Categories: uncategorized
Date: 07 January 2005 14:02:23
Well, in the absence of anything interesting happening in my life (ok, so regular readers will know that's never stopped me in the past) I thought I would give a posting with a literary theme today.
Over the last couple of weeks I have been reading (mainly on trains) a few books - so I thought I would give you a quick review of the series of three quite different books, which if you're in a bit of a heavy reflective mood, can give you interesting light(ish) reading, but with plenty of meat if you decide to go further than the authors may (may not) have intended and create an interesting thread about the nature of belief and actions which result or do not result from these beliefs.
Or if you are a normal person, who just reads a book because you want something to do you can just enjoy.
Book one: Through the Narrow Gate, A Nun's Story by Karen Armstrong
A highly readable true story in which Armstrong describes how she became a nun, the 7 years (including training) she was a nun and how she reached the decision to leave the convent and go back to the real world. It is a facinating insight into a world that most of us know nothing of and as the story develops and Armstrong faces the apparent contradictions between her education, faith and her life in the convent. The book gives a vivid insight into the clash between rationality and faith, but also contains some figures who show that the two can live together perfectly well and produce some amazing individuals of great courage and faith.
Book Two: Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland
A work of fiction, that has clear analogies to real life, (particularly the high school killings which are clearly representative, although slightly different to Columbine) and explores the nature of life, death, faith, family, success and failiure without making judgements or reaching answers. Rather it leads the reader to explore and question the assumptions they may hold, which may ultimately be reinforced or completely challenged. Or the non-poncey review of this one is: it is a good story which takes you through snapshots of life through the eyes of 4 connected characters.
Book Three: Join Me by Danny Wallace
How one man accidently started a "cult" or rather a "collective" by accident (it was a bloke thing) and ended up with a band of joinees who do random acts of kindness (particularly aimed at old men & on Fridays). This one is a classic comedy which makes you realise the good old english eccentric is not dead, rather he is young and actually has a heart of gold. What is interesting here is what the book describes as happening (not the bit where he naffs his girlfriend off) is actually what faith (and here I would argue any faith) in action should really be about but tends not to be.
Well there you go three books you may or may not wish to read. Didn't realise there would be a thread when I started, but there you go. If you do decide to read, enjoy - I did.