What is the What

Quick Synopsis: In a heartrending and astonishing novel, Eggers illuminates the history of the civil war in Sudan through the eyes of Valentino Achak Deng, a refugee now living in the United States. We follow his life as he’s driven from his home as a boy and walks, with thousands of orphans, to Ethiopia, where he finds safety — for a time. Valentino’s travels, truly Biblical in scope, bring him in contact with government soldiers, janjaweed-like militias, liberation rebels, hyenas and lions, disease and starvation — and a string of unexpected romances. Ultimately, Valentino finds safety in Kenya and, just after the millennium, is finally resettled in the United States, from where this novel is narrated.

In this book, written with expansive humanity and surprising humor, we come to understand the nature of the conflicts in Sudan, the refugee experience in America, the dreams of the Dinka people, and the challenge one indomitable man faces in a world collapsing around him.

My Thoughts: The thing I like best about reading books is the ability to look through a window into a different world from my own. With every book it’s a new world, some are magical, some can be tense or mysterious, and some, as the world in What is the What, are all to real.

In What is the What, Dave Eggers tells the astounding true story of a life very few could ever relate to, yet all should know about and aim to understand as best they can. It is a story that reminds us that life is ultimately precious; everything we have is a blessing and nothing is guaranteed. We often forget this as we sit in our comfortable homes or as we complain because we can’t afford - or don’t want to pay - to fill up our fancy SUV’s.

The story is a true story yet written in novel form, the reason of which is explained in the novel’s preface. After reading this story, you will be amazed at the perseverance of the novels subject, Valentino Achak Deng. I cannot honestly say I would be able to survive through much - heck half, a quarter - of what Valentino has seen, through no choice of his own. Even so, the story is told with humor and wit, which - for a time anyways - relieves the reader of the shock of the story. When the story’s tense parts are told, it’s hard to continue reading without taking pause for a breath and reflection, perhaps to dry a tear? You would not be less of a person if so.

The story is truly amazing. I applaud Eggers for telling it the way he did and for releasing all funds from the book to Valentino and his project to help those in Sudan. If you see this book on the bookshelf, don’t pass by without putting it in your basket. You won’t be disappointed.

You can read more about Valentino’s life and what he aims to do for Sudan here.

1776

Quick Synopsis: In this masterful book, David McCullough tells the intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence — when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper.

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King’s men, the British commander, William Howe, and his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.

At the center of the drama, with Washington, are two young American patriots, who, at first, knew no more of war than what they had read in books — Nathanael Greene, a Quaker who was made a general at thirty-three, and Henry Knox, a twenty-five-year-old bookseller who had the preposterous idea of hauling the guns of Fort Ticonderoga overland to Boston in the dead of winter.

But it is the American commander-in-chief who stands foremost — Washington, who had never before led an army in battle. Written as a companion work to his celebrated biography of John Adams, David McCullough’s 1776 is another landmark in the literature of American history.

My Thoughts: I’ve often considered myself to have a sort of infatuation for history. I’m not a history buff per se, I don’t have countless historical accounts lining my bookshelf (actually I don’t even have a bookshelf), but even still, when it comes to history, I can’t help but admire the stories of lives lived out hundreds, if not thousands, of years before mine.

The problem is, because I’m not a true history buff, I don’t know a lot of history. I know surface details that you learn in school, but when it comes to true details I have to admit my ignorance. This began to weigh on me a bit when I was deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. During my tour, I began to feel more proud than ever before to wear the military uniform of the United States of America and fight (in my own way) for the country. This led to me to realize I didn’t know a whole lot on the beginnings of our country. Sure, I knew who George Washington was, I knew we became a country in 1776, but I didn’t know how; I wanted to know how. And 1776 was the way I was going to go about learning.

Read the rest of the review here: Paperback Frenzy

Oscar Wao

Quick Synopsis: The long-awaited-and thrillingly satisfying, genuinely original-first novel from the unmistakable voice behind the story collection Drown. Oscar is a 300-pound-plus “lovesick ghetto nerd” with zero game (except for Dungeons & Dragons) who cranks out pages of fantasy fiction with the hopes of becoming a Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien. The book is also the story of a multi-generational family curse that courses through the book, leaving troubles and tragedy in its wake.

