Shannon > Recent Status Updates

Reading Candide by Voltaire.

Irving is a master craftsman. Playful, joyful accuracy and nuance.

The Forward alone makes this worth reading. Wow.

It's very well written and thought-provoking. I don't want to do the work the disrespect of not thinking through it clearly and absorbing it -- but that means that mindless entertainment is something else.

I will say this - because I think it's important -- this is not a book just for Christians. It really is a philosophy book about what Jesus' actual teachings mean in practice, whatever your ethics / faith.

Out of This World follows the tradition of young adult classics such as A Wrinkle in Time and The Chronicles of Narnia. While not as laden with symbolism or complex narrative structure as these well-loved gems, Out of This World evokes the same wonderment of worlds familiar and far, and of characters for whom it is who are easy to cheer and with whom it is easy to sympathize. The pacing of the story encourages the

Fun book. Not intellectually challenging, but good entertainment and action. I good read when you're looking for an other-worldly escapist read. Will likely reread, and am looking forward to the sequel.

About halfway through. Enjoyable world-creation. Entertaining action and good pacing. Not too predictable. I expect to want to read the rest of the series.

I'm one chapter into this and find it fascinating. It does however tend to make one think - which I generally find to be a good thing, except that lately I've been leaning towards "beach reading" and not "mind expanding." Will return to it when I feel like contemplating the human condition again...

I've temporarily set this book down because - well, it's exceptionally well-written and gorgeous, and requires the reader's full attention. And, er, lately I've felt more like reading brain candy that requires no effort and is entertaining without provoking too much thought...