The Lorax, Dr. Seuss:
An inspiration to much of my art in addition to being one of the most incredible books ever written.
The Red Pony, John Steinbeck:
This book made me realize that it is indeed possible to despise an inanimate object.
Magic Time, Doug Marlette:
This book is too incredible for words. The day I read it, I skipped dinner because I couldn't put it down. It is also the last book I've read that has made me cry.
Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card:
After reading this book, I knew for certain that I wanted to become a writer. Though I find many of Card's personal ideologies (regarding race, etc) to be shocking and offensive, his writing has truly inspired me and my work.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Anthology), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:
I read this book start to finish at the beginning of every summer between 4th and 7th grade. To me, summer break meant getting to sit down with that book (which at the time seemed huge) to experience the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes.
The Never-ending Story, Ralph Manheim (translated from Michael Ende's German):
My reading this is one of the most vivid memories I have of my childhood. Even more vividly than reading it, however, I remember being extremely upset finding out it had been turned into a movie--which I believe had destroyed its magic.
Harry Potter and the etc., etc. J.K. Rowling:
Like almost every kid in my generation, I grew up with this book and it grew up with me. I don't particularly admire J.K. Rowling's writing style, per se, but I've always found her ability to create such a compelling world remarkable and the story of her success inspiring.
Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett:
This book deserves to be on everyone's list. I'm pretty sure I've read it at least thirty times.
Good Omens, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett:
[see previous description]
Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder:
A truly original novel.
The Science of God, Gerald L. Schroeder:
An intriguing read about religion's compatibility with science.
Astonish Yourself! 101 Experiments in the Philosophy of Everyday Life, Roger-Pol Droit:
This is a book that contains a series of "experiments" that help you think differently and experience more things. Not a novel or a series of essays in any sense of the words, but a most interesting read regardless.
To Kill a Mockingbird:
I'm pretty sure this one is self-explanatory.
Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli:
This book is at the reading level of anyone, but has a message for everyone. I wish I could base my life off of of Stargirl (the character, that is).
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Faith, Truth, and Sloths
Any book that features sloths, as rated by my personal laws of literary evaluation, is--formally speaking--wickedly awesome. Therefore, Life of Pi seemed to be an incredibly promising read, its beginning pages almost entirely dedicated to various kinds of sloths. Continued reading, however, brought me disappointment; the author, Yann Martel, quickly deviates from his sloth-themed--but not slothful--writing to discuss more trivial subjects: the foundations of religion, the dark enigmas of the human mind, the fundamentals of animal psychology, morality in the face of death, death's eternal struggle to cling to life, and the ultimate truths of the universe. But, c'est la vie.
After coming to accept the lack of sloths in the later chapters of Life of Pi, I began to think more about the major tonal shifts in the writing. Not only does the actual narrator and narrative voice change repeatedly throughout the novel, the spirit of the book dramatically shifts from a thoughtful study of cultural belief systems to a gruesomely illustrated commentary on the base nature of all earthly creatures. I don't think I've ever read anything else which so seemlessly links something as innocent as a boy's peaceful introduction into a church, a mosque, and a temple with something as vulgar as the graphic decapitation of an incredibly adorable, slightly anthropomorphized orangu-tan mom, heartsick from the loss of her children. This book requires so much from the reader in terms of both open-mindedness and the ability to stomach what I thought to be fairly traumatizing moments; however, it rewards readers with such wit and language that even dead primates couldn't make me discontinue my reading--at least not permanently. Indeed, I was grateful when Martel granted a break from intellectual strain and esophageal and gastrointestinal discomfort through his periodic wordplay ("The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Father's back") and humorous situational commentary ("If you went to a home, kicked down the front door, chased the people who lived there out into the street and said, 'Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!'--do you think they would shout and dance for joy? They wouldn't. Birds are not free. The people you've just evicted would sputter . . 'We're calling the police, you scoundrel"). In addition to finding that image ridiculously hilarious (yes, I actually laughed out loud), that entire section discussing the concept of animal freedom and captivity was intriguing. It brought to my attention an extremely relevant viewpoint that I don't think I ever would have considered if not prompted by this read. The religious discussions were similarly captivating. It was refreshing to view religions through Pi's open mind. I grew up with a very narrow religious upbringing, being repeatedly told the story of Christ and learning about the psalms and proverbs of the Christian Bible. These stories have been relayed to me so many times, so often, starting from such a young age, I cannot remember my initial reactions to them or to the Christian faith as a whole. I had not cultivated the required abilities of discernment necessary to judge any faiths or their doctrines; by the time I had such an ability, I had been so immersed in the Christian faith that it never occurred to me to question it or analyze it from the outside. Pi, however, is far more discerning than I. Though he has very clear preconceptions and prejudices against both Christianity and Islam, he has a childlike purity that allows him to dismiss his preconceived ideas when confronted with the reality of the faiths. He also has the drive and curiosity to question what he thinks he knows. Hearing Pi's complaints about the Christian faith was thought-provoking, to say the least. More than the overarching themes--morality, love, cruelty, human nature; more than the compelling story Martel weaves; more even than the admirable eloquence with which he weaves it, the simple novelty of Pi's views hooked me into Life of Pi. (662)
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into A Bar, Thomas Cathcart
Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder
(re-read) Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
(re-read) Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (I thoroughly intend to geek out at the Discworld Convention he is attending in Tempe!)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
How To Be Pope, Piers Marchant
Dialogue, Gloria Kempton
Flight, Various Authors (And Artists!)
