read and blue

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2006-12-11T13:28:00.000+11:00

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Voysey, Sheridan - Unseen Footprints

2006-12-09T23:49:00.000+11:00

Dad dumped this one into my hands and said "Read it"... as you do. So I read it and I liked it. I was encouraged and inspired. Parts of it might've had a bit of an emotional impact on me (maybe).

"By using excellent examples from contemporary culture, Unseen Footprints provides an excitingly fresh and creative look at the intersections of the divine in daily life, and presents the faith in a way which connects with today's generation. It explores our responses to situations of pain, fame, yearning and delight without descending to sentimentality or religiosity."

It fits well within the same class as 'STORY'. And you should read it some time. You should read both. Better still, this one is written by an Australian... and won Australian Christian Book of the Year (not that I ever knew that existed, or who decides it). It's good.

Collins, Wilkie - The Moonstone

2006-11-26T00:15:00.000+11:00

Well a lot of other books got in the way, and it was a bit of a long haul (It's a decent length really) but this is a fantastic mystery and a bit of a classic. Intriguing, funny with very well developed characters (unlike lots of modern detective stories) and told from several perspectives.

quoted by T.S. Eliot as, "The first and greatest English detective novel."

Good fun!

Elliot, Elisabeth - Passion and Purity

2006-11-17T13:42:00.000+11:00

I read it upon the recommendation of a friend. It's the 'classic' Christian book on purity I guess.

To be honest, I wasn't really that impressed. It was very old fashioned - granted. And there was a lot in there about physical purity, it just confused me (looking a bit objectively) that in some way she was - it's the story of her and Jim Elliot's courtship roughly, extremely emotionally involved and he was pulling strings that way. But hey... not being a 'feeler' kind of person and being very strongly 'T' perhaps I just see things differently.

I didn't really get a lot out of the book. It had some good stuff in there if you were 'long distancing' but yeah... no.

Winton, Tim - Cloudstreet

2006-11-10T17:43:00.000+11:00

Oh wow.

If there is one fictional book you ever should read, it is this.

Harris, Joshua - Sex is not the Problem (Lust is)

2006-11-09T18:41:00.000+11:00

Right, well there's another J-Harris book knocked off the list. Not a bad little book. In that it had some good pointers. Some of it wasn't that relevant (although it is written for both genders). Short read. Best thing that's come from it really was a reminder about the importance of knowing the Bible and being intentional about I guess learning verses around things (be it lust or other) we struggle with.

Kaye, M.M - The Ordinary Princess

2006-10-25T16:53:00.000+10:00

What can I say... I picked it up for a bit of fun.
Very fairytale style a down the line sequal to Sleeping Beauty.

Lucado, Max - Cure for the Common Life

2006-10-24T16:20:00.000+10:00

The first half made me angry. The second I quite liked.

I'm not sure about how well his writing style gels with what I like to read. The actual content was good and I have yet to do the survey in the back. It makes sense. In some ways it was encouraging in others, simply frustrating.

Dahl, Roald - George's Marvellous Medicine

2006-10-24T16:16:00.000+10:00

It was a last minute descision before going to sleep. A toss up between George's Marvellous Medicine, The Twits and Fantastic Mr. Fox. George won out for 'the first one'. It didn't take long to get through and still managed to have some of the magic it did when I was younger. I appreciate Roald Dahl's writing and for that short fun story you can't go past pretty much anything he's written.

Sachar, Louis - Holes

2006-10-10T21:50:00.000+10:00

Fantastic read. It's a kids novel but pure genius.

Very clever. Nicely written. Won a stack of awards. Highly entertaining and touches on lots of important stuff ever so lightly.

Apparently they've even made a movie of it: screenplay by the author. I'm keen.

"If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers. In place of what used to be "the largest lake in Texas" is now a dry, flat, sunburned wasteland, pocked with countless identical holes dug by boys improving their character. Stanley Yelnats, of palindromic name and ill-fated pedigree, has landed at Camp Green Lake because it seemed a better option than jail. No matter that his conviction was all a case of mistaken identity, the Yelnats family has become accustomed to a long history of bad luck, thanks to their "no-good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather!" Despite his innocence, Stanley is quickly enmeshed in the Camp Green Lake routine: rising before dawn to dig a hole five feet deep and five feet in diameter; learning how to get along with the Lord of the Flies-styled pack of boys in Group D; and fearing the warden, who paints her fingernails with rattlesnake venom. But when Stanley realizes that the boys may not just be digging to build character--that in fact the warden is seeking something specific--the plot gets as thick as the irony.

It's a strange story, but strangely compelling and lovely too. Louis Sachar uses poker-faced understatement to create a bizarre but believable landscape--a place where Major Major Major Major of Catch-22 would feel right at home. But while there is humor and absurdity here, there is also a deep understanding of friendship and a searing compassion for society's underdogs. As Stanley unknowingly begins to fulfill his destiny--the dual plots coming together to reveal that fate has big plans in store--we can't help but cheer for the good guys, and all the Yelnats everywhere. (Ages 10 and older) --Brangien Davis" (review from Amazon)

James, Steven - Story

2006-10-09T23:25:00.000+10:00

I did forget to put this up. I believe I got sidetracked. Exceptional book! I bought it on a whim and didn't realise quite what a find I'd made.

Very different way of apporoaching the Bible and the narrative that it is. Absolute gold. Covers a range of themes and doesn't sugar coat much - and oddly at the same time has some poetry through it (don't run away screaming) - it's quite bearable, quite good, quite candid.

Worth tracking down. If not. I'll force it into your hands (if I happen to know you) and make you read it.

stevenjames.net

Feldhahn, Shaunti & Jeff - For Men Only

2006-10-03T22:18:00.000+10:00

Okay. I'm not a Man. But I've read the female version (For Women Only), infact I even own it. That got recommended by someone at Tabor. It was... interesting, although I'd have to go back and reread for a better idea. So I've been eyeing off the alternate version at Sam's house. Managed to borrow it and gave it the read in one hit test.

These books both acknowledge that they do make large assumptions about women/men based on their findings and I'm glad they do. Reading this was my 'test' for potentially how accurate the other book is. This one I can guage with personal experience (being female and all).

So, it's not perfect. Things so rarely are. But I was still intrigued by what was put forward (a lot of which I would pick) and impressed by their ability to name and describe some of the stuff I was only semi-conscious of. It is nice now and then to have that insight in to why you react/respond. I also found that in recognising some of what (some) guys don't understand the converse of understanding their differences was further emphasised despite it thoroughly not being about them.

