Ten Books I HAD to Have… Still Sitting on my Shelf
I’ve seen posts on this at Reading to Know and Magistra Mater, and I’ve been bracing for this little exercise in literary self-flagellation. Though the list could go on much longer then ten books, here are the first ten that meet the eye when I glance at my shelves:
I really, really wanted to like this book after reading Jacobs’ The Narnian. But it was a book of a different color — densely theoretical and nearly unreadable with the burden of academic jargon. I actually wondered if it was a revision of the author’s doctoral dissertation. I am still intrigued by the idea and maybe I’ll return to it — but not anytime soon.
This one is classed as C.S. Lewis’s best work of criticism and most reflective of his impressive learning. It’s not a book of apologetics but of scholarship, and I’m curious about it. But the proper frame of mind hasn’t yet fluttered into place…
This one sits on my Kindle and not on my shelf, half-read. It lost me at this passage, early on:
The language of God seems mostly metaphor. His love is like a red, red rose. His love is like the old waiter with shingles, the guitar-playing Buddhist tramp, the raped child and the one who raped her. There is no image too far-fetched…
I beg to differ.
Moving right along to #4:
Brilliant book. I’m still brimming with enthusiasm about it. I just can’t seem to get through it.
The Cliff Notes version of Lewis’s immense reading. This contains blurbs and excerpts from writers that Lewis read. I can’t seem to get into it, and I comfort myself with the obvious: Lewis didn’t experience these writers this way either.
I thought the movie was good, but in the book I couldn’t like the main character at all. Brilliant, yes; admirable, no.
Maybe I just haven’t gotten into the right mood for this sequel to Three Cups of Tea yet. I picked it up at a local publisher’s book sale.
I like the content of this book, but this approach to devotional time as a family doesn’t work for us.
This was one of the first books I bought for my Kindle, and I’m halfway through it. I put it down a month or so ago when I got bogged down in education policy and will pick it up again eventually. You might not agree with all of this president’s decisions, but his decisiveness, liking for people, and leadership skill are impressive. We could use more of all these qualities at the top these days!
I actually paid a pretty penny for this older version of Hillyer’s book, but I can get only so far before I’m overwhelmed by the number of things that bug me about it. I think it’s going to go into the sale box.
Of course I have plenty of others. What are ten of yours?
11 Comments
Carrie, Reading to Know
ARG! You increased my wish list!!!! The whole first half of your list is going straight on my Amazon list. =P to you!
Carol in Oregon
You’ve made me so curious to know more of your thoughts about Hillyer’s book. Please?
Janet
It’s been awhile since I picked it up, and the things that rubbed me the wrong way may have been smoothed out in more recent editions. Also, I have never gotten far into it at all, so my reactions aren’t worth much.
In general it’s the tone/point of view that has bothered me — striving for a “scientific detachment” on one hand while being blind to certain biases in his interpretation of history.
It’s my own fault. I bought it because I wanted “the real deal” and not a pc-overhaul of the book. As it turns out, the dated aspects of “the real deal” seem to be what I struggle with.
Lisa notes...
I really enjoyed reading your list. :-) Of course you had me at your title. I have books like these too, that I just HAD to get, but I have yet to read. All for good reasons, too. I have an older copy of A Child’s History and have read through it and learned a lot, but like you, there were a few things that bugged me too. Happy reading! (Or not. ha.)
Janet
I would learn a lot from it too, I’m sure. Maybe it’s worth keeping and trying again.
Another history I liked better was EH Gombrich’s ‘Little History of the World.’ I liked its attitude of wonder.
Sheila
I’m scared to try that exercise! :)
I did like Decision Points. I skipped the education policy stuff. Thanks for that “recommendation” of the dinner time devotional book. It *might* work for us.
Are you my friend on GoodReads?
Janet
No — I’m not on GoodReads.
I’ve picked up DP again this week and I like it too. I think I just needed a break and a change of scene for awhile. :-)
Mouseprints
I’m with Sheila: too close an examination of my shelves might be a scary thing. But it needs to be done. (Sigh.)
Barbara H.
I should do this some time, though since our move many books have been purged from the shelves (some are in boxes because I still can’t let go of them…
I differ, too, with that quote from The Alphabet of Grace.
I’ve thought about checking Bush’s book — I may thumb through it some time.
H West
Nourishing Traditions- Sally Fallon, Toward a More Natural Science- Leon R. Kass, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance- Robert M. Pirsig, The Long Loneliness- Dorothy Day, Following Christ in a Consumer Society- Kabanaugh, Small is Beautiful- E. F. Schumacher, The Eucharist- Alexander Schmemann, Our Church and Our Children- Koulomzin, Theology of the Icon- Ouspensky, The Politics of God and the Politics of Man- Jacques Ellul.
There. You asked for it. Geesh. You would.
H West
Oh, and thanks for just adding more to my pile. You’d go and do that too.