Book Meme


I've been tagged with the book meme - here are my responses

Note: I found this post which I had written almost entirely, but forgot to post back in July of 2006! I guess its a little behind, but I'll post it now anyway because its hardly time sensitive, though Eating Words has changed names at least twice and can now be found here.

Eating Words (a good blog I hope all of you are reading) recently put up a book meme post, in which he answered a set of questions regarding books that he has read. If you're not familiar with blog memes, they are something of a friendly chain letter - where one blogger will respond to a series of questions and then forward the challenge to 5 others. This way they move throughout the blogosphere quickly and get a bunch of responses.

I was honored that in an update to the post, he not only tagged me, but listed me as an "interesting person." My vanity properly puffed up, I have no choice but to respond. Here is my take on the meme:

1. One book that changed your life:
Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, R.C. Sproul
This book introduced me to theology, and really spurred me onto a deeper Christian faith. I don't know where I would be today without this book, but I doubt that I would have had the desire and courage to read some other weightier works of theology.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
Freedom of the Christian, by Martin Luther
A classic work that has several distinctives of Lutheranism - most notably the complete and total forgiveness found in Christ and complete lack of any condemning or binding power of the law. It made my Presbyterian friends in the reading group a little queasy thinking about Christians being totally freed from the law.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
My Sherlock Holmes collection - there's something about these stories that just whisks you away to Victorian London. If you ever needed to forget you were on a desert island, you could easily seek comfort in Doyle's world.

4. One book that made you laugh:
Dilbert comics - the fount of geeky hilarity

5. One book that made you cry:
Just about any of the Chronicles of Narnia, but especially The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe as well as The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I hate to admit it, but the great truths in these books, so eloquently hidden in a wonderful, magical story, can reduce me to a whimpering idiot. I'm also sure they've made me a better man.

6. One book that you wish had been written:
The complete guide to wise decisions for Brant's life, by God

7. One book that you wish had never been written:
I think I love books too much to wish a book unwritten. There are a ton of books that have had major negative influences, or books that I strongly disagree with, but there's a huge part of me that is glad books have that power - for good or evil. And yes, that is a cop out because I can't think of anything specific.

8. One book you’re currently reading:
Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton - though those of you savvy blog readers already know you can see the books I'm currently reading in the right sidebar of the homepage. (Note: obviously, this no longer applies, but you can still see what I'm reading now on the right).

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Anything by Forde. I've heard so many recommendations for Forde by Lutherans I respect greatly, that I really need to pick up at least one, if not several, of his books. I'm hoping to convince my reading group that a Forde book would be a good next step.

10. Now tag five people:
Nathaniel
Van
Josh
Nick
Steve

UPDATE: Mere-O Matt has also agreed to take up the challenge. Any other Mere-O friends may consider themselves so tagged if they wish - I'd be interested in hearing all of your thoughts on this.

Posted: Thu - September 27, 2007 at 02:05 AM | | | | | | |

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