So there you go. Now I'll just have to trial both copies on... some happy to oblige male. (I might have one in mind). It'll at least make for interesting discussion. Here's to slamming theories and generalisations into the dirt and to maybe even getting something out of it.

NB: Although they do write to couples (eg. boyfriend/girlfriend) and married couples - they more frequently write towards the married direction. This is something to be wary of. It depends on the individuals, how you treat it and what you clarify before shoving this at the person you spend lots of time thinking about. A little discrection advised.

btw.... I don't just read 'relationshipy' books - I just finish them quickly as they merit x amount of time and not so much more. The next up should be 'Story' by James someone. And I'm telling you it's brilliant! Warrants far more than a read in one sitting.

Harris, Joshua - Boy Meets Girl

2006-09-19T17:54:00.000+10:00

Wooo corny blah de blah. Joshua Harris. Mixed bag. Too much.

I confess up until now I'd heard a lot about 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' (bit late for that) and even this title. But never actually read any of it. Anyway I managed to find this one reasonably cheap the other day and gave it the 'read in one hit' treatment. I think it was actually two sittings that it took (but the three last pages don't count) not that, that is relevant whatsoever.

I was, oddly enough, quite surprised. It was actually a pretty decent read with some excellent principles. It is true that I wouldn't ever exactly replicate their possibly a little too formal method of going about things. It did push me to consider a few things and evaluate myself and my relationship - simply poking the stick at a few things I've already thought/talked about. At the same time, the book recognises the fluidity of relationships and the differences in people etc.

I think it's possibly worth going back through a bit slower. As with all things. Read widely and never go exactly by the book (unless it's the Bible and even then there are all kinds of interpretation/translation issues).

A good word for this though. It's later Joshua Harris stuff. I'd be curious to get my hands on the earlier, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" simply to feed my curiousity. I wouldn't mind having a look at "Not Even a Hint" or whatever that one's called.

I have no time for anyone who backhands his stuff without having taken the time to read it. (Now that I'm no longer one of them...)

Peck, M. Scott - The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace

2006-09-19T17:36:00.000+10:00

I did the discourtesy of borrowing this off Tim a long time before I've actually gotten around to reading it. I'm wondering a bit if it hasn't come off a little worse for wear about travelling in my bag back and forth from uni.

Very interesting read. The community theories and every other little mind blowing other thing in there were rather facinating and hopefully feasable. I had the benefit of seeing at least one of these slightly more unusual tactics employed during a Wednesday night Young Adults. We took the chance to 'speak out' something a bit personal in front of the group with zero compulsion, let alone allowance to respond. Something clicked, and it made the whole experience (of both the book and the evening) more tangible. I had the 'why' background, an insider understanding. It was a beautiful and quite powerful thing to watch unfold.

The latter third of the book centres much more around the 'peace'. Unfortunately this comes with the bent on US Politics and the Arms Race (to which I am a tad ashamed of that in my twenty years, have never really heard much about before - and which I'm still not fully certain I know the extent or power grain in which the whole deal operates). It was interesting, but not quite as glove-hit-glove.

It's worth a read if you like to stretch your mind and be challenged about how you are living in relation to others. The Stages of Spirituality from 'Chaos to Mystic' take up a decent section of the book. Parts of it make a lot of sense. As with any Scott Peck book (and it's a bit absurb to claim to be an authority when this is only the second one of his I've read), take it with a grain - no, make that a pinch of salt, while not letting the good slip by. There is much good.

Miller, Donald - Searching For God Know's What

2006-09-06T00:15:00.000+10:00

I really like this guy's stuff FAR too much.

BRILLIANT book.

Got a huge amount out of it to think about. Almost think that parts of it topped Blue Like Jazz (same author).

Very conversational. All about the God/man (that being human) relationship and not playing it out 'formula' style. Worth it's weight in whatever I paid for it and a bit more.

Thomas, Angela - A Beautiful Offering

2006-08-30T17:15:00.000+10:00

I took a lot of weeks to get through this. I had wanted to take it slowly so as to get more worth out of the pages. The book pretty much takes you through the Beattitudes. I'm not a hundred percent sure I'm a huge fan of her writing style (which I think sometimes duck-dives at times) but that doesn't detract from what was shared. It had it's moments of not being so fantastic and others where it was entirely spot on and really helpful.I think collectively I really did get a lot out of this book.

Sorry guys it really is aimed at females this book - somehow I just don't think you'd find her examples very relevant.

Ward, Pete - Mass Culture: Eucharist and Mission in a Post-Modern World

2006-08-14T16:55:00.000+10:00

VERY thought provoking book. I certainly took my time with it. The articles/chapters vary in perspective which gives you probably a better balance on what is the Eucharist and how it relates to mission. Pete Ward is only the editor, chapters are written by those from a variety of denominations (of which aren't ever stated clearly at the start of each chapter, which I liked).

I think I'd have to go back and take small bits of it to process again. Some of the stuff blows your mind and offers something pretty different and more tangible ways to treat what I often treat as 'just another thing I do at church' that yeah, does have a bit of meaning...

Ortberg, John - Love Beyond Reason

2006-07-20T21:43:00.000+10:00

Unfortunately my cover is highly more tacky than this one (with a big blue butterfly) - the bi-line to the title is: Moving God's love from your head to your heart. I don't know if it quite worked in that regard, but it had some interesting principles, fantastic quotes and some surprisingly familiar illustrations. I still haven't worked out where I've heard them from before.
It moved pretty well. I didn't like his 'ragdoll' analogy which was pretty prevailant, probably something generational.
Still, not a bad read, I have heaps of corners folded to chase up the quotes. And there's a thought and a half in each of those.

Keillor, Garrison - Lake Wobegon Days

2006-07-16T22:14:00.000+10:00

It's taken me a long time to get through this one. As Mum said, "I read that once, I never really knew what it was about but it was still funny."
I entirely agree.
Very difficult to follow - not a story as such, but hundreds of glimpses into this imaginary yet lifelike 'outback' American town.
Completely hilarious, where the author has taken liberty of using footnotes to add alternate notions and points. The footnotes take a bit of getting used to but are by far the making of the story.
This is apparently a bit of a 'comic classic'. I'm glad I managed to persevere and get the whole. I have no idea even now who the main character really is, despite his narrating and I think pretty constant presence. Well worth the read, but I doubt I'll be picking it up again.

