Thursday, August 17, 2006

I got book tagged

1. One book that changed your life:
Fear and Trembling by Kierkegaard.

I must say though it wasn’t the book that changed my life, it was a very specific act of grace from God that changed my life and the book was there to put words to that grace.

2. One book you've read more than once:
Ann Likes Red.

I don’t read books twice. But in my childhood I “read” this one incessantly, before I could read. Otherwise my chemistry and physics textbooks—I’ve read those more than once.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
The scriptures, with apocrypha in their original language.

4. One book that made you laugh:
The books I read, don’t usually make me laugh.

5. One book that made you cry:
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving or The Martyrs Mirror

6. One book you wish had been written:
A two part book named Friendship: A historical survey of exceptional friendships and a guide to nurturing lasting friendships.

I am ecstatic that my seminary is offering a course on spiritual friendship.

7. One book you wish had never been written:
Home Fires by some uneducated soul who didn’t know how to write.

I was 13 and my mom bought the book for me for Christmas from a conservative Mennonite publishing house. I felt bad because we were poor and she had sacrificed a lot to get the book for me but by the 3rd chapter I couldn’t take it anymore. “Mom, even I could write better than this author—the story-line is all confused.” It was a formative moment. I decided I wouldn’t publish, unless it was good, reeeeally good.

8. One book you're currently reading:
Umm. I’ve always turned my books over so the title is not visible because I always get a reaction from people about the sort of thing I’m currently reading. Why would I turn the books over, now, broadcasting their titles over a public blog? I think there are close to 20 of them.

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
All the books above, that are turned over, that I need to finish reading.

10. Now tag 1person:
I tag Jesus—as in el Cristo.

4 comments:

Blorge said...

It sounds like you've got a hang up about what you're reading...

I only turn the book over when I am in the reading "zone" and don't want to have to interact with others. Otherwise, I like striking up conversations about what I'm reading or what the other person is reading. Usually, I just get a reaction like, "oh, it sounds like a seminary book" and I say "ya, it is." but sometimes I get people who think it is interesting enough to ask another question and I've had really fun conversations trying to put into everyday language what I'm making my way through.


What's the difference between saying what you have read and what you are reading now that you don't want people to know what you're currently going through but you'll tell us what you have already read? Is there a special magical button that gets pushed when you read the last sentence of the book?

I was going through five books when I posted mine and have finished two, but I only put one book up because it was the one I decided to share (and because the question only asked for one).

You mean to tell me that of the 20 books you're reading, you can't even tell your readers one single book? Now that's what I call veiled communication!

Anonymous said...

It's what I call a careful Mennonite.

I'm still immature enough that I sometimes allow people to see a select title or two in my current half-read category just to provoke some discussion. Or maybe its public ego...see I read books about this. lol

Blorge said...

Javan,
explain more to me about what it means to be a careful Mennonite. Why can't others know what you're reading? Especially on your blog, which generally has readers who are interested in you and what you're reading... Help me understand, because it really doesn't make sense to me.

I tagged her because I wanted to know the info and she seems to be avoiding giving it out. Is it a medium thing?

espíritu paz said...

Yes, I envy people who easily barf out anything they wish to say. Prima facia it smacks of freedom. But at second study it can be an irresponsible freedom that could infringe on someone else’s freedom or peace of mind. My mentor keeps telling me—if people watch you and listen to you, you can’t just let anything fall out of your mouth. I didn’t feel I could just unveil my booklist without extensive commentary here. Right now I am reading stuff that would either offend or freak out at the least somebody in my audience. I’ve got a very mixed audience now (thanks, to those of you who expanded it)—each of which needs a slightly different commentary for why I’m reading whatever particular book. Ask me personally, and I would be more than happy to elaborate and give contextual commentary. I’m not trying to be mean or patronizing. I’m trying to avoid situations like the one where librarians have censored/edited my inter-library loan request list. There have been severe disagreements, even family fights over the books found in my possession, not to mention the shock or reactionary wide-eyed look of fear on others faces. What one reads matters a lot to other people, I guess. And I don’t read stuff that is bad—its just weird and scary to those who don’t know me deeply.