Review: The Man Who Loved Books Too Much

The E-Library Librarian suggested that I read this book. So I listened to the Audio CD.

The book explores the relationship of book collectors, book thieves, and the books they collect. The book is an examination on how books shape our lives and how we shape the books we read or collect. Thomas Jefferson Fitzpatrick desired to make a tomb by collecting so many books, when he died in 1951 he had so many books that he had to sleep on a cot in his kitchen.

I read and collect books because it is an elixir for my insecure post modern polluted mind.

Books provide a way to make a personal biographical museum of our interests and our loves tomes in one volume. Books serve as a vehicle for a public image shaped carefully by our selected works. We discard books as a way to say, "See how much I have grown, and look at the books I use to own." Words today are footprints of our fleeting thoughts, some holy-some not.  


The book poses the question: "Are we shaped by the books we read, or do we shape the books we read?"

The Reptilian Brain will keep creativity from coming something beautiful.   The brain limits our ability to be creative, peaceful, or someone who can be a linchpin in our society.   

Gregorio Roth's Sandwich of the Week: a tribute to Ragin Cajun Fans

Ingredients:

1. Savory Remoulade Cajun Style Gourmaise (As Needed) Boars Head Trademarked...

2. Cajun Turkey 6 oz

3. Baby Swiss 1 oz

4. Mayonaise (As needed)

5.French Bread Loaf 

6. Six Garlic Pickles 

7.  3 Red Onion Rings (as Justin Wilson said Oh Weee So Good). 

The art of a good sandwich is to do everything just right.   First cut the French loaf in half, and then lengthwise; separate the two halves.   Then add mayonnaise generously or lightly (you choose).   Then add the Cajun Gourmaise not too much, just enough 

to taste well.   Then add about 6oz of Boars Head Cajun Turkey, when you put the turkey on lightly fold it, so that air can breathe in between the slices, somehow this tastes better.  Then put two slices of Baby Swiss on the sandwhich.   Add Six Garlic Pickles and then add three red onion rings.  In memory of Justin Wilson close the sandwich and say loudly: 

"Whoooo Boy; Sooo Gooood! 

Things We May not Notice!

God's wild kingdom will keep us in grateful worship. New Technologies reveal the fascinating world that was once invisible. One example is seen in the Common Snipe: "The tail feather has special adaptations, which means it acts just like a flag blowing in the wind!" Roland Ennos, from the University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences. 


Note: When I look at the picture I am not sure what I am seeing.

Redux: Best of Ten Commandments of Gregorio Roth

I. Mondays are to be avoided.

II. Eat a Reuben on Rye when you are about to stress.

III. Do what you love the money will find you!

IV. Friends drink good coffee together.

V. Jumping on beds, with a fan over the bed, not such a good idea.

VI. Cats are evil.... they know when you are allergic to them.

VII. Friends root for Florida State not Florida, Friends root for Colorado not Nebraska.

VIII. Thou shall never leave the towel on the floor or on the bed... (My wife put me up to it!)

IX. Thou shall always finish one project before moving onto the next...

X. Thou shall be thankful to all... then life is a pleasing aroma!

Redux: Turtles Prayer written by Gregorio Roth

Turtles Naked Answer to a Prayer

Turtle sat curled up in his shell, shivering. He knew it wasn't supposed to be 32 degrees in Lakeland Florida. He could not remember it ever being this cold.
He thought to himself, "Man, any way to get it warmer."

He prayed to God, "Please LORD I am only a little turtle but make it so I wont shiver anymore!"

The LORD answered his prayers: a huge thunderbolt electrified the air and hit the shell, alighting it on fire.

Turtle was kindled by the flame and ran right out of his shell... shivering in the cold January Florida air.

(Moral: Be careful what you pray for, and never pray for patience).  Also remember that God works his plan of redemption most accurately in the natural way of things.  A miracle of heat was not good for the turtle.

Review of: A Christian Guide to the Question Everyone’s Asking: Will the World End in 2012? By Raymond C. Hundley PHD

Rating: 9.5/10

Where will you be in 2012? I asked this question of my co-workers; most said that 2012 will not happen!

But just in case this will be the last night on earth, I will be at my parent's beach condo in Maui Hawaii! I want to see the sun set and watch the Tsunami come take me to Heaven. The wave will look like God's hand coming toward me as I smiled through infinity. I will not panic.