Chapman, Gary - The Five Love Languages for Singles

2006-06-30T23:08:00.000+10:00

I'm fairly familiar already with the principles behind the books despite never having read the original. I bought this to check out the perspectives on friendships/family etc as well as the whole male/female business and the original apparently does look very much at it all from a 'marrieds' perspective, and well - I'm not.

An interesting read. I've always liked the concepts because I like analysing people. It did make all the more clear to me how high quality time is on my 'list'.

But the cover... it's disgraceful :P Certainly wouldn't entice me to read it.

Virden, Holly - If Singleness is a Gift, What's the Return Policy?

2006-06-15T23:24:00.000+10:00

Another, read other people's theories to make me think book. Quite good. Some bits I weren't too keen on. At least it's not a 'stay single forever' book - but treats it as a season. A bit um slightly fluffy in the Jesus is my husband edge. It does acknowledge that Jesus is a lot more than a mere replacement which is a good thing.

Co-authored by Michelle Mc-Kinney Hammond. So two writing styles in the one book, but it worked. It had some pretty good points in it, well thought out, quite Biblical. Worth a read but I wouldn't go stake out a whole, 'how to be living singly sucessfully' on just it.

Southall, Ivan - Hills End

2006-06-14T18:54:00.000+10:00

One of the most fantastic books I ever read when I was younger. An opinion shared by pretty much everyone in my house. I like having a read again occasionally. I haven't read it for probably 4 or 5 years.

Extremely fast paced, quite believeable and set in Australia.

I enjoyed it hugely yet again.

Moore, Beth - A Woman And Her God

2006-06-14T11:41:00.000+10:00

Really don't bother.

I was not impressed with the writing style at all - and this is done by at least 7 authors. Maybe it'd click with an older more traditional Christian female, but erm no. I only finished it because I bought it and not too happy I did.

Sure there were a few good points, but the whole experience was rather painful.

de Saint-Exupery, Antoine - The Little Prince

2006-06-13T17:30:00.000+10:00

A classic. I read it in one sitting with my mouth just about as open as it could get. Utterly fantastic! Strangely insightful. One of those books that is completely delightful in every little way. Curious philosophical moments despite having been written for Children (apparently) and having been translated from French.

It's short, it's really good, it's worth the half hour of more you devote to it.

Or... read it online!

Adams, Scott - God's Debris

2006-06-08T17:26:00.000+10:00

Someone (I think it was Reinhard) shuffled this link my way some time ago.

God's Debris

You can read the whole thing online if you so desire (I did) - free. By the guy who does the Dilbert cartoons. It's bizarre, unusual. I read it too quickly, be discerning. Read it to make you think but don't go start a cult off of it.

This is not a Dilbert book. It contains no humor. I call it a
132-page thought experiment wrapped in a fictional story.
I’ll explain the thought experiment part later.
God’s Debris doesn’t fit into normal publishing cubbyholes.
There is even disagreement about whether the material
is fiction or nonfiction. I contend that it is fiction because
the characters don’t exist. Some people contend that it is
nonfiction because the opinions and philosophies of the characters
might have lasting impact on the reader.
The story contains no violence, no sexual content, and
no offensive language. But the ideas expressed by the characters
are inappropriate for young minds. People under the
age of fourteen should not read it.
The target audience for God’s Debris is people who
enjoy having their brains spun around inside their skulls.

Burroughs, Augusten - Running with Scissors

2006-06-08T16:30:00.000+10:00

Finally finished it. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started as I have no blurb (got it from work which means they rip the back covers off the ones turned freebee).

I hit a point where I was, 'No way do I want to put this crap into my head' - but by then it was sort of too late and after a good week and a half period of leaving it, I decided to finish it - thankfully it tamed out.

Much much too crude and I'd have rather I hadn't read it. It was however quite funny. Running with Scissors is being made into a movie - for which I watched the trailer for and found that it's been extremely hollywoodised.

Really bizarre childhood. It doesn't really seem plausible - perhaps its another James Frey fraud?

Bell, Rob - Velvet Elvis

2006-06-06T23:29:00.000+10:00

GET IT GET IT GET IT GET IT!!!!!

So extremely good. (the cover is white - to explain the absent looking picture)

I can't be bothered writing too much but some over on Amazon (scroll down) have written a couple of helpful reviews. Otherwise, just go ahead and get it, it'd be well worth your while and money.

DiMarco, Hayley & Michael - Marriable

2006-06-02T20:48:00.000+10:00

Freak out! Another book on such disturbing topics ;)
But I happened to find it on sale.
Nothing so new in this one. It was good though.
More to the fact that I laughed outloud approximately every third page and chuckled every other due to some absoultely random humor in the columns of the book, utterly hilarious.
Actually, it had some very valid points to make.
Also a myth debuster on the 'marry your best friend' thing which I found interesting.

Taylor, Jeff - Friendlationships

2006-06-01T18:43:00.000+10:00

I've had my eye on it for a very long time as the title is intriguing.

Very interesting, unlike most Christian 'relationship' books. So some thought matter and actually pushed me to consider friendships (not the 'relationship that kind') quite deeply.

Probably doesn't delve into some things quite enough and I didn't find all of it relevant. Still good.

Amazon link for reviews

Creel, Colin - Perspectives

2006-05-27T18:40:00.000+10:00

Very impressed. It gave me a lot to think about. Covered ground I've already covered (but in different detail), didn't necessarily provide the answers but gave me some great starting points.

Worth a read if you happen to be in the relevant age bracket.

Silvious, Jan - Big Girls Don't Whine

2006-05-14T19:23:00.000+10:00

I was first introduced to this book during a camp where the girls and guys split off and we had a long involved conversation around friendships and mothers. I bought the book yesterday and downed it fast as it was so good. It is full of biblical reference and has a lot of relevance to life. It gave me a picture of living how I would really like to live and the process of getting there by mapping out what being a 'Big girl' and being a 'Little girl' looks like.

This is undoubtably one of the best books in the 'for Christian females' genre I have ever read. It's brilliant to not have something centred so much around relationships or around self worth, sure it touches on them but doesn't pull the focus back to them over and over again. I hope to continue to refer to this book and remember the principles shared. I will be recommending this ever so highly.

Ethridge, Shannon - Every Young Woman's Battle

2006-05-08T21:23:00.000+10:00

Not sure if it count's a full 'read' but I gave this a hefty skimming last night (Have read it before) after hearing about 'The Search for Intimacy' LifeKeys program.

Some good stuff in here. Some not so relevant. I 'know' most of it, nothing like a bit of a reminder.

