A little music never hurt anyone

This latest read is one that I think deserves more than a rant. I read An Equal Music by Vikram Seth. Wow! I started it on a quiet morning and could not put this one down. I went to bed that evening with roughly 100 pages left. I pick up a lot of the titles for books from "Bubba's Book Club" as I may have mentioned in an earlier post. (For those of you who don't know, Bubba is Neil Peart and he writes about books on his web.) This was one of those titles that I picked up after reading about it. I was not disappointed. Bubba has not let me down.

Without giving too much away, I must say that parts of this book were predictable but never the less I kept reading. There were some surprises too and it is these surprises that make those spots of predicability less irritating. The overall story was one that I couldn't walk away from. It is a love story on many levels. The main character was both endearing and someone I didn't really like at times. He came across as arrogant one minute and quite charming the next. At one point in time I wanted to slap him, but alas he is only a character in a book. It is music that makes this man who he is and it is music that breaks him.

The thing about this book that really stands out for me is the musical aspect and multitude of references to music and musical instruments, of which I have no clue. I did find a CD out there with the same title; many of the pieces that are mentioned in the book are on this CD. I am tempted to purchase it just to have it with my book. Music is something that brings us together. It can also tear us apart as is evident in the book. I often found myself thinking about the power of music. What would I do without music in my own life? I may not be able to hold a note or even play an instrument, but I sure to sing at the top of my lungs while I am driving in my car. Music is that common denominator, that language everyone seems to know and that bridge that crosses all barriers.

So, here it is my revelation. Music is that thing that every human has in common. We need to look to the songs in our hearts and find that drummer that makes us move as one. No conflicts, no wars, nothing pulling us apart. Impossible maybe, but still a song worth singing even if it is only in my head.

Summer Reading

Well, the end of summer is punctuated by the opening of the school year. As I reflect on my summer reading, a couple of titles stand out above the rest.

Babylon Rolling (the author escapes my mind) is the first read to rant about. I read this as an advanced reader's copy and thus I can not quote any passages. I do have to say that the voice and the point of view shifts are what make this book a great read. Each character's story is told and written in that character's voice and from that specific point of view. An author who can do this is one to be applauded. I really felt like I was experiencing each person's reality while I was reading. I was sucked into this book from the very beginning.

My first rant about this read has to do with the reality that each one of us lives on a daily basis. We so often take on the persona that we think others want us to have. We do this without regard for ourselves or the people closest to us. I guess this is what really drew me into this book. I try to live my life for myself, but often find that my true being is hidden because of what others around me expect. Sometimes this is a good thing but many times it really doesn't make much difference. A good example happened the other night when I had the perfect opportunity to express my views of the health care issue facing our society today. I was at a book club meeting with a friend, but because I was new to the group and didn't want to offend anyone, I didn't say what my heart and mind told me to say. I now regret not taking a stand and presenting my position. Can I go back and do over? No, but I can take this lesson from the book and from my experience and say something next time. I just hope there is a next time. Why do I find it acceptable to offend a classmate by stating my mind/opinion, but find it difficult to do so with strangers? Babylon rolls...

The second book I want to discuss here is Buffalo Lockjaw by Greg Ames. This is one of those books that makes you think about things in life that too soon many of us will face; the death of a loved one. The main character here is faced with the choice of ending his mother's suffering, as she clearly supported or not doing it because the law says it is a crime. I wonder myself what I would have chosen. I am not going to spoil this one for you, as it is an exceptional read. I will however, pose the question of assisted suicide: Is this acceptable? Many would say not. I think maybe it depends on the people involved.

As someone who doesn't really believe, I think that ending the suffering of another should be allowed if the person accepts this as an option. I know that if I were to become a vegetable, then I would want my family to 'pull the plug' before I became a burden. I wouldn't want to be remembered as someone needing daily care just to be kept alive in such a state. I am married to a man somewhat older than myself. I often worry about keeping him alive after his quality of life is such that he no longer 'lives'. What is the right thing to do? Who knows, but if he were to say "don't keep me alive on life support' then I know what would need to be done. My problem comes with other circumstances where he wouldn't be on life support, but wouldn't be himself either.

Fortunately, I don't need to make this decision at this time. This book is one that makes the reader think about such things.

What are my revelations then? The choices we make to speak up or not and the choices we make when faced with difficult decisions are our own to make. Nobody can influence them. We might regret making them in the long run, but if we don't think about them now and really consider them, how will we know and feel about them when we do have to make them? Hopefully we are strong enough to make them in the first place. I am ashamed that I was not true to myself at the book club meeting. I thought I was over that fear of offending others. I now see that I have things to work on. I also hope that I am not asked to choose life or death for my husband, nor him for me, but I hope that if I am put into that position I make the correct choice for myself and my loved one like the main character in Buffalo Lockjaw.

I have chewed on this one long enough.

