Books...

Le Père Goriot

2006-11-27T06:28:00.001-08:00

Le romain plus célèbre d'Honoré de Balzac commence comme l'histoire de la maison Vauquer, une pension bourgeoise de la rue Neuve-Sainte Geneviève, L'auteur tisse son oeuvre des personnages variées de Paris pendant les années 1830. Les histoires se mêlent à fin de présenter un romain comme aucun autre d'avant. Il présent Paris comme une ville moderne.

Peut-être que le génie de Balzac est son don de proposer une histoire de plusieurs perspectifs. Dans le Père Goriot, il n'est pas possible de choisir une seule protagoniste. Le livre raconte les histoires du jeune étudiant Eugène de Rastignac et ses aventures amoureuses, de l'arrêt d'un forçat et les perversions à lui, du Père Goriot et la ruine de sa famille, et aussi de la ville de Paris. Les histoires deviennent compliquées grâce a toutes les personnages variées. Mais après y avoir réfléchi, je pense que pour moi c'est surtout l'histoire de combat entre l'ambitieux étudiant Rastignac et Paris, la ville viciée par l'avarice et la luxure de la haute société parisienne.

Balzac utilise le livre pour faire commentaire sur la vie parisienne, après avoir montré que la famille, ni l'amour, ni l'amitié ne dure, il n'offre aucun espoir. Le lecteur voit la corruption lentement dans le vie de Rastignac. Même ayant vu que "les personnes les plus élevées ne sont pas mises hors de la loi du coeur et ne vivent pas sans chagrins", Rastignac continue à poursuivre ses vaines ambitions. Son amoureuse lui dit que les chaînes d'or sont les plus pesantes, mais n'arrive pas à changer ses intentions.

Pour moi, l'histoire est très difficile. Le bon et le mauvais sont mêlés dans chaque caractère. Nous voyons au même temps l'avarice (il dit: L'argent, c'est la vie. Monnaie fait tout) et l'amour pour ses filles dans le bonhomme Goriot. Nous voulons tous la réussite de Rastignac et nous admirons la vertu qu'il proclame "je serai honnête homme toute ma vie. Il y a du plaisir à suivre les inspirations de sa conscience." Mais nous voyons que ses convictions s'atrophie doucement. Dans les filles de Goriot, malgré leurs intentions souvent mauvaises , il y a une aire naïve et passionnante.

A la fin du livre, quand après être mort le Père Goriot, nous voyons le changé étudiant Rastignac au cimetière Père Lachaise. Son éducation parisienne complète, il dit à Paris: à nous deux maintenant. Le combat alors continue.

9/10

Persepolis: the story of a childhood

2006-08-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

I read Marjane Satripi's first book today. Joyce Mosher, my Lit teacher, gave it to me after class. I haven't read a lot of illustrated books like this. But I really enjoyed it. I like the fact that it reads quickly, and yet still communicates richly and even adds strong imagery.

After Lolita in Tehran, this book seems to pick up on the same theme, except it goes in a more chronological order. It's an autobiographical ... It's amazing to think that her story isn't uncommon in Iran. Many people live like her.

The book was apparently very highly reviewed. One quote saying it's the defining of a new genre. I think that's exaggerated, but I certainly don't see much of this in the States. in any case, I want to get the sequel. lol.

7/10

Reading Lolita in Tehran

2006-08-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading Azar Nafasi's Lolita in Tehran. At first, I was afraid that it would be a bit girly, but I actually really enjoyed it. It combined several passions of mine: the middle east, culture, and literature. It not only made me want to go to Iran, but also read more.

Nafasi is obviously a student of literature, because the form of the book is very creative. It's divided into different books: lolita, pride and prejudice, Daisy Miller, etc. It's not chronological, but instead mixes it up. She effectively communicates her frustration with the Iranian regime, but she also balances her emotions out by giving lots of facts and history. She effectively goes through the last forty years of iranian history, and the different revolutionary movements. I learned a lot from the book, and I also got a good feeling for the atmosphere there - I think.

8/10

From Beirut to Jerusalem

2006-08-28T13:44:00.000-07:00

Thomas Friedman's book about his experiences in Beyrouth and Jtown is very well written. He makes the history personal and interesting. It's almost all written in narrative format. Even though he's Jewish in a very politically charged situation, he seems to stay fairly objective, if not almost anti-zionist at times.

He goes through the different factions, and introduces you to many historical figures in the middle east. He was amazingly connected, and seems to know everyone of influence - jewish, muslim, druze, aand christian. As you read, you feel like you're reading the journal of an actual player in the negociations and wars.

Good read, and very informative.

8/19

Blue Like Jazz

2006-03-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

Donald Miller has a very low-key, chill style of writing that is humble and easy to follow. Sometimes it's a bit too 'chill', as tho he were trying. Tho I'm not sure I agree with everything in the book, I did find it thought provoking, and I liked the remixed narrative feel to it.