My Thoughts: There’s a problem I have when it comes to offering my thoughts on books. Too many times I describe a book as, “awesome” or “the best book I’ve read in a while.” I guess I have the same problem with music, or movies, or anything else worth offering an opinion. The problem is, every once in a while you come across a book (movie or song) that truly is amazing and you don’t know what to say to separate it from the rest of the “awesome” books, I guess it’s a bit like crying wolf. That’s the problem I’m running into when trying to figure out what to say about The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. It truly is amazing, the best book I’ve read in a while. I feel like I’ve said that before, I know I have, but I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like this book.

Wao immediately jumps into my top five, top 3? maybe…but top five indeed. The only problem I had with it was that it was too, well, brief. And it’s not even that short. It just flew by because I was so into the story. It’s tense, it’s heartwarming, scary, graphic, and did I say good?

There are a few things that might turn a reader away, and I would feel guilty if I didn’t mention them. One, there is a lot of spanish in the book and it doesn’t come with a translation. I speak spanish fairly well, so I didn’t have a problem with most of the words, but if I did I know it could be frustrating. With that said, it’s ok if you don’t know them, you’ll still understand the story.

The other thing is the story has some graphic parts; it’s an adult book. The story is told from a person’s point of view who is telling the story of Oscar Wao, and he uses some graphic language…but to be honest, it adds to the story. It’s not pointless, it adds to the character and voice.

This book is seriously VERY good. In my thoughts on the last book I read, “Then We Came to the End” I said I think I had found a new author whose books I would buy the moment they came out. That is true for Joshua Ferris, but it’s even more true for Junot Diaz. In fact, I’ve already bought his short story book, Drown, and am reading it now.

My suggestion? Grab the book, grab a spanish-english dictionary, get ready for some adult content, and sit back and enjoy one of the best books of the last five years. Seriously.

Then We Came To The End

Quick Synopsis: No one knows us quite the same way as the men and women who sit beside us in department meetings and crowd the office refrigerator with their labeled yogurts. Every office is a family of sorts, and the ad agency Joshua Ferris brilliantly depicts in his debut novel is family at its strangest and best, coping with a business downturn in the time-honored way: through gossip, pranks, and increasingly frequent coffee breaks.

With a demon’s eye for the details that make life worth noticing, Joshua Ferris tells a true and funny story about survival in life’s strangest environment–the one we pretend is normal five days a week.

My Thoughts: As I was reading this book I was constantly reminded of another: Catch 22, a book that is widely known and respected, yet one I had only read less than a year ago. Then We Came to the End is truly Catch 22 of the workplace. It’s like a mix of The Office and Office Space, with a little bit of drama thrown in. When I was done with the book I thumbed through the reviews in the beginning pages and noticed many other reviewers felt the same. I thought it interesting that even though I can’t write like the critics, at least I think like them.

The strong point of the book is it’s narrative. It’s written from the collective “we” point of view, which is clever when you think about a story taking place in an office. Rumors and gossips are both running rampant and what better way to express the office opinion than by saying “we” felt this way. In fact, not once do you know who is speaking, it is just we, like the office had one collective voice that spoke for all the individual employees.

The story is fast paced, and yes it is funny, very funny. Like I said, it’s like Catch-22. By that I mean there are times in the book when everything is just going crazy…and it works.

I can’t wait until the next Joshua Ferris book. I think I might have found another author whose books I have to get as soon as they are released…in paperback that is.

The Weight of Glory

Quick Synopsis: Selected from sermons delivered by C. S. Lewis during World War II, these nine addresses offer guidance and inspiration in a time of great doubt.These are ardent and lucid sermons that provide a compassionate vision of Christianity.

My Thoughts: The first thing I want to say is that I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis. His writing makes you think, it challenges our beliefs - at times even his own - and sometimes what we all need is to use our brains God gave us and think. What many people don’t understand, the majority of which are non-believers, is that Christianity is as much a convincing of the brain as it is of the heart. Your heart can not rejoice in what your mind does not accept, and C.S. Lewis understands that. His writing forces his readers to practice thought and understand what it is they believe.

Now, after saying all that, I must admit that C.S. Lewis is hard to read. His use of big words and long drawn out paragraphs highlights my lack of education. Usually I have to read each paragraph twice, sometimes three times, just to understand what he’s saying so I can move on. Amazingly, that doesn’t take away from the book. Once I do understand what Lewis is trying to say, I am quite in awe of his thought process and want to read more.

The Weight of Glory is no different. The collection of essays is written just as it says…in essay form. More often than not I found myself saying, “Huh?” and flipping back a few pages to try to understand. To be honest, I’m not quite sure I understood everything. But what I did understand I thoroughly enjoyed. His arguments are not for the sake or arguing, they do not lack substance or intelligence - as many of my arguments do - they are quite deep and as you read them you can tell that his conclusion to the question comes by way of a deeply thought out process.

