Summer Reading List

I'm not sure if I will be able to get all of these read but I will have fun trying. After going through my book shelves and of course buying a couple. My reading list for this summer is as follows:
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claibourne
living as an ordinary radical
Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil by John Berendt
Time Travel In Einstein's Universe by J. Richard Gott
The Physical Possibilities of Travel Through Time
The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcom Gladwell
Phantastes A Faerie Romance by George MacDonald
Sex God by Rob Bell
Stiff The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers By Mary Roach
The list may change but it will get me started. I think all I'm going to doing this summer is reading....I love it!

Phantasted George MacDonald

Phantastes
George MacDonald

This book was a delight to read. It is easy to see the influence that George MacDonald has had on other writers. In fact the volume that I read had a forward written by C.S. Lewis in which he sings the praises of this author. His influences on modern writers of fantasy are greatly in his debt. George MacDonald first chosen profession was that of minister but later in life he focused on writing and lecturing to the end of his life. The story is one of the adventures of Anodos on the event of his 21st birthday is given the key to his fathers secretary which leads to his first contact with a fairy and the beginning of his journey.
This brings him in contact with many adventures such as the tree spirits and a visit to place of the fairy queen. It is an amazing journey but I must admit at times it is a difficult read. It is written in a style that fits the time period that is a little different at times to read now. It is well worth the effort if you stick with it because it is an amazing story that is being told.

Blue Shoe by Annie Lamott

Blue Shoe

By Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott has written one of my favorite books but I must admit it isn’t this particular one. Because of her novel Traveling Mercies I wanted to read Blue Shoe. I have had this novel for a while so I thought why not. The story has its interesting moments as Mattie struggles with life: ex-husband, parental infidelity, children, her mothers declining mental state and romance. I must admit at times I was surprised by some of the things that she wrote while proclaiming her character as Christian. I should have taken into account the fact that she is writing about real living breathing people not an idolized individuals. The characters are full of human flaws as she fights with the kids, sleeps with her ex-husband and falls in love with her married best friend. The story is full of the hope that being a Christian gives us no matter how imperfect we are. Being a Christian is the one point that she never loses sight on within her difficulties.

The Shack by William P. Young

The Shack
William P. Young
I related to this book on so many levels because for a large portion of my life I was very angry with God. Even to the point that I stopped believing in him or in this case her. I wish this book would have been written many years ago. It would have helped me to heal more quickly. Believing and trusting allows Mack to take a journey that provides healing for himself and his family. It is through that journey that we are able to gain a better understanding of God in the difficult moments of life. Some have problems conceptualizing God as a women but I like this because I we need to recognize that we are not able to limit God. I felt encouraged by much of what takes place in the story. So much of it spoke to me on a personal spiritual level. In several areas it also reminded me of how different God is from what we humans have tried to make “him.” There are also several biblical lessons that take place through out that add to a better understanding of God. I have already loaned out a copy of this book to a friend and there are others in my work place who wants to read this book.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Paush is dying of pancreatic cancer but that is not his primary concern. It is the three small children that he will leave behind. They will be too young to remember much about their father. His mission is to leave some part of himself behind. Randy is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University and for him lecturing is a way of life. Within this format he tells his children all about the life that he had hoped to share with them. He also shares childhood dreams and how he achieved many of them. He has shared so much with us but the lecture is not for us it’s for his children. You can watch this lecture and some others at:

Randy Pausch, the professor at Carnegie Mellon University who inspired countless students in the classroom and others worldwide through his highly acclaimed last lecture, has died of complications from pancreatic cancer. He died on July 25, 2008 he was 47.

There is also a speech that he made to graduates :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcYv5x6gZTA&feature=user

Summer Reading Book Club

I am so new to this! Have no idea what I am doing but that should make it fun!! My first book will be The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch with Jeffrey Zaslow. I also want to talk about the book that I just finished minutes ago The Shack by William P. Young. I'm not going to go any further because I don't want to loose anything before I try to blow everything up...as I said earlier I am so lost. I think this is going to be fun and I love to talk about things I have read so lets go for it.