41 - I'm hooked...

and I don't usually get sucked into storylines so easily. I have already started the third book, and I am going to catch Brad soon. At least I waited until all the books were released, this way I don't have to wait 9 months for the next installment to come out. Anyway, my previous review stands, I think I'll give a big doozy of a review after all the books are read. Okay well I have a mountain to conquer so I am outta here.

WARNING: This book, and the subsequent books in this series exist in a modern world not only occupied by "God" but by "gods" as well. If you may find this offensive, then you should skip this series.

That being said I loved this book. I was skeptical to start a series of children's books but my friend Brad gave this one the Butler seal of approval so I figured I'd drink the Kool-Aid. I was pleasantly surprised. I have always nerded out on Mythology, with the full understanding that it was just that, Mythology. I spent a few years as secretary of the Latin Club in high school, which essentially requires some mythological studies. So as I dived into the first few chapters, I was hooked. I am ready to get on to the next book, but I have some other reading to do, but if I'm honest I'll probably put that off and keep going on these. They really are compelling, it is good writing, good conflict, likable characters, people you hate, and superpowers. I need no more. It won't increase the surface area of your gray matter, but it will make you enjoy reading. That's enough for me.

Ambos Nogales

So I have little to no affection left for border towns, but my dad really loves the places. I don't know what it is about them, but he really wants to go to Nogales every time he visits, so I oblige. After our last visit a few weeks ago I decided that there was at least a minimal amount of study I needed to put into our nearest border-town-neighbors. So I started to read Ambos Nogales. This book is a Photo-journalistic view at both Nogales but has a remarkably deep level of story as well. I think my appreciation for the town on each side of the border has grown as a result. The problem with border towns, in my mind, is that you don't really get to know anyone. The population is transitory, most people don't originate from the area, and the dollar is driving daily life. Come to think of it, that isn't much different from the city I live in. I suppose the transitory nature of life here is a part of being situated on an international border, it is even a part I embrace. I love the idea of cultures living side by side, and co-mingling. I can appreciated acculturation in some contexts but I can also understand a fierce loyalty to ones "mother culture." I suppose in some circles this makes me un-American, but I also suppose it doesn't make me un-Jesus-like, and that's more what I'm shooting for. All of this to say, I realized in the last few weeks that the things I don't love about border towns are the things that have been imposed upon those towns by bureaucracy, crime, and international political posturing and preening. So, long story short, border towns are OK in my books, after all, if there wasn't a made up border there, they'd just be towns. I'm OK with towns.

Pursuit of Holiness

I should have read this a long time ago, for many many reasons. I have now. I found this book encouraging, and in consideration of my pursuit of reading 50 books, a wjole lot convicting. Why is it that I can be dedicated to reading 50 books, most of which are ultimately meaningless, but a pursuit of the life I am created, and desire to live is really tough to pull off. Anyway, this book bridges practical information and encouraging reminders very well, it has the right amount of conviction but enough encouraging to keep you going. If you haven't yet, go ahead and give it a read through.