Banged out the rest of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday. I don't know if it's really awesome or really pathetic that I've cleared two volumes of Harry Potter in two weeks. :D Prisoner of Azkaban was always one of my favorites from the series though... so that helps.
It's a funny thing, re-reading this series. On the second go, knowing what happens in the future books, it's so much easier to pick up on all the little subtle references and foreshadowing Rowling drops into the story. I'm convinced that she never includes a detail that won't serve some kind of purpose eventually... which is why I admire her writing.
But, taking a break before starting up Goblet of Fire... I borrowed Ender's Game from a friend and want to get through that. I've always wanted to read it, so I'm looking forward to getting a little sf fix before moving on.
I got a few books in the mail last week... the missing books from my Relevant order. (It was kind of like Christmas at my cubicle.)
And I was a bad girl in Borders this weekend... I splurged and bought more books, justifying it with "but they were 3 for 2!" and "I needed to get my sis a birthday present anyway!" I keep telling myself that being a bibliophile is a good problem to have, while meanwhile noticing the ever-growing "To Read Next" pile (a literal stack in my room. I should take a picture of it.) I meant to work on organizing and cataloging my library on my 3-day weekend, but... never... quite... got around to it... heh.
Finally... as the 6th month becomes ever closer, I've established the mini-goal of 25 books by Halfway Day (July 2). That should make me feel at least a little on pace. Currently at:
* 18 books
* 1 abandoned indefinitely (Eldest)
* 3 in progress (Salvation, Imitation of Christ, and Ender's Game)
* 14 completed
At the moment... I don't want to think about how many pages that means for the month of June... :)
Right. Off to squeeze in some reading before sleep.
5.28.2007
5.19.2007
Marathon Reading
Two chapters to go, and I can scratch The Chamber of Secrets from my list. *victory fist*
My first day of true, good, really absorbed reading in a while... it's a good thing. Nerdy, but good. :)
My first day of true, good, really absorbed reading in a while... it's a good thing. Nerdy, but good. :)
5.14.2007
Never learn... * Christ the Lord review
Some people never learn. I am one of them. I'm about to make that great mistake again...
I'm starting two books at the same time. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and The Imitation of Christ. How's that for balance? :)
At least Imitation is short (under 100 pages). But, like Augustine a month or so ago, I don't expect this one to be a quick and easy read.
And Potter... well... I've been there before. So not too bad. I figured if I'm going to re-read the series in order, I need to get going.
***
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt was a wonderful book... even better than I expected. True, accept it as fiction, as one woman's interpretation and imagining of what Jesus' childhood *might* have been like, and it's a fascinating read. I loved how she made Jesus character so believable... I found it easy to accept that he was God in the form of a very real and human boy. I loved her characterization of Mary -- young and innocent, yet strong and wise. I loved how she brought out the ugliness and beauty of the world Jesus had come to live in and ultimately rescue; it was a world in need of rescuing... perhaps even worth rescuing.
And I appreciated Anne Rice's tight style and reverent approach. I could tell that she honored and cared about the subject, with a careful eye to detail and making the ancient world come alive. The Author's Note at the end was especially fascinating... she sort of reminded me of reading Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis in her description of coming from a religious background to years of atheism to finally a very real and rational faith. Her commentary on the research that went into creating this book is a bit long for an "author's note," but very much worth the read.
So all in all, I enjoyed it a lot... I'll probably buy this one eventually for my personal library, and I am waiting for more! I love her style and approach and hope she will put out some more books on a similar line... because I'd rather not go back to her earlier career and read Interview with a Vampire or stuff like that. :)
Okay. In the time spent writing that review, I probably could have cleared a chapter or two of Chamber of Secrets. Shoot.
I'm starting two books at the same time. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and The Imitation of Christ. How's that for balance? :)
At least Imitation is short (under 100 pages). But, like Augustine a month or so ago, I don't expect this one to be a quick and easy read.
And Potter... well... I've been there before. So not too bad. I figured if I'm going to re-read the series in order, I need to get going.
***
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt was a wonderful book... even better than I expected. True, accept it as fiction, as one woman's interpretation and imagining of what Jesus' childhood *might* have been like, and it's a fascinating read. I loved how she made Jesus character so believable... I found it easy to accept that he was God in the form of a very real and human boy. I loved her characterization of Mary -- young and innocent, yet strong and wise. I loved how she brought out the ugliness and beauty of the world Jesus had come to live in and ultimately rescue; it was a world in need of rescuing... perhaps even worth rescuing.And I appreciated Anne Rice's tight style and reverent approach. I could tell that she honored and cared about the subject, with a careful eye to detail and making the ancient world come alive. The Author's Note at the end was especially fascinating... she sort of reminded me of reading Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis in her description of coming from a religious background to years of atheism to finally a very real and rational faith. Her commentary on the research that went into creating this book is a bit long for an "author's note," but very much worth the read.
So all in all, I enjoyed it a lot... I'll probably buy this one eventually for my personal library, and I am waiting for more! I love her style and approach and hope she will put out some more books on a similar line... because I'd rather not go back to her earlier career and read Interview with a Vampire or stuff like that. :)
Okay. In the time spent writing that review, I probably could have cleared a chapter or two of Chamber of Secrets. Shoot.
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