In some ways, I look back and feel wretched that I barely managed to work through a dozen plus books over the expansive length of the summer. I had planned to also read a few larger novels (James Joyce's "Ulysses," Dostoevsky’s "Brother Karamazov," etc.), write at least one critical/analytical essay, and learn some Latin, but none of those plans ever really came to fruition. C'est la vie, je suppose--plans qui echouent. And French that is likely not accurate. Je ne sais pas.
“Makers of the Modern Theological Mind: Soren Kierkegaard” by Elmer H. Duncan--an interesting and relatively brief overview of Kierkegaard's work that falls somewhere between the extremes of watered-down accessibility and obscurant academic speech. Kierkegaard's thought seems almost ridiculously relevant to Christianity's place in post/modern culture. Philosophy aside, I feel inspired and exhorted by the theology of what he says. Does that make sense? Probably not, just read it.
“Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett--French absurdist drama? I guess that's what it's considered. At any rate, it's an intriguing, hilarious, and powerful work. All staged in one setting, only five characters, hardly any plot, and yet the ridiculous and obscure events left my head and my heart full of ideas and implications in everything from religion and politics to personal relationships and my understanding of art.
“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel--meant to convey some profound truths about religion, I found myself more interested in the abundant zoological information in the first section of the book, as well as all the interesting (sometimes horrendous) details of Pi's survival account. Contains an interesting perspective on belief vs. doubt, science vs. religion, etc. Overall, it's an interesting but arduous tale.
“On Dreams” by Sigmund Freud--fascinating! He expresses some of what seems inexpressible about dreams--what they do, how they affect us, their structure and meaning. I found myself over and over again thinking, "Yes, that's exactly how it feels." Believe it or not, I actually found this book rather practical, and found myself discovering some powerfully meaningful "latent content" in a few of my dreams. Short and well worth the read.
“Wise Blood” by Flannery O’Connor--a bizarre and hysterical (perhaps the literary/artistic connotations of "grotesque" are appropriate here) story about a fanatical athiest that won't believe in anything he can't bite with his teeth or see with his eyes. He starts the "Holy Church of Christ Without Christ" from the hood of his jalopy and meets a whalish wayward woman, a deceitful Christian minister/evangelist, and a sad young man with some serious pscyhological/social problems. This apostle of sorts eventually ends up intentionally blinding himself with lime and becomes a bizarre monkish figure, walking with glass and rocks in his shoes and dying face-down in a muddy, snowy ditch. The novel stands alone as a wonderful story but also offers a potent critique of both religious hypocrisy/malpractice and modern/secular/just-plain-human society. Really, I just-plain-love Flannery.
“Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor--some of her later and, in my opinion, best short stories. They've revolutionized my perspective on the South, exemplified superb storytelling, and inspired my faith in amazing new ways. "Parker's Back," "Revelation," "The Enduring Chill," and of course "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" are some of my favorite selections.
“Brendan” by Frederick Beuchner--some of the most hilarious, melancholy, beautiful, and profound religious/historical fiction I've read. This and his similar novel "Godric" have inspired my love for Beuchner's writing and approach to life and religion. I feel like I learn so much about faith, God, myself, and what it means to be truly alive from these stories. They read like poetry and affect my worldview more than almost any doctrinal statement or philosophical discourse could. To summarize the story, "Brendan" is the tale of the Irish saint with the name Brendan, who was a proselyte of Saint Patrick. The book details his varied adventures throughout Northwestern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, and the depths of his pensive, searching heart.
“Rethinking Human Nature” by Kevin Corcoran--I consider it a unique and privileged experience to read something written by one of my profs (I took an introductory philosophy course from him last spring. This book is his attempt to reconcile the historical, often religious view of humans as a split mind/body entity that has been dominant since Descartes and before with the modern, "scientific" understanding that reduces humans to merely organisms or animals. He presents the Constitution View of human persons (think of a dollar bill--the dollar bill is indeed just a printed piece of paper, and yet somehow it is also something more than just paper and ink). Sometimes this view works and helps me out, other times it seems to fuse back into either the dualist or the reductionist model.
“The Epic of Gilgamesh” (Penguin Classics Edition)--okay, rather dry, but I guess it really is important as some of the oldest literature ever. Plus, it came in handy for my religion class this fall.
“The Achievement of T.S. Eliot” by F.O. Mathiesson--T.S. Eliot is a genius, and so is this Mathiesson guy. A great analysis of Eliot's life and work. It provides insight into some of Eliot's poetry and I consider it a great tool/inspiration/guide/shaper for anyone who wants to understand what poetry is and does, how to approach it or write it, etc. etc.
“God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater” by Kurt Vonnegut--of course it's funny and political and religious and cynical and interesting and moving and... I would say that I enjoyed this more than some of his other novels.
“Emerging Churches” by Eddie Gibbs, Ryan K. Bolger--a survey of so-called "emerging churches"--who they are, what they tend to believe, how they function (or try to avoid functioning). I found this helpful, practical, and stimulating in my understanding of what church can or even should be in today's culture, especially as a displaced, in-flux, "twenty-something", etc. college student. It made me want to stop complaining about the church and start to be the church.
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson--I guess this makes an ironic contrast to a lot my other readings for the summer, but what can I say. An interesting perspective on life and America, to say the least. "Gonzo journalism?" I think I'd recommend it. We're in bat country now!
“Searching For God Knows What” by Don Miller--as much as I can try to not like this guy, I suppose mainly of his cult-like, hype-frenzied following and the way that he at times just distills other people's ideas (Kierkegaard, for one) into hipper and simpler language, his writings and lectures really, really help me out. He lays things out in a way that make me joyful to affirm my faith in, my relationship to Jesus.
