Sunday, July 31, 2011
Book 19 "Mocking Jay"
Monday, July 25, 2011
Book 18 "Freedom"
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Book 17 "A Clockwork Orange"
Friday, July 22, 2011
Book 16 "Catching Fire"
Monday, July 18, 2011
Your Local Librarian
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Book 15 "Atonement"
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Book 14 "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
By
Mark Twain
I have most of Mark Twain's books in a leather bound book that I have failed to read over the years and I felt compelled to read them at last. I've read this particular story before, but found the re-read delightful. It's nice to offset some serious reads with
some light and playful books.
Not to mention that Mark Twain is thought of the first American writer to stake his claim in "World Literature" let alone "American Literature".
His famous character of "Tom Sawyer" can be seen in several other books, but nothing paints a clear picture of Mississippi living and boyhood adventure more than the story of young Mr. Sawyer. The famous story of tricking his friends to white wash the fence, and witnessing Injun Joe's cemetery murder, and finding buried treasure in a Mississippi River cave makes for an interesting and fun read.
Classic.
I would even add a small tidbit that if you are traveling near Hannibal Missouri to make a small stop and see the setting for most of Twain's books. It brings the books to life.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Book 13 "The Diary of a Napoleanic Foot Soldier"
General William Tecumseh Sherman was quoted once during the
Civil War where he said, "War is Hell".
A quote that sets the tone for the Diary of Jakob Walter. A soldier in Napoleon's "Grande Army" and having the last existing record during this period within the army. It's an interesting account of the cruelty of war, the gruesomeness of its nature and the violence and hardships that exist both within the army itself and the innocent bystanders surrounding the war. His account carries the reader through the fatal campaign of 1812 (Napoleon's Russian Campaign against Tsar Alexander).
Jakob takes in account the march in Moscow and the harsh conditions and the eventual fight for survival as the army struggled through starvation, dehydration, and freezing climates. Countless stories of men freezing to death and dying at each others hands simply for a piece of bread.
An interesting read but gory to its last page. However, truthful to every word written.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Book 12 "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter"
By Seth Grahame-Smith
Two words describes Seth Grahame-Smith's book. Interesting and Gory.
The book leaped out at me for the simple fact that I'm a history guy who is in love with the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. If you add the word "Vampire" into the mix you grab my sick and twisted side and its like reading Stephen King vs. American History. Sweet mixture eh?
Abraham Lincoln is faced with a harsh reality early in his boyhood. First, that life is fragile after the loss of his mother. Second, that vampires are real. After learning that his mother fell victim to a vampire (rather than a natural death) he becomes enraged and vows to kill every vampire and thus becomes the greatest vampire hunter in history.
What amazed me the most about the authors writing ability was his research on American History and how he wove a fictional story within an already existing story. "Clever, Dear Watson. Very Clever"
Overall, I found myself engrossed and amazed by the story. Apparently I wasn't the only one that discovered the book. Tim Burton will be producing the movie, which is to be released in 2012.
Book 11 "1984"
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Book 10 "Blockade Billy"
Monday, July 4, 2011
Book 9 "The Hunger Games"
Reading around the holidays
I'm going to take a new approach to the challenge in that I don't necessarily read ONE book a Day. That I try and read as many books in a month as I can....and count that towards the year end total (365) Which, quite frankly, is A LOT of books. If I fall short on that number, I can at least say I made an attempt and can't honestly say that I would be a failure for simply reading more? At the end of the 365 trek I will make note of the amount of books I finished.
The change is coming due to the July 4th and with other holidays and special occasions it might be hard to pull away in the corner and seclude myself. But.....in some other blog I will give some ideas and hints of how you can read more in your spare time. It might actually surprise you!
The more I think about the challenge, the more I think about reading, and it seems like there are so many books that jump off the shelves at me when I'm searching for new books. I can't possibly read them all, but my reading WANT list is growing.
I want to read some King, Twain, Poe, Kipling, Stevenson, and of course Tolstoy!! But its going to have to be spread out!!! =) And of course....there is always a surprise in the bunch!! Thank you Suzanne Collins for "The Hunger Games Trilogy"
Friday, July 1, 2011
Day 8 "Heaven is for Real"
I received a phone call a few months ago and my good friend, Pastor Jim Norem, brought up a little book that he had recently read about a little boy who had a near death experience. His father went about writing the facts down in the book and how the boy described things about Heaven that only a biblical scholar would claim to know. I remember Jim going on and on about the book and how it was the best he's read in a while. So.... I thought I would read it.
A fairly easy book to read through in one long sitting. If you have a few hours to spare I would suggest reading it through. It didn't answer every personal question that I had, but it did put to light the question of Heaven and the questions that we all have. What does Jesus look like? What does God look like? What does Heaven look like? What does the gate look like? Who's in Heaven?Those type of questions.....
It was a good read. A short faith oriented book that makes you think.