A Little Bit Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth (Yeah, this shouldn't even count...)
How To Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris
Dave Barry is from Mars AND Venus, Dave Barry
Currently reading: The Historian, Encyclopedia of Useless Information Vol II, Lies My Teacher Told Me
Currently writing: What Color Is God?
After coming to accept the lack of sloths in the later chapters of Life of Pi, I began to think more about the major tonal shifts in the writing. Not only does the actual narrator and narrative voice change repeatedly throughout the novel, the spirit of the book dramatically shifts from a thoughtful study of cultural belief systems to a gruesomely illustrated commentary on the base nature of all earthly creatures. I don't think I've ever read anything else which so seemlessly links something as innocent as a boy's peaceful introduction into a church, a mosque, and a temple with something as vulgar as the graphic decapitation of an incredibly adorable, slightly anthropomorphized orangu-tan mom, heartsick from the loss of her children. This book requires so much from the reader in terms of both open-mindedness and the ability to stomach what I thought to be fairly traumatizing moments; however, it rewards readers with such wit and language that even dead primates couldn't make me discontinue my reading--at least not permanently. Indeed, I was grateful when Martel granted a break from intellectual strain and esophageal and gastrointestinal discomfort through his periodic wordplay ("The camel at the zoo was unfazed, but that straw broke Father's back") and humorous situational commentary ("If you went to a home, kicked down the front door, chased the people who lived there out into the street and said, 'Go! You are free! Free as a bird! Go! Go!'--do you think they would shout and dance for joy? They wouldn't. Birds are not free. The people you've just evicted would sputter . . 'We're calling the police, you scoundrel"). In addition to finding that image ridiculously hilarious (yes, I actually laughed out loud), that entire section discussing the concept of animal freedom and captivity was intriguing. It brought to my attention an extremely relevant viewpoint that I don't think I ever would have considered if not prompted by this read. The religious discussions were similarly captivating. It was refreshing to view religions through Pi's open mind. I grew up with a very narrow religious upbringing, being repeatedly told the story of Christ and learning about the psalms and proverbs of the Christian Bible. These stories have been relayed to me so many times, so often, starting from such a young age, I cannot remember my initial reactions to them or to the Christian faith as a whole. I had not cultivated the required abilities of discernment necessary to judge any faiths or their doctrines; by the time I had such an ability, I had been so immersed in the Christian faith that it never occurred to me to question it or analyze it from the outside. Pi, however, is far more discerning than I. Though he has very clear preconceptions and prejudices against both Christianity and Islam, he has a childlike purity that allows him to dismiss his preconceived ideas when confronted with the reality of the faiths. He also has the drive and curiosity to question what he thinks he knows. Hearing Pi's complaints about the Christian faith was thought-provoking, to say the least. More than the overarching themes--morality, love, cruelty, human nature; more than the compelling story Martel weaves; more even than the admirable eloquence with which he weaves it, the simple novelty of Pi's views hooked me into Life of Pi. (662)
Plato and a Platypus Walk Into A Bar, Thomas Cathcart
Sophie's World, Jostein Gaarder
(re-read) Good Omens, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
(re-read) Thief of Time, Terry Pratchett (I thoroughly intend to geek out at the Discworld Convention he is attending in Tempe!)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
How To Be Pope, Piers Marchant
Dialogue, Gloria Kempton
Flight, Various Authors (And Artists!)
A Little Bit Wicked, Kristin Chenoweth (Yeah, this shouldn't even count...)
How To Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again, David Foster Wallace
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, David Sedaris
Dave Barry is from Mars AND Venus, Dave Barry
Currently reading: The Historian, Encyclopedia of Useless Information Vol II, Lies My Teacher Told Me
Currently writing: What Color Is God?
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