And on to other book-related news... so yesterday I had a really great meditation session at the local library, and after that I went to pick up this book that I'd ordered last week on a whim:
The Existential Joss Whedon: Evil And Human Freedom in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly And Serenity. Yeah, a mouthful, LoL! But I figured what the hey, seeing as enjoyed every show/movie (the Buffy movie doesn't count!) in the title, and seeing as I'd like to produce (a) novel(s) of similar intelligence and wit, I think it would make for good reading. Of course, I can't really jump into it till NaNo is over...
Hmmmm, I think my timing is just a *wee* bit off... LMAO :D
After all, I'm still in the process of reading Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn...
On one hand a typical fantasy where a rag-tag group of people strive to overthrow a baddie overlord, but on the other... well... firstly there's the Allomancy concept: certain people have the ability to "burn" a metal (... or all 10 possible) thus taking advantage of its properties... the manipulation of iron by flipping coins and "stepping off" of them, and the description of the action involving them, is excellent. Then there's the hints about who the Great Ruler was before he became the supreme immortal overlord: I'm thinking he may not the absolute bad guy they all think he is, or that he is as much the victim of circumstances as us all, or perhaps even more so than most... we'll see... I'll definitely be reviewing this once done.So, what with NaNo and all, I told myself I'd read Mistborn a little bit at a time, giving priority to my writing. Then came yesterday and my needing to pick up the Joss Whedon book. I knew I shouldn't, but I took a gander at the shelves holding new books... and whaddaya know, I walked out the library with FOUR books, not just one. Grrrrrrr!!
Funny thing is, those three "extra" books? All have a similar theme... can you see it?
Modern day Israel, and the Jewish community, is strongly influenced by the memory and horrors of Hitler and the Holocaust. [The author] argues that the Jewish nation has been traumatized and has lost the ability to trust itself, its neighbors or the world around it. He shows that this is one of the causes for the growing nationalism and violence that are plaguing Israeli society and reverberating through Jewish communities worldwide. Thought-provoking, compelling, and original, this book is bound to spark a heated debate around the world. 
Crusading features prominently in today's religio-political hostilities, yet the perceptions of these wars held by Arab nationalists, pan-Islamists, and many in the West have been deeply distorted by the language and imagery of nineteenth-century European imperialism. [this book] returns to the actual story of the Crusades, explaining why and where they were fought and how deeply their narratives and symbolism became embedded in popular Catholic thought and devotional life [and] traces the legacy of the Crusades into modern times, specifically within the attitudes of European imperialists and colonialists and within the beliefs of twentieth-century Muslims.
Set in Israel, with its 30,000 archaeological digs crammed with biblical-era artifacts, and full of colorful characters—scholars, evangelicals, detectives, and millionaire collectors—Unholy Business tells the incredibly story of what the Israeli authorities have called "the fraud of the century." It takes readers into the murky world of Holy Land relic dealing, from the back alleys of Jerusalem's Old City to New York's Fifth Avenue, and reveals biblical archaeology as it is pulled apart by religious believers on one side and scientists on the other.... how's THAT for some light reading... not!! :p
Hi Lynne,
ReplyDeleteLight reading! That's about as light as huge elephant about to give birth! Unless of course you're used to reading in the dark and would use a bulb this time. LOL!
That book on Israel is very interesting and you're right about it sparking a lot of debates. Based on the synopsis you provided, there could be a lot of truth in it.
The book on crusades is equally interesting. I have long held the view that the Crusades were an excuse to conquer and plunder under the guise of "Christianizing" nations. It was killing and thievery in the name of God. It may have began the intolerance for other religions and spurred the mistrust and animosity between faiths. It connects to present day fundamentalism in all religions, battling with the more liberal views of certain segments within each faith. This extends into politics and culture too.
The Iraq war is the use of terrorism as an excuse associated with Islamist fundamentalists, to invade the country but control of the powerful and strategic oil supplies is the true objective. Of course, the benefits to their partners (Halliburton) and to themselves (Bush and Company) is immense. These profits made better by using American lives and their genuine patriotism as sacrifice and taxpayers money.
It does not differ much from the 13th century Crusades. As George Bernard Shaw once said, "We learn from history that men never learn from history". :-) --Durano, done!