Friday, February 9, 2007

Books on my To Read list

Having a blog creates a cetrtain pressure. I seemed to have something to say for the first few days, but this week my mind has been occupied with sick kids, sick kitten, and motherhood in general. Usually that wouldn't bother me too much, but now I feel this obligation to say something witty or profound at least two or three times a week.

Well, I don't have anything witty or profound right now. So instead, I'll post what I intend to read to spark those witty and/or profound thoughts in the future.

On my To Read stack next to my bed:

Dublin Foundation by Edward Rutherford. Saw this at Borders on the celarance table and decided to go for it. It's huge.

The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by simon Winchester. I read The Professor and the Madman, which was about one of the contributers to the dictionary... a slightly deranged mental patient. That book was interesting, but choppy. I ahven't read a nything else by Winchester, although I find the subjects of several of his books intriguing.

On Being a Theologian of the Cross: Reflections on Luther's Heidelberg Disputation, 1518 by Gerhard Forde. Very small, very dense book. I've actually started this one but put it aside due to holiday demands and haven't picked it back up. I'm trying to understand the differences between the theology of grace and the theology of the cross. I'm trying to keep an open mind...so far I'm fighting my tendency to critique to work and argue with it. Not a light read.

Rereading Paul Together: Protestant and Catholic Perspectives on Justification edited by David Aune. Another dense book, it was recommended by Will's RCIA director and he said he's read it and discuss it with me. the Protestant perspective is from Lutheran perspective (not Missouri Synod).

Others on my To Read list but not presently in residence in my house (and I don't have all the authors' names handy):

Freakonomics I'm curious about some of his assertions.

Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy Tyson. this is the true story of a racially motivated slaying in Oxford, NC in 1970. It gives the history of civil rights in general, and in the small-town south in particular. I've read a few pages here and there in the book and think it will be a worthwhile read. Powerful.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Hurston? I've ordered this to read for a book discussion.

The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less - I read the summary of the book and thought, "That's me! So many choices that I never feel happy about any I make. I'm always second-guessing myself and lacking confidence that I made the "right" decision.

Now, off to try to re-order my days so I take the time to concentrate on reading! Then I might have insightful or witty comments to share!

Carrie

2 comments:

NoVA Dad said...

I hope you'll post a review/summary of the Luther book. I took a class on the reformations (yes, I was surprised to find there was more than one) during my brief stint in graduate school, and was disappointed we couldn't delve more into specific areas. This sounds like an intriguing book.....

- Matt

carrie said...

I'll try to post a summay, although the book is so densely packed I'm not sure how I'd begin! It's such a deceptively small book, too. ;-)

I'll let you know when I get through it!
Carrie