(Debby)
on reading modern novels dealing with religion (some more directly than others)

Modern books. Somehow they leave less of a clean feeling than pre-1900 books. Well, but that’s not a bad thing, just more emotionally challenging.

Whit – Iain Banks

The thing about Iain Banks is that he writes unnecessarily horrifying / disturbing books. But he also writes really satisfyingly sweet and all modern pop-like books. I can’t seem to figure out which it is going to be until too late. Happily, this one is interesting and fun, really good characters, nice internally-consistent world of a cult.

Bee Season – Myla Goldberg

Oh it’s great! Not what I was expecting, but great! Jewish mysticism + spelling bee + Hari Krishna + mental illness. Beautiful. I saw a bootleg DVD on the street. I guess they made it into a movie, and with Richard Gere. That’s depressing.

No one belongs here more than you – Miranda July

Short stories, of people who are a little…off. By the time I was done with the book, I was unsettled, uncertain whether I was a little off, too. But nonetheless, I also found it oddly comforting. I mean, it’s true….

“Do you have doubts about life? Are you unsure if it is worth the trouble? Look at the sky: that is for you. Look at each person’s face as you pass on the street: those faces are for you. And the street itself, and the ground under the street, and the ball of fire underneath the ground: all these things are for you. They are as much for you as they are for other people. Remember this when you wake up in the morning and think you have nothing. Stand up and face the east. Now praise the sky and praise the light within each person under the sky. It’s okay to be unsure. But praise, praise, praise.”

Mona Lisa Overdrive – William Gibson

I’m a sucker for William Gibson. I mean, the man invented cyber-punk! Even if his novels aren’t the greatest works of art, they are always worth 100 shillings used. This one sort of revolves around a woman who can access the meta-gods of the internet, or something like that.

Happiness – Will Ferguson

A Canadian writes about what would happen if an American wrote the perfect all-encompassing self-help book. What follows is fluffy fun times! Not worth staying up at night and using to contemplate the meaning of life, but a good time nonetheless. (thanks, Sasha! And for the Miranda July book, too)