I like how he talks about being missional and relevant. Intentionally befriending those who are different from us is one of his values. He also has a very good way of describing love.

He talks about how in romantic love, we find a little bit of heaven. I like that... In that 'little bit of heaven', we learn to live for something bigger than ourselves. We think about that person all the times, taking on their joy, struggles, and pain. In a similar way, community is a little bit of heaven. Because we start living for something bigger than us. He says community and romantic love are two opposites of loneliness.

Good book... Don't agree with it, but that's half the point. I love his openness... Sometimes he's a bit individualistic, and he's always very independent. I wonder if that's god's will or not ...

7/10

Le Monde, santuaire et champ de bataille

2006-02-27T14:38:00.000-08:00

Je viens juste de lire mon premier livre de Daniel Bourguet. Il est un hermite qui habite dans le sud de la France. Il est le Père de la fraternité spirtuelle des veilleurs - un groupe monastique de l'Eglise Reformée.

Ce livre parle du monde, et comment il est au même temps un santuaire et un champ de bataille. Sa fondation est la prière de Jesus en Jean 17. Il parle aussi de nos coeurs, qui sont aussi des champs de bataille.

Pour moi, c'est évident que Bourguet a eu de vrai revelation. Il y a pas mal des auteurs qui écrit des bons livres, mais celui est plus. J'ai deja entendu Bourguet est un des premiers enseignants Français, et je suis d'accord. Je pense qu'il est un prophet a la france, et peut être le monde. Ce livre m'a beaucoup touché!

J'aime bien comment il presente un point de vue equilibré - le monde est de fois un enemni, mais au même temps, c'est ici que nous vivons notre culte rational... Dieu nous a créé pour vivre notre foi dans ce monde.

9/10

Le Petit Cathéchisme de Martin Luther

2006-02-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Serge gave me a copy of this book last week, and I worked through it pretty quickly. To be honest, I didn't even know what a catechism was. :$ The shame... He said he felt like it was important for me to read some stuff like that.

I enjoyed it. I was surprised to see how I agree with almost everything in it, but have never vocalized it. At the same time, our emphasises are very different. We believe the same, but somehow our foundation has become hidden or misplaced. The most common verse wasn't John 3.16, but the Lord's prayer. The creed was simple, articulate, and well thought through. He also talks about baptism and the Lord's Supper a lot. Which is cool... we seem to have lost a little bit of that emphasis.

Definitely important stuff to read...

6/10

The Cost of Discipleship

2006-02-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

Bonhoeffer has become one of my favourite authors. This book was a bit over my head, but I must have learned something from it, because I often find myself thinking about what he's written. It's easy to see why "The Cost of Discipleship" has become to well known. It's simple reliance on grace, but a high level of commitment.

A few things that stick out are the introduction which describe the need for the revolution in the church. Another is his radical call for a return to the beatitudes. I think I may have almost cried during it. There's something about it that breathes life. It's almost punk rock. lol. The visible community seems to be something God is teaching me about as well. Towards the end he has some great parts about sanctification.

Anyway ... great book. I definitely want to read some more Bonhoeffer.

9/10

Disappointment with God

2006-01-23T04:52:00.000-08:00

Philip Yancey has a very simple and easily-readible style - yet by no means does he sacrifice quality for that. The books delves into hard questions:
- Is God unfair?
- Is God silent?
- Is God hidden?

It is excellent. I will remember this book forever probably. I think that any person who feels disillusioned by what's going on in the church .. people who have pushed past the simple answers and have come back empty handed. A lot of the book is spent on the book of Job and in real life stories. That makes it easy to read and the stories stick in you mind. I'll remember some of the stories for a long time.

This book really spoke to my heart. I guess that after everything that happened over the last few years left me a bit fearful to commit to prayer and faith again. I'm not sure that I'm back, but this book gave a lot of understanding and healing.

Thanks, Philip.

9.5/10

The Purity Principle

2006-01-23T04:50:00.000-08:00

This book by Randy Alcorn is about sexual purity. It's really pretty good... It calls for very high standards and very radical life changes. The only thing I don't like too much is when he starts saying to do specific things and not to do others. It seems a bit legalistic. But perhaps that's what's need. The church is slipping into immorality. Pornography, adultery, sex out marriage, and stuff are destroying the church.

Anyway... good read.

6/10

Da Vinci Code

2005-09-28T14:01:00.001-07:00

Dan Brown's book is incredibly captivating. Unfortunately, the content isn't at all biblical or historical. I'm glad I read, because I now understand the many comments I've heard about the Bible I've heard in school...

Imagine. A Vision for Christians in the Arts

2005-09-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading this book today. Jim Beise, from La Fonderie, lent it to me. It's a quite good book by Steve Turner about how Christians need to be more involved in secular arts - a bit like U2. I really enjoyed it.

He makes the point that make artists feel like they must either lead people into worship or into a knowledge of God, but he feels otherwise, and supports that with scriptures. It's really quite enlightening.

7/10