Lawrence, brother - The Practice of the Presence of God

2006-05-08T21:20:00.000+10:00

A funny little book. More thoughts shall be over on my other blog. Very short, interesting and some quite good ideas behind it all, but some stuff I didn't really agree with.

L'Engle, Madeline - Many Waters

2006-05-08T21:10:00.000+10:00

As I might have said before I don't usually waste too much time on fantasy any more. I do however have a rather large admiration for anything by Madeline L'Engle. This is probably about the 5th time I've read Many Waters. It is part of the Time Quartet - Which starts spectacularly with A Wrinkle in Time. Many Waters incoporates some Biblical History and lets you have a alternate look at the flood story. I still enjoyed it and I doubt this will be the last read.

Eldredge, John - Wild at Heart

2006-05-04T17:33:00.000+10:00

Another one that I have read before. Although it is a book directed at males it still presents some interesting insights and challenges. I am waiting for Katrina to return my copy of Captivating (female version) so decided this might have to suffice for the time being - so entirely different. I dare say this would hit home harder if I was male and so Captivating in my mind still far outweighs it as I am not. Male friends of mine have recommended this book, rave about it, like it, and think it was 'okay'. Dad wasn't overly impressed for some reason, maybe I should return it to him and let him actually finish it.

Bevere, Lisa - Kissed the Girls and Made them Cry

2006-04-25T18:03:00.000+10:00

I have read this before, it is still quite excellent. She's got a good lot to say around standards and where God fits into the picture.

Yancey, Philip - I Was Just Wondering

2006-04-16T20:09:00.000+10:00

A curious book that's taken me about three weeks to get through. Basically this is a collection of essays by Philip Yancey about all manner of things re: life, suffering, science, psychology, ethics etc.

Some 'entries' if I can call them that are entirely facinating. I possibly read this book almost too fast as there is so much thought that could be put down in response to one of his.

I have been very inspired.

Mc Laughlin, Emma & Kraus, Nicola - The Nanny Diaries

2006-04-07T15:44:00.000+10:00

Oh it's a great thing to read some good old chick lit sometimes. I've been busy so I haven't gotten through it as fast as I might have. It was quite funny, which is what I went in expecting but you walk away from it quite sad at the state of the family Nanny (for Nanny is a 'nanny') leaves.

All up very enjoyable and a nice change to read a modern book as opposed to all these classics and 'Literature' that take a bit more out of you.

Pease, Alan & Barbara - The Definitive Book of Body Language

2006-03-27T23:36:00.000+11:00

If you can ignore the horrific cover, this book was actually quite interesting. I spied it in Dymocks and found it at the Library on a rare visit totally unintended for the purpose. Cheapskate. I even get a staff discount!

Now I can understand what you are saying when you aren't saying it *cough*. Yes like that'll ever happen.

Wilde, Oscar - The Picture of Dorian Gray

2006-03-13T17:55:00.000+11:00

Facinating. Would make a bit of a horror if turned into a movie (Which I think it has been).

Roughly speaking. Dorian is this handsome/rich young man who portrait is painted. While admiring the work he makes a rash wish in a moment of vanity that if only he could stay young forever, or something of the sort. Other influences come by means of a friend, a book etc... Dorains life is altered dramatically when he discovers that any misdeeds translate to his face on the portrait and he looks no different. His soul is personified or displayed within the painting. Naturally he ends up seeking every misdemeanor and the cruelty continues its etching into the paint.

I dare say I missed many connotations and the complete ugliness as I would have had to be paying extremely close attention. There are underlying themes here of homosexuality, vanity, masking, you name it. It's not a pretty book, but it has fair bit to say on life. The notes following the work were really interesting. I actually bothered to read them which is saying a fair bit.

A classic and for a good reason. Much to go over ones head though.

Briggs, Raymond - When the Wind Blows

2006-03-05T21:04:00.000+11:00

I usually wouldn't count reading a cartoon book as something I'd put up here, but When the Wind Blows is fairly substantial and I have my reasons. I discovered this book probably five or so years ago now and it still makes my top books list. Never have I been more disturbed by reading a 'picture book'. It's quaint and still horrific. The artist (as I suppose you would call him) through his drawings creates this absoultely definitive message on nuclear war, on war itself and complete misunderstanding. I would also recommend Earnest and Ethel which is a biographical cartoon that Raymond Briggs has done on the lives of his parents.

Custis James, Carolyn - Lost Women of the Bible

2006-03-03T00:53:00.000+11:00

I made myself take it slow. A most excellent character study on women in the Bible. I don't know about the whole 'search for significance' thing. Maybe I'm secure already ;)

Highly highly recommend this. There is a LOT of Biblical reference and the author manages to tease out areas less looked at. Makes for facinating reading.

Only thing that bummed me was that she didn't have Rebekah as one of her chapter focuses!

Monk Kidd, Sue - The Secret Life of Bees

2006-02-25T20:33:00.000+11:00

I don't often use the word sweet, it gives me the irates (as does that word) but how else to explain this book. Both funny, sad, sweet (there!) and amazingly interwoven with these facts (at the start of each chapter) about Bees. Such a beautifully written story. I've had my eyes on this for some time at Dymocks as a nickname of mine is Bee. That was the initial fodder for curiousity and a raving review from 90% of the rest of the staff. Borrowed off Katie, thank you again. It made for a fulfilling train trip or two.

Haddon, Mark - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

2006-02-21T23:54:00.000+11:00

What and amazing book!

Thanks so much Katie for the lend.

Written from the perspective of a boy with Asbergers Syndrome (which I find exceptionaly interesting in light of a boy I know with it). So so facinating, entertaining and not predicatable.

Honest, different look at the world. Produced this massive empathy and understanding and admiration.

This is no kids book.

Peck, M. Scott - The Road Less Travelled

2006-02-17T23:56:00.000+11:00

I was, to say the least, fairly excited when Mum let me know we owned this as I've been sorely tempted to buy it recently. The poor book has now been thoroughly battered after surving a pen's explosion in my bad and having multiple corners folded (not just return to reading, but 'check this out again later').

Very very interesting book. It's a bit of a long haul - you have to want to read it. It's split into four sections. The first is Discipline, then Love, Growth and Religion, and finally Grace.

I have, through the entire time I've been reading it been trying to work out if the guy is a Christian. I understand his work has been well recieved in Christian circles, but some of his writing makes me a little unsure. I shall have to research his background a bit.

The first two sections of the book were extremely interesting. The Love section is clearly the most facinating (isn't it always!) and it provided a text based resource for a lot of what Tim Hein talked about during a class on love last year.

