Completion Date: 05.03.2010
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 158
Most Memorable Quote:
"When you discard arrogance, complexity, and a few other things that get in the way, sooner or later you will discover that simple, childlike, and mysterious secret known to those of the Uncarved Block: Life is Fun." -- I love this quote because it describes, in essence, if you look at each part of that quote, the whole theme of the book. It's a very eloquent way of saying that life really isn't as complicated as it is generally made out to be.
I absolutely loved this book; it is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of all time. It's exceptionally different from most books that I've ever read.
Taoism is a very seldom understood way of life. Many find that the only ones that can fully understand or explain it are those old Chinese philosophers who often seem too distant and impossible to relate to. Benjamin Hoff took the task to explain some fundamentals of Taoism through the beloved and well-known Pooh Bear and all his friends in the 100-acre woods.
In this book, everything from the basics of what Taoism is to the principle of the Uncarved block is explained in terms that I could relate to exceptionally well. I discovered that, whereas it's a beautiful belief system, etched with simplicity and harmony with the Universe, I would suck as a Taoist. A quote from the book simply made me giggle, as it explained me so well:
"The surest way to become Tense, Awkward, and Confused is to develop a mind that tries too hard - one that thinks too much."
That...is me. I think. And I think. And I over think. And I over think my over thinking. And honestly, you will never meet some one more tense, I'm almost incapable of relaxing; awkward, I suck at making conversation and being around people; and confused, I'm pretty sure my mind is permanently boggled by things like religion, politics, and boys; and I can definitely see that it's my need to think about things through and through that's to blame. I would love to be a Taoist, but my very nature seems to be against it.
The point in all this rambling about how much I would suck as a Taoist is that I have a lot that I can learn and take from a book like this. Whereas I can't call myself a Taoist, I can attempt to apply Taoist principles to my life to make myself happy, and a book that can help me understand how to do so in simpler terms is a great book.
"Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got."
Knowledge, and wisdom, and skepticism isn't everything in the world. It's important to stop and smell the roses every now and then, and not get all caught up and stressed over things that are going on. According to Taoism, the pieces will fall where they may and worrying about it serves no one. Sometimes, every now and then, you don't need to figure everything out and you need to just accept things for what they are.
"Now, scholars can be very useful and necessary, in their own dull and unamusing way. They provide a lot of information. It's just that there is Something More, and that Something More is what life is really all about."
I loved this book so much. It was just so...good. Read it.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Completion Date: 03.17.2010
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 456
Most Memorable Quote: "We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel his presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us: and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence." -- p. 326.
Pretty neat quote, eh? I thought this a beautiful description of God and how powerful and wonderful He is. The context of this quote is when Jane is worried about Mr. Rochester and she realizes that God wouldn't let a creature He created suffer.
Jane Eyre was an excellent book. It took me about a million and a half years to read, but the story was top notch. Though disguised as a regular classic romantic novel, the book is not only about love but really about overcoming adversity and trials, about God and religion, about independence and forgiveness. It's a very compelling story and there is plenty to take away from it.
Jane Eyre, raised an orphan in an abusive family, was not supposed to succeed in life. When sent to Lowood school she makes friends and role-models, but also suffers humiliation and malnutrition and loses her best friend to illness. She eventually ends up teaching at that school and heading to Thornfield Manor to be a governess to live a simple life. There she tutors Adele, Mr. Rochester's ward.
When Mr. Rochester and Jane meet, Jane is certain Rochester doesn't think much of her. Later she is surprised to find out that he was quite taken from the very beginning. Of course they fall in love, but Bronte made it far more complicated than that. This novel was actually very intriguing at points; it wasn't the usual predictable classic, but it threw in some really shocking plot changes. Events occurred that caused Jane to run away and be taken in by St. John Rivers.
After a while of feeling discontented without Rochester, though happy that she has a family with St. John and his two sisters, Jane goes back to find Rochester to make sure that he's doing alright. There she finds tragedy and worry. I wondered how on earth they could resolve the story in the amount of time that they did and it was difficult to get through the last 100 pages or so, but it was totally worth it -- the book was resolved in a satisfying way for me.
It was just such an interesting book. I love the style of writing and Bronte made a very compelling story for me to read. I suggest this book to anyone who cares anything about their own well being. ;) READ IT.
