Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

Start Date:   7/1/2014
Finish Date:  9/?/2014

Chronicles of Narnia is a book that I have always wanted to read that I had just never gotten around to.  My kids have read the book, and I've even seen the three motion pictures (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; Voyage of the Dawn Treader).  So, needless to say, I was trying to catch up with my kids on this one.

We recently got back from vacation.  I was able to get a lot of C.O.N. read while at the beach.

What amazes me most about these stories, written in the years 1949-1956, is the many parallels they have with Christianity.

Of the seven books, my favorite by far is the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.  The imagery of the boat, the water and the many islands the crew stops on is simply amazing.

All Over But the Shoutin', by Rick Bragg

Started:  June 2014
Finished:  June 2014

This was a great read.  I found this book while visiting my parents house one afternoon.  It was laying out on one of their old antique tables.  Apparently, my aunt and uncle had given my folks this paperback as a gift Christmas 2001.  My dad mentioned what a good read this was, so I thought I would give it a try.

The book is an autobiography of Rick Bragg a journalist for several large newspapers including the New York Times.  It's an insight into the deep south in the 50's and 60's and the scars of segregation.  Bragg talks of how severely abusive his father was to Bragg's mom and his family.  It was extremely difficult to read in some areas, due to how vividly he describes the last encounters with his father while he was still alive.