The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

9/10

Absolutely fantastic. Probably the most creative work in regards to Christianity ever written. Completely memorable and extremely insightful. The premise is that there is a junior devil who has yet to master the art of tempting his subjects. He solicits the help of his Uncle Screwtape who knows and understands human nature better than even humans themselves do. The book is a compilation of letters from Screwtape with suggestions and advice on deviltry. When reading this book it is very easy to notice flaws and weaknesses in ourselves that aren't too recognizable. This book is amazing, witty, funny, revealing, and even inspiring, believe it or not. All rolled into one, folks.

Also, one of my favorite book covers of all-time. This is the only picture I could find of the cover that I have.

C.S. is the master of the quotes: (Keep in mind that the quotes will be in the context from a devil's viewpoint. Tips on how to tempt and overcome us. When he mentions "the Enemy" he is speaking of the enemy of devils, a.k.a. God.)

This quote, however, is found in the preface and therefore shouldn't be read in the devil narrator context. "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors, and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."

Now to the devil letters. "It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out."

"All extremes except extreme devotion to the Enemy are to be encouraged."

"He wants them to learn to walk and therefore must take away His hand; and only if the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles."

"A moderated religion is as good for us as no religion at all - and more amusing."

"The safest road to Hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."

"The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel."

"Your patient has become humble; have you drawn his attention to the fact?"

"Our best weapon - the belief of ignorant humans that there is no hope of getting rid of us except by yielding."

"They, of course, do tend to regard death as the prime evil, and survival as the greatest good. But that is because we have taught them to do so."

"Pilate was merciful till it became risky."

"He did not become one of them and die among them by torture - in order to produce candidates for Limbo, 'failed' humans. He wanted to make Saints; gods; things like himself."

You don't get that many great quotes within a 172 page book all that often, no sir.

The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien

10/10

First things first, check out this huge picture. What the? That is a representation of how big the stakes are for the characters in this book. Sometimes I'm just all about the symbolism.

We are now at the conclusion of the trilogy. Part Three. The Final Act. The Grand Finale. And so forth. Obviously, it is tremendous. Again, however, the first half of the book covers the other portion of the Fellowship who aren't Frodo and Sam. They take part in some pretty high drama themselves though. Certainly nothing to shake a stick at. But with the state of affairs in which Frodo and Sam left us at the conclusion of 'The Two Towers', it could fairly make a guy go insane with anticipation. What could be more intense than two halflings meandering their way through the heart of enemy territory and straight into the cracks of Mount Doom? Not much, I say. About the most exciting storytelling in the history of storytelling.

Also, the climax reaches it's peak a lot sooner than you'd expect. Which was both good and bad. Good because I didn't see it coming so soon. And bad because of the partial drag after all was said and done. I also happen to be the type who feels the need to read everything contained between the covers. This happens to include, in this particular instance, a number of appendices. Appendix A through F as a matter of fact. That was an interesting and ultra-nerdy time learning all about the family history of hobbits, the details of different invented languages, and the Shire calendar, and etc. and etc. and etc. Oh boy. Why does my OCD require me to read what I don't want to read? I highly recommend this story. Just not the Appendix portion. Unless a chemical imbalance requires you otherwise.

Now for a gratuitous Gandalf quote, like you knew I would:

"It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till."

Fictions of Empire

8/10

This is a concoction of works from a bunch of different authors covering a variety of themes. The main focus of the book centers around three short stories: 'Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad, 'The Man Who Would Be King' by Rudyard Kipling, and 'The Beach of Falesa' by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The first half of the book is a bunch of different essay or story excerpts from various authors. Letters from different dudes are also included. Mostly some pretty bland stuff in my opinion. I'll just come out and say it...I'm not a big fan of excerpts. There, I said it. I have a hard time getting into stuff without having read the entire thing. So mostly I didn't really care too much about all these super brief and random chunks I was reading because I couldn't really invest myself into caring about it. I'm sure they were fairly insightful and even appropriate, but I was mostly just wanting to get to the short stories. And I guess I should clarify that they are actually novellas, short novels, rather than short stories.

The first story was awesome: 'The Man Who Would Be King'. It's about these two guys who randomly decide to go and become kings of these tribes out in the middle of nowhere. It's pretty awesome and entertaining. Also contains an exhilarating and crazy conclusion. This is the only Kipling story I've read but makes me want to read more of his stuff. A pretty cool movie with Sean Connery and Michael Caine of this story is worthwhile.

