Updated: 27 July 2008
I have enjoyed reading J.K. Rowling’s last Harry Potter novel, “The Deathly Hallows”. I thought it had a thoroughly satisfying completion.
Having read “50 Spiritual Classics” which is surprisingly readable and uplifting, I have followed it up with a variety of Christian and Buddhist books. Heavily Christian ones I find difficult to accept, but I am now completely engrossed in “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. It makes me feel that I’ve been a very lazy thinker.
Having read “50 Spiritual Classics” which is surprisingly readable and uplifting, I have followed it up with a variety of Christian and Buddhist books. Heavily Christian ones I find difficult to accept, but I am now completely engrossed in “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins. It makes me feel that I’ve been a very lazy thinker.
You can’t possess people, but you can possess books. On my shelves, both fiction and non-fiction, I have the essence of many helpful people. That’s one of the ways I look at books. When you call up a friend to help you they may not be available, but a book you own is always on your shelf. Many years ago I was struck and strongly influenced by the quotation printed on the flyleaf of a series of cheaply printed books - I think it was the “Everyman” series. It said: “A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit”. That’s the sort of book I like to read, and sometimes re-read.
1. The Road less travelled by M. Scott Peck. I have read this three times already, and expect to read it again soon. Each time I read it I find new ideas.
2. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. This is the only book of poetry that I have read through at one sitting, and then re-read in separate chunks at regular intervals. For beauty of language and depth of wisdom it is unsurpassed.
3. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. This is a trilogy of most marvellous imagination. The first two volumes, called “Northern Lights” and “The Subtle Knife” I simply couldn’t put down.
4. All books by Sebastian Faulks, Minette Walters and J.K. Rowling. I’m sure these authors are all pleased that, in common with many others, I eagerly wait for their next novel.
2. The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran. This is the only book of poetry that I have read through at one sitting, and then re-read in separate chunks at regular intervals. For beauty of language and depth of wisdom it is unsurpassed.
3. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. This is a trilogy of most marvellous imagination. The first two volumes, called “Northern Lights” and “The Subtle Knife” I simply couldn’t put down.
4. All books by Sebastian Faulks, Minette Walters and J.K. Rowling. I’m sure these authors are all pleased that, in common with many others, I eagerly wait for their next novel.