false 33 224 223 true 5870041 read 1 true 1754145 currently-reading 0 true 1754144 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23379557 to: Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals (Paperback) by Shane Claiborne
If you have read Shane's first book you are getting much of the same. The positive of the book is it did make me ask about how I am using my time and finances. How do I look at the war? Treat the poor? etc. It has convicted me in a good sense and I am glad about that. Hopefully it'll reform my heart closer to God's will.

Now for the negative. A lot of his ideas to solve problems for helping the poor, to me, don't sound like they are really helping the poor. In creating a very temporary fix that in the long run does them no good. Feeding the poor is good. In my mind getting them off the streets for good whether through drug councelling, job placement, etc. is even better. They hand free pizza out to the homeless so they can continue to live on the street. That just seems wrong to me. Sure they got to feed them, but at the end of the day they are still homeless without prospects. Hey, I might be wrong. Plus there seems to be a lot of patting themselves on the back, but not nearly as much on their own backs. The desing of the book is great, but all the added little tidbits were a tad destracting. All in all it was a decent book. I'd have given it three stars, but the negative outweighed the positive. It still did teach me a few things. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/30310250 Jennifer's review of The Last Unicorn
by Peter S. Beagle

If you can find it it's worth watching. It's a cartoon made by the same people who made The Hobbit. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/27357684 to: Letters to Yesenin (Copper Canyon Classics) by Jim Harrison
Probably one of the best books of poetry I have read in a while. It was so heart breaking and accessable. These poems are letters to the Russian poet Yesenin who committed suicide after composing his final poem in blood. You see the phantom of suicide throughout these letters as he tries to deal with drug addiction and depression. Brilliant read! I am becoming more of a fan of his work each time. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/25747039 to: Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring) by Christopher Hitchens
You get the usual Hitchens with this book. His advise to the young contrarians is partially helpful. His belief that all religion is bad denies a large body that has done a lot of good for man kind. He is pretty much a one trick pony, but can be compelling none-the-less. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/14288368 to: The Book of Light (Paperback) by Lucille Clifton
I have been fortunate enough to have sat at her feet on numerous occassions and just listen to the brilliance of her poetry. In fact, floating around somewhere is a video of me asking her and Mark Doty a question at the Dodge Poetry Fest shown on PBS. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23737404 to: Jim & Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversation About Faith, Churches, and Well-meaning Christians (Hardcover) by Jim Henderson
A few nights ago I watched a 60 Minutes look at a certain celebrity pastor. The more I watched him say just the right things and answer the questions with just the right amount of savvy I realized how glad I don't attend this persons church. Even the reporter noticed that this person managed to take Jesus almost entirely out of the equation. To which this pastor replied:
"I use some scripture to back up my claim."
And it was amazing to see this huge impressive building, rennovated with about $100 million dollars with light shows, waterfalls, stadium seatings, a podium (not a pulpit), and no cross. With all its impressiveness the building looked so cold and uninviting. A place where a Christian can go to hide, get cotton candy preaching, and never have to spend any real time with any member of his church. I am grateful for the church I have.

An insightful look into the modern evangelical movement. Definitely worth a read. He looks at all the biggies like the emergent movement, Saddleback, Olesteen, etc through an atheists eyes. And throughout he asks the question, "Is this what Jesus taught?" ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/24066415 Shawna's review of Pretty In Pink: The Golden Age of Teenage Movies
by Jonathan Bernstein

Too funny! I have to read this book. Let me know how it is. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/23737743 to: What? 108 Zen Poems (paper) by Allen Ginsberg
Perfect little snapshots of poetry. I am not a buddhist, but I can appreciate their brilliance. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22534628 Emanuel's review of Other Voices, Other Rooms (Vintage International)
by Truman Capote

Great book. I got into a discussion with a book group about whether we thought it was autobiographical or not. We know for sure that the young girl was based off of Harper Lee while Dill from To Kill A Mockingbird was based off of Capote. Other than that we weren't sure. ]]>