Reading list

Hmm. So yesterday I was reading my friend Melanie’s blog and she’s got this list on there of one hundred books (you’re supposed to see how many of them you’ve read). So I was going through the list and having a hard time remembering exactly what I’ve read. I know that if I read it, and then forgot it, it probably didn’t do all that much for me. But I had these huge reading lists in college and there were those times when I ended up just renting the movie for lack of time or motivation–and so I was trying to separate those that have been read from those that have been watched. (Terrible, I know, and I shouldn’t really admit to that, but there you have it.) So I was chastising myself and deciding instantly to read all the books on the list that definitely should be read (except for books like Kite Runner–seriously, I just can’t bring myself to choose to be depressed for hours.). Anyway, later on I was considering just how long it’s going to take me to read all those books that I’m not dying to read and I started to feel like maybe reading all those books is not in my immediate future. There are some books that I want to read because I’m interested (like The Shack) and then there are books I want to read because I just really want to read them. I’ve said before that I’m a fan of YA literature. So lately I’ve been reading the Blue Bloods series. It’s fabulous. Vampires and reincarnation and angels–who knows why I love it but I do. I’m also reading a nonfiction book at the moment called The Christian Imagination and it’s great so far. (I do try to intake more than just vampire stories ). I’m also one of those people who likes to reread her favorite books. And if I’m arguing with myself about reading something I feel I should read or reading something like, I don’t know, Harry Potter–Harry Potter would usually win. 

 Check out Mel’s blog and see just how well-read you are. http://melanieandmatt.blogspot.com/

The Escape of Literature

Okay, so if you know me, you know I’m a Harry Potter fan. I saw the latest movie for the second time today and I loved it all over again. My sister and I were talking the other day about the HP series and what exactly is the appeal for us. We both mentioned the incredible storytelling, the satisfactory ending, the humor, and so on. I think people read for three reasons: it’s required; to learn something; or to escape (or be entertained, which can be the same thing). I know I’ve read for all those reasons. I was forced to read books I would never really care to read while in college. I read books about pregnancy while I was pregnant to try to understand that mirace of life (and what I should expect during that traumatizing moment of labor). And I love to read Harry Potter whenever I need to just be entertained for a while. I think these can all intersect, of course. You can learn things from fiction. You can be entertained even by required reading. It’s part of what makes reading so worthwhile.  

I’m reading this fantastic book called The Christian Imagination, which is where I found this great quote by G.K.Chesterton: “Human beings cannot be human without some field of fancy or imagination; some vague idea of the romance of life and even some holiday of the mind in a romance that is a refuge from life.” I love that: holiday of the mind in a romance that is a refuge from life. Do we need a refuge from life? Um, I’m just speaking for me here but I say yes. If you don’t think so, then your life is more perfect than mine or you’re just better at coping than I am. (Both of which are fine.)

Remember Anne of Green Gables? I can hear Anne telling Marilla (in regard to Marilla’s lack of imagination), “Oh, Marilla, how much you miss.” Now I know that not everyone is a Harry Potter fan, and that’s okay. We can all enjoy different styles and genres of books. But, for me, the escape of that kind of reading is something I would not want to miss. I am certain that I  could never be as creative as J.K.Rowling, but I can enjoy her creativity as much as I want.

Perhaps literature isn’t always designed to be an escape. I’m thinking of some of those very boring books which feel more like a life sentence, rather than an escape. But then there are those moments when you find some piece of literature that turns out to be just what you needed. Maybe you connect with the message. Maybe you just love the story. Maybe it challenged and amazed you. If you haven’t found that lately, you might consider taking a quick trip to Barnes & Noble.

Stuck

So do you ever feel like you just need a vacation from your life? Like maybe you should drop everything and start living in a fantastic cottage somewhere in Scotland where you have charming neighbors and a really pretty Christmas wreath for your front door.

I know. We all have those days/moments when we just look off into the distance and imagine a different life. It’s not that you really want to exchange all that you have for that different life–just maybe a week or two would be enough to refresh and inspire you. I was thinking that maybe this is one reason why writers write. It gives them the chance to immerse themselves in a different world/life for just a little while.

Escape is the word I’m looking for. 

