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November 15, 2005
A novel you need to read.....
"A novel you need to read....." Those were the words spoken to me by someone who recommended this book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Trusting this person, and knowing they had reasons why I would resonate with this book, or enjoy this book, I went out and picked it up. Since I didn't even know the book or its author, has shown me to be a little ignorant, especially since this book made the Top 100 Religious Books of the 20th Century list (see post below).
I am not going to say much about this book because I don't want to spoil it, or give away too much. But the title does reflect the premise and theme of this book. Things do fall apart. Sometimes life falls apart. Sometimes the things that we think will bring us security, or happiness or fame, will actually do the opposite, causing things to fall apart. Sometimes life is messy and things can not always be resolved, or put back together, or organized the way we would like them. Sometimes there is not storybook ending. Things just fall apart.
This was a much needed novel for me, as I sometimes expect everything to make sense, and for life to always work out the way I want it to. Maybe sometimes the things I chase after are not what I always need.
This book will leave you wrestling with many things, and you will have many questions in the beginning, during, and at the end of it. And you will have even more questions about the overall view of Christianity that is reflected in the novel.
It is a short, easy read, that will make you think and that may make you feel uncomfortable. At least it did that for me.
Posted by rhett at November 15, 2005 04:02 PM
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Comments
I just picked up this book at a "Friends of the Library" used book sale. I have been told the same thing several time: THIS IS A MUST READ! It is tough to make time for "pleasure reading"...which may be the most important reading we do. But, these days I am trying to be more disciplined.
I just read George MacDonald's _Lilith._ Because you have done so much with Lewis, you probably knew ages ago that C.S. Lewis considered MacDonald the master fantasy writer and said that he hadn't written a single work that did not rely on MacDonald or directly quote him. After reading this book I see why. It really was transformational reading.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Posted by: Cameron Jorgenson at November 15, 2005 07:56 PM
dude good book. i had to read it for my english class freshman year. i think it was the only book that i had to read for that class that i actually liked and kept
Posted by: ashley at November 16, 2005 01:02 PM
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