Pick the best book I've read this month? Well that's easy. It has to be The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy. When I started it I had no idea that it would turn out to be the sort of book that would make me worry about the characters. This doesn't happen to me very often. I can read books without becoming emotionally involved with the characters, but not this one.
You can read my first thoughts about the novel when I finished it here.
The ending is good, not only because the pace picks up at an alarming rate, but because Hardy doesn't let you get so carried away with the change in direction that you forget about the consequences of the events. He doesn't let you forget that the something that is good for one person isn't always good for everyone else. Some people get left behind. I think that it is this sort of ending that gives the novel a greater depth.
Would I read it again? Without doubt.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Sofa Spotlight - The Woodlanders, Thomas Hardy
I have changed my mind about this book so many times. I started off liking it, it had a dramatic start, but then some of the main characters became annoying. However, by the end I couldn't put it down. Dan Brown eat your heart out, this is a true page turner.
The story is about the love life of Grace Melbury. Born in small village she is sent away to become educated and so rises above her village neighbours on the social ladder. Or so her family think. This education is what causes the most problems in the book. It puts her in the centre of a love triangle worthy of teenage angst novels like The Hunger Games. I can understand why this was Hardy's favourite story. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming and that is what redeemed this book from its mediocre middle chapters.
Giles Winterborne and Edred Fitzpiers are the two lovers. Winterborne is the steady woodsman that has loved Grace all his life and would give up anything for her, but is deemed below her in station. Fitzpiers is the local doctor and lives a stereotypical bad boy lifestyle of Hardy's day. He is loved by many of the local women of varying social standings and Grace at some points wonders why they do so, when he has treated them all so badly.
If you read no other novel this year read this one. It ends so well, although towards the end there is an incident with a mantrap that made me feel a little sick. If you've read it let me know what you thought of it.
The story is about the love life of Grace Melbury. Born in small village she is sent away to become educated and so rises above her village neighbours on the social ladder. Or so her family think. This education is what causes the most problems in the book. It puts her in the centre of a love triangle worthy of teenage angst novels like The Hunger Games. I can understand why this was Hardy's favourite story. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming and that is what redeemed this book from its mediocre middle chapters.
Giles Winterborne and Edred Fitzpiers are the two lovers. Winterborne is the steady woodsman that has loved Grace all his life and would give up anything for her, but is deemed below her in station. Fitzpiers is the local doctor and lives a stereotypical bad boy lifestyle of Hardy's day. He is loved by many of the local women of varying social standings and Grace at some points wonders why they do so, when he has treated them all so badly.
If you read no other novel this year read this one. It ends so well, although towards the end there is an incident with a mantrap that made me feel a little sick. If you've read it let me know what you thought of it.
Monday, 28 April 2014
Sofa Spotlight - Matthew, J. C. Ryle
It took me just over two weeks to read this and it makes my recommended list. My edition is part of The Crossway Classic Commentaries Series, and the cover is much better than most that I have seen for this book. For a commentary it is an easy read. Ryle divides his chapters to follow each of the chapters in Matthew.
In the introduction it explains that Ryle intended his commentary to be used by families as they studied the Bible together. From reading it I think that could be doable. Most of the chapters you can read in about ten minutes. But there are some long ones, and I mean that they are looong. Maybe they should be left for the weekends! I didn't read this with my family and I got on ok with it, don't think there is any problem with working your way through it on your own. If you did a chapter a day in a February that isn't in a leap year you would finish it by the end of the month.
With any book you shouldn't accept everything that it says, and this is true of this book too. There were parts that I don't think that I agree with, but I need to think about them longer before I form my opinion of them. Like any other book you need to think about what you are reading. If you don't agree with something work out why you don't agree. Maybe you will have your mind changed.
What I am taking away from this book is a deeper sense of who Jesus is. It can be hard to shake the image of a gentle Jesus, but Ryle leaves us in no doubt that Jesus was not soft. From beginning to end Ryle explains how Jesus came to deal with the problem of sin. He doesn't soften the awful scene of the cross or the stance that Jesus took on the hypocrisy of his accusers. If Jesus is who He says that He is - the Son of God and the rightful King of this world - then I need to listen to what He has to say and make sure that He is my King.
If you are thinking about trying a commentary as part of your quiet time, this is a good one to start with.
