What book are you reading?

[wosbald]

+JMJ+

I'm questioning my 'reason' and ?'s of the mysterious parts of me...that prompted me to buy and read, almost half way through, Steinbeck's "Cannery Row." What does the Holy Spirit think when HE seems me reading something that - - so far just has me echoing the ? repeatedly: "Why am I reading this and wasting time?"

Cuz it's part of modern, American, Western Canon?

Seems like a good enuf reason.

(Though, no, I never read it, FWIW.)

[Tatanka]

I know and recognized before I ordered it that it was of a non-Christ center, but without any known understanding of my own ? motives, I wanted to read something secular for relaxation "only". My wife reads novels on by Christian authors, and I guess I should forget this ??? desire to being able to say "yes, I've read so-in-so" of popular authors, and leave my loved Western novels, and go to something with a Christian focus. My carnal nature is yelling, "I want this!"

[Adam Z]

Knife of Dreams, book eleven of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

This is, perhaps, the best-written book in the series by Jordan. I think that a great deal of what I find to be unpleasant in Jordan's previous books was due to his haste. I suspect that it would have been a truly monumental work of fiction if he had written, say, seven books in the entire series.

Totally agree that it's the best-written book in the series. I'm really happy that the last book he wrote in its entirety (there were portions of the last 3 that he wrote, but Sanderson wrote the bulk of them) was his best writing & he got to go out with a bang, showing his critics that despite the couple previous entries that many call "The Slog" - he hadn't lost the "it" factor.

Opinions are slightly divided on the 3 Sanderson books - I'm in the camp that really enjoyed them. They're not perfect, but I can't imagine anyone who could've done a better job. There were better writers they could've chosen, and there were people who knew more about The Wheel of Time who they could've chosen, but I doubt there is a better writer who also loved & knew more about The Wheel of Time than Brandon Sanderson.

Hoping you enjoy the rest of the series as much as I did!

I've started The Gathering Storm. My initial impression is that Sanderson is a better writer when it comes to sentences and paragraphs. I will have to see how he does on the overall plot and creating a unified book.

The main knock against Sanderson (and he admits this himself) is characterization of Mat. He's a fun POV character to read & a fan-favorite, but Sanderson found him difficult to write, and many readers pick up on this.

[Adam Z]

I'm questioning my 'reason' and ?'s of the mysterious parts of me...that prompted me to buy and read, almost half way through, Steinbeck's "Cannery Row." What does the Holy Spirit think when HE seems me reading something that - - so far just has me echoing the ? repeatedly: "Why am I reading this and wasting time?"

I get what you're saying, but I think we have liberty to enjoy in moderation a work of fiction for relaxation even if it isn't written by an author with a christian worldview. Do you also feel guilty every time you watch a film, tv show or a televised sporting event? That's not to say that consumption of any/all content is healthy for a christ-follower, and I can't speak specifically to Cannery Row (having never read it), but generally speaking I don't see there being any sin inherent in this.

[FredS]

I know and recognized before I ordered it that it was of a non-Christ center, but without any known understanding of my own ? motives, I wanted to read something secular for relaxation "only". My wife reads novels on by Christian authors, and I guess I should forget this ??? desire to being able to say "yes, I've read so-in-so" of popular authors, and leave my loved Western novels, and go to something with a Christian focus. My carnal nature is yelling, "I want this!"

C'mon man, you're old enough to know this deal. It's not wrong or necessarily sinful to read Steinbeck. Cannery Row is all about the imperfect human condition. Don't read it so you can tell others you have, and don't not read it because it's not your wife's style. But if it's causing internal struggles then why do it? If the struggle outweighs the enjoyment then put it down and go back to the westerns you enjoy.

[coco]

Knife of Dreams, book eleven of the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

This is, perhaps, the best-written book in the series by Jordan. I think that a great deal of what I find to be unpleasant in Jordan's previous books was due to his haste. I suspect that it would have been a truly monumental work of fiction if he had written, say, seven books in the entire series.

Totally agree that it's the best-written book in the series. I'm really happy that the last book he wrote in its entirety (there were portions of the last 3 that he wrote, but Sanderson wrote the bulk of them) was his best writing & he got to go out with a bang, showing his critics that despite the couple previous entries that many call "The Slog" - he hadn't lost the "it" factor.

Opinions are slightly divided on the 3 Sanderson books - I'm in the camp that really enjoyed them. They're not perfect, but I can't imagine anyone who could've done a better job. There were better writers they could've chosen, and there were people who knew more about The Wheel of Time who they could've chosen, but I doubt there is a better writer who also loved & knew more about The Wheel of Time than Brandon Sanderson.

