How did you get here from there?

I’m big on quirky facts and details. One of my favorite spots on LibraryThing is the “fun statistics” page that gives me all sorts of useless details – such as the mean and median obscurity of my library.

Well, the equivalent page of this blog is buried in the administration pages (which means only I can see it) and it tells me what search terms people use to get here. Most of the terms are about what you would expect: the occasional “bookpress”, “summary of [book title]“, “letter to a Christian nation response”, etc. 

One search from earlier today made me laugh . . . though I don’t understand why a search engine would send you to Bookpress if you are wondering “what to do about bad seminarians”!

Giving up

One of the great advantages of using this blog to track my reading is that I have been much better about finishing books.  Because I read on whim, it’s easy for me to get distracted by a new book and let an old one linger, nearly-finished, on the shelf. Even now, I can see more than a dozen books on the shelves that were abandoned at various times and in various places over the years.

Well, I am about to abandon a book for the first time since I started tracking my reading at the beginning of 2006. The book? The Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen. The reason? I simply had too many books going at once and, since the Owen requires more focus than most of the others, it just didn’t get read. It’s not exactly the book for my 20 minute commute by foot and Metro.

A contributing factor was my recent acquisition of Owen’s Works. Since I plan to start through those volumes this year, I know that I’ll hit Death of Death a few years down the road. So, since I wasn’t actively reading the book, why does it feel like a failure to set it aside? 

Bookspotting – 012507

A bookspotting bonanza on Metro’s Orange line last night. At least eight books in my car alone, though I was able to snag titles of only these three: The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney, Back to Bologna by Michael Dibdin, and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson.

December 2006 Summary and Reviewlets

The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson – A very helpful book on understanding covenants in Scripture. Given my theological background, the most helpful chapter for me was that distinguishing dispensationalism and covenant theology. I don’t recall any interaction in the chapter with the more recent progressive dispensationalism though, so it may not be entirely current. Still, a wealth of material here for those looking to better understand the unity of the covenants and, more importantly, Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of the covenants. Not always an easy book, but one well worth the effort.

Galatians: Reformed Expositiory Commentary by Philip Graham Ryken – A series of expositional sermons on Galatians, repackaged as a commentary. Each sermon/chapter covers a few verses. I found this to be an extremely helpful book as I worked through Galatians in my Bible reading. A brother recently pointed out to me that I have a legalistic bent, and Ryken did the same as I walked through Galatians with him.

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene – I can’t help but think that I missed a good part of this book by reason of my geographical or chronological remove from the story. That strikes me as surprising given that the setting is in the Brighton, England of only seventy years ago. Something about the gangs, the barmaid/detective, and Pinkie prevented me from seeing timelessness in this book. I’m sure I’ll try Greene again, but only because his reputation forces me to assume that Brighton Rock is a better book than I perceive.

White Noise by Don DeLillo – A very funny book (the protagonist is chair and founder of a Department of Hitler Studies) that wears its age well. More than twenty years after its publication, White Noise still accurately skewers many of the obsessions, quirks, and fears of modern society. As a Christian, I found particularly thought-provoking the emphasis on fear of death. An interesting read that can be enjoyed lightly or thoughtfully.

Five English Reformers by J.C. Ryle – Brief biographies of five English men martyred under Queen Mary. Despite the repetition in this little book, I found it greatly affecting and was repeatedly convicted of my own inconstancy. There are, I imagine, more thorough resources on the lives of Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, Bradford, and Taylor, but these short sketches focus on their faith and perseverance in prison and at the stake. Highly recommended.

Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald – Another of Fitzgerald’s fine little novels. This one is set at BBC headquarters in London during the Second World War. Her fine wit is well displayed at unexpected moments, as is her tender affection for her well-drawn central characters. A fine writer who should be more widely read in the United States.

Richard Sibbes by Mark Dever – My pastor’s doctoral work turned into a sort of theological biography of Sibbes. Dever argues that Sibbes was both reformed and a Puritan, though not a radical nonconformist. A scholarly, rather than popular, biography, this book will appeal more to those with some knowledge of Puritan history and theology than to the general reader.

November 2006 Summary and Reviewlets

History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes – More a collection of thematically intertwined stories than a conventional novel.  Barnes pokes more than a little fun at Noah throughout, so many believers will not enjoy this work.  Still, Barnes is a very talented and witty writer and I particularly enjoy his inventive approaches to structuring his books.

The Flanders Panel by Arturo Perez-Reverte – Another mysterious and smart thriller from Perez-Reverte.  Chess and art are central to this one.  I was fascinated by the forensic approach to chess, and this book was instrumental in my picking up the game again (I am a very poor player).  I’m not sure if it is this novel or my increasing familiarity with Perez-Reverte’s work, but the who of the whodunit was a bit obvious and the why a bit flimsy.

Grace Abounding by John Bunyan – An incredible autobiography that every believer should read.  Bunyan focuses almost entirely on his struggle with assurance.  He finds himself repeatedly accused by Scripture, but ultimately assured of God’s acceptance of him through Christ’s finished work.  How sweet to read of Bunyan ceasing his doubting and striving, instead to rest on God’s unmerited grace.  A greatly affecting book that I recommended frequently.