2005
Crossing the Threshold of Hope. John Paul II.
I admire the pope. He has a sharp mind, and a loving heart. He is
personal and yet distant. I have much respect for his Church,
especially certain traditions, it’s loyalty, compassion and
universality. The Catholic Church seems to grow and change and remain
contemporary. The pope’s discussion of Mary is interesting and helps
me to understand Catholic devotion to her. As he writes, there is a
sense of mysticism and faith as well as compassion that is attractive
and inspiring.
The Bourne Identity. Robert Ludlum.
A fun, spring break read. Intrigue. I’ll probably read the next in the
series when Chris visits in July.
Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society.
Daniel Barenboim and Edward W. Said, ed. Ara Guzelimian.
Much of it is over my head, but nonetheless inspiring. I enjoy reading
interviews and conversations, especially between friends and experts
in their respective fields. Reading the book inspired me to know more
and to love what I do. Recommended the book to Birk, it’s a book he
could wrap his head around.
Alone with God. Richard Wurmbrand.
I began this book last year and slowly read through it. What a killer
of a book. Thank you God for it. Violence against a hard heart.
The Four Loves. C.S. Lewis.
Should be required reading for the human race, especially people
living in small Christian community. I wrote down many quotes. My
first real experience with his non-fiction. It is tight, compelling,
and thought-provoking. I need to brush up on my Greek mythology,
paradigms he uses so often and redeems. Dry, candid, and witty, with a
powerhouse ending in the spirit of Chesterton’s Orthodoxy.
How to win the Culture War, Peter Kreeft.
Good to read the book again. Very timely. I want the whole E for
Everyone crew to read it. At various points I was challenged at others
brought to tears. What a high call we have on our lives. He lands his
blows. The conversation between Kreeft and his guardian angel is
perfect. I never, never, never… want to give up. God I want to wholly
want to wholly be a saint.
A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens.
One of my favourites. I read the book while on vacation with my
brother Chris and dear friends, Chad and Nicole, on a beach in East
Malaysia: believe me when I say, It was the best of times.
To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee.
My favourite American novel. Scout is so real and believable. Often, I
laughed out loud. Emotionally resonant and heart breaking at times.
The characters jump off the page. Atticus and Scout are two of my
favourite characters in fiction.
Here and Now. Henry Nouwen.
At times a bit hoity toity, but overall very readable, devotional,
challenging, and inspiring. I want to love God more, trust him, live,
pray, and serve more.
Elanor Rigby. Douglas Coupland
He does it again. A sad and funny book about loneliness. I read it on
the plane ride home and laughed out loud, not caring that my fellow
passangers were annoyed. I couldn’t help it.
The Everlasting Man. G.K. Chesterton.
Much of this book was over my head, I live in a different time with
many different reference points. Chesterton is so quotable, it’s
astonishing. Exquisite moments where you are cut to the heart, break,
then soar. A look at the history of religion, philosophy, and the
world as informed by the incarnation of Christ. Chesterton, I can’t
wait to talk.
Dirty Dan Harris’. Stephen R. Neufeld.
Had the honour of reading Steve’s manuscript and to give
input. an author to watch. look forward to his publishing career, and
walking with him as a fellow writer.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Annie Dillard
Dillard wrote this book when she was twenty-seven. It went on to win
the Pulitzer Prize. Her writing and vision of the world as a violent
act of creation supersaturated in intricacy challenges and inspires us
to take intrest in a phenomenal world, heave our pain and confusion at
God as one of many forms of praise, and to see.
The Ragamuffin Gospel. Brennan Manning
I finished this book, having read it over a number of months. A good
reminder of the overwhelming yet simple doctrine of grace. Thanks
Wei-Keng for the gift.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Mark Haddon
A funny and heartbreaking murder mystery about a boy with autism.
Chesterton was right about logicians.