The last two sections are a bit more tedious. Both still have some/many descisive and well made points, but yeah - my enthusiasm waned after being sucked in to his theories on love and spat out the other end.

Read this. But read with discernment.

Frey, James - A Million Little Pieces

2006-02-12T01:03:00.000+11:00

A good thing about working where I do is that occasionaly the 'staff freebie' tub yeilds something half decent. I took advantage of this yesterday when I spotted a copy of A Million Little Pieces by James Frey. It is minus it's back cover - as are most of those they are getting rid of, but you do not need to read a blurb when you are going to read the book.

A month or so ago we had this minor obsession from customers about getting hold of this book. It was recommended by Oprah (and I confess I've never really watched any, so I can't complain legimately about how bad it is). The book is an autobiography about a drug addict.

The validity of 'autobiography' has recently come in to some speculation. My world will not change if 100% of the novel is not entirely true. I ususally read fiction anyway so I will treat it mostly as fiction regardless.

I have spent a goodly part of today utterly consumed.
This is not a good book, because that would be the wrong word, but a powerfully written book. My mind hurts from concentrating too hard and attempting to keep feelings arms distance away.

The Young Man came to the Old Man seeking counsel.
I broke something, Old Man.
How badly is it broken?
It's in a million little pieces.
I'm afraid I can't help you.
Why?
There's nothing you can do.
Why?
It can't be fixed.
Why?
It's broken beyond repair. It's in a million little pieces.

The above is from a blog I wrote a day or so ago. I have since finished the book entirely impressed. I've read a few reviews and many condemn the validity of it all. This does not really matter to me so much as I said before. The book is oustanding. Not a light read no, but rivetting and eye opening. It says much about addiction (;p to reading even). It is full of it's own adrenaline.

McKinney Hammond, Michelle - In Search of the Proverbs 31 Man

2006-02-05T19:42:00.000+11:00

A title to get slighly freaked out about. It was on sale during a trip to Koorong, $5. So I thought - 'Why not?'

I get in the car and Laura lets me know she thinks it's a book for guys. She is right. But it is also for females. For singles, for marrieds, for those in a relationship.

I was extremely pleased with the usefulness of this book. It's nice to have a few things spelled out once in a while. Good alternative and a different look at the Proverbs 31 passage.

The author sets out to say that this is not a man-bashing book but maybe strays a little close sometimes or I'm just being too nice. I think I'll have to give it to a male friend and see what he thinks. Its also the kind of book you'd like to lend people but don't want to give them the wrong idea at the same time.

Most excelent despite a page that made me do the whole, "hmmm.... maybe" thing (I forget what that was about now, sorry).

It is informative, generally uplifting and puts a bit of the hope back into an already idealistic mind.

Watson, Don - Death Sentence

2006-02-05T19:35:00.000+11:00

This is basically an essay (novel size) on the decay of public language.

I had about a two week period where I forgot about this book (I was halfway through) and re-found it this afternoon, so picked it up where I left off.

I confess a lot of it went over my head, there was a lot of political related information, but I got the general gist, it's sarcastic jibes at use of language. Good explanations (if not bordering on the complicated for a tired youthful mind) and beautifully written paragraphs. Very pleasing, but a hard slug.

Wyndham, John - The Day of the Triffids

2006-02-02T16:24:00.000+11:00

I don't read a lot of science fiction, but I thought I'd give this one a go as it is on many of the 'top books' kind of lists. I have read one other of Wyndhams a long time ago, The Midwitch Cuckoos which is brilliantly strange and exceedingly disturbing. This was well worth my time. Quite rivetting actually. Futuristic (set on earth) of basically a domination by these plant things, triffids. I much prefer sci-fi that has potential to be likely than those that involve other freakish creatures set in outerspace.

A good feel of humanity and the rest of human race gone slightly mad. The female character has an unusual name: Josella. The guy (who is the main character) is Bill - which is the kind of name that I check at the end of every now and then as I continually forget.

I seem to do that fairly frequently, read a book and have minimal to zero clue as to who the main character's name is (same with movies really). Slight oversight.

There's this massive stash of Wyndhams that mum has put aside to sell on ebay, I might start removing the odd book from the stack.

Cloud & Townsend - Safe People

2006-01-27T12:02:00.000+11:00

Another brilliant book by Townsend and Cloud (also wrote Boundries and Hiding From Love). I borrowed this off of Sam who got it off Alecia, so it's doing the rounds.

A lot around relationships (friendships). I was surprised actually about how much I was challenged by it. Interesting stories throughout that effectively illustrate what they are trying to say. Which leaves me wondering/knowing who are the safe people I associate myself with and if I myself am one.

Steinbeck, John - Of Mice and Men

2006-01-25T14:43:00.001+11:00

Pulled it off the shelf last night in order to continue my reading some classics fest. Read it in one shot.

Slightly disturbing ending. The build up in it is fantastic {spoiler} first the dead mouse, than the puppy, then the girl... it still creeps up on you and slams you in the face when you realise what's happened. You feel desperately sorry for Lennie - not at all angry for what he's done. The George's action on dealing with him throws some very interesting questions up around ethics.

Smalley & Trent - The Blessing

2006-01-25T14:35:00.000+11:00

Not wholely relevant, but prompted some interesting questions about how we can impact others. Particularly when it comes to meaningful touch which is something I generally avoid. Worth a read, but an old book (as old as me in fact). The Blessing is by Gary Smalley (the Love Languages guy?) and John Trent.

Fitzgerald, E Scott - The Great Gatsby

2006-01-25T14:24:00.001+11:00

It's been sitting on my floor for a while now. Astounding book! Had me verbally exclaiming over numerous parts (I think it got me to swear). Completely unlike anything I've ever read. Rip-roaringly facinating. Such deceit and such loneliness.

Carroll, Lewis - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2006-01-21T12:43:00.000+11:00

I've had this (dif. cover) pocket sized copy of Alice in Wonderland sitting around my room for months now. I intended a long time ago to read it as it was a classic I know a lot about but have never really sat down to see properly for myself.

How insanely clever it is. Appealed very much to my humor in all it's use of words and double meanings.

It's unbearably hot today so I lay on the floor of my room and finished it off, such a good way to pass time.

McCall Smith, Alexander - The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency

2006-01-21T12:36:00.000+11:00

I've had my eye on this in Dymocks for ages and when I came across it in a rare trip to the Library I borrowed it. Which reminds me, it should probably go back very shortly.

