A Sea Of Red

Since this is the time of year many of us catch up on our reading while hanging out by a pool or beach, I am curious to see what has people turning pages this summer.

I realize some of my choices are not exactly hot off the presses, but these are the two I am finishing up right now ...



Now it is your turn to share.

These are what I have been reading, just finished the Phil Jackson book and it was really good.

I'm too lazy to post pictures, but here's a partial list: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/wke ... ummer%2B08

I've got several ARCs coming, so pretty soon I'll have more.

I have read Macel Falwell's book, plus a book called "Disciplines of a Godly Man" and "The Four Pillars of a Man's Heart", "Culture Warrior" by Bill O'Reilly, "He-Motions" by Bishop TD Jakes, and I am borrowing "Saint" by Ted Dekker from a friend of mine

1. Notes On Democracy (H.L. Mencken)

2. The Fairtax Book: Answering the Critics (Neal Boortz and John Linder)

3. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)

All very good books

Jumbo Crosswords Made Easy

very useful when taking my morning and evening constitutionals.

1. Hearing God by Dallas Willard
2. My Grandfather's Son by Clarence Thomas
3. Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels

Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien
The Relational word - Josh McDowell
just starting - Jerry Falwell - his life and legacy - Macel Falwell

Rooster Cogburn wrote:Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien

great book....i think it would make a phenominal movie...

Now:

Good to Great
Art of War


Next:

Greatest Salesman in the World

RubberMallet wrote:

Rooster Cogburn wrote:Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien

great book....i think it would make a phenominal movie...

haven't read this one, but read The Silmarillion back in 2003 when I had to give plasma twice a week to survive. So much information, but helps you understand so many of his other books.

And I suck at reading, but right now I'm on His Excellency: George Washington, by Joseph Ellis. I've read his masterpiece, Founding Brothers, and loved it, so hopefully this will turn out to be just as good.

ALUmnus wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:

Rooster Cogburn wrote:Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien

great book....i think it would make a phenominal movie...

haven't read this one, but read The Silmarillion back in 2003 when I had to give plasma twice a week to survive. So much information, but helps you understand so many of his other books.

And I suck at reading, but right now I'm on His Excellency: George Washington, by Joseph Ellis. I've read his masterpiece, Founding Brothers, and loved it, so hopefully this will turn out to be just as good.

the story is in the silmarillion. its the chapter "Túrin Turambar" but the book goes into it more...

Truth Decay: Defending Christianity against the challenges of Post-Modernism - Douglas R. Groothuis

Just started this one. He has a Phd in philosophy from the U of Oregon and teaches at Denver Seminary. I had read other attempts by Christian writers trying to tackle this topic and they mishandled it. I would say they may have in fact reinforced some of the post-modern critiques out there. This guy seems to know what he is doing. I'm only a quarter of the way through, so I'll see. So far I am impressed and glad my wife found it for me.

RubberMallet wrote:

Rooster Cogburn wrote:Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien

great book....i think it would make a phenominal movie...

I agree wholeheartedly. Didn't like some of the resolution, but it was good. This is a much easier read than the Silmarillion.

Rooster Cogburn wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:

Rooster Cogburn wrote:Children of Hurin - JRR Tolkien

great book....i think it would make a phenominal movie...

I agree wholeheartedly. Didn't like some of the resolution, but it was good. This is a much easier read than the Silmarillion.

its one of the most sad and depressing things i've read...like nothing good happens throughout the entire story...

With Tolkien you expect dark, but I didn't expect that dark. Wow that was not nice.

Congratulations to those of you who can read Tokien and stay awake. I got tired of him spending 48 pages to describe the exact curvature of a hill.

RagingTireFire wrote:Congratulations to those of you who can read Tokien and stay awake. I got tired of him spending 48 pages to describe the exact curvature of a hill.

+1

And count me among those who prefer fiction that pushes me away from depressive thoughts.

I am liking the diversity of tastes amongst our board members.

Oh, no. Depressive thoughts, good. Sweet mincing sugary (ie., Christian) literature, bad.

I go down Joseph Conrad Avenue, hang a left on Ambrose Bierce Boulevard and pull up in front of the Shirley Jackson Building on Kurt Vonnegut Street.

Dude, you think anything that might possibly have even the slightest hint/influence/taint of Christianity is a bad thing. Tolkien did not write "Christian" literature. He was about making fictional history influenced by his study of mythology. Of course there are Christian themes in the stories, but he stressed that he was not about allegories. And if you're writing history, it's not going to be about rainbows and butterflies, it's about life, and written by someone living through the World Wars.

ALUmnus wrote:Dude, you think anything that might possibly have even the slightest hint/influence/taint of Christianity is a bad thing. Tolkien did not write "Christian" literature. He was about making fictional history influenced by his study of mythology. Of course there are Christian themes in the stories, but he stressed that he was not about allegories. And if you're writing history, it's not going to be about rainbows and butterflies, it's about life, and written by someone living through the World Wars.

A man who understands speaks. Thanks. I love Tolkien and am proud to admit it.

Also reading:

Teach Me to Pray, by Andrew Murray. Incredible book.
The Brothers Karamazov, by Dostoevsky. Started this a while ago, but had to take a break, just too busy to follow it like I want to. I loved Notes from Underground, and have a couple more of his to read, but I'm so slow who knows if I'll ever get to them. My bookshelf is full of dozens of books that I have yet to get to. I suck at reading, and audio books are too expensive.

But, I have to admit, my most consistent and enjoyable reading comes in the format of Popular Mechanics and Mens Health.

ALUmnus wrote:Dude, you think anything that might possibly have even the slightest hint/influence/taint of Christianity is a bad thing. Tolkien did not write "Christian" literature. He was about making fictional history influenced by his study of mythology. Of course there are Christian themes in the stories, but he stressed that he was not about allegories. And if you're writing history, it's not going to be about rainbows and butterflies, it's about life, and written by someone living through the World Wars.

Wow, did you read the wrong thing into what I said. First of all, I don't know how you could read "Tolkien" when I used the words "sweet" and "mincing". When I was talking about 'Christian' literature, I was referencing Sly's comment and the sappy "uplifting" crap that abounds on the shelves of your standard Lifeway and Zondervan store. I wasn't even remotely talking about Tolkien at that point. My problem with "Christian" stuff is this: too often, quality is sacrificed for marketability; too often, complexity of character and story is sacrificed for simplicity of message; too often, Christians gladly accept and fawn over what wouldn't have a prayer of being published or produced in the secular world simply because "it might help lead some poor soul to Christ". If you really need an example of what I'm talking about, look up anything with the words Left Behind attached to it. (aside -- yes, I am well aware of what that particular series has paid for at our beloved alma mater, what's your point?). I'm sick of that crap. As for Tolkien, I freely admit it, I don't like his books. It has nothing do with anything that may or may not be allegorically Christian, but rather because I find them too tedious to read. I do, however, like his movies.

And I think you may have misinterpreted my remarks. I was simply stating that when it comes to fiction, I tend to prefer escapism. I prefer literaure that doesn't make me feel worse than before I started. Take a look at the book I started the thread with here. While it is available at Zondervan and Lifeway, I hardly would call it "sappy uplifting crap".

Suffice it to say that a variety of tastes abound on the board.