Lewis, C. S.: 2001. The Screwtape Letters. HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY.
This was a quick read; I read it in a day. Very provocative. I can see why C.S. Lewis is named one of the greatest Christian writers of his time. I totally recommend it.
The book isn't really plot driven, but mostly discusses every day sinning in the form of letters from one demon to another. I really liked it a lot.
November 15, 2008
November 11, 2008
Reading for Leisure #9: Toews
TOEWS, Mariam: 2004. A Complicated Kindness. Random House, Toronto.
This book, through and through, was very very good. However, I must warn that it is also clinical and depressing. In reading that last three chapters I cried the whole way through.
In a nut shell, this book is about how their (Mennonite) society tears an otherwise pretty okay family apart. The story does end with a hint of hope but only in a dream of one day reuniting, which is only possible if the other family members did not commit suicide.
Yeah, pretty depressing. Really pretty depressing. BUT oh, so good. I think it's one of the best books I've read out of the 9 so far since my graduation.
This is a depressing story but is quite funny the whole way through. I'd read it again for the funny bits.
This is totally my kind of book, sarcastic and satirical.
I also found it particularly sad because I was also raised by my father and my mother left the family, and I had a friend that committed suicide (the character in this book does not).
I really don't know how I can elaborate further all I want to say is that it was good! My God. And I like how even though the Religion failed them, the father and the daughter still had faith. I also like that the family, even though they were gruesomely torn apart, they all still love each other, or at least that's what one wants to believe.
This book, through and through, was very very good. However, I must warn that it is also clinical and depressing. In reading that last three chapters I cried the whole way through.
In a nut shell, this book is about how their (Mennonite) society tears an otherwise pretty okay family apart. The story does end with a hint of hope but only in a dream of one day reuniting, which is only possible if the other family members did not commit suicide.
Yeah, pretty depressing. Really pretty depressing. BUT oh, so good. I think it's one of the best books I've read out of the 9 so far since my graduation.
This is a depressing story but is quite funny the whole way through. I'd read it again for the funny bits.
This is totally my kind of book, sarcastic and satirical.
I also found it particularly sad because I was also raised by my father and my mother left the family, and I had a friend that committed suicide (the character in this book does not).
I really don't know how I can elaborate further all I want to say is that it was good! My God. And I like how even though the Religion failed them, the father and the daughter still had faith. I also like that the family, even though they were gruesomely torn apart, they all still love each other, or at least that's what one wants to believe.
Everyone Hates War
Everyone Hates War
Those are the words of the Rabbi who spoke at the War Memorial in Ottawa today in 90th year of WW1 remembrance. It was a very elaborate ceremony and quite touching. I really enjoyed it. It made me think about a segment on CBC a long time ago that was talking about games. They spoke about how wars were not always faught with guns. There were some leaders that actually faught wars by playing a game of chess with their enemies. What a world I dream where soldiers are trained for combat by learning chess strategies and not physical drill designed at making them run from bombs.
When the Rabbi said those words, I thought, yes, I may not be for the war in Afghanistan but I am for the lives and the good spirit of the people who are there. I decided I wanted to send a letter to a soldier, as I don't know any one fighting there right now personally.
If you are in the USA you might tryAnySoldier.com.
In Canada, DND has a similar programme calledHelp Any Canadian Forces Member.
There is also amsg board.
Those are the words of the Rabbi who spoke at the War Memorial in Ottawa today in 90th year of WW1 remembrance. It was a very elaborate ceremony and quite touching. I really enjoyed it. It made me think about a segment on CBC a long time ago that was talking about games. They spoke about how wars were not always faught with guns. There were some leaders that actually faught wars by playing a game of chess with their enemies. What a world I dream where soldiers are trained for combat by learning chess strategies and not physical drill designed at making them run from bombs.
When the Rabbi said those words, I thought, yes, I may not be for the war in Afghanistan but I am for the lives and the good spirit of the people who are there. I decided I wanted to send a letter to a soldier, as I don't know any one fighting there right now personally.
If you are in the USA you might try
In Canada, DND has a similar programme called
There is also a
November 07, 2008
Reading for Leisure #8: Niffenegger
Niffenegger, Audrey (2005): The Time Traveler's Wife. Vintage Random House, London.
This book was pretty good, and I would recommend it. It certainly kept me reading for the 500 some pages. Although the title sounds like science fiction, it is not. It's a romance story about timeless love.
The dealyo with the story is that Henry has a genetic disease which, when he is stressed, sends him hurtling through time completely naked, mostly into the past. He meets his wife for her first time when she is six. Her love so grand she waits until she is 20 something until he meets her for the fist time.
The story keeps you reading to get explanations for all the oddities, but I didn't appreciate the authors sense of humour and I was certainly disappointed with the ending. It is a bittersweet ending, and I am able to appreciate those, but I think this one was poorly done. I was not sufficiently sorry for Clare, nor did I find Henry a character I think worthy of waiting for, for me to appreciate the ending as it was.
All in all though, it is suspense filled and intriguing, and an interesting take on love and life.
This book was pretty good, and I would recommend it. It certainly kept me reading for the 500 some pages. Although the title sounds like science fiction, it is not. It's a romance story about timeless love.
The dealyo with the story is that Henry has a genetic disease which, when he is stressed, sends him hurtling through time completely naked, mostly into the past. He meets his wife for her first time when she is six. Her love so grand she waits until she is 20 something until he meets her for the fist time.
The story keeps you reading to get explanations for all the oddities, but I didn't appreciate the authors sense of humour and I was certainly disappointed with the ending. It is a bittersweet ending, and I am able to appreciate those, but I think this one was poorly done. I was not sufficiently sorry for Clare, nor did I find Henry a character I think worthy of waiting for, for me to appreciate the ending as it was.
All in all though, it is suspense filled and intriguing, and an interesting take on love and life.
November 05, 2008
Obama
I wont say anything deep about American Politics, but I'll say I'm happy and hopeful for a future with Barak Obama leading the USA.
Spamalot
So, I won these tickets to see Spamalot by Monty Python and it was SOOOOO good. Like super entertaining.
It had just the right amount of old jokes you know and new jokes to hear, and the interaction with the Broadway medium was spectacular. As my bf put it, they had a larger budget for this than the Holy Grail movie, lol.
In the end they find the holy grail under a person in the audience and bring him on stage to present him with an award and take a pic with the whole cast.
Every audience member was smiling from ear to ear! I totally recommend it. It's at the NAC until the 9th.
http://www.nac.ca/en/whatson/results.cfm?EventID=5518
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