It was quite different to anything I've ever read. Writen differently and took a little to grow on me, but it kept me curious and turned out to be one of those beautifully quaint, carefully funny, unique books. I now just have to track down the rest of the series.

To give a brief idea, the story is about a female detective (Precious Ramotswe) in Botswana and all the adventures/mysteries she attempts to solve, a lot based on her luck on stumbling across things relevant to other cases.

Well worth my time.

Lewis, C.S - Prince Caspian

2006-01-17T12:34:00.000+11:00

I was thoroughly confused a good part of the time while reading this as I was thinking about the movie and getting it mixed up with The Silver Chair which I'd forgotten existed.

Not one of my favourite Narnia books. Found it a bit boring really.

Miller, Donald - Blue Like Jazz

2006-01-07T14:53:00.000+11:00

I'd had my eye on it for ages after Warwick read some out in our Youth Ministry class. Yesterday I found it in Word for $10 and with a further 20% off... well, $8!!! Which says two things, I can do a bit of basic maths, and I got a bargain for a very good book.

Yes thats right, alas I have read it already, which is precisely why I don't buy new books too often. This is a keeper though. Very easy to read (due to the fact that I like the way it is written) it is quite conversational, a lot of stories and thoughts around all areas of life.

The subtitle is somewhat like: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality.

I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes.
After that I liked jazz music.
Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.
I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened.

This book is partially autobiographical, it reads (haha) very much like a well thought out blog might. It would probably not appeal to super conservatives, or those deeply involved in church structure. If you want a laugh, to be made to think and have a few dollars and a few hours - do go get yourself a copy.

There are quite a few people I want to give this one to.

Lewis, C.S - The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

2006-01-01T22:15:00.000+11:00

Well, having just seen the movie and having a good recollection of the old one, I didn't have to concentrate too hard reading this.

It did clarify a few things for me, dropped a few coins in the slots that the movie left and reminded me of all the new movie actually missed out that I quite liked from the old.

Well I can finally say I've read it, and I know better the readability level for all those falling for buying books new needing reccommendations for their nephews and grandchildren.

CS Lewis has done a clever thing in writing a story like this one.

Lewis, C.S - The Magician's Nephew

2005-12-30T15:46:00.000+11:00

Well, I haven't read this for a very long time. It took me a there and from bus ride to work to get through it, very painless. Still quite interesting although it was more enthralling when I read it however many years ago.

I do like the background it provides for the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The lamp post, the professor etc... Where Digory and Polly fit in.
It is a remarakable parallel (much of it) to the creation story. Gives a slightly alternate perspective on the whole thing - allegorical of course.

I intend to read through the whole set. I haven't done so before and have only read a select few (The Horse and His Boy, The Last Battle etc.) But seeing as the movie has just come out and they are everywhere, I thought it best to refresh my memory.

Tolkien, J.R.R - The Hobbit

2005-12-27T02:00:00.000+11:00

My Christmas Eve tradition is to read the Hobbit (finish it at least) that night. I just made it 11:56 I hit the light to sleep.

I love the story, I know it quite well now as it's probably my 5th-6th year doing so (plus all the other times I've read it). I lost my original copy, which was a bit sad as it was the very nice old version, and now have an old library copy.

Roads go ever ever on...

Goudge, Elizabeth - The Little White Horse

2005-12-16T00:29:00.000+11:00

This was my absolute favourite book as a younger um kid. I went through this horse craze and discovered it somewhat by accident (as I read excessively) it actually doesnt have too much to do about horses.

Maria Merryweather and adventures and linked to the past and much adventure.

Anyway, I just read it again. And I still very much enjoyed it.

It was apparently JK Rowlings favourite book when she was a kid, and they are making it into a movie. Shows what influence can do! And here's me thinking Im the only one on the planet who has ever heard of it before.

(and my cover is much much nicer, but very old. I had to tape it back together I've read it that much)

Has some fantastic quotes in it. Very funny. Extremely likeable characters.

Picoult, Jodi - My Sister's Keeper

2005-12-01T23:19:00.000+11:00

My oh my. Bryce Courtney pales in comparision. Or maybe I just needed a genre change. But !!!! words and how she uses them. This book is alive and has one of those horrible gut wrenching endings that so entirely surprises you. Utterly factinating, rivetting and any other adjective that applies.

I don't want to give it back to Ana. Must get copy somehow.

Courtenay, Bryce - The Potato Factory

2005-11-27T23:05:00.000+11:00

Brilliant.

Clever.

Rich.

Enough crudity and conflict to make it very real.

Not soft. Courtenay creates an empathy for the 'unlikeable' but very central characters without you scarcely realising it.

Themes superbly woven throughout. Plot is complex but never falters.

Ezell, Lee - The Cinderella Syndrome

2005-11-02T17:41:00.000+11:00

A good read for me at the time. Very old book which I picked up randomly from my mum's 'to sell' list. I'm keeping it now. How to explain besides that, life is not a fairytale. Which I did of course know already, some rippers of ideas/quotes in there though.

I have not come across the 'you are responsible TO not FOR' idea before. It just makes a heap of sense.

There is much in this about happiness and contentment and where that fits in life.

Read this but only if you are a)female b) in need of a bit of a kick up the butt/reminder of some obvious but ever avoidant concepts.

Potok Chaim - My Name is Asher Lev

2005-10-21T22:49:00.000+10:00

Disturbing. Brilliant.

A second reading.

Asher is obsessed with art. He is a Hassidic Jew. Division.

To quote a review, "It hit me deep and made me think."

Very hard to get a book better than this. One of my all time very best.

Grisham, John - The Broker

2005-10-04T00:29:00.000+10:00

Very good.

Yet another Grisham worth applause.

Nice to have it not set entirely in America for once.

He still churns out fiction at an awesome rate - so you can't but wonder about the quality sometimes. Read A LOT of his stuff, there's only been one I wasn't so keen on (Bleachers).

Lewis, C.S - Mere Christianity

2005-10-02T14:17:00.000+10:00

(wrong cover)

I read this on the long car trip down to Adelaide, so I'm not sure if I got the entireity of it all.

Excellent. Relevant, helpful.
No wonder he's regarded as one of the greatest theologians.

Everyone should read this - at least once in life.

Lee, Harper - To Kill a Mockingbird

2005-10-02T00:11:00.000+10:00

(wrong cover yet again)

I LOVE this book. I was probably about 12 the last time I read it.

This book has the ability to make me angry - which does take a bit of something.
I'm sure it won a Pulitzer Prize for some reason :)

Reminds me a little of John Grisham's 'A Time to Kill'

Would be in my top 10.

