The Comet's Flame

Comment from Bethany Wheeler
Time 2008/05/22 at 11:55 am

Ewww! Don’t read Lord of the Flies! Bad Book.

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/22 at 12:06 pm

Bethany, you are not allowed to remove items from my reading list. You may only add them.

Comment from Nathan
Time 2008/05/22 at 2:19 pm

I’ll remove another one for you: Leaves of Grass.
There’s a reason A Beka doesn’t approve it. Trust me.

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/22 at 2:27 pm

Aaargh!! Nobody’s following the rules here!

Comment from jeff
Time 2008/05/22 at 4:39 pm

Lord of the Flies is considered a classic about the depravity of man. A book with a similar message is The Picture of Dorian Gray. If you’re in the mood to explore depravity, then these are two to consider. They certainly show the ugly side of life and the result of unrestrained sin.

There are a lot of “classics” that explore interesting themes, but mix in objectionable material that makes it difficult to whole-heartedly recommend them. I’d include Flowers for Algernon and Of Mice and Men in this list. Thought-provoking books, but not fully edifying.

If you didn’t finish The Count of Monte Cristo, then I highly recommend it.

Have you read Animal Farm by George Orwell? I consider it better than the more popular 1984.

If you’ve never read a Louis L’Amour western novel, you should try at least one. I like A Man Called Noon, Radigan and Flint.

Then, since you’ll want to try another genre, Bethany can recommend some Agatha Christie mysteries, such as The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Comment from Josiah
Time 2008/05/22 at 7:17 pm

I’ve been reading through a 70 page word document named TTNT Test Manager Specification and Overview. It’s almost as good as a Jack London book!

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/22 at 8:50 pm

Thanks Mr. W.! You’re the first person to suggest additions instead of removals!!

I started reading The Picture of Dorian Gray a while ago, but I got tired of the constant decadence (the characters seem to do nothing but lounge around all day), and it’s even worse realizing that this was Oscar Wilde’s actual philosophy of life. So I couldn’t make myself finish it. But you’re right… it definitely gives a good picture of the results of sin.

I’ve been meaning to read Of Mice and Men. I’ve always found the Great Depression to be a fascinating period of history.

I’ve read 1984, but not Animal Farm yet.

Agatha Christie mysteries sound very interesting. I love British detective stories (I’ve read some of G. K. Chesterton’s “Father Brown” mysteries, and they are excellent).

Thanks for the great suggestions!

Josiah, good luck with your “enjoyable” reading! Oh no! Not Jack London! Terrible man (and terrible author)!

Comment from Bethany Wheeler
Time 2008/05/22 at 10:24 pm

Ok, I recommend these (most of them are ‘for fun’ books):

Any of the ‘Freddy the Pig’ books by Walter R. Brooks. They are written in a series, but they improved with time, so I’d start after the third or so. Try ‘Freddy the Cowboy’ or ‘Freddy Goes Camping’. They’re children’s books, but the writing style and humor offer a lot to adult readers. A nice light weekend read.

If you do want Agatha Christie try ‘N or M’ or ‘The Boomerang Clue’ or ‘By the Pricking of my Thumbs’ or any other of her Tommy and Tuppence mysteries. But be sure to start with thier first and work forwards in chronological order. If you want one of her more traditional mysteries, read ‘The Mysterious Affair At Styles’ – Hercule Poirot’s first mystery. If you want one to creep you out, read ‘Sleeping Murder’ or ‘The Pale Horse’ late at night.

If you like British mysteries, you could also try Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries. Sayers isn’t so ‘victorian’ in her content … she openly writes about things that Christie only hints at. Sayers writes a blend of P. G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie.

Another light yet intellecual read: The Series of Unfortunate Events. Can’t go wrong.

Also, I’ve basically finished reading Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harrison. I found it challenging, but not revolutionary. I recommend that all teenagers should read it.

If I were you, I’d skip Little Women and read Eight Cousins instead. It’s a much better representation of Alcott’s work, and her ‘feminist’ ideals. It’s my favorite of hers.

