11: The Bible

Started: Monday 1st January, 2007
Finished: Monday 31st January, 2007

It's one of those things you have to do before you die. And now I've done it. And I'm pretty underwhelmed. I listened to the Daily Audio Bible Podcast every day for a year, and I didn't really get much out of the experience except for (much needed) practice in self discipline. I suppose it would probably have meant more to me if I were a Christian, but even so, I expected a bit more. I did enjoy Genesis, and the Gospels, many of the Psalms and Proverbs were thought provoking, but I found that I already knew all the best bits, they're all part of pop culture trivia and Religion classes. I was also really looking forward to Revelation, having heard so much about how spooky it was, and although it had some fantastic imageryof the apocalyse, I was again, left unimpressed.
If I were to do it again (which I won't rule out completely, a lifetime is a long time) I would definitely use a study guide or something to help with understanding what I'm reading. I found many contradictions in the actions and words of God and Jesus that I would have liked to understand better.
Rating: 1/5

10: The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder

Started: Saturday 1st December, 2007
Finished: Monday 24th December, 2007

I always enjoy Gaarder's books. The 'story within a story' aspect appeals to me, although he reuses it (in some people's opinions) too often. I make an effort to read this book each year, as a kind of advent calendar. The book is in 24 chapters, and each corresponds to a day in the advent calendar in the book. In fact, the hardest part is stopping myself from reading at the end of each chapter... it's so tempting to read just one more day. However, on this year's reread, the story seemed far more childish and simplistic. The religious nature of the book was also more obvious to me this time around, but I think that is more to do with me and my personal growth throughout the year.
Rating: 3/5

9: A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

Started: Friday 14th December 2007
Finished: Sunday 16th December 2007

Every time I read this book, I'm surprised at Dickens' writing. I always expect it to be full of archaic language, and difficult to understand, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is so amusing and witty... here's one of my favourite quotes from page 1.

"Old Marley was as dead as adoor-nail.

Mind! I don't mean to say that I know, of
myown knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have
been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of
ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my
unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will
therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a
door-nail."

It's such a good fun story, and it's really what the meaning of christmas is all about. An oldie but a goodie. This is one of those books that I can imagine reading aloud to my children one day. I'll definitely be reading it again next Christmas, and I'll be reading more Dickens in 2008!
Rating 4/5