October Book Reviews

*Only two books in October? I don't know why it took me so long to post this.

Title: Life of Pi

Author: Yann Martel

Genre: Fiction

Rating: ****

Life of Pi had been on my radar for years because I had heard it was a good book, especially for book clubs and discussions. What really moved it up on my list though was having it recommended to me by high schoolers. Last May I subbed in for an AP English teacher who was on maternity leave. As the kids had already taken the AP exam, I decided to do activities with them centered around creating or renewing their love of reading. I learned that their favorite book that year had been Life of Pi, and they all encouraged me to read it. That did it for me. 

All I knew about the plot before reading it was pretty much what I learned from the flap copy. Basically, there was a boy, a tiger, and a raft in the middle of the ocean, and the book was supposed to make me believe in God. That's a pretty big assumption to make about any book, but I already believe in God, so it is hard to say what effect this book would have on me if I did not. It was thought-provoking though, and I enjoyed the plot. Pi is a boy who grows up in India, whose father is a zookeeper, and who follows Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. When the ship carrying him from India to Canada blows up, Pi finds himself alone on a life raft. Alone that is except for an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a tiger.

I thought this book was going to be purely philosophical, perhaps just the boy's musings about the meaning of life as he is stranded on the raft. However, it is actually a really good story with a real plot and some decent action. While it is philosophical, it is not overtly so. It makes you think but doesn't tell you what to think. The kids were right.

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult

Rating: ****

This one was recommended to me both by high school students and fellow English teachers, so I checked it out from the library.

Before committing suicide, Hannah Baker creates seven cassette tapes with thirteen stories for thirteen people explaining her thirteen reasons why she did what she did. Clay Jensen is one of those people, one of those reasons. As he listens to the tapes and follows the map that Hannah also left behind, the reader is sucked into a story that is sad yet compelling. I couldn't put it down.

Xiǎo Jiǎozi (Little Dumpling)

First, the amazing, awesome, exciting news - there is a half-Asian bun in my oven! Yep, that's right, people, I am pregnant.

Baby Yuen aka "Dumpling"

Next, let me answer a few FAQs:

1. When are you due? May 31, 2012
2. Will you find out what you're having? Yes, in January. And yes, we will let you know.
3. Do you have a name picked out? Not yet, but it will be a secret anyway.
4. How have you been feeling? Fortunate, excited, blessed... and very lucky not to have any nausea! I have had days where I get VERY tired, and I get up about three times a night to go to the bathroom, but I have otherwise had a pretty easy time of it so far. (Please don't hate me!)
5. Was this expected/were you planning it? Yes, very much so. It took longer than either of us expected, but I know it has happened in God's perfect timing. Though I struggled with patience, I also prayed continuously throughout the process and trusted God and His plan for our family. That did not always make it easier, but it gave me peace, hope, and joy when I otherwise would have felt lost and alone. As in all my struggles in life, I can see how God used this to draw me closer to Him and build my trust and faith in Him. Additionally, this experience has helped my marriage grow and mature as well. We are both really looking forward to this next chapter of our lives.

I would be more than happy to answer any other questions you might have. Ask away...

Family Trip to Chicago

We were fortunate to be invited to my cousin's wedding in Chicago in October, and we decided to make a vacation out of the trip. After a six hour drive, we reached our hotel in Bensenville. In an effort to save money on a hotel, we chose to stay in the suburbs and take the L into the city every day. This is not something I would recommend or repeat. Each day, we ended up spending at least an hour and half just commuting. Oh well, you live and learn, right?

That first night, Michael and I went into the city for dinner at Frontera Grill, a Rick Bayless restaurant. For an appetizer we shared a queso fundido, which was a dish of melted cheese with chorizo and roasted peppers served with fresh house made corn tortillas. For dinner, I ordered chicken tacos, and Michael had pork loin in green mole with microgreens and toasted seeds. The food was fresh, high-quality and authentic. It was not your typical Mexican restaurant, and I would definitely recommend checking it out. The menus change monthly. Though it had been raining during our commute and meal, by the time we finished eating the rain had stopped, and we were able to walk around downtown and explore in the lovely, crisp autumn air.

