Review: Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Peeps *****

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Sci Fi/Horror

Audience: For those who love a book that will constantly keep you guessing. A fast paced thrill that may make your skin crawl. Lovers of dark, horror fantasy will enjoy this novel. And those who love science.

Content:

Ok let's clear some myths about vampires.

First of all, you won't see me using the V-word much. In the Night Watch, we prefer the term parasite positive, or peeps, for short.

The main thing to remember is there's no magic involved. No flying. Humans don't have hollow bones or wings - the disease doesn't change that. No transforming into bas or rats either. It's impossible to turn into something much smaller than yourself - where would the extra mass go?

Follow Cal on a scientific adventure through the underbelly of New York City. Cal, a freshman in college, learns very quickly after a one night stand in New York City that there is something quite special about him. Unfortunately for Cal, loosing his virginity changed his life. Cal is now a carrier of the parasite which changes people into vampire-like creatures or Peeps. Luckily for Cal, he is a carrier; All the super human abilities but none of the flesh eating madness. Cal's job is to find these crazed Peeps and bring them in to the special organization known as the Night Watch. But what does Cal do when a young journalism student stumbles onto his work? How can Cal find his progenitor, his source, to stop the parasite? And what is that horrible smell lurking in the basement of Lace's apartment building?

Opinion:

I don't normally review the young adult novels I read but this one was so good I needed to tell you all about it. Honestly, if you wave away young adult novels, saying they are too young for you, then you are missing out on a lot of amazing literature. Scott Westerfeld is better known for the Uglies series. I have so far read two books in that series, Uglies and Pretties, but found myself rather bored with Pretties. However, I love his writing. His characters are so real and his dialogue is so well crafted you think you are listening in on an actual conversation. So I wanted to give one of his other books a try. My friend, the young adult enthusiast, suggested Peeps.

And I am so glad she did.

Peeps is by far one of the best books I have read. Even if you don't like sci fi I would highly suggest this book. Honestly, its more science based then sci fi. The book centers around the idea of this ancient parasite that makes people appear like vampires (And was actually the source of the myth of the vampire). They don't run around sucking blood or anything but they do kill anything they can for meat. The parasite loves meat. We see the underbelly of New York City through the eyes of 19 year old Cal who found out after his first week in New York City that condoms really are your best friend. Contracting the parasite from a lover, he later learns that he too spread the parasite to girlfriends he had after this woman (It transfers through saliva as well). The story picks up when Cal meets Lace, a journalism student, who figures out pretty quickly that something is not right. The interaction between these two characters is priceless. They are hilarious together and so real. Cal himself is rather charming and you feel for him right away. You want to be his friend and you definitely care what happens to him.

One of the charming parts of this book is that before every chapter there is a page about a parasite. You get to learn what all different kinds of parasites can do. If you are squeamish I suggest skipping these pages. They can be a bit graphic. Not for the faint of heart.

Pick it up, give it a try. Its an amazing book.

If you like this you may like: - Tithe - Holly Black, Brave New World - Adolph Huxley, 1984 - Orwell, Uglies - Scott Westerfeld, AIr - G. Willow Wilson

Review: Even Angels Ask

Title: Even Angels Ask *****

Author: Jeffery Lang

Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, Advice (copyright 1997)

Audience: For those on the fence between converting and not converting to Islam. The "Second Generation" American Muslims who need to take a look at how to understand their faith in America. For all Muslims, especially first generation, so they can see the damage that has been done to the Ummah.

Content:

"Even Angels Ask" covers three major points on converting: Why people convert, why people, who seem to love and thrive in Islam, do not covert, and lastly why people leave Islam. Jeffery Lang uses his own life stories to illustrate his points beautifully and can make the convert and "pre-convert" feel like they are not alone; in fact, someone understands them completely. His sub-theme is that of the condition of the Muslim Ummah and how it drastically needs a second look. He goes into depth about the issues of Middle-Eastern culture verses the religion and how Muslims need to start taking a second look at what they are really doing. That they need to look at their behavior and realize they are harming their Ummah.

