I thought that was an interesting statement.
Anyways, that statement is not the point of this post. I just through it in there for the heck of it. The point is to say that the book club I've recently joined finished its third book last night. So far we've read the following:
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
by Paulo Coelho
The Power and the Gloryby Graham Greene
The Love of the Last Tycoonby F. Scott Fitzgerald
I can honestly say that I've enjoyed every book we've read so far. (This statement is not to imply that the purpose of a book club or of reading books in general is to enjoy everything you read. It just so happens that, for me, that's been the case thus far.) In its own way, each book has brought new perspective to my ever changing landscape---the lens(es) by which I view the world.The following is not meant in any way to act as a comprehensive list or summary of my entire learnings from the books read for book club thus far. I wouldn't even say that it's intended to highlight key learnings. Take what comes next as simply what it is... a small piece neither first nor last in the grand scheme of my experience with the above mentioned works.
"The Alchemist" invited me to look at the world around me and my relationship with God, nature, and myself in a new and insightful way. Greene's "The Power and the Glory" explored the dichotomy between faith and doubt, sin and righteousness, that exists within a single man. "The Love of the Last Tycoon"---which is really not a complete novel, but rather a collection of 17 existing (out of 31 planned) episodes or mini-chapters left unfinished and in rough form due to Fitzgerald's untimely death at age 44---allowed me to see under the normally complete and tightly woven fabrics of a master writer's work to see the intricacies and processes that come together to create the greater whole. I was able to see a snapshot of the process behind creating what would have been and what, despite its incomplete form, many consider to be the best Hollywood novel.
All that said, I'm excited to read our next book:
Fire in the Belly: On Being a Manby Sam Keen
3 comments:
Is this new book the same one that you bought when you were with me...with the funny inscription on the first page? If not, what's the name of that one?
Haha. No, that was Iron John: A Book about Men, by Robert Bly. (And I just LOVE what had been written on the inside cover of that copy I found. What a fantastic find that was.)
I had contemplated presenting "Iron John" as one of the options for December's book club read, but instead went with "Fire in the Belly". I figured one man book was enough and I haven't read Fire in the Belly yet. I'm excited that it was chosen.
I know, I don't remember all the inscription, but I do remember laughing hard.
Seems like I inadvertently named my blog after a man book. I may have to reconsider...
It's awesome that you're in a book club, by the way.
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