Reading Rocks!

Okay -- right upfront -- I'm NOT trying to rub this in my little sisters' faces. In fact, I really debated as to whether I should even post this or not, but decided that they are both so sweet that they will be happy for me, and not the least bit ticked off (I hope!).

Since the kids have gone back to school I have been having a ball doing a little preschool with Jack for an hour or two in the mornings. After I'm finished with that, laundry, cleaning, making dinner, etc. I find that I actually usually have a couple of hours to myself. So I have been rereading some of my favorite books that take a little more brainpower than the average modern novel. Just thought I'd share a list of some of my favorites in case you find yourself in a similar situation (unless, of course, you're like my aunt Christie and do something USEFUL with your time like cleaning your closets - thanks a lot Chris, you really made me feel guilty!).

The first favorite I picked up was a really cool read I loved in college called Archimedes' Revenge: The Joys and Perils of Mathematics by Paul Hoffman. I really adore this book because it explores some pretty intense mathematical concepts in a really accessible way. It helps me remember what fascinated me about math in the first place without making me feel like a complete dope for forgetting so much of what I learned!

A few days ago I finished reading Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) for the umpteenth time. Can I just say that I am completely twitterpated with Jane Austen's writing. Maybe it's a girl thing, but, WOW, I love reading her stories. She has an incredible wit and wisdom. Truly a woman before her time. I am absolutely hungering for more (I just started Mansfield Park, and Emma is waiting in the wings)!

I mentioned that I started Mansfield Park, but I was feeling a little guilty and decided maybe I ought to tackle something with a little more substance, so I'm concurrently reading my all-time favorite C.S. Lewis work, The Screwtape Letters. What an incredible work of art and spirituality this book is. He writes with such a mastery of the subject matter, and preaches incredible sermons without even a 'thou shalt not'. I don't pretend to understand it all, but what I do literally pierces my soul. It's really interesting to look at things from the side of the adversary and see him for the underhanded and subversive being that he is. I'm completely enthralled. If you've never read this work, it consists of a series of contrived letters from an experienced minion of the devil named Screwtape to his less experienced nephew Wormwood. In the letters he gives advice about ways to lead Wormwood's human away from God. The cleverness with which he depicts the many ways that we allow ourselves to be led away from the spirit is a terrific reminder of just how easy it is to be led away by that infamous flaxen cord. As I am no great writer, I have done the explanation of this work a complete injustice, but if you have some time, this is a fabulous read. When I finish it, I'm planning to reread Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Hooray for books!!!!