Book Title: The Year of Living Biblically
Author: A.J. Jacobs
Version: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780743291477
Published: October 9th, 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Memoir
Voice: First
Number of Pages: 388
SYNOPSIS: A.J. Jacobs is a father, husband, author of one slightly successful memoir and straight forward agnostic. For him growing up Jewish in New York meant that his family would put a Star of David on top of their Christmas tree. When it came time for Mr. Jacobs to start writing his next memoir he was unsure of what he was going to do. Searching his brain for an idea A.J. remember his ex-uncle Gil. A man that was sort of the black sheep of his family, well really more of a cautionary tale. Gil was a man who according to A.J. "was a spiritual omnivore" (pg. 5.) Gil started out as a Jew, became Hindu, after this Gil appointed himself a guru, sat in silence on a bench in Manhattan for 8 months, started a hippie cult in upstate New York, became a born-again Christian and then settled as an ultra-Orthodox Jew living in Jerusalem. At one point in his religious career Gil decided he was going to follow the Bible as literally as possible. This sparked A.J. Jacobs's interest and decided that this was going to be his next book.
Mr. Jacobs decides to take a year, read the Bible and follow all the rules it contains to the letter. And so with his wife's less than enthusiastic approval he begins. He starts reading the Bible that he has on hand, and then goes on to buy other versions, as well as commentary on the many versions. He lines up experts and Rabbis, priests and pastors. A.J. takes things slowly, beginning with making sure he wears no mixed fibers and from there takes it one day at a time. Some of the rules he finds rather easy to observe, such as the commandment of 'honor thy father and thy mother,' others are more difficult, like the one that says a man cannot touch a woman for a week after their menstrual cycle. This rule becomes even more difficult when living with a secular wife.
Through the ups and downs, the strange rules and the beautiful ones A.J. Jacobs stays true to his course. He lets his beard grow, changes his diet, does charitable work and tries to be fruitful and multiply. He even prays to God every day hoping to find some connection to this almighty being that has supposedly launched an unprecedented following. A.J. takes a year out of his life during which his wife gives birth to twin sons, he takes a trip to Jerusalem and even begins to understand the whole faith thing.
REVIEW: I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. Mr. Jacobs's story was one that I never thought I would get into at all. I am agnostic myself and so reading about someone reading the Bible didn't appeal to me all that much. However I had heard good things about this book and for some reason I was drawn to it. I guess my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to go out and find myself a copy. I went to The Strand used bookstore here in New York and found myself a nice hardcover copy for $7.95 that just happened to be signed. I was now even more excited about reading it.
A.J. Jacobs's writing was hilarious and well thought out. He had insight, humor, and poetry. I didn't want to put the book down when I was reading it, in fact my half hour subway ride went by in a flash while I was reading, and when I did have to put it down all I could think about was picking it back up. Reading about his journey was moving in itself but the way he wrote it put the whole thing over the top.
The story turned out to be a really good one, it had in it insight and amusing anecdotes that helped moved the whole thing along nicely. I was a little nervous to be honest about reading this mainly because of all the Bible talk but it turned out to be pretty interesting. When Mr. Jacobs learned something new, we learned something new. Sure a lot of the rules in the book are strange and at times even mean to certain groups but if you dig a little deeper than the surface they may have understandable reasons.
By the end of the book I found myself almost wanting to pick up the Bible and read it. That was how powerful his journey was and how well it was conveyed. This is a rather interesting tale and I would suggest it to anyone who is looking for a humorous and well written memoir. It may not be for everyone but it is an excellent book and one that I loved. It is quite the read and a rather incredible journey to follow along with. And I have to admit that it is an interesting way to learn a few things about the Bible.
Humorous Like This:
"How I Paid for College"
Book Title: Eat Pray Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Version: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143038412
Published: January 30th, 2007
First Published: 2006
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Non Fiction Memoir
Voice: First
Number of Pages: 334
NOTE: By now I am sure that everyone has heard about the Julia Roberts blockbuster "Eat Pray Love" and/or know about the book that it was based on. With that in mind (and the fact that I am not at 100% capacity) I am skipping the synopsis portion. Plus it's fun to mix it up every now and again. For a quick synopsis for the few that do not know the story head here.
REVIEW: When I read this book I was at a hectic time in my life, I was working three jobs and living in my own apartment for the first time. I was feeling less then on top of things and in need of some sort of guidance. It sounds maybe a little strange but I was looking for something. Anyway I was told by a friend, that was never a big reader, that "Eat Pray Love" was a very good book. I decided to go and pick it up and see what all the fuss was about.
I started reading it and I found what I was looking for. In some ways while reading about the journey that Elizabeth Gilbert took I felt that I was taking the journey as well. I thoroughly enjoyed every part, from her Italian adventure eating rich and delicious food and learning the language to her spiritual journey in India to finding love in Bali. I loved it all and took it all in like a dehydrated woman finally getting water.
