I didn't much like the book, Mark, to tell the truth. I felt like the overriding spiritualist narrative completely collapsed any sort of parralell political narrative. Now, an easy answer to that would be, "Well, Bert, SHE was writing the book; sounds like that's how YOU would have written the book." And there's some merit to that, of course.
But in my opinion, if readers have even the slightest chance of ending that book and not having a complete picture of WHY it happened, even if they still struggle with HOW it could happen, then the book didn't do it's complete job.
Seemed to me like the book's overriding goal was to show God's power, and I agree, God is powerful. But I felt this book presented an oversimplified version of good and evil---I was told at the meeting that it truly IS that simple, but I didn't believe her then and I don't believe her now. I would have wished for a more complicated narrative.
Plain an simple - focused way too much on the religious aspects. Not that anything is wrong with finding God through the storm. I understand it was her story and she told it her way. For a reader like me, I was already vested in the political atrocities of Africa and I wanted the book to explore this further.
Not that it's not possible, but there were just portions of the story I struggled with.. From what I understand "English" is supposed to be one of the hardest languages to learn. Now, it doesn't say she became an expert, but damn that's a feat!
Also, the blatant commercialization of the story. I enjoy a little Wayne Dyer from time to time, but holy crapshoot batman, they hijacked this story. I mean come on.. Catholics don't believe in "positive thinking" at least what I've read. They believe the almighty controls all and they surrender to it.
So, did I like the book? I'm glad she told the story, but I'm concerned for the unsuspecting soul who picks this up just to get a religious high.. There is so much more that needs to be told than "positive thinking".
I read the book fairly quickly. I liked the book. What amazed me was how neighbors turned so quickly on neighbors. I think it would be interesting to get the side of a Hutu.
As far as the spirituality, my question is why Immaculee? Why were her family not spared (they seemed just as spiritual as her)? Were the ladies in the bathroom with her just as spiritual, and if not, why were they spared? Will a person who reads the book, maybe a "babe in Christ", be turned off if she/he is not given the same "rewards" in a timely fashion (I understand the EXTREME situation that happened in the book, but I hope you get my point). The book gives the impression that if you just ask, God will deliver, and that is not always true... God works in mysterious ways!
Man, I wish it would have been just the guys with this book. I know we would have dissect it much more then we did with the ladies...lol
Although I was MIA, I guess I can throw in my 2. The comments about the experience of meeting with the women did not surprise me. Not that its a bad thing, but it just sounds like 2 good groups that do this (Book Club) for different reasons. I enjoyed the book, Nate & Bert REALLY summed it up to me. Its hard to question her faith, but her family was right there with her in that regard. I also can't help but feel that some that got killed, had the same level of faith. Hobbs in rare form was better than my schools game. The alumni chapter told me we should do something for this game, then a grand total of THREE, including me showed! I will know next time.
Oh, I get it: we're LEFT TO TELL, is that it?
ReplyDeleteI didn't much like the book, Mark, to tell the truth. I felt like the overriding spiritualist narrative completely collapsed any sort of parralell political narrative. Now, an easy answer to that would be, "Well, Bert, SHE was writing the book; sounds like that's how YOU would have written the book." And there's some merit to that, of course.
But in my opinion, if readers have even the slightest chance of ending that book and not having a complete picture of WHY it happened, even if they still struggle with HOW it could happen, then the book didn't do it's complete job.
Seemed to me like the book's overriding goal was to show God's power, and I agree, God is powerful. But I felt this book presented an oversimplified version of good and evil---I was told at the meeting that it truly IS that simple, but I didn't believe her then and I don't believe her now. I would have wished for a more complicated narrative.
Plain an simple - focused way too much on the religious aspects. Not that anything is wrong with finding God through the storm. I understand it was her story and she told it her way. For a reader like me, I was already vested in the political atrocities of Africa and I wanted the book to explore this further.
ReplyDeleteNot that it's not possible, but there were just portions of the story I struggled with.. From what I understand "English" is supposed to be one of the hardest languages to learn. Now, it doesn't say she became an expert, but damn that's a feat!
Also, the blatant commercialization of the story. I enjoy a little Wayne Dyer from time to time, but holy crapshoot batman, they hijacked this story. I mean come on.. Catholics don't believe in "positive thinking" at least what I've read. They believe the almighty controls all and they surrender to it.
So, did I like the book? I'm glad she told the story, but I'm concerned for the unsuspecting soul who picks this up just to get a religious high.. There is so much more that needs to be told than "positive thinking".
I read the book fairly quickly. I liked the book. What amazed me was how neighbors turned so quickly on neighbors. I think it would be interesting to get the side of a Hutu.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the spirituality, my question is why Immaculee? Why were her family not spared (they seemed just as spiritual as her)? Were the ladies in the bathroom with her just as spiritual, and if not, why were they spared? Will a person who reads the book, maybe a "babe in Christ", be turned off if she/he is not given the same "rewards" in a timely fashion (I understand the EXTREME situation that happened in the book, but I hope you get my point). The book gives the impression that if you just ask, God will deliver, and that is not always true... God works in mysterious ways!
Man, I wish it would have been just the guys with this book. I know we would have dissect it much more then we did with the ladies...lol
(Man, I REALLY, REALLY agree with EVERYTHING Nate just said...)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I was MIA, I guess I can throw in my 2.
ReplyDeleteThe comments about the experience of meeting with the women did not surprise me. Not that its a bad thing, but it just sounds like 2 good groups that do this (Book Club) for different reasons.
I enjoyed the book, Nate & Bert REALLY summed it up to me.
Its hard to question her faith, but her family was right there with her in that regard. I also can't help but feel that some that got killed, had the same level of faith.
Hobbs in rare form was better than my schools game. The alumni chapter told me we should do something for this game, then a grand total of THREE, including me showed! I will know next time.