"Hill House is vile..."

I Read That

Robert Fagles: The Odyssey(Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)
A plank holder of the western canon made more accessible and enjoyable through Robert Fagles excellent translation. (*****)
Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion
Given the spate of atheist manifestos in recent years, I ought to give this a full review. In the mean time, I'll say Dawkins fires some legitimate shots at religion, and it's an educational read. In the end though, his case for lack of faith falls short, especially for those of us who can't imagine that the science-revealed universe, vast and profound, is ultimately meaningless. (****)
Steve Coll: Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001
A long but worthwhile read on U.S. policy and covert operations in Afghanistan from the Soviet invasion to 9/11. If you want an appreciation of just how challenging the situation is over there, this is the book. You'll also come away not minding President Obama taking his time on strategy. (*****)
John Ortberg: Faith and Doubt
To have faith, you must also contend with doubt. The two go hand in hand. Can it be? John Ortberg thinks so. I really liked this book. The conclusion didn't blow me away, but there are many powerful moments otherwise. A great book both for those who struggle to believe and those who don't. (****)
Armand M. Nicholi Jr.: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life
Deserves a good review, but don't have time right now. Really worth while. Freud, the atheist, lived and died miserable. Lewis was an atheist and was miserable; chose belief and died happy. Of course, there's much more to the story, but this is really good. (*****)

October 03, 2011

"She turned her car onto the last stretch of straight drive leading her directly, face to face, to Hill House and, moving without thought, pressed her foot on the brake to stall the car and sat, staring.

The house was vile. She shivered and thought, the words coming freely into her mind, Hill House is vile, it is diseased; get away from here at once."

Note: I'm a failure - Dostoevsky can wait. I've always wanted to read the novel behind the single best haunted house movie ever made (the 1963 version with Julie Harris). In celebration of the season, I'm doing it. It's good. I may still get to Dracula.

Posted at 10:08 AM in Books | Permalink

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