|
February 07
|
|
Eli
is currently reading:
A Confederacy of Dunces (Paperback)
by John Kennedy Toole
bookshelves:
currently-reading
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in February, 2008
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
A Christmas Carol (Great Stories)
by Charles Dickens
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
The Scarlet Letter (Penguin Classics)
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
The Great Gatsby -- Penguin Critical Studies Guide (Paperback)
by Kathleen Parkinson
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
Commanches and Mennonites on the Oklahoma Plains
by Marvin E. Kroeker
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
recommended to Eli by:
my grandmother
recommended for: all who want learn more about life on the plains
read in January, 2008
Eli said:
"Good read,
The book chronicles the story of the Post Oak Mennonite Brethren Mission in Southwest Oklahoma- reportedly the longest standing Christian mission to Native Americans in the US. For me personally, this book meant a lot because of family...more
Good read,
The book chronicles the story of the Post Oak Mennonite Brethren Mission in Southwest Oklahoma- reportedly the longest standing Christian mission to Native Americans in the US. For me personally, this book meant a lot because of family ties to the mission. My grandmother is still a member of Post Oak and many of our family friends are as well. My father and his siblings grew up with the Mennonites and the native tribes and it is very much a part of our history.
Post Oak was unique in many ways including its diversity of Comanche, Kiowa, Apache and other tribes people, also many Mexicans, a broad group of Caucasians and even interacted with other Christian denominations. It is fabulous to see the love and warmth shared among such a diverse group, all-the-while amidst a stormy and divisive American political climate.
The book includes numerous references and wonderful old photos depicting the beauty and harshness of life on the plains and the cumbersome nature of dealing with often ridiculous and sometimes cruel practices of the US government and/or local white populations. It really made me rethink some of my own naïve notions of grandeur regarding Native American culture, people and policies of the time. The book does a great job of documenting the tough decisions that had to be made and the immense difficulties in helping the local populations through.
Magdalena and A.J. Becker are the central figures of this book, their relentless work ethic and unending love for the local populations apparent. I very much admired their steadfastness, but most especially the “hands on” manner in which they embraced all people regardless of cultural heritage and gave of themselves for the betterment of life in the region. It is a shining example of selflessness and a wonderful testament to Jesus’ commandment to “love as we would like to be loved.”
It is a very interesting book and a unique story of cooperation and survival among diverse peoples on the open plains.
...less
"
|
|
February 06
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
Father Joe: The Man Who Saved My Soul (Paperback)
by Tony Hendra
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in February, 2008
Eli said:
"Interesting read,
Hendra is a unique sort with a thoroughly unique story.
His writing style is a bit choppy and sometimes borders on incoherent, but the feelings run deep in this account of his personal road to salvation, his relationship wit...more
Interesting read,
Hendra is a unique sort with a thoroughly unique story.
His writing style is a bit choppy and sometimes borders on incoherent, but the feelings run deep in this account of his personal road to salvation, his relationship with Father Joe, and his many extremes along the way.
Hendra has led a very interesting life. The book touches on many personalities and accomplishments in his many years as a satirist and quasi-humorist. He is clearly a talented and intelligent man. But these were not the greatest of what he has to offer in my view...
I very much enjoyed his descriptions of faith, failure and friendship. These were by far the most insightful and memorable aspects of his story. One quote that I thought to be especially good:
“Your true friend joins you on a voyage across the sea of self, whose outcome neither can know as they board, and which will change them both forever.”
The book felt like two very different books depicting two very different lives in one. As with many of us (and I can relate), Hendra finds an early form of faith in the church of his upbringing, then systematically tests and defies his faith, eventually to find his own, more tested and personalized version of it in the end. Father Joe helps him along the way.
I would recommend Father Joe and consider the book a good read… well worth the time and a good source of inspiration in our own journey of faith.
