100 books

In the same way as I didn't warm to Nelson Mandela in his writing, I found it hard to warm to Holden Caulfield. I guess thats the point to some extent! The book is superb. It leaves you wondering what on earth is going to happen pretty much the whole way through. I can imagine why it caused such a stir in its original context. Salinger uses rough, aggressive language so much that it gives you that slightly edgy reaction to what hes writing.. Its great! I wonder what today's equalivalent book is?

Big ole long book this one! In the first fifty or so pages I wasn't sure I was going to make it through to the end. But then Mandela's story started to sync up with the history of South Africa and I got a bit more hooked. Nelson Mandela is like many great men. Determined, resolute, stubborn, and flawed. I'm not sure he would say anything else. Like so many in leadership there comes a point where family is neglected. In his latter years he fronts that up, in fact the whole book mellows. Its left me with a couple of questions. The first is around the way that Mandela deals with Winnie's downfall. He seems so supportive, and yet has no hesitation in binning her. I think its to his credit in some ways that he leaves out the details of intensely personal things. My other question is slightly politically hertical. I can't help but winder if Nelson Mandela was orchestrated to come to power. As I understand it he was one of a number who went to jail. He was...

I liked it. There is actually quite a lot of political comment hidden among the hundred and ninety pages. Not much else to say- very good read when you are having the kind of week when your head can't focus.

read 4th January 2005 I've been tackling this book for a while so it only really counts as half a book. It is essentially about what the church might need to reshape itself as to be effective in the current culture. The book has a lot of long words- which I think are in the main unnecessary. I found it a bit annoying at first- almost like the writers were trying to prove themselves academically. There are also enough factual inaccuracies to make you doubt the research that has alledgedly been done. But as the book went on I warmed to it. Its encouraging in quite a lot of what it is saying. They seems to run out of long words which is also good. The stuff on leadership is very Wizard of Oz, I like that. Its nothing that you won't know if you've been awake for a few years but its always reassuring to know that you are not going mad.

Read- 1st January, 2005 In the last year or so this story has really helped in my understanding of leadership. So, I decided that I should read the book instead of just basing things on the film (which incidentally I watched the day my tonsils were removed.. so trippy). Its good. Its longer than the film and gives some context to the flying monkeys, etc. Just a solid well written, slightly scary children's tale. All very redemptive... Only disappointment (not really the books fault), the red shoes are actually silver! Apparently there are more in the series. Maybe should read those too...