Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Suggested reading

Greetings, my esteemed readers!

You may have noticed that I have a poll on my sidebar which asks that you vote on what you would enjoy reading about more on this blog, and, even though "book reviews" wasn't one of the most popular, my mom still really thinks I should do it, and the following books are something I simply MUST pass on to you. What kind of a blogging friend would I be if I didn't? A horrid one, that's the kind. :0/

Alright. Are you ready? Good.




~Summary~

Marcellus Galleo is a wealthy young officer in Rome. His sister (a beautiful young woman), his father (a senator), and himself have recently denounced or offended Prince Gaius, who rules Rome in the absence of his uncle, Emperor Tiberius. Gaius uses his authority to have Marcellus' commission activated and sends him to the worst post in the Empire, the one the locals call Gaza, in Palestine.

Diana is in love with Marcellus, and is finally able to persuade her grandfather, Emperor Tiberius, to rescind Marcellus' orders. But it is too late. Marcellus has had to carry out one duty that he could not handle emotionally or mentally. He had to be in charge of the crucifixion of a man he was certain was innocent. This Galillean seemed to be hated by the local religious leaders who were able to convince their Roman leader to put this Jesus to death. Marcellus, drunk at the scene of the crucifixion, won the robe the Galillean wore with his high toss of the dice. Later that evening he donned the robe on a dare. His mind snapped.

Demetrius is Marcellus' Greek slave and friend. Against orders he keeps that special robe and hides it from his master. Marcellus receives his orders to return to Rome. He does, but is a sick man. Demetrius and Marcellus find themselves on a journey to heal them physically, mentally, and spiritually. They learn more of this strange, innocent Gallilean and his followers. They each discover the path they must take in order for their lives to be important to themselves and others.




~Summary~
In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis provides a series of lessons in the importance of taking a deliberate role in living out Christian faith by portraying a typical human life, with all its temptations and failings, as seen from devils' viewpoints. Screwtape holds an administrative post in the bureaucracy ("Lowerarchy") of Hell, and acts as a mentor to Wormwood, the inexperienced tempter. In the body of the thirty-one letters which make up the book, Screwtape gives Wormwood detailed advice on various methods of undermining faith and promoting sin in the Patient, interspersed with observations on human nature and Christian doctrine. Wormwood and Screwtape live in a peculiarly morally reversed world, where individual benefit and greed are seen as the greatest good, and neither demon is capable of comprehending or acknowledging true human virtue when he sees it.



Two very interesting and thought-provoking books to be added to the book list! Enjoy your reading!

~Erin

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