Book List Distraction: Insurgent and Allegiant

Earlier this month, I read Divergent by Veronica Roth because it was on my book list (see previous posts) and because it is becoming a movie in March. I really enjoyed it, although not as much as The Hunger Games, but enough to be intrigued to finish the trilogy. 

I completed both Insurgent and Allegiant within a week! Oh. My. Goodness.

The distopian society that Roth weaves of how quickly power corrupts people is shockingly accurate. I was amazed by the many ways that evil seeps in and out of humanity, just in our very nature.  One question that I had about this series was what the role of religion might play in it. Surely religion has had its fair share of corruptness in our real world, but it can also provide a message of hope. Roth vaguely referenced religion in the various factions, but never as anything that people hold as a form of truth or identity. In this society, where did religion go? Why was it not part of the structures, especially if creating a holistic community was the end goal?

Where The Hunger Games emphasized hope, the Divergent series emphasized forgiveness. The message of forgiveness was incredibly powerful and thought provoking. Roth engages how to forgive, why people forgive, what's possible to forgive, etc. It became an interesting theme that was well woven up until the surprising ending. I won't give away any more information than necessary, but that ending (although painful) was very well done. 

Ratings:

Insurgent: B+

Allegiant: B

Book 5: Life of Pi

There may not be any words to describe the poetic symmetry between zoology and religion that Yann Martel depicts. His crafting of words, thoughts and feelings transcends the mind to places of deep yearning. In Life of Pi, book and movie, Pi Patel survives a fateful shipwreck on the Pacific Ocean while harboring a tiger on the all-too-small lifeboat. It is the story of courage, vulnerability, fear, and faith. His quest for lifelong learning and ability to see beyond his wildest imaginations keeps him alive to tell this magnificent tale.

The ending will surprise you, possibly even amaze you. Yet, “If you stumble about believability, what are you living for? Love is hard to believe, ask any lover. Life is hard to believe, ask any scientist. God is hard to believe, ask any believer. What is your problem with hard to believe?” ― Yann Martel, Life of Pi

This book was stuck to my fingers until it was completed and it continues to give me the courage to continue persevering, no matter what the obstacle may be. Even amidst the hardest trials and tribulations, one can always find hope to continue on.

Rating: A-

Next Book: Insurgent by Veronica Roth (I know it is not on the list, but it is the second in the Divergent trilogy, and I am really intrigued)

Book 4: Divergent

I am not sure if I read this book so quickly because it was difficult to put down or because it was WAY more exciting than my current J-term course: Modern Church History. Nevertheless, I completed this book in 3 days and am not regretting the decision.

Divergent by Veronica Roth is the story of a young girl in a dystopian society on the brink of peril. As a part of their culture, she is called to search herself and choose which "faction" she would like to abide in. The decision needs to be her own and it becomes a defining part of her identity. Each faction is known for a different attribute, courage, kindness, honesty, selflessness, and knowledge. Those who do not fit into one of those categories are known as Divergent. The divergents pose a threat to the overall structure of the system, especially when power hungry evil dictators want to take control. You can see where this is going, right?

This book was a particularly fitting read this season. As a seminarian awaiting assignment, I feel as though I have taken my aptitude test and am waiting the choosing ceremony. Only, instead of it being my choice, the choice will be made for me. I am terrified of the results, especially in light of life pulling a 180 on me. I want to be brave and serve the church where ever God calls me to go, but living into the fear of the unknown tends to consume me.

“Becoming fearless isn't the point. 

That's impossible. 

It's learning how to control your fear, 

and how to be free from it.”

We will see where life leads, and til then there are two more books in this series to keep me company. 

Grade: A-

Next Book: Life of Pi

Book #3: The DaVinci Code

I've decided that a book a week was highly unrealistic. The Poisonwood Bible made me realize that some books are just longer than others. Nevertheless, I am still committed to reading all 100 of these books! It just may take longer than anticipated.

My most recent adventure, The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown, was exhilarating and (like the title of the list suggests) could not be put down. Now, I am a #churchnerd, who loves the intricacies of symbolism. The way Brown weaves the narrative together is masterful and keeps the reader in suspense through out the story. This was my third Dan Brown novel, and I recognized the familiar pattern of his writing style. There is a deeply profound conundrum that gets Robert Langdon involved, there is some female counterpart-with whom Langdon does some extra-curricular work with, and there is always an evil underling to work the plot of a mastermind. While I appreciate the suspense of figuring out "who dun it," the eccentric albino criminal/monk was too much for me. Daily forms of torture to keep the self in line were too far for me to appreciate his commitment to the cause. What I did appreciate was the relationship he had with the bishop who cared for him in his times of need. That even until death they were committed to each other.