I want to recommend C.S. Lewis to everybody, believer or non believer. I have to warn readers on my educational level, his writing can be hard to understand, but it is not impossible. You just can’t read it as you would a novel. You have to think about it, read it again, try to understand what he is saying. When you do, your mind - I believe - will open a door to a whole new level of understanding, and faith.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

Quick Synopsis: In December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, the 43-year-old editor of French Elle, suffered a massive stroke that left him permanently paralyzed, a victim of “locked in syndrome.” Once known for his gregariousness and wit, Bauby now finds himself imprisoned in an inert body, able to communicate only by blinking his left eye. The miracle is that in doing so he was able to compose this stunningly eloquent memoir.


In a voice that is by turns wistful and mischievous, angry and sardonic, Bauby gives us a celebration of the liberating power of consciousness: what it is like to spend a day with his children, to imagine lying in bed beside his wife, to conjure up the flavor of delectable meals even as he is fed through at tube. Most of all, this triumphant book lets us witness an indomitable spirit and share in the pure joy of its own survival.

Quick Synopsis: I saw this movie about two weeks ago and immediately felt the need to read the book. What an amazing feat, not just of patience, but of survival or life, or whatever word you can come up with. I have trouble writing a book, let alone writing a book - letter by letter - by blinking my left eye, while the rest of body lies paralyzed.

The book itself is not necessarily the movie plot. The movie does include some stories from the book, but the movie is about the writing of the book more than it is the book…if that makes sense. The book itself is just a glimpse into Bauby’s mind as he deals with the realization that his body is completely paralyzed, but his mind is free as a “butterfly”.

The writing isn’t nothing to write home about. I don’t mean it’s bad, but I’ve seen better. The good thing is, this book isn’t about the writing, nor is it necessarily about the feat of the writing, it’s about the spirit of a man who is completely alive, inside.

A comment on the back of the book says, “One of the great books of the century…you read it at one go, so gripping is this voyage to the inner heart and mind.” The comment is very true, even the “read it at one go” part, which I did. I didn’t want to put it down.

A side note: If you haven’t seen the movie, you should make it your next priority. It is one of the best I have seen in a very long time.

Three Cups of Tea

Quick Synopsis: The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard.

Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools-especially for girls-that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

My Thoughts: The farther along I read into this book the more I came to grips with how incredible this feat of one man really is. I mean, it’s one thing - as great as it is - to give your life to building schools in the most desolate regions of the world, but another thing entirely to continue to do so when the region is decimated by war - with your country. By never giving up on an idea, this man, Greg Mortenson, has accomplished what many people would say is impossible, not due to lack of human ability but due to the number of roadblocks one will inevitably face along the way. Mortenson just jumped over them, one after another until he found himself way beyond his own wildest dreams. It’s quite incredible.

The book is not written by Greg Mortenson, but by David Relin, a journalist. Therefore the book is written in a journalistic style, meaning it’s more of a long magazine article than it is a novel. As boring as that sounds, it’s actually interesting. If you like non-fiction accounts, this is a good book for you. Be warned, it can definitely be a slow read at times. At first I wondered if he would ever build the school - it wasn’t until about 150 pages into it that he does - but that made me realize how many struggles he faced. It made the accomplishment that much more gratifying.

The book picks up steam and becomes hard to put down once the War on Terrorism stages begin. Perhaps it’s because it is so relatable, not because I’ve been where Mortenson has been, but because I’m living in that current era and can relate to the happenings of the world, which once again makes his feats incredible.

I would definitely recommend the book. If you don’t feel you can read a long journalistic style book, than perhaps it’s not for you, but if you are interested in reading about a man who completely changed the lives of thousands - possibly millions when you count the future children - of lives of kids, this book is for you.

The truth is, Three cups of Tea had to be published. Someone had to follow Mortenson around and tell the world his story, and now people have to read it, or at least read about it. It’s too important to miss. In the book, immediately after the war in Afghanistan begins, the writer describes a scene where Mortenson is in his basement reading hate mail from fellow Americans who accuse him of supporting “terrorists”. Mortenson had previously urged Americans to avoid lumping all Muslims in with terrorists, which they had already done. In this context, it was the Americans who were lacking an education. Perhaps that’s irony, I don’t know. I do know that this book is a step in the right direction. You can’t read it and not understand that what he says is true: not all muslims are terrorists. Heck, not all terrorists are Muslim, but that’s an entirely different book.