Second story is good: 'The Beach of Falesa'. I wasn't blown away with it. And to be honest, I don't really remember too much about it. I remember it didn't stink up the joint either though. A guy goes to an island and gets into some mischief and then I think other stuff happens. It seemed like mostly some sort of commentary on racial issues? Hmmmm, I'm too lazy to go review it to refresh my memory, so this will have to suffice. I need to read more of Stevenson's works though because he's supposed to be pretty sweet. This is his only story that I've read.

The last one was by far the best: 'Heart of Darkness'. If you haven't read this story then you should really consider it. It is insanely awesome in so many ways. It starts with this guy Marlow sitting around with some comrades and he decides to relate an experience of his. The rest is a narration from this Marlow character. This stylistic technique by Conrad is one of the main appeals of this story. Marlow tells of journeying in this boat up a river in the middle of Africa to go find some rogue Army-type guy named Kurtz. His experiences in the 'heart of darkness' amongst completely uncivilized savages is very entertaining. It is pure madness. Seriously. It is from this story which comes the famous line from Kurtz when he is finally found: "The horror! The horror!". (Seinfeld fans will recognize this reference.) This brief run-down isn't meant to do justice to this story. Everyone should experience the terrifying madness of 'Heart of Darkness'. I completely endorse and recommend this story to one and all. Just go in ready and prepared to experience a touch of insanity. An acclaimed movie called 'Apocalypse Now' is based on this story.

A quote from Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness':

"There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies."

Richard the Third by Shakespeare

8/10

Bill Shakespeare that is. Richard the Third is one of my favorite Shakespeare stories. It falls in the historical drama category. I haven't read any of his other historical dramas like Henry IV or the like. They seem, for some reason, less appealing than his tragedies or even his comedies. But I loved Richard the Third, so I will certainly give those others a chance some day.

In my Othello post I mentioned Iago as Shakespeare's most sinister creation. Well, Richard the Third is right behind him. Richard the Third may have done more evil and killed more people, but he did it in such a straightforward, in-your-face way that he loses crafty and creativity points. Although he is crafty in his own right. Just not to the psychological level of Iago. There is definitely an argument that he is more evil than Iago. And in this story, he is the main character, whereas Iago was a side character. He is a ruler who has nothing but evil and selfish designs and isn't afraid of killing whoever he wants. He is quite the evil usurper. He eventually goes to battle at the end with his rival, Richmond. Richmond is awesome and one of my most adored Shakespeare characters. He's a god-fearing leader with nothing but noble and righteous purposes. Right before battle he gives an epic speech that is very Captain Moroniesque. This is a cool read.

Shakespeare is always good for some quotage:

"Shall I live in hope?" "All men, I hope, live so."

"A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion, To pray for them that have done scathe to us."

"God is much displeased That you take with unthankfulness His doing: In common worldly things 'tis call'd ungrateful With dull unwillingness to repay a debt Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent"

"So sweet is zealous contemplation."

"I am in So far in..., that sin will pluck on sin."

"True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings."

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

8/10

In my last post I mentioned that there are only two books that I have ever read in one sitting. Well folks, this here is the other one. It's another shorty. It's also one continuous book with no convenient breaks or chapters or anything. So I was like, "Shoot, I guess I'll keep reading", Forrest Gump style. Also, I had just gone on a canyoneering trip in southern Utah and had a 3 hour or so drive back home. That is when I read the book, as I journeyed past Green River, Price, and on through the long canyon. I offered to read out loud as we traveled, but was denied by the masses. Their loss, they missed out on a fun journey.

This old guy has been a fisherman his whole life but is currently in the biggest slump of his life. He hasn't caught a fish for a long time. He keeps going out and doesn't give up despite his discouragements. He finally latches on to a huge marlin and battles with the fish that likewise doesn't give up. A few days later and the old man has been dragged deep into the ocean and barely hanging on while the marlin is barely keeping up the battle. The story is tragic, yet triumphant. It's some good stuff and my favorite Hemingway story of the few I've read.