Raymond C. Handley presents the ten theories that are connected to 2012:

1. The Mayan End of their Calendar
   
2. Solar Storms
   
3. CERN and the Large Hadron Collider
   
4. The Predictions of Nostradamus
   
5. The Reversal of the Magnetic Poles
   
6. Collision with Planet X
   
7. Earth's Alignment with the Galactic Plane
   
8. Eruption of the Super Volcano
   
9. The Web Bot Project
   
10. Religious Predictions of the End of the World.
    

Handley did a great job of writing a short fictional sketch before every theory. This is a great way to get into the real implications of the doom that might be coming. He equips the reader with a clear explanation of each of the theories. He also attempts to calm people and clear the "Kultur-Smog" that is 2012.  His answer to the looming theories is clearly gospel centered. The book adds helpful information for future study: author notes, bibliography, and group study guide.

Iron and Chromium a Composite Made in Heaven

 I am Iron and my Wife is Chromium: Are we combustible?

 Nope! In fact they work well together and Iron is able to help Chromium in her future reactions.   

50 States of Reading Revisited: Mississippi - Eudora Welty

Podcast Highlighted: 


I was listening to PRI's selected short stories of Eudora Welty. There is beauty, vexations, truth, and imaginations in the reading of these beautiful pieces. I enjoyed them seriously: PRI Selected Shorts.

The Far Field by Edie Meidav: Description of Book

I am currently reading The Far Field by Edie Meidav;  a Novel of Ceylon.  I have described the story as: An American  romantic dreamer Henry (set in the 1930's before WWII) has his mind set on creating a Modern Utopia in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Will the castes of Ceylon be despondent to Henry's dream?

Googling Quotes

The Far Field by Edie Meidav had two front quotes. One was from Wallace Stevens. I googled the quote and found that it came from a letter written in 1938. Googling-Quotes can be eye opening and expand the meaning of a book, enjoy the quote:

To Ronald Lane Latimar      Hartford Conn.

                May 23, 1938

Why don't you and Mr. Richmond go to Ceylon instead of Mexico?

In Mexico life is altogether without a thesis; It is a lot of scenery and economics based on charity. But in Ceylon the scenery is much finer, life is almost wholly a thesis; there is no end of sea and no end of mountains. I don't really believe that it would cost vastly more, going by the Dollar Line, and you would be as safe from the time you leave until the time you return as you would be a in a safe deposit vault.

Yours very truly,

Wallace Stevens

Book Clubs: No Guts, No Glory!?

I confess I love doing book clubs. But I am the only guy in the library book club called Books Sandwiched In (BSI). Every first Tuesday we have a book offered to us that we have the option to read and discuss the next First Tuesday of the month.

Men join a book club in your area if you've got the guts. 

Do I feel light in the loafers by taking part in a book discussion group? No Way! I feel that my masculinity is not challenged in any way by being a participant in BSI. Often being the sole male in the group is valuable to the whole group. I can offer insight into the stories that woman cannot offer. But the women also help me understand the books better from their shared POV. It feels good to have fellow travelers in our explorations.

There are a number of books that we all have hated. Brenda our book group leader finds books that will make for good conversation. I have had my point of view stretched by a number of the books. A novel should give you new insight that you may never have known, or even wanted to know. The art of the novel is to live the experiences of others different from ourselves.

Men may fear that they will not be accepted by the women in the group. I have never felt the death glare that tells me I am not wanted here. Not once have I felt rejected.

All right, now it's your turn to join a group in your area and be the sole guy that drives the ladies crazy.

Remember: No Guts, No Glory!

The Devil's Maelstrom: Enemies Battle Plan

My mom always said, "Don't go to the back end of the circle.  OR something like that!"

 John and Stasi Eldredge show what this means in their book, Love and War.   I have created an illustration of this idea.

First their is an itch, something not quit right.   We than say something as a quip, like "She always does this thing you know!"  Then we resign ourselves to this being the TRUTH.  We then have taken the bate and become the devils possessed minions.

The maelstrom has a circular stormy effect and can tear communion between others up.   Lets attempt to live in truth with one another and understand that in Darkness the devil has a foothold.  But also remember that light will always win in the battle of dark forces.

 Hope it helps someone.  Gregorio

Love and War Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of by John and Stasi Eldredge

There are 9,175 Books on Christian marriage according to Amazon.com, so why read the Eldredge's Love and War? First, and most importantly, John and Stasi have written this book together, with honesty, about their feelings from two distinct points of view. One can tell that they wrote this book together, and did not hide their true feelings from each other. I felt comforted by their mutual viewpoints, gathered into one love. Stasi and John have 25 years of experience together.