In the introduction it explains that Ryle intended his commentary to be used by families as they studied the Bible together. From reading it I think that could be doable. Most of the chapters you can read in about ten minutes. But there are some long ones, and I mean that they are looong. Maybe they should be left for the weekends! I didn't read this with my family and I got on ok with it, don't think there is any problem with working your way through it on your own. If you did a chapter a day in a February that isn't in a leap year you would finish it by the end of the month.
With any book you shouldn't accept everything that it says, and this is true of this book too. There were parts that I don't think that I agree with, but I need to think about them longer before I form my opinion of them. Like any other book you need to think about what you are reading. If you don't agree with something work out why you don't agree. Maybe you will have your mind changed.
What I am taking away from this book is a deeper sense of who Jesus is. It can be hard to shake the image of a gentle Jesus, but Ryle leaves us in no doubt that Jesus was not soft. From beginning to end Ryle explains how Jesus came to deal with the problem of sin. He doesn't soften the awful scene of the cross or the stance that Jesus took on the hypocrisy of his accusers. If Jesus is who He says that He is - the Son of God and the rightful King of this world - then I need to listen to what He has to say and make sure that He is my King.
If you are thinking about trying a commentary as part of your quiet time, this is a good one to start with.
Saturday, 26 April 2014
How rabbits stopped me getting a bigger piece of pie
The Easter weekend was meant to be when I got ahead on the book challenge. It didn't really happen. Rather than reading I spent time eating these cute little rabbits:
I know I should have eaten the rabbits at the same time as reading but there was a lot going on. Anyway this left me with a very small piece of pie as I have only read five. Out of sixty six. EG managed fifteen. I sense that time is slipping away...
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| Cute rabbits |
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| Cute rabbits about to be eaten |
I know I should have eaten the rabbits at the same time as reading but there was a lot going on. Anyway this left me with a very small piece of pie as I have only read five. Out of sixty six. EG managed fifteen. I sense that time is slipping away...
Thursday, 24 April 2014
The Sofa Shelf - Formula
One new book on the shelf:
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
After my not so fun experience with The Da Vinci Code I have taken a deep breath and started the next in the Robert Langdon series. To be fair I did enjoy Angels and Demons so I have hope for this one. So far it is fitting the formula of the other books. There is a crazy assassin type character and it seems like there will be a race against time. One variation I have noticed is that there hasn't been a horrible murder, this time it is a kidnapping. Although I'm not sure there hasn't been a murder. Something I don't like, which is my own fault, is that the edition that I have is the big hardback version. But it was only £1 from a second hand bookshop so I can't complain too loudly. Just hope I don't have a train journey anytime soon.
The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
After my not so fun experience with The Da Vinci Code I have taken a deep breath and started the next in the Robert Langdon series. To be fair I did enjoy Angels and Demons so I have hope for this one. So far it is fitting the formula of the other books. There is a crazy assassin type character and it seems like there will be a race against time. One variation I have noticed is that there hasn't been a horrible murder, this time it is a kidnapping. Although I'm not sure there hasn't been a murder. Something I don't like, which is my own fault, is that the edition that I have is the big hardback version. But it was only £1 from a second hand bookshop so I can't complain too loudly. Just hope I don't have a train journey anytime soon.
Monday, 21 April 2014
Sofa Shelf Update
A very short update on the shelf:
A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins
Not had time to read any. My heart bleeds.
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
I find myself reading this whenever I can, even if it's only for a few minutes. Once picked up it's hard to put down again. Haven't read much of it since last time. What I like is that the development of the characters is just as good as the mystery surrounding the crime.
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
No reading and not much cycling happening either.
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
Finished it! What I thought is here.
The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy
I have changed my mind about this book. When I started it I liked it and now I'm not sure that I do. It reminds me of The Return of the Native and I wasn't a big fan of that book. In my opinion the characters in these books would do better if they all minded their own business. Although I suppose there wouldn't be much story in it then.
Matthew - J. C. Ryle
This is good. Some of the chapters are longer than I first thought and would take longer than ten minutes to read. Ryle is just as challenging as he was in Holiness and I think I will have a long list of applications at the end. So far an easier read than Holiness.
Celebrated Crimes - Alexandre Dumas
No news on the Borgia family yet, haven't had chance to read much of it. I like books that help me learn and not just entertain and I think this is going to be one of them.