Overall, I was unable to put the book down. Yet, I feel like I found Angels and Demons and The Lost Symbol more thrilling. I am excited to read Inferno, eventually. And after all of these books with deep faith questions, I am ready for a switch.

Grade: B+

Next Book: Divergent

Week 2/3: The Poisonwood Bible

Ok, ok. I know the goal was a book a week. But that was before I realized that some of these books were going to be over 500 pages. My hiatus has not been from lack of reading, simply a longer book than the first.

This week's selection comes to you courtesy of wise voices long past. In college, I kept hearing about this book, The Poisonwood Bible, and how fantastic it was. So, towards the end of college I found it on a sale bookrack for little to nothing and there it sat, on my book shelf, dormant. For years. I always had good intentions to read it but never quite got there. Somedays there were books like Harry Potter that got in the way. Thanks to this list and challenge, I have finally picked it up and read it, cover to cover.

“I wonder that religion can live or die 

on the strength of a faint, stirring breeze. 

The scent trail shifts, causing the predator 

to miss the pounce. 

One god draws in the breath of life and rises; 

another god expires.” -Barbara Kingsolver

It is the story of the Price family, Baptists missionaries from Bethlehem, Georgia, going to a post out in the Congo of the 1960's. Kingsolver weaves this narrative through the voices of the females, the mother and the four daughters. The overly zealot father's voice is only expressed through the lens of the female speaker of the chapter, and their perception of him changes as the years progress.

Originally, it had been the voice of Religion professors drawing me towards this book, hoping to expand my definition of God. Kingsolver does a remarkable job of expressing God as pluralistic, deeply intimate, and everything in between. The zealot father, who never swayed from his fundamentalist ideals, believed in a very real perception of God. Just as his daughter, who envisions God through creation and lived out through suffering does. These perceptions add depth and meaning to a person's life, no matter how God has become manifested. It gives me a greater appreciation of being able to share faith stories with others and to see the many ways God has become manifested in the lives of so many people.

Among the religious aspects, there were also tones of what was occurring in Africa in the second half of the 20th century. This was a lesson that I would never have seen in text books growing up, yet it was very raw and very real. The conditions people lived in and the corruption when power and money come to play were heart wrenching. More so because I know those things are most likely still happening today. Our world is getting smaller, yet the divides between people are getting wider. That, in and of itself, leads me to tears and motivates me to try and make a difference, no matter how small.

One last aspect, the one that really resonated with me, was understanding this piece through a family systems lens. I was touched by how different each woman was and how they were all shaped by one another. They were formed by the happy and the tragic times that they went through, carrying a piece of another with them through time and space. When one of the females passes away suddenly, she does not die. She lives on in the memory of her sisters and mother. Their grief and love for her shape their future selves. Each one grieves and grows differently, yet they still have that connection that does not break. This really resonated, at this time in life, because I am noticing these types of tragedy stories in my own family. My grandfather, who passed away before I was born from a sudden heart attack, has been a present ghost amidst family gatherings for many years. Lately, he has been showing up more frequently. I realized that he has been showing up more because his sons are reaching the age he was when he passed away. It is interesting to see how much of him they continue to carry with them. They are not just bringing along half of their genetics, but the ways they live their lives are direct reflections of how they were able to grieve his passing. They add him to the story of their lives.

I leave you with two quotations from Kingsolver, “To live is to change, to acquire the words of a story, and that is the only celebration we mortals really know.” 

“He was my father. I own half his genes, and all of his history. Believe this: the mistakes are part of the story. I am born of a man who believed he could tell nothing but the truth, while he set down for all time the Poisonwood Bible.”
Rating: B+

Next Reading Adventure: The DaVinci Code

Week 1: The Red Tent

I began my reading adventure with a book that I had heard many good things about, had purchased at one point in time, but have never taken the time to read. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant, captures the attention of the audience by walking the reader through the life of Dinah, Jacob's (from the Bible) only daughter amidst 12 sons. She masterfully weaves Dinah's narrative alongside her mothers stories as well, because  to understand one's own story one must also understand the mothers who raised them.

It was a powerful concept to grasp, understanding your mother's story to fully appreciate your own. Dinah was raised by four mothers and had four stories woven into her own. They helped shape who she became and how she interacted with the world. It made me wonder about how much I understand my own mother. I was raised in an age where sharing personal stories with your children isn't as common. Leaving a legacy tends to be defined more in monetary and societal terms today, and less about being shaped by the stories of those who have come before you. As I was reading this, my mother wanted to spend a day together, and I hesitantly agreed (unbeknownst to her). Within the first couple of hours I found myself getting agitated by the differences in our personalities and closing myself off to the possibilities of where the day could lead. It took a conscious effort to regain an appreciation for her, and also recognizing that she was probably just as frustrated with me-but she was trying. Making the effort to try made all of the difference.

