QOTD 5/21

What book have you read lately that really made you think or taught you something new? Connie PS I'm going to look up mine on line because I can't remember the exact name and then I'll post it.

LOL I don't read stuff like that. I read vampire books. I can't wait until next week when the new Laurell K. Hamilton comes out.

Where God was Born by Bruce Feiler. Now a quote from Amazon: " Any particular page may be found effortlessly weaving together strands of theology, biblical exegesis, physical exploration, history and personal reflection as Feiler continues his journey of discovery, looking at the common roots of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The Middle East has become a more dangerous place since the writing of his first book in this vein, Walking the Bible. But Feiler is impelled to answer his continued call, even when a flak jacket is necessary. He explores tunnels under Jerusalem. Goes to where David may have slain Goliath. Even looks for the Garden of Eden in Iraq while acknowledging that "the garden would never be found." It is this externalization of searches typically only made in the heart that fascinates us and brings power to Feiler's narrative. In one of the more compelling sections of the book, a meditation on Jonah, Feiler makes a persuasive argument that "God cares only that you conduct yourself in a moral way... And what might come across as preaching in another context is instead organic; Feiler's ideas seem to grow as much out of his travel and present-day experience as they do from Scripture and history. Of particular interest is his writing on King Cyrus II. He travels to Persepolis, in modern-day Iran, and finds an ancient precedent for religious tolerance in this king who helped the Jews build the Second Temple. Feiler provokes us to reflect that if the Bible itself can sing the praises of a king who accepted the various religions of those he ruled, perhaps there is hope we can find room for more tolerance in our own time." It really helped me understand things about the unrest in the Middle East that I had never learned and yet the book reads like a great novel--fascinating! Connie

I am not big on reading.....I do like books on Buddhism but have not read any in a long time.

AJ Jacobs - The Year of Living Biblically (http://www.ajjacobs.com/books/yolb.asp) I fully expected the book to be from the point of view of an already religious man try to affirm his beliefs, which I'm not sure why I started reading it then, but I'm so glad I did. It made me laugh and think. I wish I could be specific but I'm bad about those things.

I'm in nursing school, so I've LOTS from Medical-Surgical Nursing by Lewis, et al. Right now I'm doing my summer reading for pleasure ~ James Patterson's 6th Target. I love to read and have already finished 4 books in the 2 weeks that school has been out for me. Sharyn nurse2b

Hi - I am new here and this is my very first post! I just read 'beautiful boy' by David Sheff. I can't get it out of my mind. It's about a Dad and his journey through his son's drug addiction. Very powerful. Made me think about how you do your best as a parent and you just really never know how it's gonna turn out.