I really have not been very good about keeping up with this blog but life has been SUPER crazy and exhausting lately. That said, I did manage to finish 3 books and now on to my 4th. I have a hard time falling asleep without reading for pleasure. I need something to inhibit the noise from the day and get me in an organized thought process such as a plot line. That said, here is what I've been reading.
I finished Gifted Hands by Ben Carson in September. It was a very inspiring story of a boy who realized God's calling early and rose up against the odds becoming one of the most famous pediatric neurosurgeons. Carson gives credit and thanks to God throughout his entire journey. This was a very nice change from the stereotypical surgeons who accomplish such amazing medical feats and take credit themselves. I would recommend this book to any middle/high school student who has not found their calling yet or may be struggling to find good role models.
Next, I read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I read the full translated version which is very different than several others in one very big way, Anna is not the sole protagonist. I was motivated by the movie trailer but just learned that the movie is using a specific adaptation that almost completely leaves out major story lines, mainly Kitty and Levin. The novel is over 900pgs but is beautifully written. I was amazed at how seamlessly you are carried from one character's psyche to another's. The stories are all entangled and the underlying search for God for several characters is wonderful. Particularly, as these characters are the ones who find fulfillment while Anna who started off head of the curve, slowly digresses over time until I wasn't sorry when her story ended. I have never disliked a protagonist more than Anna.
After completing Anna Karenina, I read Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. If you ever wanted motivation to run a few miles, read Karnazes's account of running 200+miles in a single run. At times the book is very inspiring. Other times I wanted to stop reading such as when Karnazes tries to play humble about his accomplishments which only makes him seem the reverse. All in All, the book did its job getting me excited to run. Now the question is how far can I run?
I've started my next book, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It's about an Everest expedition that goes wrong. We'll see how that one makes me feel about mountain climbing,
I finished Gifted Hands by Ben Carson in September. It was a very inspiring story of a boy who realized God's calling early and rose up against the odds becoming one of the most famous pediatric neurosurgeons. Carson gives credit and thanks to God throughout his entire journey. This was a very nice change from the stereotypical surgeons who accomplish such amazing medical feats and take credit themselves. I would recommend this book to any middle/high school student who has not found their calling yet or may be struggling to find good role models.
Next, I read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. I read the full translated version which is very different than several others in one very big way, Anna is not the sole protagonist. I was motivated by the movie trailer but just learned that the movie is using a specific adaptation that almost completely leaves out major story lines, mainly Kitty and Levin. The novel is over 900pgs but is beautifully written. I was amazed at how seamlessly you are carried from one character's psyche to another's. The stories are all entangled and the underlying search for God for several characters is wonderful. Particularly, as these characters are the ones who find fulfillment while Anna who started off head of the curve, slowly digresses over time until I wasn't sorry when her story ended. I have never disliked a protagonist more than Anna.
After completing Anna Karenina, I read Ultramarathon Man by Dean Karnazes. If you ever wanted motivation to run a few miles, read Karnazes's account of running 200+miles in a single run. At times the book is very inspiring. Other times I wanted to stop reading such as when Karnazes tries to play humble about his accomplishments which only makes him seem the reverse. All in All, the book did its job getting me excited to run. Now the question is how far can I run?
I've started my next book, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. It's about an Everest expedition that goes wrong. We'll see how that one makes me feel about mountain climbing,