Comment from Nathan
Time 2008/05/23 at 12:08 pm

Oh, good – a literary discussion! Ahem. *My* responses and suggestions…..
1. I haven’t read Lord of the Flies, and it’s been too long since reading the Picture of Dorian Grey for me to comment. However, if you do want to read some Wilde I would highly recommend his “Ideal Husband.” It was excellent – full of acerbity and quick, witty ripostes and good insight into human nature. (And clean!)
2. Read the Count of Monte Cristo. Full edition. ‘Nuff said.
3. Yes, Agatha Christie is great! Hercule Poirot is good, of course, but if you want a bit more humor I would strongly recommend Miss Marple. Wit, charm, and interesting mysteries…
4. On the subject of mysteries: Well, first, of course, no one can compare to A. C. Doyle and the brilliant Holmes and Watson. Typical Britishness abounds! The mysteries are good, it’s full of detail, some humor – they’re classics. I would recommend beginning at the beginning and going in chronological order.
Then, there is Chesterton – read all the Father Brown mysteries! His writing is beautiful! Although the mysteries aren’t technically the best, he has deep theological insights and depicts human nature well. They are some of my absolute favorites because they are more than mysteries…..
….Then, of course, there is Dorothy Sayers. I’ve read all her Lord Peter Wimsey novels and short stories……and somewhat recommend them with caveats – Lord Peter sometimes needs to rinse his mouth out with soap. The writing is good and the mysteries are fun. The conversations, though, are excellent! It has been said that “One reads Doyle because one wants to be Sherlock Holmes, but one reads Sayers because one wants to have a conversation with Lord Peter.” I would agree…..who wouldn’t want Wimsey quoting Keats? I would recommend starting with some of the short stories, or do it all in order. You want to watch the relationship between Wimsey and Harriet develop to fully appreciate it….there are also references in later books that make it harder to understand if you don’t know what has gone on before. My favorite is “Busman’s Honeymoon”…..the mystery isn’t the best, but the dialogue is!
5. I read the Series of Unfortunate Events and enjoyed it up to a point….it is entertaining (although it can seem repetitive and cloying), but I was thoroughly disappointed with the espoused worldview. The ending is very disappointing….this is not just a simple children’s series – it has a certain “moral” message it wants to get across and it does it so subtly that I doubt many of its intended audience will consciously understand it. I think it’s dangerous – at least Harry Potter and The Silver Compass were blatant….
6. I would have to respectfully disagree with Bethany. Little Women is the best introduction to Louisa A. It depends, I suppose, on what you want to read…..in Little Women, she’s not nearly so preachy. By Eight Cousins, you get treated to her full sermons on the proper education of young females. Little Women has more human nature, fun, humor and truth in it in my opinion. Of course, if you really want to escape her preaching, read her “thrillers”.
7. Other recommendations: Illiad, Odyssey, complete works of Shakespeare, War and Peace, all of Jane Austen, oh! You might really like Jules Verne……it’s scientifical (though outdated!) and clean. Interesting reads…I enjoyed Journey to the Center of the Earth and the Mysterious Island the most…..
Of course, no recommendation can be complete without Dickens, Keats, Byron, Donne, Sam Johnson (Rambler essays and Rasselas), the Brontes, the Federalist papers, and the Bible (and many others which I’ve neglected to mention)….oh, and Faust is good. What I would recommend is reading through the Norton Anthologies of English and American Literature….that should at least get you started. Don’t forget Hawthorne…or Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy…Also, there’s the “great authors” series put out by the U of Chicago (check the CR library) and the “essential authors” by Barnes and Nobles. Of course, there’s also project gutenberg….
…finally, may I suggest an in depth study of some part of the Bible? Not just reading through, or doing a “devotional”, but a study in which you use commentaries, lexicons, and some Greek to reveal what the text means. They are most instructive!
Blessed reading!

Comment from jeff
Time 2008/05/23 at 1:53 pm

Jed, you neglected to agree to reading a Louis L’Amour western. No doubt this was a simple oversight.

Comment from bex
Time 2008/05/24 at 12:30 am

To add to Bethany’s Agatha Christie books, “Murder on the Orient Express” is worth reading. About Half way through the book it is very tempting to skip to the end you can’t no matter how much the confusion and suspense kills you.