Hoping you enjoy the rest of the series as much as I did!

I've started The Gathering Storm. My initial impression is that Sanderson is a better writer when it comes to sentences and paragraphs. I will have to see how he does on the overall plot and creating a unified book.

The main knock against Sanderson (and he admits this himself) is characterization of Mat. He's a fun POV character to read & a fan-favorite, but Sanderson found him difficult to write, and many readers pick up on this.

I could see how people wouldn't like that. Jordan does some of his best and most believable writing with Mat, the ne'er-do-well with the arcane knowledge of a thousand great generals, who is confused by women, particularly Tuon. Messing up that one character would be enough for a lot of people to hate you.

[Stanley76]

I'm reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

[SlowToke]

I'm reading Atomic Habits.

As for secular books and movies, I believe God wants us to experience joy and we can learn from all manner of information whether secular or Christian. If I'm wrong, my sins are covered. My best friend is a Presbyterian minister. His choice of movie to watch when he visited a while back was Stepbrothers. Pretty sure his sins are covered too.

[Tatanka]

I know and recognized before I ordered it that it was of a non-Christ center, but without any known understanding of my own ? motives, I wanted to read something secular for relaxation "only". My wife reads novels on by Christian authors, and I guess I should forget this ??? desire to being able to say "yes, I've read so-in-so" of popular authors, and leave my loved Western novels, and go to something with a Christian focus. My carnal nature is yelling, "I want this!"

C'mon man, you're old enough to know this deal. It's not wrong or necessarily sinful to read Steinbeck. Cannery Row is all about the imperfect human condition. Don't read it so you can tell others you have, and don't not read it because it's not your wife's style. But if it's causing internal struggles then why do it? If the struggle outweighs the enjoyment then put it down and go back to the westerns you enjoy.

You speak TRUTH! Thanks.

[Tatanka]

+JMJ+

I'm questioning my 'reason' and ?'s of the mysterious parts of me...that prompted me to buy and read, almost half way through, Steinbeck's "Cannery Row." What does the Holy Spirit think when HE seems me reading something that - - so far just has me echoing the ? repeatedly: "Why am I reading this and wasting time?"

Cuz it's part of modern, American, Western Canon?

Seems like a good enuf reason.

(Though, no, I never read it, FWIW.)

But another good thought, which I'm putting into practice.

[Tatanka]

I'm questioning my 'reason' and ?'s of the mysterious parts of me...that prompted me to buy and read, almost half way through, Steinbeck's "Cannery Row." What does the Holy Spirit think when HE seems me reading something that - - so far just has me echoing the ? repeatedly: "Why am I reading this and wasting time?"

I get what you're saying, but I think we have liberty to enjoy in moderation a work of fiction for relaxation even if it isn't written by an author with a christian worldview. Do you also feel guilty every time you watch a film, tv show or a televised sporting event? That's not to say that consumption of any/all content is healthy for a christ-follower, and I can't speak specifically to Cannery Row (having never read it), but generally speaking I don't see there being any sin inherent in this.

Thanks! Again, I appreciate these comments. I fear my perfectionistic up-bringing, with distorted "religious" emphasis, left brand marks still visible at times. Appreciate these good, balanced, reasonable come-backs to my post. Thanks brothers all !

[TheShepherd]

[Adam Z]

Awe: Why it Mattes For Everything We Think, Say, & Do by Paul David Tripp

[Tatanka]

Awe: Why it Mattes For Everything We Think, Say, & Do by Paul David Tripp

We frequently read from his devotional book "New Morning Mercies, a daily Gospel devotional." I wish I had his wisdom and ability for writing....good stuff.

[Adam Z]

Awe: Why it Mattes For Everything We Think, Say, & Do by Paul David Tripp

We frequently read from his devotional book "New Morning Mercies, a daily Gospel devotional." I wish I had his wisdom and ability for writing....good stuff.

I frequently read from New Morning Mercies as well. Good stuff indeed!

[wosbald]

+JMJ+

Abstract Sex: Philosophy, Bio-Technology and the Mutations of Desire by Luciana Parisi

[sweetandsour]

+JMJ+

Abstract Sex: Philosophy, Bio-Technology and the Mutations of Desire by Luciana Parisi

This could be an alternate title for Cannery Row.

[Adam Z]

The Hero of Ages (Mistborn book 3) by Brandon Sanderson




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[ReverendThom]

Just finished

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