Book Review

Farenheit 451 has to be my new favorite book. It's somewhere in the middle of the "books I was never forced to read in high school so I can enjoy them now" list. I had some extra time in airports and planes lately, so I was able to read it fairly quickly. It reminded me that

a) There is still good fiction out there I haven't yet read

and

b) Ray Bradberry knows how to write.

I guess c) would be that Mr. Bradberry is still alive, but that's not too relevant to the review. Still, how old is he, 90?

Even if I was forced to read this book, I'm sure I would have enjoyed every page of it. The suspense hardly lets up for the entire length of the book. There's always some tension about something, and Bradberry knows how to sustain it.

But it's about more than just good storytelling. It's one of those cautionary tales about where we as society are headed. However, like many sci-fi classics, it makes inaccurate and extreme predictions. For example:

1. Censorship exists but it's mostly unecessary. Americans in the story care mostly about themselves and TV than anything or anyone else. Other countries don't like them, and they don't know why. Sure. Like any of that will happen.

2. TV is mindless drivel, but people treat the bland characters like family members. Treating fictional characters like family? How far-fetched can you get?

3. A character notes that TV could contain the substance of books, but people just don't want it. Education becomes bland and entertainment-based. Everyone gets so bored that they behave recklessly and lose respect for human life. Oh, come on.

Prophetic inaccuracies aside, this was a fun and thoughtful read. I recommend it, if you like that thinking thing.

Book Review: Loser

I don't usually review kid lit, but this one is an exception. Loser, by Jerry Spinelli is about kids, but the running theme works for all ages. People value others based solely on skill.

I was reminded of this as we read a news report about who wouldn't be worth saving in case of a pandemic. It's the same question, how do you put value on a life?

The character the title refers to starts out as a "young pup", running happily, racing cars without the concept of losing to them. He begins school and enthusiastically nods as the teacher calculates how many days of school they have before graduating high school. He's happy because the number is so big, he thinks school will never end.

In later grades other students notice he's different. He doesn't get good grades, he sucks at sports, and he even trips when he walks. Before long he is branded a
loser.

Does it matter that he's optimistic and likable? That he's determined to overcome challenges he deemed worthwhile? Can the poor guy do anything right? It will take us 200 pages (give or take a few) to find out.

Whether it's beginning for us or we've faced it for years, the struggle is the same. Survival of the Fittest is alive and well, even in Christian circles. After all, a little healthy competition never hurt anyone, right?

Popularity contests continue until death, but thankfully in the Kingdom there's a place for the losers.