His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman

I've been meaning to write a little post about this fantastic series. His Dark Materials is the name of the series which in order is The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. I'm sure reading all three of these books is great but might I suggest taking the audiobook route. A full cast brings this story alive as well as the author as narrator. You don't have to remember who is speaking because each of the main characters are voiced by different actors.

So what's it about?

Well I don't want to give too much away. And you can always look it up online to read reviews. What I will say:

Part fantasy/part reality.

Animals throughout.

Rich symbology that works on many levels.

I felt a bit sad letting the characters go. Listening on my way to and from work I traveled with them for some weeks.

The Sacred Bones by Michael Byrnes

Just finished this last night and really enjoyed it! It's VERY much like The Da Vinci Code (which I thought was only okay) but with a different twist. The findings in the book have effects for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. Fun reading for the summer!

Blog changes

I enjoyed seeing everyone last night. The food and conversation were both yummy!

I changed a couple of items in the sidebar on the left. Besides the updated information to reflect our new book and meeting time I added a category so we can tell who picks the next book. Also I now have our labels (subject headings) listed on the left. As the posts keep coming this will give us another way to find old material. I especially recommend using the label "Recommended Reads" so that we all can easily refer back to books others have enjoyed. Labels can be added to a post at the bottom of the posting (writing) area. You can go back to and add labels to any of your older posts.

Let me know if there are any other changes you would like to see and I'll do my best to make it happen. As I recently reminded someone, this is our blog! Keep the lines of communication open!

Two more things:

This morning I was looking at Wikipedia's entry for The Handmaid's Tale. Interesting stuff.

If you'd like to read some of my other musings they can be found here. Feel free to comment if you are so inspired!

Enjoy the weekend and if you are so inclined the strawberries are ripe for picking in Pungo.

Picture from here.

Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris

I don't remember how I stumbled upon this book but it is making for an interesting read. Sam Harris takes on the role of the rational voice in addressing the predominant Christian base of our country. He makes some interesting points and certainly presents an unpopular view (attacking all of religious faith) which I find refreshing in this instance. Here's a snippet:

"Religion raises the stakes of human conflict much higher than tribalism, racism, or politics ever can, as it is the only form of in-group/out-group thinking that casts the differences between people in terms of eternal rewards and punishments. One of the enduring pathologies of human culture is the tendency to raise children to fear and demonize other human beings on the basis of religious faith."

Be true to yourself

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
- Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss

Muslim musings

Lately I've immersed myself in a great deal of Muslim-related reading and viewing. I've read "Because They Hate" by Brigitte Gabriel, and have just finished "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. (I was reading "The Handmaid's Tale" at the same time and the similarities gave me chills.) Very different reads even though both are autobiographical accounts of Muslim women. If you only have time for one, I'd recommend Ali's book. You may have heard of her. Remember the Dutch filmmaker, Theo van Gogh, who was murdered on his way to work a few years ago? He and Ali had produced a movie together, "Submission-Part 1", portraying the abuse of Muslim women. When van Gogh was stabbed to death, the killer left a note on his chest (stabbed through with the murder weapon) that Ali was next. She has lived under constant armed guard ever since. Dramatic as her life has been, it's the message that comes through that I think the Westernized world needs to hear.

Both Ali and Gabriel, as well as some great PBS shows that I've watched on the same subject, all have given the same message. We do not understand, nor do we believe, the threat we are up against. Our culture, America in particular, has a "live and let live" attitude. I might not agree with you, but we can agree to disagree. Not so in the traditional, clan-based Muslim world, with it's "live and believe as I do, or die" mentality. I don't want to preach too much nor influence you with my ideas (good American that I am), but please think about this. Educate yourselves, do some reading, and have some serious dialogue. For a sobering look at what is aired and preached on Middle Eastern television (and remember, most of it is state run television) check out: www.memritv.org. (Sorry, my Mac doesn't seem to let me make links, italics, etc.!)