2 Minute Book Reviews.

Well, honestly I’ve gotten a little behind on my book a week for an entire year project. I’m still on pace and back on schedule. But I was ahead by about 2 months. But then a little distraction called XBox Live gotten in the way. But now I’m back and better than ever. Honestly, all four of these books were great and I highly recommend them all for various reasons. So here goes.

Radical Compassion (A-)
This book are nothing but stories of Jesuit Priest Gary Smith finding Christ in the heart of the poor. The book is full of the beautiful mess that is serving the inner-city poor and homeless. The stories are painful. At times physically sickening from the details of the dirt and despair. And they are sometimes so heavy with heartbreak that they leave you speechless. But then there are stories that carry with them an amazing amount of hope. Stories of simple romance and huge sacrifices. Smith manages to describe how he finds God in both extremes. In the pain and the hope and how they both convey beauty, even when it’s messy.

The Night Offices (A)
This is a book of prayers that are meant to be used from the hours between sunset and sunrise. It’s more or less a compilation of scripture and prayers that have been prayed and recited throughout our common history. In a time in my life when I’m feeling like I have less and less to “tell God” and more and more to “listen to” . . . this book of prayers was like a deep well of treasures. In a Christian culture where a “good prayer life” seems to focus on “individualistic” wants rather than global needs, having a vast collection of well-worn prayers that have been repeated over and over for centuries is a nice change of pace. I’m not sure if some of my more Protestant friends will be comfortable with praying something that is not “theirs”, but I think that’s where the beauty lies. Praying something that is the community’s yet uniquely individual. It’s the best of both world. The community gives the gift that the individual can enjoy for the benefit of the community. Which I have a hunch is what is so powerful about the liturgies. My only complaint was that I got it from the library and only had it for 3 weeks. It’s definitely on my early Christmas list.

People Before Profit (A+)
The full title might be a more helpful description than anything I can write . . . People Before Profit, The New Globalization in an Age of Terror, Big Money, and Economic Crisis. The book is basically a description of globalization, i.e. profit at all costs in a capitalist colonialism, and it’s obvious and not so obvious problems. A lot of time is spent discussing how what happens in the West (and the States in particular) effect those in the third worlds. Essentially describing how top heavy on consumption we are and how that creates fault lines that splinter in other places of the world. As far as a primer on globalization and how our consumption patterns effect others, I couldn’t recommend a better book. It’s extremely easy to read. And isn’t just doom and gloom, but actually very hopeful in the assessment. Although I am a bit more skeptical about us being able to put into practice what he proposes as the solution.

Harry Potter and thhe Deathly Hallows (A+++)
Do I need to even write anything? If you’ve already read the book . . . then you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t read the book, then I don’t want to spoil anything for you. All I will say is that J.K. Rowling has created one of the best stories of all time. As much respect as I have for Tolkien and Lewis and their respective narratives . . . I think Harry Potter is the best. Perhaps because it’s so simple. Or perhaps because of the bonds of friendship and sacrifice involved. But it is the best series of books I have ever read. And that’s saying a lot because I adore the Chronicles of Narnia. There are only 2 things that I get really, really nerdy excited about – LOST and Harry Potter. If you’re not experiencing either . . . you’re missing out. Trust me. Cough . . . cough . . . Eric.

[tags]Radical Compassion, Gary Smith, The Night Offices, Phyllis Tickle, People Before Profit, Charles Derber, Harry Potter, The Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling, Book Reviews[/tags]