Book reviews

I've been reading a lot lately, well sort of... I've been listening a lot lately. I discovered that our public library has a section on their website where I can download audio books. There are only about 200 titles that I can listen to on my Mac, but hopefully they will keep adding to their collection. The library also has a ton of books on CD at my disposal, but I have to go get them. :)

I've read most of the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery.

The Anne series books I've read: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne's House of Dreams. I know I missed book four, I accidentally got them out of order. Oh well. I love the first book. Anne's ridiculous situations make me laugh. I think that book is my favorite. However Anne of the Island had one of my most favorite quotes from a book, ever.

In the story, her friend Ruby is about to die of consumption (no spoilers, she's a minor character.) Ruby was always very superficial, flighty and loved men chasing after her. She denied the fact that she was dying to everyone but Anne. Here is the part that struck me:

"I'm so young, Anne. I haven't had my life. I've fought so hard to live -- and it isn't any use -- I have to die -- and leave EVERYTHING I care for." Anne sat in a pain that was almost intolerable. She could not tell comforting falsehoods; and all that Ruby said was so horribly true. She WAS leaving everything she cared for. She had laid up her treasures on earth only; she had lived solely for the little things of life -- the things that pass -- forgetting the great things that go onward into eternity, bridging the gulf between the two lives and making of death a mere passing from one dwelling to the other -- from twilight to unclouded day. God would take care of her there -- Anne believed -- she would learn -- but now it was no wonder her soul clung, in blind helplessness, to the only things she knew and loved.

When I first heard that, I thought... wow. I went back and listened to it again, then again. Isn't that so much what we do? Isn't that why we are so afraid of dying? And I never thought of "laying up treasure in heaven" as bridging a gulf between to lives. I hear that verse all the time, but this just gave it a new meaning to me. It puts things into perspective. I just love the imagery, and I love how it makes me view death a little differently.

I crave books like this--books that make you think long after you've finished reading them.

I'm also about half way through a book my mom gave me called A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. So far I love it, and I shall go read some more of it now.