I guess I've been in a reading jag. I was in a hiatus for some inexplicable reason and now I'm back and decided to clump my thoughts into one post.
The books I've been reading are quite varied and so this post will be kind of like leftover soup. You know that soup you make with stuff in your fridge that otherwise will go bad. This is no reflection on the quality of the books - only on the quality of what's left of my reflections.
The Light of Eidon - Karen Hancock
I've kind of had a difficult time enjoying fiction much in my thirties. When my neighbor saw me reading Our Island Story at the pool, she must've taken pity on me and recommended Light of Eidon. I bought the kindle version and started in. It is a Christian allegory science fiction fantasy novel. I had a hard time getting into it but it quickly turned into a page turner - or page swiper, as it were.
Karen Hancock has a picture of Chaco Canyon on her website. This makes her automatically a kindred spirit. It so happens that Chaco canyon is high on my list of desirable destinations. (I have yet to go) I've already mentioned my love of the southwest. She also integrates savvy horsemanship into her novel which I picked up on right away.
The allegory is pretty cool. The imaginative names are a lot of fun. Me, being me, it kind of stopped being a page turner after the love interest was realized and then died. But that's just my own personal demon. I knew then that the good guy would be converted and fight courageously with some small surprises along the way.
I also like how she included monasticism in her book. Monasticism has always intrigued me. It's like the highest form of intimate love, unless it's perverted and then it's just fanatic legalism.
Our Island Story - H.E. Marshall
You don't want to leave books lying casually around in your home when I'm over. This was at my sister's house. She bought it for a homeschool tool. I love the island and history so I borrowed it. If you like monarchies who are oppressive jerks with the exception of one or two, this is the book for you! Each chapter leads on and on into a mind whirling chain of successions, wars, succession change, revolution, war, conquer France, leave France, try to conquer France for 100 years and leave again. Have an actual british king or two, some anglo saxons who were invited over to beat some other guys and were like "nice island we'll stay," some frenchish ones (who are actually of Viking and English descent partially), Then some descendents of these with Hanover Germans throw in and you finish the book feeling slightly depressed and wondering if jerks become kings or if being a king makes people jerks. One is left with the conclusion that if you don't want to be conquered by another people group you must be willing to fight, and if you might likely die and lose your life and your land but then you can be like Boadicea who bravely led her people in battle and then when all was lost drank poison along with her daughters rather than be captured by the Romans. Alak we are very soft in our land, but I am aware that there are those who are at this very moment making similar decisions. How would I respond?
This book was first published in 1905. She does call aboriginals "savages." I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's not going to be in your contemporary history books. Despite the above summary of what seems like deplorable greed mingled with pride and courage (kind of a snapshot of the intense extremes we humans are capable of ) she hangs onto a commendable amount of patriotism and pride for the kingdom. She doesn't justify colonialism but she doesn't have anything bad to say about it either.
I would also say that we're all stuck in our temperaments to some degree. Many people disagree with me, here but really King Richard couldn't help himself. He would leave his country in disarray and go fight in the crusades. Settling down would've been his undoing. will not use temperament to justify bad behavior, will not use temperament to justify bad behavior (sorry little mantra to self.) His carefree nature would inspire a follower to haunt Germany singing Greensleeves (oh no, I just looked it up, I wanted it to be Greensleeves but sadly it's not - some other more obscure song) Oh well in the spirit of oral tradition we will pretend it's greensleeves. Singing until finally someone answered - the captive Richard locked up by a German nemesis. (poor Germans - I promise they are not always the bad guys.) Honestly, Richard could've been nicer to the guy in the beginning and he wouldn't have been locked up.
Queen Elizabeth has always fascinated me. Would you believe that as a child I knew something about the Tudor dynasty? That's because my mom is who she is. Could she have been any less narcissistic. (not my mom, Queen E). She's that woman who has no women friends and literally hated when her courtiers married another woman even though she herself refused to marry. and Mary Queen of Scots? Perhaps she wasn't a saint, but really. I wonder what would've happened if the Earl of Essex's forgiveness ring would've made it to the Queen? Would she have forgiven him for seeing her without makeup? If this intrigues you, you must read this!
The ZimZum of Love - Rob Bell and Kristen Bell
I'll just comment on these together. Speaking of temperament, Rob Bell seems like that guy who everything he touches turns to gold. Start a church one day and get flooded with people, write a book - flooded with demands.. I'm not saying he hasn't had hardships and doesn't work hard. I'm just saying - have some conversations with your wife, record and transcribe them, add some commentary and wa la. Rob Bell has a clear and fun writing style. I loved reading Velvet Elvis. I loved that I had come to many of the same conclusions as him in my thought process. I was pleasantly surprised. It was conversational. The book is written in a conversational style. It is full of depth but articulated succinctly. I love this. I may not agree with him on every position, but if I only had conversations with people who I agreed with on every point, well the Zona hermitage would be a crazy place. Zim Zum - I love words too Rob Bell! You inspire me to be more creative and honest. Cool
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