TinasBookReviews: Faith and Fiction Round Table- Discussion 3

The Round Table hosted by the lovely Amy at MyfriendAmy, is a group of bloggers who read books dealing with faith, religion and?inspirational?aspects. Six books were chosen this year and at the scheduled time we discuss the book and then post our thoughts on personal blogs. This years third book and discussion was:

A Canticle for Liebowitz
by Walter M. Miller

Published-1960 by EOS

Paperback, 334 Pages

Borrowed-Library Copy

Winner of the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel and widely considered one the most accomplished, powerful, and enduring classics of modern speculative fiction, Walter M Miller Jr's A Canticle for Leibowitz is a true landmark of twentieth-century literature-- a chilling and still-provocative look at a post-apocalyptic future.?In a nightmarish ruined world slowly awakening to the light after sleeping in darkness, the infant rediscoveries of science are secretly nourished by the cloistered monks dedicated to the study and preservation of the relics and writings of the blessed Saint Isaac Leibowitz. From here the story spans centuries of ignorance, violence, and barbarism, viewing through a sharp, satirical eye the relentless progression of a human race damned by its inherent humanness to re-celebrate its grand foibles and repeat its grievous mistakes. Seriously funny, stunning, and tragic, eternally fresh, imaginative, and altogether remarkable, A Canticle for Leibowitz retains its ability to enthrall and amaze. It is now, as it always has been, a masterpiece.

Thoughts

Lets see my?first?initial?reaction before even cracking this book open was what the heck is a canticle* and who would name their kid Leibowitz*? ?But the second thing that I?immediately?felt was excited to dive into a challenging post-apocalyptic-dystopian read.?

Unfortunately?this was a DNF for me, I read the first and last story but could not make it through the second, I?openly?admitted to the group that I felt a lot of this book was just over my head, I?couldn't?grasp the symbolism in the novel and I had hard time digging into the?psychological?meanings Miller was?hiding?everywhere. I thought maybe it could be all the YA* candy?I've?read over the last two years, that is resulting in slowly shrinking my brain....but during the third story, truly?realized?I just?didn't?like the novel and the?style?was off for me. For discussion sake, I think the biggest issue that came up was the question of assisted?suicide?and the?issue that?if God was good and all loving why does he let people suffer? Its an age old question, one that gets asked of many Christians/Catholics and screamed about by secularists, its one of those heated topic buttons that can get tail feathers?riled?up and an excuse for many to walk away from or choose not to believe in God?altogether.

CFL in my?opinion, was a very challenging read and one that I think you need to have the right mind frame for, I?wouldn't?recommend?this to people looking for fluff nor would I consider this humorous. I found nothing in Millers sad, depressing and sometimes doomed-filled?writing funny, that being said for those of you looking for a deep dystopian with layers upon layers of?contemplative?scenarios?I would dive in.

DNF/5- Dystopian- Inspirational Fiction

*A?canticle?(from the Latin?canticulum, a diminutive of?canticum, song) is a?hymn?(strictly excluding the?Psalms) taken from the?Bible. The term is often expanded to include ancient non-biblical hymns such as theTe Deum?and certain psalms used?liturgically.

*Leibowitz is a common surname among Jewish Culture

*-please note- I love ya fiction and there are many talented and fabulous authors in that genre. Reading to many?fluffy?novels and not?balancing?it with adult, classic and nonfiction?literature?tends to take a toll on my comprehension. Which is why Im always learning, researching and studying outside of feel-good books?to keep growing in my literary skills.

Check out the rest of the Round Tables thoughts on CFL

Source: http://www.tinasbookreviews.com/2011/06/faith-and-fiction-round-table.html

famous quotes sherwin williams foobar iaa christina hendricks brad paisley aubrey o day