These aren’t really sick book reviews. I’m just not that cool. Rather, these are reviews of books I’ve been reading this past week while I’ve been sick. And since I’m feeling so crappy, these are not even going to be reviews–more like snippets of a review. Kind of a less cool version of what Armstrong is doing over there with his ‘The Five Second Book Review‘ site.
So, here you go. Seven very different books I’ve been wading through this past week, all in approximate order of their greatness. (Sorry, no links, look them up yourself.)
7) How to be Good, by Nick Hornby
Using this in a class next semester. Figured I should read it. I like it.
I don't care if it is photo-shopped, it's cute! (Aw man, I must be running a fever or something.)
6) The Rhino with Glue-On Shoes, ed. by Lucy Spelman & Ted Mashima
If not for comic books, I could pretty much spend the rest of my life reading this kind of stuff. A collection of ridiculous stories about zoo vets and the creatures that continually surprise the crap out of them with their awesomeness. Plus, I’ll read anything that has a rhino on the cover.
5) The End of Sacrifice: The Capital Punishment Writings of John Howard Yoder, ed. by John Nugent
Many thanks to Nugent and Herald Press for placing all of these essays in one book. If you’re looking for the best possible arguments for why capital punishment should not be endorsed by Christians then this is the book.
4) The Purity Myth: How America’s Obsession with Virginity is Hurting Young Women, by Jessica Valenti
When did the hymen become the single most important defining ethical trait of those with an XX chromosome? Oh, since the beginning of recorded human history. Valenti does a remarkable job of exposing how our culture’s fetish with female virginity may be one of the most destructive forces continually “forced” upon women. No means no, man!
3) Who is My Enemy? Questions American Christians Must Face About Islam–and Themselves, by Lee Camp
Probably one of the most important books in theology/Christian ethics published this past year. I’m pretty sure I’m going to find a way to use it in every class I teach.
2) Milk and Cheese: Dairy Products Gone Bad, by Evan Dorkin
The only thing I have ever enjoyed more than Milk and Cheese thrashing ‘pretentiousness’ within inches of its pitiful life is Dorkin’s Pirate Corps/Hectic Planet. I still don’t understand why Dorkin and I are not best friends. Evan, are you there? Evan?! EVAN?!?!
1) Fables: War and Pieces (Vol. 11, TPB), by Bill Willingham
At one point in my life I thought Neil Gaiman’s Sandman was the greatest comic I’d ever read until I’d read Brian Vaughn’s Y the Last Man. Okay . . . that’s a bit of a stretch. Despite the brilliance of Y the Last Man, Sandman remains the game-changer of its genre. But, now it doesn’t really matter because I just finished the first 75 issues of Fables. Oh so clever. If you’re interested in any of the TV’s shows this Fall that are taking different looks at classic fairy tales then cut off the TV and pick up Fables.
Okay, I’m done. I’ve got nothing else. I wanna go outside and play. Being sick sucks. And can the Vikings get any worse? Probably.