Well, it's my week to write the Friday Five for the RevGalBlogPals, so here goes!The website promoting this piece of art says, "For the first time, the worlds most influential religious texts are brought together and presented on the same level, their coexistence acknowledged and celebrated”. The shelf is made of reclaimed wood that contains seven religious books. The designers have put them – literally – on the same level.
Well, pish posh! I think that some books ARE better than others! How about you?
1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why? I just finished reading "Look Me in the Eye" by John Elder Robison. It tells about his life as someone with Asperger's Syndrome. Soda Chicky's friend Flying Monkey has Asperger's which is a mild form of autism. It is a fascinating book. The guy designed special effects for Kiss when he was a teenager, among other things. It was helpful in understanding what Flying Monkey deals with every day and it was also a very poignant read.- 2. What is one of your favorite childhood books? I've gone on and on about Madeleine L'Engle so her books are a given but before I got to her books I read every Beverly Cleary book I could get my hands on.
3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Do tell! Why did I write this question??!! It's too hard to pick just one! Some favorite though are definitely Mark, Romans and I Corinthians.
4. What is one book you could read again and again? C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" come off the shelf once a year.
5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why? I strongly suggest getting a copy of "The Last Week" by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. You may not agree with everything they have to say but it's a tremendous book. And there is some great fodder for Lenten and Holy Week sermons.
And because we all love bonus questions, if you were going to publish a book what would it be? Who would you want to write the jacket cover blurb expounding on your talent? I'd love to write a children's novel for that tween age range. I also have an idea for a "How To" book for congregation councils. As for the blurb writer.... Madeleine L'Engle would have been my first choice. Hmmm.... not sure who to pick now....
28 comments:
I'm so glad to read about "Look Me in the Eye". I work with people with AS and like learning about AS from their point of view. More and more books and blogs by Aspies and other people with autism spectrum disorders are appearing now.
Thanks for this F5--will get to it tomorrow!
A woman in my last parish also had AS. Learning about it from her helped explain a lot of interesting behavior.
good idea there for a lenten read... and always helpful to have an extra source on hand for filling in the spaces er gaps er sermons that go in circles...
Glad to hear someone mention Beverly Cleary. "Ramona and the Three Wise Persons" is a great story to read at Christmastime.
oh, I completely forgot about The Last Week. It's wonderful!
I'm with you on C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle--they were both so central to my faith development as well as genuinely good and non preachy storytellers.
a how to book for congregation councils- brave woman- go for it please!!!
I forgot about the Ramona books! Thanks for the happy memory.
Can I go back and add Beverly Cleary, C.S. Lewis, and L'Engle to my list too?? All good ones....
I'll have to look at "Look my in the Eye" Strangely enough my last name is ASPERGER!
Thansk for Look Me in the Eye. My daughter Lutheran Chick#1 is not diagnosed AS, but is "close" to the spectrum so to speak. I have a friend whose son does and I want to let her know about it- she and I have shared ideas and concerns for several years.
Madeleine L'Engle (with Ursula LeGuin) and CS Lewis taught me to read fantasy and look for God in unexpected places. Thanks for these questions!
Joining the thank you's for "Look Me In the Eye". Got a family member who likely suffers this. Ordering today.
Loved Chronicles too. Also his Perelandra Series. Plus anything else Lewis wrote.
Great list today!
By the way, thanks for the question about Lenten reading...I need a new book for my Tuesday morning study group. This is a big help!
hmmm - Borg and Crossan? Would certainly be challenging.
I forgot about Beverly Cleary. Also forgot about the Hardy Boys. Guess I've blocked out much of my childhood! :-)
Thanks for the great five choices, btw - it was fun.
Thanks for the great questions!
Oh, I loved Ramona. And I have a parishioner with AS - I'll have to read your first suggestion.
Happy Friday.
Beaverly Cleary ROCKS! Hee hee hee...glad someone else liked Ramona and Beezus. :-)
I am very interested in "Look Me in the Eye" because I have a friend who has a 20 year old son with AS. This would be a good one for her to read.
I've always loved Beverly Cleary and Madeleine L'Engle books, too.
I agree that "The Last Week" is a good Lenten choice.
I definitely have to read your response to number 1. I worked with autistic kids for about a year, and left with way more than I contributed.
Okay, now I have to read your blog from now on! Another Madeleine L'Engle fan PLUS Borg/Crossan...very cool. Nice to "meet" you.
Oh, and yes, you would LOVE Parker Palmer. Anything written by him. Another good one: "Listen to your LIfe."
I loved the Beverly Cleary books!!!
And hey, another Marcus Borg fan!
I also love C.S. Lewis and thought of him as someone I could read again and again just for the beauty of his writing. But since I haven't actually done that, I wasn't sure...
Beezus! Ramona! I loved them. . .
Thank you for the Lenten suggestion!
hrod, thanks for reminding me of the Last Week. Tremendous book!
As far as I know, the only CS Lewis series I have not read is Chronicles of Narnia, another book to add to my list.
Very good Friday Five!
Thanks for the recommendation of The Last Week. And, I love M L'Engle too.
I enjoy Madeleine L'Engle as well...hope you get a chance to write that children's book!
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