Book Review: Mere Christianity

Book Title: Mere Christianity
Author: C.S. Lewis
Publisher: Harper Collins Edition 2001
Book Type: Religion/Spirituality
Pages: 227
Date: 10/17/2012

Summary: (from back cover of book) Rejecting the boundaries that divide Christianity's many denominations, C.S. Lewis provides an unequaled opportunity for believers and nonbelievers alike to hear a powerful, rational case for the Christian faith. It is a collection of scintillating brilliance that remains strikingly fresh for the modern reader and at the same time confirms C.S. Lewis's reputation as one of the leading writers and thinkers of our age.

 Opinion: I'm just going to start off saying that I love C.S. Lewis and everything he has written. I was first introduced to him when I read "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." I loved that book and I grew up with an animated version of the film and it was one of my favorites. I didn't really know much else about C.S. Lewis until someone mentioned "Mere Christianity" to me. I read it and immediately went out and bought a bunch of C.S. Lewis books. I love his writing and I feel like he speaks right to my heart. "Mere Christianity" is my favorite of his books and I think it really describes and defends the Christian faith. C.S. Lewis describes how he came to know Christ and it reminds me of my own experience of truly coming to know the Savior of the world. I have used quotes from this book for different papers and speeches I've written. Honestly, if you want to understand Christianity, read this book. I have one quote from this book that I printed off years ago and have kept it inside my scriptures ever since. I have read it countless times. It's pretty long but so powerful! Here it is:

 "Christ says 'Give me All. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want the whole tree down. I don't want to drill the tooth, or crown it, or stop it, but to have it out. Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked - the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours...

The terrible things, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self - all your wishes and precautions - to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are all trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is to remain what we call 'ourselves,' to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and yet at the same time be 'good'. We are all trying to let our mind and heart go their own way - centered on money or pleasure or ambition - and hoping, in spite of this, to behave honestly and chastely and humbly. And this is exactly what Christ warned us we could not do. As He said,a thistle cannot produce figs. If I am a field that contains nothing but grass-seed, I cannot produce wheat. Cutting the grass may keep it short: but I shall still produce grass and no wheat. If I want to produce wheat, the change must go deeper than the surface. I must be ploughed and re-sown...

It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He never talked vague, idealistic gas. When He said, "Be perfect," He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment. It is hard; but the sort of compromise we are all hankering after is harder - in fact, it is impossible. It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."  -p. 196-199

Book Review: The Book Thief

Book Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; First edition (March 14, 2006)
Book Type:  Young Adult
Pages: 560
Date: 11/17/2010

Summary: (from back cover of book) It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier even still. By her brother’s graveside, Liesel Meminger’s life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Grave Digger’s Handbook, left there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordion-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, wherever there are books to be found.

Opinion: I came across this book when a friend of mine recommended it to me.  At first I struggled a little bit with the writing style, but once I got over that I seriously could not put the book down.  I love historical fiction, especially when its about the Holocaust.  It was such an ugly time in the history of the world, but there is so much for us to learn from it.  It is also important to recognize those who fought for good, even when it was so hard to do.  In this book you will find people like this.  It is told about Germans, living in Germany, that were against the war and the evil that was going on.  "Death" is the narrator of the book, which is very interesting.  The book is definitely unique and tells such a powerful story. I do not want to give away a lot of details about this one because I want you all to read it!  It's not one of those happily-ever-after-life-is-all-roses-and-rainbows kind of books.  You might want a box of tissues nearby while you are reading.  But it is beautifully written and an incredible story to be told.  I would recommend this one for book clubs and anyone else that enjoys reading.  I think it is very interesting that it is classified as a young adult book.  I wouldn't have anyone younger than high school age read it.

Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Book Title: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Book Type: Novel
Pages: 368
Date: April 1, 2005

Summary: Jonathan Safran Foer emerged as one of the most original writers of his generation with his best-selling debut novel, Everything Is Illuminated. Now, with humor, tenderness, and awe, he confronts the traumas of our recent history. What he discovers is solace in that most human quality, imagination.
Meet Oskar Schell, an inventor, Francophile, tambourine player, Shakespearean actor, jeweler, pacifist, correspondent with Stephen Hawking and Ringo Starr. He is nine years old. And he is on an urgent, secret search through the five boroughs of New York. His mission is to find the lock that fits a mysterious key belonging to his father, who died in the World Trade Center on 9/11.
An inspired innocent, Oskar is alternately endearing, exasperating, and hilarious as he careens from Central Park to Coney Island to Harlem on his search. Along the way he is always dreaming up inventions to keep those he loves safe from harm. What about a birdseed shirt to let you fly away? What if you could actually hear everyone's heartbeat? His goal is hopeful, but the past speaks a loud warning in stories of those who've lost loved ones before. As Oskar roams New York, he encounters a motley assortment of humanity who are all survivors in their own way. He befriends a 103-year-old war reporter, a tour guide who never leaves the Empire State Building, and lovers enraptured or scorned. Ultimately, Oskar ends his journey where it began, at his father's grave. But now he is accompanied by the silent stranger who has been renting the spare room of his grandmother's apartment. They are there to dig up his father's empty coffin.

Opinion: I must say that when my friend gave me this book to read I had never heard of it and had no idea what to expect. I immediately fell in love with Oskar, the main character who is 9 years old. He was definitely a unique kid and I felt so sorry for him as he grieved his father's death in his own way. It reminded me of that terrible day of 9/11 and all of the confusion, grief and chaos that Oskar experiences in this book remind me of the same feelings I went through as I saw the horrors of what happened then. I couldn't imagine being a 9 year old child and losing my father in such a horrible way. I really like Foer's unique writing and the story kept my attention page after page. If you have a book club, I would recommend this book. It will bring up some interesting conversation and give you a sense of what happens to those that experienced 9/11 first hand. It will change your life.

Book Review: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Book Title: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
Author: Betty Smith
Publisher: Perennial Classics
Book Type: Novel
Pages: 496
Date: 1943

Summary: The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century, Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant and moving tale filled with compassion and cruelty, laughter and heartache, crowded with life and people and incident. The story of young, sensitive, and idealistic Francie Nolan and her bittersweet formative years in the slums of Williamsburg has enchanted and inspired millions of readers for more than sixty years. By turns overwhelming, sublime, heartbreaking, and uplifting, the daily experiences of the unforgettable Nolans are raw with honesty and tenderly threaded with family connectedness -- in a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as incredibly rich moments of universal experience.

Opinion: This was another book that was recommended to me by a friend.  She kept raving about what a great book it was, so I decided to read it.  I had actually never heard of it before and was suprised when I realized what a classic it is.   I enjoyed the book and would recommend it, especially to female readers.  I'm not sure if the male population would fine much entertainment from it, but this coming of age story relates to almost every girl that has traveled from childhood to adulthood.  The story of Francie was kind of sad.  She is a sensitive and smart girl from a poor family living in Brooklyn. in the early 1900's. Her younger brother, Neeley, was definitely the favored child and it was made obvious to Francie.  Despite this, Francie and Neeley remain quite close during their growing up years.  With a drunk father and extremely hard working mother that does everything she can to support the family, Francie and Neeley look out for each other.  This was my favorite part of this book: the brother and sister relationship that existed between these two.  They understood that they were poor and that their parents struggled.  They survived hard times by holding on to each other.

Although her father was a drunk and a failure at supporting his family, he had a great way of making Francie feel special and loved.  Francie's mother always put her brother above her and loved her brother more, so she didn't really get the love that many girls receive from their mothers.  The relationship between her and her father is sweet.  She loved her dad so much, despite his drinking problem.  She probably showed more love and kindness to her father than her mother did.

My favorite thing about Neeley was her love of books.  She would go to the local library and check out books.  She made a vow that she would read all of the books in the library, so she set the goal to read a book a day.  She was poor, but she was smart.  She made time to read and she excelled at school.  She overcame her circumstances.  She is a strong character that I admire and find strength from.  If you have a book club I recommend that you read this book and take the time to talk about your own coming of age and the things you learned.  Its a powerful time of life.