...less
"
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
Oh What a Slaughter: Massacres in the American West: 1846--1890 (Hardcover)
by Larry McMurtry
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
recommended to Eli by:
library
recommended for: Americans who want a more complete understanding of their history
read in December, 2007
Eli said:
"Haunting read,
McMurtry does a pretty good job of documenting and telling the stories of some of our nations greatest travesties and bloodiest human massacres. It is not a happy book. However, after having read various accounts of many of these ...more
Haunting read,
McMurtry does a pretty good job of documenting and telling the stories of some of our nations greatest travesties and bloodiest human massacres. It is not a happy book. However, after having read various accounts of many of these stories, it was refreshing to hear what at least seemed like a more fully informed depiction of the characters and details involved.
His writing style is a bit stayed, but the information gained is sobering and the stories are healthy for all Americans to know took place. We need to understand these stories and the factors leading to them in order to better understand our own identity as a nation. For all the good in America, there has been a good deal of bad dealt out as well, and we need to acknowledge what has taken place.
We also must teach our children in order to avoid such horrid acts moving forward, both here and abroad, as there is nothing more precious than human life! Hopefully this book will bring that sentiment out in all of us.
...less
"
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
This House of Sky: Landscapes of a Western Mind (Paperback)
by Ivan Doig
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
read in January, 2008
Eli said:
"Enjoyable read,
Doig tells a story of days gone by and the challenges faced by the settlers of the untamed West. I did enjoy many of the characters and his personal story of growing up in a remote farming and ranching environment, as I too am a co...more
Enjoyable read,
Doig tells a story of days gone by and the challenges faced by the settlers of the untamed West. I did enjoy many of the characters and his personal story of growing up in a remote farming and ranching environment, as I too am a country boy.
It is sad to see the way that America has changed, losing its innocence along the way. He provides many personal examples of the suffering endured by his family and others as they struggled against the elements and the shift in economy from family to corporate agriculture in this country. I, like Doig, miss the "good ol days" and am often nostalgic toward the way it used to be.
I also related well to his decision to leave agriculture and find his own way, a new way, to build a fortune and family legacy that is less susceptible to the disasters (natural and economic) that all too often haunt farming families. This being said, I now long to have a piece of land and to enjoy the same open spaces and simple living that we enjoyed then.
On a related side note and personal commentary:
It seems crazy that the corporations are taking over almost every aspect of life in this country and that we are letting it happen. The farm was simply one of the first major building blocks of our society to fall prey to corporate greed and inhumane "efficiencies". There have been many to fall since. I shudder to think of what will come next.
Anyway, if you like personal stories and want to hear about one family’s struggle to make it through the good times and bad in the untamed wilderness… this book is for you. Good reading.
...less
"
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
The Glass Castle: A Memoir (Paperback)
by Jeannette Walls
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
recommended to Eli by:
a good friend
recommended for: everyone
read in February, 2008
Eli said:
"Excellent read,
Walls has an extraordinary knack for storytelling, a keen sense of recall and the ability to place you in the room as her unique childhood unfolds. Her experiences are often bizarre, but never boring. They show joys and pains of ...more
Excellent read,
Walls has an extraordinary knack for storytelling, a keen sense of recall and the ability to place you in the room as her unique childhood unfolds. Her experiences are often bizarre, but never boring. They show joys and pains of growing up and don’t attempt to camouflage the imperfections of family or the inherent human limitations we all face. In the end, she does a superb job of reminding us of the innocence of childhood and in many ways- the beauty of life.
I think the dedication to her husband at the beginning of the book is great:
“To John, for convincing me that everyone who is interesting has a past”
Isn’t that the truth? It certainly is in my experience. Her stories may be more interesting than some of us could possibly muster, but I think we can all relate to Walls and to her siblings as they struggle on the path toward adulthood. Her courage to share them is a true testament to her strength and to the support of her husband and family. She has won the respect and admiration of this reader.
Lastly, I could relate to her and to the characters in the book in many ways. The book spurred me to consider many aspects of my own childhood as well as my perceptions of experiences good and bad. It’s great to read a book that makes you think, or rethink your own story…
I recommend this book highly to all comers!
...less
"
|
|
December 20, 2007
|
|
Eli
gave
to:
1,000 Places to See Before You Die (Paperback)
by Patricia Schultz
|
my rating:
Added to my books!
add my review
|
| |
|
