A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A Classic.  I have enjoyed trying classics out since I was never forced to read them in high school or college, well not the cool ones like Bronte or Austen or Dickens.  This year it so happened that I didn’t have anything to read the week of Christmas and I realized that I had never read A Christmas Carol, a classic in all sense of  the word.  I have seen so many adaptations of this story in film version that I cannot keep count, but I have never even attempted to read the book.  I have seen it live, a somewhat poorly performed musical rendition in Branson MO many years ago.  I have watched the Mickey’s Christmas Carol, The Bill Murray’s Scrooged, and within the last year or so I saw Jim Carey’s A Christmas Carol, animated, sort of.  I have grown up around this story, but never read one of Dickens’ words and I have not known the story from reading it with my own eyes. 

I loved it.  It is the story of redemption, a story of second chances.  I think of all of the wasted years, Scrooge missed all sorts of chances throughout his life and will have to make up for all of his poor decisions late in life, but he got a second chance.  When I think about it, we all get a second chance each morning when we wake up.  We have another chance to live life to the fullest and how many of us waste it.  We waste it by being lazy, not thinking of others, or our search for money, career, or possessions.  I think that Dickens’ gives us a great reminder that even if we are not visited by spirits in the night, we can still wake up and live each day like it’s our last.  Keep Reading my Friends!

Bible Based Friendship

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

Meet Denver, a homeless man in Dallas Texas and then meet Ron Hall an international Art dealer that allows God to move through himself and his wife to make a new friend.  Seeing both sides of the story, Denver grows up as a modern day slave in Louisiana that as an adult hops a train to escape and ends up in Texas.  He is homeless for eighteen years when in walks the Hall family in the local homeless shelter to volunteer their time.  Debby Hall is a prayer warrior who listens to God and pushes her husband to cultivate a friendship with Denver.

I don’t want to go into any detail of the story.  This book was an excellent read.  I laughed and cried and it made me think.  I couldn’t believe how things turned out, but as a Christian I have to believe that God is in control even as hard times come and life hands us all sorts of events that we don’t know how to react.  This thought provoking story was well worth the read and I would suggest it to anyone.

My favorite section of the book is where Denver is asking Ron about why white people go fishing and they “catch and release.”  Denver explained that when he has gone fishing, it was for food not for fun and Ron quickly realized he was not only talking about fishing, but Denver was concerned that Ron was going to catch Denver’s friendship and when he was finished with him he would release him.  I thought this was an excellent picture of what a pity friendship looks like.  I have seen it happen before and I have probably been guilty of this act of catch and release friendship.  A thought provoking concept. 

This was my last book club choice for Olive Books Book Club and everyone who read it, loved it.  What did you think?  Have you read it, or do you want to?  Keep Reading my Friends!

Team Jem or Team Will?

The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Tessa Gray longs to know what she is.  She has a unique ability to become anyone in the world as long as she is in possession of a personal object of the person’s.  As she has taken refuge from the evil Mortmain with the Shadowhunters she has learned more about their way of life.  Of course there is a love triangle between Tessa, Will Herondale and Jem Cairstars.  She is attracted to both of the Shadowhunters even though Will is a pompous, egotistical punk and Jem is slowly dying.  As the story continues, the destiny of the Institute, the refuge in London for any Shadowhunters, hangs in the balance, Charlotte, Henry, Jessimine, Will, Jem and Tessa fight to find the location of Mortmain and work to discover his plans.

Of course if you look back on my previous blogs you will find that it is no surprise that I love Cassandra Clare.  I have read all of the Mortal Instruments and now the Infernal Devices.  Her writing captures and forces the audience to fall head over hills for her characters.  I can tell you anything you want to know about Jace and Clary.  They are exceptionally written and I can’t wait until their story comes to an end and then again I want her to continue the series forever.  Jem, Will and Tessa are much the same.  The characters are so developed and the plot is wonderful so I not only read these books, I devour them.  Who doesn’t want to read about half human half angel beings fighting demons so we mundains can have a demon free world?

I love Tessa, she is a reader and that is always fun for other readers to enjoy. 

This book’s conclusion is heart wrenching.  I could not believe everything that took place at the end.  Without spoilers, there is death, celebration, reconciliation, misery, surprise.  I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.  If you are any sort of fan of fantasy or Young Adult literature, Cassandra Clare’s series come highly recommended from me!  Keep Reading my Friends!