How Do You Choose Books to Read?

When your book pile has dwindled to nothingness, how do you choose what to read next? Do you pick at random from bookstores, or haunt certain sections of the library? Do you stick with titles or authors you're familiar with, or take risks? Do you depend on others for recommendations? Do you follow book reviews? Use other resources? Which ones?

Something I've noticed recently is that certain people just seem to have a knack for digging up books that are interesting, informative, entertaining or otherwise worthwhile reading. My kids and their spouses come to mind in particular, along with other family members and acquaintances. For my part, I'm pretty clueless about what's out there, and base my choices almost entirely on what I see others reading. In fact, my standing gift list item is "the best book you've read recently". As much as I've benefited from that, I suspect there are other ways as well, and wonder what they are.

So, this is an invitation/request to add a comment to this posting, and tell me what's working for you when it comes to selecting books that are worth the time and effort.

Invasion - Robin Cook

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Category: Fluff Acquired: HPB Read: May Briefly: Aliens

Comments: Harmless.

A Case of Need - Michael Crichton

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Category: "Airplane" book (my term for a harmless, simple-minded book, useful for keeping the gears turning during an airplane trip. Mental chewing-gum). Acquired: Half-Price Books. Read: May 2008, sitting on the veranda in San Carlos. Ahhhh... Briefly: Generic medical mystery. Patient dies under suspicious circumstances, one doc is unjustly accused, another doc unravels the clues. After various plot twists (and more autopsy details than I really needed), justice wins out and everyone lives happily ever after (except the patient).

Comments: What made this book interesting is that it was written 40 years ago, literally when I was in high school. As a result, it provides some interesting reminders about what America was like in the late 60's. For instance, I had to chuckle at the how the local Boston doctors disliked one newcomer simply because he was from California and had really long hair. I totally remember this attitude!

Naturally, this book also pre-dates much of the technology we take for granted today. Thus, there are plot twists that simply wouldn't happen today today, e.g. based on the fact that certain key medical records existed only in handwritten, hard-copy form, and could thus be stolen, hidden, or otherwise made inacessible. In another case, a plot turn occurred because someone couldn't contact someone else, because there was no telephone nearby.

This book also pre-dates Roe vs. Wade by about five years, an important fact, given that the plot revolves around the aftermath of an illegal abortion. Because abortion was not yet a hot social issue, Crichton spends a lot of time having his characters present their views for and against abortion - probably because his readers needed the education. What's interesting is seeing how those arguments have changed over the past 35 years. Take a look through the appendix (where he summarizes the pro's/con's) and compare them to what you hear today.

All in all, a decent book, and just right for reading while sitting in an airplane - or on the beach.

The Samurai - Shusaku Endo

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Category: Historical fiction, based on persons and events from the 17th century. Acquired: Found by chance at Half-Price Books last Monday while picking up books to read during Mexico vacation. Read: May 2008 (267 pages, 3 days - pretty good for me) Briefly: A Japanese samurai and a Catholic monk travel to Rome during the 17th century, both in submission to their respective lords. Both come away with profound learnings about the nature of trust and loyalty, and where to place it (and not to place it). The samurai learns to see past the affluent, political Christianity that surrounds him, and discovers a Christ who relates to the outcasts of society.

Comments: The two main characters contrast sharply - the monk is an ambitious Spanish missionary, and wants nothing more than to conquer Japan for God (those are his words... remember, this is an era when the line between evangelism and subjugation was often a little fuzzy). He is ambitious to a fault, and yet, as we listen to the arguments playing out in his mind, his motives are generally not the problem. Rather, it's his passion that drives him to overzealous actions, where the ends justify the means. This ultimately results in a scheme to bring a delegation of Japanese envoys to Mexico, Madrid and eventually Rome, in hopes of building trade relationships (which the Japanese want) in exchange for an open door to more missionary work (which he wants - along with an appointment to be Bishop of Japan).

The samurai is head of a poor farming family just trying to survive off their marshland. Being traditional Japanese, he submits without question when his patron orders him to join the monk's trade delegation. As we see into his thoughts, he wonders why a lowly, inarticulate person such as himself would be assigned to such a high-profile task, but naturally such concerns are never voiced. The questions he does ask, though, are about the the emaciated, disfigured man whose figure is constantly on display in the churches and monasteries to which he travels. And why does this man on the cross elicit such reverence from the monks, when everyone knows that honor and worship are due only to the rich and powerful who have earned it?

In the end, both characters are ultimately betrayed and abandoned by their earthly lords, and return to Japan in shame. But as the aftermath unfolds, it begins to click in the samurai's mind that the monk's Lord understands his situation deeply - He understands poverty, humiliation, shame. He knows what it's like to be victimized by a ruling class that cares only for themselves. Perhaps this is why He holds such appeal for the common folk he has met.

What makes this book unique is that the author is both Japanese and Catholic. His writing contains rich detail about both cultures, and a nuanced understanding of what happens when they interact - no doubt shaped by his own experiences growing up. Philip Yancey devotes a chapter to Shusaku Endo in Soul Survivor, and regards him as one of the great Christian authors of all time (I'm very much inclined to agree). Interestingly, Endo is also widely known and well-regarded among the Japanese - who obviously have no concept of "Christian author" - as simply one of their very accomplished writers.

For more about Endo, here's an article worth reading.