One of my favorite parts is that the old man worships baseball and talks/thinks about it all the time to himself while he's out battling with the fish. He loves Joe DiMaggio. His obsession with DiMaggio is symbolic of his own streak and struggle with the marlin. Endurance plays a part with both men.

To the quotes:

"I try not to borrow. First you borrow. Then you beg."

"I must think, he thought. Because it is all I have left. That and baseball. I wonder how the great DiMaggio would have liked the way I hit him in the brain?" This one made me laugh.

"Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is."

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

7/10

Not to be confused with 'A Christmas Story' with Ralphy. Dickens' story is an absolute classic, a Christmas staple. It gets right at the heart of the Christmas spirit. Pun intended.

On Christmas Eve about three years ago I didn't have much to do and decided to sit down and read this book. It was a fun time, and about three hours or so later I had read the whole book. It is one of two books that I've ever read in one sitting.

Ebenezer Scrooge (perhaps Dickens' best named character ever) is a heartless old miser and one of the most popular fictional characters ever created. One word: iconic. His 'Bah! Humbug!' is about as famous as any interjection ever. My first introduction to Scrooge was way back in the day with the Duck Tales version. Remember that one? I sure do. Ghost of Christmas Future was super scary. In both the Duck Tales and Dickens versions.

This is a must-read. It really gets you to feel like being a good person and gives you a desire to help others. It really does. And it doesn't take too long to read.

**Edit (7/14/18)**

I am adding this edit to mention that I finished reading this book to Mallory about a month ago. She enjoyed it, but I think much of the Dickens-esque flowery language bored her a little bit. But she liked the story itself and enjoyed recognizing parts that she had seen from the Mickey Mouse version. I don't think any other Dickens books will be on our reading agenda anytime soon, however.

**End of Edit**

Quotes:

"'I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.'" One of my favorite quotes ever.

"'No space or regret can make amends for one life's opportunities misused!'"

"'Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business.'"

"The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever."

"There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor."

"'Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself always.'"

"Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!"

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

6/10

Come with me as we move deeper, deeper into the Ender saga. This is the third installment in the series which follows Speaker for the Dead. It's a'ight. Similar to Speaker, except I think it is slightly less gooder. It is recommended from me if you are one of those types that still wants to know what happens next. For pure enjoyment, just read Ender's Game. For further information and knowledge, read these other ones. It's still a good story.

A complete removal of a planet is planned to get rid of a deadly virus to prevent it from spreading to other planets. Hence the title of the book being 'Xenocide'. The ship sent to destroy the planet randomly disappears and some Chinese girl genius is sent for to solve the mystery. I guess the intrigue of the book comes from the moral dilemma the girl faces. Should she solve the mystery and allow the planet to be destroyed? Or should she hide her discoveries and preserve an infected, yet living planet? I hate when that situation happens to me. I can never decide what to do.

Quotes:

"The wise are not wise because they make no mistakes. They are wise because they correct their mistakes as soon as they recognize them."

"To stop a human being from doing something, you must find a way to make the person stop wanting to do it."

"There's a longer view, in which life and death are less important matters than choosing what kind of life and what kind of death we have."

"Flattery is never so obvious to the recipient."

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

10/10

One of my favorite books ever. A top fiver. I remember when I was a wee little lass and my brother Brett was reading this book in high school and told me the whole story one night. I thought it was a crazy awesome story. When I finally got around to reading the book myself I learned that not only do I like stories but I like reading. This book is one of the books that helped me realize that I enjoy reading. The book was fun, exciting, encouraging, touching, sad, and all for only 125 pages worth of effort.

The George and Lenny relationship is one of the best in all of literature. The title of the book comes from a Robert Burns poem called 'To a Mouse'. A line in the poem says: "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men, gang aft agley." 'Gang aft agley' = 'often go awry'. This line is entirely revealing of the eventual outcome of the story. Lenny, a mentally challenged man, loves hearing George tell him about their plans to eventually own their own place and Lenny will take care of the rabbits. Every time George tells the story Lenny gets so pumped. It's actually quite adorable, I must say. It's also sad, especially the last time George tells Lenny about their plans. About one of the saddest and most touching moments in literature.

Also, a forewarning similar to the one I gave for 'The Catcher in the Rye', the book has a fair share of cussing.

Two quotes:

"Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella."