The obligatory picture of "The Bean" (officially known as Cloud Gate)

On Friday morning, we met up with my mom, brother, aunt and uncle to travel into the city together. It was my uncle's first time taking a subway-like train. We met my grandma and other uncle at their hotel downtown, and then we headed over to Lou Malnati's for a classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza for lunch. The pizza was okay, but I definitely prefer New York City-style pizza; it's one of the things I miss most about living there.

Uncle Tom's first time on a metro railway system

My mom, brother, Michael and I enjoyed a bus ride out to Lincoln Park Zoo (free zoo!) and wandered around looking at the animals. That was followed by a chilly walk to the Lake Michigan beach and then some much needed warmth and comfort at Starbucks. We had dinner that night at an Indian/Pakistani restaurant that seemed to be favored by cabbies. It was cheap and fast, but I thought the food was just okay.

Beautiful Chicago skyline from Lincoln Park

Lake Michigan

On Saturday, the four of us (plus Austin's girlfriend, Brittany) drove to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was having a special Dr. Seuss exhibit. It was a really cool museum, something I would highly recommend to others.

Standing in front of a scale model version of Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry

Museum of Science and Industry

Just goofing around

After the museum, we headed back to the hotel to get ready and go to the wedding, which was at the Joffrey Ballet in downtown Chicago. The ceremony and reception were both beautiful and classy. It was my first time attending a Jewish wedding, and I really appreciated some of the different traditions and the Hebrew prayers. I wish I had taken more pictures, but my camera does not do well in low lighting situations. The bride was gorgeous and glowing, and my cousin is one lucky guy to have her. I also enjoyed getting to meet his cousins on the other side as they sat at our dinner table. I felt truly blessed to be with so much family and to witness the beginning of what I hope will be a long and happy union between two amazing people.

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have of the beautiful bride

Mom and grandma

With the wedding on Saturday, we were able to stay and enjoy some more of Chicago on Sunday including a daytime walk through Millennium Park and a visit to the Art Institute. We truly enjoyed our time in the city and with family.

"The Bean" in daylight

Hope-Shaped Creatures

Some may find it difficult to imagine that a church pastor could spend four weeks on one Bible verse, but not those of us who have been attending Vista Community Church this fall. Pastor Mike has been going through a series on the book of Acts. Not really the whole book though. For a month, he camped out on just the first part of Acts 2:42:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..."


But I'm not complaining. It has been a great series that has, at times, really challenged me to re-evaluate how I am living out my faith. What Pastor Mike pointed out is that the apostles did not teach in the typical way we imagine teaching. Rather than direct instruction, simply telling people what they needed to know and how to behave, they lived out their faith on a daily basis. They made decisions and took actions that depended on what they believed to be true about God, Jesus, and the world. Their followers learned by watching the example the apostles set for them just as the apostles learned from the example Jesus set for them. Not long after the sermon Faith, in which Pastor Mike asked us what our lives said about what we believed, I read this tweet from Tim Keller:

@DailyKeller: Human beings are hope-shaped creatures. How you live today is completely shaped by what you believe about your future


I started asking myself, "What do you believe about your future? What do you believe to be true about God, Jesus and the world? What difference does it make? Can people tell what I believe by watching what I do?" These questions are not just for Christians or "religious" people. We are ALL driven by our beliefs, whatever they may be.

The first two questions are easier for me to answer because I've spent nearly ten years thinking about, studying, learning, and reflecting on just that. I believe that I have a hope for my future. I believe that there is a spiritual realm beyond this physical world and that I will spend eternity in God's presence where there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more grief. I believe that God is the omnipotent, omnipresent Creator of the world who loves me, who loves you, who loves every person He created. I believe that Jesus is God's Son who came to earth as a human and died as a sacrifice for all, to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind so that those who put their faith in Him can be reconciled to God. I believe that the world was created by God and that one day the world as we know it will come to an end when Jesus returns, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth (BTW - I do NOT believe anyone can predict when this will happen). I believe that God wants us to continue the work of reconciliation, to love others, and to treat His creation with care as long as we are blessed to be here in this world.

So, what difference does this make? How I make decisions, how I try to live my life, how I treat other people are all based on those beliefs. I try to see people as the beautiful creations of God. I try to show them love. I try to follow the examples set for me by Jesus and by the apostles. Can people tell that I believe these things based on how I live my life? That I do not know. I hope so though. I certainly hope so.