Sorry about the crappiness of the review. It's like, 2 AM.
[CHECK]
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Completion Date: 7/10/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 165
My Most Memorable Quote: This book was chalk full of awesome sauce quotes. This one is just kind of explaining the government's reasoning and frame of mind.
"If you don't want a house built, hide the nails and wood. If you don't want a man unhappy politically, don't give him two sides of a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, topheavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than people worry over it."
Fahrenheit 451 is rather 1984-esque. Society has made people thoughtless and narrow minded. This America is filled with lawlessness. Everything is set up for the very purpose of entertainment. Don't worry, be happy. Forget war, forget knowledge, forget anything that causes you to worry, be bored, or to think.
Montag, the protagonist, is a fireman. Not one that puts out fires, but one who starts them. His job is to burn books. Anyone caught reading or possessing books is, at the minimum, confined to a mental hospital while the books are burned by the firemen. He's always enjoyed this job, but one day he meets a girl who gets him thinking about things in a new light. Clarisse McClellen makes him start asking why. Why does he burn these books? What could be in them that is worth burning? Eventually this causes him to rebel, get caught, and go on the run.
Honestly, I found this a lot easier to grasp and understand and compare than 1894. Is it because I'm pretty much disgusted at the thought of books being burned, so I payed closer attention? Possibly. But, really, I found it very easy to compare to today's society. The main comparison is that people really are looking for the greatest convenience.
It's that kind of mind frame to which people are really subjecting themselves these days. Why should I read the DaVinci Code if I can just see the movie? BECAUSE IT MAKES YOUR BRAIN WORK. DUH. Oh my land, my computer is so slow, maybe I should upgrade so that I can get to different facebook pages quicker! GO OUTSIDE AND LIVE, YOU PANSIE! Oh, why should I care about politics? BECAUSE IT'S YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR TAXES, YOUR FUTURE. BE AWARE OF IT.
I feel like my generation is underestimating the importance of learning and thinking! People spend way more time watching Spongebob than reading books. People don't need to write letters anymore, they have e-mail. There's no need for face to face communication, we have texting. What is it that the smartest, most talented people are trying to develop these days? More convenience. Trying to make things easier and more "fun." But how can you learn the same amount when you're working so much less?
I think this book really depicts this problem very well. Ray Bradbury writes very clearly and eloquently, and though it went over my head once or twice, I feel like I got some good things out of it, and people really need to read this book. It's fantastic. :)
[CHECK]
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Completion Date: 6/18/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 192
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was pretty difficult because there was a lot to learn in the book. I chose this one just because I felt like it. It just kind of shows how he looked at death and all that stuff.
"--he would not wither. He would not be ashamed of dying. Instead, he would make death his final project, the centerpoint of his days. 'Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what ahppens to me. Learn with me.' "
Tuesdays with Morrie...such a good book. So very sad, but another one of those books that you learn from. The moral of the story is, basically, that we just need to pay more attention to the important things in life; like family, and love, and just being positive and stuff.
When you read about this man whose days are running thin, who is completely dependant upon other people and can't do anything for himself, you wonder how he could not be racked with self-pity. I'm pretty sure I would be. I would pretty much pity myself all the time. I'd be embarrassed by the things people would have to do for me. He, on the other hand, was just always positive. It's absolutely amazing.
This book was very close to making me cry. It is so sad. You become attached to Morrie throughout the book, and as you read about his withering body, you feel some pain. At least, I did. But honestly, it's spectacular. I could read this book a million times over. If you haven't read this book, I'm sorry, but you have to.
[CHECK]
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Prophet by Khalil Gibran
Completion Date: 6/11/2009
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 96
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was a toughie; There are just so many amazing quotes in this book! I almost want to do them all but . . . that would be a lot. So! I'm just going to do two. The first of which just kind of hit me because I just moved and I've found it to be true.
"Ever has it been that love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation."
The second is when the Prophet was asked about joy and sorrow, and he goes on to explain that they are interwoven; You can not have joy without sorrow. I loved this quote, I thought it was just so cool and explains joy and sorrow really well, and kind of turns sorrow into a more positive thing.
