Reviews

Mere Christianity Reread and Tumblr

Published on March 2, 2011 | 4 Responses

I enjoyed my reread of Mere Christianity probably more than I enjoyed my first (and second) read of it. C.S. Lewis is just a master at capturing his points with analogies. It was a difficult book for our book club, and we all wished we’d split the book into two meetings, or just read part of it.

I ended up reading it at a fairly speedy pace, since someone borrowed my book and I didn’t get it back until about three days before book club. (I didn’t finish all of it before the meeting.) This is not a good way to read Mere Christianity. While his analogies are well thought out, the concepts were quite challenging: he’s trying to capture the basic doctrines of Christianity as explained to a non-Christian. I do believe he succeeds, though I don’t think he’s going to convince anyone to become Christian who doesn’t want to be convinced.

There is so much depth in Mere Christianity, though, that I want to continue to revisit it, this time much slower. Maybe I’ll read a chapter a day and find a favorite quote from each chapter.

Beyond this book, though, I’ve wanted for a time to capture all those great inspiring quotes that classic literature has given me. So, since I have nothing better to do (*sarcasm*), I’ve started a tumblr where I’m going to post some of the inspiring quotes that I’ve come across in books I’m reading. I like how tumblr allows one to queue a number of posts in advance, so that’s why I am gong to use that for now. I don’t intend for tumblr to be a place for comments and discussions, but if one likes a quote he or she can always reblog it at tumblr or tweet it.

I put about two weeks up right now in the queue, from quotes in the books I’ve mentioned on Rebecca Reads in the past. Not all are specifically Christian or faith-based, but I think the quotes I include come from some of the “best books” and give inspiration to the reader in some way. Books in the queue: To Kill a Mockingbird, Huckleberry Finn, So Long a Letter, and so forth.

I also have all my rebeccareid.com feeds leading into a tumblr. That’s mostly for my use, and I don’t know who might care to follow that as well. It has Rebecca Reads, The Classics Circuit, my seldom used photography site, and my once a month posts from my cooking site. I also may expand my Friday Reads tweets on Friday in a tumblr post to give more detail on what I’m reading and planning for the coming weeks.

I realize I haven’t said much about my reread. I don’t really intend this to be a “review” of sorts. I simply want to say I’ve been inspired once again by Mere Christianity and look forward to rereading it, slowly and in depth, for more inspiration.

Raisin Reads: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Published on March 1, 2011 | 16 Responses

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a book and a movie (Gene Wilder) that I have found memories of when I was a child.

Charlie is about a child who has nothing and wins everything. He first gets the coveted golden ticket. He gets a lifetime supply of chocolate and a tour of the magical chocolate factory, led by the wacky Willy Wonka. We know from the beginning that Charlie Bucket is our hero and that the other children have severe character faults that make them undeserving of the chocolate. We cheer the downfall of the naughty children, hoping Charlie will make it to the end. (*spoiler: he does!*)

“Spoilers” throughout the rest of this post. (more…)

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Published on February 28, 2011 | 24 Responses

In her personal journal to God, young Celie tries to make sense of the incestuous rape she’s experiencing from her Pa. A few pages later, she tries to make sense of the unhappy marriage she’s thrust in to. For Celie, life entails hard work, submission, violence, and daily rapes from her (nameless) husband.

Does that sound shocking enough? It is. Alice Walker’s The Color Purple (published 1983) is exactly the kind of book I don’t read. Yet, I couldn’t put it down. Although the themes of the book are disturbing and violent, The Color Purple captures a woman’s discovery of hope, her discovery of her own sexuality, and her realization of herself as a woman. She realizes that she doesn’t have to submit, but rather, she can fight back. (more…)

Round About a Pound a Week by Maude Pember Reeves

Published on February 27, 2011 | 25 Responses

Reading Round about a Pound a Week gave me a new perspective on the inequality that comes from poverty. As the title indicates, the book is a description of a 1909-1913 study of 42 families in the Lambeth neighborhood in England that live on about a £1 a week.

It is no easy task getting a budget to stretch, and Maude Pember Reeves’ account of the study is a fascinating education on the industry, thrift, and dedication that the impoverished lower class workers, and especially the home-bound housewives, possess. (more…)

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell (reread)

Published on February 24, 2011 | 12 Responses

Cranford (published 1851) is a quiet book, focusing on traditions in a changing pre-Victorian society in a small rural community. Given it’s slow pace, when I first read Cranford (thoughts here), I really struggled. I felt stifled by the overbearing traditions of the community of Cranford, and I wondered where the plot was. Yet, by the end, I liked it, and I have eagerly anticipated a reread.

This time, I loved it from the beginning. Gaskell’s satiric perspective on a Victorian society of gossipy women seemed particularly applicable to modern life (to some extent). I was intrigued by her plot devices, subtle though they were, and while I still had a few issues with the novel, the reread and our book club discussion was a success. (Only one of the eight people at book club found the book boring from start to finish).

From here, this post may contain spoilers of Cranford. (more…)