Death by Living by N.D. Wilson
I have laughed, I have cried, I have cheered – and I’m barely fifty pages in. This is a beautiful, beautiful book. “Stories mean trouble. Stories mean hardship. The fall of man did not introduce evil; it placed us on the wrong side of it, under its rule, needing rescue. And God is not an aura of ruling auras. His Son is flesh even now. You have flesh. This story is concrete, it is for real, and it is played for keeps.” (I’ll be participating the official Death by Living blog tour later this month; look for my review on the 30th.)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
My third time through. McCarthy is my favorite contemporary novelist, and perhaps my favorite novelist period – but as much as I love and admire the rest of his work, The Road has been, is, and always will be his magnum opus as far as I’m concerned. Seldom is literature more haunting, more gut-wrenching, more powerful than this.
Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg
I’ve followed Goldberg’s writing on the web for some time, but this is the first book I’ve read by him. It hasn’t disappointed. In fact, the next time I hear a liberal throw the word “fascist” around as an insult to his conservative opponents, I may just hand him a copy of this book – a stinging reminder that the original fascists were actually on the left, not the right. Talk about taking the wind out of someone’s sails.
The Search for God and Guinness by Stephen Mansfield
A biography of the beer that changed the world. Halfway through and enjoying it immensely. I like Douglas Wilson’s endorsement the best: “Pour this book into a frosted glass and enjoy.” While you’re at it, I’d also advise wearing your favorite Guinness t-shirt. Y’know, just because.
Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith
A remarkable debut effort – chilling, intelligent, and very well-written: “When war hero Leo Stepanovich Demidov, a rising star in the MGB, the State Security force, is assigned to look into the death of a child, Leo is annoyed, first because this takes him away from a more important case, but, more importantly, because the parents insist the child was murdered. In Stalinist Russia, there’s no such thing as murder; the only criminals are those who are enemies of the state.”
The Supper of the Lamb by Robert Farrar Capon
Oh, how I love this book. It’s a culinary reflection, a cookbook, and a theological treatise baked into one single tasty volume, garnished with enough joie de vivre to make the sourest food cynic smile. Delicious stuff. Here’s a taste for the hungry and the curious.
What’s on your bookshelf right now?
THE INK SLINGER 
I’ve added Death by Living to my KIndle wish list. It looks like a page turner…or in my case, a finger swiper. I hope it goes down in price before I get a gift card. Even if it doesn’t I will have to purchase it. It is just a little frustrating when you buy a book for Kindle and the next week It’s on sale for $1.99 or free.
Thanks for the review or I wouldn’t have known it was even available!
Haha! I feel your pain, brother Eddie; those Kindle prices are a tricky business. :)
Death by Living is now on my “To read” list.
Currently reading:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Horblower and the Hotspur by C.S. Forester
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian
Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales
The Dragon’s Tooth by N.D. Wilson
O’Brian’s series is one I really want to read, especially after seeing the stellar film adaption. Same goes for Forester and Horatio Hornblower.
They’re good. Very enjoyable, even though O’Brian goes into ridiculous detail, and Forester’s style is just strange.
I suggest reading the Hornblower books first. Reading the Aubrey Maturin series and then going to Hornblower would be like going from Ted Dekker to the Hardy Boys.
My book list was already long, and now it looks like Liberal Fascism will be at the top. Thanks (note the sarcastic tone). Just about to read Sinclair’s “Dead Hand” series…but then again I might have to read The Jungle again.
“My book list was already long, and now it looks like Liberal Fascism will be at the top. Thanks (note the sarcastic tone).”
Always happy to help, friend. ;)
Perhaps Ann Coulter took a note from Goldberg. She has such an uncanny ability to make me laugh, cry, and unsettled all at the same time. “Guilty” and “If democrats had any brains they’d be republicans” top the list. Do you read Coulter?
I have not – other than the occasional news article or piece of commentary. I usually like what she has to say, though. I’ll have to pick up one of her books.
Looks like a good collection of books you are reading!
Thanks, brother! I’ve been watching your Goodreads list… looks like your bookshelf is pretty well stocked, too. :)
The Supper of the Lamb – thumbs up. The Search For God and Guinness – thumbs up (and Guinness t-shirts would definitely add to the experience, lol). I’ve never read either one…but I do believe I need to remedy that. My Dad *loves* them both.
And, well, you already know what’s on my bookshelf.
Oh, but I finished Death By Living, today. And I’m half-sad it’s over now :). It was so beautiful. Looking forward to reading your review on it!
Ah, you beat me! ;) I’m almost a third of the way through Death by Living… I think I’ll have to read it (at least) once more before I attempt writing a review. There’s just so much to it. It’s a dizzying book; and I mean that in the best possible way, as you know. :)
Ah, I’m jealous. I can’t wait to get Death by Living.
On my shelf. Just finished Augustine’s City of God (the second reading) :D
The Shallows by Nicholas Carr. Much though I object to people ranting about the evils of the internet (probably a guilty conscience) this one is really good.
The Apostolic Fathers, the first in a project of reading all the Church Fathers and taking advantage of the fact that our personal library contains the entire set of Church Father writing. Should take me about 4 years. :)
Figure of Beatrice by Charles Williams. It’s by Charles Williams and it’s about Dante, can we spell Paradise?
The usual dose of Wodehouse. :D
Just now I’m reading John Adams by David McCullough, The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton, Charles Finney’s Autobiography, and Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford. Also I’m still working on Niebuhr’s book.