Thursday, August 23, 2007

Fiction Worth Reading

Lately I have been enjoying some excellent books. Putting aside some of the heavier theological material I have been consuming, I decided to spend some time reading fiction. Lukas McKnight recently posted on the importance of reading fiction, so I thought I would share a bit about some of the titles I have been digging into of late.

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri – This excellent novel tells the story of a young man born in America to Bengali parents, named for an obscure Russian novelist. Following the journey of this man and his family, the book powerfully draws the reader into the beauty, the challenges and the drama of one culture colliding with another. If you ever wonder it the challenges faced by immigrants entering into our Western culture, this book will open your eyes and heart in a very real way. Lahiri’s previous book, a collection of short stories called “Interpreter of Maladies”, won here the Pulitzer. (NOTE: There is a film made of “The Namesake”, but I recommend reading the book before seeing the film).

Gilead by Marilynn Robinson – While this book is another Pulitzer winner, I picked it up on the suggestion of Scot McKnight, who says he does not enjoy fiction that much. This warm and moving book is written as a letter to an elderly father to his very young son, retelling the story of his life. As the father is a pastor, his reflections on life are rich with spirituality, tempered with a wisdom earned through a long life. It was a restful, but engaging book that I gladly recommend.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy – When I saw this book on the shelf, the first thing that caught my eye was the “Oprah Book Club” sticker. Many might pass over the title on that alone, but not only do I respect Oprah’s literary choices, I also knew that this title had also won the Pulitzer. By far the darkest of the titles I am recommending, this story chronicles the journey of a father and son across the landscape of a desolate, post-apocalytic America. In world now void of order or governance, the powerfully written work is largely free of punctuation, proper names and chapter division, further emphasizing the loss of boundaries in the dying world. For all its darkness and despair, this book also presents a moving portrait of relentless hope driven by love. An excellent book.

The Novel by James Michener – This creative book introduces reader to the world of writing and publishing from the perspective of one of the most prolific historical novelist in America, the late James Michener. While by no means one of his best works, for anyone interested in the realities of the life of a novel, this book is a fascinating read. Broken into four parts- The Author, The Editor, The Critic and The Reader- Michener creates an enjoyable story through which the world of publishing comes alive. While the book was largely rejected by critics, any wannabe novelist would benefit from this decent novel.

What fiction can you recommend?

Posted by Jamie Arpin-Ricci in 20:46:47 | Permalink | Comments (18)

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Fiction Fridays – Christ The Lord: Out Of Egypt by Anne Rice

I’ve decided to take a break from my Friday Art Reflections and instead introduce Fiction Fridays, where I will review, discuss and even author works of fiction. As I am currently rereading Anne Rice’s stellar novel “Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt”, I thought it would be a good place to start. Yes, I already reviewed it here, but I wanted to give it another go, as I think it deserves the attention. Besides, it is not in pocket paperback, so there is not excuse not picking it up yourself.
 
 
When I heard that novelist Anne Rice, author of the famous Vampire Chronicles, was writing a novel about the early years of Jesus Christ, I was skeptical. When I read that it was being written in first person from Jesus own perspective, I was intrigued. I had heard that Rice had returned to the Roman Catholic faith of her youth in the late 1990′s, but had not followed her life or writing in several years. I picked up the hardcover on my way out to YWAM Vancouver for a week of teaching, expecting an interesting, if not provocative read.

As is my habit, I stayed away from interviews and reviews until I had read the book, wanting to experience the work with as few preconceived ideas as possible. However, with an author such as Rice, it was hard not to expect, well not the worst, as Rice is an excellent writer and a phenomenal historical researcher- I expected something else. As anyone familiar with so much of the material out there that would undermine the nature, character or very historicity of Christ, you’ll understand my cynical expectations. What I found in those pages, however, was something profound and beautiful. I discovered a very real Jesus, a man, a Messiah, the Son of God.

The novel opens in the streets of Alexandria, where a 7 year old Jesus and his kin have lived for years. Rice paints a vivid and living portrait of the Egypt of Jesus day, exploring the inevitable influences the the culture and philosophy would have had on His childhood. But Egypt is not to be the setting of this story, as Joseph soon announces their planned return to the Holy Land, to visit Jerusalem to worship before returning home to Nazareth.

Echoing the ancient story of Israel emerging out of exile, we follow the young Jesus as He journeys to a home He has never seen- Nazareth. Throughout these life-altering events, we begin to see glimpses of the power that Jesus is only vaguely beginning to understand. I recognized many of the stories from extra-Biblical sources, which is sure to stir some discontent from more conservative Christian readers. I would encourage such readers to keep reading, as I do not believe that they undermine the integrity of the story or of Jesus. Even Rice acknowledges that including the material was based on “assumptions”, but felt it was crucial to the deeper truth of the story. And I largely agree.

As the family travels through the Holy Land, we are introduced to a politically, spiritually and historically wounded people in the midst of civil unrest. Simultaneously, we begin to understand what it means to be a Jew in that day. With so much of the material on the “historical” Jesus being so ruthlessly geared to undermine Jesus divinity, purpose, being, etc., Rice accomplishes what few have- to present a fully Jewish (fully human) Jesus of His era, yet equally divine, rooted in the fullness of the Judeo-Christian story.

In the authors notes at the end of the book, Rice shares briefly of the journey she took in bringing this book to being. It reveals the depth and bredth of study that she delved into (and continues even today) to do everything in her power to tell the truest story she could. To her credit, she read every source she get her hands on, openly expecting to have her image of Jesus distorted.

“What gradually came clear to me was that many of the skeptical arguments- arguments that insisted most of the Gospel were suspect, for, or written too late to be eyewitness accounts- lacked coherence… Absurd conclusions were reached on the basis of little or no data at all.” (“Christ the Lord”, by Anne Rice, pg 313, Knopf Canada)
However, it was through genuine study that she became even more deeply convinced and committed in her belief of Christ. (Anyone familiar with the work of N.T. Wright will instantly recognize how much Rice relied on his excellent scholarship.) So truly has this impact changed her that Rice says she could not return to her former subject matter. While she does not condemn her previous works, as they reflect her journey towards faith that many readers shared (myself included), she knows that she can not go back. Rice has 3 or 4 more volumes in this series that I am already eagerly anticipated.

In the end, I believe that this book represents one of the best “fictional” presentations of Jesus I have ever encountered. I do not hesitate a moment in recommending it as a must read for all Christians who want to know Jesus in a deeper and truer way, rooted in His rich Jewish culture and history, as well as the ancient-future vision of God’s Kingdom.

If you have read it, I would love to hear your thought, positive or negative.
Posted by Jamie Arpin-Ricci in 03:26:32 | Permalink | Comments (6)