Ok, I have ruminated over this book long enough. I usually read a book and forget it after a few days or remember it forever. This one, I have been chewing on for some time. I guess it struck me in such a way that I can't let it go until I've ranted. I read The Shack by William P. Young, published in 2007 by Windblown Media out of California, for my book club. As you can guess, we discussed it briefly before moving on to all the latest gossip. (So much for a book club that actually talks about the books we read. I am going to try another book club tonight.)

When my book club chose this one, I was a tad skeptical to say the least. Not being a very religious person and not wanting to be preached at, I wasn't really looking forward to reading this one. I thought it would be shoving God down my throat, choking me as I read. Growing up in a small town with only one church I had no real choice of religion. As kids we go where our parents go, or where they force us to go and for me this was the Baptist church. So, if you know anything about religion you know where my mind was going and I wasn't liking it much. My views on God, religion, politics and such have changed over the years. While I still believe in a higher power, I don't believe that there is just one god pulling all of the strings while we sit around and wait to see how it all plays out. I am all about freewill. There are many ways to pray and living rightly is what matters. I don't think a benevolent God would approve of people doing things in his name that harm others, but I digress...

The question of who God is or what God is can not really be answered, though many have tried. This book, The Shack has done a great job of presenting God in such a way that I am still thinking about it. I have not yet put my finger on what it is about this book that keeps my interest. I have not changed my religious views or my thoughts about God, but because of this book, my god now has a face. (I am still not a fan of organized religion, but that would be another digression.) The book itself starts out as an unbelievable story and one that I sort of snickered at as I was reading. I thought I knew where the author was taking me and I wasn't in the mood for a sermon on how God speaks to us through others and how all we need to do is listen. I wasn't able to put the book down, after all it was a book club book and how could the English teacher show up to the meeting without finishing the assignment? I kept reading. To my surprise the flashback to the accident kept me on the edge of my seat, and I wasn't being beaten over the head with God or religion. The best surprise came when God's character showed up along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit as Mack entered the shack. The philosophical aspect of the book kept me riveted. I really enjoyed Mack's discussions with God and the way in which God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit enveloped him. I am not saying that his questions were answered because they weren't to any real satisfaction, but the answers Mack got were enough, just what he needed. I think this is the aspect of this character I like the best. God in The Shack gave Mack only what he needed and exactly when he needed it. (I am sure I sound like a preacher myself here but this is where my conventional views on God end.)

It is the nature of god that so many people, like me and the main character struggle with that this book attempts to answer. I won't give anything away here, you'll need to read the book for yourself, but this central question is answered to my satisfaction in this book by the character, God. The characters of the Holy Spirit and Jesus also add to and support the answers regarding the nature of God laid out in this book. These characters offer comfort and answers to some of the toughest questions humans throw out there where God is concerned, especially in difficult times. Mr. Young creates some characters that will probably stand the test of time, if you will, and keep people talking. I think the biggest question he attempts to answer is the one where people questions God's motives for allowing bad things to happen. Again, you will need to read the book to see for yourself Young's answer.

I have since discussed this very book and this idea of the nature of God with a friend of mine who holds many of the same views as I. Her Catholic background is much like that of my Baptist background. Here is where my rant ends and the revelation begins. It doesn't matter what any one of us believes as long as we can come together speaking and listening equally to reach a common understanding. We need not try to force our thoughts, beliefs, ideals etc. onto others. Our own understanding of the world will come when we learn to listen to what others say and then apply what we know. I have found that great books offer a stepping stone into that conversation, listening and speaking to others, necessary for growth. A book is more peaceful than any weapon. Once the conversation begins, like a ripple in the water, it continues even after the conversation seems to be over and books offer many generations the opportunity to join the conversation.

God, from The Shack is a character who like many good teachers doesn't offer the answers to questions, but instead offers new questions and new ways to look at and think about the questions we are asking. This allows us to find our own answers. This character encompasses all aspects of all religion, equally and this is the God I choose to believe in, rightly or wrongly but without judgement.

Ranting #1

Welcome to Readings, Rantings and Revelations.  I love to read, I rant on about nothing in particular and my revelations may not be of use to anyone but me.  I just need to put it out there.

Nothing much to rant about tonight except the weather and there is nothing I can do about that. Why do so many people complain about things they have no control over and couldn't change even if they did have control?  I am not really complaining, but rather wishing Mother Nature would stop with the games and just let Spring, well, spring.  I think that once the weather changes people will start smiling at one another instead of walking with their faces buried into their chests to avoid the wind and blowing snow/rain.  At least with the rain (or snow) one can snuggle up with a good book, in front of a fire with a warming drink and escape into the wonderful world of imagination that only a book can deliver.  And, here it is the revelation.  Cold weather is good for something.  Reading.

Well, I ranted, touched on reading and had a revelation.  Not bad for my first post to the general "public" of the world wide web.