Recent Reads

Ted Dekker is one of the few Christian fictions writers I'll still give a read. Saint is an intriguing read and rivals the pace of Dan Brown or Robert Ludlum. In fact, fans of the Bourne series will find much to enjoy here as I did. Plus, it's quick reading.

Alas, this was a bittersweet read for me. Ever since my dear friend Celena turned me on to reading about Harry and his pals at Hogwarts, I've made short work of the books, devouring my secondhand copies like they were peanut butter sandwiches. I splurged for this latest and last release, largely because I didn't want to have the ending spoiled for me. I wasn't disappointed. Rowling saves some of the best for last and continues the magic. The only bad part is that this is the end.

I finally got back into the groove and started reading something a little more heady than my previous selections. An Emergent Manifesto of Hope is a solid collection of essays from a number of practitioners and thinkers from the collective fellowship and conversation that is Emergent Village. Ultimately a challenging and thought-provoking read, this book not only highlights the unifying points of Emergent, but also it's vast diversity. While there are a few chapters that make for slow reading, the majority of the text is well worth your time.

Recent Reading

I've continued to live with a desire for fiction as of late, despite a small stack of non-fiction "to-reads" piling up next to my bed. I think it's got a lot to do with our pace of life and stress level as of late but, either way, I've run into some good stuff to read.

Coyote Blue was probably my least favorite of Christopher Moore's works but it was still an entertaining read. Again Moore brings the surreal into the everyday and makes us think, laugh, and shake our heads.

I read Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas some time ago and remembered it being quite an interesting read. So, when I happened upon this sequel at my local secondhand store, I picked it up. Koontz's key character, Odd, is intriguing and will worm his way into your heart. Give him a shot.

I started listening to Garrison Keillor's tales from Lake Wobegon a long time ago before I even realized how truly great they were. Keillor is a masterful storyteller with a sensitive finger on the pulse of midtown life and here he weaves tales of love, loss, and a touch of midlife crisis into a fun and heartwarming read.

This book made me sad. Not because of it's dark thematic elements (it deals with death, as in the big "D") but more so because this concludes the Christopher Moore books that I haven't read. Yet, as one of his latest, Moore continues to improve and excel, continuing to mine the town of San Francisco for material and integrating characters familiar in some of his other works. Strangely poignant and laugh out loud funny, this is good stuff.

More Recent Reads

This was a book that I'd waited a long time for and then it took a long time before I finally had the chance to read it but I thoroughly pleased that I did. While some of it was predictable, it was a fascinating look into just a few corners of the emerging church movement. Like a beautiful mosaic, the Church is becoming a fabulous work of art and its great to watch it unfold. Per usual, I found Dan Kimball to be the one with whom I had the most agreement, Mark Driscoll the least although I find his respect for Scripture to be a very positive thing, Doug Pagitt to be very challenging, and Karen Ward to be the one whose church I definately would like to visit one day. If you're a student of the Church and of emerging contexts, this should be on your to-read list.

Due to some friendships I've developed over the years as well as to increasing knowledge of both Scripture and the understanding of our world, I've become increasingly concerned with the need for creation care. Now, I'm not where I need to be, nor am I where I want to be in this respect but at least the conviction is setting in and I'm taking baby steps toward changing. Dr. Sleeth's book is a huge help toward doing that, particularly as it deals with those issues but frames them in a much larger and more appropriate window that calls us to more than recycling but to a new way of living that is in line with the Scriptures and teaching of Christ.

After some of that more serious reading, I needed a bit of a rest and my local Goodwill came through again with another hand-me-down by Mr. Moore. Again, Moore doesn't disappoint with this older title that details the misadventures of one Tucker Case who finds himself on an island with...Well, I don't want to give it away but just suffice it to say that Christopher Moore is one of the more interesting writers of our day. It's not necessarily family-friendly fare but if you give it a shot, I'm pretty sure you'll be happy you did.

The Reading Continues...

Here's what I've been reading as of late:

I'll admit that I totally didn't see where this Potter book was going at the beginning. Now I think I'm gonna have to go ahead and pre-buy the seventh so I can be assured of one on it's release date! I just can't get enough of Harry!

I became a Michael English fan way back in the day. He was at the height of CCM when I was in high school and was first coming to know of any sort of Christian music industry. It also didn't hurt that he also had a foot in the world of southern gospel, which was the genre I grew up listening to. A lot has changed in ten-plus years but I've never lost my appreciation for Mike and his music. His story is rough and rugged and only makes me like him that much more!

Christopher Moore is a writer that you just can't go wrong with. There are some of his works that are definately better than others but, like a good Snickers, they all will satisfy your craving. Especially for the macabre and bizarre. Good stuff.

Recent Reading and Viewing

For whatever reason, I've been in a very good place to devour fiction. As I've already mentioned, I've been pouring over the Harry Potter books and this time is no different. The fifth in the series was the best yet, drawing out more interesting characters and plot devices. I'll admit, in some ways, having the movies around only helps to enhance these books as people like Professor Snape seem fully realized in the person of Alan Rickman. Either way, it was an excellent read. I picked up #6 just the other day and am going to start any day now.

Chuck Palahniuk writes with such a wry cynicism and biting sense of humor. He continues to amaze me with his unique look at life and his first-person style of writing leaves little to be desired. Survivor is a great look at celebrity and life and proves to be a great read.

Stranger Than Fiction is one of the better movies that I've seen in a long time. Will Ferrell plays the straight man well in this one, making you genuinely care for him and Emma Thompson is wonderful. Maggie Gyllenhaal is also terrific as Ferrell's love interest and continues to earn some solid credibility with her acting choices. I really enjoyed this film for it's portrayal of the writing life, of showcasing the writer's almost visual imagination as they view a scene in what comes across as an entirely different vision than most. I also appreciated the struggle with the character and the author. It sounds a bit crazy but, when writing, those characters seem far more real than they really are at times. Either way, this is a keeper!

Some Recent Reading

Despite my slight bummed out spirit over not knowing which way to go with this life I've been given, and in between trying to jam out some writing here and there during the few, very few, quiet moments I have in life, I've been able to catch up on some reading lately. I think that the situations of life have lead me to wanting something of a fantasy adventure to lose myself in so my choices definately reflect that.

Christopher Moore is simply one of my favorite writers that I've come across and this one doesn't disappoint. It's a very unique look at vampires, relationships, and love. In only a way that Christopher Moore can!At the behest of my good friend Celena, I once again eschewed my fundamental, evangelical moorings and dove headfirst into the world of young Mr. Harry Potter. She suggested that I wouldn't be able to put them down and, well, I'm still reading and am now debating whether or not I might need to pre-order number seven!

Just a thought I had while overhearing some discussion while in the midst of reading through some of these books...The concepts of magic and wizardry and the like are among some of the dangers upheld against the Harry Potter series in much of the conservative Christian crowd. And while I agree that the Bible does teach against placing your trust in divination and dealing with certain things, I'm not so sure that this series is intended to really charm you into picking up a crystal ball, a broom, and a new wand from your local magic shop. Either way, I was just struck with the idea that some of our traditions and ideas might be seen just as unusual. Consider some sects of believers who greatly emphasize holy water or anointing oil. What of those who pray over rooms and windows and doors, seeking solace from the Enemy? I don't know. All I'm saying is that sometimes we need to stop and consider what we're doing.