The Red Tent also brought to light a tale that does not get told very often. Many times, Dinah is overlooked and thought of only in the context of being raped. I appreciated Diamant's use of agency for women in that time and her recognition of how some voices fall silent in the course of history. I am not sure if I will be able to think about the 12 tribes of Israel in the same way, but now I have deeper appreciation and connection to the names that fill those pages. Those names that shape our history to this day.

Letter Grade: A
It was captivating, intriguing, and thought provoking. The kind of book that is hard to put down and makes one grieve finishing it.

Twas the Wednesday before Christmas...

My friend Timothy unleashed the Pandora's box of creativity on a night when all finals were completed...each line was built upon the other by a different person, most of which became a dialogue between Brigitte and I. This is what happens when one has too much theological education. 

Hope you enjoy!

Twas the last Wednesday before Christmas and all through the church, everybody came to a start with a lurch
...the hymns were chosen and well prepared, even the potluck was ready to be shared...
The decorations were hung around the altar with care, anticipation of Christ's birth was in the air.

As soon as the pastor was practicing the sermon, there were doubts all around that it wasn't in German
"What will we do?" asked the choir with fear... Pastor said, "Leave it to me and go have a beer."
When what to our wondering eyes should appear! two plates of cookies, mixed nuts, and some beer!

We gobbled them up and drank them all down, not even the curmudgeons were faced with a frown
When out came Santa with a stern look on his face, and said "why is there a mess all over this place?!"
"I came here looking for cookies but indeed have found none, if you want presents for Christmas to the church basement you must run."

And down through the heavens there rose such a clatter, Jesus Christ swiftly appeared saying, "look I've brought batter!"
So we raced to the kitchen to bake Santa a treat, while santa and jesus watched and had a seat.
Then the tributes were picked and started the bake off, only the good Lord will know what will happen if you start to cough...
Then from the corner i heard a harsh squeal- and I yelled at the top of my lungs, "AWWW SHIT JUST GOT REAL!"

Santa and Jesus peered on with a grin, if you can guess which one is real: you just might win
Jesus said, "Santa, how's the misses? I don't see her around here." Santa said, "She's getting her nails done... and waxing her rear."
With a look of astonishment and fingers laced around a spoon, He did not anticipate envisioning THAT full moon.

I went to the corner from which the squeal came, and found Jill with a mouse who was apparently lame.
She said, "Look at this mouse. Tragic, is it not?" Then Jesus came over and said, "Let me see what I've got."
With a wave of his finger and wink of his eye, that mouse began walking, and jumping real high!

"Praise be to Jesus, who healed the mouse who was lame!" "For any of you, I'd do the very same."
It didn't take long to notice that the mouse had found swagger, even the dust bunnies were thinking he looked like Mick Jagger

Then down through the chimney, shimmying with care, Adam Levine and Maroon 5 were now there!
Then the tribute from Bethlehem: meek with a pretty face, whispered, “The cookies are ready, but first, let’s say grace.”
"Bless us lord Jesus, we don't want to be rude, but we baked so that we could offer Santa some food."
The the Adam Levine yelled, "Don't yet scatter! These treats are for all since Jesus brought us the batter."

With that proclamation the organ did chime, and the rest of Maroon 5 brought salt and a lime.
Then Jimmy Buffet sauntered in with free will, and they all began singing "Margaritaville."
Santa, Jesus, and the performers were happy, although not all the tributes seemed equally sappy
They knew it was nearly time to take their last breath in an annual celebration and fight to the death.

The tribute from Joppa said, "Do we have to do this?" Santa said, "Well, you could just kiss."
"Ewww" shouted the tribute from Judah, if I wanted to do that I would have prayed to Buddha
Jesus said, "lean in real close- i don't want to hear it, but make sure you leave a little space for the Holy Spirit."
The tribute from Hebron with wild exhilaration puckered up his lips in great anticipation
The tribute from Moab applied some lip balm while the tribute from Canaan read us a Psalm.

Then Jimmy Buffet yelled, "No this is wrong. Why don't you all just let me sing a song?"
Jesus pondered this moment and that invitation, it seems his purpose in life was for their justification
The tributes were saved by his body and blood, even Noah was jealous for he endured the flood

In the church that night a new decree had been made, Jesus brings a light that will never fade
The meaning of Christmas was suddenly clear- Salvation through Christ so that God would be near
The people rejoiced and began to tell their friends, it is a love so amazing that it never ends.

The cookies, the treats, they were all just fine, but at the heavenly banquet we're invited to dine.
So, come one, come all, and hear the tale, it's a journey so crunchy but never goes stale.

The story's for you, if you believe it or not, but Jesus will still love you... even if you're a snot.
Here ends our tale of the last Wednesday before Christmas. We hope you enjoyed it and we ask for your forgiveness.