Mission Safari: The Next Chapter(s): Trying Something New

June 04, 2008

Trying Something New

As many of you know, I love to read. I have posting my book reading lists the past 3 years (on the right hand side of the blog) and have tried to right short blurbs or thoughts on the books. While away on vacation, I decided I wanted to give an extended book review on the next couple of books that I read. I hope to give an introduction, plot summary, strengths and weaknesses, and what I am terming "Kingdom Lessons." I will post them and see what kind of response it generates.

I decided it was time to try something new for the blog.

June 04, 2008 | Permalink

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Comments

I like the new Book Review idea. :)

Posted by: Jon | June 09, 2008 at 11:54 AM

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2009 Book List

pearl buck: Imperial Woman
I read this book while we were in China. I enjoyed reading this historical novel as it gave me background information on the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. The story was pretty interesting as well. (***)
Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee (Dee Goong An) (Detective Stories)
This is a pretty good Chinese detective story written in the 18th century and translated into English in the 20th century. (****)
Yiyun Li: The Vagrants: A Novel
This story is set in the 1970's and tells the tragic story about a town involved in the Democratic Wall Movement, a pre-Tiananmen Square political movement. The author paints a very real, sobering picture of life in China during this volatile time. Although it doesn't directly discuss one child policies, it helps provide insight to the recent challenges of life in China that lead to international adoption. (*****)
Robert van Gulik: The Chinese Maze Murders: A Judge Dee Mystery (Gulik, Robert Hans, Judge Dee Mystery.)
This mystery novel is set in 1800 China. The book is a gem. Besides being a good read, it provides some historical insight to Imperial China. I look forward to reading more by this author. (****)
Pearl S. Buck: The Good Earth (Enriched Classics)
As we get close to leaving for China, I have decided to read a few fictional works about China. My first was the old classic The Good Earth. I read it sometime in high school but realized that I didn't remember much about it. Anyway, the book was very revealing about pre-Revolutionary Chinese thought and reliance on agriculture. I understand better why it is considered a classic. (****)
Ken Follett: World Without End
This 1000 page tome was worth the time it took to read it. This was the "sequel" of sorts to Pillars of the Earth. I would not have imagined I could be so engrossed by the lives of English peasants and nobility from the 14th century. (****)
Russell D. Moore: Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches
A Must Read for anyone interested in adoption, believes in adoption, wants to support adoption, or has been adopted (physically or spiritually). The author explains our adoption in Christ, and then makes a case for why the church needs to see adoption as missional. (*****)
Dava Sobel: Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
A very interesting true story about how longitude was discovered. Particularly interesting after reading all the Hornblower books. (***)
C.S. Forester: Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Lord Hornblower (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Commodore Hornblower (Hornblower, 9)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Flying Colours (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Hornblower and the Atropos (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Ship of the Line (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Hornblower : Beat to Quarters
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Hornblower During the Crisis (Hornblower Saga)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Hornblower and the "Hotspur" (Hornblower Series)
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Lieutenant Hornblower
(*****)
C.S. Forester: Mr. Midshipman Hornblower (Hornblower Saga)
The Hornblower books were recommended to me in February. I read all 11 books in the span of 4 months. Much like the Patrick O'Brian novels, but also much different. I loved going "back to sea again." (*****)
Andrew Klavan: Empire of Lies (Otto Penzler Book)
The 2nd Klavan mystery I have read. A much better plot. The author is a believer. The protagonist is a believer. The plot shows the raw reality of living out your faith...temptation, failure, victory, and everything in between. (****)
Dave Eggers: What Is the What (Vintage)
An incredible story about one man's journey across and out of Sudan. Having lived in Kenya there was much that I could understand about his confusions of not knowing where to call home (the old village, the refugee camp, America?). (*****)
Andrew Klavan: Damnation Street (Weiss and Bishop Novels)
Interesting story. A bit krass at times, but good for mystery novels.
Charles Dickens: A Tale of Two Cities (Penguin Classics)
Another great tale by Dickens! (****)
Mary Shelley: Frankenstein: Or The Modern Prometheus (Puffin Classics)
The novel is so much better than any of the movies or cartoons. But isn't that true of most books. (****)
Charles Dickens: David Copperfield (Signet Classics)
One of my favorite Dickens stories. It started "slow" but grew on me quick. Was sad to finish it. (****)

