4 books so far this year
Book #4
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
nonfiction; 1988/1998; 197 pp.
date finished: 1/21/08
Did you know that Stephen Hawking hasn't updated his speaking-computer in 20 years because he identifies with that voice? True story. Other than that, universe = yay. It was also quite interesting to read a popular science book where the author isn't afraid to talk about his belief in a higher power AND relate it to science. I tend to believe everyone should lean atheist in common conversation, but I found this very different and thought-provoking. Plus, Stephen Hawking is funny and witty and has an amazingly easy-to-understand way of explaning really complicated stuff.
Grade: A
Book #3
I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight by Margaret Cho
nonfiction; 2005; 237 pp.
date finished: 1/20/08
I read a lot of these essays when she originally wrote them on her blog. I loved them on the blog, but I feel like they're not valuable enough to have been made into a book. Margaret, I love you to DEATH, but you're preaching to the choir.
Grade: B-
Book #2
A Month of Sundays: Searching for the Spirit & My Sister by Julie Mars
nonfiction; 2005; 208 pp.
date finished: 1/14/08
This memoir covers a woman's spiritual quest after caring for her dying sister. The sister, as she's dying, rediscovers her long-lost Catholocism out of a fear that she'll be going to hell. The surviving sister and author, Julie Mars, is tortured by her sister's fears as she's anti-religion herself. But after her sister dies, Julie decides to attend a difference house of worship every week for 31 weeks: a month of Sundays. Each week, she learns something new about herself, her sister, her grief or her own beliefs. I got very engrossed by this toward the end and was very moved by it.
Grade: A-
Book #1
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
nonfiction; 1998; 368 pp.
date finished: 1/7/08
Am I the last person to ever read this book? (Well, not really, because Jason's reading it now?) But I loved this and couldn't put it down. I kept flipping back to the memorial page in the front of the book every time a new character was introduced to see if they'd make it or not. I feel like Jon Krakuer must have faced a lot of awful feelings just for having survived, but there was a lot to think about. I actually found myself wishing this were longer.
Grade: B+
x-posted to my own journal
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
nonfiction; 1988/1998; 197 pp.
date finished: 1/21/08
Did you know that Stephen Hawking hasn't updated his speaking-computer in 20 years because he identifies with that voice? True story. Other than that, universe = yay. It was also quite interesting to read a popular science book where the author isn't afraid to talk about his belief in a higher power AND relate it to science. I tend to believe everyone should lean atheist in common conversation, but I found this very different and thought-provoking. Plus, Stephen Hawking is funny and witty and has an amazingly easy-to-understand way of explaning really complicated stuff.
Grade: A
Book #3
I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight by Margaret Cho
nonfiction; 2005; 237 pp.
date finished: 1/20/08
I read a lot of these essays when she originally wrote them on her blog. I loved them on the blog, but I feel like they're not valuable enough to have been made into a book. Margaret, I love you to DEATH, but you're preaching to the choir.
Grade: B-
Book #2
A Month of Sundays: Searching for the Spirit & My Sister by Julie Mars
nonfiction; 2005; 208 pp.
date finished: 1/14/08
This memoir covers a woman's spiritual quest after caring for her dying sister. The sister, as she's dying, rediscovers her long-lost Catholocism out of a fear that she'll be going to hell. The surviving sister and author, Julie Mars, is tortured by her sister's fears as she's anti-religion herself. But after her sister dies, Julie decides to attend a difference house of worship every week for 31 weeks: a month of Sundays. Each week, she learns something new about herself, her sister, her grief or her own beliefs. I got very engrossed by this toward the end and was very moved by it.
Grade: A-
Book #1
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
nonfiction; 1998; 368 pp.
date finished: 1/7/08
Am I the last person to ever read this book? (Well, not really, because Jason's reading it now?) But I loved this and couldn't put it down. I kept flipping back to the memorial page in the front of the book every time a new character was introduced to see if they'd make it or not. I feel like Jon Krakuer must have faced a lot of awful feelings just for having survived, but there was a lot to think about. I actually found myself wishing this were longer.
Grade: B+
x-posted to my own journal