We’re trying to sell our house at the moment, and as you know, it’s not the greatest time to try to do that. Which is so frustrating. Because when you’re ready to be somewhere different–you just want it to happen. It reminds me of when I decided I was ready to be pregnant. I wanted it to happen fast. Once you’re ready–it’s all you can think about. So while we wait for the house to sell, I try to avoid feeling stuck, but it’s not easy.  I know it’s important to be content with where you are. I don’t think that’s the problem. I’m not disappointed with my life whatsoever. In fact, I feel so lucky to have a sweet husband and a little baby and a job that involves doing what I enjoy and a family that’s loving and supportive and all those great things. So I don’t know if it’s discontentment as much as it is restlessness. Like I’m supposed to be somewhere and I’m really anxious to just be there already. You know the feeling.

Vacation is not in my immediate future. Jeff’s starting a new job. Flying with Ashtyn is not my favorite thing to do and she doesn’t sleep well in hotel rooms. You can see how that whole “stuck” feeling is creeping up on me.

My friend Kelsey and I were talking the other day about things that make us feel happy. (For example, we’d both just had our hair cut.) Anyway, we were talking about the fact that the smallest things can suddenly make us feel so much better. Like new nail polish. Or a new purse. I mean, a trip to Scotland would be great. And that’s probably in my future somewhere down the road when Ashtyn is actually able to say more than three words. But isn’t it crazy how just buying some new eyeliner can make your day? (Or lipstick, or shoes, or a new book, or one of your favorite movies, etc. Do you have ideas?)

I don’t know if buying something new is the best remedy to feeling stuck, but it helps.

Did I mention I just got this new super-cute yellow purse? Well, I did.

Talking about The Shack

Well, I finally got around to reading The Shack. So much of my time is spent reading unpublished manuscripts that sometimes it takes a while for me to find time to read the published ones on my list. Anyway, I didn’t start reading with any expectations. I’d heard a few things about it and read a few blogs, enough to know that The Great Sadness stemmed from a really sad and disturbing tragedy. Lately I’m just low on my ability to handle reading about that sort of thing without falling apart, so I decided to start about halfway in. I read a bit of the beginning, then skipped over the upsetting parts and onto the main character’s encounter with the Trinity.

I found the story to be so comforting. And I was sort of wishing that God would send me a letter and meet up with me somewhere just to talk. I know that He’s given us the Bible and He’s supposed to be with us everywhere we go–but does it really feel like that? Like the Bible was written just to me? And of course, it wasn’t. Me and billions of other people. Which is okay, but it sounds so nice to have a letter from God just to me. And knowing God is around us all the time is sometimes comforting and sometimes frustrating. Because when something terrible happens and you ask the question “Where was God?” and the answer is that He was right there, letting it happen–well, that can be frustrating . . . and really confusing.

That was something I appreciated so much about The Shack. We could visualize God being there with Mack’s daughter throughout everything–calming her down, holding her through the whole thing. Don’t you hope that’s how it really works? That God is there, holding those people who are hurting or scared, and that His presence is strong enough to get them through it? I hope so. People have asked me if I thought there was anything sacriligious about the book–and I honestly can’t see that there is. I can tell you something that really moved me. There was this one part where Mack asks God/Jesus if all roads really do lead to Him (in other words, does it really matter which faith you choose?). He answers Mack by saying “No. But I’ll travel any road to find you.” (Okay, that’s me paraphrasing.) I had to read that paragraph over and over because I just loved that realization. I think we can easily forget that aspect of God’s character. And when so much about Him is confusing, I need to be reminded of that part of Him I can understand and absolutely appreciate so much.

Every time I’ve seemed to turn around lately, I keep being confronted by stories of atrocities people (children) have experienced. I can’t tell you how draining and doubt-inducing that can be. In fact, I was at my desk this past week and had to set aside a book proposal because I was crying and feeling sick and so shaken. And the fact that there are no good answers–well, it makes me frustrated when people even try to come up with answers, because none are good enough. And so when a story like The Shack comes along, where the author isn’t so much giving us an answer as he is giving us a glimpse into who God just might be, what might be going on–it’s not surprising that so many people connect with it, myself included.

I think what so many of us are missing is that personal connection to God. Like a letter that He wrote just to us, like time reserved just for helping me deal with what I’m going through. Even if there are no answers, that personal attention matters. Like in the book of Job, where God doesn’t really respond to Job’s questions with compassion or patience–but His response at all tells Job that He’s there, aware of what’s going on, still in control, and He hasn’t forgotten him. Just that can be comforting–at least to me.

So, to sum it all up, The Shack is a great book. A lot of people seem to say that, but with the disclaimer that it’s not great, literary writing. But I don’t care so much about that. Because when a message spreads like wildfire and resonates with readers–that’s more important than sentence structure and vocabulary.