The book is written around their golden anniversary. John and Stasi are not third year marrieds who say, "Look at the Parking Lot, Look at the Parking Lot, Look at the Parking Lot,""Don't you see the parking lot." Rather they have been driving gravel roads for a long while. They have been on as Blues Brother Elwood would say, "A Mission from God!"


Note to All:  The book may have some gospel in it; but the advice would be worth it to all.   It is not too preachy so don't fret.

Note to Christians:This is a good book that I would recommend to all married Christians. Yes, one might say it is only good for new Christians, but being a Christian does not mean that you need to make everything theologically complicated, rather the truth is the truth.

One flaw in the book is the use of too many metaphors. John loves to use the metaphor. Also the other problem in the book is a lack of index, scripture index, and subject index, and notes in the back of the book. This is a common flaw in popular Christian books. But overall it is a success.   For more information on the book check out Random House's Web Site: Love and War

Interested in this book by the interview heard on Steve Brown Etc.

9 out of 10 Clucks Given for this book!

American Stories by Nagai Kafu

Picture is of the Crash at Kush

Kafu's book written in the early 1900's, is a sideways look at America from the eyes of a Japanese traveler.  A reader today will probably consider Kafu a politically incorrect observer of the twenty-th century.  There are points in the book that will make you say, "I don't think I would have said that!"

This is modern writing geared forward and armed with the strength that was and still is America. His prose move forward like a locomotive engineered by Casey Jones; out amongst the open prairie, plowing over women, minorities, and a few prairie dogs not really getting the time to know the death count.

He progresses on a narrow gauge track through the scope of the United States. He takes a glimpse through his slanted window to look out amongst the scenery. You can tell that Kafu gets a sensual thrill from the scenery that he moves through. But the people are constructions, flat and cutout, like propped Cowboys at a penny arcade shooting gallery.

Kafu saw that art without sexual tension had no meaning. His prose explore the American cat houses, and treats women as objects that he does not dare get close to. One can see the psychological delusions of the author who was laden with anti social sensibilities. At times the reader feels sad for the writer's lack of ability to connect to a human being.

The book deserves a look but only gets two clucks.

Review of After the Hangover: The Conservative Road to Recovery

Emmet Tyrell answers the following political questions in, After the Hangover the Conservative Road to Recovery:

1. 
   
   Is American Conservatism Dead?
2. 
   
   Should we be scared of the Scarlet Letter Ls? Liberals! 
3. 
   
   Are Liberals creating a United States Collectivists' Utopia? While leaving Conservatives in a dystopian wake of big government and large taxation? 
4. 
   
   Can Liberals truly call themselves Liberal? Or are they collectivists?
5. 
   
   What is Kultur Smog? And who creates the Kultur Smog? Why do we act confused about our political nation?
6. 
   
   Why can't conservatives create a platform together?
7. 
   
   How can America recover from the Obama Engine?
   
   
   Tyrrell attempts to navigate Conservatives through the wilderness of today's political America. He does so successfully! He shines truth upon the current Zeitgeist, the spirit of the age. 

The book loses meaning at times because of the words used. Tyrell assumes you have a background in political science, shown by the lack of definitions he gives for some of his major concepts. For example, "Meet the Press is comfortable Kultursmog territory, but not all its viewers are snozzled by Liberal containments." Snozzled is defined by Urban Dictionary as a term to explain the strange occurrence of people reverting to a strange style of game play (often mistaken as skill) which is also known as 'jump-spam."

The book may become frustrating for those readers who do not like to use Google to figure out the meaning of words. All in all it is a good read. 8.7 Clucks out of 10 Clucks Possible.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Classic Gregorio Roth Redux

Ode to Psalm 23 in the Eyes of a Deli Clerk

The LORD is my Deli Clerk, I shall not be left in want.

He maketh me to slice the Boar's Head Meat Bologna to perfection;

He leadeth me beside happy customers,

He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of excellent customer service for his name sake.

Yea, though I walk through the hordes of time strained customers; I will fear not their evil eyes, for thou art with me;

Your cutting glove, your cold cut meat slicers will comfort me.

Thou prepares delectable sandwiches before me in the presence of salivating lips,

Thou anoints my mind with a feeling of calm, although  sweat runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.


Published first October 8, 2008