Zipporah, Wife of Moses by Marek Halter

Why I read it: Because Marek Halter weaves beautiful stories about Biblical heroines, especially the work of his Canaan trilogy.  I loved reading Sarah, so I thought I’d take the next step and read about Zipporah.

What it’s about: The novel is focused on Zipporah the Cushite, the wife of Moses who only receives on sentence in the Bible. Moreso than that, it’s the story of a woman who so faithfully served God even though His people rejected her because of her dark skin.

Why it’s important: I once heard a Biblical scholar say that race relations weren’t as prevalent in the ancient days as they are now, but Halter takes that theory and demolishes it. He recreates the story of a one-sentence character to show how the most faithful servant of God was the woman that everyone rejected. We also get to understand how her rejection from God’s chosen people paved the way for God’s all encompassing love for the Jew and the gentile. While I was reading this novel, I was also doing a study of a few of the Psalms (the ones that just-so happened to be about the Jews in the desert) and Halter’s words brought character to the Jews. Specifically when one of the characters says, “A free slave is no good if they’re still a slave in their heart.” Zipporah knew this and saw that the Jews who fled Egypt were still defensive and in so much pain from slavery. That’s why she (according to Halter) continued to let her heart break in order to care for those who hated her.

What it makes me want to do: Not be Miriam’s friend, ever.

Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber

Why I read it: Shakespeare + thriller + a Russian Jewish mobster who’s grandfather just so happens to be a Nazi. It spelled win in my book. (Little did I know… little did I know…)

What it’s about: The interwoven fate of Jake Mishkin, Albert Crosetti, and the 17th century English spy/soldier Richard Bracegirdle as they uncover and protect a lost Shakespearean quarto (err, manuscript). We see the story from the perspective of the 3 narrators (Bracegirdle’s stories are told through letters and manuscripts) as we travel from an Intellectual property lawyer’s office to a burning antique bookstore then the whining and dining amongst the intellectual literary societies of England. Action! Adventure! Historical thriller! In all reality, it was quite boring.

Why it’s important: Despite the fact that I didn’t like the book, I’d like to think that I learned something very important here. What have I learned from this? Sometimes, you can tune out a person’s voice when they’re get lost in their story; but you can’t tune out a narrator when they decided to bust some literary geometry and go on all kinds of tangents on you. The purpose of Gruber’s narrators’ tangents is to make the reader form a closer bond with them as they squirm their way through thrilling situations and have their newly formed literary justice bond be tested. But I’m a person of little patience; instead of caring for the characters I wanted them to take a class on expository writing.

What it makes me want to do: Revoke my identity as a literary snob.* It’s a sad, sad thing for me to do—especially since I’ve been holding strong to my literary snobiness since my AP Literature teacher knighted me with it in the 12th grade. Honestly, this novel is a bestseller? UGH. I lack the patience to understand why.**

*I don’t think of myself as a literary snob, but Victor once came into my library and noticed how many Shakespearean works and classics I own. He said it was quite intimidating for him. Also, if I am a snob it’s only because I read a Jeanette Winterson novel and watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind in the same month of my sophomore year of high school. My standards are heightened and very peculiar for mere muggles.
**Actually, I understand why it’s a bestseller. It’s a bestseller in the way that people like to be tortured. It’s a root canal bestseller. And I hate root canals.

Life of the Beloved by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Why I read it: When I was a budding Christian, a youth pastor recommended the book to me to help me understand what it meant to be loved by God. And, of course, I’ve kept it on the tail end of my reading list for these past three years. I finally purchased the book when I realized that I needed a better understanding of spiritual living as it pertains to walking in humility.

What it’s about: The subtitle “Spiritual Living in a Secular World” can be misleading. At first glance, I thought the book would be an explanation of Christian spirituality to a nonbeliever (in other words, lacking Christian jargon). That’s not the case. It is better if one has a basis of understanding Christ’s sacrifice (and the symbolism behind it) before reading the book. I like to think of this piece as a spiritual embrace to Christians who are feeling lackluster or overwhelmed by the ways of secular living.

Why it’s important: It was written by Nouwen.*

What it makes me want to do: Get a cat, name him Meowen and have theological discussions with him.

*I will gladly spend a day discussing Nouwen’s life and texts over tea with a friend

Currently reading. I don’t know anything about pre-Taliban Afghanistan or feminist movements in the Middle East… so I decided to read this (it’s basically a written documentary) to learn more. It’s a really good read (considering that I don’t like nonfiction), eye-opening and heartwrenching. I recommend it for us unknowing westerners