Saturday, September 09, 2006
All books are books, and therefore sacred
(Category: life, faith, role-playing games)
I once saw that phrase, quoted on a bookshop's bag, if I remember correctly. While I'm not sure I can agree 100% with the statement, it certainly rings true. (BTW, can anyone identify the author of that quote?)
Having had far better response to my meme challenge than I expected or deserved, John got his own back with this. It's odd that this should come along just as I've decided I need to read more, even if the intention was mainly that I should read more in the theological vein.
One book.
1 One book that changed your life:
It might sound incredibly sad, and say more about me than I'd care to admit, but it would have to be "The Alternative Service Book, 1980." A book that showed me that liturgy had value and included scripture. A book whose words said what needed to be said, in that time and place.
2 One book you’ve read more than once:
Hmm, it might be easier to ask me to name one book I haven't read more than once... I'll give two. As good sci-fi "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L Forward (1980). As fiction mixing with faith, "The Hidden Years - a novel about Jesus" by Neil Boyd (1984), speculating about Jesus' growing realisation of his mission, not to mention an insight into the temptation in the wilderness.
3 One book you’d want on a desert island:
I'd have to go with John on this one - A decent survival manual.
4 A book that made you laugh:
Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld. I'm particularly fond of "Reaper Man".
5 A book that made you cry:
I genuinely can never remember reading a single book that has done this. But the older I get the more easily moved I seem to be, so there's time yet!
6 A book I wish I’d written:
Pass. I'm not that envious of anyone else's work, although I can think of some I might like to write, like "Rev Strangelove, or how I learnt to ignore the rules and stay a happy Anglican."
7 A book I wish had never been written:
Can't think of any one in particular. I'd want to delete some of the worst pieces that incite hatred and violence.
8 A book I am currently reading:
Seeing as how my life is littered with half-read books, I'll have to comment on the one I'm actively reading - Kester Brewin's "The Complex Christ" (2004). I was reading it in tandem with Nick Page's "The Church Invisible" (2004) for at least the second time, which I finished this morning. Kester's book is passionately and persuasively written, possibly bordering on polemic in places. I find much I agree with, along with a few perplexing implications. Nick Page's book makes a good companion to Kester's, or any other book which challenges us about the serious need to deal with ecclesiological and missiological matters while there is still time.
9 A book I’ve been meaning to read:
Until Greenbelt I would have said Kester's! That said, I have meant to read "Titus Groan" (1946) by Mervyn Peake, as well as the sequels "Gormenghast" and "Titus Alone" for ages.
10 A book I wish had been written:
"Role-Playing Games are NOT from the pen of Satan," (possibly subtitled "USE your imagination")! Me? Issues? What issues? :) ¶ 10:25 am
I once saw that phrase, quoted on a bookshop's bag, if I remember correctly. While I'm not sure I can agree 100% with the statement, it certainly rings true. (BTW, can anyone identify the author of that quote?)
Having had far better response to my meme challenge than I expected or deserved, John got his own back with this. It's odd that this should come along just as I've decided I need to read more, even if the intention was mainly that I should read more in the theological vein.
One book.
1 One book that changed your life:
It might sound incredibly sad, and say more about me than I'd care to admit, but it would have to be "The Alternative Service Book, 1980." A book that showed me that liturgy had value and included scripture. A book whose words said what needed to be said, in that time and place.
2 One book you’ve read more than once:
Hmm, it might be easier to ask me to name one book I haven't read more than once... I'll give two. As good sci-fi "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L Forward (1980). As fiction mixing with faith, "The Hidden Years - a novel about Jesus" by Neil Boyd (1984), speculating about Jesus' growing realisation of his mission, not to mention an insight into the temptation in the wilderness.
3 One book you’d want on a desert island:
I'd have to go with John on this one - A decent survival manual.
4 A book that made you laugh:
Pretty much anything by Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld. I'm particularly fond of "Reaper Man".
5 A book that made you cry:
I genuinely can never remember reading a single book that has done this. But the older I get the more easily moved I seem to be, so there's time yet!
6 A book I wish I’d written:
Pass. I'm not that envious of anyone else's work, although I can think of some I might like to write, like "Rev Strangelove, or how I learnt to ignore the rules and stay a happy Anglican."
7 A book I wish had never been written:
Can't think of any one in particular. I'd want to delete some of the worst pieces that incite hatred and violence.
8 A book I am currently reading:
Seeing as how my life is littered with half-read books, I'll have to comment on the one I'm actively reading - Kester Brewin's "The Complex Christ" (2004). I was reading it in tandem with Nick Page's "The Church Invisible" (2004) for at least the second time, which I finished this morning. Kester's book is passionately and persuasively written, possibly bordering on polemic in places. I find much I agree with, along with a few perplexing implications. Nick Page's book makes a good companion to Kester's, or any other book which challenges us about the serious need to deal with ecclesiological and missiological matters while there is still time.
9 A book I’ve been meaning to read:
Until Greenbelt I would have said Kester's! That said, I have meant to read "Titus Groan" (1946) by Mervyn Peake, as well as the sequels "Gormenghast" and "Titus Alone" for ages.
10 A book I wish had been written:
"Role-Playing Games are NOT from the pen of Satan," (possibly subtitled "USE your imagination")! Me? Issues? What issues? :) ¶ 10:25 am