Opinion:

This book touch me deeply. It is definitely in the top 5 best books I have ever read. Jeffery Lang tells his story in such an honest fashion that one easily identifies with his short comings and revelations. He beautifully describes the human struggle for faith; how it is never ending regardless of your religious faith. Professor Lang talks at length about the need for tolerance in the Ummah. It did not surprise me that one of the main reasons converts leave Islam or people choose not to convert is the feeling that the Ummah pushed them out, that they were unwanted due to their culture or differences in interpretation. He also talks about the great difficulties of being Muslim in America, the prejudice, hatred, and discrimination felt by many (especially women) in American society. Written in 1997, the book covers the treatment of Muslims prior to 9/11. I was shocked to see that before 9/11 things were actually worse than they are now. I didn't even know what a Muslim was in 1997, but apparently they were being horribly treated in this country much like the Jews in the 1940's and 1950's. Unwanted, ridiculed, and put down. The difference, as Jeffery Lang explains, was that the Muslim community was also attacking itself causing even greater unrest in the Ummah than we have today. He has countless stories of groups (even groups within Sunni or Shia schools) not allowing others to come into the mosque. he tells a story of how three women converts wanted to come to prayer at the mosque and the men were so vile the women gave up: none of these women remained Muslim.

This is a beautiful book and I recommend it especially to those on the fence about converting. It touched my heart and made me realize that I am not alone in how I feel. That countless people go through what I am going through everyday and it is ok. It is ok to be afraid of the Ummah, of your society, of the pressures of people. It is natural. That even if you have a religious family it is possible to reconcile after conversion. But most importantly, regardless of what religion you choose, God loves you.

If you like this you may like: Anger - Thich Naht Hanh, No God But God - Reza Aslan, When Bad Things Happen To Good People - Harold Kushner, Struggling to Surrender - jeffery Lang

Review: The Messenger

Title: The Messenger ***

Author: Tariq Ramadan

Genre: Non-Fiction, Religion

Written for: Muslims and non-muslims who do not know much about Muhammad.

Bearing Witness that there is no god but God is, in effect, stepping toward deep and authentic freedom; recognizing Muhammad as the Messenger is essentially learning to love him in his absence and to live Him in His presence. Loving, and learning to love: God, the Prophet, the creation, and humankind.

Content:

This book recounts, in great detail, the life of Muhammad. It is written with great love and respect for an extraordinary man. You get to learn about Muhammad's early years, his encounters with The One, his love for his people, his military knowledge, and his teachings. Easily can be read by a muslim or non-muslim. There is no use of difficult Arabic phrases, everything is explained. Wonderful book to start out with if you know nothing of Muhammad.

The Messenger goes into great detail about Muhammad's military practices. I was impressed by how many battles were won without a single life lost. I was also moved by his compassion for his captives, almost always letting them go (except in one instance). I am still bothered by the idea of a prophet being a military commander but it helps to know that he was indeed kind and merciful in his practices. And that 90% of all battles were started by someone else, not the muslims. Most were fought in defense.

The book is very honest about the character of all the prophet's companions. It does not hide that Umar had some anger and commonsense issues, that Aishah was extremely opinionated and Uthman well was not always the brightest crayon in the box. But all these people had good intentions toward the prophet even if they didn't go about it in the right way. We see the devotion Abu Bakr had for Muhammad, how they were indeed good friends. How he was very knowledgeable and went to great lengths to learn all he could from Muhammad. And Aishah's love for Muhammad and how she did do some good for women. We get to learn a little bit about each wife and how they contributed to the prophet. I had no idea he had so many wives in his lifetime! Good thing they weren't all at once, that would be too many. We also get a look into the character of Abu Sufyan who will later be what ultimately leads to the battle of Karbala. Let's just say Muhammad was not a fan of his. In short, it shows that no one can be all around bad. One must see the good in people before the bad.