A Book of Narrative Verse - compiled by V. H. Collins
Not had time to read any. My heart bleeds.
The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith
I find myself reading this whenever I can, even if it's only for a few minutes. Once picked up it's hard to put down again. Haven't read much of it since last time. What I like is that the development of the characters is just as good as the mystery surrounding the crime.
Racing Through the Dark - The Fall and Rise of David Millar
No reading and not much cycling happening either.
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
Finished it! What I thought is here.
The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy
I have changed my mind about this book. When I started it I liked it and now I'm not sure that I do. It reminds me of The Return of the Native and I wasn't a big fan of that book. In my opinion the characters in these books would do better if they all minded their own business. Although I suppose there wouldn't be much story in it then.
Matthew - J. C. Ryle
This is good. Some of the chapters are longer than I first thought and would take longer than ten minutes to read. Ryle is just as challenging as he was in Holiness and I think I will have a long list of applications at the end. So far an easier read than Holiness.
Celebrated Crimes - Alexandre Dumas
No news on the Borgia family yet, haven't had chance to read much of it. I like books that help me learn and not just entertain and I think this is going to be one of them.
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Sofa Spotlight - The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown
This is a book that doesn't improve on the second reading. If you have managed to get through life so far without reading this book my advice to you would be, don't bother. I'm sorry if this is your favourite book. I just don't like it. Maybe it's because I'm comparing it to Angels and Demons all the time.
So a quick spoiler free synopsis. Langdon, symbologist expert type person, in Paris scheduled to meet the curator of the Louvre. Louvre curator murdered and body left in a disturbing posture. Langdon and curator's granddaughter embark on a chase around Paris and later London on the trail of the Holy Grail. It all gets messy and the nature of the Holy Grail could have serious implications for Christianity.
I can understand the controversy that this book caused. I'm sure much ink has been spilt about this. I have two small things to say. One is that the book says that most Christians don't know where their faith has its origins. Every Christian should be sure of what the believe in, because if we are wrong then we are to be pitied above all people (1 Corinthians 15:19). There are a couple of books I would recommend if you want to look into the authenticity of the Bible and why Jesus is worth following.
The first is God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts. This book will give you an overview of the Bible, and show you how it all fits together.
The second is A Fresh Start by John Chapman. This one will explain what Christianity is about and why Jesus is important.
The second thing I want to say is that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. I've recently read a blog post about films made by Hollywood. It suggests some ways to view films that offer an opinion or a take on Christianity, in a way other than slating the film from the start. Even though it's about films, and Noah in particular, I think it could be easy to apply it to books. If you're interested this is the link: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2014/04/07/hollywood-movies-and-the-bible-should-we-rewind-on-how-we-view/
I don't think I want to read this book again. It felt like there was loads of build up but then it fizzled out at the end. If you've read it what did you think?
So a quick spoiler free synopsis. Langdon, symbologist expert type person, in Paris scheduled to meet the curator of the Louvre. Louvre curator murdered and body left in a disturbing posture. Langdon and curator's granddaughter embark on a chase around Paris and later London on the trail of the Holy Grail. It all gets messy and the nature of the Holy Grail could have serious implications for Christianity.
I can understand the controversy that this book caused. I'm sure much ink has been spilt about this. I have two small things to say. One is that the book says that most Christians don't know where their faith has its origins. Every Christian should be sure of what the believe in, because if we are wrong then we are to be pitied above all people (1 Corinthians 15:19). There are a couple of books I would recommend if you want to look into the authenticity of the Bible and why Jesus is worth following.
The first is God's Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts. This book will give you an overview of the Bible, and show you how it all fits together.
The second is A Fresh Start by John Chapman. This one will explain what Christianity is about and why Jesus is important.
The second thing I want to say is that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. I've recently read a blog post about films made by Hollywood. It suggests some ways to view films that offer an opinion or a take on Christianity, in a way other than slating the film from the start. Even though it's about films, and Noah in particular, I think it could be easy to apply it to books. If you're interested this is the link: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2014/04/07/hollywood-movies-and-the-bible-should-we-rewind-on-how-we-view/
I don't think I want to read this book again. It felt like there was loads of build up but then it fizzled out at the end. If you've read it what did you think?
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