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/24 at 2:47 pm

Bethany, thanks for the suggestions!! I appreciate your inclusion of children’s books, because those can often be rather enjoyable to read (have you ever read the Junie B. Jones series? It’s hilarious). I definitely want to check out some Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie. I have heard so many good things about their work.

Nathan, wow! Thanks for your all-inclusive list! That’s great! I totally agree with your description of Chesterton’s stories. They are profoundly beautiful (and I think that Father Brown himself is a fascinating character). I think I’ll take your advice and let Little Women be my introduction to Louisa May Alcott, mainly because that book is readily available right at the moment!

Mr. W., hahahaha… well, that’s one possible explanation!

Bex, that is a great suggestion. Actually, I have seen the film version of that, and it is an amazing story. So I probably will read the book at some point (movies never completely do justice to the actual book).

Thanks again everybody!! I’ll be sure to write some book reviews pretty soon.

Comment from MillerPla.net
Time 2008/05/24 at 6:22 pm

How aboutThe Great Gatsby? I liked it, but I don’t really know why.

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/24 at 9:54 pm

Yes!!! Excellent book! I read The Great Gatsby a long time ago and didn’t like it, but as time went by and I mulled over the story and imagery in my mind, I started to like it. It really does have sort of an unexplainable beauty.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s less-famous novel This Side of Paradise is also good.

Comment from Bex
Time 2008/05/29 at 1:21 am

It looks like your list is pretty long but about #354 (or so i lost count) should be “Don’t waste your life” by John Piper
It is probably the best book I’ve read besides the All time best seller. {the Bible}

Comment from Jed
Time 2008/05/31 at 10:07 pm

Haha, I think that count is a little high, Bex!

I’ve heard a lot of good things about John Piper and his books. I’ll definitely have to check that out.

Oh, and The Bible is definitely a classic!!!

Comment from Chila W.
Time 2009/01/21 at 7:44 pm

I realize this was last year’s reading list, Jed, but maybe you’ll resume it this year? Actually, since this is probably my most favorite topic in the universe (besides God), I hope you don’t mind if I chime in with a few thoughts.

Some great suggestions have already been posted. Here are a few others –

re: Dorothy L. Sayers. Yes, her fiction is good, quite good… but, I find her non-fiction even better! I can highly recommend “The Mind of the Maker”, “Are Women Human?”, and “Creed or Chaos?”, to name a few. Read any of these and you’ll immediately see why she was a crony of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Charles Williams, and Lord David Cecil (via her occasional “Inklings” visits).

I absolutely love Emily Dickinson, everything about her. We were able to visit her homestead and grave plot two summers ago. It was an unforgettable visit, mostly because of the sheer power of her quite fragile life.

Have you ever read Henry van Dyke? His essays and poems are unmatched.

But in all the writings of the “greats”, I find as much joy reading about what made them “great”, what made them tick, what influences helped shape who they ultimately became and what they ultimately did. The Brontes, Sayers, Lewis, Dickinson, Christina Rossetti, George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), etc. They wrote as they did because of who they were. To study their lives, their environment, their upbringing, the central characters in their home, is a lesson in people-psychology one will not soon forget. So very many of them were shaped in some way by their faith, or lack of training in same. It’s a wonderful study. If you ever have the time, it would be a worthy pursuit, especially the lives of those I mention here. Unfortunately, many with gifts in the arts have squandered their lives in some form of dissipation, but certainly not all. Those few who didn’t have so very much to offer, still, after all these years.

I’m afraid my study has been rather limited to the female gender, but in the life of Lewis, Cecil, Williams, van Dyke, and others, you should find a few kindred spirits. George Eliot (mentioned above) was mentioned only because I did a short study on her life, but it’s not one to follow, unfortunately.

Comment from Jed
Time 2009/02/05 at 8:37 pm

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, Chila! That is absolutely awesome that you visited Emily Dickinson’s house, etc. My brother and I are huge fans of Ms. Dickinson, and we have talked about visiting there some day.

I will try to make an updated reading list for this year.