Although my issue is he never mentions Imam Ali or Fatima. Like at all! Imam Ali was just as close to Muhammad, if not more so, as Abu Bakr. The only time Ali is mentioned is in battle. Fatima is mentioned in one paragraph about her love for her father but according to this book you would think Aishah spent way more time with Muhammad than Fatima. His grandsons, Hasan and Husayn, are never mentioned. He does mention Zaynab's speech in Yazid's court as an example of the power of women. So although I think this book paints a rather excellent portrait of Muhammad, a huge chunk of his history is missing. His family is missing.

Buy or Library: Buy it. You will want to read it again and its a great reference book.

If you like this you may like: No God but God by Reza Aslan, Muhammad by Karen Armstrong, Jesus Prophet of Islam by Muhammad 'Ata ur-Rahim and Ahmad Thomson

Stoning of Soraya M March 2010

The Stoning of Soraya M comes out March 2010. I suggest watching it, I am going to myself. It covers the story of an Iranian woman wrongly accused of adultry. Her husband blackmails her because she will not divorce him so he can marry a younger woman. So instead, he decides to get her killed so he can remarry (Crazy or what!). Made by the same studio as Passion of the Christ, it is based off a real life event in Iran and practices that still exist in the Middle East today. A perfect example of the misuse of Islamic law.

Bad part is, the West sees it AS Islamic law and thinks this is permissible in Islam. It is not. And being the same studio as Passion of the Christ a distinction that it is NOT Islamic law is not made. According to reviews I have read, the movie stresses that this is done through Islamic law. Sad.

Watch, learn, discuss.

Review: When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Title: When Bad Things Happen To Good People *****

Author: Harold Kushner

Genre: Non-Fiction, Theology

Audience: Those interested in Theology. Not really recommended for someone who has just gone through a tragedy. Maybe later on, after they have had time to heal.

Content:

"When Bad Things Happen To Good People" discusses the journey of a rabbi named Harold Kushner as he struggles with trying to help people through tragedy and ultimately faces the great loss of his young son. Kushner bravely discusses the concepts of why bad things must happen in this world, what we must do with them, and God's role in it all.

Opinion:

This book should be read by everyone at least once in their life. "Bad Things" discusses an uncommon viewpoint: that there is randomness in the universe and God does not cause everything to happen for a specific reason. God does not inflict pain so you may learn something or to punish you; pain is a product of nature and free will. What God does do, is help those who choose to learn from their pain.

This book is the best example of how I feel the world works and God's place in our lives. I cannot do the book justice so I will let it speak for itself:

"The dictate of practical wisdom for people in our situation might be to remain mindful of the possibility that our lives continue in some form after death, perhaps in a form our earthly imaginations cannot conceive of. But at the same time, since we cannot know for sure, we would be well advised to take this world as seriously as we can, in case it turns out to be the only one we will ever have , and to look for meaning and justice here" - pg 29.

" Suppose that Creation, the process of replacing chaos with order, were still going on. What would that mean?" - pg 52

"I do not know why one person gets sick and another does not, but I can only assume that some natural laws which we don't understand are at work. I cannot believe that God "sends" illness to a specific person for a specific reason. I don't believe in a God who has a weekly quota of malignant tumors to distribute, and consults His computer to find out who deserves one more or who could handle it best. "what did I do to deserve this?" is an understandable outcry from a sick and suffering person, but it is really the wrong question. Being sick or being healthy is not a matter of what God decided that we deserve. The better question is" If this has happened to me, what do I do now, and who is there to help me do it." - pg 60.

"The candles in the churches are out

The stars have gone out in the sky.

Blow on the coal of the heart

And we'll see by and by..." - JB by Archibald MacLeish on pg 145 (also an amazing work)

Check it out or Buy it: BUY IT. You will most likely read this again or reference it. I read it the first time almost 7 years ago and I still reference this book.

If you like this you may like: Anger - Thich Naht Hanh, Blankets -Craig Thompson, Living Buddha, Living Christ - Thich Naht Hanh, No God But God - Reza Aslan

Review: Mere Christianity

Title: Mere Christianity **

Author: C.S. Lewis

Genre: Non-Fiction, Christian

Content:

C.S. Lewis gives the reader his insight on the truth of Christianity and what really makes someone a Christian. He dives deep into dogma, faith, and the understanding of Christ as God.