Brown, Dan - The DaVinci Code

2005-09-29T23:35:00.000+10:00

EXCELLENT. Fast paced. Some extremely weird falseness, but oh what a good read. Almost did it in one sitting. Facinating.
A little hard to know what to take and leave, so I figured it was best to treat it all as fiction.

Courtney, Bryce - April Fools Day

2005-09-29T23:28:00.000+10:00

Brilliant, not what I expected though when I worked out it was a biography of his son and not a novel. So much for a first taste of Bryce Courtney.
I am hooked.
(wrong cover btw. alas can't find the right one, such a HUGE issue)
A lot of stuff in here that made me thing again about some 'common' issues.
AIDS for one.
His son Damon being a Haemophilic who developed AIDS.
Anyway I can't be bothered explaining too much, I'm on holidays.

Smith, Dodie - I Capture the Castle

2005-09-29T23:16:00.000+10:00

Excellent read. Very interesting, fairly easy in terms of readership. I have not seen the movie, and am not entirely sure I want to as it might spoil it.
Characters easy for me to relate to (to an extent). Honest, a good feel of getting inside someone's mind.

Curtis and Eldredge, The Sacred Romance

2005-09-03T23:20:00.000+10:00

A shaky start as I was entirely the wrong place for reading this the first chapter or so.

This book is wonderful!
need I say more.

Sheds light on all manner of things, clarified some stuff for me, reminded me of some things that I'd forgotten.

None of the petty 'Jesus is my boyfriend'. Well worth time and money.

Adams, Douglas - Mostly Harmless

2005-08-26T20:38:00.000+10:00

Last book in the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy, which I finally got around to reading. Muchly enjoyed. I like this kind of humor, exceptionally clever. Proabaly not quite as good as some of the previous ones... however they become a bit of a blur after a while as to which is actually which. The joyful robot and Ford's adventures in 'the Guide' were well done.
I'm not sure what happened to Fenchurch between this book and the previous which is a tad dissapointing. I dare say I've missed massive ammounts of what went on - not the best for a non-complicated train read. Still exceptional.

Sparks, Nicholas - The Notebook

2005-08-22T19:04:00.000+10:00

I am amused, I found this review on Amazon it speaks rather a lot of truth. I have not yet seen the movie, and I really only read the book as a friend of mine (a non-reader) said she liked it - yet the movie was better. I had a bit of laugh reading it anyway, the description was 'try-hardish' and pathetically 'soppy' in some ways. It was an 'easy read'. It's not entirely terrible, but haha, mmm. yes. I think I've had worse.

I bought this novel for an easy, no-brainer, enjoyable read-on-the-beach book. So far as being easy and a no-brainer, The Notebook followed through. When it came to enjoyable, however, it fell terribly short.

I think the premise of the book is wonderful. An Alzheimer's patient being read the ultimate love story -their own- by her husband in hopes of rekindling old memories, if only for a moment. Very nice and the story is sweet.

BUT... the characters. Good lord. They were, without doubt, some of the most two-dimensional protagonists I have ever seen. They were undeveloped, their dialog was rigid, and some of the scenes that could have potentially been fabulous (like the scene on the lake) were murdered by characters I could care less about. If I can't empathize with them, I won't care what happens to them, and this is what happened in The Notebook. I was extremely disappointed. This could have been something great, but instead made me feel like I had wasted my time.

For once, I will have to say that the movie was better. I saw it several days after finishing the novel and was pleasantly surprised by how they added new scenes and the cast breathed life into otherwise stale characters. Not to mention that the movie completely changed the original ending... the original ending being an entendre that was not only 110% unbelievable and unlikely, but also made me want to vomit. If you read the book, you'll understand why... but I suggest renting the movie, instead.

Rowling, J.K - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

2005-08-14T14:56:00.000+10:00

Well I finally got around to reading it, I haven't read the other few in a while so the apperance of characters such as 'Tonks'... well lets say I couldn't exactly remember where they fit into the picture. No matter. Enjoyable, it being the continuting story, probably not the worlds greatest literacy. Have heard people say it's only good in the last little bit, true the action does pick up however I thought it was fairly reasonable all the way through. Not the best of the books though.

I still have hope for Snape as I have had the entire series, yes he {spoiler warning} 'kills' Dumbledore... but mmm. I think there was a valid reason, that or Dumbledore is not dead. Who knows. I'm perfectly happy to wait until whenever the next book comes out. It is said to be the 'darker' book than the past 5. I personally think the characters are a little more realistic. Anger, sadness, jealously are ironically quite human things to feel. The author should introduce a little more real fear or something to make it a bit more believeable.
The predicted Harry and Ginny thing happened, as Ron and Hermione. Quite laughable.
Good read. Enjoyable as I said before.

McCourt, Malachy - A Monk Swimming

2005-08-05T02:07:00.000+10:00

Another train ride consumer book. A Monk Swimming, facinating although a little (some might say a lot) crude. Desperately honest.
Like an unlike Angela's Ashes and 'Tis (books by Frank McCourt his brother) more about his adulthood and less about childhood in Ireland.
Amusing, entertaining, thought provoking.

Thomas, Angela - Do You Think I'm Beautiful?

2005-08-01T22:56:00.000+10:00

Excellent book. A little like "Captivating"... but different all the same.
Aimed at older women - which was a nice change.

The only vague annoyance was the metaphor/usage of 'dancing' throughout... as a fairly 'non dance' kind of person I didn't entirely 'get it' on that level. But the principle of being asked, I do understand that.

Brilliant and wonderful, a mixture of: I got stacks out of it, and yeah this is not bad.

Tan, Amy - The Kitchen God's Wife

2005-07-24T17:41:00.000+10:00

The Kitchen God's Wife

Facinating... one of those where you finish and half know you've found yourself yet another favourite author.

'Tan is a consummate storyteller whose prose manages to be emotionally charged without a trace of sentimentality.' - Sunday Times

Lowry, Lois - The Giver

2005-07-14T20:05:00.000+10:00

The Giver
This book would make my top 10 - maybe even 5.
Yes I've read it about 8 times. So what.
It's short enough for anyone to read, and good enough that everyone should.

Although all appearances of a 'novel' suitable for kids about 11 or 12+, it has these astoundingly deep themes. Facinates me every time.

Some warning though, if you like nicely packaged endings where everything is as 'happy as larry' (cliched and bland) don't read this. The ending is ambigious to some extent, you can draw conclusions several ways.

