I haven't talked about books that I am reading lately so now seems as good as a time as any. Some of what I call my "shelf" books still have their bookmarks in the same place as when I last blogged about books. Mostly the books by comedians that are do not need to be read at any particular pace are in the category. But as far as books I am actively reading...
- Great Short Works of Leo Tolstoy: This is a find at the 1/2 priced bookstore. I have always like Tolstoy's short stories ever since I read "The Death of Ivan Ilych" in college. This book is about 700 pages long so one could argue that the word "short" in the title does not really apply but compared to his other works (e.g. War and Peace), these stories are short. I am only on page 77 (not even through the first "short" story).
- Sundays in America (A Yearlong Road Trip in Search of Christian Faith): This books is a travelogue of a Catholic woman who (after being told as a child she was not allowed in Protestant churches) takes a year of Sundays out of her life and visits 52 different non Catholic churches over the course of a year. This was on the recent arrival bookshelf at the Frisco Library (one more thing I will miss about Texas). I am only through the 3rd week (page 25 of this 300 page book) but it is interesting. So far she has visited a New Mount Zion Baptist Church, a Cowboy Church and a Southern Baptist Church. She gives just enough of the history of the denominations to give you the necessary background for the various rituals. Other than a wedding or two, I have not been inside a Catholic church so what she finds interesting / different is what I am used to for the most part but the book is still good.
- Escape: The wife borrowed this from the neighbor. This book is about a lady (Carrol Jessop) who (eventually) escaped from the FLDS church (with her 8 kids in tow). It is an interesting look into the world of pluralistic marriage families and what really goes on there. This is a totally different view than you get on the Big Love series. I have to be honest, I started reading this book mainly so the wife (who read it first) would quit telling me about it. I could then use the excuse that she would ruin it for me if she told me about it. The wife is really bad about this (telling every detail about a book she is reading) so this is a survival skill that I have learned.
- Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems: OK, I am not really reading this book, but the wife is (and as such she tells me everything about it). Every day she is faithful to tell me more bits of wisdom from Ceasar (The Dog Whisperer). I beg and I plead for her not to tell me any more but this has no effect. Here are some excerpts of our conversations over the last week or so.
Wife: Ceasar says that he is amazed that people try to make dogs in to people when they just want to be dogs.
Me: Please, I do not want to hear about dogs.
Wife: No, I am serious. I think we should change how we react to Nina.
Me: Great, so YOU reading this book is going to make ME have to change. Any chance that the book is overdue from the library and someone else desperately wants / needs it?
...next day...
Wife: Listen to this. Ceasar takes his 30 dogs on a run early in the morning to wear them out.
Me: I am not getting up and taking our dog on a run. Also, we are not going to get 29 more dogs.
Wife: But, Nina would be so much more happy since that is what dogs are used to doing, you know, walk a lot of miles per day.
Me: So let me get this straight. YOU get the dog and it turns into more work for ME?
Wife: Yes, something like that.
...next day...
Wife: I just read this. We should be confident and assertive when interacting with our dog. We should not hit her except with a cupped hand on her rear thereby simulating the nip of the pack leader.
Me: I don't want to be pack leader. I want to be left alone.
Wife: But she sees you as pack leader. If you change your habits then Nina will be so much happier.
Me: I am not interested in fostering happiness in your dog.
...next day...
Wife: Listen to this...
Me: What words could I use now to make you understand that I am no longer interested in Ceasar's thoughts?
Wife (ignoring my last comment): Ceasar says that you should...
Me: No seriously, do I need to yell or use a 4 letter word? How can I convey to you that I do not wish to hear any more dog information?
Wife (further ignoring me except for the rolling of her eyes): You really need to change so the pack...
Me: We are not a pack. We are humans. Let me reiterate, is there any phrase or action that I could speak or do at this point in time that could explain my utter hatred of this book and your reading it to me?
Wife (continuing without missing a beat): So anyway, here is what this book says...
I could not use the excuse (like with Escaped) that I would read the book myself because she would know that would be a lie (sigh) so I guess I will just have to wait until she is done with the book. I have the day off today for Martin Luther King Jr. day so maybe I can make some headway in the books that I want to read. Here's hopin'.
Thanks for reading my Random Thoughts.
Jon
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