book Review: Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
5 of 5 stars 

This book was a delightful read. This one has been on my to-read list for quite a while, and I'm so happy that I did read it. The gossipy style writing of Emily Bronte made an otherwise melancholy and tragic story much more enjoyable.  Nelly's ability to see the people she interacted with for who they really were and not who she wanted them to be was a breath of fresh air. Her attitudes towards everyone in the book were more realistic than I think many of the interactions we read about in modern books. This one is a classic for a reason. 

Book Review: The Secrets of a Fire King

The Secrets of a Fire King by Kim Edwards
2 of 5 stars

Many of the stories in this collection are fantastic. Kim Edwards is definitely a very talented writer. My favorite story was "Thirst" about a woman of the sea (a mermaid, I hope)? I enjoyed her other work The Memory Keeper's Daughter very much.

But I finished this collection feeling...attacked. She is obviously very disillusioned with religion, particularly Christianity, and she used this collection of stories to vent her hatred. As a Christian, I know that the path of Christianity is far from perfect and has hurt many people over the years, as has every other religion. Jesus was perfect and we that follow Him definitely are not; but this was just a beat down for no apparent reason. When I started reading this book I felt that I had a kindred spirit because we have similar writing styles, but now I just feel alienated.

There is a difference between challenging people to think about things and just insulting them. She did the latter. I usually deal with people's criticism of Christianity in writing pretty well, but there was no criticism or correction. She used irrational "Christian" characters, with whom no Christian would identify to justify her agenda. She may think of Christianity as a religion she wants no part in, but she just spread a lot of hate, something she claims to stand against.  She has freedom of speech and I respect that, but I won't be reading any of her future writing. She lost me as a formerly devoted reader.

Book Review: Life of Pi

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
2.3 of 5 stars (only slightly better than Wild)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book. A story about a boy surviving the Pacific with a tiger for almost a year was very interesting and it was interesting to see where the author took the story line since they were essentially in the middle of nowhere. 

However, I found a lot of the book irrelevant and parts of it just trying way too hard. The first part of the book about Pi choosing his religion really didn't fit into any part of the story line. I feel like it could have been cut and the book would have been better off. It was like Martel wanted to include it to be hipster or different or artsy and it just didn't work with me. 

I also, of course did not agree with the theology, because it wasn't well founded at all. I'm not sure about Hinduism but Islam and Christianity do not agree that all ways lead to God or heaven, so it was really absurd that he even presented that and then acted like Pi was practicing three religions well. I felt like he didn't know much about any of the religions other than the names people used for God/gods.

 I also detested the chapters that he included basically from his perspective. Again, just trying way too hard to make his book different. It wasn't daring writing, it wasn't art for art's sake, it was just kind of lame. He just wanted his one hundred chapters and that was a weird way to do it. 

Then he got into his weird act of self-suffocation, which didn't add anything. It just reminded me of my friend who accidentally killed himself that way and made Pi less relatable to me than he already was. 

All in all, not my favorite read ever, but the tiger was cool. Richard Parker was my favorite character.

The Lake

This is something I wrote for class that was fun and difficult and morbid...odd to write. But I kind of enjoyed getting into this mind in a weird way and I got good feedback about the exercise, so I decided to share. I hope you enjoy it. Perhaps I have a future in murder mysteries.

Prompt: Describe a lake as seen by a young man who has just committed murder. Do not mention the murder. 

———

The skeleton trees are swaying in the breeze as I stand alone on this lakeshore. The bare bones corpses of tall pines are rotting and dying. That fire last year claimed their souls but hasn’t quite claimed their decaying bodies. 

As I approach this lake, my friend, I watch the sun set blood-red over the horizon. I stand on the edge of the sand, enraptured by the simple beauty of water. This lake has been my home, has kept me company through most of my life. This lake knows my hopes, my fears, my secrets. 

And its about to learn one more. This lake is my confessional booth. This is where I repent my sins. The lake listens. It never says a word. It understands me. It hears me, does not judge. It is the best confidant you could ask for. 

This might be my worst sin yet. I must tell the lake what I did where no one can hear me. If I confess it to the lake, maybe the lake will cleanse me, absolve me of what happened. But no one else can ever know. 

I remove my hiking boots first. My pants, polo shirt and boxers stack neatly on top of them. I can’t hide anything from my constant companion. I must bare all to be forgiven of all. The rocks are sharp and jagged on my feet. Your penance the lake whispers to me through lapping waves. I wade into the murky swells. The water is cold and dull, full of minerals and debris. I can’t see the bottom but I know this lake by heart. I have spent countless hours fishing and swimming and exploring and living in this pool of water. 

I dance fluidly through the ripples to the right where I know there is a deep spot. The minnows are surrounding me, investigating. They want to witness for me, hear me testify. I know they won’t tell anyone either. They don’t speak! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

My feet are on the brink of the deeper pool within the lake. I gently push out with my toes and begin to tread water, slowly steadily. With one last breath and a glimpse at the darkening sky I plunge beneath the surface, eyes open. I can’t see anything but I must be completely open to the lake. 

I am ready to tell it what I’ve done. I do. I shout it to the water. I scream! The release of breath and confession is exhilarating and gratifying. I inhale. The lake responds by filling me with water. The bitter taste of stagnancy floods my mouth and lungs, but it is refreshing to me. The lake is assuring me that it heard me. It won’t tell. It doesn’t even want me to tell. The tepid water is purifying me! It’s working. I take in more until the dull strings of unconsciousness begin to pull at my mind. Only then do I release, shooting upwards, sputtering, choking out water, gasping for air. 

I swim to the shore line, my body burning. I crawl on hands and knees back onto the sand and rocks away from the water’s threshold. I am now safe ashore, but already missing how the lake holds me in its grasp. One day I will give into the lake completely. But not yet. 

There is one last thing for me to do now. The lake calls to me for the last remnants of my sin. I load my shoes with rocks and sand and knot my clothes around them. With a great exertion, I send them flying into my lake, my secret-keeper. Plunk. I smile gratefully as the bundle splashes into the water and then sinks, bubbling slowly down. 

Now, I can walk away, naked, sinless, purged, and restored. I am refreshed. And no one will ever know. The lake will keep my secret. 

Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
5 of 5 stars

This book deserved all of the acclaim it was given. It is worth the time to read, especially if you like to laugh and cry at the same time. I will admit, I finished the book in a sobbing mess, but that doesn't mean you should fear this book. It engages you with feelings that we should all be more attuned to and speaks many truths about young death and people who are afflicted with cancer. 

 I definitely did not agree with the theology (or lack their of) in this book, but it still has merit as a lovely work of fiction. I think how John Green portrayed Christianity was an overdramatized and overly-petty depiction, however, this book could be used by Christians to learn how some of what we collectively do and say, affects others. Some of the things that he pointed to in the book that came across as annoying from Christians are some things that annoy even me, a Christian. We should use this book as a discovery of how we come across through some of our speech and action.

There isn't much more to say. This book is a great existential novel (even for people who don't agree completely with existentialism). And you should read it. It has young adult characters, but that doesn't make this a young adult novel. This novel transcends time. It's one of my new favorites. It's one of the best works of fiction I have read in a long time; it's possibly one of the best works of fiction written in the past few years. 

Book Review: Killing Jesus

Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly
3 of 5 stars

This book gave an interesting history of the political and social issues during the time of Jesus with some fictional elements. It was a bit of a dry read, even for someone who loves history, but you are able to gain insight into how Jesus was received during his time.