"He subsided, grumbling to himself, threatening the future cats which might dare to disturb the future rabbits." Ha ha, Lenny's the best.

The Infinite Atonement by Tad R. Callister

10/10

In honor of a rare Sabbath post, I will do a church book. This is one of the best church books out there. Here's the reason. The atonement of Christ is the most important event in history and also the least understood. This book covers such a great and challenging topic as clearly and completely as any book possibly could. One word: vast. A lot of the book is quotes from other authorities like prophets and apostles and the like, combined with related, appropriate, and helpful commentary from the author.

Here come, I reckon, a lotta quotes. So get out now if you can't hack it.

"The Atonement is the central act of human history, the pivotal point in all time, the doctrine of doctrines." - Robert L. Millet

"Atonement means taking two things that have become separated, estranged, or incompatible, like a perfect God and an imperfect me or you, and bringing them together again, thus making the two be 'at one'." -Stephen Robinson

"Eve did not receive her name until after she and Adam had partaken of the forbidden fruit. When Eve was first created, Adam decreed that 'she shall be called Woman'.... Then, just as the future parents of all mortals were about to be expelled from their garden home, Adam called 'his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living'...she was not called Eve until she was capable of being Eve (i.e. the mother of all living)."

"Somehow his sponge alone would absorb the entire ocean of human affliction, weakness, and suffering."

"He had observed our spirits throughout the eons. He understood the inner workings of each man's heart."

"To define his suffering, Elder Neal A. Maxwell called it 'enormity multiplied by infinity'."

"Satan's final taunt, 'If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross', was not an idle suggestion, but a powerful reminder that he could."

"The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none." Thomas Carlyle

"I think if God forgives us we must forgive ourselves. Otherwise it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than Him." -C.S. Lewis

"Redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity would have been."

"[Man's godhood] will not detract anything from the glory and might of our heavenly Father, for he will still remain our Father, and we shall still be subject to him, and as we progress in glory and power, the more it enhances the glory and power of our heavenly Father." -Brigham Young

"Do not all Christian churches advocate Christlike behavior? If so, are we better men and women, better Christians, if we desire to be only 90 percent like Christ, rather than 100 percent? If it is blasphemous to think we can become as God now is, then at what point is it not blasphemous to become like him - 90 percent, 50 percent, 20 percent, 1 percent? Is it more honorable to seek partial godhood than total godhood? Are we to walk the path of godhood with no hopes of ever reaching the destination? Yet that seems to be the tragic conclusion of many."

"The difference between man and God is significant, but it is one of degree, not kind. It is the difference between an acorn and an oak tree, a rosebud and a rose, a son and a father."

"There is no one in this entire universe that can rob us of perfection, except ourselves. Unfortunately, some people sell themselves short. In feigned honor of God they auction themselves off as servants, not sons."

"For one, life's challenges and tragedies become stumbling blocks; for the other, they become stepping-stones."

"Grace [and] works...go hand in hand. When the lifeguard stretches out a pole to the drowning swimmer, the swimmer must reach out and hold on if he desires to be rescued. Both the lifeguard and the swimmer must fully participate if the swimmer's life is to be saved."

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger

9/10

Jerome David Salinger that is. Ha ha, I love starting out a post like that with an author that goes by initials. I just finished reading this book this morning. It was funny and entertaining and a very fast read. Also, J.D. Salinger actually just died on January 27th of this year, about four days before I started reading his one and only novel. It's a shame he didn't write more.

The book is about a kid who seems to be manic-depressive, named Holden Caulfield, who keeps flunking out of school because he doesn't care much about it. He's capable, he just doesn't care. I think the book covers just two days of Holden's life right after he gets kicked out of another school. He's a good and likable kid, I thought, but he is definitely a touch on the crazy side. He continues to go back and forth between things that depress him and things that "kill him", meaning he finds them funny. Salinger does a good job at allowing us to enter into Holden's brain. The book is almost entirely Holden's thoughts about things that bother him that other people do. His thoughts are so funny. I didn't find the book to be too depressing even though it's about a young kid who is always depressed and a little aimless in life.

On a side note, the guy who shot John Lennon said he did it to promote this book. TIME magazine has a good article about Salinger if anyone's interested: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1957492,00.html I wonder how different Salinger and Holden were, they seem not too far apart. They'd almost have to be with how realistically Salinger was able to portray the thoughts of a sometime cynical kid.

