June BOTM Suggestions

[Naomi-Lynn Marguerite]

Robert wrote: "And I've tried that Bible challenge cover to cover, but I prefer studying it opposed to just leisure reading. The amount of violence in it on par with GOT "

Here what you're saying. I study it as well. My education is Mathematical Physics and Theology. I find that reading it daily, studying as I go along and then reading as a full document each give me a different perspective. Ironically I compare it to the Klingon language as described in Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan by Vonda N. McIntyre. It's one of the reasons I love reading so much. It expands your understanding and what you learn from one thing often applies to another. Which is why I am considered a very odd devout Catholic.

[Naomi-Lynn Marguerite]

Abii wrote: "I'm currently trying to make time to read the King James version of the Holy Bible. It's a very interesting read, to say the least. "

As an FYI ... it is rumoured Shakespeare wrote some of the Psalms and the Book of Luke is considered one of the most beautiful books in the English language. Keep in mind the Bible is full of allegory and God is described as both male and female. Reading it without the mass confusion of what people have yelled the Bible says makes it easier. As you will see with the time of Moses and the Exodus, religion was made for humanity at their demand, not by God. He was content to walk with us in the garden during the quiet of the night. She just wants to be in relationship with us.

[Naomi-Lynn Marguerite]

Rest assured I didn’t sense any negativity at all. I’d love to chat with you about it. Maybe we should set up a new thread.

[Wayne]

Exactly on point but quick reaction to comments on the fire and ice series. Some days I think that fantasy authors just never want to stop a storyline. Once they have created the setting and back story maybe it started with Tolkien then Stephen Donelson Donaldson in the Thomas covenant series (two trilogies) and the super sequences of Tad Williams, Robert Jordan (wheel of Time – 14 books) George EE Martin, Terry Goodkind) sword of truth – 12 books), Brandon Sanderson, the cosmere (a interconnected series dealing with I'm guessing 12 different worlds) and I could go on. And they did too. I met both goodkind and Williams and asked why there are stories seem to grow exponentially. There first responses were similar my publisher let me do it me do it, second you wanted me to do it. Their first book in a series was terrific, the second in a trilogy always was marginal. Then you just hung in and prayed for the Last book. Just saying

[Lisa]

Wayne, I've also wondered about the ever expanding series of fantasy and sci-fi authors. I feel like we see it a lot more with these types of genres because these authors are creating entire new universes. It's not just a story that someone writes about our everyday mundane world that we already know almost everything about. These authors are writing about new planets, new solar systems, new races and sentient creatures and I think that when you are doing something like that, your creative juices really start flowing and you just want to add more and more details. I have no idea if that's the case, but it's what I've always thought about it haha!

How awesome that so many of you have lived in Texas! I was born and raised here and I'll always love it. The open skies make me feel free and there's nothing like a sunset bursting with colors over a golden field.

I agree with your comment Abii about being able to have open and civil conversations about religion. I grew up in the Bible Belt and while, having a bad taste in my mouth because of the extremist and/or hypocritical Christians that can be found around here, I do still consider myself a Christian. That being said, I have been so interested in other religions for as long as I can remember. I love talking about different beliefs and rituals. The way that people from different religions perceive the world and different life events that are common for all humans. I find it fascinating but it can be so hard sometimes to really converse with people about it because it can be such an intimate and important part of a person's identity and they are more likely to experience negative emotions when opening up about it. So it does make me happy to see people talking about it here in such a good way.

If y'all do want to have more discussions like this, I have a thread called Chit Chat that is open to all topics. I try to keep the number of threads and forums down a bit because it's very easy to suddenly have way too many different threads going with people hopping all over the place, trying to keep conversations on certain topics in certain threads and people getting confused as to what's what. Not to mention the fact that, after a while, a thread or forum can totally stop being used and then you have to go back through them, see if there's anything important and then either decide to delete it or not. It's just too much extra stuff to deal with.

P.S. Robert, your comment about the violence in the Bible being on par with the Ice and Fire series made me laugh out loud. XD

[Naomi-Lynn Marguerite]

I grew up in a Protestant family, both of my parents are ministers, and later converted to Catholic -- both Christian faiths (for those who don't realize this). My upbringing was different, focusing on the fact we were awoken with a kiss when He breathed life into humankind and Her only desire is to be in relationship with us and with each other, which should be the whole point of Christianity.

As Jesus says, "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22.37-38 NIV

I look forward to discussing this further with you on the Chit Chat thread. (I've copied this there so we may continue our discussion https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...).

[Brian]

Kafka as summer reading! Angst meets Coppertone! It sounds absurd, but maybe it's one of those matches made in heaven, like chocolate and sauerkraut. If nothing else, it'll serve as a reminder that just because it's sunny out there, it doesn't mean it's not raining on the inside.

[mara0b]

I've never had the chance to read anything from Kafka but maybe this is the perfect opportunity to do so! What should I start from?

[Mallory]

I'm new here and would like to know when July book will be chosen...thanks!

[Whitney]

Mallory wrote: "I'm new here and would like to know when July book will be chosen...thanks!"

There will be a poll created from everyone's suggestions that we will have several days to vote on. I'm guessing probably Monday-Tuesday it will be created.