"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
Well, I love The Prophet in a different way than how I love Pride and Prejudice; There are so many lessons you learn from it. It's absolutely incredible. While Pride and Prejudice just gives me warm fuzzies because I love Mr. Darcy, The Prophet just leaves me in awe of all the things I can learn from it. This book explains emotions such as love, joy, pain, and sorrow; but it also explains things like beauty, buying, houses, clothing . . .. Somehow or another, he always finds a way to bring it back to religion and God, or applying it to your own goodness, and it's amazing! I mean, really, I was encaptured in the words I was reading; Trying my best to apply it to myself and to learn from it. I really liked, at the end, when he says,
"Less than a promise have I given, and yet more generous have you been to me.
You have given me my deeper thirsting after life.
Surely there is no greater gift to a man than that which turns all his aims into parching lips and all life into a fountain.
And in this lies my honour and my reward, --
That whenever I come to the fountain to drink I find the living water itself thirsty; And it drinks me while I drink it."
It's crazy, I know. I still have to read it a million times to even get any understanding out of it. I mean, that really is a gift and I don't think anyone really thinks about that. That metaphor right there goes pretty far over my head, and every time I think about it, I get different meanings from it, but I think that's what's so great about it.
Well, this was just an intense book. I'll definitely have to read it again when I'm older and have more of an understanding of life and things like that, but I really learned a lot from it right now. I would suggest it to most people. :)
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 96
My Most Memorable Quote: This one was a toughie; There are just so many amazing quotes in this book! I almost want to do them all but . . . that would be a lot. So! I'm just going to do two. The first of which just kind of hit me because I just moved and I've found it to be true.
"Ever has it been that love knows not it's own depth until the hour of separation."
The second is when the Prophet was asked about joy and sorrow, and he goes on to explain that they are interwoven; You can not have joy without sorrow. I loved this quote, I thought it was just so cool and explains joy and sorrow really well, and kind of turns sorrow into a more positive thing.
"The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain."
Well, I love The Prophet in a different way than how I love Pride and Prejudice; There are so many lessons you learn from it. It's absolutely incredible. While Pride and Prejudice just gives me warm fuzzies because I love Mr. Darcy, The Prophet just leaves me in awe of all the things I can learn from it. This book explains emotions such as love, joy, pain, and sorrow; but it also explains things like beauty, buying, houses, clothing . . .. Somehow or another, he always finds a way to bring it back to religion and God, or applying it to your own goodness, and it's amazing! I mean, really, I was encaptured in the words I was reading; Trying my best to apply it to myself and to learn from it. I really liked, at the end, when he says,
"Less than a promise have I given, and yet more generous have you been to me.
You have given me my deeper thirsting after life.
Surely there is no greater gift to a man than that which turns all his aims into parching lips and all life into a fountain.
And in this lies my honour and my reward, --
That whenever I come to the fountain to drink I find the living water itself thirsty; And it drinks me while I drink it."
It's crazy, I know. I still have to read it a million times to even get any understanding out of it. I mean, that really is a gift and I don't think anyone really thinks about that. That metaphor right there goes pretty far over my head, and every time I think about it, I get different meanings from it, but I think that's what's so great about it.
Well, this was just an intense book. I'll definitely have to read it again when I'm older and have more of an understanding of life and things like that, but I really learned a lot from it right now. I would suggest it to most people. :)
[CHECK]
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Completion Date: 6/9/2009
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 367
My Most Memorable Quote (New to the blog!): Yeah, that's right, I'm going with the famous first line. It's just completely epic and very possibly the greatest first line in the whole wide world. It just immediately takes you into the story and tells you what's up. So here it is, My Most Memorable Quote of Pride and Prejudice:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
If you know me, you know that I love this book with a passion. I am such a girl, I know, but it's just amazing! The book is extremely well written, Jane Austen is a genius. You know, I can't help but love the story. It's so romantic, and as much as I like to pretend that I'm a tough, awesome sauce baller, I am also a hopeless romantic. The story just flows beautifully. The characters are just so well developed; you feel for all of them. You feel their embarassment, you feel their pain, you feel their joy . . . SO GOOD.
Well, the story is just incredible. Elizabeth is strong, independent, witty, and just awesome sauce. Mr. Darcy is so proud, but just so incredibly amazing! Their relationship is developed so well, I just love it. My heart melts every time I read that ending . . . .
Well, it's just an amazing book. Many people think that this book is just for girls, but I would respect anyone for reading Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful book!
