I’m all over the place in my reading right now, but enjoying it all very much. I recently picked up the Sci-Fi novel The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell at my sister’s recommendation and really liked it. It’s an excellent story, very well told, and having finished it rather quickly, I started right in on its sequel, Children of God (which I’m also liking very much). I just finished Steinbeck’s Cannery Row a couple of days ago, and of course it had me remembering Monterey, where I lived and worked for over five years of my Air Force career. I really should have read more of Steinbeck back then, but I was in a different place at the time and really couldn’t get to it.
Along with Children of God, I’m still reading Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific, another book that I’m really liking a lot. As a matter of fact, it’s got me thinking that I’ll be picking up another one of his books when I take it back…which should be soon. I’m almost done with it. I remember liking Centennial so much when I was in high school. I read it at a time when every family vacation was a trip out West, so it gave me that extra imagination to work with. I don’t think the Osan library has it, though, which is kind of a travesty, seeing’s though he wrote so many incredible books. They don’t have Space or Texas either. I’ll have to check on Libby — I’m sure they have it there, although, as I’ve said before, I’d rather read the hardcopy then the Kindle version.
I’m also in and out of Natasha Crain’s Faithfully Different, which I’m finding pleasant for its easy style and organization. In the book, she touches on some of the problems of Christianity’s recent wave of “deconstruction” stories. I’m of a mind to keep it more simple — those who “deconstruct,” that is (in my biased way of thinking), those who make excuses because they can’t face the hard questions of the faith, are actually those who had a misconception about it all in the first place. I’ve heard some of the stories, and the objections raised are so basic and easily addressable, I can find no other explanation. They were in it for the “happy, happy, Jesus is my boyfriend” version and not the bloody, crucified savior, especially since the bloody, crucified savior line is traced directly to the utter failure (in the way of sin) of the saved. There’s the deal. To go that route means accepting that one isn’t the perfect angel…or even just a good person. And that’s just so hard to do for most people (and the rest can only do it by God’s grace).
But that’s me. Crain goes into much more depth and says it so much better. Perhaps with more empathy and forgiveness. I’m more of the, “You made your bed, now lie in it” type, although I can’t help but think that may come to bite me some day, if only for it’s lack of kindness.