Reading about Italy made me want to hop on the next international flight and start my own food tour through the country. Each dish she described made my mouth water. I have always wanted to travel and reading about Ms. Gilbert's journey through Italy was mouth watering and inspiring. I wanted to follow in her footsteps and do nothing but learn the language, see the sights, and eat the food. It seemed so idyllic and refreshing.
Making a complete 180 turn Ms. Gilbert then heads to India where she checks into an ashram in order to find a center of spirituality. She is looking for some sort of answer (kind of like I was) and hopes to find it through meditation and reflection. Ms. Gilbert had been to India on a previous assignment and had met a medicine man while there for her praying she went to visit him again. She spends a lot of time with him learning about prayer and meditation, talking to him about God and spirituality. At one point the medicine man draws a picture for Elizabeth and to explain he says "To find the balance you want, this is what you must become. You must keep your feet grounded so firmly on the earth that it's like you have 4 legs instead of 2. That way, you can stay in the world. But you must stop looking at the world through your head. You must look through your heart, instead. That way you will know God."
I found this quote to be very moving. I do not believe in God but I do believe in faith and that looking at the world through our hearts is a really great idea. It was this section, the section of "pray" was especially moving to me. For some reason reading about her struggle to find a spiritual center was something I understood and for some reason it helped to ground me. I can't explain why but it did help in small ways.
The third section was great as well. Reading about what she did and how she found love was a heart lifting experience. It made me feel as if it were a possibility for me as well. Finding friendship and eventually love in the most unlikely of places is always a good read. The whole book really spoke to me in weird ways to be sure but it did. And the most important thing about it was that it lifted my spirits. I felt a renewed sense of happiness and hope in my life after reading this book.
This is a book that I feel everyone should read. It is a universal story and one I think that everyone can appreciate. If you haven't already I say go out and find a copy of this book and give it a try. I think that it really is a wonderful story and to top it off it is well written and very entertaining. I loved it and would love to share it with everyone. It's just a beautiful book and an incredible journey, one that should be shared and enjoyed by all.
Intriguing Non-Fiction:
"The Kennedy Detail"
Book Title: Another One Bites the Dust (Jaz Parks #2)
Author: Jennifer Rardin
Version: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 9780316043557
Published: August 3rd, 2009
First Published: December 6, 2007
Publisher: Orbit
Voice: First Person
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
Number of Pages: 363
SYNOPSIS: In this second installment in the Jaz Parks series Jaz, Vayl and their brand new team go undercover at the Corpus Christi Winter Festival. On this assignment the team has to find Chien-Lung, a vampire that is slightly off his rocker, and steal back the vital piece of biotechnology that he has stolen. This very special piece of armor, made by Jaz's old college roommate Bergman, renders Chien-Lung invulnerable while wearing it and he never takes it off. Matters are further complicated when Jaz discovers that not only does Chien-Lung believe that he can transform himself into a dragon but worst of all she has to go undercover as a belly dancer.
As the team begins to get settled in their new roles as a travelling gypsy family they find that things are always as simple as go in, retrieve the weapon, do a little dance and then leave. Chien-Lung never takes the armor off, he is guarded day and night by warrior vampires and to top everything off the already pissed Jaz finds out that the festival is being attacked by reavers, ancient fiends who murder innocents by sucking their souls and seem to be invulnerable. However Jaz can see a break in their armor and is able to kill them, which releases some of her pent up frustration. She really doesn't like belly dancing.
As the assignment continues on Vayl and Jaz try to figure out just how to go about killing Chien-Lung in order to get the armor back. With emotions running high, resolve beginning to crumble and the kill looking impossible everyone starts feeling as if they are jumping out of their skin. Jaz and Vayl really have to work hard to not only get the job done but keep all of their people in one piece and safe. The question becomes can they really do everything, or will this mission be their undoing?
REVIEW: I love this series. And this book was just as fantastic as the first. It was full of intrigue and mystery, tension and wonderfully crazy insights from Jaz's many helpful personalities. It was yet another win for Jennifer Rardin!
The story in this one was just as rich and wonderful as the first and at the same time it was fuller. It's something that you have to read to really understand but it had more of a spice to it that I couldn't tear myself away from. I intentionally left the synopsis vague and short because these books have so many twists and turns in it that I didn't want to reveal anything that would spoil the surprise. I'll just leave it at this, the story is great and it's one you can't put down.
Again the writing was superb by Jennifer Rardin. The way she writes is both humorous, without being over the top, and serious without being a big drag. She is brilliant at the way she writes Jaz and her many personalities, each really becomes a separate character and each are undeniably lovable. In fact all of the characters she writes are lovable and so well done it's almost eerie. But I really love it! Jennifer Rardin was a truly talented writer that is the the whole package.
I really, really love this book and after reading it I went right into reading the third one. This is such a good series that I really feel is something that no one else is doing right now. It's not just vampires being all broody it is so much more and that is amazing. I highly, highly suggest this series and this being the second book in the series I recommend it! Go out and find yourself a copy of the first book in the series so that you can zip through it and get to this one because they just keep getting better and better.
MORE FANTASTICAL FICTION:
"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" "A Discovery of Witches"