How Soccer Explains the World

Quick Synopsis: Soccer is much more than a game, or even a way of life. In fact, it’s a perfect window into the cross–currents of today’s world, with all of its joys and sorrows. Soccer clubs don’t represent geographic areas; they stand for social classes and political ideologies. And unlike baseball or tennis, soccer is freighted with the weight of ancient hatreds and history. It’s a sport with real stakes –– one that is capable of ruining regimes and launching liberation movements.

In this remarkably insightful, wide–ranging work of reportage, Franklin Foer takes us on a surprising tour through the world of soccer, shattering the myths of our new global age. Instead of destroying local cultures, as the left predicted, globalization has revived tribalism. Far from the triumph of capitalism that the right predicted, it has entrenched corruption. From Brazil to Bosnia, and Italy to Iran, this is an eye–opening chronicle of how a beautiful sport and its fanatical followers can highlight the fault lines of a society, whether it’s terrorism, poverty, anti–Semitism, or radical Islam –– issues that now have an impact on all of us. Filled with blazing intelligence, colourful characters, wry humour, and an equal passion for soccer and humanity, How Soccer Explains the World is an utterly original book that makes sense of our troubled times.

My Thoughts: In many ways, this book was perfect for me. Many of you know I am a huge soccer fan. I’ve been a player and a fan for quite some time (although I admit as I get older I am becoming more of a fan and less of a player). As I get older, I am also getting more into politics, or global current affairs. I have a Drudge Report addiction and am visiting CNN.com just as much as I am visiting ESPN.com. This book was a way of getting the best of both worlds.

It doesn’t explain the world as the title suggests, but it does give the reader an understanding of globalization and how soccer around the world can serve as an example. It also takes the reader inside the world of soccer, into places you might not know exist. For example, I knew Celtic and Rangers (two scottish teams) were rivals, but I had no idea it was based on a history of Celtic representing Catholics and the Rangers representing the Protestants.

Another thing the book does well is take the reader around the world; the book doesn’t speak on European soccer only, or S. American. It discusses soccer in Europe, of course, S. America, of course, but also Africa, Asia and America. The author does a good job of explaining how truly global soccer is.

I really enjoyed this book. Although, as I said before, it doesn’t explain the world. However, it was entertaining, and definitely informative. Any soccer fan would enjoy it. And if you don’t like soccer, after reading the book, you might…

Each of his books were interesting to me because they were edgy and different. But as Palahniuk continues to write, his books get more disturbing and a bit disgusting; his stories become worse because of it. Every book has a been a steady downward decline into disturbing areas in which I’m not so sure I want to go. Especially after deciding to put Christ number one in my life. When one of his latest books, Rant, was published I had some serious doubts as to whether I should even read it, but I decided to and I do admit: it wasn’t that bad. I escaped unscathed. But now I have to draw the line. I have to get off the bandwagon before it falls off the edge. His latest book I can’t read, not even if I wanted to. It’s called Snuff, and it’s about 600 guys who are standing in line to have sex on film with an adult film star as she tries to break the record for…well, you get the point. It’s too disturbing, even for me.

When I saw the book at the bookstore yesterday I do have to admit, a part of me wanted to read it. Not because of it’s content of course, but because of who wrote it. His writing is actually really good; it’s definitely different - in more ways than one - than any other author I’ve read. Plus, I’ve read all his other books so a part of me wanted to read this one as well…but I knew I couldn’t. Yeah, the content was too much, but even more I reflected on the First Commandment, the “no other god’s before me” one…and I realized that “gods” doesn’t always mean a spiritual entity.

I think putting my desire to read a certain book above my desire to follow the Lord is a form of worshiping another god. I suppose it’s the same with movies, or excessive drinking, sex, etc. What am I a slave to? What do I worship? God or other stuff - desirable stuff? What’s more important? It actually made a lot of sense to me. So I put the book down. And I know I won’t pick it up again, there’s no interest.

Perhaps it sounds weird, but I think it’s true. The whole, “Thou shall have no other gods before me” doesn’t necessarily mean “gods” in the typical sense of the word. I think we can put many things before God….we often do, even when we know we shouldn’t. Is that not the same thing? Maybe not…but to me it felt that way yesterday. So, I guess that means the line has been drawn. I’m done with Chuck Palahniuk.