[CHECK]
Rating: <3
Number of Pages: 367
My Most Memorable Quote (New to the blog!): Yeah, that's right, I'm going with the famous first line. It's just completely epic and very possibly the greatest first line in the whole wide world. It just immediately takes you into the story and tells you what's up. So here it is, My Most Memorable Quote of Pride and Prejudice:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
If you know me, you know that I love this book with a passion. I am such a girl, I know, but it's just amazing! The book is extremely well written, Jane Austen is a genius. You know, I can't help but love the story. It's so romantic, and as much as I like to pretend that I'm a tough, awesome sauce baller, I am also a hopeless romantic. The story just flows beautifully. The characters are just so well developed; you feel for all of them. You feel their embarassment, you feel their pain, you feel their joy . . . SO GOOD.
Well, the story is just incredible. Elizabeth is strong, independent, witty, and just awesome sauce. Mr. Darcy is so proud, but just so incredibly amazing! Their relationship is developed so well, I just love it. My heart melts every time I read that ending . . . .
Well, it's just an amazing book. Many people think that this book is just for girls, but I would respect anyone for reading Pride and Prejudice. It's a wonderful book!
[CHECK]
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Completion Date: 5/26/2009
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 519
I'm not really in the mood to write an especially long or deep review about this book. Sorry. I mean, I definitely could say some stuff in this review, but I'm really not into it.
So! Basically this book is extremely different from the musical. Not especially happy. I mean, it was a good book. It may have gone a tad over my head at points, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It really puts the whole Wizard of Oz thing in a whole new light. It shows that, though Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) was wicked, her intentions weren't such. She had her beliefs, she just carried them out in a more...rude...way. Another thing I liked about this book was that it confronts the nature of evil and good vs. evil a lot, and it's really iteresting to read. It makes your brain work extra hard.
There are some things that I certainly did not like very much in this book. Sex and language were the main things. The Turtle Heart/Melena affair, a few F bombs, Fiyero and Elphaba's affair, were a few of the...risque things that occurred. The thing that I really didn't appreciate very much was describing the night at the Philosophy club in such detail. Very little was gained from that. I suppose that it was just to explain what happened to Tibbit, but Gregory Maguire certainly gave me a little too much information, in my opinion. I can see how Fiyero and Elphaba's affair was necissary to the story, and I didn't mind that too terribly much, but describing human/Animal sex did not make me happy. I'm just warning people that this is not an innocent book in the slightest. Just beware before venturing into the book.
You know, I mostly really liked the book. It's very well written, and it shows that even the Wicked Witch of the West has a soul (even if she, herself, doesn't think she does). All she wanted is forgiveness. It teaches an excellent lesson, and it really is very entertaining. I will admit that this book is certainly not for everyone, so just proceed with caution. :D
[CHECK]
Rating: *
Number of Pages: 519
I'm not really in the mood to write an especially long or deep review about this book. Sorry. I mean, I definitely could say some stuff in this review, but I'm really not into it.
So! Basically this book is extremely different from the musical. Not especially happy. I mean, it was a good book. It may have gone a tad over my head at points, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It really puts the whole Wizard of Oz thing in a whole new light. It shows that, though Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) was wicked, her intentions weren't such. She had her beliefs, she just carried them out in a more...rude...way. Another thing I liked about this book was that it confronts the nature of evil and good vs. evil a lot, and it's really iteresting to read. It makes your brain work extra hard.
There are some things that I certainly did not like very much in this book. Sex and language were the main things. The Turtle Heart/Melena affair, a few F bombs, Fiyero and Elphaba's affair, were a few of the...risque things that occurred. The thing that I really didn't appreciate very much was describing the night at the Philosophy club in such detail. Very little was gained from that. I suppose that it was just to explain what happened to Tibbit, but Gregory Maguire certainly gave me a little too much information, in my opinion. I can see how Fiyero and Elphaba's affair was necissary to the story, and I didn't mind that too terribly much, but describing human/Animal sex did not make me happy. I'm just warning people that this is not an innocent book in the slightest. Just beware before venturing into the book.
You know, I mostly really liked the book. It's very well written, and it shows that even the Wicked Witch of the West has a soul (even if she, herself, doesn't think she does). All she wanted is forgiveness. It teaches an excellent lesson, and it really is very entertaining. I will admit that this book is certainly not for everyone, so just proceed with caution. :D
[CHECK]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