Read it!

Yancey, Philip - Reaching for the Invisible God

2005-07-13T22:51:00.000+10:00

I have this feeling I've read parts of this book before, I know I've quoted it in an essay. However, I've gotten stacks out of it this time - probably more than previously.

I was particularly interested in some of the legalsim orientated stuff. I've found it helpful to read after a period of recognition where you are trying to do everything on your own - or at least approach things wrongly.

Yancey quotes Augustine, "On earth we are wayfarers, always on the go, this means that we have to keep on moving forward. Therefore be always unhappy about where you are if you want to reach where you are not. If you are pleased with what you are, you have stopped already. If you say, 'It is enough', you are lost. Keep on walking, moving forward, trying for the goal." (p.225)

Which reminded me of that verse in Hebrews 12, or 1 Cor 9, or any of those. About running the race...

No coincidence either, that I have been reading the start of Romans (been kind of stuck there for awhile now). Perseverance.
...and the Hebrews 12:1-2, author and perfector verse which has become ironically 'themeish'.

One other reminder, a line of song by Relient K - "Doubt your doubts, and believe your beliefs".

I think I'll give up on rating, unless it is particularly terrible, or unbelieveably beyond good. From now on they are all 4' s unless otherwise specified.

Mayle, Peter - Toujours Provence

2005-07-12T19:25:00.000+10:00

So I said I'd get this one read shortly, the sequel to A Year in Provence.

"Written in the same light and humourous style as the previous book, but in some ways a better book. There is no attempt at telling a story, this is just a collection of anecdotes."

I agree with the above (and due to blogger playing up I have lost the link to where I got that quote)

A 4/5 for this one. Muchly enjoyed. I just have to end up there one day now :)

McCollough, Colleen - The Thorn Birds

2005-07-11T16:42:00.000+10:00

Although I have not read this recently, I did just come to the end of the 7 hours or so of the Thorn Birds dvd, a TV series made back in 1983 I think.

I dared to watch this with some hesitation as it's one of my favourite books. The biggest disappointment being the American accents of some or rather most of the characters. I was otherwise glad that I'd had my own experience and perspective of the book enhanced. I could be swayed when re-reading (some time) to see it all as the dvd showed it. Hopefully not, but I don't mind taking some.

Colleen McCollough has always impressed me. From, An Indecent Obsession, The Song of Troy, The Ladies of Missallonghi, Tim, The Touch, Morgans Run, to The Thorn Birds. I confess I only made it halfway through the First Man in Rome and am a bit daunted by the series that follows. Possibly my favourite author.

Strangely, I found myself best lost in the Character of Justine who features much less than Meggie Cleary. Something in me relates to her.
The best books do that.

Mayle, Peter - A Year in Provence

2005-07-07T21:36:00.000+10:00

Surprisingly a first at reading this kind of book (so far as I can remember).

"Armchair travel"

Very amusing, beautifully descriptive without being cliched.
I was VERY impressed.

Have immediately started on the sequal 'Toujours Provence" which will make it's way up here shortly.

4/5 (should I bother with ratings?)

A Year in Provence

for those devoid of geography and too lazy to find out: Provence is in France

if you would like to do some armchair travelling in another kind of way go here: metroblogging lots of cities around the world, melbourne included.

Eldredge, John and Stasi - Captivating

2005-07-03T21:25:00.000+10:00

Exceptionallly good. Draw dropping stuff eaisly by p18 (and only because I didn't take note earlier.)
Pretty much the female version of: Wild at Heart by John Eldredge, but I've read that, this was better (mind you it's more aimed at me)

Learnt lots, made me think.

Still kept my eyes open and found one bit I didn't quite agree with. This bit from a review touched on it, "you are meant to fill a place in the heart of God no one and nothing else can fill. He longs for you" (page 120). This almost seems to indicate that God needs us to make His joy and satisfaction complete." so a tad annoyed about that as it could be misinterpreted, or was infact written without much thought.

3 things: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a grand adventure, and to unveil beauty (dont jump to wacked conclusions here, it goes into a lot more detail)

I was unimpressed by a few of the reviews I read, seems they completely missed the point. Other's raved about it, everything from 1 star to 5.

Will make the tentative assumption that depending on where you are/who you are this book would give vastly different impressions.

Lots of good stuff in this book. Rate it highly because of what I got out of it.

4/5

look it up in Amazon yourself, why bother with linking? Amazon link to your right >

* An excellent review here: Who's Captivating Whom. It explains some of what didn't 'feel quite right'. I still think it's worth a read, but as with most things, reading with your eyes open to what's beyond what you're immediately hearing is definitely the way to go.

Townsend, Cloud - Boundaries

2005-06-30T20:35:00.000+10:00

the amazon link

It's taken me a long time to get through, I have this feeling I've read bits of it before. Found it extremely applicable, although the kind of book you probably need to go back and reread at various stages of your life. I also found exceptionally helpful (a while back) - Hiding from Love (by Townsend).

Boundries. Big thing in my life in round about kind of ways. Worth the read.
3.5/5 (just because I can't keep giving 4's and because it's not all applicable directly to me. Depends on the reader). Very Good.

Adams, Douglas - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (a trilogy in four parts)

2005-06-24T00:21:00.000+10:00

Yeah I know you know what it's about

Ok so not first time for reading this, I've read the first book before not the three following.
Highly enjoyed. Took several train trips as I limited myself to reading it only on the train. Finally done. A laughing matter :P

4/5... oh its beginning to be so predictable, but there are fours and fours. They differ. This four is for enjoyment, the ability to make me laugh, and whacked out mind boggling notions.

So long and thanks for all the fish.

Camus, Albert - The Outsider

2005-06-22T21:55:00.000+10:00

The Outsider

4/5

existentialist novel. strange strange, if you have read this I want to discuss it with you.

definition of existentialist:
A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's acts.

Binchy, Maeve - Scarlet Feather

2005-06-22T18:45:00.000+10:00

Scarlet Feather

4/5

previously read Quentins (some same characters)

All Read

2005-06-22T18:30:00.000+10:00

Not entirely sure of the purpose of this blog. Will become clear in time. As yet to simply keep track of what I've read, maybe give a bit more info on the books. To begin anyhow, as there is an endless supply of quality stuff out there as well as a lot of crap. I generally hope I read decent books. Should there be a discrepancy of any kind I will say so.

Will do my best to find pictures of the covers I've read the books under, as it is easier for me to remember them that way.

For the moment.
just a record of what I've read.