Opinion:

I have mixed feelings. We will start with the good.

The book is rather interesting and written in a conversational manner. He does have a unique perspective on the Christian existence. He writes with great passion and love for his religion as he is a revert to Christianity. His book on the trinity is particularly interesting. The way he describes the relationship between God, Son of God, and Holy Spirit is unique. His concept almost made sense to me.

bad seems like the wrong word so we will say The Other:

Do not expect this book to answer your questions. It will not. It may in fact confuse you even more. I had high hopes for this book when I was 3 chapters in and had not yet been bombarded by the things which frustrate me about Christian literature. Funny enough, I ran into them by chapter 4. He, as many, takes the view that only Christians will be saved in the end and somehow everyone is Christian or will realize that they are Christian at the end of days. All will accept Jesus as the savior of man in the end. After this happened it got hard for me to read the book because this belief pushes my buttons in a bad way. He also attributed a lot of things such as forgiveness, avoidance of pride, and the "Cardinal Virtues" (Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Fortitude) souly to Christianity and no other religion. He states that these ideas are only seen in Christianity and no other religion can see them as clearly as those who accept Christ. Obviously, I highly disagree.

I also had previously posted that CS Lewis was able to say that either the man or the woman could be dominate in their relationship. Looking back at the chapter, I realized this is NOT what he said but that we are incapable of being the leaders in a relationship do to lack of rationale or heightened emotions. Sorry CS Lewis but no. Its the whole "Man was made for God, and woman for man" thing all over again.

Buy or Library: Depends. If you are truly settled into the Christian religion then I would say buy it. You will enjoy it and most likely want to read it again. You may even be able to gain some insight from it. If you are not settled into Christianity or you are frustrated with Christianity this book will only frustrate you further. I do recommend giving it a read, but get it from the library. You most likely won't want to read it again.

If you like this you may like: Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis, When Bad Things Happen to Good People - Harold Kushner, Living Buddha, Living Christ - Thich Naht Hanh

Review: Persepolis

Title: Persepolis

Author: Marjane Satrapi

Genre: Memoir, Graphic Novel

Content:

Persepolis depicts the life of one Marjane during the revolution in Iran.  It takes you through her young life, through her experiences moving to Austria for school, and back to Iran as an adult.  This book pays particular attention to hystorial events and takes a deep, gritty look into Iranian hystory.  It really takes a deep look into how government and religion should not mix - that religion will end up taking a back seat to the vendetta of the government.  The people will even forget why they do certain religious acts, such as wearing a veil.   I won't say anymore or it will ruin the book for all.  

The artwork is stunning.  Done is only shapes of black and white, the art itself tells the majority of the story.  Her work is incredibly unique and fluid.  

Buy or Library: Buy it.  You will want to read it again to see what you missed.

If you like this you may like: Waltz with Bashir by Ari Folman and David Polonsky, Blankets by Craig Thompson, Maus by Art Spiegelman

Review: 101 Questions and Answers on Islam

Book:

 101 Questions and Answers on Islam

By: 

John Renard

Intended Audience: 

Beginners, students 11th grade through early college, parents of converts/those thinking of converting

Content:

The book in itself is basic.  It lays out typical inquires about Islam in an easy to understand, unbiased format.  The content is accurate and to the the point leaving little room for the author to express his personal opinion.  The text often brings up a lot of historical facts that many would overlook while studying Islam along with cultural and social issues of Islam today.  It also has a chapter devoted to the relationship between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.  Most of the content is geared toward helping Christians understand the similarities in Islam.  Very little, if any, Jewish content is mentioned.

Opinion:

This book would have been awesome a year and half ago when I first started studying Islam. I breezed through it in a matter of hours.  "101 Questions" is perfect for a Christian trying to understand Islam.  It is also simple which makes it great for parents.  My mother will be getting this book.  I highly recommend using this book as a way to help parents understand the true nature of Islam.  I think it could really open the eyes of a convert/potential convert's family and friends.

Check it out from the library or buy it?:

Buy it and give it to your family if you are a convert.