Also, if anyone is wondering what the title to the book means. It comes from a Robert Burns poem that says "If a body meet a body coming through the rye." But Holden thought it was "If a body catch a body coming through the rye." And as his awesome thoughts go, he tells his sister when she asks what he wants to do in his life that he pictures a bunch of young kids running around playing in a field of rye and he is standing at the edge of a big cliff and he catches them before they fall off. "That's all I'd do all day. I'd be the catcher in the rye." This is why I didn't get too depressed over this book because he was good at heart. And funny.

A few examples of Holden being funny:

"'Liberate yourself from my vicelike grip.'" He says this to his roommate when Holden randomly decided to put him in a half-nelson while his roommate was getting ready for a date.

"The one ugly one, Laverne, wasn't too bad a dancer, but the other one, old Marty, was murder. Old Marty was like dragging the statue of liberty around the floor." Oh man, that made me laugh like crazy. That killed me, as Holden would say.

"Some people you shouldn't kid, even if they deserve it." True, true.

"He was one of those guys that think they're being a pansy if they don't break around forty of your fingers when they shake hands with you." Ha ha. Forty fingers? Hilarious.

Post Script: The book has a lot of cussing, you are here forewarned.

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

10/10

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien that is. Plus, amazing to have consecutive posts with the word 'Two' in it, I know. How I planned and planned to achieve that.

This book is awesome, plain and simple. This is where the fellowship disbands. And, unlike the movie, this book starts with the Boromir incident. The whole first half of the book focuses exclusively on chasing down Merry and Pippin and all the shenanigans there. We also get an awesome Gandalf update after the tragic and, may I say, borderline tearful departure from him in the first book. I actually liked the way the movie did it better, the going back and forth between the now two separate parties. Most of the time while I was reading the first half of the book, although I enjoyed it, I desperately wanted to get back to Frodo and Sam. It was quite the endurance tester at times.

The Frodo and Sam portion of the book is quite the nail-biter. They hook up with Gollum and depend on him to guide them to Mordor. Oh man, being led by an evil creature and being so much in his power made this a pretty tense ordeal. Also, unlike the movie (I think), the book ends with the Shelob incident and Frodo falling into the hands of the enemy in Mordor territory. Quite the cliffhanger.

Also, I find it unfair to label Lord of the Rings enjoyers as nerds. How dare you. More like you're a nerd if you don't like this, because how could you not? So there. Stick that in your long, Gandalf-like pipe and smoke it.

A quote:

"The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." This is from Faramir, who is much cooler in the book than in the movie.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

10/10

Sometimes you read a book and feel highly inadequate in your abilities to describe it. This is one of those books. Usually my describing abilities are far superior to the actual books, but not this time. (This is where I point out that I was kidding about my descriptions being better than the books. Except for maybe when I start posting about books that I didn't like.)

So, I've read a few other Dickens books and have liked all of them. This one had an entirely different feel than his other ones. This one was less playful (which I missed) and was much more serious and somber. However, in Dickens defense, his usual lightheartedness would have made the book less powerful. But, before too many objections arise, he is playful and fun from time to time in this tale. Like how anytime he mentions Mr. Lorry it is accompanied with a comment or some remark about how he is strictly a man of business.

The book really picks up steam the further into the book you get. At first I was a little confused what was going on and I didn't know who was who. But once I got a grip on it, the grip tightened, the knuckles got white, and I couldn't let go. The story is very dramatic and touching. It takes place during the chaotic French Revolution where hundreds upon hundreds of prisoners are being executed by La Guillotine. And the mob mentality of the citizens for the good of the Republic has caused, not only a lot of undeserved deaths, but also some pretty callous heartlessness. The heroism, courage, and selflessness from a character that feels as though his life has been pointless and who many look down upon is very awe-inspiring.

I just finished this book yesterday and it was one of the most worthwhile reads I've had in a long time. It is books like this that remind me of why I read fiction and that fiction isn't always a pointless waste of time.

To the quotes:

"Sadly, sadly the sun rose; it rose upon no sadder sight than the man of good abilities and good emotions, incapable of their directed exercise."

"What the tongue is, I suppose the man is."

"All secret men are men soon terrified."

"You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer." Burn.