2008 Book List

Ken Follett: The Pillars of the Earth (Deluxe Edition) (Oprah's Book Club)
A great historical novel. Compelling, engaging, and inspiring. A reminder that hard things are time-consuming, but worth doing. (*****)
Timothy Keller: The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
An incredible book answering the skeptic's questions. Very thought provoking. More importantly, very gracious. (*****)
Stephan Talty: Empire of Blue Water: Captain Morgan's Great Pirate Army, the Epic Battle for the Americas, and the Catastrophe That Ended the Outlaws' Bloody Reign
A very cool read about Captain Morgan. Aaarrrggh! (****)
Bill Willingham: Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Very interesting but not for young eyes...PG-13/R. (***)
Marjane Satrapi: Chicken with Plums
Another great graphic novel. (****)
Brian K. Vaughan: Pride of Baghdad
Great Graphic Novel. Incredible allegory for the people of Baghdad. Based on a true story. (*****)
Ngugi Wa'Thiong'O: Wizard of the Crow: A novel
A tremendous novel that reveals incredible insight to the African mind. A "fictional" country with a "fictional" tyrant and the havoc his reign brings to this country. A full analysis is forthcoming. A must-read if you want to better understand why Africans think the way they do. (*****)
Shaun Tan: The Arrival
A Phenonimal graphic novel. Not a single printed word, but oh the story this book tells. See my long analysis from June 4, 2008 for more details. (*****)
Bill Bryson: The Mother Tongue
A much different book by Bill Bryson, but still very funny and very informative. The author takes the reader on a very interesting journey back in time to explain the origins of the English language. He points out the many quirks and beauties of the language. An interesting book. (***)
Ceridwen Dovey: Blood Kin: A Novel
This new novel is extremely well written. It tells the story of a President who is overthrown in a coup. It follows the story of his barber, his painter, and his chef. It shows how pervasive and insidious corruption poisons not only those in power, but those around those in power. It is an intense portrayal of how we all desire power, wealth, and flesh. What makes the story even more interesting is that none of the character's are named, nor is the country. You realize that it makes the story applicable to every person and place. Scary! Well worth the read. (*****)
Leo Tolstoy: Master and Man and Other Stories (Penguin Classics)
I really enjoyed this book of three short stories by Leo Tolstoy. The first two stories, Father Sergius and Master and Man, clearly show man's fallenness and his attempts at self-redemption (and the subsequent failure in these attempts). They are very thought provoking. I look forward to reading more Tolstoy in the future. (****)
Bill Bryson: Neither Here nor There: Travels in Europe
Another funny travel book by Bryson. Again filled with a bunch of LOL antedotes. It was especially funny and relevant since we travelled Europe last year. I wonder how this author got his job..."hey, let me travel all over the world, eat and drink at your expense, and then write about my insights and misadventures." Sign me up! A few "R" rated pages. (****)
Jeff Shaara: Gone for Soldiers: A Novel of the Mexican War
This historical novel is about the Mexican War and introduces the reader to a bunch of names that will be intertwined in the Civil War. I have enjoyed Jeff Shaara's previous historical novels but this one took over 50 pages to warm up to...far too many. The dialogue and "inside thoughts" were too predictable. Nonetheless, I did enjoy reading about a subject I knew little about. (***)
Bill Bryson: Notes from a Small Island
Another hilarious offering from Bill Bryson. This books continues the theme of my reading so far this year..."books set in a different country than America." The author pokes fun at his adopted country with such subtlety that the English could only agree with his observations. It is hard to read Bill Bryson when Marti is trying to laugh...muffled laughs are louder than I think. (****)
John Grisham: Playing For Pizza: A Novel
This book is a short novel by John Grisham and much different than most of Grisham's novels. It is set in Italy and is about a washed up 3rd string NFL quarterback who rediscovers the joy of playing football when he gets the "opportunity" to be a starting quarterback in an Italian Football League. Nonetheless, it was a joy to read especially since we so enjoyed our time in Italy. (****)
Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner
A very intense read. A moving and dark story about friendship, betrayal, and redemption. The main characters are Afghani and takes place first in pre-Soviet occupation Afghanistan, then the United States, and then in Taliban controlled Afghan. It is an incredible read. (*****)
Bill Bryson: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
Another hilarious Bill Bryson offering. He details his experiences of walking the Applachian Trail with his sidekick Steve Katz. You can imagine the trials and tribulations (real and made up) that he faces as well as the triumphs of "making it." The "everyday man" climbs Mt. Everest (er...walks the AT!). Funny, but a few "R" rated pages. (***)
Bill Bryson: I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away
This is clearly one of the funniest books I have read. The author had lived in Great Britain for over 20 years and returns back to the U.S. with his family. He writes about his "adventures" with reverse culture shock. His observations are "spot on." My face and sides still hurt (from smiling and laughing so hard). Importantly for me personally, he validates a lot of what I was experiencing coming back "home" after living abroad for period. He is one of my new favorite authors. (*****)