MEN'S STUDIES
A Quiet Strength: Meditations on the Masculine Soul by Wayne Kritsberg, John Lee, and Shephard Bliss
Written by three veterans of the men's movement, this wonderful book contains daily readings and meditations on a variety of issues, including recovery, personal growth, relationships and environmental concerns. A brief quotation from the masters of world literature, philosophy or religion is followed by nicely written commentaries and inspirational messages. Written at the time when men's mythopoetic movement was at its highest, it's still a great resource.
FICTION
The Reconstructionist by Josephine Hart
Beautifully written tale of coping with one's dysfunctional family and personal history, real and fabricated - and why we all fall prey to coming up with personal history narrative(s) in the first place. Simple language, great style. Two thumbs up!
RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY
The Eternal Promise by Thomas Kelly
Better known for his Quaker classic "A Testament of Devotion", Thomas Kelly's essays in this small but powerful volume include such gems as "Christians and Decided Christians", "Hasten unto God" and "The Gathered Meeting." Appealing to Quakers and non-Quakers alike, his essays are a great introduction to the rich world of Friends' spirituality.
FICTION
The Remorseful Day by Colin Dexter
I enjoyed reading this final Inspector Morse novel. However, I found the author's language and style a bit tedious and patronizing at times (only Dexter could come up with expressions such as vespertinal divertissments or transmensal exchanges). Also, the characters seem somewhat underdeveloped. Page turner it is, but that's just about all it is.
FICTION
The Crow Road by Iain Banks
Absolutely brilliant, pleasure to read! Contemporary Scottish lit at its best. It's one of those books you'd wish to just go on and on, without ever coming to an end. It was only recently that I read somewhere that the BBC Scotland turned it into a mini series back in the mid-90s to much acclaim. Would be worth watching.
FICTION
Fear and Trembling by Amelie Nothomb
Having never read any of Ms Nothomb's books before, I bought this book at a Christmas sale in one of the local bookstores led by nothing more than a positive review from O: The Oprah Magazine at the back cover. It turned out to be one the best books I've read in '07. It's been a while since a book made me laugh quite so hard. Funny and nightmarish at almost the same time, this slender volume describes working atmosphere in a Japanese corporation and a Westerner's coping with modern yet ancient Japanese social mores. Thanks for the tip, Oprah!
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ReplyDeleteI read "My Stroke of Insight" in one sitting - I couldn't put it down. I laughed. I cried. It was a fantastic book (I heard it's a NYTimes Bestseller and I can see why!), but I also think it will be the start of a new, transformative Movement! No one wants to have a stroke as Jill Bolte Taylor did, but her experience can teach us all how to live better lives. Her TED.com speech was one of the most incredibly moving, stimulating, wonderful videos I've ever seen. Her Oprah Soul Series interviews were fascinating. They should make a movie of her life so everyone sees it. This is the Real Deal and gives me hope for humanity.
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